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One of the best reasons to sail on a slightly older Royal Caribbean cruise ship is when you can get a great deal, even if it's an inside room.
Freedom of the Seas is approaching being 20 years old, but don't let her age fool you. The ship got a massive upgrade in 2020 that added a lot, plus recent changes to its casino. That has added a lot to what this cruise ship can offer.
So when I received an offer to sail in an inside cabin on Freedom of the Seas for just port fees and taxes, I jumped at the chance.
Not only would I be able to go back onboard a favorite ship of mine, but also sneak in another getaway cruise before the end of the year.
Here's what it's like to choose one of the smallest staterooms on Freedom.
The secret to paying just port fees and taxes on what is essentially a "free cruise" is I received the offer through Royal Caribbean's casino.
I think the casino loyalty program is the best value in cruising right now, and you don't need to be a mega gambler in order to qualify for these offers.
Basically, I play enough in the casino on my sailings to qualify for offers to be mailed to me. Most casino pros recommend at least 200 - 300 points per sailing at a minimum to likely qualify.
One offer had an inside stateroom for free on a 5-night Freedom of the Seas cruise scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel. Spoiler alert, we didn't visit either of those places.
All I had to pay were the port fees and taxes. Since I was sailing solo, I paid just $272. I got $39.58 refunded onboard when we didn't go to the scheduled ports.
You can argue the virtues of if an inside room is a good idea or not, but I really don't mind them. This is especially true when I'm on the cruise without my family.
With the kids in school, the choice of taking an inside room wasn't a problem. The casino offers are inflexible in that regard, although I might have been able to spend more to upgrade to a balcony. I felt if I'm getting a "free room", I'm going to take advantage of that and limit my costs.
Royal Caribbean assigned me cabin 6669, which was a short walk from the aft elevator bank. I greatly prefer to have a cabin near the elevators instead of down the hall, so this worked out well.
Plus, it was one deck from the Royal Promenade. This made it very convenient to be able to run back to my room for anything.
Royal Caribbean opens its cabins on embarkation day usually at 1pm, and I walked into a small space, but since it was just me, it's all I needed.
I've stayed in a lot of inside rooms on cruise ships, and while their exact dimensions or configuration may differ slightly, they all tend to have a similar feel.
There's a private bathroom, sitting area, vanity, and bed. Plus, you'll find closet space too.
One thing I noticed immediately was the cabin decor felt like a 20 year old ship. As a rule of thumb, Royal Caribbean never updates its stateroom look during scheduled maintenance. They have never commented why, but I assume it's a cost issue.
While the motif may be dated, it's not a big deal. You adjust quickly to it and it doesn't affect the enjoyment of the cruise. It's just something that may initially jump out.
When I entered the cabin for the first time, the beds were pushed together to form one bed. That's not inherently a problem, but one of my favorite cruise hacks is to have the beds split apart to make the room feel bigger.
With the beds together, it required climbing over the bed to get in or out of the bed. But with them split, it's much easier to get around.
Plus, it made the space feel more open.
The bathroom is certainly big enough for just one person, but it's effectively the same bathroom layout and size as most non-suites cabin bathrooms on this ship.
There's a little storage space behind the mirror, but you can also stash some things below.
Just a reminder that Royal Caribbean only provides the 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash, so be sure to pack your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
At the vanity, you'll find all of the power outlets for the room.
There are no USB plugs, so you'll need to bring your own adaptor. I recommend buying this power adaptor because it offers 4 USB outlets, and will work in both US or EU power outlets. (Affiliate link means I'll make a small commission if you buy it, but it costs you nothing extra)
I also received complimentary soda and bottled water, but that's because I'm a top tier member within Crown and Anchor Society.
When you reach the upper tiers of the program, there are a lot of freebies that you get every sailing. Not only does this save me money, but it's so convenient to have them waiting in the cabin.
Opposite the desk and chair is the couch. I rarely ever use my couch for a place to sit, as it tends to accumulate various belongings as the cruise goes on.
The couch isn't big enough to sleep on, unless you're rather short or a child perhaps. But it's not very deep either, so I think it's best suited for a visitor stopping by.
