Ever since Royal Caribbean started using dynamic pricing for drink packages, excursions, and internet access, finding a great deal on these optional add-ons has been a challenge.

If you're like me, you want to get the lowest price possible on them. No one wants to pay more than you have to.

Most people are relegated to simply checking back periodically in hopes of finding a lower price. 

While Royal Caribbean has done a better job at sending marketing emails and push notifications from its app to alert customers when sales begin, the reality is a new sale doesn't necessarily correlate to a lower price than what you paid.

A new online tool offers an easier way to track prices and save you money.

Price Tracker tool is free to use

Rather than logging in randomly to the Cruise Planner site to see what the price of a cruise add-on is right now, there's a tool for it.

RoyalPriceTracker.com is run by a cruise fan, and it offers a simple way to be notified if there's a lower price.

It's totally free to use this tool, as it's meant to be something for fans, by fans.

"We will help you save money on Excursion and Beverage Packages on your upcoming Royal Caribbean Cruise by tracking the prices and notifying you when the price drops!" is what the website advertises.

After creating a free account, you select your ship, sail date, and which item you want to track the price of.

Choices include:

• Drink packages
• Dining
• Spa
• Internet
• The Key
• Shore Excursions
• Photo Packages
• Arcade
• Onboard Activities

It's pretty much anything you can pre-book via Royal Caribbean's website or app.

You can select multiple items to add to your tracker.

That's it. Now you wait for something to happen.  The site periodically programmatically checks the current price and compares it to the original price when you added it to the tracker. All prices are currently displayed in USD.

In fact, there's historical data too. 

When I added the Deluxe Beverage Package for my upcoming Independence of the Seas cruise, I was able to see historical price data going back to December 2024.

It shows me that the average price has been $72.99 per person, per day, while the lowest price was $67.99 per person, per day.

The idea is simple, but it seems to work as it checks every day for new prices and that's usually often enough to get in on one of those lucrative 40% off drink package deals.

It tracks plenty more too

While I think the drink package is likely the most popular item people want to track, you can be alerted to plenty of other items too.

I was able to see upcoming shore excursions, and even browse them by day and port, rather than a laundry list of tours.

I like the ability to see Voom package and dining package price changes, as those are my most common buys.

How does it work?

RoyalPriceTracker doesn't disclose the "magic sauce", but it almost certainly uses some kind of a scraping method to find its information.

Since Royal Caribbean does not provide a commercial or public interface (known as an API) for developers to play with, it's probable that the site software has a means to access the Royal Caribbean site and programmatically check prices using a clever custom-built program.

Unrelated to RoyalPriceTracker, but another person built out their own open source price tracking software for Royal Caribbean prices. It does need user credentials to price addons. It does not need credentials to price cruises.

In the case of this software, it relies on a Python programming language script to check publicly available information, "All the API calls are public and visible in the Firefox inspector. Everything in this code your browser is doing when you log into the Royal Caribbean website."

This tool would be run on your own computer, so the program would need to be run in perpetuity to constantly be able to track prices. But you have the code base and can run it on your schedule.

Consider it an option for advanced users only.

You still need to act to save money

Regardless of which tool you use, you have to do the final part and actually make the purchase.

None of the tools will cancel and repurchase anything for you.  In fact, neither tool uses your Royal Caribbean reservation number or login credentials.

What they do is give you a heads up when there's a price drop, and then you have to go in and make the purchase.

Royal Caribbean allows you to cancel and rebook any pre-cruise purchase without penalty, making it one of my favorite hacks to save money on a cruise.

Of course, you can do this on your own and continue to check manually, but in the meantime, there's an easier way.

As someone that cruises a lot, I've heard from other cruisers about "secret" cabins on Royal Caribbean ships.

When new ships come out, the layout of the ship sometimes creates unique configurations.  If you're creative enough, they can end up being a really smart idea.

Even though there are lots of suites available to book for a family to share, they can be very expensive and may not have more than one bathroom. If you have teenagers, this is important.

On Anthem of the Seas there's a trio of rooms you could book to hack together to create your own giant space with much more room than any suite.

But there's a catch: This trick won't include any of the suite perks.

Three cabins combined

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Jason Brooks shared this tip on how he recently went on Anthem of the Seas and took full advantage of this "three bedroom suite" idea.

