Royal Caribbean is moving up the launch of its next new cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, with an earlier first sailing.

An email sent to guests booked on the former earliest Legend of the Seas sailing explains there's now a new option.

The first sailing available to book is now a July 4th cruise, which is one week earlier than the July 11th sailing.

"We simply cannot wait to show off The Next Icon of Vacations – Legend of the Seas, that we have now added one (1) extra sailing, a 7-Night Western Mediterranean Cruise on 4 July 2026, that will be the inaugural sailing to kick off the celebrations for our inaugural season!"

This is the second time Royal Caribbean has moved up its inaugural sailing for Legend.

Why the change? Evidently construction is proceeding quickly and the new ship will be ready ahead of schedule.

Anyone booked on the July 11th sailing has a chance to book the new sailing first.

Earlier launch options

Legend of the Seas will be the third Icon Class cruise ship, and it will debut in Europe first.

The newly added sailing begins on July 4th and offers a 7-Night Western Mediterranean Cruise.

If you're booked on the July 11th sailing, Royal Caribbean will allow you to transfer your current booking to the new sail date in the same suite or like-for-like stateroom currently booked. This is on a first come, first served basis.

Many cruisers book the first sailing because they want to be onboard before anyone else.  It's partially bragging rights and partially excitement to experience something brand new.

Your original stateroom category price will either be protected at your original cruise fare rate or reduced to the current cruise fare rate (whichever is lower). This applies to the cruise fare only. Taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items will be at the prevailing rate.

Any flights purchased through Air2Sea will be handled by their team to assist in changing flights. Plus, Royal Caribbean will cover any non-refundable air and/or hotel change fees up to $200 for domestic and $400 for international.

The change must be requested by February 3, 2026.

If Royal Caribbean doesn't hear from someone booked on the July 11th sailing, they'll remain on that booking with no changes.

Legend of the Seas will debut almost a month earlier than originally planned

Construction has moved swiftly on Legend of the Seas, and the new ship will be ready almost a month ahead of schedule.

Royal Caribbean originally announced the inaugural voyage on August 2, 2026.  

But then in September 2025, they added three new 7-night sailings to move the ship schedule up.

Royal Caribbean has done similar changes with the launch of Star of the Seas, when four "showcase sailings" were added before the official inaugural.

Just like Legend, Star of the Seas was ready early and that meant they would add new sailings.

Star of the Seas was scheduled for an August 31, 2025 debut but ended up having its first revenue sailing on August 16.

What's different about Legend of the Seas

While it might be the third Icon Class ship, it will not be a direct copy of Icon or Star of the Seas.

While it might be the third Icon Class ship, it will not be a direct copy of Icon or Star of the Seas.

Legend will add an immersive train car restaurant that takes you on a virtual gastronomic tour through Asia and Europe, inspired by the travels of Marco Polo.

In fact, there will be 28 places to eat on this ship, including a revamped AquaDome Market food hall that will have all new food stands, along with a brand-new juice and smoothie bar serving freshly squeezed refreshments.

Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" will be performed aboard as the musical show in the Royal Theater.

The Hollywoodland Supper Club will offer a fancy multi-course menu set to the music of the golden age of Hollywood.

Legend will be the third in the Icon Class, and it's expected to be about the same size as both Icon and Star.  That puts the new ship at about 250,800 gross tons and can accommodate approximately 5,610 passengers at double occupancy or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy.

When you add crew members, that brings the theoretical total amount of people up to 10,000.

It's under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

During her inaugural season, Legend of the Seas will sail from Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, marking the first time an Icon Class ship will offer cruises around the Mediterranean. 

She'll then move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a 13-night transatlantic cruise at the end of October. Her first sailing from Florida is scheduled for November 11, 2026. 

Beyond that, Royal Caribbean hasn't revealed any information yet on what will be different or new about the ship.

Exactly two years ago today, every other cruise ship in the world became outdated with the inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean built this ship to be a game changer, designing it from the very beginning to be different.

Her first sailing from Miami was filled with excitement and anticipation. Like many others, I was curious if the ship could live up to the hype it had already generated.

Her launch was nothing but spectacular and Icon has collected awards, accolades, and plenty of praise from cruisers who adore how well it's laid out, amenities onboard, and innovations that were introduced.

Icon of the Seas is more than just "the biggest ship", it's changed what we expect from cruises.

Why Icon was such a big deal

Royal Caribbean made a bold bet with Icon of the Seas.  It was a "white paper ship", which meant it was designed from the beginning without any preconceived notions of what it would be based on.

The first in its class, Icon borrowed some elements from other ships but introduced its own design.  The design team posed all sorts of ideas, especially taking into consideration feedback from guests over the years of what they wanted in a ship.

When we finally got our first look at the design, it definitely looked different.

The new ship was not only big, but had top decks that didn't look like the pool decks other ships had. There was a wide split design, with an entire water park, suspended infinity pool, multi-tiered pools, and a giant glass dome at the very front.

Her design was so revolutionary that it spurred knee-jerk reactions from people who were so taken aback that they called it a "monstrosity".

Of course, Icon was different and it looked the part.

Icon promised what no ship had delivered before, and it was certainly not cookie cutter.  While different in look, her launch quickly subdued any pre-launch skepticism.

Redefining the cruise ship layout

Neighborhoods aren't a new concept with the launch of Icon, but I think they took it to a new level.

As an example, the Aquadome neighborhood is both functional and a visual centerpiece.  

Of course it's home to the Aquatheater, but they expanded the footprint of the area to include my new favorite complimentary restaurant on any ship. And it has a stunning vantage point in front with bars and great seating choices.

Surfside gave families with young kids an oasis to enjoy everything they need in one area, and this family-first design philosophy stands out when on other ships kids programming feels like it's copied and pasted into random areas that had space for it.

