If you're lucky, Royal Caribbean could send you a free cruise offer in the mail as an incentive to come back onboard and gamble some more.

After you cruise with Royal Caribbean and spend money in the casino, there's a chance you'll be mailed an offer to come back and sail for free or at a discounted rate.

These targeted offers are sent as a post card in the mail, and it's one of the best values right now in cruising.

How it all works can be a bit confusing, so here's a breakdown of how these casino mailers work and what to do if you if you get one.

A card could be mailed to you

Essentially, Royal Caribbean's casino program will send offers to certain members with free or discounted cruises and they are indeed legit.

Unlike scams sent in the mail to get you to attend a timeshare sale presentation, these come directly from Royal Caribbean. They're colorful, and have a special code for redeeming.

Each card has a limited selection of specific sailings. Usually, there are a dozen or so options.

There's no flexibility with the ships or sail dates. You can either pick one or none.  There's certainly no obligation.

Depending on your status within Casino Royale and how much you've gambled recently, the cabin selection can vary. You might get offers for an inside or oceanview cabin, or a balcony.

You'll still have to pay the port fees and taxes, which vary depending on which sailing you pick.

The offers could be for any type of cabin category, but most people get an inside or oceanview.

The other factor is if the free cruise covers one or two people.

Sometimes it's just free cruise fare for one person, and you'll have to pay a discounted rate for the second person in the same room. But it could be for two people too. You just have to read the fine print.

Some important information about these casino offers in the mail:

• You still have to pay taxes and all fees, which can be hundreds of dollars
• You earn Crown and Anchor Points from free casino offers
• You can only book 1 sailing with any particular offer code

How do you qualify for free cruise offers from the casino?

No one knows exactly the logic or "casino math" to qualify for random offers, but my experience has taught me consistent play is the key.

The point of these mailers is to entice people that have demonstrated they're willing to gamble in the casino to come back and cruise again so they can gamble more.

Suffice to say, you first need to be go on a Royal Caribbean cruise and play in the casino and wager enough money to "make it" onto the casino's algorithm.

How much you need to wager is anyone's guess, but my best recommendation would be enough to get you 200 - 300 points in the casino on a single sailing.  

In my experience, low or no play onboard (especially if you're on a casino comp sailing) can cause your offers to stop or slow down.

Always use your Seapass card to log into the machine before you start playing.

One point is equal to $5 wagered at a slot machine, so to get 300 points, you'd need to wager $1,500. Remember, that's wager and it doesn't matter if you win or lose.

Realistically, you're not going to lose every single bet.  But you could certainly have a bad streak of loses and money could go quickly.

The other thing I would recommend doing is ensuring your casino account isn't tied to your kids accounts.

Another unconfirmed theory is if the casino's algorithm notices a minor, it won't send them an offer. So if your account has the same email address as your kids, that could be enough to prevent offers from coming in.

I experienced this problem earlier this year when I was getting no offers at all. At the recommendation of another casino player, I asked the casino host to change my casino account email to different one.  That would leave me kids on my old email with Royal Caribbean, but separate me out from them.

Sure enough, a couple of cruises later (with a couple hundred points per sailing in the casino), and my mailbox has been flooded with offers.

To be clear, all of this is a working theory and I can't promise it will work for you. It just seems to represent the best conventional wisdom we have at the moment.

How to book a free cruise with the casino

The card you'll receive will have a list of free cruises. You can choose just one of them, per offer code.

To redeem it, you can do one of three things:

• Call Casino Royale directly and book
• Use Royal Caribbean's new Casino Royale website to redeem it
• Ask your travel agent to do it for you

Not all travel agents will redeem a free casino cruise because Royal Caribbean pays them barely any commission for a free cruise fare.

Calling in is what most people have traditionally done, but the hold times can be lengthy.

The new website appears to be a promising alternative, but it's brand new and a bit of a work in progress. Also, the website has shown offers that don't correlate to what the mailers have and that's been a source of frustration. I'm certain it will get ironed out, but in the meantime, the website may not be totally foolproof.

Don't abuse the offers

A word of warning: only redeem a free cruise offer you will actually go on.

Royal Caribbean changed their policy to penalize people that take advantage of free cruises, but then subsequently miss the cruise.

In past years, casino players would book free casino offers but then no-show to them. It wasn't intentional, but they viewed them as like "maybes" and since the cruise was free, there was no real penalty for missing it.

