The new Ultimate Family Treehouse is amazing (and expensive), but what if they expanded this idea to other staterooms?
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Royal Caribbean got a lot of attention when it announced it would offer a 3-story treehouse suite on its new cruise ship, and the price is just as eye-opening.
Cruise fares for Hero of the Seas went on sale today and the Ultimate Family Treehouse suite is well over $200,000 for a week.
The fourth Icon Class ship was revealed earlier this week, and will introduce a number of firsts.
The triple-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse suite is new, as is an immersive train car dining experience, an expanded adults-only area, two new family raft slides, and a New Orleans-themed supper club.
The changes are part the next phase of the Icon Class ships, which will introduce the most significant changes to the Icon Class since the launch of the first ship in 2024.
The Ultimate Family Treehouse suite is not only new, but comes with an equally high price tag.
This $200,000 treehouse suite might be Royal Caribbean's wildest cabin yet.
Designers wanted it to be the ultimate family living space with great spaces to hang out, great spaces to watch movies, and gorgeous views of the ocean.
It has a private whirlpool and sweeping ocean views. Two main bedrooms each include their own bathroom and balcony. Plus, a two-story hideout with game room, spiral staircase, and more.
Two of the floors will be for teens, with two main bedrooms, ensuites, and balconies.
There's only one of these suites on Hero of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean opened bookings for Hero of the Seas on Wednesday, and not unexpectedly, the Treehouse suite is expensive.
The cruise line uses dynamic pricing, so the cost differs from sailing to sailing, but here's a quick look at a few example prices:
Ultimate Family Treehouse prices per person (double occupancy)
The highest prices that cost well over $200,000 for two people are for holiday cruises and the first full sailing.
Despite the cost, this suite is already booked up on certain sailings. For example, the December 30th (New Years Eve) cruise is listed as having the suite sold.
There are somewhat lower prices if you're willing to sail during the shoulder season.
On Reddit, there was a mix of disbelief, shock, and thought provoking commentary.
"They wouldn’t keep building them if they didn’t sell," said one person. "Yeah I’ll never be able to afford it, but it’s still interesting to me," added another.
For comparison, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is also available on Hero of the Seas and costs a bit less.
This mega suite has an in-suite slide, movie-viewing room, karaoke machine and a "backyard" with a ping pong table, outdoor seating and a white picket fence leading directly to the Surfside area.
This cabin is a 1,772-square-foot space that is also three decks high, and sleeps up to eight people.
Hero of the Seas will have nine swimming pools, the most we've seen on a cruise ship to date.
In fact, Royal Caribbean is adding a new pool, Coconut Cove, and expanding the Hideaway to have a second pool.
The ship's waterpark is getting a new family raft slide, as well as extending the ride duration of the other slides. The kid-friendly waterpark Splashaway Bay will have new features too.
Plenty of thrills are returning from the other Icon Class ships, such as skywalk-zip line Crown's Edge experience, Flowrider surf simulator, golf courses and rock climbing walls.
The sailings will include seven night sailings from Miami from August 2027, including stays at the private Perfect Day at CocoCay island.
Bookings are open now for Hero of the Seas.
Demolition at Royal Caribbean's new private destination in Mexico is now cleared to move forward following court rulings that lifted earlier injunctions.
On March 27, a hearing was held regarding the injunction, with the Mexican judge granting Royal Caribbean a suspension against the closure carried out by Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (PROFEPA), the federal agency responsible for enforcing environmental laws and regulations, in January.
Earlier this year, PROFEPA halted demolition at one of three sites after inspectors found "landfilling and compaction activities on a dirt road in a low-lying coastal jungle area with mangroves, as well as demolition and debris removal, all without the required environmental impact authorization from the competent federal authority."
(Credit: Francisco Javier Hernández / Facebook)
The provisional suspension was issued after environmental activists raised concerns about the large-scale project, claiming that Mahahual's drainage and sewage management problems could be worsened by the proposed water park. There was a debate over whether Perfect Day Mexico could damage the nearby mangroves, too.
