While there are many things people will complain about on a Royal Caribbean cruise, some are opinions you can safely ignore.

The internet is a great resource for learning about just about anything, including a cruise vacation. It can also help a lot with finding the right cruise, shore excursion, or activity onboard. Heck, this entire website is built around that premise.

I like to read through others' experiences on cruises, but there are some things you probably shouldn't make a buying decision off of because you read a negative experience online.

Some subjects are simply too subjective, and a cruise is so personalized. Unlike a review that criticizes Enchantment of the Seas for not having nearly as much to do for families as a newer ship, a dismal review one person have may have more to do with that person's likes and dislikes than an objective viewpoint.

Before you make any rash decisions, here are five complaints about cruises I wouldn't take to heart.

How comfortable the beds are on a cruise ship

Let's start with an easy topic that is so subjective, you may as well stop reading as soon as you see the topic: beds.

There are all sorts of complaints that Royal Caribbean's mattresses are too firm, too soft, too lumpy, or simply not what they prefer in bedding.

This is why the entire mattress industry has been built around different firmness levels. Everyone will never agree on what's the right level of firmness.

Personally, I prefer a firmer mattress, and I sleep well on Royal Caribbean ships. So clearly they work for what I prefer, but there are others that have a different feeling.

Don't forget you can ask for a mattress topper to help make it softer.

Ultimately, don't freak out if you see someone complaining about the comfort level of the beds. It might not be the as wonderful to sleep on as your luxury mattress at home, but it does the job.

Cruise ship reviews

If I had to pick one kind of complaint you should never use as the basis for any decision, it's cruise reviews.

You'll find plenty of negative reviews on Facebook and Reddit talking about how some ship is horrible, but I've been on those ships and I scratch my head how they had such a worse experience than I did.

The issue is a cruise ship has so many ways you can experience it.  For example, you could stay in your cabin all cruise and only order room service, but someone else could spend all day in the casino. 

There's simply too much variation on what you can do on a cruise ship to use a review as the basis for booking or not booking it.

Most often, bad cruise ship reviews stem from unrealistic or uninformed expectations. People writing cruise ship reviews aren't trained reviewers: they're dads that thought a ship should have free WiFi and less trivia events because "that's what it's like at Marriott".

What one person considers a deal-breaker, might be exactly what another cruiser loves about the vacation. Add in variables like weather, itinerary changes, and individual service interactions, and two people on the same cruise can walk away with totally opposite impressions.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships are not copies of each other.  Even within the same ship class, you'll find stark differences between each vessel. 

There's nothing wrong with reading ship reviews to see specifics that people liked or didn't like. Online reviews tend to reflect personal preferences more than an objective measure of how good a cruise actually is.

The stage shows around the ship

Royal Caribbean is known for their entertainment as being a differentiating factor from other cruise lines. Specifically, they're a market leader in the onboard shows.  But that doesn't mean everyone loves them all.

A great example of why show reviews shouldn't be taken as the gospel truth is the Broadway show, "Cats" on Oasis of the Seas. Perhaps no other show has such divided views among fans that either despise the show or love it.

I've told readers I can't stand magicians, jugglers, or ventriloquists because they're all the same and bore me.  But I know there are lots of people that love these shows too.

I try to go into every show I've never seen with an open mind, and I think you should give a show a try. You might love a show that gets lambasted by someone else. 

All those food reviews

Nothing is more synonymous with subjective than food reviews. After all, the word "taste" is used for both review and experience.

I would guess the top complaint among all cruisers is centered around food on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 

I could write about how much I loved a particular restaurant and there will be plenty of readers who claim it's a terrible restaurant, they have better food at home, or they didn't like the food at all.

To be fair, I slammed the specialty restaurant Hooked for years, but then tried it again and liked it much more than I ever expected. 

If you're a classically trained chef and know how lobster thermidor should be served, bravo, I defer to your opinion. But since I think most of us are just people eating on a cruise, food reviews are just someone's random opinion.

I like to give any restaurant a chance because it might be my new favorite. Pier 7 is another good example of a restaurant others panned, but I really liked because I gave it a try.

How crowded a ship felt

A study by the University of Tokyo looked at how people judge how crowded a place is, and it found that people perceive how crowded a space feels largely based on the gap between the speed they want to move and the speed they’re actually able to move in a crowd.

This boils down to everyone has a different definition of how crowded is too crowded.

I won't pretend Royal Caribbean ships aren't crowded at times, or that you can easily get a pool chair at noon on a sea day. Those are valid complaints and definitely things I've experienced.

