Just because you're on a cruise ship doesn't mean you can't get in on the spooky fun of Halloween.

You might think going on a cruise vacation over October 31st would forgo the holiday, but Royal Caribbean gets in on the fun too, and encourages its guests to do the same.

With Halloween already passed in Australia, we got a look at how Royal Caribbean celebrates Halloween aboard Brilliance of the Seas.

Brilliance of the Seas is sailing from Sydney, Australia to offer a South Pacific itinerary to New Caledonia & Vanuatu.

All Royal Caribbean cruise ships sailing over October 31st will have special holiday decorations and events. Unlike Christmas, there aren't decorations or events offered on cruises that are near, but don't go over Halloween.

Costumes welcome

Dressing up in costume is at the heart of any Halloween celebration, and you can dress up on a cruise ship too.

Ships offer Halloween costume contests, as well as generally encouraging its passengers to bring a costume.

You'll see lots of guests getting in on the fun too, with traditional ghost or vampire costumes, along with super heroes, skeletons, princesses and more.

Decorations

It doesn't feel like Halloween without a lot of cob webs, pumpkins, and signs to make it very clear which holiday you're celebrating.

Royal Caribbean puts Halloween decorations around the ship, primarily in public venues.

In the case of Brilliance of the Seas, the Centrum was decorated with lots of Halloween decorations.

In the Windjammer, there are Halloween decorations around the buffet stations to help set the mood.

Special events

Depending on your ship, there could be a variety of activities to choose from.

Music is at the heart of so many Royal Caribbean events, so on Halloween, you could have a Halloween Monster Bash.

This is when the DJ plays music for everyone in costume.

Speaking of costumes, you can also expect a costume contest to judge the best dressed. There are prizes for the winners.

On Wonder of the Seas last year, there was a Halloween parade down the Royal Promenade, and Halloween movies shown at the pool.

Trick or treating is also available in Adventure Ocean, along with arts and crafts too.

Check the activities once you get onboard the ship

If a Halloween cruise sounds like a great vacation, just keep in mind the exact activities will not be announced until you get onboard the ship.

Once you board the ship, activities are loaded on the Royal Caribbean app, or listed in the daily Cruise Compass.

The activities staff will determine the exact offerings, so remember that what's offered on your cruise ship could be different than another.

I had put off a Canada and New England cruise for years because it seemed like a secondary itinerary, but I wish I had done it sooner.

Cruise ships can visit so many places, and while the amount of ships heading north is relatively small, it's a destination you shouldn't sleep on anymore.

I went on a 7-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas to four ports across Maine and Nova Scotia.  

I was excited to try something new, but I wasn't prepared for how much I would love spending time in this part of the world. It was even more eye-opening for me considering I grew up in New England, so this wasn't my first foray into the area.

From the beautiful landscape to the terrific dining and welcoming people, I not only had a great cruise, I really fell in love with the area.  

Many parts of the 7-night cruise surprised me, like how gorgeous everywhere we visited was and how I wanted to spend as much time as possible on shore.

Wild weather

Planning what to wear or how cold or hot it would be proved much more difficult than I anticipated. 

If someone is going to Alaska, it's very common knowledge the weather shifts a lot there, but I didn't get any sense of the same dynamic in the northeast.

Looking at the forecasts in just the last few days before the cruise, the forecast shifted a lot and I wasn't sure if it would rain, be cold, or hot in any of the places.

It wasn't until the day we set sail or so that the weather picture finally cleared up (literally and figuratively).

In speaking to crew members, they told us how lucky we were with the weather because rain has been dominant this cruise season.

The day before the cruise in Boston there was heavy rain all day, but the next day on embarkation day it was clear. In Sydney, Nova Scotia, the temperature barely creeped above 60, while we were wearing shorts in Portland, Maine because it was 75 degrees.

My advice is to wait to pack until just a few days before the cruise, but bring an extra pair of shorts and rain gear, just in case.

Read more: 7 best Canada and New England cruise tips

Maine was so much better than I expected

If you had asked me on embarkation day which ports I was excited to visit, I would have told you any day in Canada because I thought Maine was going to be more lackluster and familiar.

It turned out I was completely wrong about at least Maine.

Nova Scotia was beautiful and I enjoyed it, but I found I enjoyed Maine even more.

We visited Bar Harbor and Portland, and in both cases, our ship was located right in the heart of both towns. It enabled us to see and do more with less effort.

Bar Harbor's quaint town along with Acadia National Park within a mile and a half provided much more to see and do than I thought. I was expecting a sleepy town with a few restaurants and pretty trees. Instead, I found so many ways I could spend my day there and I loved it all.

