A new set of cruise rankings are out, and it's clear Royal Caribbean is doing something right.

This year's Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Awards have been announced, and Royal Caribbean came away with a few important wins.

This is the 16th annual awards, and it's a reflection of rankings based on Cruise Critic’s editors and best-reviewed cruise lines of the past year "from real cruisers".

While there are different publications that put out awards, Cruise Critic specializes and dedicates more staff than anyone else to cruises exclusively.

There are 9 major categories, and a number of sub categories to give awards out to, and Royal Caribbean took home wins in a few important areas.

Best cruise line and ship

The top award is for Best Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean was the winner.

Cruise Critic chose among the lines based on, "number of awards, innovation, consistency across fleet, consumer feedback and inclusivity."

Between its new ships and highly-rated destinations, Royal Caribbean is referred to as, "a leader in the industry."

Moreover, the editors see a bright future with the launch of new beach clubs and private destinations around the Caribbean.

Another key win for Royal Caribbean was the naming of Icon of the Seas as the Best New Ship of 2024.

Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 and immediately became a global sensation for evolving the mega ship experience further, and setting a new standard.

Cruise Critic said of the first Icon Class ship, "The world’s largest cruise ship takes Royal Caribbean’s uber-popular, family-friendly vacations to dizzying new heights."

While Royal Caribbean also launched Utopia of the Seas this year, it's clear the new class and innovations on Icon set it apart.

Read more: Icon vs Utopia of the Seas

Icon appeals to a wide range of cruisers, with a growing focus on the family cruise market. It was built to offer more for everyone than any other ship has before.

More wins for Royal Caribbean

Cruise Critic gave Royal Caribbean top honors in a few other categories as well.

Best Suites was a win, based on quality and range of choice in these cabins.

Their editors felt the suites on Royal Caribbean's newer ships especially stood out as being, "especially impressive." In particular they really liked the brand-new Solarium Suites found aboard Utopia of the Seas.

They compared the Solarium Suites to just about any luxury vessel offering.

Royal Caribbean was also the winner for the Best Entertainment category.

"Royal Caribbean continues to consistently push the boundaries of onboard cruise ship entertainment," the editors said in their review.

Piggy-backing on Icon of the Seas' win, the Aquatheater show on the new ship stood out in particular. 

Cruise Critic also said Royal Caribbean had the Best Nightlife of any line.

"There’s simply always something to do," they said in reference to how much is going on after dark.

Part of this win is attributed to Utopia of the Seas being designed to offer the biggest party vibe of any ship since.

Another important win was Royal Caribbean being named as having the Best App.

"You can book shore excursions and dinner reservations well before your sail date, as well as peruse the daily planner and create your own schedule of activities. We love the chat feature that allows you to text fellow cruisers while on the ship’s Wi-Fi, without having to purchase a Wi-Fi package."

Not to be overlooked, Perfect Day at CocoCay was named Best Private Destination.

The award notes, "Perfect Day at CocoCay has set the bar for what a cruise line private destination should be," and it's clear based on how other lines are clearly basing their private island changes on what CocoCay has developed.

Award snubs

It wasn't a full sweep for Royal Caribbean, as the line lost out in a few categories to other lines:

Cruisers' Choice Best Ocean Cruise Line

1. Margaritaville at Sea
2. Virgin Voyages
3. Celebrity Cruises

• Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
• Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
• Best Specialty Dining: Celebrity Cruises
• Best for Service: Holland America Line
• Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
• Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
• Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
• Best for LGBTQ+: Virgin Voyages
• Best for Romance: Princess Cruises
• Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line

Awards are meant to be debated among cruise fans and cruise lines alike, so there's bound to be differing opinions.

Did Royal Caribbean make a change to how you are served a can of soda or beer?

Over the weekend, cruisers posted on social media that they were told a new policy is in place related to how bartenders can give out a canned beverage when ordered.

There's been a few posts on Facebook indicating you can no longer order a can of soda with your loyalty benefits and have it served unopened.

When you order a soda on a Royal Caribbean ship at a bar or restaurant, you're served the can and a glass to pour it in, but you could ask for the can to be unopened to have it later.

At select tiers of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, guests are entitled to free drinks every day of their cruise. Diamond members get four free drinks up to $14 each day, Diamond Plus members get five, and Pinnacle Club members get six. 