However, despite the environmental concerns, the judge ruled in Royal Caribbean’s favor, demolition work of dilapidated structures on the port the brand now owns to continue, a local news outlet reported.
(Credit: Francisco Javier Hernández / Facebook)
While critics argue that this ruling places corporate policies and economic interests above community and environmental protection, Royal Caribbean has made it clear that it cares about the environment and will do what it can to safeguard mangrove areas, coastal ecosystems, and local wildlife.
Royal Caribbean has consistently said it plans to follow all regulatory requirements and minimize environmental impact as the project moves forward.
For example, when questioned about the project by El Financiero last year, Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, said, "We are not going to touch anything at all in the mangrove conservation area," adding that the mangroves are already dying due to pollution from the municipal water treatment plant.
The company has also said it is committed to transparency and compliance with Mexican regulations as the legal process unfolds.
A project as ambitious as Perfect Day Mexico was bound to get the attention of a lot of people, and developing projects anywhere has its challenges.
On the surface, cruise fans can look forward to the eventual opening of a massive new private destination experience that builds upon the tremendous success of Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Just as important is this legal maneuver proves how committed Royal Caribbean is to improving the local community around Mahaual and protecting the environment.
Just last week, the company announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art solid waste management facility in the area. This is an example of a win-win opportunity for company and community.
The current trash management that serves the area is less than ideal, and Royal Caribbean needs something more robust to support building Perfect Day Mexico. Significantly strengthening local waste infrastructure in Mahahual not only gets them what they need, but ensures the people living in the community have access to it too.
The new solid waste facility will incorporate advanced sorting technologies, closed-loop processing systems, high-efficiency material recovery solutions, and best-in-class environmental controls, enabling more efficient waste handling, resource recovery, and reduced reliance on landfills.
Plus, they're working with Maritime Procurement Services (MPS), which is a local company and that boosts the economy there.
In October, Royal Caribbean announced plans to clean up the mangroves in the area because for years, the coastal wetlands have been used to discharge wastewater from the municipal treatment plant.
According to Mr. Schneider, the antiquated sewer plant was leaking into the surrounding mangrove ecosystem, contaminating both the mangroves and the beach adjacent to the cruise ship pier.
In turn, Royal Caribbean will build their own reverse osmosis system to provide drinking water as well as a treatment plant to clean up the area, which will later be transferred to the municipal government to serve the entire community.
Royal Caribbean announced plans for Hero of the Seas to launch in 2027, but I found a few tidbits about this ship that will make it different from other cruise ships.
Every new ship is always a bit different from the previous ones. Even when they're the same class, Royal Caribbean takes every opportunity to refine and improve a ship. They capture so much guest feedback that their product development team seeks to improve ships going forward.
The cruise line has already marketed the major changes coming to Hero: an expanded adults-only area, two new family raft slides, and a New Orleans-themed supper club. Plus, it will introduce an immersive train car dining experience and a two-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse suite.
However, if you didn't dig through every piece of news released, there are a couple of tidbits I discovered about Hero of the Seas worth sharing too.
According to Jennifer Goswami, Senior Director of Product Development, Hero of the Seas, "marks the beginning of the next phase of the Icon Class". With that in mind, changes are abound.
Since the launch of Icon of the Seas, these ships have been focused on providing a connection to the water. This includes pool access.
The Swim & Tonic pool has easily been one of the most popular ideas, and it will be bigger on Hero of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean says they will expand its footprint to be "refreshed and 30% larger". That means more space to be in the water and enjoying the bar experience.
As one of the adults-only areas on the ship, the Swim & Tonic is far less loud than The Hideaway. On Hero, that area will also get an upgrade with a second pool that will have a DJ booth.
It's clear with both changes, Royal Caribbean wants more guests to be able to enjoy either venue by expanding the pool space.
Another example of listening to guest feedback is in the water slides.
Category 6 waterpark on Hero of the Seas will add the first-ever funnel raft slide at sea. But the other slides are getting changes too.
"Our guests are so happy with this water park," Ms. Goswami explained "The only thing they told us is they wish they were there longer."
"So, we've switched out some of our raft slides to make sure that the time that guests are on the ride is now longer and is even more thrilling."