Portland is a city, and that means a great deal of dining and shopping. There are also a number of beautiful lighthouses and just about every aspect of New England you'd want to see.

If I could do the cruise over again, I would plan out more of my time in Maine in order to maximize my time.

Boston was super easy to sail from

I had heard some horror stories about embarkation in Boston, namely long lines with no distinction between suites, Crown and Anchor status, or anything.

As it turned out, embarkation was smoother in Boston than some cruise terminals in Florida.

The staff had everything set up from the start, and it was clear where to go and what to do for each step.

Sorry California, but Los Angeles still holds the title as the worst embarkation experience in the United States in my opinion.

We did customs immigration halfway through the cruise

Every cruise I've taken up until now would have the immigration process occur at the conclusion of the cruise, but this time was different.

Because our cruise began in the United States, went to Canada, and then returned to a U.S. port midway through the cruise, we had to go through immigration on our visit to Bar Harbor.

Royal Caribbean made the process quite simple. If you had a cruise line shore excursion booked, they would escort you first through the customs process and then onto your tour.  

If you were going on your own into Bar Harbor, you got a time to report for the customs interview process, and then could go on your way. Think of it like when your luggage is ready to disembark the ship after the cruise.

I was expecting a super slow and backed up process, but it went incredibly quick. Walk through the Main Dining Room, show your passport when it was your turn and go on your way. In nearly all cases, the agents just waived you through.

The best part of this was because we had gone through the immigration process in Bar Harbor, we didn't have to go through it again at the end of the cruise in Boston.

This is a beer lover's dream cruise

I love a good craft beer, and both Nova Scotia and Maine had so many great choices.

No matter which port we visited, almost any restaurant would have at least a half dozen local brews to choose from on their menu.

If you went to a bar, there was a nearly overwhelming selection of local beers and I loved it. Royal Caribbean's onboard beer selection is underwhelming, especially if you like hoppier beers.  

The next time I go on this itinerary, I'd be quite tempted to skip an unlimited beverage package because I'd much rather spend my money enjoying beers around the ports.

In case you're wondering, Tubular IPA by Orono Brewing Company, was my top choice during the cruise.

Staying solo in a Junior Suite felt palatial

I booked a Junior Suite for this cruise because at the time I thought it would be me and my wife without the kids, and wanted a nicer cabin to enjoy.

Unfortunately, she couldn't join me for this cruise so I ended up in the Junior Suite as a solo cruiser and the extra living space made the cabin feel just as big as other full suites without the price tag.

I stayed in cabin 1044 on deck 10 of Serenade of the Seas and it had 293 square feet of space, along with a 41 square foot balcony.

There was not only more walking space, but a full sofa and a blue chair and ottoman that I used as my office every day.

I know some people would point out that almost any cabin when you don't have to share it feels big, but I was surprised by just how big a Junior Suite felt with just me there.

Read more: I tried a Junior Suite to see if it’s worth it

Bar Harbor was so pretty, I would move there if I could

Within 15 minutes of disembarking my tender in Bar Harbor, Maine, I texted my wife that I wanted to move there.

Between the small town feel and the fact it backed up against Acadia National Park, I really loved my time in Bar Harbor.

Admittedly I thought I was onto some kind of a secret until I learned every millionaire from the Gilded Age discovered Bar Harbor about 100 years ago. You know what they say, good taste never goes out of style.

While I doubt we're moving to Maine anytime soon, I really could envision myself spending more time in Bar Harbor on some future summer vacation. Maybe I'm just a sucker for New England, but it had just the vibe I was looking for.

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Happy (almost) Halloween! I don't have any bad Halloween themed puns to include here, just the latest Royal Caribbean news to catch up on before you hit up the neighborhood for candy.

Is a Junior Suite worth it to pay over $1,000 more for this cabin?

I took a recent cruise where I paid around $1,200 more to move up from an oceanview cabin to a Junior Suite and I think it was money well spent.

From the extra living space, to double points, to speedy embarkation, I tried out a Junior Suite and thought it was totally worth it.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group posts $1 billion profit as company sees skyrocketing demand
• Icon of the Seas is about to begin her second round of sea trials
• Cruise bookings are so hot that Royal Caribbean outperformed all of its predictions, defying slowdown fears
• Royal Caribbean CEO calls out Hamas attacks on Israel as "horrific terrorist attacks"
• Celebrity Cruises is adding a customer loyalty lounge on weeklong cruises
• 7 best Canada and New England cruise tips
• My favorite stop on my first cruise was St. Thomas. Here are 7 reasons why I'm already planning a trip back

New RCB Video: Avoid these Caribbean cruise tourist traps!