"Royal has a new policy that our Diamond plus drink vouchers can not be used to take unopened soft drinks or beer away to our rooms," wrote Don Watson in a Facebook group from his cruise on Utopia of the Seas.

In a different group, Doug Brown said the same policy is in place on Freedom of the Seas, "we can no longer have closed loyalty beverages, our 4,5,6 a day now have to be opened at the bar when served."

According to Mr. Brown, he questioned the new policy, "Beverage manager said it was corporate and not up to him."

The vouchers these cruisers are referring to are the complimentary daily drink vouchers that Royal Caribbean gives its top cruisers, beginning at the Diamond level.

Up until now, guests could order unopened cans and bring them back to their cabin to consume later or take off the ship on a shore excursion.

The daily drink vouchers must be used up each day, or they disappear.  For many cruisers, they would use up their vouchers before going to sleep as a way to maximize their benefit.

Since the initial posts about the policy went out on Saturday and Sunday, there have been follow-up posts from cruisers claiming the policy was amended to apply to alcoholic beverages, and not non-alcoholic beverages.  Meaning cans of beer would not be served closed, but cans of soda could be served unopened.

Fleetwide change?

It's not yet clear if this is indeed a fleetwide policy or perhaps a test on certain ships.

For years it's been the practice that you could get cans of soda with your drink vouchers unopened, so if this is indeed a new policy, it potentially alters the value of that benefit.

Bringing back unopened cans of soda would allow for the drinks to be consumed later, taken off the ship on an excursion, or brought elsewhere to be enjoyed.

There's been no official communication to guests of the new policy, if it does indeed exist, and why the change has been made.

Adding to the confusion are the posts from Sunday that perhaps it's changed again.

Debbie Vestal Reis wrote, "Apparently, corporate had a lot of complaints. They have changed to only alcoholic beverages. So, I suppose the only beverages would be beer and wine? The officer on her ship showed her to up to date email."

Another cruiser that is on Enchantment of the Seas added, "we’re on the Enchantment and according to the bar staff as well as the C & A Loyalty Rep, that only applies to alcoholic beverages. The rule was implemented yesterday and changed this morning."

Why the policy changed

A major debate topic surrounds why make Royal Caribbean made the beverage policy change, and there are plenty of opinions.

Many seem to think it's a change born out of a perceived problem with abusing the benefits.

"To many Diamond members and above filling cruise ships utilizing the free drink vouchers. The hope is people won’t use all their drink vouchers each day. However, people are stocking up on soda, juice etc," wrote John Pete.

Miriam Marcotte Cartmell said, "I do not understand the 'why' here since we have had it closed for YEARS. If it is my voucher, what does it matter? I like to take a closed water back to the cabin for my use vs the tap. I am not cheating getting more than amount, so why?"

Dale Joley thinks it's about sharing drinks with others that's the root cause, "That’s not a problem but a solution. Too many people sharing drinks. I don’t have a problem with that."

Whether you are in college or taking your school-aged kids, spring break is a popular time to take a cruise vacation every year.

Spring break is the first major opportunity since the New Year holiday to go on vacation for more than just a weekend, and spring break is a popular time for many families and young people to take a cruise.

A getaway on a spring break cruise is probably more popular with school-aged families than college spring breakers, but you'll find both groups onboard.

What should you know about planning a spring break cruise, and what's different about a cruise this time of year compared to other times? We've got helpful information you should know before you sail.

How busy is a spring break cruise?

Probably the number one question about spring break on a cruise ship is how busy it is onboard.

Certainly more people look to go on a spring break cruise than in the weeks prior or after, but it doesn't mean the onboard experience is a zoo either.

Spring break tends to see increased families with kids.  School is on vacation break so there will be more kids will be vacationing and that includes cruises. After all, Royal Caribbean International is a family cruise line, and there will always be plenty of children onboard, whether it is spring break or not.

When you have more children, you also tend to get more passengers. Ships run higher volume than the double occupancy capacity numbers that are often used to measure ship guest counts.  

So it may seem seem "full" onboard since there are more people than usual on a cruise.

Are there a lot of college kids?

A Royal Caribbean cruise is not the prototypical spring break vacation of choice for the younger crowd, but there are some sailings that see their fair share of them.