The cruise line has cracked down on this, and warns you'll lose your $200.00 deposit on the room.

Furthermore, you could be banned from getting free offers in the future if you do it.

Any Recipient who fails to check in at the pier may be suspended from future offers, will forfeit any offer(s) redeemed, and the remaining guests sailing, if any, will be subject to pay the prevailing rates at the time of embarkation.

Basically, if you book the free cruise, make sure you go on it.

One of the best deals in cruising right now is arguably Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty benefits, and it's getting even better.

Cruisers willing to gamble enough on their cruise to earn enough points to reach higher loyalty tiers have a new benefit that extends discounts to some of the cruise line's most popular add-ons.

An email newsletter sent to casino players mentions a new discount on pre-cruise purchases, with at least half off savings.

Here's what discounts you can expect, and how to get in on these deals.

Pre-cruise discounts

Royal Caribbean says between now and March 31, 2026, any cruiser with an elevated status is eligible for at least half off drink packages, beach clubs, and other popular add-ons.

You must be at least Prime status in Casino Royale in order to qualify, which means you've collected at least 2,500 points during the course of the casino year.

Here's how it breaks down:

In my experience, I've seen this discount applied previously, but it seemed more hit or miss.  With the announcement, it appears the discount is now codified and will be more consistently applied.

Royal Caribbean also runs similar sales and promotions that apply to top tier members within Crown and Anchor Society. 

As a Pinnacle Club member, I'll sometimes see my casino discount shown and other times a Diamond and above discount.

How much this could save you

You might be curious how lucrative this discount can actually be, so I decided to run a couple of tests.

As a Prime member, I found a couple of cruises where I had the discount applied to my account for an upcoming sailing.  I then compared the price to the logged out price for what a new cruiser without casino status could expect (using this hack).

Oasis of the Seas 7-night October 5, 2025 sailing

• Deluxe Beverage Package
  • Regular discount: 40% off - $68.99 per person, per day
  • Casino discount: 50% off - $56.99 per person, per day

Star of the Seas 7-night November 23, 2025

• Deluxe Beverage Package
  • Regular discount: Regular sale - $77.99 per person, per day
  • Casino discount: 50% off - $59.99 per person, per day

No casino discounts applied to Hideaway Beach, Coco Beach Club, or Thrill Waterpark admission

Utopia of the Seas 4-night January 9, 2026

• Deluxe Beverage Package
  • Regular discount: Regular sale - $83.99 per person, per day
  • Casino discount: 50% off - $59.99 per person, per day

No casino discounts applied to Hideaway Beach, Coco Beach Club, or Thrill Waterpark admission

I saw the same price and "Pre Cruise Savings" sale for the beach clubs and water park admission while logged in and logged out. It's possible the day pass discounts haven't been activated yet, or the current promotion is better than the casino offer.

Regardless, the drink package savings are real for the Deluxe Beverage Package with significant savings one each sailing I checked compared to someone without casino status looking to buy the same drink package.

How to get casino points

If getting loyalty status within the Royal Caribbean casino sounds like the perfect plan for you, here's what you need to know to reach Prime status.

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

When you play in the casino, you earn points when you insert or tap your SeaPass card at a slot machine or hand it to a pit boss at a table game.

You can expect to earn roughly 1 point for every $5 wagered on a slot machine. Table games give much less points, so don't play table games if earning status is your goal. Video poker players earn 1 point for every $10 played. 

Earning Prime status means you'll need to accumulate at least 2,500 points throughout the Royal Caribbean casino year, which runs April 1 through March 31). 

Your points are combined between sailings during the casino calendar year.  So if you earned 500 points on an October cruise, and then another 500 points in December, you'd have a total of 1,000 points for the year. 

As soon as you reach 2,500 points before March 31, you earn that status for the rest of this cruise year and the full following year. 

Getting to Prime gets you more than just pre-cruise discounts

While the pre-cruise discounts are a nice benefit, the true value of Prime status comes in many other forms.

Prime members can enjoy unlimited drinks in the ship's casino bar. 

Prime members also are awarded a free 7-day cruise in an interior room. 

Whether you make Prime or not, you can also expect offers in the mail if your average play reaches a certain level. It's not known exactly what that level is, but random free cruise offers can sporadically be sent in your email and mailbox. 