The difference is crowds ebb and flow, and I certainly wouldn't say it's a poor experience when it happens.  Unless you have your own private ship, there's going to be crowding of some kind.

You could argue a crowd means energy, which is important if you want a party atmosphere or are looking to socialize.

So reading "my ship was crowded" doesn't really mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of what makes that ship a fun vacation or not.

If you're wondering when you can book shows on Royal Caribbean, the answer depends on your ship, sailing date, and when reservations open in the Royal Caribbean app.

The problem is shows aren't available to book immediately. Royal Caribbean opens reservations for its shows much closer to the sail date.

Without a reservation, you will have to wait in the standby line for the show. That isn't inherently a problem, but it requires you to show up earlier and there's a risk of not making it in.

If you have the option to make a show reservation, here's when and how to book them so you can see all the performances onboard.

Royal Caribbean's policy isn't always accurate

The official policy is you can book a show on a ship a month before your cruise, but in practice, it's not always the case.

"Show reservations open on the first day of the month before sailing," is what the cruise line has on its website.

That means if you had a cruise in July, shows would be available to book on June 1st.

In my experience, show reservations don't always open exactly then. More often, there are discrepancies for when shows actually become available, and that's likely why you searched the internet to find an answer to this question.

I recommend starting to look for show reservations up to 60 days before your cruise is scheduled to set sail, because there's no consistency when Royal Caribbean actually opens up reservations to book.

Furthermore, there's no notification function to alert you that shows are open to book. It requires you to proactively log in and check to see if show reservations are available yet.

This is why a lot of cruisers will join a roll call for their cruise so that they can crowd-source when one person spots shows open to book.

Only Icon, Oasis and Quantum class ships require pre-reservations.  Other ships don't offer reservations because it's not needed.

Reservations can be made online up to 4 days before the sail date. After that, you'll need to wait to make a show reservation onboard.

New ships are even less predictable when shows are available to book

Royal Caribbean is consistently inconsistent with opening show reservations online, but it's worse with a new ship.

Legend of the Seas launches this summer and will offer a brand new musical onboard, Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

There seems to be an extra lag factor with opening reservations on any new ship because apparently the onboard process of loading everything associated with a new ship requires extra time.

How to pre-book show tickets

Once reservations are open, it's free and easy to make a reservation.

You can use the Royal Caribbean app or My Royal Cruise website to book them by going to the Entertainment section.

Each show will appear, and from there you can select a show time.

There's no cost to make a pre-show reservation.  Reservations are available on a first-come, first-booked basis.

If you're staying in Star Class, you don't need to make show reservations because your Royal Genie will arrange seating for you.

If you bought The Key, you still need to make a reservation for the show.  The difference is there will be a section of seats held back for guests who bought The Key up until a few minutes before showtime.

If you're sailing with friends or family and want to book them tickets, all you need is is their reservation number and the last name of the primary guest.

When you go to make a reservation, there's an option to add other passengers.

What if all the shows are sold out?

If you missed the chance to book a show, you're not out of luck to actually see the shows.

Periodically check back if more reservations are available. It's unlikely, but sometimes more shows are added or people cancel their reservations.

Once you board the ship, I would recommend going to the box office on your ship. You can ask a crew member where it's located, but there are usually extra tickets held back to be offered onboard.

Likewise, the Royal Caribbean app once connected to the ship Wi-Fi may be able to access those extra seats.

Let's assume none of those tips worked, now what should you do? Get in the standby line!

Every show has a standby line, which begins letting people in once you're about 15-20 minutes before the show is scheduled to start.

The reality is people book up show reservations early because it's free and they want to get reservations just to have them.  But once they're on the ship, they're busy, tired, and distracted.  So there are a lot of no-shows to performances.

In my experience, if you can get in the standby line at least 30 minutes before the scheduled performance, there's a good chance you'll make it in.

Royal Caribbean just made it harder to miss the ship on port day.

Missing the ship is every cruiser’s nightmare. If you’ve ever wondered what happens if you miss a cruise ship, the rules are pretty strict.

A recent update to its app has a new countdown feature that makes it clearer what time you need to be back on the ship while in port.

Royal Caribbean Blog message board user Twangster shared screenshots while using the Android version of the app on Icon of the Seas as the ship was docked in Cozumel, Mexico.

In the final hour before all aboard time, the app sends a new warning notification counting down.

Making it easier to know to get back on the ship

In any port, passengers are told what time they need to be back on the ship before it departs. Of course, time flies when you're having fun and losing track of time can occur.

Passengers that are late to the ship can delay sailaway and even result in being left behind. That's not what the cruise line or passengers want.