Not only do we get a new slide, but we're also getting more time on the slides.
Aquadome Market quickly became my favorite included restaurant, and it's going to change for the better on Hero.
Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza revealed that while the Aquadome Market will have new food cuisine choices on Hero, they'll periodically change.
"We will always debut with five really well- tested concepts, but we're also going to design the stalls to no longer be so specific to a cuisine so that we can start to bring in different ideas and test it with guests as time goes on," he said.
This means when Hero of the Seas starts sailing, it will start with four new stall concepts, plus desserts at Crème de la Crêpe and freshly squeezed juices at Simply Pressed.
Later, we could see the stalls swap out cuisines for something new.
Personally, I'd love to see a food and wine, or rotating showcase of food from various countries.
Restaurants in Central Park offer indoor and outdoor seating, but if it's humid or rainy, then sitting outside isn't so great.
That's why Royal Caribbean will introduce new climatized outdoor seating at Chops Grille.
We don't have specifics yet, but it's likely this means enclosing the outdoor seating to offer not only protection from rain, but potentially also air conditioning. That would be a helpful change for a ship that will be sailing around the Caribbean.
Deck plans aren't available yet as of the publishing of this article, but it looks like the new Ultimate Family Treehouse will take the place of where the Royal Loft Suite is located on the first three Icon Class ships. Don't worry, the Royal Loft Suite is being moved to another location.
Initially, I assumed it would replace the Ultimate Family Townhouse. However, the renderings we've seen clearly show the Treehouse in the location that the Royal Loft Suite is located on other Icon Class ships.
This new type of stateroom is three decks high, and has a rooftop terrace, private whirlpool and dedicated teen space spanning two decks.
It sleeps up to 12 people.
Royal Caribbean Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider thinks it will be "designed for families with younger children, but really meant to be the ultimate family hangout."
Royal Caribbean is about to roll out two new credit cards that that are going to be offer more incentives to consumers.
For the first time, the company is introducing a single credit card that works across all three of its cruise brands: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. The new cards, called Royal ONE and Royal ONE Plus, are part of a bigger push the company has had to build customer loyalty.
Instead of earning rewards tied to just one cruise line, this new program is designed to let you earn and redeem across all of them.
The cards are expected to launch in the coming weeks, although an exact date hasn’t been announced yet.
Here's what has been announced and what you can expect with the new cards.
Not only is there a new credit card, but it's different how you can use it to redeem rewards.
Instead of being locked into just Royal Caribbean rewards, you'll be able to earn points whether you’re sailing on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea, and then use those points across any of those brands.
The company says their goal is to make make rewards more flexible and easier to use as guests move between different lines. This is important given the recent changes to loyalty programs to make earning points between the lines easier.
It further reduces being siloed by brand. Instead, you can mix and match which cruise line you sail on and how you redeem your points.
This new card is designed to follow how people actually cruise today.
There's no word yet when you start applying for the card. Current cardholders will receive the new terms and conditions and then begin the conversion process automatically.
Royal Caribbean is launching two versions of the card to provide a choice in how they opt to travel.
Royal ONE (no annual fee)
The base version of the card comes with no annual fee and focuses on straightforward rewards:
It also includes a few travel perks, such as:
This version is clearly aimed at casual cruisers who want to earn rewards without paying a yearly fee.
Royal ONE Plus ($99 annual fee)
The upgraded version of the card adds more earning power and additional perks, especially for frequent cruisers.
Extra benefits include:
This card carries an annual fee, but it also has more perks and you can earn points more quickly to help justify it. I think it's aimed at people that love to cruise already and who travel often enough to justify the annual fee.