One big change coming to Royal Caribbean's newest ship will be its biggest casino ever.

Royal Caribbean confirmed a change to its casino layout on Legend of the Seas, which will debut next summer.

Instead of the single deck casino layout that both Icon and Star of the Seas have, Legend will expand its casino footprint to two decks.

Here's what Royal Caribbean has shared about its plans for the casino expansion.

Casino upgrade

"Your next Icon Class casino is getting a major upgrade," is what an email to casino loyalty members read to start things off.

Legend of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to have a two-story casino.

Concept art released shows a bar at the center of the main level, with table games and slot machines flanking each side.

The upper level appears to have exclusively slot machines, with a sports bar as well.

There's a staircase in the middle, but undoubtedly there will be elevator access at the ends of each deck.

Location onboard

The ship's deck plans don't reflect the second deck yet, but it's likely to encompass deck 3 and 4.  As of now, there's a large unmarked area on the deck 3 deck plan that would seem to fit in.

The new layout opens up possibilities, such as high-roller areas, large non-smoking sections, and more.

Moreover, it makes the casino feel more like a land casino instead of a small part of a cruise ship.  The aura of a "real casino" is meaningful to some players.

Casino has become a major priority

Royal Caribbean has steadily increased the footprint of its casinos, and it reflects the growing revenue they generate.

Cruise ships have traditionally always had a casino, but it was never a major focal point.  In recent years, that has changed.

Royal Caribbean has not only made its casinos bigger on new ships, but also replaced venues with casino space.  All of the Jazz on 4 clubs were replaced by non-smoking casinos on the Oasis Class ships.

We've also seen Royal Caribbean replace bars and clubs with additional casino space.

The combination of increasing popularity of gambling among cruisers and very likely higher onboard revenue has proven to be a winning formula for a company hyper focused on profitability.

Another Legend of the Seas change coming

The same day Royal Caribbean confirmed the changes to the ship's casino, we ran across another change.

The cruise giant trademarked the name, "Hollywoodland Supper Club" signaling the name it's chosen for its third supper club experience.

While we've known for over a year the supper club theme on Legend of the Seas would be Hollywood themed, we did not know the specific name of the venue.

Royal Caribbean filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for Hollywoodland Supper Club and filed it under the category of being a restaurant.

The supper club on Icon of the Seas has a New York theme, while the Star of the Seas version is based on Chicago.

Each supper club pairs live musical entertainment, food, and cocktails to the region and time period.

Given the name "Hollywoodland" alludes to the original name for the real estate development that got shortened later to "Hollywood", it's likely this restaurant will also focus on the golden age of Hollywood, which is anywhere from the 1920s to the early 1960s.

Royal Caribbean wrapped up its President's Cruise, and it's the ultimate pilgrimage for cruise fans.

The idea is simple: go on a cruise with lots of other Royal Caribbean super fans that's hosted by the CEO and plenty of other executives.

This year, it was held on Utopia of the Seas and it's the 8th time Royal Caribbean has hosted. Each year has been on a different ship, with a different vibe, and different destination.

I had never been on one before, but decided to try it out this year to see what it's all about.

Made for, and by, fans

A President's Cruise is a regular sailing that has all sorts of special events added to enhance it. 

Each year there is a mix of returning favorites and all new ideas. 

In fact, some of the events incorporate the fans right into them. There are cooking competitions, trivia events, and game shows that all seek to bring cruisers together.  In some cases, Royal Caribbean's top executives are right there too.

During a cook off event, Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, went head-to-head with other chefs on the ship as well as two kids picked from the audience to participate.

Over at Hideaway Beach, Michael Bayley had his bathing suit on and hung out with guests at the swim-up bar while also happily taking full advantage of his champagne gun.

There was even an exclusive tour offered to Pinnacle Club members by boat of the new Hideaway Beach area.

The more events I attended, the more it became clear it was a means to hang out with other super fans.

Michael Bayley is front and center

You might think the CEO of a company might be there purely in name, but Michael Bayley is out and about every day.

He hosted a number of events and attended even more.  In fact, he would roam the public areas of the ship to meet people.

I can only imagine the sorts of comments, complaints, and questions he received during our short 4-night voyage, but he was there to say hello and listen to what cruisers had to say.

The pinnacle of these events is the Common Ground event, where he sits alone on a stage taking questions from the audience.