Generally speaking, shorter cruises, such as 3 & 4 night sailings, can often see a younger college crowd looking for a party spring break cruise. The 4-night cruises especially tend to attract college groups because they are usually priced lower since they depart on a Monday and return on a Friday.

A short cruise might seem like the obvious choice for college student spring breakers, but a family vacation can also go on longer sailings.

Longer sailings tend to come with a higher price tag, and that can put it beyond a college friendly budget.

How much is a spring break cruise?

Like any cruise throughout the year, the price of spring break cruises will depend on the ship, length, cabin, and itinerary you choose.

The travel industry largely follows supply and demand principals the "in demand" aspect of spring break can lead to higher prices.

Here are some cruise basics if you're new to cruising and trying to wrap your head around a spring break cruise:

• Inside cabins will cost less than balcony staterooms, and balcony rooms will cost less than suites
• Short cruises tend to cost less in total, but longer cruises can be cheaper per night
• Most food and entertainment is included. 
• Alcohol costs extra, but unlimited drinks packages can save money.

Just like pricing out airfare, you need to compare cruise fare prices to get a sense of which sailing will be the best deal for you.  The best strategy is to book your spring break cruise as early as you can. Cruise prices tend to go up over time, so booking earlier will likely net you a better price.

Can I get a free cruise if I bring a group with me?

Yes, Royal Caribbean does offer benefits to the tour conductor (that's you) if you form a group with Royal Caribbean.

You can't just have a bunch of friends book a cruise and then ask Royal Caribbean for credit.  You must instead work with the groups department to create a group, and then be named the leader. Don't worry, this is pretty easy and even easier if you work with a travel agent.

A travel agency can set up a group with Royal Caribbean that can possibly save money, or get you special perks back.  Moreover, the travel agent can handle the logistical issues of payments, price adjustments and answering common questions.

When you organize a group, you're going to need to get 8 rooms booked in your group and then you can qualify for a free berth (passenger).

Bottom line, work with a travel agent to organize a group if you think you might be able to get at least 8 rooms.

Where do spring break cruises go?

Many college spring break cruises will visit destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Spring break occurs mostly in the month of March, as well as April.

The short 3- and 4-night cruises will visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

These cruise ships sail out of Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), Port Canaveral (east of Orlando), or Miami.

Another popular destination is Cozumel. No matter where you go in the Caribbean, expect to find beautiful beaches and plenty of activities.

How to get a deal on a spring break cruise

The best way to get the best value on any cruise is to book it as early as you can while there are lower prices.

As you get closer to spring break, more and more people book cruises and that leaves less capacity, which in turn drives prices up.

If you're on a tight budget, booking a cruise more than a year in advance might get you a spring break for less money than if you wait to just a few weeks before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Another benefit of booking a cruise early is you can reprice it if the price drops before final payment date. Booking early is usually your best option.

Four-day cruises tend to be priced lower than three-day cruises. Longer cruises might cost more overall, but be cheaper per night.

Read more: 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Do I need a passport for a spring break cruise?

U.S. citizens may travel with only a birth certificate together with a government issued photo ID on cruises that begin and end in the United States.

It's a good idea to invest in a passport book, but not necessary.

Regardless, I highly recommend getting a passport to streamline the U.S. Customs process and protect yourself in case of an emergency.

Read more: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Is there a way to know if I'm booked on a college party cruise?

Royal Caribbean will not tell you which groups are booked on a cruise you are sailing on.  There are usually various groups on any sailing, but some people would rather avoid a cruise if there are a lot of college-age kids.

The best strategy is just google your ship name, sail date, and the words "spring break" to see what comes back.

As an example, "Utopia of the Seas March 14, 2024 spring break" would return a result for a group on that week.

Even if you are booked on a cruise with spring breakers, it does not mean your cruise is going to be awful or ruined.  Having sailed on spring breakers an entire week on Mariner of the Seas in 2018, it ended up being a lot of fun. They did their special events, and we did what we liked. One nice thing about Royal Caribbean is that it rarely skews heavily towards one demographic entirely.

Cruisers can breathe a sigh of temporary relief in regards to a new tax that would have gone into effect soon.

The Mexican government approved a new tax last week that would target cruise ship passengers visiting the country. 

However, there's been a temporary reprieve.

Thanks to pressure applied by a number of cruise lines through the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), the new tax won't go into effect as quickly.

