A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing in the South Pacific has died.

As first reported by People and confirmed by the police, a passenger was found dead aboard Anthem of the Seas as the ship was on its way to Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

A police statement confirmed basic details surrounding the death.

"At around 1:45 a.m., Police were notified of a death on board the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship which was arriving from Sydney, Australia."

Police are “making enquiries into the person's death on behalf of the coroner."

The police are now investigating the "sudden death", and no cause of death has yet been disclosed.

Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident as well, issuing a statement to members of the media.

"We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests. We are supporting authorities in their investigation"

No other details have been shared regarding the person's identity, what may have happened, or any other details surrounding the nature of the death.

Anthem of the Seas is on a 12-night roundtrip New Zealand cruise. The ship's itinerary includes visits to the Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch), and Dunedin, featuring scenic cruising in Dusky and Milford Sound before returning on April 3, 2026.

Anthem of the Seas is a 168,666 a gross ton vessel, and one of the Quantum Class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. It can accommodate up to 4,180 guests and 1,500 crew members.

It debuted in 2015, and is a relatively newer ship.

Royal Caribbean's new cabin design solves the noise problem in connecting rooms.

In March, I went on Star of the Seas for a 7-night cruise to Mexico and Honduras and I paid $2597.34 for each category CB stateroom.

I booked two connecting balcony rooms so that we had separation from my kids and we had two bathrooms, which has become a must-have when cruising with teenagers.

We stayed in cabins 12696 and 12698, which is on deck 12 and a short walk from the aft elevators.

After a few days, I regretted not booking our rooms on a lower deck.  I like to rely on the stairs to quickly get down to the Royal Promenade, but I wish I had a cabin on deck 8 or 9 instead because the walk would have been shorter.

Regardless of deck, I prefer to pick a cabin near the elevators to reduce the walking distance and increase convenience.

I've stayed in connecting rooms before, but there's a major difference with them on Star of the Seas. Instead of a connecting door inside the room, there's now a new feature that I think is pure genius.

Royal Caribbean added a pair of outside doors to solve a problem connecting cabins traditionally had of the interior common door being flimsy and not very soundproof.

The idea with these rooms is you can close off the outside doors and then keep your primary cabin door open or unlocked so you can easily go between each.

The advantage of this approach is if you don't know someone in the other connecting cabin, you don't have an interior door to contend with.  It's a wonderful little fix.

This seemingly solves the reason why connecting rooms were on our list of cabins to avoid on a cruise ship.

Access to the outside door still requires a tap of the RFID Seapass card (or Wow Band), and you can open or close the outer doors anytime you want.

The flexibility to deploy the outside doors or not meant we could keep it simple during the day, but close them at night in case us or the kids needed to pass through the rooms quickly.

Walking into the cabin, it's far from a giant cabin.  This is a standard balcony room with enough room for two passengers to comfortably enjoy it.

The king size bed is found immediately as we pass into the room. Like most Royal Caribbean beds, it can be split apart upon request.

On both sides of the bed is a reading light switch, along with a USB-A outlet.

There is a large closet near the bed, which is where most of the storage space is located.

Royal Caribbean provides hangers for your use, so you don't need to bring any extras with you.

The most controversial thing about this cabin are the wire baskets at the bottom.

Instead of drawers there are these heavy black baskets that screech every time you pull or push them in because they rub against the wood below it.

Frankly, I hate this and don't understand why the baskets were ever approved given how loud they are to slide in and out. Plus, I don't love the idea of my garments being visible from within the basket.

Some of our readers suggested removing the baskets and hiding them under the bed, which is a pretty good idea.

Next to the closet is a full-length mirror, which if you pull it open, reveals the safe.

Kind of a neat idea to hide the safe behind the mirror.

There is a large television across from the bed, which has a few channels to watch.  My favorite is the non-stop Back to the Future movies channel loop. 

Next to the TV are a set of shelves, with an extra USB outlet here. I'm not certain why there's a USB outlet, but it's there.

There is a vanity as you move deeper into the cabin, which also has additional drawers.