There's no filter, and no pre-screening.  Guests are given a mic and they say whatever they're brave enough to say out loud to him.

To his credit, he took every question in stride.  His style is to infuse humor into his responses whenever possible, and it helped keep things interesting and entertaining at the same time.

Later, he hosted a whimsical look back at Royal Caribbean's history with Director, Entertainment & Guest Activities, Ken Rush.  Royal Caribbean's top cruiser, "Super Mario" jumped in from time to time with trivia questions to challenge them.

For a lot of cruisers, meeting the CEO of a cruise line and being able to share their own thoughts and vision is an incredible opportunity. 

I found it gratifying as a cruiser the name "President's Cruise" isn't just a name. It's a commitment that the line President and CEO is part of it all.

Special events and entertainment

It seems people that have gone to a few President's Cruises always look to see what special offerings there will be.

This year, Royal Caribbean wanted to mix up the entertainment to lean into both old-school hits and new school heat. So they brought on celebrity performers Rev Run and DJ Ruckus.

I know Rev Run from being a part of Run-DMC, and they hosted different parties around the ship. The sailaway party, in particular, was my favorite and really had the crowd going.

Here are some of the other special events to give you an idea of what to expect:

• Neon Glow Party
• Bold Baha Bash Festival
• Ultra Caribbean Night
• Fireworks at CocoCay
• Beach parties and premium takeovers around CocoCay
• Utopia Crew & Guest Talent Show

Unfortunately a thunderstorm cancelled a drone show that was scheduled for Nassau, but everything else went off as planned.

I loved the cooking demo, Q&A events, and the special parties for this cruise.

Each President's Cruise has a different line-up, but I think you get the idea there are special activities and thing so to do that wouldn't ever be available otherwise onboard.

The fans are the reason to try it

I won't deny it's so cool to see all of the cruise line's top brass in one place, but I think the people you meet are the reason to go on a President's Cruise.

If you're the type of person that loves cruising on Royal Caribbean, then think of the President's Cruise as like a high school reunion experience.

It's a way to see familiar faces, meet new friends, and hang out with lots of other people who "get it".

While this is a regular sailing with plenty of new cruisers are likely blissfully unaware of what's happening, all of the events Royal Caribbean puts together for the President's Cruise provides ample opportunity to go to these events where likely everyone there are big cruise fans.

I had the chance to not only see friends I've cruised with in the past, but also meet so many people who love to cruise with Royal Caribbean.

Many have done these sailings before, and I loved hearing their perspective on the this year and what to look for and do.

After a day or two, I found the cruisers onboard were the real highlight of the event.

Entitlement fears were overblown

I'll be honest, I had some trepidation about attending a President's Cruise because I thought there might be a lot of complainers ruining the mood.

There are always a lot of top tier members on these cruises, but not all of them are as extinctic as I am. There's nothing wrong with questioning the direction or choices of the cruise line, but I did have concerns it might be too much.  

I really did not experience much, if any, negativity or elitism that I thought might be an issue.

Granted, I didn't hang out in the Crown Lounge or Suite Lounge where there might have been a high concentration of Pinnacle Club and Diamond Plus members, but I got around and met a lot of people.

I found most cruisers were quite warm, and the vibe was generally quite good.  

In fact, it seemed to me people talk a big game on social media, but in person, it's a totally different approach.  

There were complaints about the musical selection, short itinerary, and the amount of swag being given away. But I never got that feeling of "I gotta get out of there, it's too negative".

A short sailing this year, but more next year

This was my first President's Cruise, but I heard from some people that have done many before that the nature of holding it on a 4-night cruise left them feeling disappointed.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean is jumping back to a longer model in 2026.  Plans were revealed for next year's President's Cruise to be held on Icon of the Seas for a 7-night cruise.

Since I had nothing to compare it to, it didn't bother me at all it was just four nights. In fact, it provided a great way to dip my toe into the water.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this year's President's Cruise, but when they announced next year's date, I texted my travel agent to book me.

Ultimately, it's a celebration of the thing so many people that read this site probably have in common: a love for cruising with Royal Caribbean.  And the cruise line definitely puts in maximum effort to deliver something truly special that caters to their wants.

If you're going on a Royal Caribbean cruise and want to buy you way into special perks, The Key is an attractive option.