According to a statement issued by the FCCA, a meeting on Friday resulted in Mexican officials delaying the implementation of its new Federal Law of Rights tax on cruise passengers from January 1 until July 1, 2025.

The new tax will add a $42 per person to enter the country. That's per sailing, not per port.

Mexico is a major country with many ports of calls that attract cruise ships. Over 10 million passengers are expected in 2025 alone.

When the new tax is added, it would increase the fees cruise passengers pay by 213% more than the average cost at Caribbean ports. The FCCA says it raises,  "serious questions about the competitiveness of Mexican destinations in the global cruise market."

Moreover, it's an unfair tax because of how it targets cruise ship passengers that are in the country for a few hours. 

"A family of four visiting a Mexican cruise port having to pay an additional $168 in fees for just a few hours ashore, while tourists crossing the border by land who visit for seven days or less remain exempt from this tax, will have far reaching impacts."

Historically, cruise ship passengers were exempt from tourism taxes, as guests sleep onboard the ship and some choose not to disembark in the ports of call. Under the new policy, all cruise guests would be charged the $42 fee regardless of whether they go ashore or not.

Not only would the tax be enormous, but it would largely be used to fund Mexico's military, rather than benefiting the ports or people nearby.

'Ripple effects'

This new tax has major implications beyond simply making a cruise more expensive.

The FCCA warns such a hefty tax could deter visitors, alter cruise itineraries, and create economic ripple effects in communities that heavily rely on cruise tourism.

If just 15% of cruise ships dropped calls to Mexico, the result would be a negative economical impact that could undermine the intended purpose of the tax to begin with.

"Even a minimal decrease in cruise traffic would result in millions of dollars in lost revenue for local businesses, tours, and services – offsetting or even surpassing the total tax revenue projected from the measure," the FCCA explained.

By making Mexico one of the most expensive cruise destinations in the world, it could make the country unattractive to lines from stopping there and that could lead to less income, fewer jobs and lower tax revenues for the government.

"The impact of this tax on Mexican tourist destinations will be disastrous," stated the Mexican Association of Cruises. "If implemented, we expect to see a progressive drop in arrivals, which will significantly affect employment for taxi drivers, tour guides, artisans, waiters, restaurateurs, craft store owners, pharmacies, and more.

Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA, emphasized the importance of addressing long-term concerns despite the temporary delay. "We thank the Mexican government for listening to our concerns and proposing a delay in the implementation of the tax that will fall mainly on American citizens.

"However, the removal of the in-transit tax exemption – which was provided to our industry over a decade ago for valid reasons that still apply today – was done without our prior input and after the legislation was passed. It is ironic that until this law was abruptly announced the industry was looking to grow business in Mexico, and now the opposite will occur."

Cruise passengers on one Royal Caribbean ship ran into a deluge of water on one coming out of the ceiling.

A guest on Allure of the Seas shared video from this weekend's sailing of water pouring out of the ceiling on one deck.

TikTok user joshuaofrichardson posted a 30 second video of water flooding the hallway, pooling outside stateroom doors.

No explanation was given in the video, but it looks like a water pipe likely burst above one of the ceiling panels, leading to water flowing unabated below.

Just like your house or a hotel, pipes can burst for any number of reasons and without warning.

Every cruise ship has a team of mechanics and maintenance crew members that live onboard the ship to deal with issues like this at any time of day or night.

The video appears to have been taken just minutes after the leak began. There was no mention of which deck this incident occurred on.

In the comments, the video author wrote, "update pipe stopped and leak being fixed and people moved right away to other rooms. RC does things right when nature rumbles."

In a follow-up video, joshuaofrichardson said crew members cleaned up the mess that evening, saying "everything's fine."

He also said any guests that had a cabin affected by the water were moved to another cabin.

He went on to commend Royal Caribbean for taking quick action and helping their customers out, "No loss or damage or anything like that to the people, so that's really great about Royal Caribbean, they do take care of you right away."

Allure of the Seas is sailing a 3-night Bahamas cruise that departed Miami on December 6, with visits scheduled to Nassau, Bahamas and Royal Caribbean's private island.

The 225,282 gross ton ship is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and despite the leak, the sailing continued on without delay.

Internet reacts to the video

Since the video was posted, there have been over 320,000 views and plenty of comments.

As is such with viral videos of something going wrong, you get all sorts of hot takes from people across the internet.