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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 — Avoid these Caribbean cruise tourist traps! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The secret crew-only areas on a cruise ship

Have you ever wondered what the crew areas of a crew ship look like?

Guests aren't allowed to ever go to these areas of the ship, which leaves a lot of people wondering what it's like there.

Bryan James works on Wonder of the Seas and shared a glimpse of what his cabin and crew restaurants, laundry, and stores look like.

New waterslide is being added to Thrill Waterpark

A new waterslide is being built at Royal Caribbean's water park on Perfect Day at CocoCay.

A new family flume slide is under construction, which will add a new slide designed to accommodate 2-4 people per raft.

It's being added to the Splash Summit Tower.

How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works

Few cruise ship venues are as integral to the onboard experience as the Main Dining Room.

It's where you can go to eat dinner every night, along with breakfast, and lunch on sea days. The best part is it's included in your cruise fare.

How does the Main Dining Room work and what should you expect when eating there? We have a full breakdown of what to expect.

This cruise hack turns your cabin into a private area

If you're sharing a cabin with someone, this cruise ship cabin hack could make a big difference.

Using a shower curtain and magnets, you could section off part of your room to provide much needed privacy.

Creating a dark space can be perfect for light sleepers or those sharing a cabin with cruisers who use a different sleep schedule. 

Is Allure of the Seas the "worst" Oasis Class ship?

Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class cruise ship that doesn't have waterslides, the Ultimate Abyss, and many other ship wide enhancements, so does that make Allure a bad choice?

Often there are comments posted online about how Allure of the Seas feels outdated, so is that really the case?

Jenna sailed on Allure of the Seas to see for herself how the ship stacks up.

While a Canada and New England cruise might not be the most sought-after cruise itinerary, it's worth trying at least once.

The chance to see quaint towns, enjoy terrific seafood, and take in nature's beauty without the Caribbean heat are at the heart of why many try a cruise going north.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Canada and New England each year in the summer and early fall.  Cruises sail from New York, Boston, and sometimes Quebec or Baltimore. There are short and long cruises, and it's an important segment of Royal Caribbean's Northeast itineraries.

The appeal of vibrant fall foliage, watching excursions and lobster bakes draw many to these cruises.

If you're ready to try one, here are seven Canada and New England cruise tips to ensure you have a great time!

You can't plan for the weather

No matter which week or itinerary you pick, you'll be playing a guessing game as to what to expect when you go.

Between hurricane season and the transition between spring, summer, and fall, it could be hot, cold, rainy, or sunny. It's very similar to how difficult it is to plan around Alaska weather.

Unlike a Caribbean cruise that is going to be hot and probably sunny, one week in Canada can have very different weather to the next one.

What you will want to do when getting ready to pack for your cruise is keep track on the forecast, and try to see what the predictions are in the days leading up to your sailing.

Rain is probable, but it could just as likely be sunny. Make sure you bring rain gear, and even a pair of shorts.

It's also a good idea to pack fleece jackets or light sweaters you can easily take off or put back on.  Parkas or heavy jackets aren't necessary.

You dock very close to all the activities

It can be surprising how close your ship docks to the towns you visit on a Canada & New England cruise.

In most towns, you will dock downtown and be able to walk right into town and explore. This is different than many ports in the Caribbean or Europe, where ships dock far away.

This means you can easily do things quicker and without much transit time. 

While Royal Caribbean offers tours to many of the popular activities, you can easily find excursions to do on your own. In fact, Hop-on Hop-off buses visit places like the summit of Cadillac Mountain or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

Acadia National Park is just 1.3 miles from Bar Harbor, and you can walk along the Halifax waterfront.

You'll find towns very walkable and easy to explore on your own, so don't assume you need to have a shore excursion booked in order to get to the most popular activities.

The longer cruises are worth the time

Royal Caribbean offers Canada & New England cruises of various lengths, but you really should try to pick a longer sailing.

While the 4-night and 5-night cruises are cheap and easy to hop on, they usually visit just one or two ports and it may leave you feeling disappointed that you didn't get the full experience.

By picking a 7-night or longer Canada & New England, you'll get to visit ports in both Maine and Canada, and have access to more of the must-see sights this region is known for.

If you really want the best one-and-done itinerary, try an open-jaw sailing between Quebec and New York that visits ports throughout Northeast Canada and Maine.