The latest update adds a countdown timer and indicator bar how much time is left before the official all aboard time. That's the deadline to be back on the ship.

In every port, the all aboard time is posted on signs as you walk off the ship, as well as published in the Cruise Compass and Royal Caribbean app.

Don't confuse "departure time" with "all aboard" time. If you arrive at the gangway at the departure time, the ship will likely be gone. 

The all aboard time is typically 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled departure. The idea is to get everyone onboard so the ship can depart on schedule.

With the new feature, at one hour before sailaway, a new notification appears. Similar to how an airline app will pop up with a warning when boarding will begin and then continuously update when different boarding groups are ready to go.

It's a small update, but a new way to easily convey (and remind anyone still ashore) to hurry back onboard.

What happens if you miss all aboard time on a cruise?

All aboard time is the deadline for passengers to return to the ship before it departs a port. If you miss that time, the cruise ship will usually leave without you. Guests who miss the ship must arrange their own transportation to the next port of call and are responsible for any travel costs.

In practice, it's up the ship's Captain if they'll wait for you or not.  Depending on the circumstances, the Captain may be more willing to wait.

In the case of passengers booked on a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, one advantage they have is the excursion can call the ship and remain in contact to alert them that they're behind schedule.

Royal Caribbean advertises anyone that books a tour through the cruise line is guaranteed to make it back onboard.

"When you book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, we guarantee that if your tour is delayed, the ship will wait for you. In the unlikely event that your tour is significantly delayed, and the ship cannot wait, we will make all the arrangements for you to return to the ship at no expense to you."

However, there is no such guarantee if you're running late on your own.

"The ship will not wait for any guest faring on their own, as it is their responsibility to be onboard before the ship's scheduled departure time."

I have one piece of advice for anyone that gets stuck and is running late, based on what a cruise ship Captain once recommended.

On the back of your Seapass card is a phone number to call in the case of an emergency.  The Captain of Voyager of the Seas once said it's best to call that number so you can convey how late you are.

There are no promises, but if you're in a taxi running 10 minutes late, letting Royal Caribbean know may convince the Captain to wait the few extra minutes for you to return.

But don't rely on this as a back-up option.  I recommend always planning to return to the ship at least 2 hours before the all aboard time.

Other tips for not being late to the ship

While the new app feature is a great addition, here are a few other tips for ensuring you're never on the wrong side of sailaway.

Set an alarm

I recommend planning to be back onboard the ship at least two hours before sailaway so that you have a buffer for traffic, emergency bathroom breaks, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Setting an alarm on your phone is a good idea so you don't overlook the fact you're coming up on when you need to return.

Set your phone or watch to ship time

Before you leave the ship, make sure your phone or watch is aligned with the ship time.

Ship time refers to what time the ship is following. If you're passing through different time zones, or the country you're in doesn't observe daylight savings time, the local time might be different.  And many phones will automatically adjust to the local time without notifying you.

You can always find the official ship time in the top left corner of the Royal Caribbean app.  It's also the time you'd see on any clock on the ship.

Double check it before stepping off the ship.

Avoid over drinking

Not to be the party pooper, but if you're drinking to excess, it's easier to lose track of time.

If you've seen enough "pier runner videos" over the years, you've seen people that are clearly inebriated trying to make it back on the ship.

Have a good time in port, but stay in control so you don't end up the subject of a TikTok short.

Royal Caribbean is bringing one of the most famous talent shows in the world to its newest cruise ship.

Beginning in August 2026, guests sailing on Legend of the Seas will be able to watch "America's Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas," a new stage production inspired by the hit television franchise. 

This will be the first time the Got Talent format will appear on a cruise ship, bringing a live version of the variety show to sea. It's a clear indication Royal Caribbean wants to push toward increasingly large and elaborate productions at sea.

Guests will be able to see it performed in the Royal Theater where there will be "a dynamic lineup of unique acts featuring performers from the Got Talent universe", from magicians and musicians to acrobats, aerialists and more.

A new headline show for Legend of the Seas

Royal Caribbean says they decided to add "America's Got Talent" to its newest ship to bring energy and excitement from television right to its passengers.

"At Royal Caribbean, we are constantly redefining live entertainment at every turn—bringing jaw-dropping performances to life across stage, air, water, and ice—and America's Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas is the perfect expression of that vision," said Christine Coachman, vice president of entertainment for Royal Caribbean.

The show will feature a dynamic lineup of performers from around the world, highlighting the variety acts that helped make the franchise a global phenomenon.

