Let's welcome spring with Royal Caribbean! It was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

On Star of the Seas, connecting rooms have a new option for making these rooms perfect, even if you don't know the person on the other side.

Connecting cabins are traditionally cruise rooms we don't recommend, but that has changed.

Matt tried out a set of these staterooms on his spring break cruise, and it's definitely a smart fix.

Royal Caribbean News

• Miami's cruise ship traffic problem is so bad, but there's a new plan to fix it
• Royal Caribbean glitch sends out "Welcome Aboard" emails over and over again
• Cruise ship requests blood donors from guests during middle of the night
• US issues "worldwide caution" alert to travelers
• You could be seated with strangers on a cruise. How to avoid it
• Yes, you can share a Royal Caribbean internet package (and it can save you money)
• I took my family on a spring break cruise. Here are the 6 tips I used to deal with the crowds
• 4 of the most commonly confiscated items on a cruise ship
• What is an Alaska Inside Passage cruise like?
• Celebrity Cruises drink packages explained: costs, perks, and if it’s worth it
• Why many travelers aren't canceling their cruises right now

New RCB Video: 5 Passengers Who Are Banned From Royal Caribbean Forever

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 — 5 Passengers Who Are Banned From Royal Caribbean Forever — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Cruise ship passenger sues Royal Caribbean for $75,000 after slipping and falling

Royal Caribbean is being sued after a passenger slip and fell on a wet floor on one of its ships.

The person fell backward in Central Park on Harmony of the Seas after it rained.

She is seeking $75,000 in a new lawsuit filed against the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean passenger dies during New Zealand cruise

A passenger died on board Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas ship earlier this week.

Anthem was sailing a 12-night New Zealand cruise at the time of the incident.

New Zealand Police are investigating the "sudden death" on behalf of the coroner with no cause of death yet disclosed.

I brought a 12-pack of soda on my Royal Caribbean cruise. Why it was a smart hack

I tried out one of the most popular money saving cruise tips and now I know why everyone does it.

Bringing your own soda on a cruise saves money, especially for casual drinkers.

While it was a hassle to carry it on embarkation day, it paid off during the rest of my sailing.

I ate my way through Royal Caribbean's newest mega ship. These are the 7 dishes I'm still thinking about

After a week on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Matt shared the best of the best food he ate onboard.

One thing new cruise ships always do well is the variety of food, and Star of the Seas did not disappoint.

From burgers to croissants, Matt listed his favorite foods of the cruise that truly stood out.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 601st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt laments the port times in select ports.

Certain ports always seem to have very short hours, and it's frustrating to Matt how it happens so often.

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

There's a chance you would have to sit with other passengers for a meal during your Royal Caribbean cruise.

Sharing a table with other guests is a cruising tradition going back decades, and it's still in use in a few situations.

Some people like the idea of being seated with others because it adds a social aspect to the meal, and it's a way to connect with others.  You rarely encounter such opportunities in today's society outside of cruising.

However, some people would greatly prefer not to deal with making conversation and other pleasantries during their meals.  Or they simply prefer to enjoy time with their own family.

Here's what you should know about being seated with strangers on a cruise ship, and when you can avoid it.

The best chance to sit with other passengers is in the Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the highest chance you'll be seated with someone outside your party is at dinner.

With Traditional Dinner, Royal Caribbean comes up with a seating arrangement to accommodate as many people as possible. There are small and large tables, and it's not uncommon to see a few couples seated together at the same table.

There's no way to know in advance what your table assignment will be, so you'll have to wait until you board the ship to see.  

Dining room table assignments are indicated at the bottom right corner of your SeaPass card, but you can also go to the Main Dining Room on embarkation and ask the staff there to verify for you.

If you have selected My Time Dining for dinner, the choice to be seated at a larger table or wait for a private table will be handled as you check-in.

Breakfast and lunch don't have pre-assigned tables, so you'll be seated on a first-come basis. 

Generally, you don't get asked to sit with other passengers, but if the dining room is busy, they sometimes will. Especially with small groups.

You could ask for a private table, but you may have to wait longer.

How to request a table alone

You can make a request pre-cruise to for a private table at dinner. 