Here are a few other important differences about these cards:
| Category | Royal ONE | Royal ONE Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Points and Annual Fees | ||
| Points | 3X points on eligible Royal Caribbean Group purchases 2X points on eligible grocery, gas and EV charging station purchases 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases | 4X points on eligible Royal Caribbean Group purchases 2X points on eligible airline, hotel, dining, grocery, gas and EV charging station purchases 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases |
| Annual Fee | No annual fee No foreign transaction fees | $99 annual fee No foreign transaction fees |
| Benefits | ||
| Anniversary Reward | Annual $100 cruise discount after you spend $10,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year | Annual $200 cruise discount after you spend $20,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year |
| Exclusive Travel Benefits | Priority boarding Exclusive cardholder events | Priority boarding through suite entrance Priority luggage Exclusive cardholder events Up to $120 in statement credit every 4 years to use toward your TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applications |
| Redemption Options | Onboard credit or cruise discounts across the family of brands | Onboard credit or cruise discounts across the family of brands |
| Visa Signature Benefits | ||
| Extended Warranty Protection | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver | Yes | Yes |
| Trip Delay Expense Reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Travel & Emergency Assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside Dispatch | Yes | Yes |
| Lost Luggage Expense Reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection | Yes | Yes |
| Trip Cancellation & Interruption Coverage | Yes | Yes |
Another improvement over the current credit card is what you convert your points into as you sail.
Points earned with the Royal ONE cards can be used for cruise fare discounts or onboard credits that can be redeemed for:
That flexibility is key. It aligns the credit card more closely with how people actually spend money on a cruise. They want rewards that save them money on how they already like to cruise.
If you already have the existing Royal Caribbean credit card, you won't be left behind.
Royal Caribbean Group says current cardholders will be automatically converted to the new Royal ONE card. From there, they’ll have the option to upgrade to the Royal ONE Plus version if they want the additional perks.
Ever since Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty mentioned a new credit card was in the works, plans are revolved around the idea of offering more to loyal cruisers.
When asked about the Royal Caribbean credit card during an earnings call, he said they were working on something better.
"We do have a co-branded credit card. It is tied today to our loyalty program, but not in the way that fits our ambition."
That ambition is evident in how this credit card offers more incentives than before, and it's part of a larger journey of empowering loyal cruisers.
Royal Caribbean Group introduced status matching in 2024, and then added Points Choice so you could earn points no matter which cruise line you sailed on.
The credit card is the third step, because now you can earn credit card points and not be limited if you use them for a Royal Caribbean, Silversea, or Celebrity Cruise. And whichever line you choose, you can earn points for that sailing back in the loyalty program of your choice.
That kind of flexibility didn’t exist before in this way.
"I think people want to be recognized," Mr. Liberty explained. "They and not just recognized for their spend today, but recognized for all that they have done in the past."
"And then we need to make sure we're creating an environment across our brands to make sure that in their lifetime of vacation, we have the right vacation experience that is relevant to them, and that they're benefiting from continuing to stay inside our ecosystem."
Both of these cards were made for those who love cruising and sail on Royal Caribbean brand ships pretty much every year.
That's because the reward earning potential is so much higher for booking a cruise and using the card to pay for any extras.
The Royal ONE Plus card certainly is best for anyone that cruises more than once a year, and the annual fee is negated by the $200 anniversary reward (with qualifying spend).
I think the genius of this card is you can earn points and then later decide if you want to redeem the points towards any one of the Royal Caribbean Group brands. That flexibility offers more freedom in how you can jump between lines more easily than in the past.
Of course, for those who don't foresee a cruise vacation in their future or are more immersed in the world of credit card rewards, it may not make sense to add this card to their wallet.
Royal Caribbean is making its next Icon Class ship bigger and bolder, with some serious new changes.
Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class ship, will set sail from Miami in August 2027, the cruise line announced on Monday. This will be the biggest cruise ship in the world when she debuts and offer new activities and experiences.
One takeaway from the early announcement is Royal Caribbean wants to offer even more to families to experience together. While the majority of the ship is similar to other Icon Class ships, the big changes speak to the family cruise vacation.
"With more water, more thrills and more choices for all ages, we’re continuing to build on what our guests love about Royal Caribbean and delivering the experiences families are looking for when vacationing together," said the line's CEO Michael Bayley.
Here’s what guests can expect.
The ship will launch in August 2027.
Its homeport will be Miami, Florida.
Bookings open on April 1.
Royal Caribbean says Crown and Anchor members can book on April 1 and the public can do so on April 2, but it's been our experience bookings are available for everyone on April 1st. The difference is bookings get publicized on April 2nd.