If you look at the deck plans for Anthem of the Seas, there is a trio of rooms that combine together as the layout of the ship curves.

This occurs across decks 6 through 13 with the following grouping of cabin numbers:

• 230
• 232
• 228

• 632
• 630
• 628

Cabins ending in 232, 230 or 632, 630 have a private door that leads to the main door for each cabin. You can close the outside door, providing privacy to go between these two cabins.

The third cabin comes with the room ending in 228 or 628, as it's a standard balcony cabin with a connecting balcony.

If you can book all three rooms together for a sailing, you could get your own three bedroom suite, with space for everyone.

The Junior Suite is the "master bedroom" with 267 square feet of space

If you imagine these trio of cabins as rooms within a bigger suite, I'd imagine this would be the room the parents or leader of the group would take.

Greg Brockman took photos of this cabin on his sailing, showing off what you get.

For cabin 9632, it's a category J1 Junior Suite. Despite the name, it's not a full suite and doesn't have all the amenities of a Grand Suite.

Nonetheless, it's a big room that can handle up to four passengers.

There's a ton of natural light thanks to the double set of windows, one of which is the door to your balcony.

The room has a king size bed that can be combined or split up. There's also a double sofa bed in this room as well.

One thing I love about Quantum Class ships is how much storage space there is.  You certainly won't run out of space to put all your belongings, even on a longer sailing.

Not only does this room share a common private hallway with 9630, but the balcony is the secret sauce to all of this. It's balcony could open up to 9628 (balcony room).

The studio is perfect for kids or a friend

Next door to the Junior Suite is a Studio Interior cabin, and it's small, but perfect for one person.

Ordinarily booking someone in a room by themselves incurs a penalty known as the single supplement fee.  But studio rooms are exempt from this!

Kaitlyn Swing shared photos of cabin 7630, and it gives you a good idea of the space.

This room was meant for one person, so there's enough room for just one person.

It's an inside cabin, which means there's no windows or natural light. However, it does have a virtual balcony.  This means you get a real-time view from outside the ship on a high definition screen that can be turned on or off. There's even a curtain for the "balcony".

The room has its own private bathroom with shower and toilet.

It's the perfect room for an older teen or friend of the family traveling with you.

The connecting balcony room finishes the trio

The Junior Suite and Studio Interior are a good option for some, but if you want a kids room, I'd go one step further with this hack and get the balcony room that combines to that private hallway.

The balcony room has a connecting door that opens up to the hallway the other two cabins share, and it's a neat option for larger families.

Plus, the balcony connects to the Junior Suite's balcony as well.

This is a standard oceanview balcony with 198 square feet of living space, with room for up to two guests.

I'd recommend this be the kids room or the spot for your parents.

Don't book this combo on two decks

While this trio of secret rooms exists on decks six through thirteen, I wouldn't book it on two of the decks.

If you book it on deck six, you'll get an obstructed balcony because of the lifeboats.  

It might save you money by going with deck six, but the view will be ruined and that could be very disappointing.

I also wouldn't book this on deck 13 either.

The issue with the cabins on this deck is because of the extended overhang from the pool deck that makes the balcony feel more like a cave.

Likewise, there is noise bleed that can occur from deck 14 with the Windjammer, pool, and Solarium above you.

Stick to decks 7 through 12 to ensure you're clear of these issues.

There are rules about going on a cruise ship, but a few might be ones you're breaking without knowing it.

Royal Caribbean publishes all of its rules and policies on its website. Most are quite obvious and apply to any form of travel, such as not bringing weapons, chemicals, or starting a fight with someone.

But some things you do on a cruise might seem innocent until you realize it's actually against the rules.

A reader asked me about a particular policy (see the first thing on our list below for what it was), and it got me thinking about the sort of things you might inadvertently do without realizing it's against Royal Caribbean's rules.

To help ensure you're never "that guy", here's a few not-so-obvious rules to avoid breaking.

Obstructing hallways

Royal Caribbean welcomes guests to bring their strollers or wheelchairs with them on a cruise ship, but you cannot park it in the hallway.

According to the cruise line's mobility disabilities policy, you've got to keep them parked in your cabin.

"Assistive devices including mobility scooters must be stored and recharged in your stateroom so fire doors, corridors and elevator lobbies are kept clear for emergency evacuation."