Not everyone can make a week-long cruise work scheduling wise, but if you are teetering on which cruise to book, opt for the longer one.

Early summer advantage

By taking an early or mid summer cruise, you will find very comfortable temperatures on your cruise.

Cruises in June, July, and August will be comfortable out and that means you'll want to spend more time outdoors at lobster and clam bakes, whale watching, or sightseeing on the ocean.

August is likely the warmest month of the Canada and New England cruise season, with it being ideal for beach visits and pool time onboard.

The disadvantage of summer is it's the peak part of the season, and there will be multiple cruise ships in each port along with plenty of land tourists to contend with.

In addition, there's no fall leaf colors to see in summer.

If you prefer warmer temperatures over anything else, the summer is the way to go.

Fall foliage in late season

The opportunity to see the beautiful fall foliage is reason enough to book a Canada & New England cruise.

You'll need to book a cruise in September or October to enjoy the autumn feel and colors of the leaves. It's nearly impossible to know precisely when the leaves will be at their peak when you book a cruise a year in advance, but it won't be earlier than September.

Depending on how much rain the region gets, along with how hot summer is, will determine when the leaves start changing. You risk going when the leaves haven't changed yet or get there after they're mostly on the ground.

The best month for leaf peeping is October, although you're more likely to encounter colder temperatures and rain.

Lobster is a must-eat

Maine and the Maritime Provinces are the capital of sourcing lobster, and it's why you need to eat lobster on this cruise.

Many restaurants serve lobster rolls, broiled lobster, and bakes. If you remotely like to eat lobster, you need to go out of your way to eat some on this cruise.

If you're in Bar Harbor and other ports in Maine, order a lobster roll. Blueberry pie is also popular in this region.

Chowder is what you'll want to order in Boston, and Digby scallops are a great choice in Halifax.

If you love beer, there are so many great local brews you can try. Nearly every restaurant you go to will have a selection of local craft beers, so I recommend branching out and asking for what's local on tap.

Skip Peggy's Cove

I know this sounds crazy, but despite being an iconic symbol of the region, you're better off skipping Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia.

I'm sure some will take umbrage with this tip, but the problem with Peggy's Cove is it gets overrun with tourists and it will take you about an hour to get there from Halifax. It's really more of a scenic stop, than a destination.

Lunenburg is a great place to explore while your ship is in Halifax. It's downtown is a UNESCO world heritage site. There's a fish market that overlooks the harbor has a great seafood.

Before you skip Halifax completely, make sure you explore the waterfront. It's a lovely boardwalk with shops, restaurants, and lovely views.  And you can walk there from your cruise ship, so no need to book anything special.

It's not your imagination, a cruise vacation is so in demand right now that even Royal Caribbean can't believe how hot their product has become.

Royal Caribbean Group reported its third quarter 2023 results on Thursday, along with its 2024 outlook. Not only did the company have a one billion dollar profit, but they see even stronger demand to come.

Royal Caribbean Group raised its full-year profit forecast for a third time, which is an important sign of how strong demand is.

During an call with investors, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about how well-positioned a cruise vacation is with consumers, "The unprecedented acceleration in demand and pricing for our leading brands, combined with stronger demand for onboard experiences, were certainly the main drivers of our outperformance."

The business of cruising across the three primary brands of the Royal Caribbean Group: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and SilverSea, have resonated with consumers in bookings.

Some interesting facts:

• More than 130,000 guests sailing on their ships every day
• Guest median household income of at least $125,000
• Guests spending on experiences is currently up 25% compared to 2019, with twice the amount spent on goods
• A third of pre-booking purchases now coming through the mobile app
• Cruise fare rates were up approximately 18% in the third quarter compared to 2019

Mr. Liberty pointed out that while airlines and hotels have concerns related to the financial health of those businesses, cruises are seeing no slow down, "our commercial apparatus is firing on all cylinders."

A closer look at who's booking cruises

Royal Caribbean said it saw a significant increase in new to brand and new to cruise customers this year. This is important, because those that have never cruised before represent the single most viable source of new business.

In the third quarter, approximately two thirds of guests were new to cruise or new to brand, all while also doubling the repeat booking rate. Mr Liberty said this indicates, "strong loyalty and satisfaction."

He added that about 70% of guests made pre-cruise purchases, and this is important because customers who purchased onboard experiences before their cruise spent two and a half times more than those who only bought once on board.

"We have thousands of people making bookings for experiences that are at least 6 to 8 months from today," Mr. Liberty explained. "They're making bookings into 2025. They're even making bookings into 2026."