I was surprised how large the closet is, as there are both shelves and plenty of hangers.
You could easily store your clothes and suitcases in here, although I prefer to slide my suitcase under my bed.
Considering the low price I paid for this room, I have no complaints about the cabin.
The outdated decor doesn't mean much since I basically used the room to sleep, shower, and change. Otherwise, I was mostly out and about the ship. I even chose to do most of my work from public venues.
The downside to an inside room is there's no natural light, so you cannot easily tell the time of day. Nonetheless, I adjusted quickly and would set alarms so I knew if I was sleeping too late.
I think most people that choose a room like this on Freedom of the Seas are doing so to save money and get to cruise for a lower price. If so, this stateroom should offer the perfect way to get aboard without any extra frills.
Your next visit to Royal Caribbean's private island could have a beer that's been missing for almost six years.
It's been a while, but the cruise line confirmed it's bringing back the Chilla Thrilla beer to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The cruise line introduced this exclusive brew that was produced in partnership with Funky Buddha Brewery.
Before you throw a few back, here's what's been revealed.
When Royal Caribbean opened Perfect Day at CocoCay, the introduced a lot of firsts, including a branded beer.
Chilla Thrilla was available for just a few months in 2019, as the cruise industry shutdown of 2020 halted distribution.
When cruises restarted in 2021, the beer wasn't brought back because of apparent supply chain issues.
However, that's changing, as Royal Caribbean confirmed Chilla Thrilla is coming back. The cruise line shared on its social media feeds an update:
The Royal Caribbean x Funky Buddha Brewery Chilla Thrilla is a refreshing blonde ale brewed with a splash of mango and guava, perfect for a full day of soaking up the sun.
Grab this Florida-brewed tropical ale at any of our private destinations and ships sailing out of the US.
This marks the first time since early 2020 the beer will be available, and it sounds like as long as your cruise ship sails from the U.S., you'll be able to sample it. Funky Buddha claims the beer is available on any ship sailing to the Caribbean.
In fact, it's already been spotted on Explorer of the Seas.
And yes, the beer is included with Royal Caribbean's popular drink packages.
According to the brewer, Chilla Thrilla is a "Blonde Ale with Mango and Guava".
It's a drink meant to evoke a tropical taste, which is why it leans in the fruity direction.
"A crisp body and tropical vibe makes Chilla Thrilla perfect for a day packed full of fun in the sun."
Funky Buddha claims it pairs well with the food you can get at CoocCay, including a Cuban sandwich, mango and habanero wings, carnitas tacos, fresh citrus and stone fruits.
Beer fan site Untappd listed the fan reviews of Chilla Thrilla at 3.5 stars across over 500 reviews.
Over the past year, I've done a lot of cruise travel.
I've taken over a dozen Royal Caribbean cruises this year, in both the Caribbean and Europe, from Mexico to Norway to the Dominican Republic to Germany, and much more.
Although my cruises have been positive overall, things can always go wrong.
Here are the biggest mishaps I've encountered on Royal Caribbean cruises, and how I prepare for them in advance.
The food on a cruise ship is always a highlight, so it's one of the first focuses I place in my cruise planning process.
My approach is to have all of my dining picked out and reserved before I step foot on the ship.
This used to be impossible if you had specialty dining in mind, but now that Royal Caribbean allows guests to pre-book with the dining packages, it can be done.
I find pre-booking reservations so important because it eliminates wasting time on embarkation day running around and wasting vacation time making bookings. Plus, it removes the guess work out of if there will be availability for the day and time you want.
More controversially, I never book My Time Dining for my dinner in the Main Dining Room. Instead, I book traditional dinner and pick a set time.
I know plenty of our readers swear by My Time Dining, but I avoid it because of the long lines that develop at peak hours.
While traditional dining is inflexible, I never have a wait for a table and I can walk right in and go straight to my table and have the same table, waiter, and table mates without any concern of how long it might take to get seated.
My Time Dining isn't a mistake, it's just more complicated and I prefer simplicity in this case.
I amaze myself when I get seasick, but it does happen from time to time.
The good news is I never am worried about it because I pack medications to easily deal with it. Most of the time I don't get motion sickness, but a couple of times I'll start to feel off and recognize I'm probably seasick.
