When I took my first Royal Caribbean cruise 20 years ago, I was blown away by how much there was to do on one ship.

My first sailing on Explorer of the Seas was impressive, but it was nothing compared to the new wows I would experience as I tried newer and bigger ships. That's in essence why I fell in love with Royal Caribbean: their dedication to pushing boundaries, innovation, and going well beyond other vacations.

As I've cruised more ships across the fleet, I've found that each one has its own unique character and things you will want to try.  Even after two decades of cruising, I'm still amazed by some of the things you can do onboard, including dining, thrills, and entertainment.

When someone new to Royal Caribbean asks for recommendations, these are the five things I tell them to do and the two I advise skipping.

Picking an Icon Class ship is a great entry point

If there's something Royal Caribbean has done recently to live up to the hype, it's launch the Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

These are the biggest cruise ships in the world, and they are the perfect fit for a first-time cruiser because they offer the latest and greatest things Royal Caribbean can offer anywhere.

When you're new to the brand, you may not be aware yet of everything available. Plus, you've got to discover your own cruising style. I think an Icon Class ship is the perfect entry point because it has just about everything, and it's the sort of experience you won't come home disappointed with.

These ships have so many pools, a Broadway show, sprawling areas for kids, well-designed guest flow, and more activities than you can possibly squeeze into a week.

Other ships in the fleet have their own compelling reasons to book, but an Icon Class ship is as close to a sure-fire way to start your cruising vacations the right way.

See a Broadway show or high-diving performance

If there's one thing Royal Caribbean does better than any other cruise line, it's their entertainment.  I think you should absolutely make a point to see Broadway musicals, ice-skating shows, and AquaTheater performances because they're all top-tier.

On their bigger ships, you'll find lots of shows to see and I think these are some of the best crowd pleasers around. Plus they're all included with your cruise fare!

The Broadway musicals are especially impressive, such as Mamma Mia, Back to the Future, or Hairspray. It's incredible you can see a full show that would ordinarily cost hundreds of dollars on land but for no additional cost at sea.

Just as impressive are the shows in the AquaTheater, which feature high divers, slack liners, dancers, and aerialists. It's an incredible display that is difficult to describe in text, but I promise you'll walk away wowed by the spectacle.

If your ship has an ice skating rink, the ice shows in there are also quite good. Many of the skaters are former competitors on the national stage, and they can pull off very impressive feats.

All of the production shows are designed for families to enjoy together, and it's the perfect amount of culture to squeeze into your vacation.

Stop by different bars to enjoy the live music

Another homerun on any Royal Caribbean ship is the live entertainment each evening.

Various bars will have entertainment for you to enjoy:

• Schooner Bar: Piano player
• Pub: Guitarist
• Lou's Jazz Club: Jazz band
• Mason Jar: Country band
• Central Park: Harpist or jazz band
• Dueling Pianos: piano players
• Boleros: Band

It's so much fun bar hopping each evening to see the live performers here and enjoy a set or two.

Royal Caribbean invests heavily in live entertainment as a way to get you to come into the bar, and it's a great way to round out your evening.

Every performer has their own style, so I'd recommend sampling each one on your ship to find the right mix for you.

In most cases, it's songs you know the words to, and it pairs well with a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine.

Make a reservation at one of my favorite specialty restaurants

These days, Royal Caribbean has a lot of specialty restaurants, but a few stand out as must-eats.

I tell new cruisers they should have a mix of complimentary and specialty restaurants. Don't do just the included dining, but don't go all-in on specialty dining either. Two or three extra cost venues is a good introduction to see what you like best.

To be fair, not every specialty restaurant is worth dining at, so I'd recommend sticking to the very best ones.

My top specialty dining picks are Izumi Hibachi, 150 Central Park, and Playmakers. There are others, but those are solid starting points.

To be clear, there are others I like too. It's hard to go wrong with Chops Grille or Giovanni's because they're consistently satisfying.  I mean, how can you go wrong with a steakhouse or Italian food?

And be sure to pre-book a reservation to save money because it will cost you much more if you wait to book a reservation on the ship.  

Spend the day at Perfect Day at CocoCay

I think Royal Caribbean has built the best private island experience with Perfect Day at CocoCay.

This is so much more than a beach for cruise ship passengers.  The cruise line revamped and upgraded the island to offer just about everything you'd want in a beach day.

There are different beaches, each with their own vibe. You'll find a giant freshwater pool in the middle of the island.  A water park offers thrill seekers more than they can handle, and there's even an adults-only area if you need a break from family fun.