The premise is simple: pay a daily fee and get special benefits that you probably wouldn't otherwise get.

The Key is a popular add-on, especially among new cruisers because it's an instant shortcut for useful extras, faster access, and even a few discounts.

I tried it out on a 4-night Utopia of the Seas cruise to evaluate how well it works and why someone might want to get it.

What is The Key on Royal Caribbean?

The Key is a paid add-on for a cruise that must be pre-purchased before the voyage begins.

The price varies depending on the sailing (and which sale is running), but you can expect to pay between $25 to over $50 per person, per day.

If you choose to buy it, everyone above the age of 6 in the cabin must buy it too. That means you cannot buy the perks for just select people in your cabin.

What's included

It includes a lot of benefits that you can use once on the ship:

• Early check-in time and priority boarding at the cruise terminal
• Drop off your carry-on luggage on Deck 4 at the Main Dining Room until 1:30 pm and it'll be delivered to your stateroom.
• Exclusive welcome lunch on boarding day on Deck 4 in the Main Dining Room featuring the Key Signature menu with seating from 12:00 pm (noon) until 1:30 pm.
• 20% off dining offers when you book on Day 1.
• 50% off select Onboard Sports activities. Activities include Flowrider lessons.
• $60 off Spa Services with a minimum spend of $250 at the Spa (excluding gratuities and taxes).
• Fast Lane at select onboard activities. Activities include Abyss, Zip Line, and Rock Climbing during opening hours.
• Priority departure at tender ports of call from ship-to-shore only. Note: there is no priority from shore-to-ship.
• Stay connected with VOOM using your 1-device SURF+STREAM code
• Dedicated seating section at shows in the Main Theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70.
• End your adventure with à la carte breakfast on Deck 4 in the Main Dining Room from 6:00 am – 8:00 am to enjoy before departing the ship.
• Priority luggage tags at the conclusion of the cruise for an earlier disembarkation time

There is a limit to how many passengers can buy The Key, so it can sell out and sometimes does many weeks before the cruise begins.

My experience trying everything

I paid $38.99 per day for The Key, bringing the cost to $155.96 for a 4-night cruise for one person.

Royal Caribbean sends an email before the cruise begins to alert you to the important benefits, such as the special boarding time that supersedes whatever boarding time you get on your own in the app.

In the past I've seen a dedicated line for Key guests to enter the terminal, but I couldn't locate it in Port Canaveral.  Royal Caribbean's boarding process is so efficient for all guests that it hardly matters, so it wasn't a problem.

There's also a reserved area in the cruise terminal for people that bought The Key if boarding hasn't commenced yet. When they start the embarkation process, The Key guests usually board after suite guests, but before everyone else.

Even though I arrived at the cruise terminal at 10am, boarding had begun already so I didn't need to use it.

Onboard the ship, you can drop carry-on bags off and check-in for The Key. 

I love the option to drop off carry-on bags so I don't have to lug around extras that I didn't leave with the porters.  The fact it gets delivered to your cabin afterwards is a nice touch.

I believe the top two reasons to book The Key (after the early check-in time) is the included internet package and welcome aboard lunch.

Given the cost of an onboard internet package, the fact it's included with The Key adds a tremendous amount of value. Plus, I think a lot of people will want to buy internet anyway.

The lunch is essentially the Chops Grille lunch menu, with choice of filet mignon steak, burger, or branzino.

Similar to the internet package, there's an easy value you can derive from this perk. Plus, it's nice to start the cruise with a relaxing sit down meal rather than competing with everyone in the buffet.

The next most useful benefit is reserved seating in shows.

You still need to make reservations for shows (reservations only needed on big ships), but then there's a special section that's shared between The Key, top tier loyalty members, and suite guests.

It's not front row seating, and usually is off to the side or closer to the entrance to the theater for convenience. 

Depending if you care how close to the stage you sit, this may or may not be the ideal seating location.

If your ship tenders in any port, anyone with The Key will get priority departure preference when going from the ship to the port.

The front of the line access to things like Ultimate Abyss, Zip Line, and rock wall is something I think families will enjoy. I'm sure the kids will especially like it.

I feel the rest of the benefits have limited benefit that depend on how you like to cruise.

Royal Caribbean recently increased the activities discount and added the spa discount, but I have a feeling that has limited appeal overall.

Who is the Key best for?