A few weeks before your cruise, send an email to [email protected] asking for a table without anyone else. Provide them with your name, ship name, sail date, and cabin number.

You can also change your table assignment on embarkation day by speaking to the Head Waiter.

As you walk into the Main Dining Room, there's usually a crew member at a kiosk who can assist. It's not a guarantee that they can change it for you, but in my experience they almost always can offer you some kind of an alternative.

If you want to change tables later, that's an option too

If the idea of meeting new people and enjoying a lively dinner conversation sounds great, but the people you're seated with end up being dull or frustrating, you can always change to a different table later.

Ask the Head Waiter or Maître d for a new assignment, and they can usually work with you.  Their goal is for everyone to be happy and enjoy their meals.

You can't avoid sitting with strangers at two restaurants

Nearly every other restaurant doesn't require being seated with strangers, but there are two specialty restaurants where you don't have a choice.

Chef's Table is an intricate multi-course meal, paired with glasses of wine, and it's a special occasion where everyone is seated around the same table.

Because this is an intimate meal, there's just one table and it's limited to just a dozen or so passengers.  Therefore, you'll be seated with others.

The other restaurant with mandatory communal seating is Izumi Hibachi and Izumi Omakase.

Each hibachi table can accommodate around 10-12 guests.  This is very unlike Chef's Table, but because there's such high demand and limited times, you'll be seated with other passengers.

Of course, you could avoid being seated with someone you don't know by buying out the table.  Bring a large group with you and make reservations and you'll circumvent the issue because you're bringing the party!

I've been seated with other passengers for meals during shore excursions

The other situation where you could be seated with other passengers is on a shore excursion where a meal is included.

Tours that take you to a restaurant or home for a meal often have limited seating, so it's not uncommon to have to share a table.

Sitting with people you don't know could be a great social opportunity

Some people that cruise a lot swear by how much fun it is to sit with strangers for a meal.

In every situation where I've had to share a table with others, it's never been an awful experience. At worst, they're quiet and don't talk so I'll talk with just my family.

Plus, sitting with others could be a great idea for solo cruisers who wouldn't mind an opportunity to chat.

If you do share a table, be sure to arrive on time and avoid any controversial topics.  I recommend talking about your cruise and experiences onboard to keep it light.

Every cruise, I watch passengers get stopped before boarding at security for items they had no idea were banned.

Most people make an honest mistake by bringing things that aren't allowed onboard because they're a fire or security hazard. Most of these confiscated items don't get them in trouble, but it does result in a frustrating start to their vacation and the loss of the item until they return.

I know when I pack something for a cruise, I'm counting on having that item.  So getting to taken away would put a dent in my plans.

While Royal Caribbean has a lengthy list of things you can't bring on a cruise, four are clearly the top items that seem to be accidentally brought onboard the most.

The most commonly confiscated item are irons and steamers

If you ever pass by the table of confiscated items to be picked up after a cruise is over, I can pretty much guarantee you'll see mostly clothing irons and steamers.

So many people mistakenly believe they can bring them on a cruise, but they'll be taken away as soon as they're spotted in your bags.

The reason why you can't bring clothing irons or steamers on a cruise is they are a fire hazard.  If left unattended, they could start a fire and that's a risk Royal Caribbean won't take.

Fire is the most dangerous scenario for a cruise ship, so the ship's crew are extra vigilant when it comes to preventing fires.

Since irons and steamers aren't allowed, you'll have to figure out an alternative to getting wrinkles and creases out of your clothes.

There are a few options people rely on as a backup:

• Sending clothes out to be pressed onboard (extra cost)
• Bringing wrinkle release spray
• Leaving clothes in the bathroom while the shower runs to absorb the steam
• Rolling clothes in their suitcase

Each idea has its pros and cons, so you'll need to find the one that works best for your needs.

Beer or liquor isn't allowed to be brought onboard

A few cruise lines allow you to bring beer on embarkation day, but not Royal Caribbean. You cannot bring beer or liquor on your cruise.

In fact, the cruise line has gotten more stringent with checking for these items because people try to sneak it onboard.

You are allowed to bring wine or non-alcoholic drinks on your cruise. However, they might still search your bag if they see something in the bag scan that even resembles booze.