But my favorite thing about the layout of Icon of the Seas is how it changed traffic flow and onboard pacing.

Adding a two-level Royal Promenade that loops around, offering stairs and escalators between decks 4-7 to make it easier to get between floors, and destination elevators all fundamentally changed how we navigated the ship.

Whether you were on the Royal Promenade, around the pool deck, or going to a show, crowds were few and far between.  

Thrill factor that lived up to the hype

Plenty of cruise ships have water slides, but the fact Icon had an entire waterpark really made a big difference too.

Category 6 waterpark set a new precedent in the thrill "arms race" that no other ship has matched.

I also think Crown's Edge is another good example of next-gen thrills that guests clearly love.

Then you have the Flowrider, rock wall, mini-golf, sports court, ice rink, and the assortment of activities you'd expect a Royal Caribbean ship to have.

Plus, Icon appealed to both adrenaline seekers and cautious cruisers because all of these thrills are the things families would want to do together.

That's been a key element to all Royal Caribbean cruises, where you feel a draw to experience this sort of vacation together.

How Icon held up over two years

Two years later, I think Icon of the Seas is still the standard all new cruise ships are held against.

Crowd management, even during peak sailings, is consistently good. In fact, when I sail on non-Icon Class ships, it's almost a let down in having to rely on conventional elevators and spaces that feel more crowded.

Moreover, we see the ship's legacy carrying with Star of the Seas and the soon-to-be-launched Legend of the Seas. These are exciting ships that generate their own assortment of hype because Royal Caribbean isn't content making them all the same.

With the announcement that Icon will move to Galveston, Texas next year, we're seeing when an Icon Class ship calls on a new homeport, it's a difference maker.

I've sailed on Icon of the Seas a few times since her launch and it works so well.

To its credit, Icon of the Seas has had a ripple effect across the fleet.

Utopia of the Seas had destination elevators added, the Royal Caribbean app saw a number of updates and new features that were first designed for Icon, and even Wow Bands have been re-discovered among fans.

I think Icon accelerated change in many ways across the fleet.

Two years later: Icon’s place in cruise history

It may be a few more years before we're ready to put Icon of the Seas on the Mount Rushmore of cruise ships, but it's well on its way.

There's no question it has lived up to its hype of being a game changer.  I think it follows in the wake of ships like Sovereign, Voyager, and Oasis of the Seas that each turned heads and generated a great deal of excitement and anticipation with their respective launches.

Icon has also ushered in a new era of modern cruising. You can see the difference when you go on an Icon Class ship versus even a ship from 10 years ago in how the ship flows, its operations, what's offered onboard, and more.

I think it's safe to say a decade or two from now when Icon is no longer among the biggest and many of its firsts fade from memory, it will still be considered a "must-do" vacation.

Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise lines in the world. And although the cruise giant has hundreds of thousands of loyal fans, some cruisers have surprisingly unpopular opinions about their favorite line. 

With its record-breaking ships, world-class amenities, and countless itineraries that span the globe, Royal Caribbean has built a reputation for doing things bigger than any other line at sea. 

Many cruisers can't imagine straying from the cruise line. However, despite the deep-seated loyalty, not everyone thinks the onboard experience is without its faults. 

A recent Reddit post on the r/royalcaribbean thread sparked a conversation about what cruisers dislike the most about the line, with some opinions bordering on controversial.

"Unpopular RCCL opinions. What are your hot takes about Royal Caribbean cruises?" asked Redditor thatCRUISEagent. 

In less than six hours, the post received over 250 comments from cruisers eager to share their unpopular Royal Caribbean opinions. 

Drink packages aren't worth the money

Royal Caribbean's drink packages are among the cruise line's most popular add-ons. While the base fare includes a limited selection of beverages, from tap water to iced tea, drip coffee, milk, and juice, many guests upgrade to a package for a wider selection of drinks for a set daily price. 

The prices vary. However, the Deluxe Beverage Package typically runs anywhere from $56 to $120 per person, per day — though you can typically save money by purchasing it in advance through the Cruise Planner.

While many can argue that the drink package is a worthwhile investment, some can't fathom drinking enough to break even daily. 

"I don’t drink often and found myself struggling to make the drink package worth it," commented NewToReddit4331. 

AbjectFray isn't a fan of the packages, either, saying that they're "overrated and a scam."

Boarding times don't matter

Post-COVID, Royal Caribbean implemented boarding times to streamline the embarkation process and manage crowds in the terminal building. 

Today, you're still asked to select an arrival time when checking in for your cruise. However, many guests have found that arriving outside their window often doesn’t make a difference.

"[You don't] need to wait up for online check-in at midnight, [and you] don't need an early boarding time to be first on the ship," commented tidder8.

A lot of other cruisers chimed in, sharing their personal embarkation experiences, agreeing that the boarding times were rarely enforced. 

joeconn4 added, "That's what we have found too...We usually show up about 60-90 minutes after the announced first boarding times...We're usually at least 1 or 2 blocks earlier than our reserved time. Sometimes we have to stand in a short line, I think the longest in that line has been maybe 10 minutes, usually we walk right in."

Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process

The Promenade parties are annoying

Royal Caribbean's themed parties are a part of the onboard experience that many cruisers look forward to. However, some passengers aren't fans of them. 

"Promenade parties are annoying. I don’t mind one or two here and there, but when it’s every night and people are taking all the chairs from Café Promenade, Sorrento’s, and the surrounding bars just to line them up on the promenade, it gets frustrating," said User_Name_Tooken. 

"I agree. I prefer they do these type[s] of parties outside on the Lido Deck when the weather is nice. This is what other cruise lines do. Unfortunately, Royal hasn’t designed a good place on the Lido Deck to have parties," Free_Manufacturer657 wrote in agreement. 