More pools, with a shift towards lounging
Royal Caribbean is never content with rolling out copies of its ships. They look for opportunities to improve and push forward.
Hero of the Seas will lean more into the "resort at sea" vibe. Don't worry, there's plenty of thrills too.
There will be 9 pools in total, making it the ship with the most at sea. But the real change is how these pools will be used.
A new pool concept will be Coconut Cove, that has in-water loungers and chill Caribbean bar energy.
The Hideaway (adults-only area) is being upgraded to have a second pool. Plus, it will have the largest swim-up bar at sea and an in-water DJ booth.
The waterpark is getting a new headline attraction
Category 6 waterpark has been notable for how big it is since debuting on Icon of the Seas, but it's getting even bigger on Hero.
Royal Caribbean is adding its first-ever funnel raft slide at sea. Plus, there will be new twists on the mat-racing Storm Chasers duo.
Both slides are the kind of water slides families can enjoy together, which is something the cruise line has heard its guests prefer over solo body slides.
Dining gets more experiential
Dining is evolving yet again with Hero of the Seas, as the ship will have 28 dining venues. But the amount of places to eat isn't the whole story.
The New Orleans Parish Supper Club is a jazz experience that combines with a Cajun/Creole tasting menu.
There will be an immersive train car experience on Hero of the Seas. Royal Caribbean neglected to mention what the theme or motif will be yet.
Something else new coming to Hero are hands-on cooking classes in a new venue to be revealed.
It will be located in the Surfside neighborhood where "families of all ages can learn kitchen skills together, from fun recipes for little ones to more advanced courses focused on chopping and baking."
Introducing the Ultimate Family Treehouse
Royal Caribbean is looking to outdo itself yet again with an over-the-top suite.
The Ultimate Family Treehouse is 3 stories and features a rooftop terrace and private whirlpool, a two-deck teen space, and two main bedrooms each with their own bathroom and balcony.
The suite has direct access to Surfside.
One truth about any new Royal Caribbean ship is the cruise line is never content to let any be carbon copies of each other.
Even when you get past the headline-generating changes for Hero, this new ship will likely bring more of what people already love about the Icon Class.
The Icon Class ships have been developed to be the biggest, boldest ships at sea. Icon of the Seas raised the bar for the entire vacation industry, and Hero of the Seas will refine it.
Instead of trying to outdo itself with entirely new concepts, Royal Caribbean is clearly doubling down on what worked and smoothing out what didn't.
The shift towards shared experiences is a key takeaway. The addition of family raft slides, cooking classes, and more group-friendly activities signals a move away from individual “wow” moments and toward things families can actually do together.
At the same time, Hero doesn’t abandon what made Icon Class successful in the first place. The core formula is still here: a mix of waterpark-style thrills, resort-style relaxation, and a long list of dining and entertainment choices. But instead of reinventing the wheel, Royal Caribbean is fine-tuning it.
For cruisers, that likely means a more predictable experience in a good way. If you liked Icon of the Seas, Hero looks like it will deliver more of what you already enjoy, with fewer trade-offs.
While Hero of the Seas is grabbing a lot of attention, it's not the next new Royal Caribbean ship in line to arrive.
Legend of the Seas debut this summer as the third ship in the Icon Class. In many ways, Legend will act as the bridge between what guests have already seen on Icon of the Seas and the refinements coming with Hero.
Legend will debut in Europe first, and then come to the United States in November.
This new ship will have a Hollywood-themed supper club, offer brand new shows like America’s Got Talent and Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
Royal Railway Legend Station will be on the ship to become the first Icon Class ship to offer the immersive train restaurant before Hero.
Let's welcome spring with Royal Caribbean! It was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.
On Star of the Seas, connecting rooms have a new option for making these rooms perfect, even if you don't know the person on the other side.
Connecting cabins are traditionally cruise rooms we don't recommend, but that has changed.
Matt tried out a set of these staterooms on his spring break cruise, and it's definitely a smart fix.
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 — 5 Passengers Who Are Banned From Royal Caribbean Forever — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.