If your cruise ship is scheduled to visit CocoCay, you'll get a lot of marketing materials hyping it up.  I promise this island lives up to that hype because of how much there is to do. Plus, a lot of it is included in your cruise fare!

I recommend skipping the magic shows

I raved about the entertainment on Royal Caribbean earlier, but I'd recommend skipping the magic shows, jugglers, or ventriloquists.

In my "sorry, not sorry" part of this article, I think these are consistently the least entertaining shows.  Maybe kids of a certain age might enjoy them, but I think they're the sort of ho-hum, eye-roll inducing, and cliched performances that you'll quickly lament not having spent your time doing almost anything else onboard.

My issue with these shows is less the show itself and more that you want to take advantage of every minute you're onboard a ship. Simply put, there are much better choices for things to do than spending your time at these lackluster magic acts.

Swap out beach break shore excursions for a resort day pass

The ports of call your ship visits are just as important as the ship itself.  Most people book a cruise because of the places it will visit, but I'd warn against booking a tour that takes you to a beach with the cruise line.

The problem with "beach break" excursions is you're basically paying for a bus to take you back and forth along with a giant crowd of people.

Instead, I'd recommend booking a day pass to a resort. There are many providers that sell them, such as ResortForADay.com.

The advantage of a day pass is you can depart the ship when you want, instead of waiting for your tour to be called and going with a large group.  Sure, you need to pay for a taxi, but a taxi is more convenient and might even be cheaper.

Plus, a day pass to a resort includes not only access to a beach, but pools, restaurants, drinks and more. 

You gain more control, reduce the risk of overcrowding, and likely get more included by opting for a day pass instead.

I booked a 299-square-foot Junior Suite during my seven-night voyage to the Southern Caribbean aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas.

Ordinarily, I don't book a Junior Suite because the price is much higher than a balcony, but the added amenities and great use of space were worth it when the total cost was just $2,596.17 for two people.

Plus, reserving the Junior Suite had perks. There is a priority check-in line at the cruise terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico; an extra loyalty point per night, and upgraded toiletries. There are additional perks if you book a Junior Suite on a newer ship, such as access to Coastal Kitchen for dinner.

Take a look inside our junior suite.

When I entered the 299-square-foot accommodation, I was surprised by its spaciousness

One thing you'll notice walking into a Junior Suite is how much space there is to utilize.

I was booked in stateroom 1584, located on deck 10.

I was very impressed by the use of space, and it felt like a giant balcony room. Compared to a balcony, you'll quickly notice just how much more living space there is, which makes it feel far less cramped.

There is a walk-in closet that is almost big enough to be a bedroom

As you walk into the room, there is a giant walk-in closet on the right.

This closet has a door, and there are shelves and hangers to use.

I was impressed how big this closet was, because I'm guessing it could fit a crib in here without a problem. I'm not advocating putting a small child in here to sleep. But there is a lot of space.

The living room has a king size bed, but it lacks power outlets

Like almost any Royal Caribbean cabin, the bed is comprised of two beds pushed together. You can have them separated by your stateroom attendant, if you prefer.

After unpacking, my suitcase rolled under the bed, where they stayed until the last night of the cruise.

One issue is there are no power outlets on either side of the bed.  This is typical of older cruise ships, when having your electronics nearby was useful. After all, Brilliance of the Seas was built 5 years before the first iPhone.

I bought a 10 foot USB cable, but the room is so big that the cable only reached the foot of the bed.

There is a large vanity and storage space across from the bed

The only power outlets in the room are located on the vanity, across from the bed.

There are a few power outlets, so I'd recommend bringing a USB power adaptor that won't get confiscated by the cruise line. This is one I recommend (and bring on all my cruises).

Another nice perk of staying in a Junior Suite is it comes with a coffee maker and teapot. You don't get these appliances in smaller cabins, and you're not allowed to bring your own.

I never make coffee or tea in my room, but I know a lot of cruisers love to take advantage of them.

There's also a flat screen television on the left side of the vanity, which is above the well-concealed fridge.

Above it is a safe for storing valuables and travel documents.

The living room felt spacious, with extra seating

Where this cabin really feels big is in the living room area, because it's expansive and has lots of seating.

A sofa offers a place to sit (or lay down), and there's a table for room service to deliver meals here.  Room service is included with a Junior Suite, and that is the perfect way to start your day with breakfast.