They don't need to offer as much trivia as they do

Trivia is a popular cruise ship activity that lets passengers test their knowledge and compete with fellow guests. On Royal Caribbean ships, sessions range from general knowledge to Harry Potter and more. That said, despite the popularity of the trivia events, some cruisers feel the line overdoes it. 

"Trivia games are their crutch and used to pad out the activity schedule. And find another place for it instead of jamming up the schooner bar," Pinsided explained. 

Not only that, but many guests think that the trivia sessions aren't held in large enough venues, which can lead to overcrowding and frustration if passengers don't arrive early. 

"They should do trivia on the first floor of the theater or something, it’s always mega crowded. Or just do trivia at multiple locations to split the crowd?" said dukefett.

Speciality restaurants aren't worth the added cost

Specialty dining on cruise ships is a must-do for many travelers who value an upgraded culinary experience. However, a lot of cruisers don't think it is worth the extra money when there's an all-you-can-eat buffet and multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room (MDR). 

"Most specialty dining is overrated. It's not actually bad, but the quality increase is minimal for the price charged. [There are] a couple of exceptions, but mostly you're not getting that much of an improvement," shared TheAzureMage. 

longhorns7145 agreed, saying, "Yea we quit doing the dining. Izumi is alright but not a fan of the others. [There are] just too many free options that are great to justify the paid dining."

Read more: These 6 extra cost restaurants are worth booking, and the 2 you can skip

The casino should be smoke-free

Royal Caribbean has begun adding smaller non-smoking casinos on many of its ships. On Freedom of the Seas, for example, Vintages in the Royal Promenade was replaced with a smoke-free casino. However, the main casinos, with the most variety of games, still allow smoking. 

"The casino should be smoke free but still have a smaller enclosed area for smokers. NCL does this on their newer ships and it's lovely!" suggested untitled_folder. 

AllAreStarStuff agreed, saying, "I wanted to try the casino, but we had to walk through it to get to our muster check in. This was before the cruise even started. The whole place smelled so strongly of smoke that we didn’t go near it again."

Read more: Royal Caribbean opens its non-smoking casino on its newest ship

Royal Caribbean should start catering to younger crowds

Every cruise line has its target audience, and Royal Caribbean is no exception. While the cruise line is widely known for being family-friendly, with its newest Icon Class ships marketed as the best multigenerational vacations at sea, some argue that it should shift its focus to younger crowds. 

"I'd really say it’s time to start catering more to the younger crowd, especially anything to do with music," wrote Eco_guru. 

Another passenger chimed in, sharing their experience aboard Allure of the Seas in December. Traveling with friends in their late 20s and early 30s, TheGirlWithTheFace said that they went to the Red Party "to throw it down like [they] were 20 again." However, they ended up leaving about 30 minutes later because "the DJ was so lame."

The new elevator system isn't efficient

A common complaint with most cruise ship elevators is that they can get extremely crowded. As such, a few lines, including Royal Caribbean, have begun adding destination elevators to their fleet. 

These elevators are different from standard elevators in that they assign passengers to a specific car based on their selected deck, rather than having guests cram into the next available elevator. 

That said, not all cruisers are convinced the system improves efficiency, with many saying that the wait times are even longer than before. 

"The new elevator systems on ships like Utopia make the elevator experience much slower, vs older ships where elevators take 1-2 minutes max to arrive," wrote thatawkwardmoment8. 

Read more: Technology that changed cruises: 5 of the best uses of tech on Royal Caribbean today

Royal's older ships are better than the new ones

Royal Caribbean's fleet spans nearly three decades. The line's oldest vessel at sea is Grandeur of the Seas. The Vision Class ship entered service for Royal in 1996. Comparatively, Star of the Seas, the line's newest Icon Class ship, began sailing in August 2025. 

As such, the fleet offers a wide variety of experiences. You don't have to sail on a ship with massive water parks, zip lines, or AquaTheaters. In fact, some cruisers prefer the line's older vessels. 

While they may not be as modern, they offer an intimate atmosphere that mega-ships cannot replicate. Plus, they are typically cheaper and can visit more unique ports of call. 

"The older ships are way better than the newer ones. My first cruise was on Independence and it's still my favorite ship I've been on," shared AyAyAyBamba_462. 

"Bigger ships are not necessarily better. We've done impressively big. Now scale back and build new ships (or enhance existing ships) with more fun features and less intimidating size," HawaiianShirtsOR added. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by age — Newest to Oldest

Is it worth upgrading to a balcony on a cruise?

Perhaps no other question is asked more of me by new cruisers because they want to know if they should spend more money for one.  I usually tell them yes, but there's a few things to know.

On any Royal Caribbean ship, there are more balcony cabins than any other type of stateroom.  It's a reflection of how popular balconies are and how much people really like them. That alone tells you a lot why you'd want to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise.

However, they aren't cheap and I think new cruisers tend to overestimate how much time they will actually spend in their room.

More importantly, I don't think staying in a cheaper, inside room would necessarily be a mistake.  I think the question of "is it worth it to pay extra for a balcony cabin" often comes out of fear an inside room is a problem waiting to happen.

Rather, I think of a balcony as an affordable splurge for something even nicer to enjoy.

Here are the 7 best reasons to book a balcony and why it's worth it.

It's a bigger room

Not only do you have access to the outside (I'll get to that next), but the room is simply larger.

Cruise ship cabins tend to be smaller than hotel rooms, and it's something first-time cruisers notice quickly.

If you're sharing a room, having more living space matters a lot. This is especially true if you are sharing your stateroom with kids.

You can expect to have 20-50 less square feet of space in an inside room, and trust me, that makes a difference.

With a balcony, I find myself doing less shuffling as I try to get from one side to another.

A private space outdoors with fresh air

Yes, the selling point of any balcony is you can step outside and have access to fresh air and a view.