"So our visibility in terms of how the consumer is looking at things going forward, at least on a vacation experience on our incredible brands is is pretty good based off of where the consumer is standing today."

Moreover, Royal Caribbean is seeing a customer that wants to stay with a Royal Caribbean Group ship, more than any other, "I think what's important is what we're getting is a very sticky consumer who wants to be sailing with us, staying within our ecosystem."

"And so sometimes it's not a question of where they're going to go... but they're going to go somewhere with us. And that's what we're focused on making sure they're doing."

Cruise vs land vacations

Mr. Liberty once again beat the drum of comparing cruises to land vacations, and reiterated how competitive cruises are instead.

He admitted the cruise industry is just "a sliver of overall vacation and travel and leisure", but he sees even a 1% shift of that travel demand to cruise would have an incredible impact on cruises.

"We're seeing that with the younger generations who really look at us very much similar to how they would look to go to Orlando or Vegas or skiing, etc."

He is fond of referring to the value gap that exists between cruises and land vacations, where cruising is such a better value compared to a land resort.

"If we can close half of that gap and get back to where we were, that's also worth probably about ten Oasis class ships."

Europe was the difference maker

There are many reasons why Royal Caribbean Group has a great third quarter, but European cruises were at the top of the list.

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Natali Holtz explained, "Overall, about 50% of the better than expected yield performance was driven by European itineraries, with the remainder mainly driven by Caribbean and Alaska."

About half of passengers on Royal Caribbean Group's European sailings come from the US, and the other half come from around the world.

The Caribbean and Alaska have always been strong performers, but Europe essentially outperformed itself and catapulted itself up this quarter.

Royal Caribbean Group had a great third quarter for the year, posting a profit of $1.0 billion for the quarter, and a very rosy outlook for 2024.

Revenue for the quarter was at $4.2 billion, with net income at $1.0 billion.

The combination of a healthy profit and positive outlook seems to indicate good things to come.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty sees a great third quarter as a catapult towards an even better 2024, "Looking ahead, we see accelerating demand as we build the business for 2024."

He indicated bookings are higher than all prior years and at higher rates.

Third quarter by the numbers

Bookings remained strong throughout the third quarter, significantly exceeding 2019 levels.  

Closer-in demand for 2023 sailings exceeded expectations, contributing to higher load factors at higher prices and higher onboard revenue for the third quarter. 

Consumer spending onboard, as well as pre-cruise purchases, continue to significantly exceed 2019 levels driven by greater participation at higher prices. 

Royal Caribbean Group saw better demand than they expected in North American and European itineraries, thanks to last-minute demand that lead them to ships sailing full and at higher prices.

Royal Caribbean's ships were booked at 110% for the quarter. A ship can be booked higher than 100% when there are third or fourth passengers in a cabin.

Lower operating expenses, as well as favorable timing, contributed to better-than-expected costs.

During the third quarter the company repaid $775 million of debt.

As of September 30, 2023, the scheduled debt maturities for the remainder of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 were $0.7 billion, $2.3 billion, $2.8 billion, and $2.8 billion, respectively.

Accelerating demand for 2024

Demand for cruises has only gotten higher, and 2024 looks to be a banner year.

The company reported bookings for next year significantly and consistently outpacing 2019 levels. They're seeing ships getting booked up sooner and at higher prices, with their customers booking earlier.

They also reported the news of Royal Caribbean's new cruise ships (Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas) and expansion of Perfect Day at CocoCay with a new adults-only beach, "has been excellent and further positions the company for strong yield and earnings growth in 2024."

"The performance of our business continues to accelerate, driven by strong demand and excellent operational execution," said Naftali Holtz, chief financial officer at Royal Caribbean Group.

Earlier this year I reached the top level of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program, and the added benefits have made a difference already.

Pinnacle Club is the highest tier you can get in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor program, which requires 700 points to reach.

Read more: Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

There are six tiers in the program:

• Gold: 3 points
• Platinum: 30 points
• Emerald: 55 points
• Diamond: 80 points
• Diamond Plus: 175 points
• Pinnacle Club: 700 points

While I don't cruise for the benefits you get from being a loyal customer, I certainly don't mind taking advantage of them.

When I reached Diamond, I was blown away by how lucrative those benefits can be, and since then, it's changed my core cruising experience.

It may seem like getting to 700 cruise points is impossible, and I thought the same thing too. However, a few years later, I made it and you might get there too.

Read more: After 68 cruises, I'm about to reach the top tier of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society

In considering what stands out the most about being Pinnacle, I thought about which benefits had the biggest impact on me.