Across from the sofa is a sitting chair and ottoman.  I love to sit anywhere I can put my feet up, and it was the perfect temporary office when I needed to do so some work and the vanity seemed not comfortable enough.

If you have kids, this would be an excellent play area since there's enough room to crawl or stumble around.

The Junior Suite bathroom was a nice upgrade, with a tub

Pretty much all standard cruise cabins have tiny bathrooms, but moving up to a Junior Suite gets you a bigger bathroom.

There's a full-size tub and shower here.  Not only is the tub larger, but it avoids the clingy shower curtain problem smaller cabins have on Radiance Class ships.

There are upgraded toiletries provided too, instead of the two-in-one mystery liquid.

The sink area has lots of storage too, which is something missing from bathrooms on newer ships.

The balcony was long, adding extra private room

Instead of the balcony going out further, it extends along the side of the ship.

It's a 66 square-foot balcony, which just about doubles the balcony space.

There's even a lounger in addition to the table and chairs.

The extra furniture is nice, but I wish the balcony was deeper to make it easier to move around the furniture.

Because our suite's location, I was able to see the bridge wing and watch the captain and officers guide the ship into ports of call.

Like any balcony, I loved being able to walk out and enjoy sailaway, watch the ocean waves pass by, or simply enjoy the ocean breeze.

The best reason to book a Junior Suite isn't even the room

While I loved how much more space there was in the cabin, the best reason for staying in a Junior Suite are all the extra points you can rack up.

Royal Caribbean will give you an extra loyalty point per night for staying in any suite.  Since I was cruising solo, that meant I was able to stack my solo cruiser bonus point and suite bonus point to accrue three points per night.

This is one of the best strategies for moving up to higher tiers of Crown and Anchor Society. In my case, I'll get 21 points from this one cruise and catapult up above the 1,000 point threshold to keep me well ahead of Michael Poole.

I wouldn't book a Junior Suite for any sailing, but when the price isn't expensive, I think it's worth it to upgrade. There's a better chance of finding a great deal when you choose an older, smaller ship like Brilliance of the Seas.

I found the value of all the extra living space in this cabin, combined with the perks and bonus cruise points to be well worth the splurge above a balcony room.

Happy weekend! We hope you remembered to Spring Forward! Here’s all the Royal Caribbean news this week!

Royal Caribbean just made cruise dinner planning easier.

In an effort to improve the pre-cruise online experience, there's a new feature on the website that allows guests to change their dining times effortlessly.

The cruise line recently added a new way for passengers to update their cruise dining plans on its website before their cruise.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean stock has been falling as Iran war fuels oil price fears
• Royal Caribbean is working on a way to fix an annoying problem before Perfect Day Mexico opens
• The 4 best cruises to maximize Crown & Anchor loyalty benefits
• Unwritten rules to know before eating at the Main Dining Room
• 10 Things to check after booking a Royal Caribbean cruise
• The best shows on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, according to cruisers
• The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler
• I spent 7 nights on the one of the biggest cruise ships and did 6 things right to prepare for a stress-free vacation

New RCB Video: I Tried a 7 Day Cruise on a 24 Year Old Ship

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 — I Tried a 7 Day Cruise on a 24 Year Old Ship — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Royal Caribbean is testing out a new day pass option

If you want a no-frills admission into the new Royal Beach Club, there could be a new way to get it.

On a handful of cruises, a new nothing included day pass is being offered for just $49 per person.

Drinks and food would cost extra, but you'd be able to get into the highly sought after beach club without paying a higher price for all-inclusive.

Royal Caribbean has the same bar on every ship, but it’s better on these ships

While you'll find a Schooner Bar on every ship in the fleet, I think the best one is on one of its older ships.

I generally gravitate towards big ships, but you can't deny the Schooner Bar is better on a Radiance Class ship.

After sailing on many ships, the truth is the Schooner Bar isn’t the same everywhere.

4 dining changes Royal Caribbean made that fixed frustrating problems

Thanks to a number of recent improvements, planning dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise is now easier than ever.

With a greater emphasis on digital offerings, the website and app have both gotten upgrades for simplifying the pre-cruise dinner planning process.

All of it has contributed to making the vacation be as smooth as possible.

Royal Caribbean wants to build something huge to change how ships get repaired

Royal Caribbean has proposed building a new floating dry dock in Central America.

The proposal would be to construct in Panama as an alternative to drydocks in Asia.

Plus, it would open up more space for ships since existing drydocks are very busy.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

We've just released the 599th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt talks about the recent change to remove soda cups and machines from most drink packages.