It's undeniable how lovely it is to have your own outdoor space to watch the scenery, enjoy the fresh air, read a book, or all of it.

Plus, being able to step outside while your ship is in port is fantastic. It's great for people watching, seeing what's happening in town, and otherwise soaking in the experience.

Many new cruisers tend to gravitate towards a balcony room because they have this fear of feeling confined in the room. Having easy access to the outdoors is a selling point for them.

I prefer a balcony for sailaway or while in port. 

It can be quite hot on a balcony if you're cruising in the summer, but when the temperature is right, it's a great space to take full advantage of.

A place for breakfast or a drink

Every balcony room has a small table, and it's the perfect spot for breakfast to be delivered.

Did you know there's a complimentary breakfast option with room service? They can set up the food anywhere in the cabin you like, including the balcony.

You can time breakfast with your ship's arrival into port for one heck of a view.

You could also grab a drink at a bar and bring it back to your balcony to enjoy.  There are no rules preventing you from taking a drink at any bar and walking around the ship with it, including bringing it back to your room.

For those that prefer a quieter and more private sail away experience, a BYOB approach works perfectly.

Watching your ship's arrival is magical

While there is public deck space to watch your ship sail into port, experiencing it from your balcony is amazing.

Every time I've cruised in Europe, I've booked a balcony cabin so I can see us pull into each city and get a pseudo-tour and first look.

Waking up and stepping out to your balcony to see an entire city in front of you is incredible.

If I'm not feeling like going outside, I can sit on my bed and watch it all happen from the comfort of laying down and air conditioning.

The cost of a balcony isn't always expensive

Yes, a balcony almost always cost more than inside room. However, it isn't always substantially more expensive.

The price of a balcony room varies considerably, and in some cases it can be just less than $500 to upgrade to a balcony.

Because there are so many balcony cabins on a cruise ship, inventory is highest for these type of cabins.  When demand for cheaper cabins rises, inside cabins sell out faster and that leads to price drops for a balcony.

This situation doesn't always happen, but it's worth pricing out a balcony before assuming it's out of your budget.

It changes how you use sea days

Sea days hit differently when you have a balcony.

When you wake up in the morning, try not to step out on the balcony and see what's viewable, gauge the weather, or simply enjoy the view.

I think it's the difference between traveling on a cruise ship versus traveling by sea.

When you come back to your room, you'll feel drawn to your balcony. I find sea days can be so busy with activities that there's something pleasurable about retreating to your balcony.

You get to experience the ocean on ships that are usually inward focused

This is a Royal Caribbean specific benefit, but a balcony room allows you to feel like you're on the ocean more.

Royal Caribbean ships tend to be very inward facing and focused.  Many people comment how you don't even know you're on a cruise ship while sailing with Royal Caribbean because there aren't many connections to the ocean.

Oasis Class ships, especially, suffer from this because everything you're doing is indoors.

Having an oceanview balcony forces you to interact with the ocean itself: wind, salt air, changing light, and the motion of the ship.

A major winter storm is wreaking havoc across the United States, and one Royal Caribbean ship will not return to its homeport on time.

Odyssey of the Seas was scheduled to return to Bayonne, New Jersey on January 26th but will now take an extra day.

"Due to the major winter storm affecting much of the east and northeast US, and the impacts to land-based travel and port operations, we are delaying our arrival into Bayonne by one day," an email sent to passengers booked on the ship read.

The historic winter storm historic has impacts across nearly 40 states and began on Friday.  It's expected to carry through to Monday.

The New York City area is expecting 8 to 12 inches of snow

Odyssey of the Seas is one of the bigger cruise ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet.  It launched in 2021 and is 167,704 gross tons in size. It's the newest Quantum Class ship in the fleet.

There are two reasons for delaying the ship for a day.

First, it allows the storm to move out of the area and for the port itself to be prepared to handle turnaround day on a ship. 

A cruise terminal requires government officials to handle immigration and customs inspection, longshoremen to offload cargo and luggage, parking assistance, port workers, and more.

Second, this allows anyone traveling into the area more time to make it in.

As of Sunday, more than 16,000 flights have been canceled and thousands more were expected to be canceled over the weekend.

"This will allow for the weather to improve and shore-based operations to recover. For many guests experiencing difficulties getting to Bayonne, we hope this relieves some worry as you'll have an extra day to make it there safely," the email said.

This ship measures 1,138 feet in length and can accommodate 4,198 guests at double occupancy.

New sailing schedule

As a result, Odyssey of the Seas will now sail on Tuesday with a modified itinerary.

Odyssey was scheduled to offer a 12-night Southern Caribbean cruise that visited 

• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
• St. Johns, Antigua
• Bridgetown, Barbados
• Castries, St. Lucia
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten

As a result of the delayed start of the cruise, Odyssey will now skip San Juan, Puerto Rico and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

Both of those days will be replaced with sea days.

The new schedule is as follows:

Compensation

As a result of the last-minute change, Royal Caribbean is offering compensation to guests to make up for it.

Technically, the cruise contract that all guests agree to when they book a cruise guarantees nothing in terms of changes, but the cruise line is offering some money back as a gesture of good will.

All passengers will receive a one day refund of cruise fare paid as onboard credit. Any unused credit at the end of the cruise will be refunded back to the credit card on file.

Royal Caribbean will also reimburse passengers for non-refundable, pre-purchased travel fees incurred, such as a hotel, train ticket, or rental car.  

Plus, one night of a hotel stay up to $250 for one night will be reimbursed.

Airline change fees will also be covered up to $200 USD per guest for Domestic, or up to $400 USD per guest for International flights.

• Any pre-paid internet or beverage packages will be refunded for 1-day’s worth of the price paid
• Any pre-paid Royal Caribbean shore excursions booked for San Juan and Charlotte Amalie will also be refunded

Bonus day

Guests sailing on Odyssey of the Seas for an extra day received letters in their stateroom explaining how the extra day will work and what to expect with disembarkation.