This is an important rule for anyone that has a powered wheelchair they're bringing onboard.  While it might be tempting to keep it parked outside your cabin, it's against the rules.

If you plan to bring a powered wheelchair, I'd recommend booking an accessible cruise ship cabin so that the doorway entrance is wide enough to easily get the chair in and out.

Plus, these cabins offer more space for the wheelchair to maneuver around.

One more thing to remember is when you're out and about on the ship, you need to ensure the wheelchair isn't left blocking a hall.

"When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers."

If you want to bring a stroller, I'd recommend buying a collapsible umbrella stroller rather than the fancy one you use at home. Something that collapses and is easy to fly with as it is to cruise with is a good idea, such as this one that folds down to "personal item" size on airplanes. (This has an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use but I get a small commission)

Being rude to crew members

Not only is being rude socially unacceptable, it's against Royal Caribbean's rules.

I understand you might get frustrated when a series of events doesn't go as you expected, but it's not an excuse to lash out at a crew member.

Royal Caribbean's rule is clear on this, "Verbally abusive or offensive language directed toward anyone, including guests, crew members, governmental officials, or others is not permitted."

Moreover, you're also obliged to follow any instructions given to you by crew members during the course of the cruise.

Ignoring instructions is equally wrong, and could land you in trouble with the ship's security.

Beyond the cruise line's rules, remember that these crew members are living thousands of miles away from their families on a ship and are trying to help you have a great vacation. They didn't make the rules, they're just enforcing them.

Playing your music too loud

A cruise vacation is the perfect excuse to party, but leave the music to the ship's DJ.

You are not allowed to play your own music loudly on the ship, "Boom boxes, loud radios, or other noise nuisance(s) are not permitted."

Royal Caribbean has seemingly started to crack down on this on its private island too.

You're better off bringing headphones rather than a Bluetooth speaker with you.  If you do opt to bring a speaker, I'd only use it off the ship on an excursion and keep the volume low.

If you're renting a cabana on Perfect Day at CocoCay, there are Bluetooth speakers provided to use there.

Leaving your clothes on the balcony

Something I'm sure a lot of people do is leave their stuff on their balcony, but it's actually against the rules.

Whether you leave something out on the balcony or intentionally, it's not permitted because of the risk of it flying away.

"Guests may not leave items unattended on balconies, as the wind may cause items to fall overboard."

The cruise line takes littering in the ocean seriously, and while I doubt most people leaving things on their balcony is intentional to litter, the reality is the wind can really kick up quickly.

Not only do you not want your stuff to end up in the ocean, they don't want it to go there either.

Believe it or not, Royal Caribbean can ban you from their cruise ships for life.

No one really thinks about this kind of a scenario happening to them, but being on vacation isn't carte blanche to do whatever you want. Cruise lines have rules for the safety of everyone, and even bending them could land you in serious trouble.

A Royal Caribbean Blog reader recently shared with me a story of someone that got banned for life, and it was a wakeup call to remind everyone how serious the rules can be.

Here are four notable examples of people getting banned for life by Royal Caribbean.

Jumping for the gram

Probably the most brazen example of someone doing something dumb for the sake of doing something dumb was when a man tried jumping off the ship for the sole purpose of filming it.

The person jumped off of the 11th deck on Symphony of the Seas while docked it was docked in Nassau.

In the video posted, he is shown preparing to jump after climbing over his balcony railing, all the while his friends laughing in the background.

He fell more than 100 feet to the water.

He did it for internet fame, and luckily survived the fall. He later told his followers he was drunk at the time.

However, he and his friends were banned for life on the spot.

Security rescued him from the water, and then he and his friends were immediately escorted off the ship.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean admonished the behavior, "This was stupid and reckless behavior, and he and his companions have been banned from ever sailing with us again."

Standing on the balcony

Another case of poor decision making for the sake of a photo, came with a woman who thought a daring position was a good idea.

The woman was spotted posing in a swimsuit on the edge of her balcony while sailing on Allure of the Seas.

In its Guest Contact Policy, Royal Caribbean specifically notes that "sitting, standing, laying or climbing on, over or across any exterior or interior railings or other protective barriers, or tampering with ship’s equipment, facilities or systems designed for guest safety is not permitted."

Another guest spotted her doing this and quickly alerted the ship's staff. She and her companion were kicked off the ship in the next port of call.

A spokesperson later confirmed that she had been banned for life, "[They] are now banned for life from sailing with Royal Caribbean." 

Cheating in the casino

It's a little less clear what happened, but it appears one passenger has been banned because of suspected cheating in the casino.

Cruise Critic user pdxcam posted a story of how they tried to book another Royal Caribbean cruise, but was later informed all of their sailings have been cancelled because they are no longer welcome onboard.

"They informed me that I am banned from all Royal Caribbean brands permanently without appeal and would not tell me why," is what they posted.

Digging through the thread, it appears their game play in the casino was suspect and is what they believe the issue was.  The person never admitted to cheating in the casino, but can only speculate that must be the reason.

They said by the second day of their final cruise, the casino asked them not to play in the casino at all.

"The order of events was very quick.  On my last cruise, I was asked not to play blackjack on night #1.  Other than being with a friend in 2005, I've never been asked not to play blackjack.  I rarely play it.  Day #2, I'm asked to stop gambling for the rest of the cruise.  I did both things they asked.  One week later, I'm banned for life. "

"It feels like I'm guilty by association from the 2005 incident, and they figured I was cheating because I've been winning a little bit.

Making false reports

Another case of a person being banned and seeking assistance from the internet came after accusing the line of things that may not have happened.

Cruisingcornell posted on our message boards they sailed on Anthem of the Seas and claims to have "found some [bed bug] shells on the couch cushion " and requested a cabin change.

They then claim the crew believed the story was fabricated, "they didn't find anything and at this point called our picture and what we showed the room attendant fake/from another sailing is how they put it."

After the cruise, they got word of their ban, "We received a call ... customer service telling us that we were banned after their security team said we provided a fake picture."

They said their ban lasts at least year, but may not be lifted even after that.

There are serious consequences

If these four stories serve any purpose, it's to realize that Royal Caribbean doesn't mess around with people who break the rules.

Even if there's the perception of something wrong, that could be enough to warrant a lifetime ban.

Bad behavior is inexcusable, and you agree to abide by the cruise line rules the moment you book a cruise. Certainly being inebriated isn't going to get you out of the consequences.

A balcony is the most popular cabin on a cruise ship, but you don't want to pay for one if it's going to disappoint you.

The last thing you probably want is to wake up each morning looking at a lifeboat, or be kept awake each night by music.

Most people imagine their balcony room will have unfettered views of the ocean and be a private retreat to enjoy every day.

The reality is not all balcony cabins are created equal, and you could end up with a balcony room that's disappointing.

When I booked a Junior Suite on Freedom of the Seas, I was disappointed when I got onboard the ship to see cleaning equipment blocking my view.

I thought my balcony would be a great choice, but I didn't pay close enough attention to the partial obstruction note.

The top balcony cabin letdowns

There are three kinds of balcony cabins I'd think twice before booking.

An obstructed balcony is the first kind that almost always results in a letdown.  This is defined as a balcony that has some structure blocking the view.

It could be because of lifeboats, equipment, or partial overhangs.

Royal Caribbean's deck plans should indicate if a balcony is obstructed, and at what percentage.  You should refer to the deck plans before choosing a cabin. Or see if there's a YouTube cabin video for your specific room.

Another kind of bad balcony cabin is a noisy balcony.

Cabins under the pool deck, nightclub, Windjammer, or near the AquaTheater can all get pretty loud at certain times of the day.

This is more problematic for light sleepers, or anyone that prefers to go to bed early or sleep late. Unexpected sounds emanating from outside the cabin at odd hours can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule.

On one cruise I stayed in a balcony cabin near the Centrum on Jewel of the Seas and the music kept us awake every night.

How loud a cabin is won't show up on deck plans, but I'd recommend always booking a cabin that is located one deck above and below other cabins.

The further away the room is from public spaces, the less likely noise bleed will be an issue as well.

Lastly, some balcony rooms have a lack of privacy that can be alarming.

Neighborhood balconies are cabins that face inwards towards the ship, rather than out to the ocean. Examples include Boardwalk, Surfside, or Central Park balconies.

The issue is people walking by the room or passengers in cabins opposite your room can see directly into your cabin if the curtains aren't drawn.