You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via YouTube, iTunes, Google Play or RSS.

One thing Royal Caribbean emphasizes is how much they value their top tier cruisers.

During Royal Caribbean Group's latest earnings call with Wall Street analysts, CEO Jason Liberty talked a lot about how they're investing in its loyalty members.  They see repeat cruisers as an important base to leverage, in the same way a political party relies on its base to boost its agenda.

Having reached the top tier of the cruise line's Crown & Anchor Society, I've seen firsthand how much the company cares about its repeat cruisers. Crew members go out of their way to recognize our loyalty, and the perks we receive are fantastic.

Once you reach the top tiers, it's obvious you enjoy not just cruising, but are a fan of Royal Caribbean.  Therefore, there are certain cruises that I think you should prioritize because they will enhance what you can get out of them as a top tier member.

Go on a President's Cruise with other super fans

Once you realize you're a fan of Royal Caribbean, going on a cruise that celebrates other super fans is a must-try.

I went on my first President's Cruise last year and it was an eye-opening opportunity.  Royal Caribbean holds an annual sailing where cruise line executives host special activities to celebrate all things Royal Caribbean.

There are special perks for the top tier members, including invite-only events. On my sailing, we were invited to get a sneak peek of the new Royal Beach Club before it opened. Each President's Cruise has a different event.

Plus, there are freebies and opportunities to speak to Michael Bayley and other top brass. 

More importantly, if you've made it to Diamond or higher, the President's Cruise is the kind of cruise that I think would be interesting because it's akin to attending a fan event for those that love a movie trilogy, comic books, or other similar fandoms.

The next President's Cruise is scheduled for October 2026 on Icon of the Seas, and I've got my cabin booked!

Pick a longer sailing, like a repositioning cruise

Now that you're getting the best perks as a top tier member, you'll want to prioritize longer sailings.

It's no coincidence that there are always a lot of Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members on these sailings, because longer sailings offer more value.

Repositioning cruises stand out as the sailings you'll find higher Crown and Anchor numbers because they're a tremendous value.  They're usually priced cheaper per night because there's less demand for a longer sailing with lots of sea days.

This fact attracts people that love to cruise, but are also looking for a good deal.

Plus, going on a longer sailing is how you climb the loyalty ladder faster.  By going on longer sailings, you'll earn more points quicker.

No matter how many points you have, there's always a need to earn more.  Perhaps to reach the next tier or just to stay head of Michael Poole.  Regardless, these longer sailings are how you can jump ahead.

Visit private islands

Another priority for any cruise you book is to look for ways to maximize your perks.

Because Royal Caribbean offers so many included freebies at its top levels, I'd recommend picking cruises that visit its private islands.

Royal Caribbean has two private destinations today, with one more on the way.  Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee are both enclaves for cruise guests and your onboard perks work there too.

Being able to use your Diamond drink vouchers and Wi-Fi package (CocoCay only) at these places extends the value of your perks.

When Perfect Day Mexico opens in 2027, there will be a new place in the Caribbean to use them too, which means almost any Caribbean sailing will have the opportunity to get more from your Crown and Anchor membership.

How to best use your free Pinnacle cruise

If you can get to Pinnacle Club status, Royal Caribbean will reward you with a free cruise certificate. But I'd be strategic with which one you use it on.

At 700 points, you'll get a free seven night cruise to the Caribbean in a balcony cabin to use. You'll get another free cruise every 350 points after that, which means there's a good reason to keep going.  For example: 700, 1050, 1400, 1750, 2100, et al.

Here's the catch: you can pick a non-Caribbean cruise, but the value is greatly diminished.

If you try to use your Pinnacle certificate for an Alaska cruise, you'll only get $2400 value to use towards it, and no discounts.

What you should do is pick a ship sailing in the Caribbean and go with a new ship.

New ships always cost more than older ships, therefore you'll get the most bang for your buck getting a free cruise on a newer and more in-demand ship than an older one.

Royal Caribbean has dozens of ships and hundreds of bars, but one venue appears on almost every ship in the fleet: Schooner Bar.

It's a classic nautical bar that has become a staple on any ship Royal Caribbean has sailed.  In fact, it's a bar their CEO once said can never be removed.

Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, shared when he was hired one directive he received immediately was to never omit the Schooner Bar.

"When I took this job, Michael Bayley said, If I ever proposed or got rid of the Schooner bar, he'd fire me," he quipped in a 2022 interview. "And so that's an example of tradition, things that we know our guests really love."