"I’ve seen this in a movie before didn’t end well," Yodaj6 wrote.

"This is why I’ll NEVER go on a cruise," wrote Gwyn Wolters-Smith.

"omg the way I would be freaking out thinking we were sinking," was posted by Author Katherine Bryant.

Someone who is also sailing on Allure noted the issue wasn't affecting their deck, "I'm on this ship right now and didn't experience this. it must be below us."

Personally, I enjoy the creative comments that some people had to make a joke. Here are the top ones:

• "Why is the carpet all wet Todd? I don’t know Margo!"
• "All I know is Rose better move over this time! There was plenty of room for Jack"
• "on the upside the rugs are clean"

Other recent water incidents

Accidents involving water leaks and sprays occur from time to time, but they're quite rare.

Recently there's been a couple of notable incidents involving sprinkler system malfunctions on Royal Caribbean ships that soaked guests, but did not result in any significant damage to anyone.

During a Halloween sailing on Symphony of the Seas, the ship's sprinkler system went off on the Royal Promenade during a party.

A fog machine was the culprit in activating the sprinklers, and that's because smoke detectors measure the density of particles in the air, fog effects (especially dense fog effects) can 'fool' the detectors and trigger a fire alarm.

On the inaugural sailing of Wonder of the Seas in March 2022, a sprinkler malfunction on the ship’s Royal Promenade also flooded the area.

Once again, the water was contained and cleaned up, but caused a stir among passengers.

The reality is while these incidents are incredible to witness when they happen, they don't put the ship or passengers in any direct harm and it's more of a large nuisance and "oopsie" that gets taken care of quickly.

Happy December! We cannot believe that we are already one full week into the month – there is so much going on with holiday preparation and shopping and baking!

There's a new addition to Royal Caribbean's list of banned items you can't bring on a cruise.

The list of prohibited items was updated to include certain networking and satellite equipment, which includes closing a loophole some cruisers used to save money on an internet package.

Travel routers were being used to extend a one device internet package to be available to many more, and it appears that's officially not allowed.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean's new beach club in The Bahamas is a kind of super shore excursion
• Utopia of the Seas cabins to avoid
• 10 cruise ship tips that worked for our Royal Caribbean Blog staffers in 2024
• Ultimate Baby & Toddler Cruise Packing List
• I cruised from a port Royal Caribbean rarely sails from. it's a strange and different first day experience
• 7 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a Celebrity ship
• I got a free cruise from Royal Caribbean's casino. It was the perfect price, but I wish I had a window

Video: Why December is my favorite month to 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 — Why December is my favorite month to cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 551st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available that delves into if a smaller Royal Caribbean ship is a good choice for a family cruise.

If you're taking a family on their first cruise, is it a good or bad idea to take them on a small ship?

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

Royal Caribbean has made a big change to the free casino offers

There's been an important change to those instant reward casino certificates.

Beginning with the December offers, the Casino Royale program is offering a new option where one guest is complimentary, while the second guest discounted. 

It's essentially a buy one free, second cheap offer.

These are the 11 things cruisers are actually scared of during their sailing

Forget falling off a cruise ship, people that cruise a lot have real concerns that concern them.

While there are plenty of cruise myths that keep people from trying a cruise, those that have sailed before have their own set of worries.

From passports to being left behind, our readers shared their top worries when cruising.

New phone scam targets Royal Caribbean cruisers

Be careful before searching for a Royal Caribbean phone number to call.

One cruiser shared an example of how they were almost scammed by a fraudulent phone number that claimed to be the cruise line.

She found the number on Google, but it turned out to be a scam.

Things cruisers regretted not taking on their cruise

What is an item you wished you had brought with you on your last cruise?

People shared in a Reddit thread the one thing they really wish they brought with them on their cruise.

With the holiday sales upon us, this is a good opportunity to net big savings on these cruise essentials.

It's hard to pass up a good deal, especially for a cruise that costs you next to nothing.  Well, sort of.

I sailed on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas from Tampa that was free as a result of my status with the cruise line's casino.

You may have heard about there are certain benefits for those that gamble enough in the casino on a cruise ship. While Royal Caribbean has a loyalty program, the casino has its own mini-loyalty program that is in addition to Crown and Anchor Society.

The second tier offers free drinks in the casino, discounts on internet access and at least one free cruise per year that you qualify.

