Royal Caribbean offers an elite option for someone that wants to pay top dollar for the very best amenities and perks at sea.

Star Class is the subset of suites that come with the most lavish furnishings and front-of-the-line access.  It's the kind of experience where you'll feel like a VIP and get to bypass lines around most of the ship.

As you might expect, this is an expensive option too. Similar to a first class ticket on an airplane, the jump in cost from the cheapest fare to Star Class is substantial.  

I've sailed in different Star Class suites over the years, including the Ultimate Family Suite and Loft Suites.  Each room has its own feel, but the service that comes with each is consistently impressive.

I've justified the cost each time by focusing on how much is included and leveraging the added benefits.  It's a splurge, but it undeniably adds some amazing benefits you simply cannot get otherwise.

With the high price tag, I think anyone that tries Star Class would want to fully maximize the experience so they don't miss out on anything.

After staying in all the Star Class suites, here is what I would recommend to anyone that is looking to give Star Class a try.

It's expensive, so don't try to rationalize the cost

Before you start to crunch the numbers, you have to go in understanding booking Star Class will never make financial sense. It's a splurge that you should look at as a way to treat yourself.

Royal Caribbean includes a lot of extra perks and amenities that help with the cost a little:

• Complimentary beverage package
• Included gratuities
• Complimentary Ultimate Dining Package
• One device internet package for everyone in the cabin
• Complimentary laundry
• Complimentary mini-bar stocked with alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks

Those inclusions represent hundreds of dollars, but some Star Class suites cost as much as $200,000. 

If you're going book Star Class, you have to go in with the understanding it's not a cost-effective booking strategy. Rather, it's a fun way to cruise if you can afford it.

Star Class is available on certain ships only

Royal Caribbean only offers Star Class suites on its newest and biggest ships, so you cannot book it on every ship in the fleet.

It's available on Icon Class, Oasis Class, and Quantum Class ships:

• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Hero of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Legend of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Star of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

The Royal Genie service is the best reason to book Star Class

While you will choose from some truly incredible suites, I think the top reason you should even consider a Star Class cruise is because of the Royal Genie service that comes with the room.

Your Genie isn't a butler, but more like a cross between a butler, concierge, and your best friend that likes to surprise you.

You share your Genie with up to 3 other suites, but trust me, it will feel very personalized.

About a week before your cruise begins, you'll be assigned a Royal Genie via email. You should get a welcome email from them, where they introduce themselves and provide an overview of the coming sailing.

Your Genie will meet you inside the cruise terminal on the first day and escort you onboard the ship.

From this point forward, they are there to assist and make your cruise better. You can message them anytime via WhatsApp, and they will check-in regularly with you.

Most people that are new to Star Class are unsure how to properly use the Genie. They're timid and feel bad asking the Genie for things, but the truth is that's what you're paying them for.  

Your Genie can do so much for you, including:

• Set up parties in your suite
• Reserve seats at any show for you
• Book dining reservations and escort you to your table
• Have any food or drink on the ship delivered to your suite (including specialty dining)
• Arrange for priority elevator rides
• Decorate your suite
• And much more

I found the best strategy is to politely ask for as much as you can. You'll be surprised how willing and able they are to make most requests happen.

By the end of the cruise, I can all but guarantee you'll fall in love with your Genie because of how much they enhanced your cruise.

I would prioritize specialty dining because it's included

Since Royal Caribbean includes a dining package with your Star Class booking, I would plan to indulge in as much specialty dining as you can.

Considering the extra cost specialty dining has, now is the time to really get your money's worth by eating there early and often.

Your Genie will almost certainly make preemptive reservations, but you can ask them to change it as you see fit.

When I stay in Star Class, I'll book lunch reservations too.  Plus, don't hesitate to send food back to the suite. As long as the specialty restaurant is open, they can deliver food to your suite.

When we sailed in Star Class on Utopia of the Seas, my family was too tired after a fun day at the Royal Beach Club so we asked our Genie to have dinner from Giovanni's Italian Kitchen to be delivered to our suite instead of going to the restaurant.

I messaged him our order, and exactly when I requested it to be delivered, room service arrived with the food.

Regardless of where you eat the food, I would plan around the extra cost food and skip eating in the Main Dining Room or Coastal Kitchen.

I've had mixed results with the "Land Genie", so I recommend skipping it

Over the last couple of years, Royal Caribbean introduced a pre-cruise Star Class planning feature that they call a "land Genie".

It's essentially a representative from the cruise line who attempts to coordinate your preferences and upsell you on cabanas and other options leading up to the cruise.  The idea is you tell them everything you want, and they convey it to the Genie so you have less to do in the final days.

In my experience, the land Genie service has been disappointing because on multiple occasions, the Genie has no idea what requests we made to the land Genie.

As a result, I recommend ignoring the land Genies and waiting for the welcome email from the Royal Genie.  At that point, email them all of your requests.

Checking in and boarding your ship is different with Star Class

When you arrive to the cruise terminal, look for the Star Class entrance instead of the regular line to enter. There's usually a purple banner of some kind to mark where to check-in.

In fact, do not give the porters your luggage.  Instead, bring your luggage to the Star Class check-in area because they have special luggage tags and a designated porter that will take your bags onboard.

They will expedite delivery of your luggage to your suite.

