Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships are an excellent balance of fun things to do onboard and value. They're big enough to include lots of activities, but they don't come with the price tag of newer cruise ships.

Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas are two ships within this category of Royal Caribbean cruise ship that appeal to families looking to get a good value for their vacation dollar.

Read more: What I liked (and disliked) about my Liberty of the Seas cruise

I often get questions on how to choose between the two ships, and what you should know about the similarities and differences each has. They're quite similar, but there's just enough variations to make one a better choice over the other depending on your preferences.

It's important to note that Freedom of the Seas received a major upgrade in 2020, while Liberty of the Seas' scheduled upgrade in 2021 was postponed and has yet to happen.  This is going to be a recurring theme in comparing these two ships.

Liberty of the Seas received some updates in 2016, which gave her an edge versus Freedom until its 2020 refurbishment.

Here's a look at Liberty of the Seas vs Freedom of the Seas so you can understand what stands out about each.

Ship size

Technically, Liberty of the Seas is one foot longer than Freedom of the Seas, but you really shouldn't factor that in at all.

Freedom Class cruise ships are 1,111 feet long and they were both the largest cruise ships in the world at the time of their debut.  They've since been eclipsed by larger ships, but they still offer that "big ship" experience many cruisers look for in any vessel.

Here's a look at Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas statistics:

Both cruise ships have just under 4,000 passengers, but Freedom of the Seas has a higher guest count because of her upgrades in 2020.

The ship layout is exactly the same, with a Royal Promenade in the middle of the ship, ice skating rink, surf simulator, and water slides. Both ships are 15 decks high.

Dining

The choices in dining venues diverge a bit between the two cruise ships, as you'll find certain restaurants on each ship.

Here's a breakdown of the complimentary dining venues on both Freedom and Liberty of the Seas.

The primary difference is that Freedom of the Seas has El Loco Fresh, which is a casual Mexican restaurant on the pool deck.

You'll find nachos, burritos, quesadillas, and chips along with a toppings bar at El Loco Fresh.

Freedom of the Seas has another advantage with its specialty dining offerings, as it has newer venues.

In my opinion, the specialty restaurant choices on Freedom of the Seas are superior because it has a greater variety of popular restaurants.

Both ships have an Italian restaurant, but Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is the updated version with a newer menu and more choices, including pizza.

Izumi hibachi is one of the most popular restaurants on any Royal Caribbean ship, as its teppanyaki tables often sells out every voyage.

Playmakers is super popular with cruisers because it offers a true sports bar experience, along with excellent bar food to go with it.

Bars

Because Freedom of the Seas got amplified in 2020, she has a few more bar choices.

At the pool, there's the Lime and Coconut. This is a vibrant multi-deck venue that has a wider selection of drinks and seating choices than you'll find at the pool bars on Liberty of the Seas.

Freedom of the Seas also has Playmakers Sports Bar, which is conveniently located on deck four between the atrium and casino. It replaced what is the photo gallery on Liberty of the Seas.

Playmakers is a fun spot to catch your favorite sporting event, with dozens of big screen televisions and lots of seating. It also has a great a la carte priced menu you can order from, so you have bar food for the game.

If you're on Liberty of the Seas and want to watch sporting events, they have the On Air club.  It doubles as a karaoke bar and de-facto sports bar because it has a few televisions that can show sporting events.  But it's not nearly as expansive as Playmakers, nor does it have food.

The rest of the bar choices is largely similar between the two ships.

Cabins and suites

You will find plenty of the core four cruise ship room categories on both Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, such as inside, oceanview, balcony, and suite cabins.

There are Promenade View cabins on both ships, which have a bay window that looks into the Royal Promenade rather than outside.  While there's no natural light with these rooms, it's great for people watching and offers a bit more space than a conventional interior room.

There are two very popular types of cabins that quickly sell out on most sailings.

A balcony located on the ship's "hump" can be found on either ship.  This refers to the rooms that are located on the outwards part of the ship deck plan, right around the middle.

The reason why these rooms are desirable is because their balcony space tends to be larger than other balcony cabins without a higher price.

Speaking of balconies, the other room type worth looking at is an aft balcony.

Located on the back of the ship, these balcony rooms face the ship's wake and their balcony space can be enormous.

Aft balcony rooms on the lower decks have the most balcony square footage, and it's like having a suite balcony.

Both ships also have family oceanview cabins at the front of the ship, which have bunk beds and an extra bathroom. They may not have a balcony, but they're great choices for families on a budget.

The suite offerings on Freedom and Liberty are more or less the same, but there is one important distinction.  

The cabins are similar, but the suite sun deck choices are different. Freedom of the Seas received the Lime & