If you have the means and control, one of the best deals in cruising right now is through Royal Caribbean's casino program.

Ever since I discovered how lucrative the offers can be to essentially earn free cruises by doing the thing I'd already be doing in the ship's casino, I've been taking advantage of offers coming through Casino Royale.

My luck in the casino is up and down over the course of the year, and your results may differ from mine. Please gamble responsibly.

Just like a land casino, Royal Caribbean's casino operation is big business.  They offer complimentary cruises if you gamble enough to reach certain point thresholds.

You really don't need to be a big gambler in order to benefit, and a recent change the casino program made just saved me more than any jackpot I've ever won from a slot machine.

The basics of a casino comp

There are a few ways to get a "free cruise" by gambling in Royal Caribbean's casino, but I'm going to focus on the annual free cruise you get from reaching the Prime level within the casino loyalty program.

Just like Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean's casino has its own loyalty program. However, it differs in that your status is based on how many points you earn over the course of one year.  

You'll earn 1 point for every $5 wagered on a slot machine, and if you get to 2,500 points in a gaming year, you'll get the choice of a free interior room on a cruise up to seven nights in length.

The beauty of this free cruise offer is you can earn it over the course of a year. You might earn 500 points on one sailing, 1000 on another, and so on.  You can earn it in one sailing or over multiple, and then stop and enjoy that perk later.

Plus, as a Prime member you get free drinks in the casino.

The catch with this annual cruise offer is it's only available to book the following year, and you must use and sail it within that year. Plus, there's an exclusion list.

Each year certain dates and ships are excluded, because they're too in demand.  This means no holiday cruises and no sailings on brand new ships.

Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's next new ship was, as expected, on the exclusion list.

A change in the exclusion list

As I contemplated which cruise to use my free sailing offer, Royal Caribbean made a change.

Royal Caribbean message board users shared suddenly there were Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas sailings showing up as available after previously being excluded.

"In case anyone has not booked their annual, Star is no longer excluded and there are open dates in January-March!" wrote Chart.

A brand new ship like Star of the Seas would command a premium price, and I looked into if I could take advantage of it.

Almost $9,000 in savings

I was already booked for a 7-night spring break cruise on Star of the Seas with my family in connecting ocean balcony cabins.

I booked it when the ship opened up bookings, and got two rooms for my family.  Splitting up and getting two rooms instead of one is one of my favorite cruise hacks.

The price for each room was $7095.08, including taxes, fees, port expenses, and gratuities. That's a total of $14,190.16 for both cabins.

I alerted my MEI-Travel agent to what I had seen online and asked her if we could cancel what I had booked and re-book it with my casino certificate.

She found the reports were true, and I would be able to use my certificate for one room and my wife's certificate for the other room.

We'd get the interior cabin for "free", and the cost to upgrade to connecting ocean view balcony would be $2338.34 + gratuities per room. With fees and gratuities, it came out to $2597.34 per cabin.

After some work with the cruise line, my travel agent was able to get me rebooked with the casino offer, plus the difference in upgrading the cabin back up to an ocean balcony.

I went from a $14,190.16 bill to a $5,194.68 bill, saving me $8,995.48.

Big savings, but it's still gambling

I wanted to share my experience as an example of how lucrative Royal Caribbean's casino program can be, provided you're willing to play responsibly.

To be fair, I don't have an accurate accounting of my losses in the 2024-2025 casino year to properly evaluate how much money I lost to get my 2,500 points and reach Prime status.

Of course, I also enjoyed other benefits of being a Prime member, such as complimentary drinks in the casino throughout that time and even this year too.

Gambling is addictive and inherently risky, but if you can play smart, you could net some big savings well beyond the casino floor.

Young people are taking over cruise ships.

Demand for a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation has never been hotter, and there's a shift in who's booking them.

Speaking at an event in New York City revealing their private destination plans, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley told the audience the average age of its customers is no longer Baby Boomers or Gen-X.

"The average age is a Millennial now," said Mr. Bayley in talking about the shifting demographics of who's going on a cruise.

According to Bayley, on short getaway cruises, 2 out of 3 guests are vacationing with Royal Caribbean for the first time.

More than 40% of Royal Caribbean cruises are 5 nights or less.

Given the direction Royal Caribbean is headed with opening new beach clubs around the world over the next few years, catering to Millennials and their families makes sense for the company.

The Pew Research Center defines millennials as those born between 1981 and 1996, which means they're people that are between 29 and 44 years old today.

They're bringing their kids onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and are the dominate age group onboard.

Why are Millennials embracing cruising so much? Two factors are the affordability of cruises compared to traditional land vacations and the increasing desire for unique, shareable experiences.

That second part is at the heart of Royal Caribbean's big destination push.

New places you can spend time together

If you look at Perfect Day Mexico, Lelepa, or any of the beach clubs, you're going to quickly notice these are all built on the foundation of creating memories for families.

Whether you're at the Giant Flamingo DJ bar in Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, going down the nearly hour-long lazy river in Perfect Day Mexico, or at the swim-up bar in Cozumel, the overarching goal is to offer Royal Caribbean cruisers things they can do for everyone in the family.

"Our guests are looking for memories. They're trying to find first experiences. It's why people go on vacation, frankly," said Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider.

To that point, Royal Caribbean made water the core pillar of all the areas they showed off.

Why? Because that's what Royal Caribbean's customers are telling them they want. 

"We hear this all the time from our guests. It's view water; in water; toes in sand water; drink water; Water comes throughout everything that we do."

A great example of this combination of water and family memories is in which water slides are being added to Perfect Day Mexico.

There are more raft slides than body slides because customers love them.  It's more fun to go down a water slide with someone you know, and it's a shared experience.

There will be more than 30 slides in Perfect Day Mexico, and  the tallest family raft slide is designed for four to six riders at once so you can experience it together.