Checking in early matters less now

Getting an early check-in time is so important to be able to get to the cruise terminal sooner and subsequently board sooner, but Pinnacle status provides a major workaround.

Pinnacle Club status guests can board with the suite guests, and that means a more flexible check-in window and a shorter line too.

Because I can check-in via the suite line, it's like getting in an express lane on a highway or boarding an airplane before anyone else.

I still get my check-in time, but because we can board with suite guests, I feel less pressure to try to try to get the earliest time possible.

I stopped buying internet packages

Pinnacle Club guests get free Wi-Fi for the length of any cruise, and that means I never have to buy it again.

I always bought internet packages because I not only have to stay connected for the purposes of this blog, but also because I enjoy being on the internet.

My wife gets the free internet perk too.

This single perk will save me hundreds of dollars per year, and with Royal Caribbean's now faster internet, it's such a lucrative benefit.

Make a point of meeting the Loyalty Ambassador

As I started cruising more, I became aware of the Loyalty Ambassador's importance and at Pinnacle, it's become a regular stop on every sailing.

Crew members always work so hard to ensure guests have a good time, and the Loyalty Ambassador is no different.

I've found having the Loyalty Ambassador change your Crown and Anchor amenities is so much easier than calling in (plus I never remember to call in to do it until I get onboard).

They're also a good source of information on what's going on during the sailing, rumors, and good to know information.

I encourage anyone, regardless of loyalty status, to seek out the Loyalty Ambassador and speak to them. Even just a quick chat, you never know what you might get out of it.

I stopped (mostly) buying a drink package

Royal Caribbean provides complimentary drinks each day to its Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle guests.

Guests who are at a lower tier of Crown and Anchor Society (Gold, Platinum, or Emerald) do not qualify for the drink vouchers.

• Diamond: 4 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Diamond Plus: 5 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Pinnacle: 6 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)

At six drinks per day for both me and my wife, that's a lot of drinks.  Plus, I've also reached Prime in Casino Royale's customer loyalty program and that gets me free drinks in the casino bar.

Read more: I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise

I have not completely cut off the drink package purchases, because if I'm sailing with a group of friends, I'll still get it. I enjoy the convenience factor of not having to think about how many drinks I have left for the day, especially when visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.

While I mostly got the drink package at Diamond or Diamond Plus, that extra drink per day has me totally reconsidering the decision now that I'm at Pinnacle.

Eating at Coastal Kitchen

On Oasis and Quantum Class ships, Pinnacle guests are able to dine at the suite restaurant, Coastal Kitchen.

With the rising prices of specialty dining, having free access to a different restaurant that feels elevated compared to the Main Dining Room is a great perk.

While it's possible reservations could be limited for Pinnacles to get into Coastal Kitchen, more often than not it can work out and I like the option being there.

Plus, Pinnacle Club members on these ships also receive a $25 dining voucher per member, per sailing to enjoy at any specialty restaurant. That's a great extra to have too!

I love having more choices, and now we have a new consideration when we go on Royal Caribbean's bigger ships.

Deciding between a balcony cabin and a Junior Suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Here’s what you need to know to make the best choice.

Royal Caribbean's cabins come in many configurations, and there are pros and cons to each. You can find great value with an inside cabin, look for the perks of a suite, or find comfort in a balcony. Everyone picks a room for different reasons.

The Junior Suites on Royal Caribbean fall into a blend of both balcony and suite, and it is difficult to make a general rule why you might pick it over a balcony cabin.

The reason choosing between a balcony or Junior Suite is challenging is because of how close in nature they are and because the price gap can be so different depending on the sailing you pick.

Not only that you could also be choosing between moving up to a Junior Suite or even going further and booking a Grand Suite.

On my Serenade of the Seas 7-night cruise to Canada and New England, I decided to book a Junior Suite and spend right around $1200 more to move up to a Junior Suite and I think it was worth it.

Key Takeaways

• Junior Suites are nearly double the size of standard balcony cabins, providing extra comfort and room to move.
• Enjoy additional benefits like a full-size tub, walk-in closet, priority boarding, and more Crown and Anchor points.
• The price difference varies significantly by sailing, making it essential to weigh the benefits against the additional expense.
• Ideal for those who value space, comfort, and extra amenities, especially on longer cruises or when traveling with more than two people.

Room differences

I'm fond of describing a Junior Suite as, "an extra large balcony room" because in many ways it boils down to that.

