Cruise ship internet has never been cheap, but there's a new option that seeks to make it easier and simpler to have internet access at sea.

While Royal Caribbean sells its own internet service to passengers that's powered by Starlink, wireless carriers are getting in on the game too.

Earlier this year, AT&T expanded its International Day Pass plans to include over 400 cruise ships.

Available to AT&T subscribers, it offers a simple way to be get the internet on your cruise ship. Turn your phone on while on the ship and do something with it (call, text, use data) and your 24-hour International Day Pass begins and you will be charged a $20 per day, per device daily fee.

I was curious how well the service worked, so I accepted an invitation by AT&T to field test their service.  AT&T gifted me a Samsung S25 Ultra along with their service so I could see how well it worked.

I brought the device on three different ships across different regions to see how it worked in different facets:

• Ovation of the Seas in Ensenda, Mexico
• Independence of the Seas in Northern Europe
• Silver Dawn in Denmark & Norway

I wanted to see how well it performed compared to the Voom packages, and if it was truly as good as they claim.

It just works

As soon as I turned my phone on in any of the places I visited, the connection kicked on and I was ready to use the internet.

I think this is one of its top advantages, as you don't have to really do anything in advance.  

Plus, you can cherry pick which days you want to use it.  Turn it on on days you need it, and leave it off on days you don't.

Royal Caribbean only sells unlimited packages for the duration of your cruise.  It does sell a 24 hour pass online, but it's $29.99 per pass.

Royal Caribbean discounts its internet packages when purchased pre-cruise, and you can often get very good prices.

For an 8-night Independence of the Seas cruise, I paid $167.92 for a one device internet package, which came out to $20.99 per day.

Surprisingly fast speeds too

The biggest question I had was how fast would it be, as Voom has been incredibly reliable and fast enough on ships.

I ran speed tests on all the ships I sailed on using Fast.com.  Internet speed tests aren't everything, but it's the best standard I could come up with.

In every test case, the AT&T speeds worked just as fast as Voom.  I might see one out do the other, but truly it was always a negligible difference.

In both cases, there would be the occasional intermittent outage where the internet connection drops, but it would come back.

In my testing, I found the speeds to work quite well, and good enough for the needs I had.  

Something else nice about the AT&T package is I could activate my phone's hot spot and let my kids tether to the device, thus extending the value of the daily cost.

There is one caveat to AT&T, and that is it provides 500MB of high speed data, and then you're throttled for the rest of that day. Every day you get the 500MB of high speed to start with.

I think most people won't run into that cap, but it's worth noting if you plan to stream movies or do a lot of video work.

You can use it on land too

One advantage I saw with AT&T over Voom was that also worked on land and at sea.

According to AT&T, if you’re traveling at sea and on land on the same day, you’ll be charged a fee of $20 per day that includes both locations.

This means you get to use the service while on a shore excursion, whereas the cruise line option doesn't offer that.

It's a very seamless option and I think this is one of the most compelling reasons to try it. 

I was impressed how well the wireless package worked

I expected the Voom package to perform better, but was surprised when it was about the same.

AT&T's offering is perfect for someone that needs to use the internet from their cruise ship on certain days, but not every day.  I think that's a great selling point for someone who doesn't want/need to buy the ship internet for the duration of their cruise.

Plus, it's super easy because you just activate your phone's cellular connection and you're all set. I think Voom is easy to use, but I'm always surprised by the line of people on the Royal Promenade seeking assistance at the Voom desk.

I've been cruising with Royal Caribbean for 20 years, but a recent change in the loyalty status matching opened my eyes to trying a luxury cruise.

Royal Caribbean Group owns three primary cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.  Thanks to an improvement with status matching across all the lines, I thought this was the perfect time to try Silversea.

The idea of going on a small ship that can get into places the bigger Royal Caribbean ships cannot, along with an elevated touch through with cuisine and service, sounded like something worth trying.

Thanks to an invitation from Silversea, I was able to sail on Silver Dawn on a 7-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. In the interest of full disclosure, Silversea paid for my cruise fare, dining, and shore excursions onboard.

I had just completed a Norwegian fjords cruise on Independence of the Seas, so I was excited to compare the experiences.

Silver Dawn: A new ship with enough to keep me busy

A luxury cruise is quite different from a Royal Caribbean cruise, yet it retains the basics of both.

It launched in 2021, which makes it the same as as Odyssey of the Seas.  That's effectively still a new ship, and I've always gravitated towards new ships because they offer the latest and greatest features onboard.

The ship boasts have only suites as its cabins, numerous restaurant choices (including the S.A.L.T. program), and the Otium spa and wellness concept. 

I chose this ship and itinerary for two reasons: I wanted to be on a newer ship so I could enjoy the best features, and I wanted an itinerary to take advantage of the ship's size.  

Silver Dawn has 11 decks (although decks 1 and 2 are not accessible to passengers), and it can accommodate 596 passengers. 