Royal Caribbean also developed party cabanas that can handle up to 20 people in Perfect Day Mexico. That's in addition to the Ultimate Family Cabana in Nassau.

Both types of cabanas are for big groups that want to share in making memories. It has its own dedicated bathroom, its own bar. It'll have its own bartender.

Of course, the world's biggest lazy river is going to be a hit with just about everyone in the family.

Adding a lazy river was the most requested feature Royal Caribbean heard from its customers, so they're adding it to Perfect Day Mexico.

Estimates are it could take 45-60 minutes to make one loop around the lazy river.

Royal Caribbean is pushing the boundaries forward with its vision for its next beach private beach getaway.

The cruise line just revealed everything we wanted to know about what there is to do inside Perfect Day Mexico, and it's a leap ahead of anything they've come up with yet.

Royal Caribbean thinks it already built the best cruise line beach day experience with Perfect Day at CocoCay, and now it wants to go well beyond that with Perfect Day Mexico.

"It is meant to be just an amazing over the top experience," Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider explained as he gave Royal Caribbean Blog an exclusive first look ahead of the line's big reveal.

Perfect Day Mexico is a means to not just bring over what worked at CocoCay, but expand and dream bigger.

One of the most anticipated new features is going to be the longest lazy river in the world, which is a feature customers have been clamoring for.

"The two top things that guests have been looking for at Perfect Day at CocoCay: number one, a lazy river. And number two adult space."

While there wasn't enough land to do a lazy river at CocoCay, Mexico will be where this must-have is going to land.

"Being able to build, kind of a call it a white paper Perfect Day in Mexico, gave us the affordance to build the world's longest lazy river with a crazy branch, if you want to choose to go that path."

Access to the lazy river is included in your cruise fare. But Royal Caribbean's lazy river is not going to be like the one's you've probably been on before.

There will be a few different "Tubes and Tequila Bar" locations you can stop at, where you latch your tube to a bar and take a break for a cocktail.

Mr. Schneider hinted at a cooler of beer idea they're working on, "We're kicking around this idea where maybe you take a cooler...because being in the longest lazy river in the world, you're in that body of water, if you choose for up to or more than an hour to get around it."

As you meander around the river, the lazy river approaches the entrance to Loco Waterpark, the water conditions would get rougher as you enter the "crazy" section of it.  

He says the crazy section is still in development, "we're trying to find a way to make it crazy and still approachable by everybody who wants to go down that path."

The idea right now is there's a fork in the river, with a calm and peaceful path on one side, and a foreboding crazy path on the other.

"We'll probably have fun with theming and we'll probably have some fun with drama and figure out how to really differentiate the two."

More raft slides than ever before

Next door to the lazy river is Loco Waterpark, an extra cost venue that is once again offering what its customers want the most: raft slides.

You'll find both raft slides and body slides, but many more raft slides compared to CocoCay.

"What we've learned is there's significant amount of guest demand for raft slides and a lesser demand on body slides. And so we are dialing back the number of body slides and dialing up the number of raft slides."

As an example, the tallest family raft slide is designed for four to six riders at once so you can experience it together.

Royal Caribbean says there will be more than 30 waterslides across five towers, and they're even looking to outdo everyone else again.

The Jaguar's Peak slide will be more than 170 feet tall, which makes it the tallest slide tower in either North or South America.

Then there are the hydrolaunch slides that shoot riders into the air and the world’s first sombrero slide, modeled after Mexico’s iconic sombrero. 

Opening in 2027

When Perfect Day Mexico opens fall 2027, it's going to be big and full of new things to try.

You'll walk into the Fiesta Plaza to see the world’s largest sombrero bar — a towering 20-meter-high structure. 

Walk in, or hop on a trajinera (Mexican-style gondolas). It's a signature new feature to offer a different way to go get from point A to point B.

You could stop right at Chill Beach, which has nearly 2 miles of white sand beaches.

There are two exclusive areas with admission cost you could buy a pass to: the adults-only El Hideaway or Costa Beach Club. 

The inland El Hideaway is just for guests 18 or older, and it has a 50,000 sq. ft. party pool. There are multiple swim-up bars, DJ entertainment, and live music.

Costa Beach Club is the elevated beach spot, where crowds are limited and you'll find secluded beaches and pools with luxurious loungers and private service.

"There are things that we've never done before. There are things that are evolutions that are working. And then there are traditions," Mr. Schneider said of the planning for this new 200 acre site.

Royal Caribbean will put the new itineraries visiting Perfect Day Mexico on sale this fall, with ships visiting from Florida, Texas, and New Orleans.

Royal Caribbean revealed what it has planned for its private destination push that is going to go well beyond what any cruise line has ever dreamed.

Royal Caribbean is poised to open four different projects over the next few years, each with its own way to give vacationers exactly what they want: an idyllic day in the sun, surf, and shore.

The developments crisscross the Caribbean, and even extend to the Pacific.  It's all part of Royal Caribbean's master plan to offer the very best destinations that are second to none.

At an event in New York, the cruise line showcased what it has planned at each of its private beaches, along with opening dates and what we can expect.

Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island

• Opens: December 2025
• Capacity: 4,000 guests
• Paid, All-Inclusive

The first of these new beaches to open will be the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, located in Nassau, Bahamas.

Scheduled to open in December 2025, the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is an all-inclusive, beach club you'll need to pay to access.

It's like a super shore excursion that Royal Caribbean curates to cater to exactly what its passengers want: a high-end beach day experience with a focus on local authenticity and upscale amenities.

Royal Caribbean relied on extensive guest research and feedback to come up with the experience.

Guests will be transported via custom-built water taxis that depart from the port area, with two arrival points to make getting where you want to go easy.

Royal Caribbean says "bookings become available in just a few short weeks."

There are going to be three zones, each with a different approach to enjoy your time.

Chill Beach

You'll find both a pool and a beach here, and it's meant to be the most relaxing area of the club. 