I always pack Bonine chewable tablets with me (link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).
There are other remedies for avoiding getting seasick, but I find popping a pill like this works the best.
Some experienced cruisers say you can get seasickness medicine from Guest Services or the medical facility for free, but I never rely on that because it's not an official policy. Plus, if I'm feeling queasy, it's easier to get what I need from my stateroom and have it ready to go.
Anyone that plans to fly to their cruise ship the same day it is scheduled to depart is playing with fire.
Between bad weather, government shutdowns, mechanical failures, and airline staffing issues, there are all sorts of opportunity for your travel plans to be negatively impacted.
You should never, ever fly the same day of your cruise. Instead, plan to arrive at least one day early so if your flight plans change, you can still make the cruise.
When traveling overseas, I'd recommend bumping that up to at least 2-3 days early. Not only do you need to make sure your flight is on time, but you'll have to wrestle with jetlag.
You can make arguments about some of my other pieces of advice in this article, but I truly believe this is one you're wrong to fly the same day. Heck, I live in Florida and will come in a day early for a cruise out of Miami because I never trust public transportation.
The chances of you getting sick or injured on a cruise are pretty low, but I'll still buy travel insurance every single time.
There are so many unknown factors beyond getting hurt while traveling that could ruin your trip and cause you great financial hardship.
When it comes to last-minute cancellations, you're going to be out of luck without travel insurance. No matter how good of a sob story you have, Royal Caribbean isn't giving your money back if you want to cancel in those days leading up to the cruise.
And of course the cost of onboard medical treatment isn't cheap either (and they don't take any insurance onboard).
Travel insurance is inexpensive and the safety net every traveler should have before they step foot aboard a cruise ship. It's peace of mind that should anything negative come up unexpectedly, you're covered.
While there are some people that like the idea of disconnecting while on a cruise, I'm definitely not one of them.
I not only value being able to stay in contact with friends and family while on my cruise vacation, I think it makes my trip better.
That's why I always buy an internet package for my cruise. I even buy an extra one so I don't have to swap between phone and laptop, and that's so I can stay in contact easier while onboard.
The key is to pre-purchase an internet package before the cruise begins to save money compared to buying a package onboard the ship.
Equally important, I'll put my phone into airplane mode to avoid roaming fees.
One of the most common and costly mistakes people make on a cruise is allowing their phone to roam while at sea, and that can rack up hundreds of dollars in fees.
Before your ship sails away, put your phone into airplane mode so it won't start roaming.
Buying a WiFi package means I can easily text or call anyone (thanks to WiFi calling), and avoid an unexpected cell phone bill when I get home.
On some occasions noise from creaking, other passengers, or ambient noise can make sleeping more difficult while aboard.
I always have disposable ear plugs packed for this situation (link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).
It's rare that I need them, but over the years I've run into situations where it's needed. Most commonly it's a result of windy conditions that cause the ship to rock more than usual, and that can make hangers clang together or the stateroom ceiling creak.
Rather than try to ignore the noise, I'll quickly grab a pair of ear plugs and head back to sleep quicker.
Cruise ships are often compared to cities, and there are certain ones you'd love to go back and see again.
I just took my 100th cruise while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, and it's a milestone that made me reflect on all the sailings I've taken since I started cruising in 2006.
In those almost 20 years, I've been on most of the ships in the fleet. There are still a few I have yet to sail on, but I hope to try them all some day.
In the meantime, there are a handful of cruise ships I'll gladly sail on again because they stand out for offering a superior experience. In a lot of cases, they speak to my preferences and how I like to cruise.
Whether you're going on your first cruise or looking to get on every ship too, these are the five Royal Caribbean ships I highly recommend.
I've loved Oasis Class ships since I first tried Oasis of the Seas in 2010, so picking a favorite is like choosing a favorite child.
I picked Utopia of the Seas because it's part of the latest generation and has the best in class features that just make it stand out.
Purists will complain the ship only sails short cruises instead of 7-nighters and that diminishes the appeal, but I'm willing to overlook the issue because Utopia is just better than the rest of the ships in its class.