Royal Caribbean is partnering with Fremantle company to add the production onboard.

"We’re thrilled to bring Got Talent to an all-new at sea experience," said Erica Gadecki, executive vice president of partnership solutions at Fremantle. "We can’t wait to showcase incredible acts from around the world on a brand-new stage onboard."

What entertainment will be on Legend of the Seas?

The talent show is just one part of the entertainment lineup planned for Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s upcoming Icon Class cruise ship.

Guests will also find several other performance venues and shows onboard, including:

• Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" musical
• AquaTheater performances featuring high divers, aerialists, dancers and robots
• Absolute Zero, described as the largest ice arena at sea
• Live music and nightlife at more than 20 bars and lounges, including venues like Lou’s and Dueling Pianos
• Immersive dining experiences such as Hollywoodland Supper Club and Royal Railway – Legend Station

AGT will share the stage with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" as the story of Willy Wonka and his protégé will come to life on stage, with the Broadway musical.

Where Legend of the Seas will sail

Legend of the Seas is scheduled to debut in summer 2026 with 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises sailing from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Ports of call will include destinations such as Marseille, Naples, and Palma de Mallorca.

Later in the year, the ship will move to the United States for its Caribbean debut in November 2026, sailing 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Caribbean sailings will include visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, along with destinations such as Aruba and Curaçao.

When I took my first Royal Caribbean cruise 20 years ago, I was blown away by how much there was to do on one ship.

My first sailing on Explorer of the Seas was impressive, but it was nothing compared to the new wows I would experience as I tried newer and bigger ships. That's in essence why I fell in love with Royal Caribbean: their dedication to pushing boundaries, innovation, and going well beyond other vacations.

As I've cruised more ships across the fleet, I've found that each one has its own unique character and things you will want to try.  Even after two decades of cruising, I'm still amazed by some of the things you can do onboard, including dining, thrills, and entertainment.

When someone new to Royal Caribbean asks for recommendations, these are the five things I tell them to do and the two I advise skipping.

Picking an Icon Class ship is a great entry point

If there's something Royal Caribbean has done recently to live up to the hype, it's launch the Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

These are the biggest cruise ships in the world, and they are the perfect fit for a first-time cruiser because they offer the latest and greatest things Royal Caribbean can offer anywhere.

When you're new to the brand, you may not be aware yet of everything available. Plus, you've got to discover your own cruising style. I think an Icon Class ship is the perfect entry point because it has just about everything, and it's the sort of experience you won't come home disappointed with.

These ships have so many pools, a Broadway show, sprawling areas for kids, well-designed guest flow, and more activities than you can possibly squeeze into a week.

Other ships in the fleet have their own compelling reasons to book, but an Icon Class ship is as close to a sure-fire way to start your cruising vacations the right way.

See a Broadway show or high-diving performance

If there's one thing Royal Caribbean does better than any other cruise line, it's their entertainment.  I think you should absolutely make a point to see Broadway musicals, ice-skating shows, and AquaTheater performances because they're all top-tier.

On their bigger ships, you'll find lots of shows to see and I think these are some of the best crowd pleasers around. Plus they're all included with your cruise fare!

The Broadway musicals are especially impressive, such as Mamma Mia, Back to the Future, or Hairspray. It's incredible you can see a full show that would ordinarily cost hundreds of dollars on land but for no additional cost at sea.

Just as impressive are the shows in the AquaTheater, which feature high divers, slack liners, dancers, and aerialists. It's an incredible display that is difficult to describe in text, but I promise you'll walk away wowed by the spectacle.

If your ship has an ice skating rink, the ice shows in there are also quite good. Many of the skaters are former competitors on the national stage, and they can pull off very impressive feats.

All of the production shows are designed for families to enjoy together, and it's the perfect amount of culture to squeeze into your vacation.

Stop by different bars to enjoy the live music

Another homerun on any Royal Caribbean ship is the live entertainment each evening.

Various bars will have entertainment for you to enjoy:

• Schooner Bar: Piano player
• Pub: Guitarist
• Lou's Jazz Club: Jazz band
• Mason Jar: Country band
• Central Park: Harpist or jazz band
• Dueling Pianos: piano players
• Boleros: Band

It's so much fun bar hopping each evening to see the live performers here and enjoy a set or two.

Royal Caribbean invests heavily in live entertainment as a way to get you to come into the bar, and it's a great way to round out your evening.

Every performer has their own style, so I'd recommend sampling each one on your ship to find the right mix for you.

In most cases, it's songs you know the words to, and it pairs well with a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine.