The good news is these rooms are great for people watching, but not so much for private lounging.

People often book these cabins because of one choice

If you're thinking how could someone be so naive to book those balcony rooms, the reality is they probably booked them indirectly.

Royal Caribbean offers customers a money-saving option by letting the cruise line pick their cabin assignment with a guarantee room.

You could save hundreds of dollars by going with a guarantee cabin assignment, but it's a gamble as to which room you'll get.

Quite often guarantee rooms default to the leftover rooms others didn't pick.

The same holds true for bidding for a stateroom upgrade.

The entire premise of RoyalUp is to allow passengers to pay less to move up to unsold rooms or ones that got cancelled at the last minute.

There's nothing wrong with saving money and getting a great deal on a better cruise room upgrade.  Just understand you might end up in one of these rooms.

Know the differences before booking these "balconies"

There are three more types of rooms that are variations on a traditional balcony that I'd caution you to fully understand why they aren't what you might expect.

None of these cabins should be avoided, per se. Instead, I'd recommend fully comprehending what these rooms are all about before you book.

One of the cheapest rooms you can book is a virtual balcony, where you have a floor-to-ceiling high-definition screen showing live views from outside your room.

I'd argue virtual balcony rooms aren't a replacement for a regular balcony. Rather, they're upgrades from a regular inside room.

A new type of balcony introduced on the Icon Class ships is an infinite balcony.

The idea is the balcony space is convertible, with a sliding glass window that opens up to provide a breeze and view.

In reality, the infinite balcony is more like a room with a window than a room with a true balcony that you can step onto and peer around.

Families tend to like these rooms more because it provides more living space, especially with young children.

Lastly, if you aren't booking both sides of a connecting balcony room, I'd skip them.

I love connecting balcony rooms as a money saving hack for my family, but the common door between the rooms is not very good for abating noise, and that can be a problem if you don't know the people on the other side of the door.

The best Royal Caribbean balcony cabins to look for instead

Now that you know which balcony cabins aren't so great, here are the types of balcony rooms I'd book instead.

People that cruise a lot swear by aft-facing balcony rooms, which are balconies on the back of the ship.

They're usually larger and have incredible wake views.  They're definitely better on Royal Caribbean's older ships, like Vision or Radiance Class vessels.

Another good idea is to book a balcony cabin mid-ship, instead of one at the very front of the ship. This location tends to be the most stable and offer the least sensation of movement.

A lot of first time cruisers want to avoid getting seasick at any cost, so picking a room in the middle is best for this.

One other kind of balcony cabin to look for when you're reviewing deck plans are cabins with angled balconies.

Some corner rooms have more space without extra cost and can be a great choice.

When it's actually better to book an inside room instead of a balcony

There's another kind of balcony disappointment that can occur, and it has nothing to do with your room location.

If you book a cruise on one of the biggest ships, or perhaps a very port intensive itinerary, you're barely going to be in your room because of all the fun things to do outside of it.

I've often heard from readers who liked their balcony room, but lamented how little time they spent inside of it.

And of course there's buyer's regret, when you pay inflated prices due to demand for a balcony room.

Spending extra money on cabin amenities you won't really take advantage of can be a compelling reason to book a cheaper inside room instead.

Research your room to avoid days of regret

It's pretty easy to book the right balcony for your family if you spend a little bit of time researching the right option.

Booking the right balcony adds serious value to your cruise, and can be a wonderful space to enjoy every day.

Ultimately, you want your balcony to be a highlight, not a headache.  Now that you have the right information, you should be able to get the perfect one on your next cruise.

Royal Caribbean is pausing visits to its private destination of Labadee, Haiti due to violence and lawlessness in the country.

An upsurge in gang violence has prompted Royal Caribbean to change scheduled visits, the second time there's been a major pause in visits since last year.

In April 2025, ships began getting re-routed to bypass Labadee and visit other ports instead.

"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. While Labadee remains a safe destination to visit, and outside of the areas of concern, we’re swapping out our visit," is what the cruise line told passengers who were booked on a ship scheduled to go there.

Royal Caribbean made similar changes between March and October 2024 when gang violence first became a major issue there. The violence gained worldwide attention because of the tenacity and widespread nature of it.