Yes, it's marketed as a "weekend party ship" and you get an energetic bunch on there, but my goodness, they included so many smart ideas on Utopia.
Here's a few examples of things you'll only find on Utopia and none of the other Oasis Class ships:
Utopia also has my favorite bar on any ship, the Mason Jar.
Plus, the non-smoking casino on this ship is massive. Royal Caribbean gutted the comedy club and loyalty lounge and replaced it with a sprawling non-smoking casino area that feels like a land based casino.
While I wish it still had a dedicated comedy club because comedy in the Royal Theater doesn't hit the same, there's no doubt the casino is an upgrade.
It's also very similar to Wonder of the Seas, but I picked Utopia because Wonder doesn't have the Royal Railway, Flat Tire, or Izumi in Central Park. Little tweaks, but enough that I'd be lying if I said I didn't prefer them.
I've sailed on Freedom of the Seas 8 times so far, and it's not a coincidence I've ended up back on onboard.
Not only are the Freedom Class ships great values that deliver a big ship feel, but the upgrades it received in 2020 easily make it the best of the class.
Freedom is a big ship, with a maximum capacity well over 4,000 passengers. There are water slides, a great variety of specialty restaurants, expansive aqua park for kids, and a great bar scene.
You're also very likely to find a good value when sailing on Freedom of the Seas. Both the Freedom and Voyager Class represent the best dollar-for-dollar value today because they're older ships (20 years old in 2026), but they also have a lot to do onboard.
Just like Utopia, it too got a nice upgrade with a non-smoking casino that replaced Vintages on the Royal Promenade. A welcome change to non-smokers that enjoy gambling.
The chief downside to Freedom is in its cabins, which still have a twenty year old motif to them. The light pink cabin doors, dated bedding, and lack of outlets are not reasons I recommend the ship.
They're things I hope are some day improved, but in the meantime, I can live with them because the rest of the ship makes up for it.
Odyssey of the Seas is in some ways Royal Caribbean's forgotten new ship.
It launched right as the cruise industry was recovering from the shutdown of 2020, and Wonder of the Seas entered service so quickly after Odyssey that it felt like it was quickly overshadowed.
What I love about Odyssey is it's the Quantum Class ship that got everything right. I always liked the Quantum Class ships, but never loved them until Odyssey came along.
Royal Caribbean figured out a lot of things with Odyssey. They added Playmakers and reworked the SeaPlex to make it a place everyone would like to enjoy, not just teenagers.
They reworked the pool deck and opened it all up, while also making it feel like you're at a resort.
Odyssey has the new Giovanni's Italian Kitchen restaurant, as well as a unified Main Dining Room.
If you haven't sailed on Odyssey yet, you really should book something on it because it's easily overlooked, yet a ship I think doesn't get enough praise for being that darn good.
If you've got sticker shock looking at Icon of the Seas, you'll find much more reasonable prices on Mariner of the Seas.
Mariner is a Voyager Class ship, and first launched in 2003. While a 20 year old cruise ship might seem less than ideal, recent upgrades boost this ship's appeal.
It has a Playmakers sports bar, water slides, laser tag, tiki bar, and a handful of specialty restaurants I frequent anytime I'm onboard.
I've sailed on Mariner 13 times, and I think the reason I love to come back is the good mix of low prices and fun activities onboard.
Similar to Freedom, Mariner is the kind of ship you book because you want to spend less, but still have enough to do. And like Freedom, Mariner's upgrades make it a more compelling choice than other ships within its class.
It's been almost two years since Royal Caribbean reset the standard for all other cruise ships when they introduced Icon of the Seas, and it remains at the very top of my recommended ship list.
The array of innovations, tweaks, and additions make Icon a must-try for pretty much everyone. I think Royal Caribbean got so much right with this ship while also improving guest pain points that it stands out from the rest of the ships in the fleet.
For someone new to cruising, I think it's a wonderful introduction because it just makes everything so effortless. You'll find so much to do, enticing options, and a frictionless vacation.
I especially like the pool variety, incredible water slides, the fully enclosed AquaTheater, and really good included dining choices.
The only downside to Icon is it will cost you more than any other ship on this list. Both Icon and Star of the Seas command premium pricing, so don't expect a bargain basement price.