After confirming your details, a port agent will escort you through the cruise terminal and check you in.  They will bring you to meet your Genie in the suites boarding area, at which point they will hand you off to them.

Your Genie will then escort you onto the ship. They will take you straight to your suite and give you a printout of the plan you made together.  Keep in mind this plan is a suggestion, and you can change it at anytime as you see fit.

Expect welcome aboard snacks and drinks awaiting you in the suite. It won't be a meal, but something to munch on.  Plus, your fridge will be fully stocked.

How to use the Royal Genie the best way

I'd argue the top reason to book a Star Class suite isn't the cabin, but the Royal Genie service that you get with it.

The first time you have a Genie, it can be confusion how and when to utilize them because the information provided by Royal Caribbean is quite vague. There's no list of things you can ask for, so it's all up to you.

First and foremost, don't be shy about making requests. The genie would be the first to tell you that they're there to make your cruise better, and they want to do anything they can to assist. The worst they'll tell you is they can't do something, but usually have an alternative in mind.

You can also ask the genie for ideas of what to ask for.  Meaning, ask them what fun or special things they've done for other families in the past, especially age-specific things. 

I never knew about having an ice cream party in the suite for my kids until a genie suggested it.

Don't be afraid to say "no" to the genie.  They will come up with lots of ideas for what you can do onboard, but don't feel bad if you have no interest it.  Or you'd rather take advantage of your massive suite.

At a minimum, you should never go to Guest Services if you're in Star Class. Let your genie handle any and all questions or discrepancies you may have.

Tipping in Star Class

One of the top questions people have about being in Star Class is related to gratuities.

According to Royal Caribbean, Star Class includes "Complimentary Gratuities", but the question is how much to tip your genie or room attendant.

In my experience, there's no right or wrong answer of how much extra to tip.  But I definitely do tip extra to both of them.

I'll share my tipping strategy for Star Class, but keep in mind it's just my opinion and other people claim to have tipped more and less than I do.

For the genie, I tip $100 per day (regardless of how many people are in my suite). It's a lot, but once you've tried Star Class, I think you'll see how much they do and how far they go to make your cruise better.

Depending on the length of the cruise, I'll tip my stateroom attendant extra. Somewhere between $50 and $100 extra is usually where I land. It's worth noting in some Star Class suites, we've had two stateroom attendants.

The bottom line about gratuity is they will be appreciative of whatever you can give them. It's not a competition, and whatever you're comfortable with will be satisfactory. You certainly don't have to do anything like I do.

Is Star Class worth it?

If you're looking for the ultimate splurge on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Star Class is the most impressive way to go all out.

Practically everything is included in your cruise fare, and you get to enjoy the best your ship has to offer without much waiting or lines.

Because of the high price tag, it's a luxury that only some will be able to justify. Star Class is never a good value, and you could save a lot of money skipping it and booking something else.

Clearly Royal Caribbean wanted Star Class to appeal to a small segment of cruisers who value service and enormous suites above all else. It was never meant to be something everyone could or should try.

If spending five or six figures on a week-long cruise is something you can afford to do, I believe Star Class is a very fun way to cruise. For these people, the experience and doing something special outweighs the enormous cost.

Every month, Royal Caribbean has a different casino offer for its high roller members, and this month's has a new fee.

Cruisers have noticed that along with its May offer of a complimentary cruise, there's now a booking fee that goes with.

Periodically (and seemingly randomly), Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale program will send to its members offers to sail for free or at a reduced rate.  These are targeted offers for people that gamble a lot on Royal Caribbean ships.

What's different this month is there's now a fee to go along with the "free" cruise offer.

Here's what the booking fee looks like, and why it's generating a lot of chatter among those that like to cruise and gamble.

There's a new $100 casino comp fee

As soon as the new casino offers started rolling into cruisers' accounts, many saw the same thing: a new fee.

The $100 casino comp fee means you'll need to pay $100 for a complimentary cruise, along with the port fees and taxes.

It's a nominal fee for what is otherwise representative of thousands of dollars off a cruise fare, but it's not what cruisers have typically found.

In the example provided by Royal Caribbean Blog reader madkidd00000007, the offer is for a complimentary Balcony or Oceanview cabin for two.  It has a $100 booking fee per stateroom.

The offer is valid to be booked by May 31st for sailings the depart between May 4 and December 31, 2026.

To be fair, this isn't the first time we've seen this fee. A similar fee happened once a few months ago on an offer for two rooms, but it's back again today. 

According to Ampurp85, they were told the fee is to supplement the fact it's a better-than-usual offer.

"The rep says there will now be some offers that have a booking fee. Either because they will offer better rooms or longer cruise dates."

The representative added that in the event of a cancellation, everything but the booking fee is refundable. Moreover, this booking fee will not be on all offers, just certain ones. 

How to get complimentary casino offers

Booking fee or not, you may be curious how to qualify for a "free" cruise.

Truthfully, there isn't a rhyme or reason that can be determined how to consistently receive offers other than playing often in the casino on every sailing you take.

Certainly, reaching higher casino loyalty tiers helps.

While not a hard and fast rule, it seems more offers go out to casino players in the Signature and Masters tier than Prime.  But that doesn't mean those in Choice or Prime don't receive offers as well.

Moreover, if you do get an offer, it's important to play in the casino and spend enough onboard.  It's been a common observation from casino players that any complimentary cruise you take, there's an unwritten expectation that you'll gamble enough on that sailing too. Otherwise, the quantity of future offers may decrease.