Like all Silversea ships, it's all-inclusive, which means much more of the cruise experience is included in your fare.  Drinks, most specialty restaurants, basic Wi-Fi, and even some shore excursions are included.

A different way to cruise

There are two aspects of a Silversea cruise that stood out to me from the get go that intrigued me.  They are all inclusive and everyone gets a butler.

While the core cruise experience is the same, nearly every nuance of it is different on Silversea and it was an interesting change.

Silversea includes far more in its cruise fare than Royal Caribbean does, although the cruise fare will likely cost more on Silversea.

In speaking with several passengers that had booked the same suite type as me, the cost of this cruise was between $8,000 and $10,000 for two people.

That includes:

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Food, including all but 2 specialty restaurants
• Butler service in your suite
• Gratuities
• Basic Wi-Fi access

There are no inside cabins here. The most basic of suites has a balcony, bathroom with shower and tub, sofa, dining area, and more.

In addition to the stateroom attendant, the butler will arrange almost anything you can imagine while in your suite.

Your butler can unpack your bags, draw a bath, set up any meal or snack you ask for, bring you drinks, and more.

You share the butler with 13 other suites, but I think I waited more than 35 seconds for my butler to appear after paging him just once.

The downside to the butler is their services work only in your suite. Unlike the Royal Genie service, they aren't available elsewhere.

I asked other cruisers who have sailed with Silversea a lot what's their secret to the butlers, and many said the same thing: to best utilize the butler, you have to basically live out of your suite.

That's fine for some people, but I like to be out and about.  Nonetheless, my butler was very helpful when I needed him and more.  One day I came back from a long shore excursion and he had drawn a bath for me without me asking. I didn't need it, but it did feel lovely to have it.  On another day, there was truffle butter popcorn waiting in my room for a movie night (I just ate the popcorn instead).

The all inclusive nature makes it difficult to compare to Royal Caribbean, especially the Crown and Anchor benefits.

I did a status match before my cruise began with my Pinnacle Club status to Silversea's Venetian Society.

When I did that for Celebrity Cruises, I was impressed how good their top level Captain's Club benefits were.  However, since so much is already included with Silversea, the best I had was free laundry.  To be clear, I used my free laundry benefit a lot, but don't expect much from your equivalent Venetian Society benefits.

The great thing about pretty much all of the food and drinks being included (and even some shore excursions), is you don't fret over what you want to do.

Just like the convenience of a Royal Caribbean drink package, you're able to take full advantage of what the ship has.

What's it like onboard

Speaking of the ship, the onboard experience was probably the second most asked question after the cost by our readers.

Silver Dawn is quite small compared to any Royal Caribbean ship, but it has a pool, hot tubs, bars, restaurants, jazz lounge, observation lounge, and spa.

What you won't find are kids clubs, water slides, adults-only areas, suite-only areas, and the Royal Caribbean level of live entertainment.

Many readers wanted to know if I was bored, and I can honestly say I wasn't.  

There was a production show every night, which is roughly the same quality as any Royal Caribbean production show on a pre-Oasis Class ship.

But I fell in love with the S.A.L.T. Bar onboard.

Silversea's S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program is about integrating local food and drink with the cruise experience.  In the lab, you can learn to cook local food. In the restaurant, you can dine on local cuisines.  In the bar, you can enjoy liquors from the region.

The bar was my go-to spot because they had the best mixologists I've ever had on any cruise. It was a masterclass in cocktails, and they even offered a cocktail making class.

There was a schedule of events each day (printed in a paper newsletter or available on the TV or online), and there was just enough happening to keep you busy. You certainly could attend almost every event in any day.

In terms of dining, there's no question the quality of food offered is better than most restaurants on Royal Caribbean.

The buffet blew me away with always having sushi and sashimi every day at lunch. Atlantide (the Main Dining Room) had filet mignon, lobster, shrimp, and a litany of daily choices to consider.

I tried the S.A.L.T. cooking class, where we made venison and berry tarts.

At Silver Note, I enjoyed a jazz duet while having dinner. And The Grille had hot rocks you could cook on, with filet, lobster, mahi mahi, and more.

And then there's the service onboard.  Royal Caribbean has great crew members, but because the ratio of crew to guests is much lower on a luxury ship, the crew are going to know you very well, very quickly.

On a few occasions, they knew my name before I ever said introduced myself or gave them my card. I still don't know how they did it.

And of course, the ship is small and there are no crowds. I never waited for an elevator, always found seats at the pool and bar, and many times had to go out of my way to try to find where there were a group of people.

Fjords, trains, and berries

One of the best reasons to sail on a small luxury ship is where it can go, and I had a packed itinerary.

Our sailing departed Copenhagen, Denmark and visits 5 ports of call in Norway: Vik, Nordfjordeid, Ålesund, Trondheim, and Åndalsnes.

Because of our ship's size, we could fit into ports that big ships cannot, such as Vik.