But after sailing on many ships, one thing becomes obvious: Schooner Bar isn’t the same everywhere. It's noticeably better on one class of ships, surprisingly, it’s not on the newest or biggest ships.

While you'll find a Schooner Bar on every ship, I think Royal Caribbean perfected it over 20 years ago with the launch of the Radiance Class ships.

The one bar you'll find on nearly every Royal Caribbean ship

The Schooner Bar is a signature venue that has been a feature on every ship in the fleet. You'll find one on Voyager Class, Radiance Class, Freedom Class, Oasis Class, and many others.

There are a few characteristics that make the Schooner Bar different.

• It has a nautical theme
• Trivia games during the day
• Live piano entertainment most evenings
• Unique menu of cocktails and martinis

For many cruisers, the Schooner Bar is the go-to evening hangout spot.

The appeal is simple: comfortable seating, views of the ocean, and a bar that feels like it belongs on a cruise ship. Having a nautical feel I think contributes to why so many cruisers prefer this venue.

The entertainment is the x-factor that pushes the Schooner Bar to the top.  Trivia in the day and live piano music each evening make this one of the best hangout spots you'll find.  

The Schooner Bar truly shines on the Radiance Class ships

While I love the Icon Class ships for how impressive they are, there's no question the Schooner Bar is better on the 20+ year old ships that came before it.

The first thing you'll notice about the Schooner Bar on a Radiance Class ship is how big it is. They're significantly wider and have a larger footprint than on new ships.

This allows for a better proportion of space used.

The next thing that makes a Schooner Bar better on Brilliance of the Seas than Star of the Seas is the connection to the ocean.

Schooner Bars on older ships have large windows on one side, allowing you to see what's happening from the comfort of your bar chair.

As newer ships have come out, the Schooner Bar became smaller and more enclosed.

Plus, I think the bar layout was perfected on Radiance Class ships. 

The piano player is the focal point, but there's a fabulous circular bar that has a "Cheers" TV show vibe on one side, with some of the most relaxing chairs you'll find in any bar on the other.

Newer ships don't capture the same vibe

I won't shy away from a Schooner Bar on a new ship, but after experiencing it on Radiance Class, you'll see the difference.

As newer ships have come online, the Schooner Bar became less nautical, has fewer windows, and became disjointed in the seating arrangement.

On the Oasis Class, the Schooner Bar seems like an afterthought, squeezed into a half deck above the Royal Promenade and stretched out.  It's a bit better on the Icon Class, but the position of the piano player is skewed to one side.

When I go on a new ship, the Schooner Bar feels like "just another lounge" rather than a standout spot.  It's still good, but not the focal point it is on other ships.

What makes Schooner Bar so beloved in the first place

The combination of nostalgia and tradition is why I think so many cruisers love the Schooner Bar.

The piano sing-alongs, trivia competitions, great cocktail menu, and loyal cruisers who look to it as their first stop each evening all make this a must-visit.

Speaking of the menu, I think the Schooner Bar has a vastly underrated drink menu.

Royal Caribbean has a special cocktail menu that you'll only find in the Schooner Bar, which adds to the appeal.  While there's nothing wrong with a piña colada or daiquiri, the beverage operations team crafted a new menu that goes well beyond those classics.

The Schooner Bar drink menu has drinks you might not have thought of initially, but sound amazing.

The Desert pear margarita, Toasted marshmallow old fashioned, and Lavender daquiri are all just as good as they sound.

If you have a Royal Caribbean drink package, the drinks listed are included with the package benefits.

For many cruisers, it's one of the few venues that feels the same across the fleet.

A new option has appeared on an upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise to offer a non all-inclusive admission to its new beach club.

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is open only to Royal Caribbean Group passengers, and up until now it's been an all-inclusive product. 

But on one upcoming cruise, there's a new option that does not include drinks or food at all.  

So far it's only been spotted on one sailing, so it might be a test to gauge interest and demand. Here's what we know so far.

A cheaper day pass option

Royal Beach Club has offered two admission types: all inclusive alcohol, and all inclusive non-alcohol.

The Royal Beach Club Day Pass is a third option priced at $49.99.

The pass includes:

• Complimentary transportation
• Free Wi-Fi
• Umbrellas
• Loungers
• Towels
• Self-service water and juice

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, plus a variety of beach side bites will be available for purchase a la carte. Items will be available for purchase a la carte. Payments must be made using a credit card. 

Drink prices are listed at $16 to $17 per cocktail, and $8-9 for beers. 