Make a reservation at one of my favorite specialty restaurants

These days, Royal Caribbean has a lot of specialty restaurants, but a few stand out as must-eats.

I tell new cruisers they should have a mix of complimentary and specialty restaurants. Don't do just the included dining, but don't go all-in on specialty dining either. Two or three extra cost venues is a good introduction to see what you like best.

To be fair, not every specialty restaurant is worth dining at, so I'd recommend sticking to the very best ones.

My top specialty dining picks are Izumi Hibachi, 150 Central Park, and Playmakers. There are others, but those are solid starting points.

To be clear, there are others I like too. It's hard to go wrong with Chops Grille or Giovanni's because they're consistently satisfying.  I mean, how can you go wrong with a steakhouse or Italian food?

And be sure to pre-book a reservation to save money because it will cost you much more if you wait to book a reservation on the ship.  

Spend the day at Perfect Day at CocoCay

I think Royal Caribbean has built the best private island experience with Perfect Day at CocoCay.

This is so much more than a beach for cruise ship passengers.  The cruise line revamped and upgraded the island to offer just about everything you'd want in a beach day.

There are different beaches, each with their own vibe. You'll find a giant freshwater pool in the middle of the island.  A water park offers thrill seekers more than they can handle, and there's even an adults-only area if you need a break from family fun.

If your cruise ship is scheduled to visit CocoCay, you'll get a lot of marketing materials hyping it up.  I promise this island lives up to that hype because of how much there is to do. Plus, a lot of it is included in your cruise fare!

I recommend skipping the magic shows

I raved about the entertainment on Royal Caribbean earlier, but I'd recommend skipping the magic shows, jugglers, or ventriloquists.

In my "sorry, not sorry" part of this article, I think these are consistently the least entertaining shows.  Maybe kids of a certain age might enjoy them, but I think they're the sort of ho-hum, eye-roll inducing, and cliched performances that you'll quickly lament not having spent your time doing almost anything else onboard.

My issue with these shows is less the show itself and more that you want to take advantage of every minute you're onboard a ship. Simply put, there are much better choices for things to do than spending your time at these lackluster magic acts.

Swap out beach break shore excursions for a resort day pass

The ports of call your ship visits are just as important as the ship itself.  Most people book a cruise because of the places it will visit, but I'd warn against booking a tour that takes you to a beach with the cruise line.

The problem with "beach break" excursions is you're basically paying for a bus to take you back and forth along with a giant crowd of people.

Instead, I'd recommend booking a day pass to a resort. There are many providers that sell them, such as ResortForADay.com.

The advantage of a day pass is you can depart the ship when you want, instead of waiting for your tour to be called and going with a large group.  Sure, you need to pay for a taxi, but a taxi is more convenient and might even be cheaper.

Plus, a day pass to a resort includes not only access to a beach, but pools, restaurants, drinks and more. 

You gain more control, reduce the risk of overcrowding, and likely get more included by opting for a day pass instead.

I booked a 299-square-foot Junior Suite during my seven-night voyage to the Southern Caribbean aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas.

Ordinarily, I don't book a Junior Suite because the price is much higher than a balcony, but the added amenities and great use of space were worth it when the total cost was just $2,596.17 for two people.

Plus, reserving the Junior Suite had perks. There is a priority check-in line at the cruise terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico; an extra loyalty point per night, and upgraded toiletries. There are additional perks if you book a Junior Suite on a newer ship, such as access to Coastal Kitchen for dinner.

Take a look inside our junior suite.

When I entered the 299-square-foot accommodation, I was surprised by its spaciousness

One thing you'll notice walking into a Junior Suite is how much space there is to utilize.

I was booked in stateroom 1584, located on deck 10.

I was very impressed by the use of space, and it felt like a giant balcony room. Compared to a balcony, you'll quickly notice just how much more living space there is, which makes it feel far less cramped.

There is a walk-in closet that is almost big enough to be a bedroom

As you walk into the room, there is a giant walk-in closet on the right.

This closet has a door, and there are shelves and hangers to use.

I was impressed how big this closet was, because I'm guessing it could fit a crib in here without a problem. I'm not advocating putting a small child in here to sleep. But there is a lot of space.

The living room has a king size bed, but it lacks power outlets

Like almost any Royal Caribbean cabin, the bed is comprised of two beds pushed together. You can have them separated by your stateroom attendant, if you prefer.

After unpacking, my suitcase rolled under the bed, where they stayed until the last night of the cruise.

One issue is there are no power outlets on either side of the bed.  This is typical of older cruise ships, when having your electronics nearby was useful. After all, Brilliance of the Seas was built 5 years before the first iPhone.