The vanity has a mirror and many power outlets. There is a universal AC outlet, along with one USB-A and one USB-C outlet.

Opposite the vanity is a sofa, which ends up being the "place all our junk gets put on".  But theoretically, you could sit or lay on it.

The balcony is accessible via a sliding door, where you'll find two chairs and a table.

Having a balcony room is such a nice plus. It's a wonderful space to enjoy and just large enough for two people to comfortably be out there. 

Back inside the room, the bathroom is small, but the space is used effectively.

The best thing about a bathroom on Star of the Seas is the shower. 

Instead of a tubular shape, Royal Caribbean has a much wider option with sliding door and even a bench. 

Overall, connecting balcony rooms are my favorite option for families that want to cruise together, but not share the same room.

Suites are so much more expensive than connecting rooms. Plus, this new connecting outside door idea is a really smart upgrade for families, or a lovely workaround if you happen to end up in a connecting balcony room and don't know the people in the other room.

Despite higher oil prices, airport delays, and travel disruption, travelers with a cruise booked are largely still planning to take their vacation.

So I asked cruise fans a simple question: Would any of this change your plans?

The answer was almost unanimous. They’re still going.

"Keeping all 9 of my bookings from now through November," posted Simone Amadee on Facebook when questioned if they were reconsidering travel because of recent global events.

Hundreds of others weighed in to say mostly the same thing: they're keeping their travel plans in place.

Long TSA lines, the Iran conflict, and increased airfares have been at the forefront of news in recent weeks, but going on a cruise doesn't seem to be changing in anyone's view yet.

Joline Tate posted, "Royal Caribbean will not take you where there's danger. If a port is dangerous, they will cancel; you won't have to."

Her sentiment was shared by many that life goes on, despite the travel anxiety some may be feeling.

"Unless the cruise line cancels it, I’m going"

The overwhelming response wasn’t hesitation. It was defiance. Despite scary headlines, most travelers are not canceling cruises.

We asked our readers on Facebook if they're feeling any concern about going on a cruise due to recent issues around the United States and abroad.

Over 200 comments were left, and the vast majority were positive and said they were definitely going on their cruise. In our unscientific poll, there were very limited outright cancellations.

The majority of the comments fell into the "I'm still going" category.

"I cruise at the end of July to the Caribbean. I'm making the final payment next week and hoping for the best," added Kelly D'Alessandro.

Many people shared they feel cruises feel insulated from global events. Moreover, Caribbean cruises are seen as low risk.

"I would absolutely go on a cruise if I had one booked and paid for. Probably the safest way to travel today," wrote Kat PS.

It also helps that cruises are booked months in advance, and most itineraries are far from conflict zones. Royal Caribbean doesn't offer any cruises in the Middle East, and their European cruise season is just about to begin.

Plus, there's a strong sense that cruises feel removed from the chaos on land. Once you're onboard, the outside world fades pretty quickly.

Some are concerned, but not canceling

Even though many aren't canceling their cruise, they are monitoring the situation to see if a change is needed.

Flights are probably the top concern among respondents.

• "Keeping all 9 of my bookings… a bit nervous about all of the flights"
• "A bit nervous about all of the flights I have to take but keeping the faith all will go well!"
• "My problem was the air fare was more than the cruise I was about to book"

People aren't canceling cruises, but they are worried about getting there. To that point, some people are pivoting to cruises they can drive to instead of relying on air travel.

A partial government shutdown has strained the Transportation Security Administration, contributing to longer security lines at airports across the country. This has lead to long lines at airports in some cases.

The concern of missing a flight over these delays is at the heart of why some are questioning going overseas for a trip. Both Americans traveling to Europe and Europeans coming to the States are where the comments started to vary.

"Staying in Europe this year, but we've booked most of our holidays at home in UK for the rest of the year," Sandra Harris wrote.

"Europe? Moved mine to next summer," added Ashley H.

People aren't canceling, but they are watching

The bottom line is most people with a cruise booked plan to go on it, but they aren't ignoring the world events either.

People are watching flight prices and airport situations, and they're thinking more carefully about future trips.

The cruise is still happening, it's just everything around it that feels a little uncertain.