According to Royal Caribbean, a la carte prices for dining options will range from $5.00 to $15.00 for a variety of entrees and sides. Kid menu options will also be available.

Of course, this day pass also gets you into the beach club and access to the beaches and pools. Royal Beach Club offers a full day of fun in both heated pools and access to exclusive beach access.

The advantage of this day pass is it's perfect for those that don't think they'd come close to getting value from paying for an all-inclusive pass. Those sorts of admission assume you'll eat and drink enough all day to get your money's worth from it.

Instead, this day pass means a lower entry for admission, which is good for those that want a great beach day without eating or drinking a lot.  Perhaps they plan to spend less time at the club, or are content with one or two food or drinks.

Is this a test or will this be a new option?

So far, we've only spotted this new third admission type on the Wonder of the Seas March 9th sailing.

Royal Caribbean has not announced or confirmed any details related to this pass, so we're working off this one entry in the Cruise Planner.

To provide context, here are the pricing for each admission type for this Wonder of the Seas sailing:

• Open Bar Day Pass: $95.99 per person
• Non-alcoholic Day Pass: $67.99 per person
• Day Pass: $49.99 per person

In the past, Royal Caribbean has experimented with offering a new option by first trialing it out on select sailings. Based on cruiser feedback and sale demand, these tests have either succeeded and the option became a widespread offering or was removed completely.

If you don't see it available on your visit to Nassau, there's nothing you can do to "get it".  If/when Royal Caribbean decides to expand the option, it will appear for sale.

Royal Beach Club is a new way to enjoy a shore excursion

The Royal Beach Club opened in late December, and Royal Caribbean has touted it as being "breathtakingly beautiful" and catering to what vacationers look for in a beach day.

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, said it's the ultimate beach day and guest feedback has been incredibly high.

It's essentially a shore excursion designed, built. and operated by Royal Caribbean. This means they extend the same level of high satisfaction score guest experience to the island as guests are used to on their ships.

There are three different neighborhoods on the island, each with its own flavor: Family Beach, Party Cove, and Chill Beach. 

Family Beach has a zero-entry pool for all ages, Party Cove is the perfect place to pump up the vibes with DJ-spun beats, and Chill Beach offers tranquil serenity.

Royal Caribbean just made an update to its website that makes planning dinner simpler.

Up until now, picking a time for dinner required a call to your travel agent or the cruise line to change assigned times and add in notes about any celebrations.

Royal Caribbean has now made that easier and faster because it's part of the website now.

A Royal Caribbean Blog reader noticed the change and posted about it on the message boards, and it's the kind of update I think will make everyone's life a little bit easier.

Here's what's new and how to access the changes.

You can now change dining times

Royal Caribbean gives every passenger the choice of what time to have dinner on the ship.  There is Traditional Dinner or My Time Dining.

You select which option you want at the time of booking, but now it's easy to change your plans.

Here are the steps:

1. Log into the Royal Caribbean website
2. Find your upcoming cruise and click Manage Reservation
3. Click Room and Guests
4. Under "Preferred dining time" you will see the option you have now. Click Edit to change it.

From here, you can choose from one of the three Traditional dinner times that have a set time each evening: Early, Late, and Later. Royal Caribbean added a "middle dinner time" in 2024.

Or you can opt for My Time Dining.

If an option is full, there's a check box to select to ask to be put on the waitlist.

The waitlist is a way to get automatically signed up for it should a spot open up.  

In my experience, even if the waitlist doesn't work before the cruise begins, you can usually go to the Main Dining Room on embarkation day and ask to change.  That almost usually works to get changed to your preferred time.

Let the ship know you're celebrating

At the bottom of the same screen under Room and Guests is an option to add a celebration note.

"What better way to celebrate life's important moments, a wedding, honeymoon, reunion, birthday, graduation, and anniversary than with luxury aboard Royal."

From a dropdown menu, you can let Royal Caribbean know if you're celebrating an anniversary, birthday, honeymoon, or retirement.

To be clear, selecting one of these options does not inherently get you anything special or extra. But now the crew members will be able to see the note anytime they look into your account, such as at a restaurant.

Typically, crew members that see it at a restaurant could surprise you with a cake, wish, or special treat.

Should you pick Anytime dining?

Now that it's easier than ever to change your dining preferences, which should you choose?

These choices apply to dinner in the Main Dining Room only. Traditional Dining is where you’re assigned a set seating (early, middle, or late) with the same table and wait staff each night.

My Time Dining offers a more flexible choice that lets you choose when you want to eat each evening between roughly 6:00 and 9:30 p.m. under availability. 