How much do you need to gamble? Most cruisers believe you need to earn at least 200 points on a comped cruise.

Casino offers have been changing this year

One theme so far with Casino Royale has been they're not doing the same old predictable things.

Since the new casino calendar year began in April, there have been some big changes to Royal Caribbean's casino program.

The biggest has been for the annual complimentary cruise that is included with the Prime tier and higher.

Instead of having an an exclusion list of which sailings aren't eligible for the annual complimentary sailing, there's now a list of included sailings. All other cruises are not available.

In addition, Casino Royale introduced a variety of program changes related to earning points and tracking points.

The Royal Caribbean app now shows your casino points and status, further integrating casino loyalty with cruise loyalty.

Another key change is Signature level players now receive onboard credit based on the length of their sailing. Previously, Signature players didn’t receive any onboard credit at all.

Royal Caribbean also increased the earning requirement for video poker to $15 per point. That means you now have to wager more money to earn the same number of points.

Lastly, the onboard instant offers seem to have been cut back.  While nothing has been announced by the line, cruisers have noticed the cabin categories offered were lower than before, and the amount of free play was reduced.

Royal Caribbean opened its first beach club in Europe with an exclusive offering for its cruise ship passengers.

Royal Beach Club Santorini opened last week, offering passengers a full-day shore excursion on the popular Greek island.

Leon is a good friend of ours and runs the wildly popular Loyal to Royal Instagram account. He was among the first to try the new beach club and check out what's new and different.

Here is his full review of the new private beach club.

Welcome to the newest Royal Beach Club

The new Royal Beach Club Santorini by Royal Caribbean genuinely surprised me, not just because of how beautiful it is, but because of how different it feels from what I experienced at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas when it first opened last year.

Of course, I expected some differences. 

The Mediterranean has a completely different vibe than the Bahamas. And honestly, that is exactly what makes this beach club work so well. Instead of a high energy, party style destination, this feels like a calm, laid back escape that perfectly matches the vibes of Santorini.

From Odyssey of the Seas to the Royal Beach Club 

Our day started with a tender ride from Odyssey of the Seas to the island. 

From there, everything was seamlessly organized by Royal Caribbean. We hopped on a bus and within about 20 minutes, we arrived at the beach club.

The drive itself was already something special. You travel through the rugged interior of Santorini, surrounded by rocky landscapes, before suddenly arriving at the coast. It is one of those moments where you realize you are somewhere truly unique.

My first impression

The arrival set the tone immediately. 

We were welcomed with a refreshing Greek drink, but without any over the top fanfare. No loud music, no party crowds, just a calm, easygoing atmosphere. 

Once inside, you are free to explore and pick any spot you like. There is no need to reserve seating, no extra tickets, and no long lines. That sense of freedom really stood out to me. It felt effortless from the very beginning.

Greek flavors done right

Around noon, the buffet opened and this is where the experience really comes to life if you love food. 

You will find a wide range of fresh Greek dishes: gyros served in warm pita bread, crisp salads, freshly prepared fish, souvlaki and more. There is truly something for everyone.

And do not skip dessert. The Greek sweets are worth trying, but the real standout for me was the Greek frozen yogurt served at the bar. It is offered in three flavor combinations and incredibly creamy.

Designed for comfort and the heat

One of the smartest design choices is the large, mostly covered terrace. On hot summer days, you can sit comfortably in the shade almost anywhere. There is also a smaller open air section if you prefer to soak up the sun.

The whole space feels light, airy, and fresh, thanks to the color palette and overall design. It is stylish without trying too hard and very much in line with the Santorini aesthetic. From the main terrace, you can walk down to the beach below, a striking black volcanic shoreline lined with loungers and umbrellas.

What I really appreciated is that it never felt overcrowded. Capacity is clearly managed well, so you always have space to relax. Guests come and go throughout the day, which keeps the experience feeling exclusive while still accessible.

How I would compare it to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Having visited both beach clubs, the contrast between Santorini and Nassau is clear and intentional. 

The beach club in Nassau leans into that classic Caribbean energy: lively, social, and more focused on a beach party vibe. 

In Santorini, it is the opposite. Everything is about slowing down, enjoying the scenery, and embracing a more relaxed Mediterranean pace. Neither is better. They are just designed for completely different experiences.

Final thoughts

Royal Beach Club Santorini is a fantastic addition to Royal Caribbean’s growing beach club collection. It feels thoughtfully designed for its location, blending seamlessly with the island’s natural beauty and atmosphere. 

Set between the dramatic cliffs of Santorini, it truly feels like a hidden escape. And the best part is that it is easy to combine with exploring the rest of the island, which has so much more to offer.

If you are cruising the Mediterranean, this is exactly the kind of experience you did not know you needed, until you are there.

Check out Loyal to Royal for more Royal Caribbean news, updates, and more!

Whenever I go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I almost always go to the ship's buffet first.

There are many restaurants on every ship, but the Windjammer buffet is a staple and its wide selection is why I'll eat there on every single cruise I take.

Even though I cruise about once a month, I actually look forward to eating at the buffet because I've found it delivers a mix of fan favorite dishes and a few surprises too.