I wanted to avoid paying cruise ship drink prices, but I didn’t want to buy a drink package either. So I tried a simple workaround: I brought a 12-pack of soda with me on my Royal Caribbean cruise.

If you're wondering, "Can I bring a 12-pack of soda on a Royal Caribbean cruise?", the answer is a resounding, "Yes!".

I buy beverage packages when it makes sense based on who I'm cruising with, but for my family's spring break cruise, I wanted to rely just on my loyalty drink vouchers.  However, I didn't want to use a voucher on a can of soda.

It was pain lugging the 12-pack around on embarkation day, but by the end of the cruise I realized it was an underrated hack.

It ended up saving me more than I expected, and it’s a trick more cruisers should be using.

Can you bring soda on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

One of the best secrets you may not know is Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring non-alcoholic drinks on a cruise.

You're allowed to bring up to 12 cans or bottles of soda, water, juice, or any other non-alcoholic beverage on embarkation day. The limit is per stateroom, not per person.

The only "catch" is you cannot check it. It must be in your carry-on luggage, so that means you need to take it onboard.

It's officially allowed, and not a "sneaky" hack, but many people are unaware of it.  I certainly knew about it, but never actually took advantage of it before.

I like having a soft drink with dinner, so I thought my 7-night Star of the Seas cruise would be the perfect opportunity to bring it onboard to reduce costs without sacrificing the enjoyment of my meals.

Why I decided to try this cruise hack

Once I decided not to buy a drink package, I started thinking about ways to maximize my included benefits.

I have 6 drink vouchers to use per day because I'm a Pinnacle Club member in the Crown and Anchor Society, which is Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program.

Each voucher covers a drink up to $14, so it seemed to me like using one for a soda would be a waste. Of course, a single can of soda would cost $3.50 each, so that would add up quickly.

Moreover, I only want a soda or two per day.  Therefore, buying a soda package wasn't worth it either.

Given that all I had to do was buy a 12 pack at home and lug it around for a couple hours on day one, it seemed like the perfect low-effort experiment.

Carrying the soda around on the first day was the worst part

As I expected, having to walk around with the 12 pack wasn't ideal, but it was only for a few hours.

Going through security in Port Canaveral was very easy, and there was no issue with the soda. This is why you need to carry it on and not put it in your bags.  Otherwise, the scanner will see a can and not be able to determine if it's beer or soda, and then everything gets delayed.

We boarded the ship around 10:30am, but our cabin wasn't open until 1pm.  The 12 pack comes in a cardboard box that is bulky and a little heavy, so it's more of an inconvenience to carry it than anything else.

I found the best strategy is to go to bar, pool chair, or somewhere to use as a "home base" and set it down until your cabin is ready.

It was more of a pain getting it from the car to the terminal to the ship, and then around to complete muster drill, get a coffee, and then finally set it down at a bar.

In reality, it wasn't that bad to lug around for just a few hours.

How I used the soda during the cruise

If I had any doubts about the usefulness of carrying on soda, it was immediately dissuaded at dinner on the first night.

Not only did I bring my own soda onboard to save money, but I brought Dr. Pepper because it's my favorite and it's a brand Royal Caribbean doesn't carry (other than with the Freestyle machines).

It was so nice going into Coastal Kitchen for dinner and having a glass of soda to enjoy with my dinner.

Plus, I had cans ready to go in my cabin.  On one afternoon when I wanted a quick pick-me-up, I grabbed a can from the cooler and it hit the spot.

The only downside was getting I had to wait for ice

I would bring a can or two with me to dinner, and it became quickly apparent I had to wait to get a cup of ice.

Waiters in any restaurant I went to were busy, and it would be some time before they arrived with a glass and ice in it.  It's not a big deal, but a few times I had to wait more than 15 minutes before the glass of ice was delivered to my table.

Generally speaking, drink service is slow at any Royal Caribbean restaurant. I wasn't surprised by it, but it became a "necessary evil" of this little hack.

I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't keep the cans cool in my fridge.  The issue was I wasn't always going immediately from my cabin to dinner. I might stop off at the casino, suite lounge, or another venue before going to dinner.  So the soda wouldn't be quite ice cold by the time our meal started.