Royal Caribbean is being sued after a passenger slip and fell on a wet floor on one of its ships.
The person fell backward in Central Park on Harmony of the Seas after it rained.
She is seeking $75,000 in a new lawsuit filed against the cruise line.
A passenger died on board Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas ship earlier this week.
Anthem was sailing a 12-night New Zealand cruise at the time of the incident.
New Zealand Police are investigating the "sudden death" on behalf of the coroner with no cause of death yet disclosed.
I tried out one of the most popular money saving cruise tips and now I know why everyone does it.
Bringing your own soda on a cruise saves money, especially for casual drinkers.
While it was a hassle to carry it on embarkation day, it paid off during the rest of my sailing.
After a week on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Matt shared the best of the best food he ate onboard.
One thing new cruise ships always do well is the variety of food, and Star of the Seas did not disappoint.
From burgers to croissants, Matt listed his favorite foods of the cruise that truly stood out.
The 601st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt laments the port times in select ports.
Certain ports always seem to have very short hours, and it's frustrating to Matt how it happens so often.
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.
There's a chance you would have to sit with other passengers for a meal during your Royal Caribbean cruise.
Sharing a table with other guests is a cruising tradition going back decades, and it's still in use in a few situations.
Some people like the idea of being seated with others because it adds a social aspect to the meal, and it's a way to connect with others. You rarely encounter such opportunities in today's society outside of cruising.
However, some people would greatly prefer not to deal with making conversation and other pleasantries during their meals. Or they simply prefer to enjoy time with their own family.
Here's what you should know about being seated with strangers on a cruise ship, and when you can avoid it.
The Main Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the highest chance you'll be seated with someone outside your party is at dinner.
With Traditional Dinner, Royal Caribbean comes up with a seating arrangement to accommodate as many people as possible. There are small and large tables, and it's not uncommon to see a few couples seated together at the same table.
There's no way to know in advance what your table assignment will be, so you'll have to wait until you board the ship to see.
Dining room table assignments are indicated at the bottom right corner of your SeaPass card, but you can also go to the Main Dining Room on embarkation and ask the staff there to verify for you.
If you have selected My Time Dining for dinner, the choice to be seated at a larger table or wait for a private table will be handled as you check-in.
Breakfast and lunch don't have pre-assigned tables, so you'll be seated on a first-come basis.
Generally, you don't get asked to sit with other passengers, but if the dining room is busy, they sometimes will. Especially with small groups.
You could ask for a private table, but you may have to wait longer.
You can make a request pre-cruise to for a private table at dinner.
A few weeks before your cruise, send an email to [email protected] asking for a table without anyone else. Provide them with your name, ship name, sail date, and cabin number.
You can also change your table assignment on embarkation day by speaking to the Head Waiter.
As you walk into the Main Dining Room, there's usually a crew member at a kiosk who can assist. It's not a guarantee that they can change it for you, but in my experience they almost always can offer you some kind of an alternative.
If the idea of meeting new people and enjoying a lively dinner conversation sounds great, but the people you're seated with end up being dull or frustrating, you can always change to a different table later.
Ask the Head Waiter or Maître d for a new assignment, and they can usually work with you. Their goal is for everyone to be happy and enjoy their meals.
Nearly every other restaurant doesn't require being seated with strangers, but there are two specialty restaurants where you don't have a choice.
Chef's Table is an intricate multi-course meal, paired with glasses of wine, and it's a special occasion where everyone is seated around the same table.
Because this is an intimate meal, there's just one table and it's limited to just a dozen or so passengers. Therefore, you'll be seated with others.
The other restaurant with mandatory communal seating is Izumi Hibachi and Izumi Omakase.
Each hibachi table can accommodate around 10-12 guests. This is very unlike Chef's Table, but because there's such high demand and limited times, you'll be seated with other passengers.
Of course, you could avoid being seated with someone you don't know by buying out the table. Bring a large group with you and make reservations and you'll circumvent the issue because you're bringing the party!
The other situation where you could be seated with other passengers is on a shore excursion where a meal is included.