Most balcony cabins on Serenade of the Seas will have 179 square feet of living space and a 41 square foot balcony.

The Junior Suite comes in at 300 square feet and 65 square feet of balcony space. That's not quite double, but it's close to it.

If you're sharing the cabin with one other person, the Junior Suite can feel palatial in terms of how much extra space you have to walk around. It's noticeable when you try to get around the other person without having to shimmy or slip by them.

I think a lot of people that book Junior Suites love the bathroom configuration, as you'll get a full-size tub instead of the standard shower.

The balcony is also larger, and if you spend a lot of time on your balcony, then there's a good reason to move up to a Junior Suite. Having not just chairs but a lounger makes it feel like a spot you would want to spend time in, and there's enough room on the balcony that it feels like a big space.

One other difference with a Junior Suite is there is a walk-in closet.  On Royal Caribbean's older ships that don't have as much storage space as newer ships, it's so nice having plenty of closet space.

Like all cabins, you'll get a mini fridge, safe, vanity sitting area, and storage space.

What you get for staying in a Junior Suite

While not a full suite, you do get certain perks for booking a Junior Suite.

• An extra point per night in Crown and Anchor Society
• Priority boarding
• Dinner at Coastal Kitchen on Oasis Class and Quantum class ships
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Bathtub
• Walk-in closet

What I liked about my Junior Suite

Walking into my Junior Suite on Serenade of the Seas, I was immediately struck by the width of the room. If you've never been in a Junior Suite, you will immediately notice how much bigger it is.

The room isn't actually that much longer, but it's certainly wider.  There's more space to walk when moving past the bed, and then there's a sofa, table, and chair and ottoman.

I really loved the chair and ottoman much more than I thought I would, and it was the perfect spot to get work done while being comfortable.

I also found the shower to be much more enjoyable because it's not the usual "space tube" shower.  I'm sure those that prefer having a tub will find it even more important.

Then there's the balcony, and I find I spend so much more time on my balcony when it's not very hot outside. Being this was an October cruise to Canada, heat was not an issue.

We stayed in the two bedroom panoramic oceanview suite on Serenade last year when sailing to Alaska, and it lacked a balcony in favor of windows.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Alaska guide

In retrospect, I much rather prefer the balcony now because I like having the fresh air, sound of the ocean, and being able to peek my head over the balcony railing to see what's coming up.

I would be remiss if I did not talk about the fact it's not really a suite, so there's no Suite Lounge access or Concierge host benefits.

This doesn't bother me much on this sailing because I was with a large group of friends sailing on a Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise, so I wouldn't want to spend much time in the Suite Lounge anyway.

However, you still get two Crown and Anchor Points per day for staying in a Junior Suite, which makes it an easy way to move up the ladder of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program.

Cost difference

I don't think any factor weighs as much in if it's worth it to book a Junior Suite than how much more it will cost.

You can wax poetically all about why it's worth booking any cabin, but money is what makes the world go 'round and it's a major reason for anyone to pick a cabin.

The cost difference between a standard oceanview balcony and a Junior Suite on this sailing was $1258.

My Junior Suite cost $4181 for two people, including gratuities and it was a refundable cruise fare. My price dropped to $3913 when my wife was dropped from the reservation because she could not sail.

Someone else on my cruise staying in an oceanview balcony paid $2655 for two people in their room.

The cost difference will vary considerably for every cruise, and sometimes the price gap is negligible, and other times it's substantial.

So why did I think it was worth spending extra?

Ultimately, I valued the space it provided and because at the time of booking, I thought it would be a cruise for just me and my wife and why not splurge a little bit to get a bigger room.

I'll spend extra when my kids cruise with us, but I have a tendency to assume if it's just me or my wife, that we don't need a lot of space.

Given that I knew the itinerary would be new and not hot outside, I thought a balcony was necessary.  Having a larger balcony was equally interesting.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt a Junior Suite was an affordable splurge. I certainly could have saved the money and used it towards something else, but I wanted to treat my wife to something bigger than a balcony without going up to a suite.

Is a Junior Suite worth it?

Depending on your sailing, the price difference will vary considerably.

The extra space, double Crown and Anchor Society points, and tub shower are nice perks to have. Just like any larger cabin, when you get onboard and have the extra space, you'll likely forget about the bill you paid a few months earlier.

The primary decision for most is the cost. The difference can be just a few hundred dollars or up to thousands.

The decision can be more worthwhile to move up to a Junior Suite if you have more than two people in a cabin. This is when that extra space can really come in handy.