With Traditional Dining, you know exactly when and where you’ll eat every night, and there’s no wait once dinner begins. It’s routine and simple.

However My Time Dining works more like dining out at a restaurant: you can reserve a time ahead of your trip or show up and wait for a table, giving you more control to plan dinner around shows and excursions. 

I prefer Traditional for the simplicity. There's no extra steps to reserve dinner and no waiting for a table. While early is "too early" and late is "too late" for my taste, I'd rather make it as simple as I can.

Royal Caribbean is making its site and app better because it benefits customer and company

Improvements to the Royal Caribbean website aren't the result of a benevolent web team (although they're a great group of people).  The cruise line sees digital engagement as a win-win opportunity.

During Royal Caribbean Group's earnings call last month, executives saw a growing segment of its customers leveraging its site and app to make planning their cruise easier.  That translates to more pre-cruise sales and a better planning tool.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said active users on the company app rose 25% year over year in fourth quarter and e-commerce traffic grew 10% in 2025 with improved conversion rates.

"Our digital channels are increasingly the gateway to long-term guest value," he said.

While Royal Caribbean is clearly working towards compelling its guests to spend more, these kind of updates also help make managing a reservation easier.

Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room has a traditional approach to offering meals, especially dinner, every day of the cruise.

What I love about eating there is having the same wait staff that get to know me and what I like.  That level of service and friendliness brings me back because I enjoy the pomp and circumstance at dinner.

And I'm not alone in my love for what the Main Dining Room is today. Remember when the cruise line tried to remodel and redo how dinner worked on its ships but had to backtrack fast due to outcry from loyal customers? People still adore what the Main Dining Room has been for so long, and they cherish the experience.

The Main Dining Room food is comforting, the aesthetics lavish, and cruisers have an understanding of some unwritten rules.

This means that if you're new and haven't eaten in the MDR before, you might not realize there are things you can do to make your meals better, as well as things you might do that could create strife. These unwritten rules are simple, though, so putting them into action doesn't take much effort. 

If you've got dinner in the Main Dining Room planned ,here are six unwritten rules to know before you eat there.

Don't be late to dinner

If you're booked in Traditional Dinner, you really should be arriving at your scheduled time.

While being a few minutes late happens, being significantly or habitually late causes undo delays for your tablemates and waitstaff.

There are three seating's per evening, and meals are timed in order to get everyone in and out on time.

Not only does being late mean everyone else at your table has to wait longer to order their food, but it means your waiters have to rush to get your meal back on schedule so they can get you out the door within the expected timeline.

This isn't an issue with My Time Dining since you'll just inconvenience yourself and have to wait for the next available table.

In my opinion, if I was more than 15-20 minutes late, I'd seek dinner elsewhere on the ship.

Respect the dress codes, even if they're just suggestions

Royal Caribbean vaguely lists a dress code that is rarely enforced, but I still think you should stick to the spirit of them.

Each night of your cruise has a theme and a dress code for the Main Dining Room.  It's listed in the Royal Caribbean app, as well as posted in the Cruise Compass.

These dress codes are more suggestions than requirements. Even formal night or "Dress your best night" isn't nearly as fancy as you might think.  No need to pack a tuxedo or ball gown, unless you really want to.

The bare minimum is to wear something to dinner that is nicer than you'd wear to the pool deck. A collared shirt and slacks/jeans for men will suffice. Ladies can wear jeans and a blouse, dress, or a skirt. 

And yes, you can probably wear shorts because the dress code isn't enforced and Royal Caribbean's own verbiage says its dress codes are "suggested attire". Personally, I wouldn't wear shorts to dinner unless my luggage was lost or packed away for the final evening. Even then, I'd probably eat at the buffet, but that's just me.

Basically, make an effort. You don't have to dress like it's prom night, but you should try sprucing things up (even if you're on vacation).

The absolute no-no's that are actually enforced is no bare feet and no tank tops.

Tell your waiter if you need a faster meal

Royal Caribbean has gotten a lot better at speeding up its dinners, but if you need to be out by a certain time, I'd convey that up front.

If you have a show, appointment, or just somewhere you need to be by a certain time, I would recommend telling them when you sit down so they can expedite your meal.

Waiters are happy to speed up your meal to get you out on time, but they're not mind readers.  They want you to be happy and enjoy a meal at the same time.

In my experience, you can have a meal in as little as 45 minutes if they know you need to go.  It could be less if you're willing to forgo dessert.