Tours that take you to a restaurant or home for a meal often have limited seating, so it's not uncommon to have to share a table.
Some people that cruise a lot swear by how much fun it is to sit with strangers for a meal.
In every situation where I've had to share a table with others, it's never been an awful experience. At worst, they're quiet and don't talk so I'll talk with just my family.
Plus, sitting with others could be a great idea for solo cruisers who wouldn't mind an opportunity to chat.
If you do share a table, be sure to arrive on time and avoid any controversial topics. I recommend talking about your cruise and experiences onboard to keep it light.
Every cruise, I watch passengers get stopped before boarding at security for items they had no idea were banned.
Most people make an honest mistake by bringing things that aren't allowed onboard because they're a fire or security hazard. Most of these confiscated items don't get them in trouble, but it does result in a frustrating start to their vacation and the loss of the item until they return.
I know when I pack something for a cruise, I'm counting on having that item. So getting to taken away would put a dent in my plans.
While Royal Caribbean has a lengthy list of things you can't bring on a cruise, four are clearly the top items that seem to be accidentally brought onboard the most.
If you ever pass by the table of confiscated items to be picked up after a cruise is over, I can pretty much guarantee you'll see mostly clothing irons and steamers.
So many people mistakenly believe they can bring them on a cruise, but they'll be taken away as soon as they're spotted in your bags.
The reason why you can't bring clothing irons or steamers on a cruise is they are a fire hazard. If left unattended, they could start a fire and that's a risk Royal Caribbean won't take.
Fire is the most dangerous scenario for a cruise ship, so the ship's crew are extra vigilant when it comes to preventing fires.
Since irons and steamers aren't allowed, you'll have to figure out an alternative to getting wrinkles and creases out of your clothes.
There are a few options people rely on as a backup:
Each idea has its pros and cons, so you'll need to find the one that works best for your needs.
A few cruise lines allow you to bring beer on embarkation day, but not Royal Caribbean. You cannot bring beer or liquor on your cruise.
In fact, the cruise line has gotten more stringent with checking for these items because people try to sneak it onboard.
You are allowed to bring wine or non-alcoholic drinks on your cruise. However, they might still search your bag if they see something in the bag scan that even resembles booze.
This rule is also enforced when you come back on the ship in a port of call. Cruisers like to buy bottles of liquor to bring home, but it will be taken from you until the cruise is over.
If clothing irons are the most confiscated item, then power strips are probably number two on the list.
You cannot bring a power strip or surge protector on a cruise. That's been a rule for many years, and it's because it's also a fire hazard.
But Royal Caribbean also prohibits bringing multi-plug outlets, which is a more recent change in policy.
The simplest way to know if your power adaptor is allowed on a Royal Caribbean ship is to make sure it only has one A/C outlet. The amount of USB outlets is irrelevant.
I recommend this universal power adaptor that works well for cruise ships and will help you if you end up traveling elsewhere around the world (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).
As a general rule, you can't bring kitchen appliances on your ship either.
I've seen rice cookers, electric kettles, and coffee machines on the confiscated items table because people think they can save money and make certain foods in their cabin.
"Electrical items and electronic equipment not designed for personal grooming" aren't allowed.
If your ship sails from the UK, you can expect an electric tea kettle in your cabin.
Otherwise, you'll need to book a suite in order to have a coffee machine or electric kettle ready to use in your cabin that has been provided by the cruise line.
I ate so much good food on my Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Star of the Seas. In fact, a few were really fantastic.
Every cruise has a wide variety of food, and I'll admit I often go on cruises purely for the food. The destinations it visits are great, the shows are wonderful, but all the food brings me back each and every time.
If there's one area you'll notice an improvement with a new vs old cruise ship, it's the food. Royal Caribbean has steadily upped its food game over the years, and each new ship represents a step forward with new options.
After 7 nights on Star of the Seas for a spring break cruise, here are the seven dishes I ordered that I couldn't get enough of during my voyage.
My staple for any Italian restaurant is chicken parmigiana, because it's reliably good and can be used as a barometer for the restaurant as a whole.
We ate at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen twice during our cruise (because we had a dining package), and I ordered this dish twice.