Speaking of Star, yes, I love Star and would recommend it too. The reason I picked Icon was simply because they're so similar and Icon was the original, so I opted for it.
Don't kid yourself, every other new ship out there is trying to catch up with the Icon Class, and none have come close to matching it.
Happy Sunday! Temperatures may be dropping, but there is plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share. This is your weekly summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this past week, perfectly fitted for your consumption.
The world's largest cruise ship will begin sailing from Galveston in 2027.
Royal Caribbean confirmed Icon of the Seas will be based in Galveston starting August 2027.
The cruise ship will be running six-day, seven-day and eight-day sailings into the Caribbean.
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 an inside cruise cabin is better—and don’t forget to subscribe here.
There will be a cruise ship sailing from Baltimore in 2027, but only during the summer.
The new deployment revealed that Royal Caribbean will return to Baltimore as a homeport in 2027 after being absent in winter 2026.
The plan is to keep a ship there seasonally for the peak summer cruise season.
In a strange occurrence, one Royal Caribbean ship visited Carnival's private cruise port.
Freedom of the Seas made a stop at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic instead of a planned visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay because of bad weather.
The optics of a Royal Caribbean ship in a port exclusive to Carnival ships was certainly a surprise to many.
A 67-year-old Malaysian national was convicted this week on a child sexual abuse charge for something he did on a Royal Caribbean ship.
The incident occurred on Icon of the Seas and he was caught while onboard after molesting a young boy.
Two boys, age 7 and 9, were part of the heinous act.
Consumers might be cutting back spending in some areas, but not for their vacations.
Royal Caribbean Group executives recently talked about how most people are unwilling to compromise on taking time off.
It's an interesting glimpse into how negative economic factors cause consumers to spend less, but vacation is still where splurging is king.
The 583rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.
There have been a few surprises in this year's new deployments coming for 2027-2028.
Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
Royal Caribbean's Black Friday sale is in full swing, and it includes a new combo deal that could save you money.
Even though the actual Black Friday holiday isn't for a couple more weeks, Royal Caribbean decided to get in on the holiday sales early. It launched a Black Friday Early Access sale that will change names over the next few weeks.
While most people focus on individual add-ons, Royal Caribbean has added a new offer exclusive to Black Friday.
This limited time offer is only for the Black Friday period, and it's so different from any other combo deal I've seen in the past that it's worth taking a deeper look at.
New for Black Friday in 2025 is a bundle deal that includes the most popular extras a lot of cruise passengers buy.
The All-In Package comes in two forms, depending if you are sailing to Nassau, Bahamas or not.
If your sailing is going to Nassau once the new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is open, it also includes a day pass with unlimited open bar & dining.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a new idea from Royal Caribbean, where passengers have the choice to purchase admission to an exclusive beach day excursion that is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean.
It's being described as the ultimate beach day experience to offer a superior excursion with pools, beaches, party zones, food and drink included.
The All-In Package also includes a free beach day pass to Hideaway Beach, which is the adults-only area of Perfect Day at CocoCay.
For a cruise that visits both Nassau, Bahamas and CocoCay, the price listed is $164.99 per guest, per day.
Cruises that don't visit CocoCay or Nassau include just the drinks, dining, and WiFi. I've seen prices between $89.99 and $119.99 per guest, per day.
There's also a Refreshment Package that includes the Refreshment Package, Royal Beach Club Day Pass with Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Dining, and Thrill Waterpark Day Pass. It does not include WiFi.
Royal Caribbean is advertising the All-In Package as "our best deal of the year", but will they save you money?
In evaluating the package, the savings depend on your exact sailing. Because Royal Caribbean's prices vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing, the prices for the package and the individual add-on components vary considerably.
For example, here's a Utopia of the Seas sailing on January 9.
Total price for one person with the All-In Package that includes both the Royal Beach Club and Hideaway Beach day passes is $164.99 per guest, per day.
Here are the prices for the individual add-ons on that sailing:
Adding up the first three packages, it's $140.97 per guest, per day. Combining the total cost of the Royal Beach Club Day pass and Hideaway Beach Day pass and dividing by the 3 days, the cost is about $74 per guest, per day.