I redeemed my free cruise offer, and it is indeed as advertised.  The only catch is you have to gamble to earn it.

How free is free?

The cruise fare is indeed free, and all I had to do was pay the taxes and fees of $397.00 for two people.

In exchange for earning enough points in Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program, I was awarded a free cruise to book. This free cruise isn't based on how much you gambled on a particular sailing. Rather, it's an annual benefit of being at least Prime within Casino Royale loyalty program.

Anyone that hits Prime or higher status in a casino year gets awarded a free cruise. It's given out in April, and it's good for a cruise within a year to book and sail on.

Your free cruise can be used on more or less any seven-night or shorter cruise that does not fall on a major holiday. And you can't book on any ship that's less than one year old. So you won't be able to go on Icon of the Seas (yet) or take the kids while they're on Spring Break.

There are many sailings to choose from, but also a lot of blackout dates. You'll have to careful find the right one, and that's assuming the casino offers aren't sold out for that sailing.

If you're flexible, it's not too difficult to find one. There's usually a lot in the fall and early winter when school is still in session.

As a Prime member (minimum 2500 points), I am entitled to an interior cabin on my free cruise.

I selected a Serenade of the Seas cruise because it was convenient, offered an opportunity to visit two ports in Mexico, and I like sailing on Radiance Class ships.

I booked the cruise through Royal Caribbean's casino department and also got $25 of free play in the casino with my booking.

My cabin was small and dark, but enough space for just me

I was given cabin 3047 midship on deck 3.

It was a little closer to the forward elevator banks, but pretty much in the middle of the deck. While deck 3 might not be the most popular location to have a cabin, it's exactly where you want to be if you want to minimize the sensation of movement to prevent seasickness.

I booked it as an Interior Guarantee cabin, which meant Royal Caribbean assigned me the exact room number.  To be honest, I forgot to check when my room was actually assigned, but saw it was actually a good location given that it met my top three criteria:

• No connecting door
• Above and below other cabins
• Near an elevator

I've stayed in plenty of inside cabins before, and this was exactly the sort of room I expected.

It's a Category 2V cabin, and Royal Caribbean describes it as, "our most budget-friendly option" and "A cozy and comfortable retreat, Perfect for long naps after an adventure-filled day."

I'd say that's a good description. It's the right cabin for a place to sleep, shower, and change. Otherwise, you will probably be out and about doing things elsewhere.

The room has all the standard features all cruise ship cabins offer: a bed that can be split up, private bathroom with shower, couch, vanity, and closet.

One notable change in this cabin was it had a nightlight in the ceiling near the bathroom. It's a motion-activated light, so if the room lights were off, the nightlight would come on and illuminate the room temporarily until movement ceased.

It's a nice feature, and something you don't find on any Royal Caribbean ship. I'm guessing it's a feature added for Royal Caribbean's first ever world cruise.

I was disappointed there were not more World Cruise upgrades offered. I heard from other passengers they had USB and electric outlets added to their cabin for the world cruise sailing, but my cabin was not one of them.

Speaking of lights, this inside room gets very dark when you turn the lights off. Since there's no natural light, it's pitch black when you go to bed. That's great for anyone who is disturbed by lights when sleeping, but it was strange to have my alarm go off and it still be quite dark. Anyone staying in this cabin might consider picking up a sunrise alarm clock to help make it feel more normal in that way.

The private bathroom is exactly what I needed, and it has the bare essentials. It's a small bathroom space, but functional.

I had one issue with the toilet not flushing on embarkation day, but there was a crew member working on the issue before I could even report it and it never was a problem after that.

The king size bed takes up most of the room, and it was quite comfortable. You can ask your cabin attendant to split the bed at any time.

There's just 160 square feet of living space, but for one person it's plenty. Even with two people, you might have to shuffle a bit, but it's functional enough.

I don't mind staying in an inside cabin, but after a few days I started missing having natural light or being able to glance outside and see if it's sunny, rainy, or dark.

I'm not the type of person that needs sunlight to feel good. Rather, it gives me perspective on what the weather is like, have we docked yet, and most importantly, is it 3pm or 3am.

The lack of natural light in the morning made it a bit jarring to wake up in a completely dark environment. While I wouldn't go as far as to say I'll never do it again, it was my primary gripe with this sort of a cabin.