How much money this actually saved me

Not only is this cruise hack simple, it's easy to track the savings.

Royal Caribbean charges $3.50 per can of soda on its ships.  So by bringing a 12-pack, I saved $42 (plus gratuity), and I got the brand of soda I like that wouldn't have otherwise been able to enjoy.

This is the perfect hack for someone that doesn't drink enough to warrant a drink package. For a soda package to make financial sense, you'd need to drink at least 4 sodas per day to justify the cost.

Would I do this again?

I would absolutely bring soda again on my cruise, provided I could easily pre-purchase it before the sailing.

The key is to purchase it once you get to the embarkation city (meaning don't fly with a 12-pack), purchase it there and bring it onboard.

I think bringing your own sodas is great for casual soda drinkers, budget-conscious cruisers, and families.  I shared my sodas with my kids after realizing one soda a day would result in leftovers by the end of the cruise.

As I mentioned before, carrying it onboard was mildly annoying. And waiting for a glass of ice to go with it became an expectation.  But I don't think either issue was a major problem.

As an alternative to a drink package, I think bringing your own sodas on Royal Caribbean was the perfect money-saving tip. It's one of the easiest cruise tips I’ve actually used, and it worked.

Spring break is one of the most popular times of year to take a cruise. The weather is mild, and many kids across the country are off school, making it extra convenient.

I've been taking my kids on a spring break cruise ever for the past 9 years, and it's a wonderful experience because as they get old, it becomes more challenging to find times when we all can travel together.

The catch with any spring break cruise is how many other kids are doing the same thing.  While Royal Caribbean ships always sail full, there many more families on a spring break cruise and that means more people onboard because those third and fourth beds are filled up.

On Star of the Seas, we had over 10,000 people onboard the ship our 7-night Western Caribbean cruise when you combine passengers with crew members. Needless to say, the cruise ship was busy.

Here are some of the tips we used to navigate the unavoidable crowds.

Go to the pool early

Perhaps no other place on your cruise ship will be as crowded as the pool deck on a sea day.

My best advice is to go up to the pool early before everyone else does.  Star of the Seas has seven pools and ten whirlpools onboard, so it's probably the best cruise ship at distributing crowds.

Our strategy was to go to the pool before 10am and get our time in early.  Most people roll up to the pool deck in the late morning, with the peak crowds extending through early afternoon.

But if you go up before 10am, you'll have no problem finding open chairs.  Chair hogs are a notorious problem on any cruise ship, so getting a chair in the morning is critical.

Not only does this strategy get you a chair, but you can also enjoy a much less crowded pool.  

My theory is to enjoy the pool in the morning, then leave at lunch and enjoy an afternoon nap back in my cabin.

Pre-book shows in the app

Royal Caribbean allows you to pre-book shows, and it's an absolute must-do on a spring break cruise.

According to the cruise line, show reservations open up on the first day of the month before the sailing. That's not totally accurate, but it's a good ballpark of when to start looking for them.

We pre-booked all of our shows, so we didn't have to wait in line to see it. There's no cost to pre-book shows, but that also means a lot of people will book show reservations just to have them and they go quickly.

I'd prioritize show tickets for Torque and the comedy shows, because they have the smallest theaters.  Back to the Future: The Musical is also a must-see.

Speaking of Torque, I always recommend booking the aqua shows for the first sailing because too much movement can cancel a show.  By picking an early show, you ensure you can either see it while conditions are ripe, or have more chances to see it later if your viewing is cancelled.

Take advantage of a port day for the water park

Star of the Seas has an entire water park, so the best time to ride all the slides with as little wait as possible is on a port day.

Pick a port that you'll stay on the ship and hit the water slides. Just like my pool deck strategy, go in the morning when the slides first open and enjoy virtually no lines.

Once you get to lunch time, people start returning to the ship and lines for the water slides can build quickly.

Another smart strategy is to bring your bathing suit on embarkation day and go on the slides as soon as you board. 