I believe the cruiser that can benefit the most by buying the Key is someone that can say "yes" to these three questions:

• Do you have a Crown and Anchor status below Diamond level?
• Are you staying in a cabin that is below a suite?
• Were you planning to buy the Internet package anyway?

I think it also greatly benefits a couple over larger families because of the daily cost for everyone.

If you answered "no" to any of those questions, I just don't see the benefit overall given the overlap of benefits you may already have.

Is The Key worth it?

Royal Caribbean has positioned The Key as the "easy button" for planning a cruise.  Buy it, forget it, and set yourself up for a great start.

However, its price can make the decision to buy far from a slam dunk.

Ideally, if you can find The Key for a price just over the daily cost of an internet package, it can be a compelling option. But paying $10 or more per person, per day over the cost of an internet device package is a steep increase for what you're getting.

I believe you can get very similar results on your own without buying The Key. It just requires more advanced planning on your part. 

My recommendation is to skip The Key and do this instead:

• Download the Royal Caribbean app and check-in to your cruise exactly 45 days before the cruise to get an early check-in time
• Monitor the Cruise Planner for sales and discounts on internet packages and a Chops Grille lunch for embarkation day
• Book a Royal Caribbean excursion for any ports you are tendering
• Make complimentary reservations for shows in the Cruise Planner about 30 days before your cruise

If you do those things, you'll get very similar (if not identical) results to The Key without a daily cost.

But if you can find The Key for a great price that's barely more than an Internet package, book The Key and kick your feet up with an easy solution.

Happy weekend! We have a look back at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week to share with all of you.

More Icon Class ships are on the way!

Royal Caribbean placed an order for its fifth Icon Class ship, with options to build a sixth and seventh ship.

Plus, the announcement included a mention of a new class of ship.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean CEO talks rumored new ship size and where it could sail
• Royal Caribbean announces date for next Presidents Cruise in 2026
• Royal Caribbean redeploys cruise ships sailing from Puerto Rico in latest deployment change
• Carnival almost bought Royal Caribbean. Former CEO shares secrets in his new book
• Wonder of the Seas vs Oasis of the Seas
• After a $13,000 bill, why one cruiser regrets not buying travel insurance
• How much everything on a short 4-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas costs
• Family paid $150,000 to stay in Royal Caribbean's suite on its new ship

New Royal Caribbean Blog Video: 8 Things To Bring (Even Though It's Included)

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: 8 Things To Bring (Even Though It's Included).

Royal Caribbean adjusts Caribbean itineraries due to tropical storm

More than half a dozen Royal Caribbean ships have had to change their plans due to two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic.

Symphony, Star, and Utopia of the Seas are just some of the ships that had to change or cancel port calls due to Hurricane Humberto and future Tropical Storm Imelda.

A couple ships had to go to Canada instead of tropical destinations to avoid the storms.

Royal Caribbean is "trying to avoid" loyalty changes Carnival has made, CEO says

While speaking at a fan event, Michael Bayley said they do not want to make changes to their loyalty program similar to what Carnival did.

Royal Caribbean fans were instantly concerned after Carnival announced sweeping changes to their loyalty program.

Mr. Bayley specifically said it's not a direction he wants to take Royal Caribbean into with future updates.

Here's when 2027-2028 cruises will go on sale

Royal Caribbean just posted their deployment schedule when new summer 2027 cruises will be available.

Right now, cruises are only bookable through early 2027, but new options will be added going as far out as April 2028.

For a number of weeks this fall, a new batch of sailings will go on sale to Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and beyond.

First photos from inside the new Bahamas beach club

Matt got an exclusive tour of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opening later this year in Nassau, Bahamas.

The new beach club is a first-of-its-kind destination that offers an all-inclusive day pass, and it's exclusive to Royal Caribbean passengers.

The opening is set for late December 2025.

With two powerful tropical storms in the Atlantic, Royal Caribbean has changed more itineraries.

The stormy weather coincides with the peak of hurricane season, and after Star of the Seas had its itinerary changed last night, three more Royal Caribbean ships have been moved away.

Hurricane Humberto and a tropical wave near Hispaniola are both making their way closer to the Bahamas and into the Atlantic.

Here's a rundown of which ships have had their sailings changed so far.

Symphony of the Seas will go to Canada instead of the Bahamas

Sailing from New York, Symphony of the Seas is changing her itinerary to sail north to Canada.