I bought a 10 foot USB cable, but the room is so big that the cable only reached the foot of the bed.

There is a large vanity and storage space across from the bed

The only power outlets in the room are located on the vanity, across from the bed.

There are a few power outlets, so I'd recommend bringing a USB power adaptor that won't get confiscated by the cruise line. This is one I recommend (and bring on all my cruises).

Another nice perk of staying in a Junior Suite is it comes with a coffee maker and teapot. You don't get these appliances in smaller cabins, and you're not allowed to bring your own.

I never make coffee or tea in my room, but I know a lot of cruisers love to take advantage of them.

There's also a flat screen television on the left side of the vanity, which is above the well-concealed fridge.

Above it is a safe for storing valuables and travel documents.

The living room felt spacious, with extra seating

Where this cabin really feels big is in the living room area, because it's expansive and has lots of seating.

A sofa offers a place to sit (or lay down), and there's a table for room service to deliver meals here.  Room service is included with a Junior Suite, and that is the perfect way to start your day with breakfast.

Across from the sofa is a sitting chair and ottoman.  I love to sit anywhere I can put my feet up, and it was the perfect temporary office when I needed to do so some work and the vanity seemed not comfortable enough.

If you have kids, this would be an excellent play area since there's enough room to crawl or stumble around.

The Junior Suite bathroom was a nice upgrade, with a tub

Pretty much all standard cruise cabins have tiny bathrooms, but moving up to a Junior Suite gets you a bigger bathroom.

There's a full-size tub and shower here.  Not only is the tub larger, but it avoids the clingy shower curtain problem smaller cabins have on Radiance Class ships.

There are upgraded toiletries provided too, instead of the two-in-one mystery liquid.

The sink area has lots of storage too, which is something missing from bathrooms on newer ships.

The balcony was long, adding extra private room

Instead of the balcony going out further, it extends along the side of the ship.

It's a 66 square-foot balcony, which just about doubles the balcony space.

There's even a lounger in addition to the table and chairs.

The extra furniture is nice, but I wish the balcony was deeper to make it easier to move around the furniture.

Because our suite's location, I was able to see the bridge wing and watch the captain and officers guide the ship into ports of call.

Like any balcony, I loved being able to walk out and enjoy sailaway, watch the ocean waves pass by, or simply enjoy the ocean breeze.

The best reason to book a Junior Suite isn't even the room

While I loved how much more space there was in the cabin, the best reason for staying in a Junior Suite are all the extra points you can rack up.

Royal Caribbean will give you an extra loyalty point per night for staying in any suite.  Since I was cruising solo, that meant I was able to stack my solo cruiser bonus point and suite bonus point to accrue three points per night.

This is one of the best strategies for moving up to higher tiers of Crown and Anchor Society. In my case, I'll get 21 points from this one cruise and catapult up above the 1,000 point threshold to keep me well ahead of Michael Poole.

I wouldn't book a Junior Suite for any sailing, but when the price isn't expensive, I think it's worth it to upgrade. There's a better chance of finding a great deal when you choose an older, smaller ship like Brilliance of the Seas.

I found the value of all the extra living space in this cabin, combined with the perks and bonus cruise points to be well worth the splurge above a balcony room.

Happy weekend! We hope you remembered to Spring Forward! Here’s all the Royal Caribbean news this week!

Royal Caribbean just made cruise dinner planning easier.

In an effort to improve the pre-cruise online experience, there's a new feature on the website that allows guests to change their dining times effortlessly.

The cruise line recently added a new way for passengers to update their cruise dining plans on its website before their cruise.

Royal Caribbean News

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• Royal Caribbean is working on a way to fix an annoying problem before Perfect Day Mexico opens
• The 4 best cruises to maximize Crown & Anchor loyalty benefits
• Unwritten rules to know before eating at the Main Dining Room
• 10 Things to check after booking a Royal Caribbean cruise
• The best shows on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, according to cruisers
• The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler
• I spent 7 nights on the one of the biggest cruise ships and did 6 things right to prepare for a stress-free vacation

New RCB Video: I Tried a 7 Day Cruise on a 24 Year Old Ship

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 Tried a 7 Day Cruise on a 24 Year Old Ship — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Royal Caribbean is testing out a new day pass option

If you want a no-frills admission into the new Royal Beach Club, there could be a new way to get it.

On a handful of cruises, a new nothing included day pass is being offered for just $49 per person.

Drinks and food would cost extra, but you'd be able to get into the highly sought after beach club without paying a higher price for all-inclusive.