Few other people will have their bathing suit because they packed it away in their checked luggage, so lines tend to be lower on the first day until about mid-afternoon.

Prepare to splurge for a suite if having a less crowded pool deck is important to you

Paying extra for a suite on top of the premium pricing a new ship like Star of the Seas enjoys can sting, but if you're looking for the "easy button", the extra expense may be worth it.

Suite guests get access to the Suite Neighborhood onboard, which includes its own private pool deck, lounge, and restaurant.

The Grove is the name of the suite sun deck area on Icon Class ships, which has its own pool, hot tub, and lots of loungers.

I was able to access this area because I'm a Pinnacle Club member, and having an enclave from the main pool area provided a wonderful relief from crowds.  There were still lots of people taking advantage of this area, but it's far more manageable.

I would never advocate booking a suite because it's a good value. But there are some people that would prefer to pay extra to avoid crowds, and this is the option for them.

You'll need to book a Grand Suite or any other Sky or Star Class suite to get the full benefits. Traditional Junior Suites (and Surfside Family Suites later this year) only have partial suite benefits, and the pool area isn't one of them.

Make dining reservations early

Just as important as your show reservations are ensuring you have a place to eat each night.

I witnessed numerous times someone asking for a table without a reservation, only to be told there's nothing left for that day.

Royal Caribbean has made it very easy to prebook specialty restaurants, even with the dining package, thanks to the Royal Caribbean app. I made all my reservations before the cruise began and was grateful I didn't have to worry about finding a place to eat onboard.

If you're eating at the Main Dining Room, you can pre-book your My Time Dining spots too.  Personally, I'd recommend Traditional Dining to make it even easier.

If you decide to book something onboard, make that decision early. Book reservations on the first day because all the restaurants were overbooked by the time we got to day three or four of the cruise.

Hit the gym on port days

I found the gym gets overcrowded on sea days, so it's better to go on any port day.

Hit the gym before your excursion early and you'll find the fitness center is so much less crowded.  I went on the morning we were in Perfect Day at CocoCay, and there were maybe 10 people total to contend with.

This was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled more than 20 scheduled sailings aboard its Freedom of the Seas ship for the summer 2027 season.

The ship has been redeployed for sailings between May and September 2027, which resulted in the former sailings being cancelled.

Freedom of the Seas will be redeployed to Southampton, England.

Royal Caribbean News

• Why every hardcore Royal Caribbean fan will be on Icon of the Seas in October
• US Coast Guard rescues sick passenger from floating cruise ship at sea
• New Tampa cruise port plans are dead
• Can you move to another stateroom if you have a noisy neighbor?
• Inside Royal Caribbean's all-new Ultimate Family Cabana with a slide, hot tub, and more
• Why your Caribbean cruise forecast says rain every day
• Things I would never do on a cruise ship
• Canceling and rebooking Royal Caribbean pre-cruise purchases can save you money
• Mr. Sanchos Beach Resort day pass review
• What St. Patrick's Day is like on the world's biggest cruise ship

New RCB Video: 20 Minutes of Royal Caribbean Secrets You Were Never Supposed to Know

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 — 20 Minutes of Royal Caribbean Secrets You Were Never Supposed to Know — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Man overboard emergency on ship determined to be false alarm, teenage prank gone wrong

Teens on a Royal Caribbean ship reported a man overboard when there wasn't one.

The prank lead to the "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" code over the public address system and the US Coast Guard being called in for assistance.

The ship's Captain later announced it was a prank and everyone was accounted for onboard.

Royal Caribbean is bringing its beach club concept to a surprising new destination

Royal Caribbean announced plans for its new Royal Beach Club, and it will be different from the others.

Located on Vanuatu, Royal Beach Club Lelepa will open in October 2027 and be included in your cruise fare.

It won't have pools, but will have a phenomenal beach experience.

Royal Caribbean testing bookings for unannounced Icon ship

It looks like Royal Caribbean might be close to finally revealing its next new cruise ship.

A test load for "HE" was spotted on the cruise line website from Miami in 2027, which is consistent with when we expect to see the fourth Icon Class ship to debut.