There is a long pool with a swim-up bar (in fact, every pool has a swim up bar within the club), and plenty of space to enjoy quiet, ambient Caribbean music.

Party Cove

Party Cove is going to be the spot to go to if you want a pool party vibe.

You'll find the world's largest swim-up bar, known as "the Floating Flamingo". It features a dedicated DJ area, and VIP “party wings.”

It's two stories with the DJ at the center of it at the top level. There's going to be integrated compressed air to elevate the party atmosphere.

The party wings allow guests to actually rent the entire wing for your group, similar to how you might rent a cabana elsewhere.

The pool is actually broken up into three areas, with the largest swim up bar having over 100 seats.

Family Beach

Catering to guests with kids, Family Beach will have a zero-entry pool and this is really the focus of this zone. 

It's a long and shallow pool for families to enjoy together, but there's a swim-up bar here too.

This is also where you'll find the debut of the first-ever land-based Ultimate Family Cabana, which promises an over-the-top experience for families.

It has equal access to beach and pool, and the cabana is going to have just about everything you'd want for a splurged up kind of day.

Your own slide, dining area, lounge space, and more.

Partnership with The Bahamas

The operation will be run in partnership with Bahamian stakeholders (under a 51/49 joint venture), ensuring that the service and food authentically reflect local culture.

You'll find Bahamian art, architecture, and locally-sourced food seamlessly blending into the guest experience.

A strong emphasis is placed on sustainability through initiatives such as zero waste to landfill practices and advanced wastewater recycling systems.

Perfect Day Mexico

• Opens September 2027
• Included, with multiple premium upgrades available

Royal Caribbean's biggest land project ever will open with Perfect Day Mexico.

It's located in what's now Costa Maya, Mexico. When Royal Caribbean is done, the old Costa Maya and region will be uplifted and redeveloped with significant investment in the community and the amenities throughout.

The cruise line bought the port and surrounding land, and it's going to be an epic exclusive for Royal Caribbean passengers  that builds upon the success they've had with Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Admission is included in your cruise fare, but there are opportunities to spend on extras like cabanas, waterpark and excursions.

When passengers get off the ship, they have the choice of entering Perfect Day Mexico or walking to the nearby Transportation and Tourist Center to pick up a shore excursion or other form of travel out.

The first itineraries you can book that will feature a visit to Perfect Day Mexico will become available this fall.

There will be five key zones to explore:

Fiesta Plaza

This is where you'll enter Perfect Day Mexico, and it's decked out in bold, colorful Mexican décor, and acts as the social hub and introduction to the destination.

You'll notice quickly the world’s largest sombrero bar and vibrant street-style signage.

It's an engineering marvel, and started out as an idea to build the world's largest sombrero, but Royal Caribbean decided to turn it into a bar.

You can walk into Perfect Day Mexico on foot, or opt to take one of the trajineras, which are colorful, flat-bottomed boats that you'd find in the canals of Mexico City. 

The river that runs through the entrance helps set the scene, and Royal Caribbean thought offering boat rides would be a really fun way to move people.

Chill Beach

This is the primary and quite large beach area guests that spans the shoreline. The entire area is almost 2 miles in length.

This is where you'll go for a beautiful and relaxing beach day, complete with lounge-friendly areas with palm-lined shorelines.

Guests can enjoy complimentary loungers, umbrellas and towels at all beaches and pools at Perfect Day Mexico.

Royal Caribbean will also offer cabanas to rent, including ones that have little plunge pools attached to them. There will be land cabanas, water cabanas, and plunge cabanas.

Costa Beach Club (extra cost)

Based on the Coco Beach Club, this will be the upscale beach club experience with elevated dining, exclusive pools, and luxury cabanas.

You'll find white sand beaches, a heated infinity pool, and dedicated restaurant.

There are cabanas to rent here as well, which come with a dedicated pool.

El Hideaway (extra cost)

The adults-only area is an inland pool zone with massive party pools, swim-up bars, and DJ entertainment.

Encompassing eight acres, it has a pool that is going to be 50,000ft², whereas the Hideaway Beach pool today is only 17,000ft².

Either side will have the "chill" zones, while the center will be all about the party atmosphere.

Fun fact: it will be home to the world's largest bottle of tequila!

You'll find here the Party Cabana, which can handle up to 20 people. It has its own dedicated bathroom, its own bar, and it'll have its own bartender.

Splash Cove

A new concept, Splash Cove is 30 acres in size. It has a pool that is a little over three times bigger than the Oasis Lagoon.

This entire neighborhood will be included in your cruise fare.

Surrounding the pool will be the world's longest lazy and crazy river.

The lazy river will be between a 45 and 60 minute journey, but it has multiple stops along the way where you can tie up your raft at a bar to take a "break".

There will be three of these bars, known as "Tubes and Tequila", and you'll clip your tube to the bar for a stop.

There will also be the largest Splashaway Bay for kids, along with more seating than you'd find at the CocoCay version.

Speaking of young kids, there will be a bubble up activity, which is describe as an experience that inflates with water jets coming off of it, and then it deflates and kids climb up it and fall down. It's a super fun young kid thing

Loco Waterpark (extra cost)

Spanning 15 acres, it's three times the size of Thrill Waterpark, and will have 31 slides across five towers.

One big theme is you'll find a lot of raft slides, as they resonate the most with Royal Caribbean's guests. There will still be drop slides or body slides, but many more raft slides.

You'll find the tallest water park in the Americas, eclipsing the one in Brazil that's at 160ft.

There's a Jaguar head tower (170ft tall), along with Sombrero Tower (100ft tall), and the launch tower

The launch tower has hydro launches and drop slides. These are the ones that fly you through the air and then drop you down. 

Royal Caribbean has an idea to put a bar near the launch tower so guests can have a drink and watch people flying through the air and give them ratings, like an Olympic competition.

There's a wave pool that will be about twice the size of the one on CocoCay.