Labadee is the name of a beach area reserved exclusively for the use of Royal Caribbean ships and its passengers on a peninsula in northern Haiti.  It's walled off from the rest of the country and Royal Caribbean employs a private security force there.

Royal Caribbean has leased the 260-acre site since the 1980s, and it's 130 miles north of Port-au-Prince (about a six-and-a-half-hour drive) and has not been impacted by other periods of unrest in the country.

For a few months in 2024, Royal Caribbean cancelled visits to Labadee "in an abundance of caution", but resumed visits later that year.

Prioritizing the safety of its guests and crew members is why Royal Caribbean made the decision, as it does in any part of the world which faces geopolitical issues.

As the summer 2025 cruise season approaches, many are wondering what is happening with scheduled visits to Labadee and what are the chances it will still occur.

Visits starting to cancel

While Royal Caribbean hasn't made an official announcement yet as to what its future plans are for Labadee, at least four Royal Caribbean ships have had scheduled visits changed.

"Your safety is our top priority," is what Royal Caribbean wrote to guests about making these changes.

There is no set timeframe when a stop can be cancelled by, as the change could occur right up to the day the ship is scheduled to visit. We've seen emails go out much sooner than that, but it's important to note itineraries can change at any time.

There have been no safety issues reported or incidents at or near Labadee.

Why Royal Caribbean is pausing visits to Haiti

While there has been no reported incidents of violence in Labadee, an abundance of caution seems to be the primary factor in cancelling calls to Labadee.

Royal Caribbean has a team at headquarters that monitors incidents that could impact their cruise ships.  From severe weather, to political situations, to economic factors, these are all taken into consideration when it comes to the safety of its guests, crew, and ships.

Where are cruise ships are going instead of Labadee?

With Royal Caribbean ships getting re-routed away from Haiti, alternative ports of call are the first choice in trying to update an itinerary.

Depending on which ports are available for a last-minute itinerary change, Royal Caribbean has slipped them in accordingly.

So far, ships have been re-routed to Nassau, Bahamas and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Legally, there is no obligation or requirement for the cruise line to replace the scheduled port visit with another port. 

You're ready for a great day at the beach in warm tropical waters with the sun shining, but the Captain announces a change in the itinerary for your cruise ship. Who makes that call?

Craig Setzer is Royal Caribbean’s Chief Meteorologist, and it's his job to monitor weather developments around the world to make sure cruise ships are never in danger.

When he was hired, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty gave Mr. Setzer his marching orders when he told him, "I'm concerned about port weather events. Something that happens to us when we're in or near port that's sudden, a surprise, unexpected and not well forecast."

Since then, Mr. Setzer has been working every day to ensure bad weather doesn't compromise the safety of Royal Caribbean's planned sailings.

"From a weather perspective, safety is a given and it always comes first," he said during a seminar held at Seatrade Global conference earlier this month.

Of course, ensuring passengers enjoy their vacation is also important, "Guest comfort and guest experience are second on the list, right after safety."

What happens when bad weather threatens a port

When there's bad weather at sea, cruise ships can deviate.  But in port it's a different story.

"When you're in the open ocean, it's more about the wave heights or sudden wind events, " Mr. Setzer explained.

"In port, you don’t have room to deviate… there’s higher sensitivity to weather events like sudden wind gust."

There are risks to ships and the people on them while in port if bad weather strikes suddenly. Lines can break, ships can accidently veer off course and end up grounding or allision.

To determine if a change to your port stop is needed, Mr. Setzer relies on a three step approach: detect, notify, act.

"We have to know that something is coming that wasn't expected," he explained. Looking at weather models and tracking storms is part of that.

The second step is if he sees something concerning, to alert the ship and crew immediately.

The final step is to act and let the people at Royal Caribbean's marine division make a decision on a change.

He said his job is primarily detection, and he's thankful he's not the one making the call on a reroute, "I’m more on the detection part. We’re working together to create a notification part."

Hurricane season and big decisions

Forecasters recently called for an "above normal" hurricane season this year, but that doesn't change how he views his prep for what to expect.

"Even in low years like 1992, South Florida got Andrew. In high years like 2022, we didn’t get anything. So you never know."

Royal Caribbean never takes the threat of a hurricane lightly, "from a marine perspective, we prepare every year with the possibility we could have an impact. We don't say this year it's a low number, so we're going to relax now."