While Royal Caribbean has not said anything, test loads of sailings on the website have usually coincided with a formal launch shortly thereafter.

Mariner of the Seas returns with new upgrades

Mariner of the Seas is back in service after a short refurbishment, and there are a few changes.

This wasn't an amplification or major upgrade. Rather, most of the work was maintenance in nature.

However, guests spotted a handful of small enhancements. 

Are there any options if your cruise ship cabin neighbor is loud and noisy?

In my 20 years of cruising, I've been lucky enough to avoid neighbors that are too loud, but there was one cruise that a friend had this problem.

She was booked in an inside cabin and her neighbor thought it was okay to blast their music every day as they were getting ready for their evening festivities. It was an ongoing issue that not only was annoying to hear through the walls, but prevented her from going to sleep.

While you could certainly try to ask them to quiet down, there are a few things to try if a noisy neighbor is a problem on your cruise.

You can call security, but you need to catch them in the act

One of the first lessons is Royal Caribbean won't get involved in a "he said, she said" situation.

This means you can call security about someone being too loud, but they need to be present to witness it themselves. So if you spend all night unable to sleep and complain in the morning, it's too late.

What you want to do is call security the moment your neighbor starts up acting inconsiderately and hope security can get there fast enough to see or hear the disturbance.

Your stateroom attendant is another option, so if they're nearby, point out the issue to them and ask them to get their supervisor involved.

You could certainly video it as evidence, but it's my experience that security needs to be present to witness it so they can document it. To be fair, I wouldn't want to get in trouble just because someone else claims I did something wrong.

Usually, they'll give the person a warning and ask them to turn it down and be more considerate. Subsequent incidents could lead to more stern discipline. Your cruise contract leaves a lot of discretion to the ship as to how to deal with obnoxious passengers, so there isn't a firm list of steps or rules related to punishing this.

You could ask for a different cabin, but it's unlikely to be granted

Because Royal Caribbean cruise ships sail full almost every sailing, the chances of being moved to a different room is an option but I wouldn't bet on it.

It's rare to have any spare cabins on a cruise, especially in the same room category as you are booked.  There are sometimes no-shows and rarely unsold rooms, but they're few and far between.

You could ask Guest Services to simply be moved so you're not bothered by this person, but there's only so much the Hotel Director can do if there aren't any free cabins.

My advice is don't get involved trying to police the situation

A friendly, "hey, would you mind turning down the volume?" when seeing your neighbor in the hall is fine, but you really don't want to get involved beyond that.

If your neighbors are fighting or yelling at each other, you should call security and let them deal with it. 

There's no telling how quickly a heated argument will escalate, and ultimately it's not your role or job either.

Avoid booking connecting rooms if you don't know the person in the other cabin

Whenever possible, I don't recommend booking a connecting cabin unless you book both rooms.

The connecting door between the two rooms is quite flimsy, and noise will more easily travel between the rooms than it would with a standard cabin wall between them.

Before you book a cruise, check the deck plans to make sure you aren't picking that sort of a room. Truthfully, most people end up in a connecting room because they opt for a guarantee cabin.

Guarantee rooms are staterooms that cost less because you let the cruise line pick the room. The cabin assigned is an unsold cabin, and often these are leftover connecting rooms.

It's far from a lock that any guarantee room will be a connecting room, but it seems to be fairly common.

One of the biggest events of the year is coming up that anyone that cruises a lot on Royal Caribbean won't want to miss.

Among all the cruises you can book, one is hosted by Royal Caribbean and made for cruise fans.

The annual President's Cruise is an open invitation by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley to all cruise fans to join in.

If you've never been on a President's Cruise, it sounds strange. Book a cruise just to sail with cruise line executives and super fans? But this essentially a celebration of cruising, the cruise line we love, and an opportunity to share in it with friends.

Think of it like the Comic-Con of cruising, where people the super fans come out to see and be seen.

When is Royal Caribbean's President's Cruise in 2026?

There's still time to get onboard the President's Cruise for 2026.

It will be held on Icon of the Seas on the October 3, 2026 sailing. That's a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that sails from Miami, Florida.