An email to guests reads, "Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we’ve been closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Humberto and another tropical storm forming along our voyage path south. These storms' forecast tracks make it hard to provide you with a safe and comfortable journey toward Florida and areas south. 

"So, after exploring all of our options, we’ve decided to sail to Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia instead. We’ll enjoy an overnight stay in Sydney and a full day to explore Halifax."

The original itinerary was a 7-night voyage to visit Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Given the itinerary has been radically changed (Bahamas to Canada), Royal Caribbean is offering onboard credit as compensation:

• Inside stateroom: $75
• Outside Stateroom: $100
• Balcony Stateroom: $100
• Suites: $250
• 3rd or more guest: $25 per person

Additionally, guests will a Future Cruise Credit worth one day of the cruise fare paid.

Symphony's revised itinerary is now:

• September 28: Cape Liberty, New Jersey
• September 29: Sea Day
• September 30: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
• October 1: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
• October 2: Sea Day
• October 3: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• October 4: Sea Day
• October 5: Cape Liberty, New Jersey

Oasis of the Seas swapped CocoCay for Nassau

Instead of visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay on Saturday, September 27, 2025, Oasis of the Seas went to Nassau.

Enchantment of the Seas will avoid The Bahamas

One of Royal Caribbean's smallest ships will bypass the Bahamas.

Enchantment of the Seas is going to Costa Maya and Cozumel instead of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

An email sent to guests booked on the cruise read, "To safely avoid the impacts from the developing storm, we'll now sail a Western Caribbean itinerary and will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, instead of our planned Bahamas & Perfect Day itinerary."

Utopia of the Seas will skip Nassau, Bahamas

Utopia of the Seas is departing today from Port Canaveral for a 3-night weekend cruise, but will change where it will sail.

The third biggest cruise ship in the world will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on Saturday instead, and completely bypass Nassau, Bahamas. Instead, it will remain at sea away from the bad weather with a sea day on Sunday.

Royal Caribbean let passengers know in an email that the itinerary change was intended to avoid strong winds and high waves on the sea.

Liberty of the Seas is going north instead of Bermuda

Liberty of the Seas has a sailing that departs on September 27. 

Instead of visiting Bermuda, it will go north and visit St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.

The Freedom Class ship has a gross tonnage of 155,889 and accommodates 3,634 guests at double occupancy.

Freedom of the Seas will avoid the Bahamas and go to Mexico

Freedom of the Seas, another Freedom Class ship, is also pivoting its itinerary to avoid the tropical storm.

Freedom of the Seas will visit Cozumel, Mexico instead of its original plans to go to Grand Turk.

Freedom of the Seas is sailing from Miami, Florida on a 4-night cruise.

Star of the Seas was scheduled on an Eastern Caribbean sailing, but will visit Mexico instead

As we previously reported, Star of the Seas has changed itineraries.

The newest Royal Caribbean ship will go the Western Caribbean now and will drop a planned visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Two storms at once

Hurricane Humberto formed Friday and has maximum sustained winds of about 90 mph. It should become a major hurricane.

It's not expected to be a threat to the mainland United States, but will impact northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

As of Saturday morning, disturbance 9 is on the verge of becoming Tropical Depression 9 near the southern Bahamas. And while the disturbance is evolving as expected, models continue to change with the forecast track. 

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer says the track isn't quite clear yet, "the models now keep the storm from making landfall in the Carolinas. It's still going to be a very close call."

He said the combination of two storms is, "going to produce enormous wave energy which will begin affecting much of the western Atlantic coasts later this week."

Carnival Cruise Line announced a massive overhaul to its loyalty program, and it appears Royal Caribbean won't make the same change.

While speaking on Utopia of the Seas during the line's annual President's Cruise event, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley was asked about the future of the loyalty program.

He took the opportunity to mention Carnival's changes and then call it out as a direction he doesn't want his cruise line to take.

"Carnival announced changes to their loyalty program," Mr. Bayley said at the event, which was met with a chorus of boos from the audience.

"And that is exactly what we're trying to avoid," he then said, and that was met with a round of applause.

His comments come after Carnival's change sparked a great deal of concern that Royal Caribbean might do something similar.

What Carnival is doing

Beginning June 1, 2026, Carnival will implement a new  loyalty system that will change how points are earned and status retained.