That brings the total cost to $214.97, making the All-In Package a savings of almost $50 per day.
There's a catch. The individual prices I listed are for a passenger with no Crown & Anchor status or status in the ship's casino.
I'm seeing the price of the Deluxe Beverage Package at a lower price because I'm a Pinnacle Club member and have Prime Status in the casino. For me, it's $53.99 per guest, per day. The Ultimate Dining Package is also slightly discounted at $34.99 per guest per day.
That brings the daily price down to $186.97, or about $22 per day savings.
In both cases, the All-In Package will save money assuming you want to visit both Hideaway Beach and The Royal Beach Club.
Before buying the package, it's worth seeing how much each bundle component is on its own before purchase. No matter what you choose to buy, purchasing before the cruise is still a better deal than waiting to get on the ship.
Royal Caribbean has released all new sailings for 2027-2028, including Icon of the Seas sailing from Texas. Matt shares the big surprises and what stands out about the deployment so far.
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I'm no stranger to cruising alone, but eating by myself always feels a little strange.
I booked a 5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas without my family because I wanted to review the ship again and see some of the changes that have been made, like a new casino offering.
If you ask my wife, I never shy away from booking a cruise alone. It's not ideal, but I've cruised solo enough times that I immerse myself in my work to keep me busy. Plus, the ship always has a lot of activities I can indulge in as well.
But the only time I truly ever feel alone is at dinner because I enjoy a nice sit down meal to round out my day, and sitting alone at a table makes me feel sort of left out.
I decided to embrace the solo cruise experience and go to dinner the way I prefer.
I'll admit that my entire decision was pinned on having a table with no one else at it in the Main Dining Room.
Royal Caribbean may assign you a table for dinner with strangers or just for your party. It's kind of a crapshoot as to what you'll end up getting.
Your table assignment is written on the bottom of your SeaPass card. It has a deck number and dining time. Your dining time is something you select when you book the cruise, and you have the choice of My Time Dining or Traditional.
On embarkation day I walked into the Main Dining Room, and found my table. Sure enough, it was a table for two and that meant I'd certainly be seated alone.
As an added bonus, my table was right by the window. Unfortunately due to daylight savings time, it was too dark to see anything out of the window.
The singular truth about eating alone is that no one else cares what you're doing, and few barely even probably notice.
My concern with eating alone stemmed from the notion I'd feel out of place, in the way someone might feel if they showed up to a black tie party in shorts and a t-shirt.
The truth is it never felt anything like that.
Any time I scanned the area around me, everyone was immersed in their own conversations and meals. Plus, I was either enjoying my food.
When I didn't have something to eat, I had my phone to keep me occupied. Fear not, I wasn't "one of those people" that had music or audio playing. I used my phone to text friends and family, check social media, and otherwise keep me quietly occupied.
The downtime between servings is probably when eating alone would feel awkward, but the phone helped bridge that gap. I suppose reading a book would be another option too.
One of the top reasons I came back for dinner in the Main Dining Room on night two was how quick the meal was.
When I first started cruising, dinner could take two hours or more. While I enjoy a relaxed meal, I think that's just too long.
One of the initiatives Royal Caribbean undertook as part of its Main Dining Room overhaul in 2023 was to address speed of service.
The cruise line saw this as an opportunity to serve hotter and fresher food while also addressing consistency.
All of my dinners took between 45-60 minutes from start to finish. Full disclosure, I skipped dessert every night, so that saved some time too.
Because I knew I could enjoy a plated meal without fear of feeling "stuck" there, I enjoyed the experience even more. To be clear, the servers never made me feel rushed. They just served my food at the pace I was consuming it.
If you are wondering why I didn't just opt for the Windjammer buffet instead, it's because I was eating other meals there and I wanted something different.
I love the cruise buffet, but the quality of the food in the Main Dining Room is always going to be a little bit better. As an example, the French Onion Soup served in the Dining Room is always going to be presented better than the DIY version at the buffet.
Part of the appeal of cruising is the level of service it comes with, and I enjoy what the Main Dining Room represents in that regard.