I booked a variety of excursions, including boat tours and trains that take you all around.  

There were two tours that really stood out in Vik and Ålesund.

In Vik, we boarded a classic train on the Flåm Railway that took us through some of the most scenic areas of the trip.

The railway is 20 km long and takes you through spectacular valleys that offer great views of nature and the exceptional engineering skill to have built the railway itself.

Over in Ålesund, I wanted to experience more of the fjords, so I booked a boat tour of nearby Hjørundfjorden.

We hopped right onto a boat to take us on a journey where we saw steep mountains, deep fjords, and small villages around the way.

Our captain even pulled right up to a waterfall and gave us all a cup of water from it.

The beauty of Norway surrounds you on this cruise, and what I really liked being able to turn almost anywhere and find something to see.

Something else that would never happen on Royal Caribbean is the Captain announced after our visit to Vik, he purchased bushels of fresh strawberries from a farmer he knew and there would be fresh strawberries for us to enjoy.

Sure enough, every morning there were fresh strawberries and it was such a treat.

Who is Silversea for?

I spend most of my week thinking who is a Silversea cruise ideally for, and I came up with three groups of people:

• Someone regularly booking an Owners Suite or Grand Suite on Royal Caribbean
• Someone who cruised with their family, but the kids are older and moved out
• Someone who wants to visit places Royal Caribbean ships never/can't go

That's not the limit, but I think people fitting into one of those categories would find the transition the most opportunistic.

You're going to likely pay much more for Silversea than a mainstream line, but you'll get much more included, along with a lot less people to contend with.

I think the Silversea product is designed for people that value service, fine dining, and no crowds. Plus, the places Silversea ships can visit are incredible.  

You'll find Silversea ships sailing to Antarctica, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, The Galapagos, and offering world cruises. The destinations alone might be the most attractive factor.

Kids are welcome onboard, but there aren't dedicated areas for them. I think my teenage girls would like the butler services and the fact they can order filet mignon every night. My oldest would miss the teen club, but I doubt she'd mind having the pool deck virtually to herself.

My first Silversea cruise spoiled me, and I wanted more

My takeaway from a week on Silver Dawn was the level of service and things you can only find on a luxury ship really stood out.

There's no question there's far less happening onboard than on Royal Caribbean, but I leaned into the luxury experience more and more as the sailing went on.

Because of the ratio of crew members to guests, after a couple of days, you're going to feel like Norm from "Cheers" when you walk into any bar, restaurant, or lounge.  Everyone knows your name, and probably your order.

I thought having a bath was silly, but I used it a few times as a way to unwind before dinner.  I asked once for raspberries from my butler, and then there was a bowl always stocked in my cabin.

When you look at the price of a luxury cruise, there's going to be sticker shock if you're used to booking rooms lower than a suite. But what you get is a different kind of experience that triples down on the service, food, and experiences you can't get on a megaship.

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

There was an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on Royal Caribbean ship.

More than 140 passengers on Navigator of the Seas have been sickened, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said symptoms experienced included diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Royal Caribbean News

• Star of the Seas departs shipyard
• Angry French mayor was wrong to try to block cruise ship, courts say
• I spent 15 nights on a Royal Caribbean cruise in Europe, here are 15 tips for a great cruise too
• Royal Caribbean's Crown Lounge: Perks, Access & What to Expect
• The Sapphire Reserve is being overhauled. Here's what cruise travelers should use instead
• I’ve been on 6 Alaska cruises, and I can't wait to go again. The beauty is unmatched.
• Royal Caribbean shares why it takes years to build cruise ships

New RCB Video: Things Americans get wrong cruising in EuropeThings Americans get wrong cruising in Europe

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 — Things Americans get wrong cruising in Europe — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Internet is divided if you should take your passport off the ship

Is it too risky to take your passport with you off the cruise ship?

It's a hotly debated topic, but Matt thinks you should always take it with you when you travel in a foreign country.

While the risk of theft or loss is there, he thinks the benefits of having with you make more sense.

6 reasons to skip the Main Dining Room on formal night

Formal night is a tradition for many cruisers to get dressed up, but skipping it has its advantages.

Dress codes are rarely enforced on Royal Caribbean's ships, but some people don't like to get dressed up to eat.

Opting out of formal night can be compelling with the right approach.

The 4 best things I did on my European cruises and the 2 I'd skip next time

After doing back-to-back cruises on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas in Europe, Matt found a few things he loved and didn't love.

Between a Northern European cities and Norwegian fjords cruise, there was a lot to experience on land.

Every stop had its own appeal, but he found four great things he did and two duds.

Weekend cruises: Tips for taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean getaway

Looking to save money and PTO hours? 

A 3-night weekend cruise provides the opportunity to take a short but sweet vacation.

To help you decide on a ship, destination, and budget, we've compiled some tips for taking a Royal Caribbean weekend cruise.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 571st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available.

Prices are out for the first Royal Beach Club, but is it too much or what we expected?