This rule is also enforced when you come back on the ship in a port of call. Cruisers like to buy bottles of liquor to bring home, but it will be taken from you until the cruise is over.

Power strips and other unapproved power adaptors are commonly taken from people

If clothing irons are the most confiscated item, then power strips are probably number two on the list.

You cannot bring a power strip or surge protector on a cruise. That's been a rule for many years, and it's because it's also a fire hazard.

But Royal Caribbean also prohibits bringing multi-plug outlets, which is a more recent change in policy.

The simplest way to know if your power adaptor is allowed on a Royal Caribbean ship is to make sure it only has one A/C outlet. The amount of USB outlets is irrelevant.

I recommend this universal power adaptor that works well for cruise ships and will help you if you end up traveling elsewhere around the world (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).

Appliances

As a general rule, you can't bring kitchen appliances on your ship either.  

I've seen rice cookers, electric kettles, and coffee machines on the confiscated items table because people think they can save money and make certain foods in their cabin.

"Electrical items and electronic equipment not designed for personal grooming" aren't allowed.

If your ship sails from the UK, you can expect an electric tea kettle in your cabin. 

Otherwise, you'll need to book a suite in order to have a coffee machine or electric kettle ready to use in your cabin that has been provided by the cruise line.

I ate so much good food on my Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Star of the Seas. In fact, a few were really fantastic.

Every cruise has a wide variety of food, and I'll admit I often go on cruises purely for the food.  The destinations it visits are great, the shows are wonderful, but all the food brings me back each and every time.  

If there's one area you'll notice an improvement with a new vs old cruise ship, it's the food. Royal Caribbean has steadily upped its food game over the years, and each new ship represents a step forward with new options.

After 7 nights on Star of the Seas for a spring break cruise, here are the seven dishes I ordered that I couldn't get enough of during my voyage.

I ordered the chicken parmigiana at Giovanni's Italian twice, because it was so good

My staple for any Italian restaurant is chicken parmigiana, because it's reliably good and can be used as a barometer for the restaurant as a whole.

We ate at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen twice during our cruise (because we had a dining package), and I ordered this dish twice.

The chicken parm here was huge, had a good mix of sauce and cheese, and the chicken wasn't rubbery, too flat, or tough. 

I ordered a side of spaghetti to go with it, but it came with spaghetti and it was just the right amount to compliment the chicken.

All the food at Giovanni's is freshly prepared, and this is one of many dishes I love with the new menu offered.  Shout out to the margherita pizza, giant meatball, and house salad as being really good too.

I always order the sushi platter at Izumi as one of my dishes

I'm no stranger to Izumi sushi on any ship, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the sushi on Star of the Seas too.

When you eat at Izumi, you have the choice of a few different small dishes, entrees, and dessert. Regardless of how many times I eat here, I think I always order at least one sushi platter.

There are two choices: Chef's Sushi Selection and Assorted Sashimi. The difference is nigiri vs sashimi rolls, and depending on my mood, I might pick one over the other.

On this occasion, I went with the Chef's Sushi Selection because the rice seemed like a good idea.

Not only is this a tasty option, but it's also an excellent value for how many rolls you get for the price.

I started ordering a chocolate croissant at Pearl Cafe with my morning coffee

I'm not a breakfast guy. I need have an iced coffee everyday and that's usually it until lunch.

But if we have shore plans, I'll grab something to eat so I'm not hangry at 10:30.  The chocolate croissant from Pearl Cafe looked nice, so I ordered it.  And then I ordered it again every single day the offered it.

Pearl Cafe seems to alternate between two breakfast menus each day, so I could only have the chocolate croissant every other day.

I love the combination of a buttery croissant with the richness of chocolate. 

I've had similar pastries on other European cruises, and Royal Caribbean's version is pretty darn good. Tasty, quick, and the perfect compliment to my coffee.

The internet said the smash burger at Basecamp is the best, but I didn't believe them. They were so right

Last year we asked our readers for the best snacks on Royal Caribbean, and so many people said the smash burger was it.

I was skeptical that it was that good, or that it could be better than the burger at the Windjammer.  

I was so wrong.