Dining in Perfect Day Mexico

Royal Caribbean will have 12 regionally inspired dining options throughout the resort.  There will be sit-down restaurants, quick service entries, and almost all the food will be included in your cruise fare.

There are also 24 bars spread across Perfect Day Mexico, including six swim-up bars.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel

• Opens: December 2026
• Paid, All-Inclusive

The second beach club will be in Cozumel, and its focus is offering guests a day filled with fun centered around the pool, beach, sun, food and culture.

It'll be located where Playa Mia beach resort is currently, as Royal Caribbean will take it over. They've also acquired the properties on both sides of Playa Mia.  

The last day of Playa Mia's operations is May 20th, and then construction will begin. Just like Costa Maya, Royal Caribbean will demolish everything that existed there before to introduce their own vision.

It's about a ten minute drive south from where Royal Caribbean docks its ships.

There are 5 main areas: Main pool, North Beach, The Mercato, South Village, and South Beach.

Just like the beach club in Nassau, Royal Caribbean wants it to offer three vibes: chill, family and party. It's a work in progress as to how they're going to achieve it here, but they have a few ideas.

As you arrive, you'll be surrounded by lush landscaping. As you walk in, you'll start to see the vibrancy of Mexico with art and amazing views ahead of you.

There will be a pool with a swim-up bar, along with a side that's toes in the sand that stretches over to the beach.

There'll be in water music experience, but it remains to be seen if it's a DJ or not.

At the Mercato, you'll find the central food experience. Royal Caribbean wants to offer a 50/50 blend of local inspired classics, as well as American food.

So you'll find tacos, fresh guacamole, fresh salsa, fresh tortillas, margaritas, quesadilla, tortas and churros. But you'll also have a chicken sandwich, burger, fries, etc.

Lelepa

• Opens: Early 2027
• Included

Located in Vanuatu, Royal Caribbean has its first private destination outside of North America with the Lelepa. This isn't a beach club, but not a Perfect Day either.  It's a different kind of product that doesn't fit into the other destinations mold.

It's not very far from Port Vila, and Royal Caribbean has essentially leased the entire northern part of the island

Ships will tender here, as there will be no pier.

One key difference is Lelepa will have no thrill factor.  Instead, they've doubled down on the chill, which is described as "gorgeous."

The team is taking the essence of the beach club product, but making it inclusive in the cruise fare.

There will be a number of villages to break up the layout of Lelepa:

• Welcome Village
• Beach villages

When you arrive, you'll see a local retail village and a welcome bar.

The private beach flanks both sides of the island, with a walkway in-between. Each side has beaches, restaurants, sports activities, and playgrounds.

They're also working on an adults-only area that doesn't cost extra. It's essentially a quieter, unmanaged area away from everything else for adults.

Something else being added are walking trails throughout the property, as part of a curated nature trail.

There are so many cruise tips for Royal Caribbean, and I bet a few make new cruisers wonder if they really work or not.

I'm so used to relying on many tricks and better approaches to things on a Royal Caribbean cruise that I take it for granted that they simply work.

When I was getting back on Utopia of the Seas after a fun day with friends, I told them to walk past the first set of elevators to the next set. It seemed like we were walking more than we needed, but we waited no time to get one because the other elevator bank was empty.

Tips like this seem almost crazy, but when you try them out, they work a lot better than imagined.

I went through a number of tried-and-true cruise tips and advice to come up with the ones that might sound weird, but they really do make sense once you're on the ship.

Ordering multiple entrees

In almost every restaurant on Royal Caribbean, you're welcome to order more than one entree.  It sounds like the most gluttonous piece of advice, but it works!

Generally speaking, entree sizes are smaller on a cruise ship than you might find on land.  I find this to be true in the Main Dining Room primarily.

Ordering more than one entree is a really good idea to ensure you're not hungry.

Better yet, it's nice to sample different dishes.  Odds are there's going to be more than one thing on the menu that sounds good.

Your waiters will encourage this practice too.  If you even hint at trying to decide between dishes, they'll usually insist on bringing you both.  Or three. 

This is part of why I love to cruise. You get to try new foods and indulge in ones you love.

As a new cruiser, ordering more than one entree feels so unnatural. I rarely, if ever, do that at a land restaurant.

Once you realize it's commonplace on cruises, it becomes a great way to enjoy the very best food Royal Caribbean serves.

Splitting beds makes a small room feel bigger

When someone that cruised much more than me told me they split their beds when they cruise solo, I thought they were crazy.  Turns out, they're right.

Most Royal Caribbean staterooms come with a Royal King bed that can be separated into two twin beds upon request.

When you're in an inside cabin, splitting the beds instead of keeping them together is a cruise hack meant to make it the room feel bigger.

I think the rationale is with the beds split, you get a walkway in the middle of the room between them, which is more useful than a sliver of space around the edges of the cabin.

I've experienced inside cabins with the beds split and together, and I do think it works better with the beds apart.

On newer Royal Caribbean ships, there are cabinets above the bed mounted to the wall, and it's easier to access them with the beds split.

You can ask your Stateroom Attendant to split or combine the beds at any time.

Of course, separate beds may not be your idea of conducive sleeping conditions.  But it will probably help open up the room a bit more.

Staying on the ship while in port

The number one reason people book a Royal Caribbean cruise is the destination, so it might feel wrong to want to not visit the places you're cruising to.

A lot of veteran cruisers will advocate skipping a port and taking advantage of a less crowded ship.

I went on Icon of the Seas with my family for spring break and later regretted we didn't have more time to enjoy what this amazing ship has to offer because we were busy in every port of call.

Some people might struggle with what to do in one particular port, because there isn't an activity or tour that jumps out as a must-do for their taste.

Staying onboard during a port day allows you to take advantage of significantly less crowds, especially at the pool or for the top deck attractions. Water slides, the zip line, rock wall, and more are all far less busy on port days.