"Our plan is to begin debarking guests at 7:00 AM on Tuesday, January 27th in Bayonne. We kindly ask that you stick to your departure group to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to your onward journey."

Passengers that purchased unlimited drink packages will have them extended at a reduced rate:

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $50 USD per person
• Refreshment Package: $20 USD per person
• Soda Package: $5 USD per person
• VOOM Internet: $15 USD per day
• The Key: $15 USD per day
• Unlimited Dining cannot be extended at this time

Guests can go to Guest Services and ask to not have their package extended.

In addition, gratuities will be extended as well by one more day. 

Royal Caribbean has an automatic gratuity they charge guests for each night of the cruise to cover the hard working crew members. That means every passenger in a standard cabin will be charged an additional $18.50, or $21.00 per person in suites.

Live from Odyssey of the Seas

A Royal Caribbean Blog reader, JohnK6404, is onboard the current Odyssey of the Seas sailing and shared the change in plans from the ship.

"Captain Per came on at 2:00 PM and confirmed we will be extended one FULL day and will not be returning to Bayonne now until Tuesday, 1/27, at 6:00 AM!"

"We are so lucky that we do not have to stress over the return trip. I really feel for all of the folks that are dealing with this mess especially those flying in or out!"

He shared a photo of the ship's progress, showing it turning away from Bayonne.

Second Royal Caribbean ship to change itinerary because of this storm

Odyssey is the second ship to have her plans changed from this storm.

Earlier this week, Harmony of the Seas cut its cruise short and skipped a port visit to Cozumel in order to return to Galveston, Texas.

"We are tracking the development of a major winter storm expected to impact Southeast Texas beginning late Saturday. In order to give you the best chance at a safe and uninterrupted journey home by avoiding the winter weather impacts to local infrastructure and transportation," an email to passengers read.

The result was to cut its sailing short by a day.

Guests had the choice to stay onboard for the extra day or disembark as soon as it returned.

Happy weekend! I hope you're staying warm and if it's snowing where you are, enjoy the beauty and remember you could be on a cruise instead! In the meantime, I've got all of this week's Royal Caribbean news to share with you.

Royal Caribbean has begun building a new Icon Class ship, with plenty more to go along with it.

Construction officially began on the unnamed fifth Icon Class cruise ship at a shipyard in Finland.

Two other Icon Class ships are also under construction, plus a 7th Oasis Class ship. That means there are four Royal Caribbean cruise ships being built at the same time.

Royal Caribbean News

• Damage to Mexican pier forces Royal Caribbean and NCL ship to skip visits
• China, Japan tensions force Royal Caribbean to make more changes to cruise ship itineraries
• New cruise terminal plans announced for Los Angeles
• Royal Caribbean combo packages: What's included in a bundle and is it worth it?
• I tried Hooked again after years of avoiding it. I was surprised how much better it has become
• Why doesn't Royal Caribbean have overnight visits to its private island
• How to get wrinkles out of clothes while on a cruise
• I visited Norway on a cruise. Our trip would've been better if we had done these 5 things differently
• 8 Ways to meet people and make friends on a cruise
• Royal Caribbean soda package review
• Is a refundable cruise deposit actually worth paying for?

New RCB Video: The tricks to getting your Royal Up bid accepted

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 — The tricks to getting your Royal Up bid accepted — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean cancels cruise two days before it begins

Anthem of the Seas will be sidelined and its next cruise cancelled because of a propulsion problem.

An email says, "a technical issue on its last sailing" forced the cruise line to cancel the sailing that was scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

Instead, Anthem will limp home and return to Sydney later than expected.

Winter storm forces Royal Caribbean to end cruise a day early

A Royal Caribbean ship sped back to its homeport earlier than expected to avoid the worst impact of a giant winter storm expected to hit Texas.

The Oasis Class ship skipped a visit to Cozumel and went immediately to Galveston.

The cruise line said it made this choice, "to give you the best chance at a safe and uninterrupted journey home."

Is it rude to skip the Main Dining Room without telling your waiter?

What's the proper etiquette for informing your Main Dining Room waiters if you're coming to dinner the next night?

A lot of cruisers will let their waiters know if they have alternate plans, but there is a raucous debate how out of your way you should go to tell them.

Being polite is important to a lot of cruisers, but it's an interesting debate.

Man found dead in his room on Royal Caribbean cruise sailing from Singapore

A 27-year-old man was found dead in his cabin as a cruise ship returned to its homeport.

The incident occurred on Ovation of the Seas, which had returned to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore.

Police do not suspect foul play based on preliminary findings.

Comparing the Alaska cruise ships in Alaska in 2026

Royal Caribbean will have four cruise ships in Alaska this year, so which is the best option?

The biggest change will be a Quantum Class ship will offer one-way sailings from Seward for the first time, allowing you to combine a land tour with a big ship experience.

Each ship has its pros and cons, so here's what to consider before you book one.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 593rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, reflecting on the new Points Choice program.

Now that we have the details of how you can earn loyalty points while sailing on other cruise lines, Matt shares his thoughts on what it means.

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.

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship experienced a propulsion issue and now the next sailing is cancelled.

Guests booked on Anthem of the Seas for the January 27th sailing received notifications from the cruise line that their sailing has been cancelled because of, "a technical issue on its last sailing".

"Anthem of the Seas experienced a technical issue on its last sailing, and we're returning to begin required maintenance. Unfortunately, we will not be able to complete the needed repairs in time for our 27 January sailing."

"As a result, we are canceling our Anthem of the Seas cruise."

Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum Class cruise ship that launched in 2015 and has a maximum capacity of 4,905 passengers.

According to an email sent by the cruise line, Anthem of the Seas will head in for repairs but the work required necessitates cancelling the next sailing.