I think this was the solo dining experience that solidified I could do it again without any trepidation.
I had a great team of waiters (shoutout to Renz and Jonathan) who made it all flow so easily. One night I asked Renz to have a bowl of French Onion Soup waiting for me before they close for the evening, and he was happy to oblige.
The truth is few other passengers notice you're alone, and fewer care.
Some might have read this article and wondered why I didn't ask to sit at a larger table with strangers so I wouldn't feel alone.
My issue with sitting at a table with others and being alone is inevitably there are down times in the conversation and I'd feel rude being on my phone or reading a book. If I'm cruising with my wife and we are seated with others, then I have her to fall back on for a quiet conversation.
Anyone who's concerned about eating alone in the Main Dining Room should remember it's not as big a deal as you probably think it is. Bring something to keep you occupied between servings, and enjoy the added service.
An unusual series of circumstances caused on Royal Caribbean cruise ship to spend the day at a rival cruise line's port.
Freedom of the Seas spent Thursday docked at Amber Cove alongside the Carnival Magic.
Carnival describes Amber Cove as it's "exclusive Dominican Republic cruise port" and has been operating it for about 10 years.
Royal Caribbean passengers were able to walk around the port area, and take advantage of the complimentary pool and lazy river, as well shop and eat at the various extra cost restaurants.
The strange occurrence of a Royal Caribbean ship going to Carnival's port is the result of a weather and logistical circumstances.
The November 10 sailing of Freedom of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail a 5-night voyage that would visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel.
However, Freedom would not visit either of those destinations.
About a week before the cruise, Royal Caribbean informed passengers their visit to Cozumel was being replaced with a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. They never specified why there was a change, but it's likely related to other ships being re-routed to Cozumel because Jamaica's cruise ports are closed due to the Hurricane Melissa aftermath.
Then on embarkation day, the ship's Captain updated passengers again that they would have to skip CocoCay because of a cold front moving through the Bahamas that would close the private island.
Instead, Freedom would visit Amber Cove.
How the visit came about will never be known, but it certainly came as a surprise.
As a Royal Caribbean cruiser, it's easy to quickly draw comparisons to what I'm familiar with. But Amber Cove isn't like something I've been to before exactly.
The closest comparison I can come up with is Amber Cove is like Costa Maya, Mexico but with more options.
Being a cruise port, you don't have to spend the day there. There are excursions and tours to take you around the nearby area of Puerto Plata. Or you could hop in a taxi and do your own thing.
Inside the port, there are lots of shops and a few restaurants too. Food and drink here cost extra anywhere within Amber Cove. All of the retail and food and beverage spaces are leased out.
The pool and lazy river within the Aqua Zone are included at no extra charge, similar to Taino Bay or Costa Maya.
There are also upsell options with day beds, cabanas, a water slide, or water craft you can rent. I was surprised how inexpensive cabanas cost compared to Royal Caribbean. I could have gotten an over-the-water cabana for just $500 for up to 8 people and it included some snacks and water craft rentals.
One notable feature you won't find is beach access. Amber Cove has a lot of pool space, but no beach. You'll need to book an excursion to any number of nearby beaches in Puerto Plata for that.
It felt a little surreal being in a Carnival port, but I suspect most passengers on Freedom of the Seas had no idea this was Carnival's port unless they were told by someone else.
Because Carnival leases out all of the operations, it doesn't have an overtly obvious Carnival motif to it. I didn't see Freddie the fun ship mascot, or anything else that screamed Carnival.
As a lifelong Royal Caribbean cruiser, I was struck more by how there wasn't a true similar product from my preferred line.
Royal Caribbean has private destinations in CocoCay or Labadee, but you can't leave those places and a lot of the food and drink is included. That's not the case at Amber Cove.
Truly, it felt like Taino Bay's port is an attempt to copy Amber Cove and has a free pool and lazy river for guests, along with extra cost restaurants and bars. Plus, you can leave Taino Bay on a tour. However, Taino Bay isn't exclusive to Royal Caribbean.
I'm not sure I'll ever have a chance to try Amber Cove, but it's nice having an easy day to relax in port or bypassing it all and heading out to try something else around while in the DR.