Basecamp has quickly become one of the best restaurant ideas to come out of the Icon Class, and I think the smash burger is a great example.

Smash burgers are regular burgers, but pressed into a super hot griddle until it gets a deeply caramelized crispy crust. Add onions, lettuce, pickles, and a tomato, and you get a winner.

I grabbed one for a late-afternoon snack and I was really impressed how good it tasted.  Not only was it better than the Windjammer burgers, but after wolfing one down, I wanted another.

The best steak on Star of the Seas is the filet mignon at Hooked

I recently came around to liking Hooked Seafood again after years of hating on it, and the filet mignon is a top reason why.

You can make arguments for the filet mignon from Chops, Coastal Kitchen, or Giovanni's being the best steak on the ship. But I really think Hooked was the best I had.

It's simple, but it's a generous sized cut of meat and cooked well.

I think I like the seasoning they use primarily as the difference maker. I'm not a "sauce on my steak" guy.

Ultimately, I think this steak doesn't try to do too much, and because it's a decent sized cut, is something I'd order any day.

Shout out for the blackened salmon, which is also quite good!

The Playmakers chicken tenders became my ultimate comfort food

Our cruise went over the NCAA Basketball March Madness tournament, so I found myself spending a lot of time in Playmakers Sports Bar.

The chicken tenders are giant hunks of breaded chicken, and I think it pairs so well with the BBQ sauce you can get to go with them.

Every time I went to Playmakers, I'd order them. Even when I was just there for a drink. It's a solid meal in and of itself, as well as being the kind of snack you can pick at.

Plus, it's served with french fries that are equally addictive to snack on while watching a game and drinking a beer.

While the nachos, burger, and crunch rolls at Playmakers are all quite tasty, I found it was the tenders I wanted to have first, every time.

I had at least 3 or 4 falafel bowls from Aquadome Market, because it was both good and didn't make me feel guilty

It's easier to snack if you can tell yourself it's "healthy", and that's exactly what I did at Aquadome Market.

Royal Caribbean's food hall is my favorite included restaurant, and I think I must have gone up there at least 3 or 4 times during my cruise. It might have been more.

The Feta hall has the option of falafel, chicken, or pork to be used in a pita or bowl.

I used to order the pita bread, but it's nearly impossible to eat without making a giant mess all over yourself.  I switched to the bowl to make it more manageable and then justified having more because there were less carbs.

I'm all for dishes made fresh and customized the way I want it. All veggies, no feta, extra hummus.

I wish they'd make the falafel fresh rather than in batches, but it's still so darn satisfying.

A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing in the South Pacific has died.

As first reported by People and confirmed by the police, a passenger was found dead aboard Anthem of the Seas as the ship was on its way to Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

A police statement confirmed basic details surrounding the death.

"At around 1:45 a.m., Police were notified of a death on board the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship which was arriving from Sydney, Australia."

Police are “making enquiries into the person's death on behalf of the coroner."

The police are now investigating the "sudden death", and no cause of death has yet been disclosed.

Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident as well, issuing a statement to members of the media.

"We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests. We are supporting authorities in their investigation"

No other details have been shared regarding the person's identity, what may have happened, or any other details surrounding the nature of the death.

Anthem of the Seas is on a 12-night roundtrip New Zealand cruise. The ship's itinerary includes visits to the Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch), and Dunedin, featuring scenic cruising in Dusky and Milford Sound before returning on April 3, 2026.

Anthem of the Seas is a 168,666 a gross ton vessel, and one of the Quantum Class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. It can accommodate up to 4,180 guests and 1,500 crew members.

It debuted in 2015, and is a relatively newer ship.

Royal Caribbean's new cabin design solves the noise problem in connecting rooms.

In March, I went on Star of the Seas for a 7-night cruise to Mexico and Honduras and I paid $2597.34 for each category CB stateroom.

I booked two connecting balcony rooms so that we had separation from my kids and we had two bathrooms, which has become a must-have when cruising with teenagers.

We stayed in cabins 12696 and 12698, which is on deck 12 and a short walk from the aft elevators.

After a few days, I regretted not booking our rooms on a lower deck.  I like to rely on the stairs to quickly get down to the Royal Promenade, but I wish I had a cabin on deck 8 or 9 instead because the walk would have been shorter.