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.

Star of the Seas is on her way to start cruises!

Royal Caribbean's newest ship departed the Meyer Turku shipyard on Thursday evening, headed towards its home port, Port Canaveral. 

Before that, she’ll make a stop in Cádiz, Spain.

It's a major accomplishment for the cruise line to have its next Icon Class ship join the fleet, and everything looks to be on time.

Royal Caribbean spent a full year gathering feedback from guests that sailed on Icon of the Seas, focus groups, and family travelers to understand what worked, and what could be improved. 

Here's what you can expect on Star of the Seas.

Largest water park at sea

One of the best features on Icon of the Seas was the inclusion of an entire water park with Category 6.

You'll find this also on Star of the Seas, complete with:

• Two high-speed family raft slides
• A drop box free-fall slide
• Two mat racers
• And twisting body slides for solo riders

The cruise line thinks it has the boldest waterpark at sea, but will continue to tweak and refine it based on guest preferences. 

More social Surfside

Icon of the Seas debuted the first area of the ship designed just for kids, but they learned something important in the process.

Surfside neighborhood is designed specifically for young families but it skewed toward kids around 10 years old. On Star of the Seas, the cruise line made several improvements:

• The Playscape now offers more physical challenges to keep kids engaged

• Splashaway Bay features new interactive water elements and toys

• Adventure Ocean has been reimagined to focus on natural, tech-free play, helping kids and teens connect more easily in person

• New spaces for more social, less tech-based play

The hope is these upgrades will match up better with how families actually travel and interact.

A New Supper Club Concept: Lincoln Park

Royal Caribbean's first supper club, Empire Supper Club, was a big hit. On Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is introducing an entirely new concept: the Lincoln Park Supper Club, themed after Chicago’s iconic jazz scene.

This version brings:

• A brand-new menu

• All-new live music programming

• The same intimate, elevated feel that made Empire a hit

Bolder and brighter Pearl

The Pearl welcomes passengers as they walk onboard, and it's a big part of the arrival moment.

On Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on its visual impact by adding more color, lighting, and movement, making that “wow” moment when guests first board even more memorable.

They didn't mess with what works

You'll also find the other neighborhoods that worked well on Icon of the Seas.

• AquaDome, the massive glass-covered venue with live shows and ocean views
• Chill Island, a multi-pool retreat zone perfect for relaxing
• Thrill Island, the upper deck adventure zone packed with water slides and thrills
• The Hideaway, the suspended infinity pool retreat for adults

At its core, Royal Caribbean thinks it has the winning formula to take what was already a major success with Icon of the Seas and make it even better with Star.

"The Icon Class delivered the world’s best family vacation—but we want to do that tomorrow. We want to do that next week. We want to make sure that what people see on day one is nothing but an amazing home run," Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development for Royal Caribbean, said in a video interview.

Taking the feedback they've gotten from passengers, it seems Royal Caribbean is ready to deliver an even more impressive ship with Star of the Seas.

I had my best European cruise season ever this summer, and I'm hoping you can benefit from my experience too.

Seeing Europe by cruise ship was a highlight of my cruising career, and after going on back-to-back Independence of the Seas cruises, it taught me some truths about cruising in this region.

As someone that has cruised almost exclusively in the Caribbean, Europe has its own approach to planning and how to explore.

Here 15 Europe cruise tips that I think would benefit almost anyone taking a European cruise.

1. Buy an eSim

Every port visit was easier because I always knew where I was, where I was going, and how to get there.

I purchased an eSim to use while in Europe, and I think it's a must-buy add-on.

It cost me just $41.99 for 100GB that lasted 30 days, and it made navigating Europe's cities simple.

2. Plan for any weather

Weather forecasts seemed to be nearly useless this time, and I'd use them sparingly.

I found the expected precipitation and high temperatures could be vastly different from what was predicted.

You should walk off the ship prepared for cold weather and rain, but able to adapt quickly when it gets hot again.

Wearing layers is the solution.  Have a t-shirt as your base layer, and a fleece/sweater and rain jacket readily available.

3. Bus tours should be your last option

Of all the tours I took, bust tours were my least favorite.

I dislike bus tours because they move at a slow pace, and tend to make stops that are either too short or too long.

Plus, the seats on most European buses tend to be quite small and lacking legroom.

I'd recommend looking at a third party tour that offers a small group option as a good alternative.  Or even walking and exploring on your own, when possible.

I won't go as far as to say to avoid bus tours. Sometimes they are unavoidable necessities, but if you have the choice, I'd skip it.

4. Don't waste time converting currency

Converting to local currency makes no sense, and you're wasting your time and money if you do.

Every single store, kiosk, bathroom, and restaurant took credit cards.  I used my credit card with no foreign transaction fees to get me the best possible exchange rate at the time of purchase, and came home with no leftover currency.

Not to mention if you convert money to local currency and then back to your own currency after, you're losing money across two transactions.