When you try it, it feels like being home from school in a way because everyone else is off doing something else. But the advantages are lovely for having the pools (virtually) to yourself.

Magnets add more storage capability

I resisted the advice of so many people to buy magnets for their cruise cabin because I couldn't believe it would help, but I was wrong.

Many people recommend bringing magnets to use in your cabin as a way to improve the storage options, and it's something you'd never consider at any land hotel.

Part of the reason why magnets and not something else is because the walls in your cabin are metal, and you can't use adhesives or anything else that would damage the walls.

A pack of heavy duty magnetic hooks will last forever and you can re-use them on future cruises. (Link is an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you buy)

It allows you to hang up dresses, hats, bathing suits, shirts, and pretty much a lot of other stuff that would otherwise take up space in drawers or on furniture.

I was skeptical how effective it would work, but it really does the trick.

Take photos of crew member name tags

Royal Caribbean truly values customer feedback, and it's not just a corporate cliché.

In fact, a lot of cruisers often want to give the cruise line their thoughts, and the post-cruise survey is the best way to do that.  

That survey is also the best way to recognize outstanding crew members, but if you're like me, you forget how to spell their name or in some cases their name all together.  

I saw cruisers taking photos of crew member name tags and thought that's silly.  But in reality, getting home and not remembering that amazing bartender or cabana host's name is silly on my part.

Ask them to take a photo of their name tag so it's easier to remember later for the survey.  They'll be more than happy to let you do that.

Florida is established as the cruise capital of the world, but one of it's smaller principalities offers some of the best value cruises available.

Nearly all of the cruises from Florida sail from the east coast of the state, with one exception: Tampa.

What I love about Tampa is it's a small, but easy to access cruise port that also offers the best pricing right now across Royal Caribbean ships.

The reason why you'll find lower cost cruises from Tampa is the same reason that hampers the port from ever expanding to bring in those pricier ships.  

Simply, the port is blocked by a bridge that is too low to accommodate big ships. As a result, only Royal Caribbean's older and smaller ships can visit, and those ships are terrific values.

Small, but fun ships that won't break your budget

You won't find Icon, Wonder, or Voyager in Tampa. But ship size isn't the only reason to pick a ship.

Royal Caribbean has anywhere from one to three ships sailing from Tampa during the year, and lately it's been shifting towards the Vision Class.

Enchantment of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas are there currently, and you'll see others come and go with the various seasons.

Vision Class ships are indeed the oldest in the fleet, but they're also priced quite nicely.

You'll find weekend cruises as well as longer voyages, and the price tends to be quite attractive.

Royal Caribbean advertises a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise on Enchantment of the Seas beginning at just $358 per person.

Moving up to a 7-night cruise, you can sail on Rhapsody of the Seas for $484 per person for a January 2026 sailing.

Many fares begin in the $400-$700 per person range, which is quite a difference from Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas that command prices beginning over $1,000 per person.  

Of course, there's a major difference between a Vision Class ship and an Icon Class ship in terms of what's offered onboard.  You pay less, but there's a lot less to see, eat, and do.

For a lot of people that choose to cruise from Tampa, that's an intentional decision.

The combination of value and a relaxing experience is what draws them to these sorts of cruises.

In January, I took a long weekend cruise on Enchantment of the Seas as a getaway trip. While I missed all the fun things on Icon, I still found things to keep me busy and occupied.

People that cruise a lot will tell you it's a "classic cruise experience", meaning low on thrills, big on enjoying time in a deck chair, in a lounge, or watching the world pass by.

If you're okay with forgoing water slides, big production shows, and a cavalcade of top deck activities, these ships will still deliver an enjoyable tropical sailing.

Easy in, easy out

Something else I like about cruising from Tampa is how convenient it is.

To be fair, Royal Caribbean has nailed the whole embarkation process.  Thanks to advances in its app and a fine-tuned terminal approach, you'll get on your ship fast.

One difference in Tampa is the parking garage is conveniently located across the street from the terminals, making it a short walk.  Tampa even advertises its parking as affordable, clearly comparing itself to how much on site parking costs at other Florida terminals.

For example, pre-paying at the Port of Tampa's website, it's $90 total to park your car for a 5 night cruise.

I especially love the valet parking option.

Drive up, hand them your keys, and walk into the terminal.  Then at the end of the cruise, they bring your car right to you.

It's only $15 more (total) on top of the standard parking rate, and worth it every time to me.

Inside the cruise terminals, it's quick and easy.  They aren't as ornate as the new ones in Miami or Port Canaveral, but they're functional.

Overall, it's an easy process and makes it more attractive to sail from knowing there aren't any hassles waiting.

It's easy to overlook a Tampa cruise, but it's the best value right now

If you're on a budget, a cruise from Tampa is usually going to be the cheapest Florida cruise out there.

With cruise prices on the rise, I'd recommend looking for cruises here to save a lot of money.  You might be able to move up to a balcony or suite for the same cost of a lower category stateroom on a bigger ship.

The key in choosing any ship is understanding what it offers and doesn't offer, but our readers consistently ask for tips on how to save money on their cruise vacation.

Tampa recommendations

Readers often ask for recommendations for where to stay, eat, and explore while in Tampa, so here are some easy favorites:

Hotels offering free shuttles

• Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown (free shuttle to downtown and cruise port)
• Tampa Marriott Water Street: TECO trolley (city run) stop is next to hotel. Free to use to get to terminal
• Quality Inn at Airport/Cruise Port: Free airport shuttle, extra cost shuttle to terminal
• Embassy Suites Tampa Downtown: TECO trolley (city run) stop is next to hotel. Free to use three stops away from terminal

Restaurants to try

• Columbia Restaurant: Cuban cuisine
• Toojay's: New York style diner
• American Social: Sports Bar
• Rick's on the River: riverside pub
• Harpoon Harry's: surf n turf

There's a new casino to enjoy on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas without any smoking concerns.

The construction walls are down and a new casino space is open for guests, expanding the gambling space available.

Last month plans were revealed that it would replace two venues with non-smoking casino space: The Attic and The Crown Lounge.

The Attic was the first to be replaced, and it opened to guests today.

Photos have begin to emerge taken by guests of the space, which features slot machines and table games in an open and inviting space. Thanks to Steve Notarnicola and Ron Bacon for sharing photos.

The biggest difference is there's no smoking allowed here.  

It's located opposite the original non-smoking casino space across the hall.

The Attic used to be the ship's combination comedy club and late night dance party.  Comedy shows have been moved to the Royal Theater and presumably the club scene is elsewhere as well.

There's still a bar in this new gambling area, carrying over from The Attic.

Next up, Royal Caribbean will do similar work and change out the Crown Lounge for a casino space.

The Crown Lounge is a dedicated area for Crown and Anchor Society members that are at least Diamond level or above.

The Crown lounge will be relocated on May 16, so that a third non-smoking casino space can start construction.  No word on exactly how long that will take, but it will be in-service work, which means the ship is still sailing. The expectation is the Crown Lounge & existing casino to open May 30-June 2.

The Crown Lounge will move to Deck 16 to replace the Teen Club.  The Teen Club will be renovated and become smaller.

The goal is to attract more gamblers who don't want to deal with smoke

The change in venues is about generating more revenue while addressing a need among non-smokers.

Royal Caribbean has shifted its views on smoking in the casino, seeing there's a desire among those to gamble without the smoking odor wafting around them.

Traditionally, cruise casinos have a smoking and non-smoking side, but the smoke odor doesn't respect boundaries.  In reality, there's a smell and it's been a turn off for non-smokers.

"So glad there is a non smoking casino I don’t care if I’m the only one there," wrote one person on Facebook after seeing the photos.

Christina Anderson added, "Oh I love this! Looks so nice. Glad they expanded it. They needed more slots there."

Royal Caribbean experimented with a non-smoking casino with the debut of Wonder of the Seas and since then it's been a hot trend for them.

Shortly thereafter, all the Jazz on 4 clubs were converted to non-smoking casinos and the jazz entertainment was relocated to Central Park.

Most recently, the Vintages bar on Freedom of the Seas was converted over to a non-smoking casino.

Now, more space is on the Oasis ships are shifting to non-smoking.

Wonder of the Seas will get these changes too

Expect these same changes on Wonder of the Seas soon.

Royal Caribbean will hold off on these changes on Wonder until the ship begins offering short weekend cruises later this year. Then, they'll make the same changes to the Crown Lounge and Attic.

Wonder of the Seas will move to Miami and begin offering short cruises on September 1, 2025.

We're not aware yet of plans for other ships to get this change, but it's likely other Oasis Class ships may get it too in time.

I purposefully didn't take my first Alaska cruise for a few years and friends that cruised more than me always found that strange.

They told me that I had to go see it, and after enough people kept saying the same thing, I thought I'd give in an try it. 

Not only were they right, but I loved Alaska, and we've been back again with more trips planned for the future.

Our first Alaska cruise was on Explorer of the Seas in 2018 and we had a good time. However, looking back, I made a few mistakes that could've been easily avoided.

Here are three missteps from my trip that could happen to anyone — and what I'd do differently next time.

Feeling I'd regret not having a balcony

If you do five minutes of research into an Alaska cruise, you're going to see at least five recommendations to book a balcony cabin.

To be clear, this is really good advice. There's so much to see around you as your ship sails, and having a balcony is very convenient to be able to hop out and check things out.

But I really don't think you need a balcony as much as it may seem because ship designs have changed a lot.

Royal Caribbean does such a good job designing its ships with public space on open decks that you can easily get outside and see what's happening.  Plus, since you're on a Royal Caribbean ship and not a cruise line with ho-hum things to do, there's far more impetus to be out and about and away from your room to begin with.

I found that the balcony in my Junior Suite was indeed convenient, but it wasn't as critical as I was lead to believe.

I think this recommendation is rooted in older and smaller ships that lacked as much public space as Royal Caribbean's bigger ships, and those decks got crowded.

Not to mention your balcony only faces one direction. There are usually things to see all around you, and the pool decks or helipad are far better suited to taking it all in.

On the day we visited Dawes Glacier, there was a person answering questions and talking about what we were seeing on the helipad.  You don't get that insight on your balcony.

To be clear, booking a balcony cabin isn't a mistake. I think it's a great idea, if you can afford it.

Rather, the mistake is assuming you're making a mistake by not booking a balcony cabin.  Saving money and taking an inside room is arguably a better spend if you can re-invest those savings on an amazing Alaska shore excursion.

Not trying the White Pass Railway

I have an aversion to any super popular shore excursion because I feel they sometimes are overrated and a tourist trap, but the White Pass Railway isn't one of them.

Arguably the top thing to do in Skagway is take a ride on the White Pass Railway.  I saw it, looked at it, and didn't book it.  I then regretted it, even though my Hummer tour was incredible.

It’s a beautiful, relaxed way to take in the dramatic scenery of the historic Klondike Highway and White Pass. You’ll ride the famous train one way and enjoy a scenic coach tour the other, with several stops for photos along the way. It’s a wonderful mix of history, views, and comfort.

It picks up from near the cruise ships, and the windows offer a tremendous view every mile of the trip into the Yukon.

There are a lot of combinations you can book, but I've heard from a few readers this tour because they all said it was a highlight of their trip. (Contains an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to buy)

I still haven't tried it yet, but when I go in 2026, I'll book that tour I linked to above immediately.

Not researching where to eat lunch

I knew enough before my cruise to plan out my tours and excursions, but one thing I neglected to do was pick out where to eat.

Many tours or activities in Alaska aren't all day affairs, so you'll have time for meal before or after.  