Regardless of deck, I prefer to pick a cabin near the elevators to reduce the walking distance and increase convenience.

I've stayed in connecting rooms before, but there's a major difference with them on Star of the Seas. Instead of a connecting door inside the room, there's now a new feature that I think is pure genius.

Royal Caribbean added a pair of outside doors to solve a problem connecting cabins traditionally had of the interior common door being flimsy and not very soundproof.

The idea with these rooms is you can close off the outside doors and then keep your primary cabin door open or unlocked so you can easily go between each.

The advantage of this approach is if you don't know someone in the other connecting cabin, you don't have an interior door to contend with.  It's a wonderful little fix.

This seemingly solves the reason why connecting rooms were on our list of cabins to avoid on a cruise ship.

Access to the outside door still requires a tap of the RFID Seapass card (or Wow Band), and you can open or close the outer doors anytime you want.

The flexibility to deploy the outside doors or not meant we could keep it simple during the day, but close them at night in case us or the kids needed to pass through the rooms quickly.

Walking into the cabin, it's far from a giant cabin.  This is a standard balcony room with enough room for two passengers to comfortably enjoy it.

The king size bed is found immediately as we pass into the room. Like most Royal Caribbean beds, it can be split apart upon request.

On both sides of the bed is a reading light switch, along with a USB-A outlet.

There is a large closet near the bed, which is where most of the storage space is located.

Royal Caribbean provides hangers for your use, so you don't need to bring any extras with you.

The most controversial thing about this cabin are the wire baskets at the bottom.

Instead of drawers there are these heavy black baskets that screech every time you pull or push them in because they rub against the wood below it.

Frankly, I hate this and don't understand why the baskets were ever approved given how loud they are to slide in and out. Plus, I don't love the idea of my garments being visible from within the basket.

Some of our readers suggested removing the baskets and hiding them under the bed, which is a pretty good idea.

Next to the closet is a full-length mirror, which if you pull it open, reveals the safe.

Kind of a neat idea to hide the safe behind the mirror.

There is a large television across from the bed, which has a few channels to watch.  My favorite is the non-stop Back to the Future movies channel loop. 

Next to the TV are a set of shelves, with an extra USB outlet here. I'm not certain why there's a USB outlet, but it's there.

There is a vanity as you move deeper into the cabin, which also has additional drawers.

The vanity has a mirror and many power outlets. There is a universal AC outlet, along with one USB-A and one USB-C outlet.

Opposite the vanity is a sofa, which ends up being the "place all our junk gets put on".  But theoretically, you could sit or lay on it.

The balcony is accessible via a sliding door, where you'll find two chairs and a table.

Having a balcony room is such a nice plus. It's a wonderful space to enjoy and just large enough for two people to comfortably be out there. 

Back inside the room, the bathroom is small, but the space is used effectively.

The best thing about a bathroom on Star of the Seas is the shower. 

Instead of a tubular shape, Royal Caribbean has a much wider option with sliding door and even a bench. 

Overall, connecting balcony rooms are my favorite option for families that want to cruise together, but not share the same room.

Suites are so much more expensive than connecting rooms. Plus, this new connecting outside door idea is a really smart upgrade for families, or a lovely workaround if you happen to end up in a connecting balcony room and don't know the people in the other room.

Despite higher oil prices, airport delays, and travel disruption, travelers with a cruise booked are largely still planning to take their vacation.

So I asked cruise fans a simple question: Would any of this change your plans?

The answer was almost unanimous. They’re still going.

"Keeping all 9 of my bookings from now through November," posted Simone Amadee on Facebook when questioned if they were reconsidering travel because of recent global events.

Hundreds of others weighed in to say mostly the same thing: they're keeping their travel plans in place.

Long TSA lines, the Iran conflict, and increased airfares have been at the forefront of news in recent weeks, but going on a cruise doesn't seem to be changing in anyone's view yet.

Joline Tate posted, "Royal Caribbean will not take you where there's danger. If a port is dangerous, they will cancel; you won't have to."

Her sentiment was shared by many that life goes on, despite the travel anxiety some may be feeling.