On a 5-night cruise, it's short enough that it wasn't a big issue. But if I was sailing longer than 6 or 7 nights, I might have to rethink the cost savings.

A free room, if you're okay with the gambling risk

I got my free cruise as promised, and it was exactly what I expected.

There's no question Royal Caribbean's casino rewards are arguably the best value in cruising today, but there's a major caveat that it involves significant risk.

Gambling is addictive, and you could end up losing a lot of money in the process of trying to earn a "free cruise". 

You should be in a financial position where you can afford to lose money gambling in the casino without damaging your personal finances.  The annual tier free cruise is a bonus, not your primary booking strategy.

I estimate it will take about $2,000 - $3,000 to earn enough points to make it to Prime status and qualify for the annual tier cruise. That's a lot of money to gamble and potentially lose.

Moreover, you could go in with that amount in mind but the addictive nature of gambling would lead you to spend much more. Without a doubt, it's something not to take lightly.

In my situation, I felt the risks were worth it and I came away feeling like I got more out of the situation with my complimentary sailing (and other Casino Royale benefits) to justify it all.

I had a great cruise that cost me very little for the actual booking, and I'll be qualifying again in 2025 for my next tier certificate.

Opening in 2025 is Royal Caribbean's first ever beach club, and it's going to take your beach day to a new level.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is going to open in late 2025, and it's being built on a 17-acre site that is just about the most prime real estate in all of Nassau.

The plan is simple, but the promise is enormous. Offer an unfiltered beach day experience that hits every important factor for any tourist, while making it an unforgettable experience exclusively for Royal Caribbean cruisers only.

While Royal Caribbean has built private island experiences, it's never tried a limited-capacity and extra cost beach offering.  It's a lot like building its own shore excursion that is designed, built, and operated with the cruise line at the helm.

The proposed site masterplan is available online, and it shows a variety of experiences tourists can expect. It's clear they want to offer a little of everything, so no matter how much chill, swim, beach, pool, or adventure you want, there's going to be something for you.

There will be two different beaches

The heart of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a beach day experience, and you'll find two different spots to enjoy the beautiful Bahamian waters.

Located on both ends of the property, you'll find a sprawling beach that features chairs and umbrellas, along with upgraded spots for your day.

Each beach faces the north shore, so it's nothing but the open ocean views in front of you.

There are beach cabanas, hammocks, and bungalows available. Of course, the beach bar is not very far away either.

You'll also find a snack shack at each beach when you need something a bite to eat.

Three pools for another lounge choice

A tropical getaway can include a dip in the ocean or pool, and there are three different pools to choose from.

Each pool has a swim-up bar, and they're big too. This not only spreads people out, but each has its own vibe.  One pool has a DJ and swim-up bar combo, similar to the Hideaway Beach experience at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Another pool flanks the kids' water play area, and the other pool is located towards the end of the property.

There are also cabanas you can rent near the pools, so you don't have to go far from the fun.

New restaurants

Food is a big draw for any cruise experience, and there will be four different places to eat.

Royal Caribbean hasn't said what exactly the food offerings will be, but there will be "four island-style spots for quick bites and local fare."

One thing is for certain, Royal Caribbean wants to lean into the Bahamian culture as much as they can, so there will be a good mix of familiar and local options.

Artisan market

The sitemap shows there will be shopping opportunities that tie into the people of Nassau.

The artisan huts are in the center of the property, and it's an opportunity to highlight local crafts and businesses.

Fixing a problem cruisers have had for decades

A major reason Royal Caribbean is building its first beach club is to address a need its customers have told them for a long time.

Nassau is one of the most popular cruise ports, with Royal Caribbean pulling in around one million visitors each year. However, it ranks poorly among cruise ship guest surveys.

According to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, cruise ship passengers have, "come here many times before and there’s nothing new, fresh or innovative."

"There needs to be more product, more experience, more uniqueness, more options."

The result is a beach club that the cruise line thinks will solve problems across the board. It will give tourists the exact beach day experience they want, based on in-depth research.  That will improve the perception cruisers have of Nassau too.

For The Bahamas, they get a piece of the action as well. Royal Caribbean is creating an unique public-private partnership in which Bahamians will own up to 49% equity.

Individual Bahamians will have the opportunity to buy equity in the beach club and benefit from the profits. That's unheard of with a tourist beach day operation.  Certainly no hotel resorts around Paradise Island are offering that opportunity.