Truly, you don't need cash at all in Europe.

5. Spend at least 2 or 3 days in Europe pre-cruise to acclimate to the time

You should fly in at least three days before the cruise begins so you don't start your cruise over tired.

I was able to overcome jetlag, but I was still tired for the first two days.

By day three, I was feeling back to normal again.  And that allowed me to board Independence of the Seas with the same amount of energy as I would one near my house.

6. Don't buy the Stay Later option

Royal Caribbean offers an extra cost option where guests can stay on the ship for many hours after the cruise ends.

It sounds like a good idea, but I think it's a waste.

"Stay Later" allows passengers to stay on the ship until the afternoon. It's not available in the United States.

The problem is you have to leave your room and cannot charge anything. So basically, it's a pass to hang out in public places and eat at the Windjammer when it opens.

Personally, I'd rather pay for a hotel day pass near the airport so I could have somewhere to sit, sleep, and shower while I wait for my flight home.

7. Use local transportation in the big cities

Don't be afraid to use the subway, bus, or street cars in the cities you visit.

Many use a simple tap to pay approach, where you tap your credit card when you enter and again when you leave. Some countries had an app, and it was even easier.

Not only are taxis expensive in Europe, but mass transportation is quite efficient and easy to use.

8. Embrace onboard laundry

Royal Caribbean's laundry options aren't cheap, but it's the easiest way to reuse clothing and limit how much you need to bring.

I used the laundry service a few times on each sailing, and it made it more manageable to have enough clothes without packing two weeks worth of items.

9. Take bottled water with you off the ship

I was surprised how much soft drinks and bottled water cost in Europe, so definitely bring your own.

Royal Caribbean's bottled water is cheaper, and it's worth the hassle of having to carry it around.

10. Watch YouTube videos to see which attractions look interesting

If you're like me, you don't know necessarily what you want to do in a particular city, but you'd know it if you saw it.

To prepare for each port, I watched videos about the best things to do in each city and then jotted down the attractions, restaurants, and places that looked good.

This is a really good strategy for outlining what to do in a port, and then leverage Google Maps to figure out how to easily walk between them.

11. Leave time in your port plans for wandering

Following up on the last time, don't overplan your days. Instead, purposefully leave time to wander.

On each port day, I only had 3 or 4 things to see or do in an port. That's definitely not going to fill up 5-6 hours, but it does mean I can stop and meander into an interesting neighborhood.

This ensures there's time for shopping, exploring, and taking your time so you don't feel like you're rushed.

12. Buy a sling bag

I was hesitant to buy a sling bag for Europe, but it's the perfect travel accessory.

Having a sling bag is great for defending against pickpockets, but it also gives you more space for your valuables, snacks, sunglasses, and even a light jacket.

I bought it for the crime prevention element, but it turned out to be really helpful too.

13. Learn to say "hello" and "thank you"

If you want to avoid getting the "rude American treatment", my advice is simple: learn a few basic phrases in the local language.

Always start off any conversation with a local by saying hello in their language, and then break into English.

I'd recommend being able to say:

• Hello
• Thank you
• Goodbye

It goes a long way when you make a very basic attempt to communicate in their language, and I have yet to run into a rude person.

14. Plan for more hours of sun

If you're visiting Northern Europe, plan on the sun being up more than at home.

In Norway, the sun wouldn't set until around 11pm and then would rise at about 4am. It messes with your sense of what time it really is.

Plus, Royal Caribbean's cabin curtains aren't blackout curtains.  So it will be light in your cabin.

15. Bike lanes are as dangerous as the road

In many cities, bikes are a way of life and you need to be extra cautious crossing the road.

This was especially true in Denmark and The Netherlands, where the bike lanes are adjacent to the roadways and the bikers expect you to yield to them.

This makes crossing the street if not in the walkway and with the crossing light a bit precarious.

Should you take your passport with you off your cruise ship while on a shore excursion?

This is one of the most hotly debated questions among cruisers, as there seems to be quite a divide of what you should or shouldn't do.

I recently ran across a new thread debating the virtues of taking your passport off the ship on Reddit, and I think it's a simple decision to always take my passport with me off the ship.

If you're on the fence about what to do or haven't thought about it, I wanted to share my outlook on the debate.

While there's risk in losing it, the benefits of having it in case of an emergency outweigh any concerns.

Travelers should always be prepared

My mantra when traveling is the same as the Boy Scouts when I was a kid, "Be prepared".

You never know what might happen, and emergencies or accidents while in port are never something you see coming until it's too late.

I opt to bring my passport with me off the ship while I go on shore excursions so I have it with me, just in case.

Passports are essential, as you cannot fly home without it. So if we got stuck somewhere and missed the ship, having my passport would be critical.

Without a passport, you'd have to travel to the nearest embassy of your home country to get one.  Depending on the port, the nearest embassy might be many hours away drive by car.

On any tour, I'm often far enough away from the ship that running back to it is not practical.