The cruise will visit St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Why the President's Cruise is worth trying

The appeal of going on a President's Cruise is only understood by those that love Royal Caribbean cruises so much that they are (mostly) exclusive to the brand.

It's akin to a convention that focuses on one brand and celebrating what we love about it. It's not all that surprising considering how successful Royal Caribbean has been. Not only are their ships selling out, but the company enjoys a fanatical loyalty.

Royal Caribbean has hosted it for many years now, with different ships and destinations. 

They go beyond simply picking a cruise and tossing Michael Bayley on there. There are special events, giveaways, celebrities, and more. 

Events blend nostalgia, exclusive first looks, and behind-the-scenes opportunities that you simply won't find anywhere else. It's the only time where Royal Caribbean peels back the curtain and welcomes its fans in for a candid look.

I think some people see the President's Cruise as their best opportunity to voice their opinions. Mr. Bayley hosts a Q&A event during the cruise and provides honest feedback to what people have to say.

If the issue raised is more appropriate for a different executive, Mr. Bayley summons them on stage like a Pokémon he has ready to launch, and that person provides feedback.

Besides the top brass, you'll also find lots of top cruisers who share your passion for cruising. 

The surprises are worth booking this cruise

I think why most cruisers come back over and over again on President's Cruises is because of the events that are held.

Executives from every department are part of activities sprinkled about the normal cruise schedule. In fact, there are special performances by musical celebrities, surprise events, and special excursions.

Every President's Cruise has a featured musical act. Most recently it was Rev. Run of Run-DMC on Utopia of the Seas.  Other musical acts have included Michael Bolton, Boy George, and Patty LaBelle.

You should also expect swag in your cabin. In the past, there have been towels, shirts, clips, and so many pieces of brand giveaways that you'll need to leave extra room in your luggage to make sure you can fit it all after the cruise is over.

Why you should try a President's Cruise

The best reason to try a President's Cruise is because you're on a blog about Royal Caribbean, so clearly you have an affinity for the brand.

In the same way going to a Comic-Con is for anyone that's a fan of comics, the President's Cruise was designed for repeat cruisers.

I think the access you get at the events onboard is a major draw. Being able to hear and see the top decision makers within Royal Caribbean offers both insight and a way to share your own thoughts.

Those that have been on a President's Cruise in the past would tell you the giveaways and special events are a top reason to go. Every President's Cruise is different, so you never know what the line has up its sleeve and staying at home risks a lot of FOMO.

Plus, there's a good chance you can meet your fellow cruise fans.  If you're active online in forums or groups, there's a good chance a lot of people you "know" will be there too.

How to book the President's Cruise

The October 3, 2026 sailing of Icon of the Seas is open to anyone to book, so there's nothing special you need to do to be a part of the fun onboard.

Our preferred travel agency is showing at the time of this article's publishing cabins are still available in all of the four major categories.

An inside cabin starts at $1,670.02 per guest (including taxes and fees). 

The cheapest balcony on this sailing is a Neighborhood Balcony Stateroom Guarantee, which costs $2,042.52 for two people (including taxes and fees).

If you're feeling bold and want to impress Michael Bayley, go for the Ultimate Family Townhouse. It costs $47,034.52 for two people for the week.

Any Royal Caribbean cruise is likely to sell out sooner or later, so space will be limited and you'll want to book as early as you can before prices go higher and more cabins sell out.

Late-night food on a cruise doesn't seem important in the months before your vacation, but when it's 12:37 a.m., the shows are over, the casino’s still buzzing, and suddenly you’re starving.

Royal Caribbean has evolved its food game. Traditionally, it might have been a slice of pizza or waiting for room service. But on the new ships, there are way more late-night food options than you might expect, and some of them are really good.

So instead of guessing, I stayed up late and tried them all while sailing. For the purposes of this test, I considered any time after 10 p.m. "late night".

From grab-and-go snacks to surprisingly good hot food, I ranked every late-night option on Star of the Seas to figure out what’s actually worth your time.

Sorrento's

There's a reason that you can get pizza by the slice on every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship late at night. It's not the best pizza in the world, but darn if a greasy slice doesn't hit the spot.