Royal Caribbean has the same bar on every ship, but it’s better on these ships

While you'll find a Schooner Bar on every ship in the fleet, I think the best one is on one of its older ships.

I generally gravitate towards big ships, but you can't deny the Schooner Bar is better on a Radiance Class ship.

After sailing on many ships, the truth is the Schooner Bar isn’t the same everywhere.

4 dining changes Royal Caribbean made that fixed frustrating problems

Thanks to a number of recent improvements, planning dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise is now easier than ever.

With a greater emphasis on digital offerings, the website and app have both gotten upgrades for simplifying the pre-cruise dinner planning process.

All of it has contributed to making the vacation be as smooth as possible.

Royal Caribbean wants to build something huge to change how ships get repaired

Royal Caribbean has proposed building a new floating dry dock in Central America.

The proposal would be to construct in Panama as an alternative to drydocks in Asia.

Plus, it would open up more space for ships since existing drydocks are very busy.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

We've just released the 599th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt talks about the recent change to remove soda cups and machines from most drink packages.

You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via YouTube, iTunes, Google Play or RSS.

One thing Royal Caribbean emphasizes is how much they value their top tier cruisers.

During Royal Caribbean Group's latest earnings call with Wall Street analysts, CEO Jason Liberty talked a lot about how they're investing in its loyalty members.  They see repeat cruisers as an important base to leverage, in the same way a political party relies on its base to boost its agenda.

Having reached the top tier of the cruise line's Crown & Anchor Society, I've seen firsthand how much the company cares about its repeat cruisers. Crew members go out of their way to recognize our loyalty, and the perks we receive are fantastic.

Once you reach the top tiers, it's obvious you enjoy not just cruising, but are a fan of Royal Caribbean.  Therefore, there are certain cruises that I think you should prioritize because they will enhance what you can get out of them as a top tier member.

Go on a President's Cruise with other super fans

Once you realize you're a fan of Royal Caribbean, going on a cruise that celebrates other super fans is a must-try.

I went on my first President's Cruise last year and it was an eye-opening opportunity.  Royal Caribbean holds an annual sailing where cruise line executives host special activities to celebrate all things Royal Caribbean.

There are special perks for the top tier members, including invite-only events. On my sailing, we were invited to get a sneak peek of the new Royal Beach Club before it opened. Each President's Cruise has a different event.

Plus, there are freebies and opportunities to speak to Michael Bayley and other top brass. 

More importantly, if you've made it to Diamond or higher, the President's Cruise is the kind of cruise that I think would be interesting because it's akin to attending a fan event for those that love a movie trilogy, comic books, or other similar fandoms.

The next President's Cruise is scheduled for October 2026 on Icon of the Seas, and I've got my cabin booked!

Pick a longer sailing, like a repositioning cruise

Now that you're getting the best perks as a top tier member, you'll want to prioritize longer sailings.

It's no coincidence that there are always a lot of Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members on these sailings, because longer sailings offer more value.

Repositioning cruises stand out as the sailings you'll find higher Crown and Anchor numbers because they're a tremendous value.  They're usually priced cheaper per night because there's less demand for a longer sailing with lots of sea days.

This fact attracts people that love to cruise, but are also looking for a good deal.

Plus, going on a longer sailing is how you climb the loyalty ladder faster.  By going on longer sailings, you'll earn more points quicker.

No matter how many points you have, there's always a need to earn more.  Perhaps to reach the next tier or just to stay head of Michael Poole.  Regardless, these longer sailings are how you can jump ahead.

Visit private islands

Another priority for any cruise you book is to look for ways to maximize your perks.

Because Royal Caribbean offers so many included freebies at its top levels, I'd recommend picking cruises that visit its private islands.

Royal Caribbean has two private destinations today, with one more on the way.  Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee are both enclaves for cruise guests and your onboard perks work there too.

Being able to use your Diamond drink vouchers and Wi-Fi package (CocoCay only) at these places extends the value of your perks.

When Perfect Day Mexico opens in 2027, there will be a new place in the Caribbean to use them too, which means almost any Caribbean sailing will have the opportunity to get more from your Crown and Anchor membership.

How to best use your free Pinnacle cruise

If you can get to Pinnacle Club status, Royal Caribbean will reward you with a free cruise certificate. But I'd be strategic with which one you use it on.

At 700 points, you'll get a free seven night cruise to the Caribbean in a balcony cabin to use. You'll get another free cruise every 350 points after that, which means there's a good reason to keep going.  For example: 700, 1050, 1400, 1750, 2100, et al.