The counterargument to my opinion is to leave the passport in your safe on the ship, as the cruise line claims if you're a no-show to returning to the ship, they'll clear out your belongings from your stateroom (including your safe) and leave it with the port.

That's a major leap of faith that I'm not willing to take because of the multiple chain of custodies involved.

I have less concern of theft as I do it not making it to me in the end, either due to negligence or someone not knowing where the items are when they were taken.

Photocopies of a passport are as useful as photocopies of cash

Some people will say they take a photocopy of their passport and then leave the real thing in the ship safe.

A photo of your passport is useless, as you cannot travel with it.  You still need the physical documents.

There's no benefit at all of having a photo of it in terms of actually being able to use it.

Three exceptions to my rule

I'll leave my passport in my stateroom safe if I'm in one of three ports of call.

First would be Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is Royal Caribbean's private island.

Because it's a cruise line operated place, it's basically impossible to be left behind. You'd have to hide in a bush to truly not make it back to the ship.

Over the years, I've encountered medical issues while on CocoCay with my family, and the first place they'll take you if it's anything remotely serious is back to the ship.

Ditto for Labadee, which is also a Royal Caribbean destination.

It just seems nearly impossible to be left behind or stuck in these spots.

The other place I'll be okay with leaving my passport behind is if I'm in a U.S. state or territory.

When my ship visits Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, or St. Croix, I'm fine with leaving my passport in the safe because I can travel home with just my driver's license.

As an American citizen, not having to rely on a passport for travel home while in a part of my country seems sufficiently safe to go off the ship with my driver's license.

It's a decision of risks

Ultimately, you have to judge which risk of taking or leaving your passport is higher and what the consequences of each risk would be.

Taking it with you means you can easily get home should you miss your cruise ship's return time for any reason, but the risk is having it lost or stolen.

But if you leave your passport on the ship, what happens if you miss the boarding time? And are you willing to risk that the ship would leave your passport and room contents at the port?

Personally, I won't go into a foreign country without my passport just to have myself covered. I think the risks of being stuck in the country without one is worse than the likelihood of losing it.

With its rich history and culture, visiting Europe by cruise ship for two weeks is an incredible experience.

That's why I planned to take full advantage of our time by doing a back-to-back cruise on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. If I'm going to spend the time and money to fly across the Atlantic, I wanted to get the most out of it.

Our cruises took us to the cities of Northern Europe, followed by a Norwegian fjord cruise.  Each had its own appeal: metropolitan offerings and natural beauty.

Here are the four best things I did during my trip and the two I'd skip next time.

Hands down, one of the best things I did was booked an independent tour on the Skylift

Olden was my favorite port of the Norwegian fjords cruise because of how picturesque the landscape was surrounding us.

Prior to my cruise, a friend strongly recommended we try the Loen Skylift up to Mount Hoven. At the time, the Royal Caribbean excursion was sold out, so I booked an independent tour to get me there.

Not only was the recommendation fantastic, but I did myself a great favor by booking it on my own instead of the cruise line.

The company we booked it through had continuously running shuttle service every 10 minutes, which meant very little time wasted waiting for transportation.  

Plus, being on our own schedule meant we beat the crowds that descended later in the day when the cruise line excursions arrived.

And then, of course, are the views.

The Skylift takes you over 3,000 feet up and is an incredible vantage point. The photos you see here do not do the spectacle justice.

If I had a heavier jacket and an Adirondack chair, I'd have been content to sit there all day.

When it comes to exploring cities in Europe, don't overlook independent tours as a great choice.

I drank with friends at a German beer garden

In every port we did a lot of walking and sightseeing, except in Hamburg, Germany, where I wanted to do one thing: experience a German beer garden.

I'd never been to a real one before (only the facsimile that is found in Walt Disney World) and I wanted to do it right.  A group of 30 friends joined me, and we went to a beer garden that's well-known around Germany.

Thanks to friends that lived in Bremen, Germany, we had the perfect introduction for what to expect.

We drank, sang, ate, and it proves the old saying that everything is better with friends.

Our time in Hamburg was rather short because of the port schedule, but the few hours we were there were well worth it, and I'd it's the perfect activity for a group to enjoy together.

I'm glad I included time in our schedule to wander

It's so easy to over plan for a cruise, but in my experience, including time to wander is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Every port day, I purposefully left open time in the schedule to simply walk around and see what was around the next street.

This strategy not only helped reduce fatigue, pressure, and stress, but it's often led to unique discoveries.

In Molde, Norway, we stumbled upon a cart selling fresh strawberries.  In Copenhagen, we had beers and lunch at an open-air food hall.

Including time to wander and explore gave us a chance to truly soak in the atmosphere and feel more connected to each port and its people.

I'd add it's important to have a cellular connection while wandering.  

I purchased an eSim to use in port, and it was so helpful being able to search Google Maps where we were, what was around us, and how to easily get to and from anywhere.