Plus, the sheer selection of options is perfect for everyone in our family, including the picky eaters. I love the Asian food choices, while my kids go for the chicken fingers and burgers. Everyone gets what they want with very little fuss.

Over the years, I've learned to do five important things every time I eat at the Windjammer, El Loco Fresh, or any other ship buffet to make the meal more enjoyable from the start.

I always wash my hands before I enter

Even though there are fun crew members to remind me, I make it a point to wash my hands before I go to any buffet.

On most ships, there is a handwashing station at the entrance and while no one will force you to stop, you really should wash your hands for your (and everyone's) benefit.

No one wants to get sick on vacation, and a buffet setting more easily spreads germs because of the shared utensils.

There's even hand sanitizer for anyone in a rush, but health experts say handwashing is a safer bet.

I'm frankly surprised how many other passengers walk by hand the handwashing stations, like they didn't see them at all. 

I get it, you're hungry and you "just washed your hands a few minutes ago", but it really is worth stopping and doing it again.

I'll find my family a table first, so we know where to go

It can get very busy in the Windjammer and at other buffets, nearby table seating is limited. That's why the first thing I do is find a table for all of us.

I've learned from experience telling my kids "we'll be in this general area" doesn't work.  It seems like my kids have "Mr. Magoo vision" when they need to find us.

Instead, I'll grab an open table and sit down to reserve it.  Always leave one person at the table, because a random cup or bag alone isn't clear if you reserved the table or forgot your belongings.

Then, as soon as the first person returns with their food, I get up and get my food.

Reserving a table first is important for breakfast or at lunch sea days when the buffets get really busy.

I will look to see all the food choices before I start piling food on my plate

It's a rookie mistake to grab a plate and load up on the first thing you see.

I cannot tell you how many times I've done that, only to discover food I'd much rather have elsewhere at another buffet station.

Then you're left in a situation where you don't want to be totally wasteful and discard a full plate of food.  So you eat some or all of it before getting to the food you really wanted the most.

Take a quick walk around the buffet, and be sure to look for the cooking stations towards the back to see what specials are being offered.

The cooking stations are the hidden gem of the Windjammer

Speaking of cooking stations, you should look for these as a primary target in your food quest.

The Windjammer usually has at least one cooking station that changes what it offers every day for lunch and dinner.

At breakfast, it's an omelet station to cook eggs exactly the way you prefer it.

Later in the day, it could serve custom-made pasta, Asian stir fry, or some other cuisine.  

There's no cost to order food at the cooking stations, and the best thing is it's all freshly prepared.  

If there's outdoor seating, I'll always sit there

Certain types of Royal Caribbean ships have outdoor seating at the back of the Windjammer, and you really should go there to eat your food. This is one of my favorite spots on a ship.

On Radiance, Freedom, and most Quantum Class ships, the Windjammer has outdoor seating towards the very back.

I think there's something so enjoyable with having your food along with the sea breeze and endless ocean views. Plus, most of the seating is covered, so you're safe from rain.

Royal Caribbean has rebranded how you can book a flight along with your cruise.

For years, the cruise line has offered an option to add a flight to your cruise through the Air2Sea program.  Going forward, it will have a new name.

Travel agents were informed of the change on Monday.

Regardless of the name, it's one of the most useful tools for combining cruise and flight together, especially to take advantage of promotional discounts.

Here's what has changed about the program, and why I recommend using it when you're flying internationally.

Introducing Flights by Royal

Without much hoopla, Royal Caribbean confirmed it has changed the name of the Air2Sea program.

"The Royal Caribbean Air2Sea program has recently been renamed to Flights by Royal," a notice read in an update sent to travel agents.

It appears this is purely a name change only, and nothing about Flights by Royal is different from Air2Sea.

Royal Caribbean still advertises three major reasons to book your flight with the cruise line.

First and foremost, it has a Guaranteed Arrival feature. This means if anyone that books a flight with them and has a delayed or cancelled flight, Royal Caribbean has a team available 24/7 to assist in getting you on the ship, even if it means flying you to the next port.

If you booked a flight independently, you wouldn't have that option and would be on the hook for missing the cruise.

In fact, Royal Caribbean advertises if they cannot get you to the ship, you will receive a full flight refund and a future cruise credit
equal to the value of your cruise. Plus, the dedicated support team can also assist with flight rebooking, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation.

Another key benefit is they claim they offer the lowest prices for flights.

"Flights by Royal offers some of the most competitive refundable with fee, or fully non-refundable rates."

Plus, you have the choice of your preferred airlines. Every major global airline is offered on Flights by Royal.

My favorite benefit is the least known perk

While many people are aware you can book a flight with Royal Caribbean and they include the Guaranteed Arrival benefit, less know about the pay later option.

The FLEX Fare is a book now, pay later option. 

The way it works is guests can reserve eligible flights with no money down when selecting a refundable (with fee) fare before their cruise final payment date. 

By taking this option, you can cancel or change your flight without a cancellation or change fee up to the cruise final payment date for the specified sailing. 

These fares also include Guaranteed Arrival protection and continue to deliver strong value in the market.

The majority of flights are eligible for the Flights by Royal FLEX Fare, which will be noted with a "Pay Later" option.

I love this option because it allows you book a cruise and lock in a flight price while still being able to take advantage of a flight price decrease later. Or change your mind without penalty.

Plus, you don't have to pay for your flight up front.