The food in Alaska is incredible, but some spots are definite tourist traps. Plus, some restaurants get really busy, really quickly.

As you might imagine, seafood is the food Alaska is best known for and it's part of the appeal of visiting. You'll rarely get food so fresh and bountiful.

The key is to seek out the recommended local spots and have a few options in mind so depending on where you end up, you can head over.  Or if one is too busy, skip to the next.

More realizations about taking an Alaska cruise

Since trying Alaska, I've come to learn a few important lessons that have greatly improved my cruise experience.

These aren't mistakes I made, but better approaches to my Alaska planning process.

Don't worry about the weather: I used to get so wound up about if it will be cold, rain, cloudy, or hot and the reality is I have no control over it.

Instead, you just have to be prepared for all of it, because Alaska weather changes throughout the day.

Yes, it will rain. But probably not all day. And you'll be cold at some point, then want a t-shirt.

Packing layers is the key, and it's a great tip for avoiding disappointment and remaining comfortable.  That way, you can still enjoy the best Alaska has to offer.

Booking excursions early is more important than ever: Cruisers are much better informed today than in the past, and it's clear the recommendation to book tours has gotten out there.

I've noticed shore excursions selling out much faster in Alaska than in the Caribbean, and it's a good reminder to book your tours as early as you can to avoid the frustration of it selling out.

If you see a cruise line excursion that sounds amazing but it's sold out, odds are there's a very similar tour offered by a third party you can book.

I have a running list of great tours you can book on your own in Alaska that have been suggested by our community, so give them a try!

Leave time in your day to explore: It's so easy to want to book every tour, but also leave time do explore on your own.

Sitka, Haines, Juneau and more offer great opportunities to meander and see what's around the next corner. 

I love stumbling across a coffee shop, finding a historical monument, or sitting down on a bench and taking in the view.

Happy Mothers Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a new cruise booking too.

Cruisers on one Royal Caribbean ship were offered a pretty incredible deal if they were willing to be flexible with their vacation plans.

A sailing on Allure of the Seas may have been oversold, so guests were asked if they'd consider changing their ship or sail date.

The offer was to look for volunteers, and you could essentially get a free cruise and refund to change sailings.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is making its restaurant guests love even better
• Royal Caribbean birthday sale is new and unlike any other I've seen
• I always do 4 things when I buy a drink package on every cruise and it adds so much value
• Is the internet package worth it on Royal Caribbean? I say yes
• Royal Caribbean added a new kind of suite to its ships that has no balcony. I liked it much more than I expected
• I went on the world's most family-friendly cruise ship without kids. It was worth it for 5 reasons
• 5 Royal Caribbean cruises where your dollar will go further right now
• 12 Cruise tips you disagree with
• I've worked at a cruise terminal for four years. Here are 10 things you should know before you arrive
• Utopia of the Seas suites
• New cruiser credits a prep step they took for making it an amazing vacation
• The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find So Good I Went Back for More
• Royal Caribbean Chairman lists his enormous tropical-themed home for $42 Million
• Can you just add someone else to a cruise cabin?

Mexico compromises on controversial cruise tax

A proposed $42 per passenger cruise tax has been greatly reduced, thanks to negotiations by the cruise industry.

Instead of charging $42 for each passenger, Mexico will introduce the cruise tax at a rate of $5 per passenger to start.

The new tax goes into effect July 1, 2025.

Royal Caribbean is re-routing ships away from Haiti into August

More cruise ship visits to Royal Caribbean's private beach in Haiti are being cancelled.

Ship sail dates as far out as August are now being re-routed from Labadee, which is a significant departure from making short-term changes to itineraries.  

The updated schedules reflect the dire situation in Haiti and the cruise line's caution in resuming visits anytime soon.

Royal Caribbean shuts down its private island this week for maintenance work

Something you don't see every day (or week) is Perfect Day at CocoCay without any Royal Caribbean ships.

Royal Caribbean actually shut down its private island for a week to conduct annual maintenance work.

Between May 4 and May 10, no ships visited the island.  It's work that was on the calendar for a while, and helps ensure everything is good to go for another year.

Why you should book a 2026 cruise after last week's Royal Caribbean meeting

If you read between the lines of Royal Caribbean's earnings call last week, it's clear prices are only going up.

In fact, executives disclosed they actually raise prices on cruises as they get close to the sail date in an effort to capitalize on last minute bookings.

As a result, last-minute cruise reservations are going to be more expensive than in the past. 

New RCB Video: 4 Things I ALWAYS Ask My Cabin Attendant For On Every Cruise!

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 — 4 Things I ALWAYS Ask My Cabin Attendant For On Every Cruise! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 564th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, discussing Royal Caribbean's strategy to target Walt Disney World visitors.

Influencers have a tremendous impact on information shared about cruises today. Griff joins Matt to break down this form of advertising and what it means to cruisers.

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

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas has impressively large and lavish suites you can book.

The best thing about staying in a suite is all the extra living space you get. Considering that cruise ship cabins usually feel smaller than a hotel room on land, it's nice to have more room to spread out.

Plus, the perks you get by staying a suite add to the value. Royal Caribbean gives some of its top onboard benefits to its suite guests as further incentive to try them out.

Here's a look at every type of suite you can book on Utopia of the Seas, as well as what it gets you.

Suite categories

Royal Loft Suite

The Royal Loft Suite is an expansive two-level suite with the master bedroom on the top level, and living room and second bathroom on the lower level. It features panoramic views with floor to ceiling windows that lead to a private balcony, which has a whirlpool, TV, and minibar. There's also a dining area on the lower level of the suite.  The master bathroom has a rainfall shower and tub.

Average price: $10,400 - $23,100 per person (first two passengers)

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 1,524 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 843 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 6 guests
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2

Ultimate Family Suite

Prepare to be blown away by how much there is in this suite.  Royal Caribbean created the Ultimate Family Suite to be an amazing experience for families.  It has two levels, including three bedrooms, a slide, in-suite cinema, and large living room. The wraparound balcony features a climbing tower for kids and a private whirlpool. 