The chicken parm here was huge, had a good mix of sauce and cheese, and the chicken wasn't rubbery, too flat, or tough.
I ordered a side of spaghetti to go with it, but it came with spaghetti and it was just the right amount to compliment the chicken.
All the food at Giovanni's is freshly prepared, and this is one of many dishes I love with the new menu offered. Shout out to the margherita pizza, giant meatball, and house salad as being really good too.
I'm no stranger to Izumi sushi on any ship, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the sushi on Star of the Seas too.
When you eat at Izumi, you have the choice of a few different small dishes, entrees, and dessert. Regardless of how many times I eat here, I think I always order at least one sushi platter.
There are two choices: Chef's Sushi Selection and Assorted Sashimi. The difference is nigiri vs sashimi rolls, and depending on my mood, I might pick one over the other.
On this occasion, I went with the Chef's Sushi Selection because the rice seemed like a good idea.
Not only is this a tasty option, but it's also an excellent value for how many rolls you get for the price.
I'm not a breakfast guy. I need have an iced coffee everyday and that's usually it until lunch.
But if we have shore plans, I'll grab something to eat so I'm not hangry at 10:30. The chocolate croissant from Pearl Cafe looked nice, so I ordered it. And then I ordered it again every single day the offered it.
Pearl Cafe seems to alternate between two breakfast menus each day, so I could only have the chocolate croissant every other day.
I love the combination of a buttery croissant with the richness of chocolate.
I've had similar pastries on other European cruises, and Royal Caribbean's version is pretty darn good. Tasty, quick, and the perfect compliment to my coffee.
Last year we asked our readers for the best snacks on Royal Caribbean, and so many people said the smash burger was it.
I was skeptical that it was that good, or that it could be better than the burger at the Windjammer.
I was so wrong.
Basecamp has quickly become one of the best restaurant ideas to come out of the Icon Class, and I think the smash burger is a great example.
Smash burgers are regular burgers, but pressed into a super hot griddle until it gets a deeply caramelized crispy crust. Add onions, lettuce, pickles, and a tomato, and you get a winner.
I grabbed one for a late-afternoon snack and I was really impressed how good it tasted. Not only was it better than the Windjammer burgers, but after wolfing one down, I wanted another.
I recently came around to liking Hooked Seafood again after years of hating on it, and the filet mignon is a top reason why.
You can make arguments for the filet mignon from Chops, Coastal Kitchen, or Giovanni's being the best steak on the ship. But I really think Hooked was the best I had.
It's simple, but it's a generous sized cut of meat and cooked well.
I think I like the seasoning they use primarily as the difference maker. I'm not a "sauce on my steak" guy.
Ultimately, I think this steak doesn't try to do too much, and because it's a decent sized cut, is something I'd order any day.
Shout out for the blackened salmon, which is also quite good!
Our cruise went over the NCAA Basketball March Madness tournament, so I found myself spending a lot of time in Playmakers Sports Bar.
The chicken tenders are giant hunks of breaded chicken, and I think it pairs so well with the BBQ sauce you can get to go with them.
Every time I went to Playmakers, I'd order them. Even when I was just there for a drink. It's a solid meal in and of itself, as well as being the kind of snack you can pick at.
Plus, it's served with french fries that are equally addictive to snack on while watching a game and drinking a beer.
While the nachos, burger, and crunch rolls at Playmakers are all quite tasty, I found it was the tenders I wanted to have first, every time.
It's easier to snack if you can tell yourself it's "healthy", and that's exactly what I did at Aquadome Market.
Royal Caribbean's food hall is my favorite included restaurant, and I think I must have gone up there at least 3 or 4 times during my cruise. It might have been more.
The Feta hall has the option of falafel, chicken, or pork to be used in a pita or bowl.
I used to order the pita bread, but it's nearly impossible to eat without making a giant mess all over yourself. I switched to the bowl to make it more manageable and then justified having more because there were less carbs.
I'm all for dishes made fresh and customized the way I want it. All veggies, no feta, extra hummus.
I wish they'd make the falafel fresh rather than in batches, but it's still so darn satisfying.