"Unless the cruise line cancels it, I’m going"

The overwhelming response wasn’t hesitation. It was defiance. Despite scary headlines, most travelers are not canceling cruises.

We asked our readers on Facebook if they're feeling any concern about going on a cruise due to recent issues around the United States and abroad.

Over 200 comments were left, and the vast majority were positive and said they were definitely going on their cruise. In our unscientific poll, there were very limited outright cancellations.

The majority of the comments fell into the "I'm still going" category.

"I cruise at the end of July to the Caribbean. I'm making the final payment next week and hoping for the best," added Kelly D'Alessandro.

Many people shared they feel cruises feel insulated from global events. Moreover, Caribbean cruises are seen as low risk.

"I would absolutely go on a cruise if I had one booked and paid for. Probably the safest way to travel today," wrote Kat PS.

It also helps that cruises are booked months in advance, and most itineraries are far from conflict zones. Royal Caribbean doesn't offer any cruises in the Middle East, and their European cruise season is just about to begin.

Plus, there's a strong sense that cruises feel removed from the chaos on land. Once you're onboard, the outside world fades pretty quickly.

Some are concerned, but not canceling

Even though many aren't canceling their cruise, they are monitoring the situation to see if a change is needed.

Flights are probably the top concern among respondents.

• "Keeping all 9 of my bookings… a bit nervous about all of the flights"
• "A bit nervous about all of the flights I have to take but keeping the faith all will go well!"
• "My problem was the air fare was more than the cruise I was about to book"

People aren't canceling cruises, but they are worried about getting there. To that point, some people are pivoting to cruises they can drive to instead of relying on air travel.

A partial government shutdown has strained the Transportation Security Administration, contributing to longer security lines at airports across the country. This has lead to long lines at airports in some cases.

The concern of missing a flight over these delays is at the heart of why some are questioning going overseas for a trip. Both Americans traveling to Europe and Europeans coming to the States are where the comments started to vary.

"Staying in Europe this year, but we've booked most of our holidays at home in UK for the rest of the year," Sandra Harris wrote.

"Europe? Moved mine to next summer," added Ashley H.

People aren't canceling, but they are watching

The bottom line is most people with a cruise booked plan to go on it, but they aren't ignoring the world events either.

People are watching flight prices and airport situations, and they're thinking more carefully about future trips.

The cruise is still happening, it's just everything around it that feels a little uncertain.

I wanted to avoid paying cruise ship drink prices, but I didn’t want to buy a drink package either. So I tried a simple workaround: I brought a 12-pack of soda with me on my Royal Caribbean cruise.

If you're wondering, "Can I bring a 12-pack of soda on a Royal Caribbean cruise?", the answer is a resounding, "Yes!".

I buy beverage packages when it makes sense based on who I'm cruising with, but for my family's spring break cruise, I wanted to rely just on my loyalty drink vouchers.  However, I didn't want to use a voucher on a can of soda.

It was pain lugging the 12-pack around on embarkation day, but by the end of the cruise I realized it was an underrated hack.

It ended up saving me more than I expected, and it’s a trick more cruisers should be using.

Can you bring soda on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

One of the best secrets you may not know is Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring non-alcoholic drinks on a cruise.

You're allowed to bring up to 12 cans or bottles of soda, water, juice, or any other non-alcoholic beverage on embarkation day. The limit is per stateroom, not per person.

The only "catch" is you cannot check it. It must be in your carry-on luggage, so that means you need to take it onboard.

It's officially allowed, and not a "sneaky" hack, but many people are unaware of it.  I certainly knew about it, but never actually took advantage of it before.

I like having a soft drink with dinner, so I thought my 7-night Star of the Seas cruise would be the perfect opportunity to bring it onboard to reduce costs without sacrificing the enjoyment of my meals.

Why I decided to try this cruise hack

Once I decided not to buy a drink package, I started thinking about ways to maximize my included benefits.

I have 6 drink vouchers to use per day because I'm a Pinnacle Club member in the Crown and Anchor Society, which is Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program.

Each voucher covers a drink up to $14, so it seemed to me like using one for a soda would be a waste. Of course, a single can of soda would cost $3.50 each, so that would add up quickly.