How to book a flight with Flights by Royal

There are three ways to book a flight with this rebranded program.

First, is ask your travel agent. They can do it all for you.

If you prefer, you can book it on your own online from their website.

Once on the website, you'll need your cruise confirmation number and you can view the airline schedules.  From there, you can choose the airline, price and flight times that best fit your trip.

You may also book your flight by calling 844-278-9745. Representatives are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you want to look up prices before booking a cruise, you can browse current prices with a ship and sail date in mind. Flight prices are subject to change and you won't be able to book a flight until you have a cruise confirmation number.

Save up to $250 off flights to Europe and Alaska

If you need another incentive to try Flights by Royal, how about free money?

Royal Caribbean will offer up to $250 per person for flights you combine with Europe, Alaska, and select Repos/Trans sailings departing between March 15, 2026 - November 2, 2026

The flights must be booked between now and June 6, 2026.

Here's how the discount works:

• Alaska itineraries
  • $50 USD per person for Economy and Premium Economy Class seats
  • $100 USD per person for First and Business Class seats
• Europe itineraries
  • $100 USD per person for Economy
  • $150 USD per person for Premium Economy Class seats
  • $250 USD per person for First and Business Class seats
• Alaska Open Jaw itineraries
  • $100 USD per person for all Class seat airfares

Guest must be booked outside of 150 days to sailings for Europe, Repos/Trans and Alaska excluding Open Jaw itinerary sailings. Guests on Alaska Open Jaw itinerary sailings may book inside or outside 150 days to sailing. These offers are applicable to all airlines. 

How does Royal Caribbean's top two premium beach offerings compare: Royal Beach Club Paradise Island vs. Coco Beach Club?

I have visited both in the past, but I wanted to pit the two against each other since they represent the top ways to spend extra while sailing through The Bahamas.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opened less than six months ago, and it's a new kind of higher-end shore excursion that is curated by the cruise line. A private enclave designed exclusively for Royal Caribbean passengers.

Then you have the Coco Beach Club, the original elevated way to splurge on a beach day.  Within a secluded portion of Perfect Day at CocoCay, you'll find an area with the best amenities and no crowds.

Each of them have an extra cost to visit, so I booked both over the same weekend while sailing on Utopia of the Seas in order to compare both and see which one stands out.

My goal was to look at how each delivers relaxation, food quality, crowds, and overall value.

Royal Beach Club combines the best features from its private island

It's clear Royal Caribbean designed the Royal Beach Club by taking all the lessons learned from building Perfect Day at CocoCay and combining it into a new offering.

I brought my family to the Royal Beach Club after pre-booking admission in the months leading up to the cruise.  Thanks to a variety of sales, I was able to get admission for $89.99 per person for unlimited food, alcohol, and access. 

If you've been to CocoCay before, I think you'll quickly notice Royal Caribbean took three ideas as the basis to craft this area:

• The concept of a premium, exclusive area from the Coco Beach Club
• The adults-focused energy and vibe of a pool party from Hideaway Beach
• The fun that a swim-up bar brings from the Oasis Lagoon

It makes sense: take the best ideas and turn them into one super idea, and that's what you have with the Royal Beach Club.

There are three zones, each with its own vibe.  Chill Beach is where families can go to enjoy a sprawling pool and beach area. Party Cove has an all-day pool party with DJ pumping tunes, and Paradise Beach is the more laid-back hangout spot.

We opted for Paradise Beach zone, and primarily spent time in the pool.  It's heated and has stunning views of the ocean and area around you.

No matter where you sit, there is fantastic waiter service.  One waiter is assigned to each group of chairs, and they'll deliver any drinks you need.

Of course, you could grab a drink at the swim-up bar or even go between zones and grab a drink on your way.  It's all very convenient and easy.

There are food stations throughout the property that serve quick-service options, such as burgers, salads, wraps, shrimp, and more.  It's casual dining, but perfect to keep your day going without taking you out of the fun in and around the water.

The water is definitely the focus at the Royal Beach Club. You are immersed with the perfect pools and turquoise blue ocean water.  You're never more than a few steps away from any of it.

Coco Beach Club is relaxing, easy to get to, and has amazing food

I've visited the Coco Beach Club many times over the years, and it's best selling point is you won't encounter crowds or have to compete for a beach chair.

It's effectively the same beach you'd find elsewhere on the island, but the difference is the elevated resort feel this area has compared to the rest of the island.

It's a short walk from the ship (there's tram service too), and as soon as you walk in, you'll see what I mean.  A beautiful deck leading to a heated infinity pool that overlooks the white sand beach.

You can grab a chair along the beach, or try for one of the day beds near the pool. It's all first-come, first-serve.

At the chairs, you simply have to turn the flag up on the chair to request drink service.  Keep in mind admission here does not include drinks, so you'll need to pay extra for beverages (unless you have a drink package from the ship).

Without a doubt, the food is where the Coco Beach Club truly excels. They have their own sit-down restaurant where you can dine on filet mignon, lobster, and more.

I believe this restaurant is just as good, if not better than, many Royal Caribbean ship-based restaurants.  In fact, I dined at 150 Central Park for dinner on the same night I visited the Coco Beach Club, and I swear my steak at the club was better.

Each club does one thing better than the other

After trying both out, I can see a clear advantage to each offering.

The Royal Beach Club has a superior beach and pool experience.  They have multiple pools, and their beach is arguably prettier with less seagrass.