Don't waste food, but it's okay to try something

Most of the Main Dining Room menu is included at no additional cost, but it's expected you'll try your best to eat what you order.

Not only is the cruise line trying to cut down on food waste, I think it's your responsibility to not be wasteful.

However, don't let this stop you from trying new food.  There is a wide selection of food each night, and a few items are true hidden gems. The waiters will be the first to tell you they're happy to bring something out for you to try, and if you don't like it, they can get you something else.

That's different from flagrantly over ordering food you know ahead of time you probably won't eat.

I've found cruises to be the perfect opportunity to try new foods because there's little risk.  I won't go to a land restaurant and pay for food I've never had and am worried I won't like. But since there's no additional cost for most of what's on the Main Dining Room menu, it's fun to try something new.

You can order food to go

A lot of new cruisers are surprised you can take food out of a restaurant and bring it back to your room (or anywhere else onboard).

Let's say you're full, but want to enjoy dessert later. You can ask to take it with you back to your room.

Likewise, you can take seconds or any food and the crew can put it in a bowl and to-go container cover so you can more easily transport it back.

This means you could have dessert on your balcony, or wake up to leftovers in your cabin.

This strategy also works for someone you're cruising with who isn't feeling well.  Perhaps they're nursing a hangover, are too tired to go to dinner, or just not feeling great. You can ask to bring food back to them in the room.

Don't bring up controversial topics

Dinner conversation is fun, but stick to topics that won't get anyone angry.

Specifically, I'd avoid bringing up politics and religion.  Current events tend to skew into politics before you know it.

I want to enjoy my meal without offending someone else or having a debate.  It's just not worth the effort, and it ruins the vibe.

Things you should talk about can be much more fun:

• Your cruising experience
• What you did earlier that day
• Plans for tomorrow
• Weather
• Sports teams
• Movies and entertainment

You're not going to convince anyone of your viewpoint, and leaving anger and awkward silences later isn't enjoyable for anyone.

Welcome to March! We hope you are having a great weekend and are ready to sit back, relax and catch up with all the latest Royal Caribbean news!

Royal Caribbean made a controversial change to its drink packages by removing the souvenir cup and access to soda machines.

Beginning March 15, the Coca-Cola souvenir cup and Freestyle machines will only be included with the soda package.

You can pay $4.99 to regain access to it with the purchase of a drink package.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean cruise ship blanketed by snow in major blizzard
• Reservations open for new train restaurant on Legend of the Seas
• What to do when crew members disrupt your meal experience
• I always do these 16 things the second I enter my cruise cabin to make it better
• 6 restaurants on Royal Caribbean ships we recommend over and over
• Why Royal Caribbean's European summer is its most ambitious
• The myth about who goes on cruises people need to stop believing
• I went to San Juan on a cruise and was blown away by how much fun I had on a budget
• Cruise passengers stuck waiting for blizzard turn delay into snow day fun

New RCB Video: This Is Why I Think You’re Crazy to Do This on a 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 — This Is Why I Think You’re Crazy to Do This on a Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Royal Caribbean overhauls its prohibited item list

The list of things you can't bring on a cruise ship just got a big update.

The new look expands the list to include new additions, as well as add more context to other existing bans,

It appears Royal Caribbean wants to ensure it's clearer what you can and cannot bring on a ship.

I stole these genius cruise hacks that I can't wait to try on my cruise

Cruisers are always coming up with new ways to make their cruise better, and I stumbled on a treasure trove of cruise hacks.

Some of these hacks are clever changes, while others are things I'd never have thought to do myself.

Each offers a new possibility for making your cruise easier or better.

Complaints prompt Royal Caribbean to respond and make changes to a sailing

There was an uneasiness about a solar eclipse cruise, so Royal Caribbean acted swiftly.

Some passengers were worried their sailing wouldn't offer the perfect viewing of the solar eclipse. The issue was the sailing was marketed as being a solar eclipse trip.

This week, Royal Caribbean adjusted the itinerary after enough complains came in to ensure passengers would have the best chance of seeing this natural phenomena.

Royal Caribbean released new 2027-2028 cruises to book

There are new cruises you can book that have just been released.

Royal Caribbean added more Caribbean sailings to its 2027-2028 deployment, and they're available to book immediately.

These new offerings fill in some gaps for ships that didn't have every sailing revealed through April 2028.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

We've just released the 598th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt looks at the recent trend of adding more casino space on cruise ships.

You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via YouTube, iTunes, Google Play or RSS.