In short, it will move to a more dynamic, spending-based model similar to airline frequent flyer programs. 

Known as Carnival Rewards, guests earn stars based on cruise and onboard spending, as well as purchases made through the Carnival Rewards Mastercard.

Moreover, status is no longer lifelong. Tier levels will reset at the start of each new two-year earning period.

Since then, Carnival walked back some changes, likely due to negative customer feedback.

Loyalty matters

The reality is loyalty to Royal Caribbean works for both customer and company.

During Royal Caribbean Group's second quarter earnings call earlier this year, Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, talked about how Royal Caribbean is doubling down on its commitment to its guests, stating that loyalty is a "two-way street." 

"Loyalty is very important. I think people want to be recognized. They want to not just be recognized for their spend today, but be recognized for all that they have done in the past," said Liberty.

Working on improvements to the program

Mr. Bayley's comments about Carnival's changes came after a cruiser asked him about improving the Crown and Anchor Society so that points could be earned interchangeable between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean.

He explained how there is a leadership team within the company that regularly reviews the program and works on solutions for the future.

"You'll see over the coming months and year or two that things will continue to improve in terms of accessibility, simplicity, making it easier to sail between the brands, get offers, this type of thing," he said.

He admitted there isn't yet a clear vision for if or when they'll get to one program across both brands.

"Ultimately, we have not defined this yet, but ultimately we are going to get to a one platform database of our loyalty members for Royal Caribbean Group."

"I don't have the exact timeline. And I think we've had this discussion before, and we've maybe over the last couple of years, we started this journey with loyalty two years ago."

Not tipping over the apple cart

While simplifying loyalty programs may seem like a good idea, he also said their team is concerned with making changes that cause more problems than they solve.

"I think we're incredibly sensitive to not tipping over the apple cart," Mr. Bayley explained.

"We don't want to make decisions that maybe are short term benefits and then and then upset our loyal team members."

He also said technically, it's a difficult task to merge things. Merging data between different platforms and databases with the overlap.

"Our aim is to make everybody happy and and also benefit the company in terms of the shareholders and etc., etc.. So we're going to get there and just, you know, try and be a little patient."

If you're ready to book a summer 2027 cruise or a cruise into early 2028, we now know when you'll be able to do that.

Royal Caribbean has shared the dates it will put new sailings on sale that go beyond the current set of sailings.

Typically, Royal Caribbean puts out new sailings to book at two periods of the year, and it appears they'll stick to the same schedule.

The first batch of new sailings will open up in October, meaning we are just weeks away.

Week of October 20, 2025

• Region: Alaska
• Sailing Time Frame: May 2027 – September 2027

Week of October 27, 2025

• Region: Europe
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – October 2027

Week of November 3, 2025

• Region: 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Sailing Time Frame: March 2027 – April 2028 

Week of November 10, 2025

• Region: Northeast, California & Texas
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

Week of November 17, 2025

• Region: Seasonal Caribbean
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Australia
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: China
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Singapore
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

To better explain some of the terminology, here's what you need to know:

• 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round: Cruise ships that are deployed all year to the Caribbean.
  • Does not include ships that visit the Caribbean part of the year
• Seasonal Caribbean: Ships that split their time in the Caribbean. Usually they're in the Caribbean for winter, then Europe in summer.
• Northeast: Cruises that begin from New York, Baltimore, or Boston

It's also important to know Icon 4 will not be part of this deployment release. New cruise ships will open their sailings for booking on a different schedule.

What to know about the deployment schedule

Today's announcement is Royal Caribbean's best estimate when new sailings will be available to book.

It's important to note the new bookings are available to book at some point in that week, but not necessarily on that Monday.

Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.

When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.

Recommendations for how to prepare for new deployments

The deployment schedule is a good warning to start thinking about new cruises you might be interested in booking.

One of the best ways to get the lowest price on a cruise is to book as soon as the new sailings first go on sale.  So it's a good idea to have a plan of which itineraries you'd be interested in potentially booking.

Moreover, if you're interested in a stateroom category that usually sells out, booking early has another advantage.

Once you have an idea of which sailings you're interested in, I'd reach out to a travel agent to coordinate plans.

It's common for the new sailings to be loaded into Royal Caribbean's system slowly, and sometimes it may become available to book in the backend system before the public website.  This is one of the many ways a good travel agent can make your life easier.