While the Coco Beach Club has one heated pool, there are three heated pools. Plus, there's a party area for those looking for more energy in their pool day.  And all the pools have swim-up bars, which are undeniably fun.

Moreover, the Royal Beach Club is all-inclusive.

The Coco Beach Club has some of the best food you'll find on ship or land.  

The food at Royal Beach Club is good, but nothing you'll rave about.  But the CBC restaurant is going to leave you dreaming about it for weeks to come after your visit.

It's amazing the high quality of the food here, and it's probably the top reason I'll return every time.

The biggest difference: price vs experience

The biggest variable in comparing the two beach clubs is price.  Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing for each, and that means you could have wildly different prices than I did to visit.

In my experience, the Royal Beach Club prices usually range between $90 and $160 per person for the alcohol package when pre-purchased before your sailing.

The Royal Beach Club is usually priced around $130 - $250 per person before the cruise. Keep in mind no drinks are included with admission.

Both offer cabanas to rent for the day that include admission.

Almost certainly, you'll pay more to visit the Coco Beach Club because I've observed that Royal Caribbean has used price to balance demand for it since it opened.

Outside of price, you also have to think about what you want from your day.

Coco Beach Club can cost significantly more, but it's also more of an elevated feel than the Royal Beach Club.

You’re not getting the same experience, but you might not need it.

Final verdict

Having tried both, if I had to pick only one, I'd easily choose the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island instead of the Coco Beach Club.

I had a great day at both, but I think there's more to do and enjoy at the RBC without paying nearly as much.  Plus, you get food and drink for the price.

While there's no question the food is far superior at the Coco Beach Club, I cannot justify paying the price there. This is especially true when the price is over $200 per person.

I also think the pools are more fun and enjoyable at the Royal Beach Club, and the ocean color and clarity is better.

Not to mention I could still have a great day elsewhere for no extra cost at CocoCay. I can't say the same about Nassau if I skipped the club.

You should pick the Coco Beach Club if you're okay paying more for exclusivity. But go for the Royal Beach Club if you want a fun, social beach day and care more about value.

I love finding new things I can bring on my cruise to make it better, and I think I found a few on Amazon that are now permanently on my packing list.

Before I took my latest cruise on Utopia of the Seas, I went to buy a float to bring to the beach that I had meant to purchase for a long time.  I noticed in the title, it specifically mentioned being useful on a Royal Caribbean cruise and that got me thinking what other items are marketed specifically towards cruisers.

After a bit of searching, I came across 10 items I could buy and test out. 

I guessed a few of them would almost certainly not be that useful, but I didn't want my own preconceived notions to prevent me from trying something potentially useful out.

I added them all to my cart, hit checkout, and $170.09 later, I had them all on their way to my house.

After trying them out on a 3-night Bahamas cruise, I was pleasantly surprised when three of them instantly became favorites.

This float is a gamechanger for the beach

I had seen another passenger use a 4-in-1 pool hammock float a few years ago, and it's been living in my head rent-free ever since. 

Royal Caribbean doesn't allow you to use floats in their ship pools, but the rules are looser on land.

Unlike a regular float, this can be modified to use in multiple ways without being bulky or require a pump. It's essentially two small inflatables attached to a mesh liner.

The genius is you can sit on it like a chair, rest your arms on it like a ledge, lay on it, or theoretically use it for exercise.  The last one is admittedly ridiculous, but I can attest to the other three forms.

This float solves the situation where you're socializing in the ocean or pool in a height that's too shallow to stand up, so you end up either kneeling or doing a half-squat. 

Instead, you sit down in this float and you're so much more comfortable hanging out.

I was surprised how enjoyable this was, and because it all folds down quite small once uninflated, I would definitely bring them on future cruises.

• Waterlife 4-in-1 Pool Hammock for $17.78 on Amazon

Possibly the most useful item solves the small cruise ship bathroom problem

I was genuinely surprised just how useful a magnetic toothbrush holder could be, but it's a must-have for me now.

No matter what room you book, the counter space in a cruise ship bathroom is always limited. There doesn't seem to be a fair way to share the space, so we end up living out of our toiletry bags for the most part.  Best case scenario, the older ships have plastic cups that we use to store some things.

Instead, this wall-mounted magnetized toothbrush holder can be attached almost anywhere in the bathroom and it's perfect for toothbrushes, razors, toothpaste, and other travel-sized toiletries.

It was so nice freeing up the counter so we weren't inadvertently knocking things over or having to jockey for position. To say it felt liberating might be too strong of a description, but it really felt that way.

• Magnetic Toothbrush Holder for $7.99 on Amazon

Putting a fan on the ceiling is great for sleeping

Bringing a rechargeable fan on a cruise isn't a new idea, but one that goes on the ceiling is so smart.

I'm used to sleeping with a ceiling fan at home, and you'll never find one on a cruise ship.  Heck, they're rare in hotels too.

This particular fan is battery powered (rechargeable via USB) and has a strong magnet on the bottom, so you can stick it on the ceiling.

I put mine right on the air conditioning vent, which pushed the air coming out directly towards me.  It felt so good having directional cool air.

Plus, it has four speeds. This not only allows for the right amount of air flow, but also creates white noise on its higher speeds.

Anyone used to sleeping with a fan on at home will find this as an added bonus.