The cancelled sailing was a 10 Night New Zealand Cruise from Sydney, Australia.

The cruise line apologized for the cancellation, "we're truly sorry for this disappointing news".

Technical issue on its last sailing

Guests on the current sailing of Anthem of the Seas reported the cruise ship coming to a brief halt during its voyage.

A guest on the ship shared this report, "Anthem stopped for an hour In the ocean. "

"Now we are late going back to Sydney and next cruise is canceled."

That same person was told the issue is related to the ship's azipod.

Azipods are multidirectional pods that drive the ship and can be rotated 360 degrees. They are the standard form of propulsion for all of Royal Caribbean's new cruise ships in recent years.

Another person reported that Anthem will be delayed to arrive into Sydney until 4pm on Tuesday.

"I'm on the Anthem right now. We are limping back to Sydney with a bad prop. We were supposed to be there at 6:30am and aren't returning to port until after 4:30pm"

Anthem of the Seas is a 168,666 a gross ton vessel.

It's a large cruise ship, and is 1,141 feet long.

Full refunds

Emails sent to passengers on the cancelled sailing outlined the compensation options for them.

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean is offering a 100% refund, including taxes and fees, pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities, shore excursions purchased through Royal Caribbean.

In addition, guests will get a 25% Future Cruise Credit to make up for the last-minute cancellation. This credit can be used towards the purchase of a new cruise.

Royal Caribbean is also reimbursing non-refundable, pre-purchased travel fees incurred (such as a flight, hotel, train ticket, or rental car).

• Up to $200 USD per guest for Domestic flight changes, or up to $400 USD per guest for International flight changes
• Up to $250 USD per stateroom for up to 2 nights of hotel accommodations
• Up to $100 USD per person, per day for incidentals

Propulsion issues occasionally occur

This issue with Anthem of the Seas' propulsion is not unheard of with cruise ships.

While all of Royal Caribbean cruise ships undergo regular maintenance work, propulsion problems can still occur. Just like well-maintained cars at home, cruise ships can have engine problems.

In the grand scheme of how many cruise ships operate each week, breakdowns such as this are quite rare.

Other cruise ships have had propulsion issues that forced a cancellation or at least an itinerary change. It's more common for the ship speed to be affected and itinerary changed than the entire sailing cancelled.

I stayed in the worst cruise ship room on one of Royal Caribbean's newest ships and it reminded me the importance of good cabin locations.

While on Utopia of the Seas, I was assigned a room at the front of the ship near the bow. A cabin in this location is susceptible to more movement because it's all the way forward and anytime the ship docked, it felt like an earthquake.

The result was I got very little sleep because I was woken up every morning at dawn when the ship began docking in port. It was a good reminder how important picking a better area matters.

Picking the perfect cabin location on a cruise ship is critical because it is where you will spend the most time during the voyage. Everyone has different preferences, as some people want a cabin with better views on a high deck, while others want to be near the kids club or buffet for the convenience factor.

After going on 100 Royal Caribbean cruises, I've come up with my own list of cabins you should avoid.

Cabins above or below public areas

Perhaps the biggest concern is picking a room that is noisy because there's a bar, pool, or restaurant nearby.

Most Royal Caribbean staterooms do a pretty good job at muffling nearby noise, but no cabin is soundproof.

Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom.  Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues.

Keep in mind that is not the worst thing if there is a public venue on a deck above or below your room, but it is a best practice if you can avoid it.

Cabins prone to movement

The sensation of movement affects everyone differently, but it is a mistake to book a stateroom all the way forward or all the way aft if you are prone to motion sickness.

Getting seasick on a cruise is something a lot of first time cruisers worry about, and while there are a lot of easy remedies in case it occurs, picking the right room can greatly help as well.

I recommend booking a room that is on a low deck and centrally located to lessen the feeling of movement. While balcony rooms are a good idea, you want to be on the lowest deck, with a room that is the most midship available.

Try to avoid higher decks, as well as cabins at the very front or back of the ship.

Cabins far from the elevators

On the bigger Royal Caribbean ships, where your room is in relation to the rest of the ship is a consideration to account for as well.

The proximity of your room to elevators, pools, Royal Promenade, and other popular areas can play a factor in picking the right room for you.

If you think you might spend a lot of time at the pool deck, picking a room on a deck closer to the pool deck might make more sense to avoid the hassle of going back and forth to your room across the ship.

Similarly, if you have mobility concerns, picking a stateroom closer to the elevator banks would be a good idea.

Cabins with too many people

Families going on a cruise often try to book a room that can accommodate everyone in one room. This may seem like the logical solution, but you should consider booking two (or more) smaller rooms instead.

While there are lot of cabins that can fit 4 people in one room, it may not be the most comfortable situation (plus the fact you are all sharing one bathroom).

Instead, consider booking two connecting rooms that have a common inside door between them.  Not only will this provide more room, physical separation and an extra bathroom, it may not be that much more money than trying to book one of the larger rooms.

Cheap cabins

We all have a limited vacation budget, but looking only at the price when choosing a cruise ship cabin is a big mistake.

You will want to look at more than just the price when choosing a cabin, including where it is located and what is (or is not) included with the room.

Your cabin is one part of the vacation where paying a little bit more for a higher category or better location can make a huge difference in your cruise enjoyment.

Read more: The epic Royal Caribbean suites 

Cabins that have noise bleed

Certain staterooms can have more than normal noise from public venues nearby, and that might be an issue if you're someone that goes to bed early or is a very light sleeper.

Royal Promenade View cabins are available on Freedom Class, Voyager Class and Oasis Class ships and they have cabins that face inward towards the Royal Promenade. Each of these rooms has a large bay window that looks out to the Promenade, but this window is not soundproof.

In the evenings especially, there can be noise emanating from the bars and parties below to your room.