Moreover, I only want a soda or two per day.  Therefore, buying a soda package wasn't worth it either.

Given that all I had to do was buy a 12 pack at home and lug it around for a couple hours on day one, it seemed like the perfect low-effort experiment.

Carrying the soda around on the first day was the worst part

As I expected, having to walk around with the 12 pack wasn't ideal, but it was only for a few hours.

Going through security in Port Canaveral was very easy, and there was no issue with the soda. This is why you need to carry it on and not put it in your bags.  Otherwise, the scanner will see a can and not be able to determine if it's beer or soda, and then everything gets delayed.

We boarded the ship around 10:30am, but our cabin wasn't open until 1pm.  The 12 pack comes in a cardboard box that is bulky and a little heavy, so it's more of an inconvenience to carry it than anything else.

I found the best strategy is to go to bar, pool chair, or somewhere to use as a "home base" and set it down until your cabin is ready.

It was more of a pain getting it from the car to the terminal to the ship, and then around to complete muster drill, get a coffee, and then finally set it down at a bar.

In reality, it wasn't that bad to lug around for just a few hours.

How I used the soda during the cruise

If I had any doubts about the usefulness of carrying on soda, it was immediately dissuaded at dinner on the first night.

Not only did I bring my own soda onboard to save money, but I brought Dr. Pepper because it's my favorite and it's a brand Royal Caribbean doesn't carry (other than with the Freestyle machines).

It was so nice going into Coastal Kitchen for dinner and having a glass of soda to enjoy with my dinner.

Plus, I had cans ready to go in my cabin.  On one afternoon when I wanted a quick pick-me-up, I grabbed a can from the cooler and it hit the spot.

The only downside was getting I had to wait for ice

I would bring a can or two with me to dinner, and it became quickly apparent I had to wait to get a cup of ice.

Waiters in any restaurant I went to were busy, and it would be some time before they arrived with a glass and ice in it.  It's not a big deal, but a few times I had to wait more than 15 minutes before the glass of ice was delivered to my table.

Generally speaking, drink service is slow at any Royal Caribbean restaurant. I wasn't surprised by it, but it became a "necessary evil" of this little hack.

I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't keep the cans cool in my fridge.  The issue was I wasn't always going immediately from my cabin to dinner. I might stop off at the casino, suite lounge, or another venue before going to dinner.  So the soda wouldn't be quite ice cold by the time our meal started.

How much money this actually saved me

Not only is this cruise hack simple, it's easy to track the savings.

Royal Caribbean charges $3.50 per can of soda on its ships.  So by bringing a 12-pack, I saved $42 (plus gratuity), and I got the brand of soda I like that wouldn't have otherwise been able to enjoy.

This is the perfect hack for someone that doesn't drink enough to warrant a drink package. For a soda package to make financial sense, you'd need to drink at least 4 sodas per day to justify the cost.

Would I do this again?

I would absolutely bring soda again on my cruise, provided I could easily pre-purchase it before the sailing.

The key is to purchase it once you get to the embarkation city (meaning don't fly with a 12-pack), purchase it there and bring it onboard.

I think bringing your own sodas is great for casual soda drinkers, budget-conscious cruisers, and families.  I shared my sodas with my kids after realizing one soda a day would result in leftovers by the end of the cruise.

As I mentioned before, carrying it onboard was mildly annoying. And waiting for a glass of ice to go with it became an expectation.  But I don't think either issue was a major problem.

As an alternative to a drink package, I think bringing your own sodas on Royal Caribbean was the perfect money-saving tip. It's one of the easiest cruise tips I’ve actually used, and it worked.

Spring break is one of the most popular times of year to take a cruise. The weather is mild, and many kids across the country are off school, making it extra convenient.

I've been taking my kids on a spring break cruise ever for the past 9 years, and it's a wonderful experience because as they get old, it becomes more challenging to find times when we all can travel together.

The catch with any spring break cruise is how many other kids are doing the same thing.  While Royal Caribbean ships always sail full, there many more families on a spring break cruise and that means more people onboard because those third and fourth beds are filled up.

On Star of the Seas, we had over 10,000 people onboard the ship our 7-night Western Caribbean cruise when you combine passengers with crew members. Needless to say, the cruise ship was busy.