• Magnetic cruise approved fan for $24.99 on Amazon

I tried two soda cup holders, but I felt too weird wearing them around the ship

I've never been a fan of carrying a soda cup around the ship, so a drink cup sling sounded like a good idea.

I found two of them, but they both suffered from the same problem.

Both slings worked as advertised. Put your Royal Caribbean soda cup in them, and now you have a hands-free way to carry the cup around the ship.

First, it felt like the soda cups were too top heavy for the slings, so the cup was always tipping over when being carried.

Second, I really thought I looked especially dorky wearing it.  I don't generally care what other people think of what I wear, but I have some standards in attempting to look presentable.

Some viewers on YouTube suggested I should have worn it as a cross-body sling, instead of as a BabyBjörn carrier.  

If I had to pick one, I think the full cup sling was better because it had an extra pocket to put a SeaPass card or cash inside.

• Cruise Ship Essentials Cup Sling (2-pack) for $14.99 on Amazon
• Adjustable Drink Cup Sling (2-pack) for $15.99 on Amazon

I tried bringing a thermometer, but it might have been useful on an older ship

I recall reading some people bring a battery-operated thermometer for their cabin and thinking, "why?" but then realizing it might actually be useful.

The idea is on cruise ships that still have a dial for adjusting the air conditioning or heat, it's a bit of a game to find the right temperature.  

If you're like me, you're used to customizing the temperature at home precisely.  On older ships, it's just a game of "more" or "less" cold.

The idea is put a digital thermometer above the controls and you can more easily pinpoint the perfect setting that you're used to at home.

This wasn't necessary on Utopia, because new Royal Caribbean ships have digital thermostats. But when I go on my Alaska cruise next month, this might be worth bringing along.

• Indoor thermometer (2-pack) for $6.99 on Amazon

I tried using towel bands on chairs, but they seemed useless

I've never thought towel bands or towel clips were that useful an idea, but I was willing to give it a try.

I brought a 6-pack of them to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island because this new private destination is set up on a barrier island, which means it gets a lot of wind.

Sure, it kept my towel in place. But I don't think it improved my experience at all. Perhaps if it had been extremely windy, sure.  But then I thought I would have put almost any other belonging I had with me to keep the towels from flying away.

Honestly, I associate towel bands with chair hogs more than a truly useful item.

• 6 Pack Towel Band for $8.49 on Amazon

A drink caddy is a smart idea — if you're going to volunteer to get everyone drinks often

I was skeptical, but willing to try bringing a drink caddy so I could make a Starbucks run and be the family hero.

Since we were staying in a Star Class suite, Starbucks beverages are included with our fare and I knew we'd be ordering plenty of lattes and Frappuccino's during our trip.

The drink caddy is perfectly proportioned to carry up to 4 beverages, and it's clearly designed for coffees.

Not only is it difficult to carry more than two coffees at once, but I don't want to risk spilling it on me or anywhere else.

While the drink caddy works exactly as advertised, I still question how useful it really is because even with complimentary Starbucks, we never made that many runs that it was necessary.

 I suppose if someone in your family is willing to be a trooper and make coffee runs, this would be very helpful. Better yet, buy it because you can use it at home and then bring it on your cruise too.

• 4 Cup Drink Carrier with Handle for $14.99 on Amazon

I never got to use two of the things I bought for my cruise

I failed with two of the things I bought for different reasons.

I bought drink cup holder clips because I thought they would work really well with pool loungers.  

But when I got to the Royal Beach Club, the loungers didn't have any piece that was thin enough to latch them onto because the clip wouldn't expand enough.

I also purchased a snack box so that I could bring it to the Windjammer and then bring back snacks to enjoy the room later.  I always lament that the Windjammer closes by 9pm and then I want a snack later that evening. When my kids were younger, having snacks in the room was always a struggle.

Unfortunately, I never found time to try this idea out. I think it absolutely could work, although my wife forbade me from putting Indian curry in it to enjoy later because it would have been a nightmare to clean.

• Drinking Cup Holder Clip (2-pack) for $15.99 on Amazon
• Snackle Box Container for $12.99 on Amazon

Stay up-to-date with all the Royal Caribbean news from this week with our roundup of all this week's news.

Royal Caribbean ordered two more of the world's largest cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the order of its sixth and seventh Icon Class ships

The new ships will be delivered in 2029 and 2030, respectively. 

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean gives us a first look at its new beach club that opened today
• Despite global disruptions, Royal Caribbean Group says bookings are stronger than last year
• Royal Caribbean beach club guests refunded after Bahamas election day alcohol ban
• Royal Caribbean is using AI to predict what you’ll eat, buy, and book on your cruise
• I tried a $25 Orlando cruise ship shuttle to get me from the airport. It made my port trip better
• 25 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for
• I paid $11,000 for the cheapest suite with VIP perks on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas
• Why more Royal Caribbean passengers are coming back and spending more
• Spirit Airlines shut down, and it could disrupt how thousands get to their cruises from Florida
• Higher airfare prices aren't stopping vacationers from going on a cruise
• I've brought friends on cruise ships and discovered 8 mistakes to avoid when sharing a cabin
• Royal Caribbean soda package vs. Carnival soda package

New RCB Video: I Tested 10 Amazon Cruise Products To See If It Worked

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! 