It can also be worth it to book a Junior Suite if you're chasing Crown and Anchor points.  Getting an extra point per night makes it easier to get to the higher tiers faster.

Ultimately, I compare the price of a Junior Suite to a balcony and then think about who I'm sharing the room with, the itinerary, and if I think I'll spend a lot of time in the room or not.

It looks like a new water slide might be coming to Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas.

Inside Royal Caribbean's waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay, new construction has appeared recently that looks like a waterslide support tower.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Bobby Southard visited Thrill Waterpark over the weekend and noticed the new pole.

The new pole is located near the family tower of water slides, which already has three slides: Sling Shot family raft slide, Splash Speedway mat slide, and Twister tube ride.

Royal Caribbean has not announced any new slides being added to its waterpark yet.

The new pole and its arms look identical to the existing slide support poles.

"None of the new slide has actually been installed yet, just a pole with arms and you can see piping going up the structure," Mr. Southard described of the work being done.

There is also more of the unassembled slide support structure visible from the waterslides when looking towards the backstage area.

About Thrill waterpark

Thrill Waterpark is an extra-cost option for guests that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. Only those that buy a ticket can get into this area and enjoy the slides.

Read more: 41 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips

As of today, there are 8 slides across to towers, along with a wave pool and obstacle course pool.

Thrill waterpark was added when Perfect Day at CocoCay opened in 2019.

The price of admission into the waterpark varies considerably depending on which ship and sail date you are on. Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing to set the cost.

Across a few cruises booked in 2024, the cost ranges between $89 - $169 per person.

Thrill Waterpark there are four main areas within the park itself.

Daredevil’s Tower is the signature waterslide tower that has five different slides, including Daredevil’s Peak, which is the tallest waterslide in North America at 135 feet high.

Splash Summit is the other waterslide tower where the new slide construction has been spotted. Splash Summit has mat racer slides, a two-person tube slide, and a family raft slide.

Adventure Pool is an obstacle course pool designed for kids that has lillypads, a rope swing, rock wall and more.

The wave pool generates waves that are intense in the deep end, and gentle in the shallow end.

We have a look at some changes and updates Royal Caribbean has made or announced over the past few days.

From new options in Royal Caribbean's app, to a refreshed website, to a Black Friday offer, here’s everything you should know about this week.

New app update

Royal Caribbean rolled out a new update to its app, which adds a new features to it.

The app has a few new noteworthy icons you can now click to access more content without leaving the app.  It could be designed to make it less necessary to hop between the app and cruise line website, or it could be a way to simply elevate information and content cruisers may not have known existed.

There's a new Videos icon, which essentially showcases the same videos Royal Caribbean produces for its YouTube channel and marketing.

The app also has a Loyalty Hub to track and enroll in the Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program.

Read more: Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

It explains how each tier works and what benefits you get with each.

Cruise searches look different

If you do a search for a new cruise booking on Royal Caribbean's website, you can expect to find a new look to it.

Royal Caribbean has periodically enhanced the look and feel of its search function, and it attempts to include more information related to your search in a concise manner.

Also, the ability to add a cruise to your watchlist is more explicit, whereas before it just had a heart icon.

The watchlist feature was added in December 2022, but it appears they want to provide more visibility to it.

The cruise line has indicated the amount of first time cruisers has never been higher, so making the search function easier to navigate is clearly a step in providing more information to them during the booking process.

Celebrity Cruises Black Friday offer

While we don't yet know Royal Caribbean's Black Friday offer, sister brand Celebrity Cruises has shared what to expect.

Celebrity Cruises will begin its Black Friday offer on November 10th, and it will run through December 5th.

Celebrity will have a BOGO 75% off a second guest as well as up to $300 in onboard credit for nearly all itineraries through April 30, 2026.

Royal Caribbean will almost certainly have a Black Friday sale of its own, but has not revealed any details yet. Check out all of their past Black Friday offers to get an idea of what to expect.

Royal Caribbean updates gift card policy

In case you missed it, Royal Caribbean gift cards just got much easier to use, thanks to a change in how to redeem them.

Gift cards are valid for both Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, and there are four ways to use your gift card value:

• Booking a new cruise on Royal Caribbean's website
• Calling Royal Caribbean and redeeming over the phone
• Working with a travel agent to book a new cruise
• Waiting to use it onboard and redeem as onboard credit.

Prior to sailing, gift card amounts can only be applied toward the cruise fare and may not be used for pre-payment of beverage packages, dining packages, shore excursions, pre-paid gratuities, etc. 

Check out all the details on how to use a Royal Caribbean gift card.