Average price: $10,100 - $27,300 per person (first two passengers)

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 2,476 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 538 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 10 guests
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 3

Solarium Suite

The Solarium Suite offers doesn't have a balcony, but it does have 280-degree panoramic views from its position high on the ship. There's glass everywhere as you're able to take in views from your large living room or master bedroom.

Average price: $3,100 - $11,200 per person (first two passengers)

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 839 sq ft
• Balcony Size: N/A
• Maximum Occupancy: 2 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1.5

Two Bedroom Aquatheater Suite

Average price: $4,400 - $11,350 per person (first two passengers)

Situated at the back of the ship, the Two Bedroom Aquatheater suite offers the best views of the AquaTheater shows from its expansive wraparound balcony. It includes two bedrooms, a living room, and a dining area. This is probably the best suite on the ship for entertaining friends or family. 

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 827 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 648 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 8 guests
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2

One bedroom Aquatheater Suite

Average price: $2,700 - $6,500 per person (first two passengers)

Positioned to offer direct views of the AquaTheater, this suite features a spacious living area, a bedroom with a Royal King bed, and a large private balcony. Besides not having a second bedroom, the other key difference between this and the Two Bedroom Aquatheater Suite is it has Sky Class benefits, instead of Star Class.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 560 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 450 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Crown Loft Suite with Balcony

Average price: $2,700 - $6,500 per person (first two passengers)

The Crown Loft Suite spans two levels, featuring a master bedroom on the upper level and a living area below. There's also a second full bathroom on the lower level, making it good for sharing with kids. The private balcony has a lot of space for taking in views of the ocean and what's happening around the ship.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 670 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 105 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 2

Owner's Suite - 1 Bedroom

Average price: $2,360 - $4,000 per person (first two passengers)

The Owner's Suite offers a much larger living room compared to the Grand Suite. It has a separate bedroom and a private balcony. The bathroom has a shower and tub, along with dual sinks.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 861 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 226 square feet
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Grand Suite - 1 Bedroom

Average price: $2,250 - $3,850 per person (first two passengers)

The Grand Suite is the entry level full suite. There's a large living room with sofa and chairs, as well as a bedroom that is separated from the living room by a curtain. The bathroom boasts a large soaking tub/shower combo. The balcony is quite large as well.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 531 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 111 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Sky Junior Suite

Average price: $2,100 - $5,421.61 per person (first two passengers)

The Sky Junior Suite provides a spacious area with a bedroom featuring a Royal King bed, a sitting area, and a private balcony. Moving up to a Sky Junior gets you the Sky Class benefits, which arguably adds more value to your cruise.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 301 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 122 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Junior Suite

Average price: $1,200 - $4,250 per person (first two passengers)

A Junior Suite has plenty of space to spread out, and offers a king size bed, vanity/desk, a small sitting area, plenty of storage, and a bathroom with a shower/tub combo.  You also have an extra-large balcony.

• Suite Class: Sea Class
• Room Size: 301 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 80 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Suite neighborhood benefits

By booking a suite, you'll get certain benefits based on the class your room qualifies for.

Royal Caribbean has three categories of suites: Star, Sky, and Sea Class. This makes it simpler to understand which tier of benefits are included with your room.

Star Class Benefits

• Complimentary gratuities
• Complimentary internet
• Expedited boarding and departure
• Reserved premium seats in select entertainment venues
• Priority entrance to many onboard activities
• Suite Lounge access
• Access to Suite Sun Deck
• Exclusive access to Royal Genie Service
• All-day access to Coastal Kitchen
• Complimentary specialty restaurants
• Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package
• Complimentary Refreshment Package
• Still and sparkling water replenished Daily
• Complimentary minibar stocked with Coca-Cola, beverages, and water
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
• Luxury mattresses and pillows
• Frette linens
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Royal Caribbean plush bathrobes for use onboard
• Lavazza Espresso coffee maker

Sky Class Benefits

• Concierge service
• All-day access to Coastal Kitchen
• Specialty bottled water upon arrival
• Complimentary internet
• Priority boarding and departure
• Priority dining reservations
• Suite Lounge access
• Access to Suite Sun Deck
• Royal Caribbean plush bathrobes for use onboard
• Luxury pillow top mattress
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Lavazza Espresso coffee maker

Sea Class Benefits

• Dinner at Coastal Kitchen only
• Royal Caribbean bathrobes for use onboard
• Luxury pillow top mattress
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Lavazza Espresso coffee maker

Best reasons to book a suite

Suites offer some incredible perks, especially if you move up to Star or Sky Class.

The level of service, more things included, and enormous cabins are the top reasons to book any suite. You're paying much for these rooms, but you're also getting a lot more in return.

The dedicated areas on Utopia of the Seas for suite guests is impressive, especially the Suite Sun Deck and Coastal Kitchen restaurant.

The Suite Sun Deck is a beautiful area, with lots of shade, loungers, plunge pool, and bar.  It's quiet, secluded, and offers both sun and shade access.

Coastal Kitchen is a restaurant most suites guests love because it has an upgraded feel compared to the Main Dining Room. Plus, it's included in your cruise fare and adds tremendous value to have another included full service restaurant.

Equally important is the services included. Starting with Sky Class, you have access to the Suite Concierge.  There are two suite concierge members working on Utopia of the Seas, and they're like your own Guest Services to address any needs you have and make your cruise more welcoming.

Plus, you'll have access to the Suite Lounge, where there's complimentary beer and wine from 11am to 11pm.  In the evening, there's cocktails included from 5pm to 8pm each day of the cruise.

Suites are not inexpensive, but they are the biggest staterooms you'll find on Utopia of the Seas. Plus, the benefits are impressive too.