In addition, these windows mean people can see into your cabin, so it's important to always keep the blinds drawn if you want privacy.  This is another reason Promenade view rooms may not be desirable.

On the Vision & Radiance Class ships, the first few cabins from the Centrum can also deal with noise bleed, as the Centrum is home to loud music in the evening.  

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

Cabins below the pool deck

If you value being able to sleep in, avoid a cabin that is immediately below the pool deck.

Music isn't the issue with these cabins, rather, noise from chairs being arranged tends to be heard in the room. In the early morning, crew members re-arrange deck chairs for the coming day. Unfortunately, the noise created by dragging heavy lounge chairs across a deck tends to be heard in the rooms below the deck.

Light sleepers or anyone that enjoys sleeping in could have a problem with rooms in this location, so try to book a cabin with another stateroom above your cabin.

Read more: Guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabins and suites

Obstructed view cabins

It may be tempting to save money by booking an obstructed view cabin, but buyer's remorse sets in quickly.

Obstructed view cabins are rooms that have some physical structure blocking at least part of your balcony or porthole window view. Usually, these are lifeboats.

On Voyager and Freedom Class ships, aft balcony rooms have an obstructed view due to the metal structure on the back of the ship. You can still see the ocean, but it's not completely open either.

Read more: 6 reasons to reject a cruise ship cabin upgrade

Connecting cabins

Connecting cabins are a fantastic option for families, but if you aren't booking both rooms on either side of the common door, you're making a mistake.

The issue is the common door between the two staterooms is not soundproof and is actually quite easy for noise to pass through.

While the door will remain locked if you don't know the person in the other room, you're going to hear a lot of what's happening in their room and they'll hear what you're up to as well.

Look at a deck plan before booking any cabin, and avoid booking connecting rooms if you aren't going to book both cabins.

The best cruise I took last summer was my European adventure that brought me around Norway. But not everything went as I had hoped.

I cruised to Norway on three different sailings, including one on Silversea.  It's an incredibly beautiful country, and seeing as much of it by ship proved to be a great idea.

The issue I ran into was despite my planning, not every aspect worked out to my liking.

Still, I had a great vacation in Europe and it was the kind of trip I know my family will be talking about for many years.

Any good trip requires planning, packing, and a good strategy for tackling every day. You don't need military precision, just a smart approach that leverages experience and advice.

Here are five things I would've done differently on a recent cruise to Norway.

Planning out our hikes would have made it much more enjoyable

We thought it would be a good idea to mix in a hike, but for novices, it's not as simple as it sounds.

Hiking is a great way to appreciate the natural beauty of Norway, but there's a fine line between "leisurely" and "strenuous", especially since a lot of hikes are graded by people that do it all time.

While in Molde, we wanted to try out a hike that promised stunning views of the city and surrounding area. 

Our first mistake was implicitly trusting ChatGPT to pick a trail for us, even when specifying we needed something easy for kids. It suggested the Varden Molde Panorama.

However, if we had cross referenced that with a site like AllTrails, we would have seen it's listed as "moderately challenging route" and "takes an average of 3 h 7 min to complete."

The grade of the hike was too difficult for us, and made it barely half way up. We shared in a good laugh after how difficult it was, but I was dejected that we didn't get to conquer it.

Next time, I'll need to rely on human advice for picking out a fun, yet not-so-challenging trail to try.

I wish I had spent money on Uber a few times

In the cities we visited, walking seemed like the right idea to get around because the cities are mostly flat and not very large.

However, I regret how much walking we did just to save a few bucks on transportation.

The issue is we'd be full of energy and vigor and ready to walk all around a city. Inevitably, we'd reach our destinations on foot and then realize it's a lengthy walk back.

In Oslo, we wrestled with the notion if we should walk all the way back or pay for an expensive Uber ride. Our group ultimately decided on walking.  I saved money, but I also had sore feet.

The problem with sore feet is you're using those same feet the next day in port, and it all adds up.

I'm not advocating to explore Norway next time by private car everywhere, but I think it if there's a walkable, yet long distance, paying for transportation might be a smarter decision to ensure you can enjoy the trip.

I regret booking a multi-hour bus tour

If there's one shore excursion I instantly regretted, it was a bus tour of the fjords in Olden.

I booked a panoramic bus tour of Nordfjord, and while we did stop at some lovely places, the pacing and length of time on the bus diminished the value.

I think experiencing natural beauty is best with more time spent walking and exploring an area, rather than a 15 minute bus tour.

Bus tours might work for some people, but I despise how slow they move and how little time you seem to have in places you care about.

Worse, our bus tour was late getting back to the ship for the all aboard time. It was a Royal Caribbean excursion, so I wasn't worried about getting left behind.  But on principle it bothered me, and also meant we had no time to grab a souvenir afterwards.

If I could do Olden over again, I would have either booked a small group tour or simply stayed within Olden and enjoyed the stunning lakes there.

Relying on weather forecasts was a waste of time

Every evening my family and I would talk about plans the next day and inevitably we'd check weather forecasts and none of them ever agreed on what we could expect.

After a couple of days, I stopped even checking the weather forecast because they were inconsistent and usually incorrect.

Weather in Norway can best be summed up as, "it might be sunny, cloudy, rain a little, and then back to sunny again."

My advice is plan for a little of everything. Have a lightweight jacket that you can put on if it rains or if its cold, but something you can easily stuff into a backpack.

Dress with a t-shirt and sweater, so you can easily take the sweater off or put it back on.

I certainly would not make or cancel plans based purely on weather forecasts and "go with the flow".

I spent too much money on soda

An Americans, my family is used to having a Coca-Cola with lunch. But in Europe, that's an expensive habit.

A single can of Coke would cost at least 3 or 4 Euros, and that adds up quickly among everyone in the family and across multiple days.