This week, we are sharing our latest video—I Tested 10 Amazon Cruise Products To See If It Worked—don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!

Here's how big the Discovery Class ships will be

According to new government filings, the passenger count was revealed for the new Discovery Class ships.

While nothing has been announced, Royal Caribbean Group's form 10-Q filing indicates these new ships won't be as small as some people were hoping.

We don't yet know the dimensions or any other details, but it's our first glimpse of what they have in mind.

Perfect Day Mexico opening date delayed

Royal Caribbean's CEO gave an update on Perfect Day Mexico's construction, indicating the opening will be a bit delayed.

Originally, the plan was for it to open in September 2027. Now that date has shifted.

The update comes after reports of bureaucratic delays added a brief pause.

Royal Caribbean launches new credit cards

You can now apply for the new Royal Caribbean credit cards, which offer a substantial signup bonus.

The Royal One card and Royal One Plus card each have their own set of perks, including priority boarding.

You can earn up to 70,000 points instantly if you signup now for them.

Royal Caribbean just asked cruisers to pick new food hall items

A new survey has been sent out, asking for opinions on a new food hall menu.

Assuming this survey is for a future Aquadome Market, it's likely these items could appear on the menu on Hero of the Seas or another ship down the line.

Royal Caribbean uses surveys like this often as a way to better align its offerings with what passengers expect.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 606th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available! 

Matt shares his opinion on why Royal Caribbean is offering Guarantee cabin assignment early if you pay $30 extra.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast! We’d appreciate it.

One thing Royal Caribbean is doing extremely well is giving its fans plenty of reasons to cruise again and again.

Royal Caribbean Group executives talked during Thursday's earnings call about the impact loyalty has had on its business, which is making a major impact on its bottom line.

Based on the latest numbers, the changes the company has made to spur loyalty is working.

Royal Caribbean Group reported total revenue of $4.5 billion, an 11% increase year over year.

Executives revealed that repeat customers now make up a significantly larger share of their business than in the past, a shift that helps explain not just strong bookings, but also why passengers are spending more once they're onboard.

Shift in who's cruising

The balance of who is cruises is changing.

For years, Royal Caribbean has operated with what executives described as a "third, a third, a third" mix of customers , which refers to roughly one-third repeat cruisers, one-third new-to-cruise, and one-third new-to-brand guests.

"As we look at our business… we’re getting more and more repeat customers inside of our ecosystem," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty during the earnings call. "At this point, about 40% of our customers are coming from our current customer base."

That's a pretty large leap from the traditional 33% mark, and it signals what they're doing to get fans to cruise again is working.

"I think that’s a reflection of all the things that we’re doing around loyalty, all the investments we’ve made on AI and other technology that helps curate and engage with our guests," he said.

Deeper loyalty changes

Mr. Liberty mentioned the things they're doing around loyalty, and that's been a three-pronged effort to make it easier than ever to cruise across any of the Royal Caribbean Group brands,

The company just launched its first tri-branded Royal ONE credit cards, which allow customers to earn points to use on Royal Caribbean International, Silversea, or Celebrity Cruises.

That came hot on the heels of Points Choice, which introduced a way to finally earn points from any brand sailing back to the loyalty program of your choice.

This means Royal Caribbean fans could try a Silversea cruise and still earn Crown & Anchor Society points.

In addition, there is true status matching across all the brands that was introduced in 2024.  

All of these upgrades for consumers have essentially freed them to sail more and expand their offerings without losing out on the perks, benefits, and point totals they want.

Each piece is designed to keep customers within the Royal Caribbean ecosystem instead of losing them to competitors.

"Things to continue to incentivize and recognize our guests to stay inside that," Liberty said.

Repeat cruisers are more valuable

Enabling cruisers with better perks is good public relations, but it also translates to their bottom line too.

In fact, repeat cruisers are spending more than first-timers.

"They tend to sail on us more often… but they also tend to spend about 25% more than new-to-cruise or first-to-brand," Liberty explained.

That higher spending shows up across the entire cruise experience, from drink packages and specialty dining to shore excursions and onboard purchases.

In general, Royal Caribbean Group is seeing onboard revenue remains strong across the board. Guests are buying up things for their cruise before they sail.''

"More than half of onboard revenue is booked before guests ever step on board," Mr. Liberty explained, adding that "the vast majority of those purchases [are] made digitally."

Technology is also making it easier to stay "loyal to Royal"

Royal Caribbean is leaning heavily on technology to strengthen guest loyalty.

Mr. Liberty talked about a "unified intelligence layer" that connects every stage of the vacation experience.

"Our focus is on a unified intelligence layer that delivers seamless, relevant experiences," he said.

The company has already seen a major shift in how customers interact with its platforms.

"Digital penetration of bookings has more than doubled since 2019," Liberty said, as he talked about the surging app usage.

Why this matters to you

An upward trend among repeat customers could have an impact on your upcoming cruises.

On the one hand, the company is actively engaged in making changes that entice you to cruise again.  Increased loyalty perks and simpler transitions between lines are designed to reduce friction in deciding to book another cruise.

But on the other hand, more people returning to cruise means higher overall demand that drives up cruise prices. It also means increased competition for the best cabins and sailings.

Royal Caribbean has already signaled that demand is strong enough to support higher pricing.

During the call, executives said bookings remain at "record prices," with limited inventory left for many sailings.