Here are some of the tips we used to navigate the unavoidable crowds.

Go to the pool early

Perhaps no other place on your cruise ship will be as crowded as the pool deck on a sea day.

My best advice is to go up to the pool early before everyone else does.  Star of the Seas has seven pools and ten whirlpools onboard, so it's probably the best cruise ship at distributing crowds.

Our strategy was to go to the pool before 10am and get our time in early.  Most people roll up to the pool deck in the late morning, with the peak crowds extending through early afternoon.

But if you go up before 10am, you'll have no problem finding open chairs.  Chair hogs are a notorious problem on any cruise ship, so getting a chair in the morning is critical.

Not only does this strategy get you a chair, but you can also enjoy a much less crowded pool.  

My theory is to enjoy the pool in the morning, then leave at lunch and enjoy an afternoon nap back in my cabin.

Pre-book shows in the app

Royal Caribbean allows you to pre-book shows, and it's an absolute must-do on a spring break cruise.

According to the cruise line, show reservations open up on the first day of the month before the sailing. That's not totally accurate, but it's a good ballpark of when to start looking for them.

We pre-booked all of our shows, so we didn't have to wait in line to see it. There's no cost to pre-book shows, but that also means a lot of people will book show reservations just to have them and they go quickly.

I'd prioritize show tickets for Torque and the comedy shows, because they have the smallest theaters.  Back to the Future: The Musical is also a must-see.

Speaking of Torque, I always recommend booking the aqua shows for the first sailing because too much movement can cancel a show.  By picking an early show, you ensure you can either see it while conditions are ripe, or have more chances to see it later if your viewing is cancelled.

Take advantage of a port day for the water park

Star of the Seas has an entire water park, so the best time to ride all the slides with as little wait as possible is on a port day.

Pick a port that you'll stay on the ship and hit the water slides. Just like my pool deck strategy, go in the morning when the slides first open and enjoy virtually no lines.

Once you get to lunch time, people start returning to the ship and lines for the water slides can build quickly.

Another smart strategy is to bring your bathing suit on embarkation day and go on the slides as soon as you board. 

Few other people will have their bathing suit because they packed it away in their checked luggage, so lines tend to be lower on the first day until about mid-afternoon.

Prepare to splurge for a suite if having a less crowded pool deck is important to you

Paying extra for a suite on top of the premium pricing a new ship like Star of the Seas enjoys can sting, but if you're looking for the "easy button", the extra expense may be worth it.

Suite guests get access to the Suite Neighborhood onboard, which includes its own private pool deck, lounge, and restaurant.

The Grove is the name of the suite sun deck area on Icon Class ships, which has its own pool, hot tub, and lots of loungers.

I was able to access this area because I'm a Pinnacle Club member, and having an enclave from the main pool area provided a wonderful relief from crowds.  There were still lots of people taking advantage of this area, but it's far more manageable.

I would never advocate booking a suite because it's a good value. But there are some people that would prefer to pay extra to avoid crowds, and this is the option for them.

You'll need to book a Grand Suite or any other Sky or Star Class suite to get the full benefits. Traditional Junior Suites (and Surfside Family Suites later this year) only have partial suite benefits, and the pool area isn't one of them.

Make dining reservations early

Just as important as your show reservations are ensuring you have a place to eat each night.

I witnessed numerous times someone asking for a table without a reservation, only to be told there's nothing left for that day.

Royal Caribbean has made it very easy to prebook specialty restaurants, even with the dining package, thanks to the Royal Caribbean app. I made all my reservations before the cruise began and was grateful I didn't have to worry about finding a place to eat onboard.

If you're eating at the Main Dining Room, you can pre-book your My Time Dining spots too.  Personally, I'd recommend Traditional Dining to make it even easier.

If you decide to book something onboard, make that decision early. Book reservations on the first day because all the restaurants were overbooked by the time we got to day three or four of the cruise.

Hit the gym on port days

I found the gym gets overcrowded on sea days, so it's better to go on any port day.

Hit the gym before your excursion early and you'll find the fitness center is so much less crowded.  I went on the morning we were in Perfect Day at CocoCay, and there were maybe 10 people total to contend with.