Craig spent 25 years in South Florida, and 22 of those years was spent as a TV weatherman in Miami. That experience from decades in Miami makes him a step ahead.

"I  tend to anticipate the weather more than the models… even before a hurricane advisory comes out, I’m thinking: Where are my ships going to go to stay safe?"

Last year, he participated in a preparedness test with key members across Royal Caribbean. The cruise line runs multiple hurricane exercises per year to get everyone ready for the season. 

In one example, a simulation had a storm that rapidly intensifies as it approaches South Florida. It began developing within 3 days of reaching Miami, putting everyone behind the planning curve from the beginning.

"This scenario is entirely possible and has happened before in history. Most folks think we will have days and days to watch and prepare."

How Royal Caribbean uses AI and radar to outsmart the weather

Royal Caribbean is blending artificial intelligence with weather radar to improve storm detection and cruise safety.

Royal Caribbean partnered with Meteopress to purchase a new radar system for the cruise line's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island in The Bahamas.

This isn't a run-of-the-mill radar station. It incorporates AI tools will forecast the weather to better detect port weather issues well before they hit.

It uses AI and machine learning to determine where traditional weather models have biases, and then corrects for those biases.

The weather radar is so powerful that it can reach up to 300 miles away, which will include Miami.

According to Mr. Setzer, all of this allows meteorologists to better anticipate weather events in terms of time instead of distance. It's a tool for Royal Caribbean to leverage.

Mr. Setzer's role blends science, instinct, and guest care in every voyage. By virtue of the fact Royal Caribbean employs a meteorologist, it provides a hidden value that guests may not be aware of, but is constantly watching for any potential issues.

Royal Caribbean is halting visits to Haiti due to security concerns in the country.

At least two cruise ships so far informed passengers that they will skip visits to Labadee, which is the cruise line's private beach destination in Haiti.

Labadee is located in a remote area of the country, far from the turmoil in the that has plagued the capital for years. 

It's a cruise line private destination operated by Royal Caribbean. The resort area is guarded by a private security force.

Passengers on Voyager of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas reported the change on their current sailing.

Announcements were made by the ship's Captain and letters distributed as well with the update, "As previously announced by our Captain, out of an abundance of caution, instead of visiting Labadee on Thursday, we’ll enjoy a beautiful day in Nassau, Bahamas, on Friday."

Thanks to Brian Landstrom for sharing this letter

Voyager of the Seas will head to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic instead.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, Royal Caribbean also informed guests sailing on the Adventure of the Seas May 2 their planned stop in Labadee will be changed.

Instead of Labadee, Adventure will go to Puerto Plata as well.

Thanks to Paul Crow for providing this email

Another ship re-routed away from Haiti on Wednesday is Symphony of the Seas.

The ship is sailing a 9-night Caribbean itinerary and they are skipping Labadee.

Guests that purchased shore excursions in Labadee will be refunded the value to their SeaPass Account as an onboard credit. 

The letter goes onto say, "We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change."

Some passengers are upset about the change.

One cruiser on Reddit posted, "can’t believe there’s people actually on the ship that is kicking off and saying that they want a full refund of the cruise because they only booked it because they’re going to Haiti."

"Obviously, the safety of the crew staff ships stuff on the island and also the guest is paramount ."

No other cruise lines sail to Haiti.

Gangs claiming more towns

The changes are likely due to an escalation in the gang violence within the beleaguered Caribbean country.

Gangs have formed coalitions in Haiti, and have carried out military-style ambushes, proving themselves to be more mobile and more coordinated that ever before.

On Monday, Haiti's government approved a "war budget" to combat rising gang violence.

Almost half the money is for Haiti’s police and military “to fight the armed groups that threaten national stability."

The civil unrest in Haiti has forced Royal Caribbean's hand in this situation, even if Labadee is not near the areas of conflict.

The latest U.S. State Department Travel Warning is set at "Level 4: Do Not Travel".

There's a litany of reasons why the warning is in place, "Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. Kidnappers may plan carefully or target victims at random, unplanned times. Kidnappers will even target and attack convoys. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members. "

More cancellations could be coming

It's not clear if additional cruises will be cancel their visits to Labadee as well.