My favorite one to use is Orange sim (this is an affiliate link, that costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission). 

Buying a dining package was the perfect add-on

I really like Royal Caribbean's food, but buying a dining package to mix things up was a great idea.

I like variety anywhere I eat, so two weeks between the Main Dining Room and the Windjammer buffet wasn't going to be ideal.

I purchased the 3-night dining package before my cruise began, and having a few nights out on each sailing to enjoy specialty dining ended up being a great idea.

I loved getting new cuisines, and breaking up the usual food options I saw.

Plus, I bought it pre-cruise, and got in on a good sale.  I paid just $228.88 for both me and my wife for the 3-night package.

I instantly regretted the bus tour

The only excursion I booked through Royal Caribbean was a bus tour of the fjords in Olden, and from the start it disappointed me.

The scenic spots we visited were lovely, but it embodied everything I dislike about cruise line excursions: lots of waiting, a slow pace, and wasted opportunity.

The tour said to arrive at 12:10pm, but we didn't actually board the bus and depart until 1pm.  That's almost an hour of time completely wasted.

In retrospect, I should have booked a small group or private tour to take us around the fjords.  I think it would have moved at a pace more conducive to our needs so we could have seen more in less time.  

I think cruise line excursions have a role to play, especially if you have mobility issues, but next time I'll search for a third party option to take me around.

I also need to double check how strenuous a hike will be

A friend and I spent hours looking up what to do in Molde, Norway, and we thought we found the perfect outdoor activity: a leisurely hike to enjoy a great view.

It sounded great, but we didn't take the extra step to cross reference the hike with a hiking website, such as AllTrails.

Had we done that, we would have seen it was rated as "moderately challenging" with steep sections.

It became clear very quickly this was not a trail for people that never go hiking.  

Never trust just photos, and do your due diligence so you can avoid your quads feeling like they're going to explode. 

To build a cruise ship like Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas or Star of the Seas, it's anything but a simple process.

Royal Caribbean's new cruise ships take years of research, design, and testing before actual construction can begin. It's an enormous engineering, research, and imagination feat before the first passengers are able to step onboard.

Royal Caribbean shared an inside look at the process, and it's a fascinating look at one of the most complex endeavors within the travel industry.

Step 1: It All Starts With an Idea

Royal Caribbean starts off designing a new ship with the conceptual stage, posing an important question: "Who are we building this for?".

According to the cruise line, their team begins by identifying which type of guests they want to attract. From there, they determine what those guests want, what they need, and how to exceed those expectations with something entirely new. 

As Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group CEO, put it, "It’s in our DNA to wake up every day dreaming and innovating about what the future experience could look like."

They call it "ideation" and it's a brainstorming of process of what's possible to do on a floating hotel at sea. Many of the venues and attractions we take for granted today on a Royal Caribbean ship were born of this process.

Ideas are tossed around conference rooms filled with designers, architects, engineers, and brand experts to determine what sounds fun, and how practical it actually is.  The good ones make their way to a new ship.

Step 2: From Concept to Blueprint

With the ideas in place, Royal Caribbean moves on to take those ideas and turn them into designs.

According to Royal Caribbean, the design phase for a ship like Utopia of the Seas took over 1.5 million working hours. These hours go into creating detailed blueprints, renderings, and workshop plans. 

This step of the process can take a while, as the cruise line must account for every part of the ship.  Every room, hallway, panel, and accessway must be planned out.

Only after this intensive work is complete can construction begin.

Step 3: Selecting the Shipyard and Starting Construction

With a plan in place, a cruise line has to find someone to actually build it.

There are a handful of shipyards around the world that are capable (and knowledgeable) to build cruise ships.  Surprisingly, none of them are in the United States.

Royal Caribbean works with one of three major shipyards, depending on the size and class of the ship. 

The first construction milestone is the steel-cutting ceremony. This is the symbolic beginning of construction when the first sheet of steel is cut.

From that steel, a ceremonial silhouette of the ship is cut—marking the start of a long and complex building process.

Step 4: Building the Ship Block by Block

Cruise ships are built differently from buildings on land.

On a basic level, cruise ships are assembled by putting together blocks of pre-built units to create the ship's super-structure.

Each block contains portions of the ship’s structure, including framing, electrical systems, and plumbing. These blocks are assembled off-site and then transported to the shipyard, where they are connected piece by piece. 

The first block to go into place is the keel, which forms the backbone of the ship. 

As part of maritime tradition, there is a keel-laying ceremony where a pair of lucky coins are placed under the keel as a symbol of good luck.

Step 5: Welding, Cabling, and Engineering

Once the keel is laid, the blocks are added in stages over the next 12 to 18 months. This phase is highly technical. It includes:

• Installing engines, propellers, stabilizers
• Running miles of cables for power and data
• Connecting AC ducts, plumbing, and exhaust systems
• Welding together structural steel and sealing seams

All of this work is happening while cabins are being built separately in nearby facilities. 