There are two ideas I could have relied on to avoid this unnecessary expense.

First, is to rely on either water provided or bring a water bottle along. Given how much we walked, having water is probably a better choice anyway.

Second, we could have taken cans of soda off the ship with us for a meal.  

We had a beverage package onboard, and it would have been easy enough to stash it in a backpack if the kids really wanted a soft drink with their meals.

Royal Caribbean quietly rolled out a new add-on that bundles some of the most popular cruise add-ons into one combo package.

At first glance, these seem like the "easy button" solution, but at over $100 per person, per day, it's a major up-front investment.  However,  these bundles combine a full-cruise drink package with access to extra-cost areas at Perfect Day at CocoCay or the new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. 

For the right cruiser, these combos can be a big money-saver. But others may be overpaying for things you might not use. 

Here's what Royal Caribbean's combo packages include, how the pricing really works, and how to decide if one actually makes sense for your cruise.

What's are the combo packages?

Combo packages are an all-in-one bundle that combines a beverage package with entry to extra cost areas of Perfect Day at CocoCay and/or Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Instead of buying each add-on separately, Royal Caribbean offers them together at a discounted daily price.

Each of the combo packages are priced per person, per day and the daily price includes an unlimited drink package, and up to two extra cost areas

• Deluxe Beverage Package + Royal Beach Club Open Bar Day Pass
• Refreshment Package + Royal Beach Club Non-Alcoholic Day Pass
• Deluxe Beverage Package  + Ultimate Beach Combo (Royal Beach Club & Hideaway Beach)
• Refreshment Package + Thrill & Chill Combo (Royal Beach Club & Thrill Waterpark)

There are a few things to know up front:

• The drink package applies to the entire length of the cruise, not just beach days
• Beach club and CocoCay access applies only on the port day
• Combos aren't available on every sailing
• Pre-cruise discounts are often tied to sales, casino offers, or loyalty status

They're also not available on every sailing. Primarily you can expect to find them on a sailing that visits either Nassau and CocoCay.

How much do they cost?

There's a daily fee for the entire duration of the cruise, and it's available to book before the cruise begins.

Like all of Royal Caribbean's pricing, it's based on your sail date, ship, and demand.  That means one person could pay more than someone else on a different ship.

Plus, Royal Caribbean has extra discounts tied to Casino Royale status, or Crown & Anchor status.

Here are example prices for an upcoming Utopia of the Seas 3-night cruise:

• Deluxe Beverage Package + Royal Beach Club: $110.99 per guest, per day
  • $332.97 total for 3 nights per person
• Refreshment Package + Royal Beach Club Non-Alcoholic Day Pass: $74.99 per adult, per day, $27.99 per child per day
  • $224.97 total for 3 nights per adult
  • $119.97 total for 3 nights per child
• Deluxe Beverage Package  + Ultimate Beach Combo: $124.99 per guest, per day
  • $374.97 total for 3 nights per person
• Refreshment Package + Thrill & Chill Combo: $100.99 per guest, per day
  • $302.97 total for 3 nights per adult
  • $227.97 total for 3 nights per child

If you have status with the casino, the Deluxe Beverage Package + Royal Beach Club price drops to $100.99 per guest, per day and the Deluxe Beverage Package  + Ultimate Beach Combo drops to $113.99 per guest, per day.

Combo packages vs buying separately

The obvious question is do these bundles actually save you any money compared to buying it all separately.

Using my Utopia sailing example, here is how the pricing works out for a combo versus booking the items individually. Keep in mind I have Prime casino status discount applied to my offers.

• Deluxe Beverage Package + Royal Beach Club: $302.97
  • Deluxe Beverage Package: $179.97
  • Royal Beach Club Day Pass: $136.99
  • Combo savings: $13.99
• Deluxe Beverage Package  + Ultimate Beach Combo: $341.97
  • Deluxe Beverage Package: $179.97
  • Royal Beach Club Day Pass: $136.99
  • Hideaway Beach Day Pass: $49.99
  • Combo savings: $24.98
• Refreshment Package + Royal Beach Club Non-Alcoholic Day Pass: $224.97
  • Refreshment Beverage Package: $92.97
  • Royal Beach Club Day Pass: $139.99
  • Combo savings: $7.99
• Refreshment Package + Thrill & Chill Combo: $302.97
  • Refreshment Beverage Package: $92.97
  • Royal Beach Club Day Pass: $139.99
  • Thrill Waterpark pass: $64.99
  • Combo savings:  -$5.02

In all but one package, I would save money by purchasing a combo.  Multiply the savings per person, and it can add up.

Are Royal Caribbean combo packages worth it?

Combo packages can make sense for the right buyer, assuming you were already interested in everything the bundle includes.

The cost savings aren't enormous, but it's enough that it's worth buying compared to each item individually.

The better question is, are you interested in everything the combos include?  Meaning, you already planned to buy a Deluxe Beverage Package and you were planning to visit Hideaway Beach, Thrill Waterpark, or Royal Beach Club anyway.

If so, the combo deal offers prepaid convenience and predictable onboard spending.

However, combo packages may not be ideal if:

• You don’t drink much alcohol (or any)
• You prefer free CocoCay areas
• You only want beach upgrades for one person in the cabin
• You’re sailing with kids who don’t need drink packages
• You don’t want to commit in advance

Should you buy a Royal Caribbean combo package?

Royal Caribbean is offering a convenient way to package popular add-ons into one, and it could save you money.

Before buying, I'd recommend doing the math to ensure the combo will actually save you money. These are not automatically a good deal. However, for the right cruiser, they can offer real savings and convenience. 

If you were already planning to buy a Deluxe Beverage Package and a paid beach experience, the combo is often cheaper, but only if you would’ve bought both anyway.

As with most cruise add-ons, it's important to match the package to how you actually will cruise before blindly buying it.