Here's the catch: you can pick a non-Caribbean cruise, but the value is greatly diminished.

If you try to use your Pinnacle certificate for an Alaska cruise, you'll only get $2400 value to use towards it, and no discounts.

What you should do is pick a ship sailing in the Caribbean and go with a new ship.

New ships always cost more than older ships, therefore you'll get the most bang for your buck getting a free cruise on a newer and more in-demand ship than an older one.

Royal Caribbean has dozens of ships and hundreds of bars, but one venue appears on almost every ship in the fleet: Schooner Bar.

It's a classic nautical bar that has become a staple on any ship Royal Caribbean has sailed.  In fact, it's a bar their CEO once said can never be removed.

Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, shared when he was hired one directive he received immediately was to never omit the Schooner Bar.

"When I took this job, Michael Bayley said, If I ever proposed or got rid of the Schooner bar, he'd fire me," he quipped in a 2022 interview. "And so that's an example of tradition, things that we know our guests really love."

But after sailing on many ships, one thing becomes obvious: Schooner Bar isn’t the same everywhere. It's noticeably better on one class of ships, surprisingly, it’s not on the newest or biggest ships.

While you'll find a Schooner Bar on every ship, I think Royal Caribbean perfected it over 20 years ago with the launch of the Radiance Class ships.

The one bar you'll find on nearly every Royal Caribbean ship

The Schooner Bar is a signature venue that has been a feature on every ship in the fleet. You'll find one on Voyager Class, Radiance Class, Freedom Class, Oasis Class, and many others.

There are a few characteristics that make the Schooner Bar different.

• It has a nautical theme
• Trivia games during the day
• Live piano entertainment most evenings
• Unique menu of cocktails and martinis

For many cruisers, the Schooner Bar is the go-to evening hangout spot.

The appeal is simple: comfortable seating, views of the ocean, and a bar that feels like it belongs on a cruise ship. Having a nautical feel I think contributes to why so many cruisers prefer this venue.

The entertainment is the x-factor that pushes the Schooner Bar to the top.  Trivia in the day and live piano music each evening make this one of the best hangout spots you'll find.  

The Schooner Bar truly shines on the Radiance Class ships

While I love the Icon Class ships for how impressive they are, there's no question the Schooner Bar is better on the 20+ year old ships that came before it.

The first thing you'll notice about the Schooner Bar on a Radiance Class ship is how big it is. They're significantly wider and have a larger footprint than on new ships.

This allows for a better proportion of space used.

The next thing that makes a Schooner Bar better on Brilliance of the Seas than Star of the Seas is the connection to the ocean.

Schooner Bars on older ships have large windows on one side, allowing you to see what's happening from the comfort of your bar chair.

As newer ships have come out, the Schooner Bar became smaller and more enclosed.

Plus, I think the bar layout was perfected on Radiance Class ships. 

The piano player is the focal point, but there's a fabulous circular bar that has a "Cheers" TV show vibe on one side, with some of the most relaxing chairs you'll find in any bar on the other.

Newer ships don't capture the same vibe

I won't shy away from a Schooner Bar on a new ship, but after experiencing it on Radiance Class, you'll see the difference.

As newer ships have come online, the Schooner Bar became less nautical, has fewer windows, and became disjointed in the seating arrangement.

On the Oasis Class, the Schooner Bar seems like an afterthought, squeezed into a half deck above the Royal Promenade and stretched out.  It's a bit better on the Icon Class, but the position of the piano player is skewed to one side.

When I go on a new ship, the Schooner Bar feels like "just another lounge" rather than a standout spot.  It's still good, but not the focal point it is on other ships.

What makes Schooner Bar so beloved in the first place

The combination of nostalgia and tradition is why I think so many cruisers love the Schooner Bar.

The piano sing-alongs, trivia competitions, great cocktail menu, and loyal cruisers who look to it as their first stop each evening all make this a must-visit.

Speaking of the menu, I think the Schooner Bar has a vastly underrated drink menu.

Royal Caribbean has a special cocktail menu that you'll only find in the Schooner Bar, which adds to the appeal.  While there's nothing wrong with a piña colada or daiquiri, the beverage operations team crafted a new menu that goes well beyond those classics.

The Schooner Bar drink menu has drinks you might not have thought of initially, but sound amazing.

The Desert pear margarita, Toasted marshmallow old fashioned, and Lavender daquiri are all just as good as they sound.

If you have a Royal Caribbean drink package, the drinks listed are included with the package benefits.

For many cruisers, it's one of the few venues that feels the same across the fleet.