These staterooms are fully fabricated off-site and then lifted into place using cranes. It takes about one year to complete the cabins and install them on board.

Step 6: Float Out

After all the major structural and mechanical systems are in place, the ship is ready for its float out.

At this point, the ship has a completed exterior with a bow, stern, and hull. The dry dock is slowly filled with water, and the ship floats for the first time. From this point forward, the ship will remain afloat.

Although the vessel now looks finished, there’s still a tremendous amount of work to complete.

Step 7: Sea Trials

Just like a new car, cruise ships must be tested to ensure their systems work and the vessel can handle sailing.

Sea trials are a series of tests that examine how the ship performs under real-world conditions. 

When sea trials take place, hundreds of specialists run tests to help assess different technical areas of the ship, and there were more than 450 specialists who helped to run the four days tests on the ship’s technical areas during this round of sea trials. 

The team evaluates:

• Speed and engine response
• Navigation systems and maneuverability
• Stabilizers and propulsion
• Emergency systems and alarms
• Compliance with performance guarantees

Sea trials allow certain navigation and technical systems to be tested that cannot be completed while the ship is docked. It's the final step of a ship's construction prior to being delivered to the cruise line and ensures that everything's in tip-top shape before officially joining the fleet. 

Step 8: Interior Finish and Final Delivery

The finishing touches will take place right after the sea trials are complete, and this is when things passengers will need are added.

Examples of this includes:

• Installing signage, art, and furniture
• Stocking bars, kitchens, and retail stores
• Programming lights, AV systems, and software
• Deep cleaning and setup of public venues

Royal Caribbean also uses this time for what it calls "owner’s work", which are minor adjustments or enhancements the brand decides to implement before opening the ship to the public. This might involve additional decor, layout tweaks, or testing of new experiences.

Once complete, the ship is officially delivered. 

This is when the ship is transferred to the cruise line, just like the keys to a new car being given to its owner.

Step 9: The First Guests Arrive

After years of planning and building, the ship is ready. Crews have trained, systems are tested, venues are polished, and the ship welcomes its first guests on board.

It's the culmination of all the work that took place to get the ship ready, from concepts to design to construction.

So, how long does it all take to complete?

Building a cruise ship takes five to seven years from initial concept to first sailing.

• Ideation & concept development: 1–2 years
• Engineering and detailed design: 1.5 years or more
• Construction and assembly: 3 years
• Float out: 1-2 days
• Sea trials: 3-11 days
• Final outfitting and pre-opening: Several weeks

That timeline means decisions made today will shape what guests experience half a decade from now. 

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

Royal Caribbean has banned hiding ducks in one spot on its cruise ships.

Photos have emerged of new signs placed in the Central Park neighborhood asking passengers not to hide rubber decks in the plants.

It appears this is to reduce the damage guests make to the plants when they inadvertently brush them aside to search for hidden ducks.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean's new big cruise ship will take its maiden voyage later this year. Here’s what awaits guests
• Royal Caribbean cruise ship stuck in port with propulsion problem
• How Royal Caribbean throws a party for crew members
• I went on a 7-day Royal Caribbean cruise for $4,200. Here's what it was like and why it was worth every penny.
• Inside look at the extraordinary process of building the world's largest cruise ships
• I paid $3,000 to cruise in an inside cabin to Alaska
• Independence of the Seas cruise ship review
• I spent 2 weeks cruising with my boomer parents. I was surprised to find 7 ways we travel differently
• 20 Amazon Prime Day deals for cruisers

Star of the Seas has been delivered to Royal Caribbean

At a ceremony this week, Royal Caribbean took ownership of its second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas.

Star will be one of the largest in the world, and it's now officially built and delivered.

The new ship will enter service in August 2025, sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida.

First look at new cruise terminal Royal Caribbean is building in Miami

New renderings have appeared for the upgraded cruise terminal coming to Miami.

Royal Caribbean is going to replace Terminal G with a new terminal that can handle the biggest ships in the world, as well as catch up to modern standards for getting passengers through the building.

The upgraded terminal should be ready by 2027.

What I wish I knew before I took my cruise this summer

Matt spent a week on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Norway, but there are a few things he wish he knew before it began.

Every sailing has its own approach, and certain nuances of this itinerary stood out.

In retrospect, there were good lessons for anyone else sailing there.

New RCB Video: First Class on a Royal Caribbean cruise

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 — First Class on a Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Independence of the Seas ship review

Looking for a cruise ship that has lots to do, some of the best features, and doesn't come with a large price tag?

Our full review of Independence of the Seas shares what you can expect onboard, what stands out about the ship, and what areas need improvement.

Independence of the Seas is a cruise ship that doesn't compromise on things to do, places to eat, and competitive rates.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 570th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available.

Can Star of the Seas match the high standard Royal Caribbean has set with Icon? Matt debates if it's possible to exceed the very lofty expectations the new ship has.

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.