Reddit user RC-Cruise-Swing shared what the Captain on Voyager of the Seas said, "The captain just said that Royal Caribbean have cancel all stops to Haiti for the next month due to the ongoing situation which is rapidly escalating."

Political and civil strife in Haiti is not new, and the travel warnings have been in places for many years. 

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach area, is a walled-off, exclusive beach on a peninsula in northern Haiti.

It's located 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Royal Caribbean cancelled visits to Haiti in March 2024 and suspended all visits until October 2024.

Sister company Celebrity Cruises announced it would halt visits to Labadee last month.

Since restarting visits, there's been no incidents with the various cruise ships stopping there.

When I sailed on the biggest cruise ship in the world, I wasn't expecting a space meant to provide sweeping views to act as a de facto zen spot.

One change Royal Caribbean made with Icon of the Seas was not to offer a Solarium, which is the traditional adults-only enclave on other ships.

Instead, they went with the Hideaway neighborhood.  This offers adults-only space, but with a pool party atmosphere.

It's clear some cruisers prefer to have a view of the ocean along with peace and quiet.

The more I've cruised on the world's largest cruise ship, the more I've realized an area within the Aquadome neighborhood has become the go-to spot for reading, napping, and enjoying a calming day.

The quietest spot is at the front of the ship

At the very front of the Aquadome neighborhood, which is effectively "behind" the Aquatheater", is arguably the quietest spot.

Known as the Overlook, it's an open seating area that faces the front of the ship.

Royal Caribbean describes it as "With two levels of floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows, the ocean views from inside the awe-inspiring AquaDome are unmatched."

With all the light coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, it's easily one of the most relaxing indoor spaces on the ship.

In fact, the pods are one of the most popular spots on the ship.

Ever since Icon debuted, word got out quickly that snagging a pod is perfect for reading, doing work, or just getting some privacy.

The pods are elevated and enclosed, which makes them semi-exclusive.  

I've used them to do work, and it helps there are outlets within each one.  

Even if you don't have a pod, there are all sorts of comfortable loungers and chairs that face the ocean.

Best yet, there's no music or party atmosphere here. And it's all indoors, so the air conditioning makes it always comfortable. The Hideaway is in direct sunlight with little to no shade.

The only time it gets loud is when there's an Aquatheater show being performed or rehearsed. However, going here in the morning is almost always guaranteed to be quiet.

It speaks to a need some cruisers have about having a quiet place with a view.

It's also become the de facto teen club at night

If you walk through the Overlook after dinner, I've noticed the teens come out in force to hang out here too.

Despite having their own club, teens on cruises seem to prefer to hang out on their own terms. This usually comes in the form of hanging out in stairwells.

In the case of Icon, I noticed the teens gravitated towards the Overlook at night because the area is pretty much empty.

Before you shake your fist angrily at "those young people", there's really nothing for adults to do here after dark.  The bar shuts down and there's no entertainment.  Without the teens, the Overlook empties out considerably.

The best coffee bar on the ship is nearby

If you're going to Pearl Cafe to get your coffee on Icon of the Seas, you're doing it wrong.

Adjacent to the Overlook is the Rye & Bean bar. It has its own espresso machine and can make most coffees you can get elsewhere.

But it's also where you can some fabulous coffee-based cocktails.

It transitions from coffee bar in the morning to cocktail bar at night, and with those views you have from the Overlook, it makes it so enjoyable to sit and watch as you sip.

Image created by PG Cruiser

Two cocktails to try here are the Coffee Boulevardier and the Hibiscus Tea Punch.

The tea is refreshing and flavorful, while the Boulevardier has a really bold taste that makes it not taste like every other cocktail.

The quiet spot to hide on other ships

If you're not sailing on an Icon Class ship, there are other refuges to discover.

The Solarium is usually fairly quiet on other ships, although it is a pool. So there can be loud conversations in the pool, hot tub, or bar.

Ships that have a Library or Card Room tend to be your best bet for a quiet escape, as they aren't nearly as rowdy as any pool would be.

My personal favorite for a quiet retreat is the outside promenade deck that faces the ocean.

It's usually on deck 4 or 5 of most ships, and it offers chairs that face the ocean.  

I'll grab a chair in the shade, and prop my feet up on the stools they usually come with, and then prop my laptop up to do some work.