On top of all of that, 1% of gross revenue of the beach club will be invested in a new fund to develop other attractions around The Bahamas.

The big question for cruisers is the cost

If looking at the sitemap gets you excited, you're probably equally interested to know how much it will cost you to get in.

Royal Caribbean hasn't said anything about prices yet, and haven't put admission on sale yet. 

Almost certainly the admission cost will have variable pricing, which means the price will fluctuate based on which ship is in port and demand. That assumption is based on the fact that's how Royal Caribbean charges for all of its extra cost add-ons at its private islands.

The projected opening date is sometime between October - December 2025, according to a comment Mr. Bayley made recently.

There's a new stipulation tied to the free cruises Royal Caribbean gives away to its casino players.

Royal Caribbean offers incentive-based cruise giveaways where passengers that earn enough points on a given sailing can qualify for complimentary sailings.

Up until now, the cruises covered the fare of two guests, and passengers had to only pay taxes and fees.

Beginning with the December offers, the Casino Royale program has made some changes to what's included.

What's different is the offer is now cruise for one guest is complimentary, while the second guest discounted. It's essentially a buy one free, second cheap offer.

What's not clear yet is how much is the discounted fare exactly. Since cruise fares vary from sailing to sailing, the exact price could depend.

In reading the terms and conditions, it appears a solo cruiser would still have to pay for the second guest, "Recipients who sail as a single passenger without a guest in a double occupancy stateroom are responsible for the payment of the cruise fare for the second passenger, at the Casino discount rate. The Discount Stateroom Offer is not applicable to single occupancy staterooms.

The new "complimentary for one, discounted for the second" offering only applies to the 2,000 point and lower tiers. The 3,000 point and higher tiers are still listed in the traditional manner.

There's no word why Royal Caribbean has made this change.  There's no doubt Casino Royale's popularity among cruisers has been quite high, and it's arguably the best deal in cruising right now.

A positive change to the casino offers are free cruise offers at just 400 points, which is a significantly lower tier than ever before.

Royal Caribbean recently introduced an 800 point tier, but at 400, it makes the barrier to entry much easier.

Moreover, it appears there are newer ships and dates further out to book at the lower tiers.

How instant cruise reward certificates work

If you gamble in the casino on a Royal Caribbean ship, you can earn points for your play.  All you have to do is have your SeaPass card logged in before you start playing at a machine or table game.

Every Royal Caribbean ship features a casino equipped with table games, slot machines, and video poker. While the selection of games may differ slightly from ship to ship, and the size of the casinos can vary, their overall layout and offerings are generally consistent across the fleet.

Joining Club Royale is simple because every passenger is automatically enrolled, you just need to use your SeaPass card when playing.

For every $5 you wager in the casino, that is roughly equivalent to 1 point. On Video Poker, it's every $10. 10 points per hour playing $10-$15 blackjack.

The more you play and wager, the more points you earn.

There's a sheet at the casino host desk that lists all the cruise offers and point tiers available. You'll see two columns: money off or bonus offer.

The key is to earn enough points for any of the tiers, and make an open booking at NextCruise while you're still onboard.  That enables you to call Casino Royale after the cruise and book one of the sailings.

You need to book an open booking with NextCruise while onboard to be eligible for the bonus offer that's listed in the second column.

Instant certificates are typically valid for redemption within 30 days after your cruise. Sometimes, the casino will provide a physical certificate with a partial list of available cruises delivered to your stateroom. In other instances, the offer may not be available until after your cruise concludes.

Even after you get home, you can verify your instant certificate offer on the Casino Royale website.

Different from a targeted cruise offer

It's important to note the difference between an instant certificate earned from your play onboard versus an offer Royal Caribbean mails to you at home.

After playing in a Royal Caribbean casino, you may receive offers for free cruises. While the cruise line doesn't reveal exactly how these offers are determined, they are generally influenced by the number of points you earned during your last cruise and an assessment by the cruise line's system of your potential value as a guest if offered a complimentary stateroom.

It's impossible to anticipate who will get an offer, and the exact offerings will vary.  No matter what offer you get, you should book quickly because there are limited cabins available on a sailing at the casino rate.

There's no indication yet that these targeted offers have changed similar to the instant certificates.