Sorrento's is open all day, but stays open very late. On Star of the Seas, the ship's pizza joint is open until 3 a.m.

There's always cheese and pepperoni slices available, and usually one or two other variations that change daily. 

Located on the Royal Promenade, it's convenient and also incredibly popular. 

When I asked Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley his favorite food on Icon of the Seas, he said it was a slice of pepperoni pizza. For him, it was tradition to enjoy pizza on a cruise.

As a pizza snob myself, I would never gloat over the quality of it. But it has a thin bottom and a pretty good crust.  The slices are small, but load up with 2 or 3, and you're ready to soak up the next round of drinks.

Aquadome Market

Royal Caribbean's food hall is as impressive as a snack stop as it is for a full meal.

Aquadome Market is open until midnight, offering not just a quick bite to eat late at night, but you can also go for a second dinner, too.

When I went up for a visit at 11 p.m., there was a giant line for the crepes. It might have had a longer line than even Sorrento's.  And I can't say I blame anyone who waited in that line.

The crepes are made on the spot just the way you like them: Nutella, banana, chocolate, caramel, or strawberry. 

Around the corner, there are 4 other options with barely any line. 

My favorite late-night snack has to be a good falafel wrap. Ever since I started cruising to Europe, I have fallen in love with falafel or shawarma wraps.  

Call me crazy, but I think these are also healthier than a few slices of pizza. If I'm wrong, please don't tell me so I can continue indulging.

You could opt for a brisket sandwich, Thai bowl, or arepas. All of it included!

Playmakers Sports Bar

If you don't mind spending a few dollars, Playmakers Sports Bar has the bar food to go along with those beers and cocktails.

Bar food just hits right, especially nachos, onion rings, or a buffalo crunch wrap.

My family loves to have dessert here because Playmakers has the best dessert ever: the Campfire Cookie.

It's warm, gooey, sweet, and the kind of dessert that there is no way you're going to leave anything behind.  

Plus, if you're used to having bar food with your late-night drinks, this is your best bet.

The real problem with Playmakers is that the kitchen is only open until 11 p.m., so you've gotta plan ahead if you want late-night nachos.

Pearl Cafe

The only true option that's available any hour of the night, Pearl Cafe is open 24 hours and is the last refuge for the weary-eyed party animal.

There are desserts, sandwiches, and even fruits or vegetables. Heck, you could grab a coffee to power through the next marathon Blackjack session.

I tried the Oreo cheesecake, which was about as indulgent as you can get without paying for the Campfire Cookie. It may be small, but it was a solid serving of cheesecake.

I saw something called a Coconut Cheese Custard, which looked as strange as the name sounded. I decided to try it out in the name of research.

It wasn't as bad as I expected, but it also wasn't good either.  It had a gelatinous consistency to it. Maybe with enough drinks, this will be your must-eat choice.

It's hard to deny the variety of food choices available at Pearl Cafe. It's a major upgrade from Cafe Promenade, and I think an impressive array of choices.

Honorable mentions for not-so-late-night snacks

There are two other venues that close at 10 p.m., but could work for a snack if you're taking a break before the shenanigans really start.

There are two Sprinkles locations on Icon Class ships: the pool deck and Surfside.  The location on the pool deck stays open until 10 p.m.

Soft-serve froyo is great, but I think it's usually an opportunistic snack you would get as you walk past it and think, "Oh! Ice cream sounds great."

The other good idea is Sugar Beach for even more flavors of ice cream (or candy).

Also closing at 10 p.m., Sugar Beach is probably where your kids would want to stop for food while you're between sips of your drink.

I think Aquadome Market has the overall best food, but it's not open as late as other spots

If we're judging this competition purely on the food offered, Aquadome Market wins in a landslide.

They have so much variety and good quality.  You can have a couple of bites or a full meal. And it's all included in your cruise fare.

Sorrento's is a close second because it's open much later, and it seems the later at night it gets, the better their pizza tastes.

Plus, Sorrento's is on the Royal Promenade, making it a very convenient option if you're at the Schooner Bar, Dueling Pianos, or Pub.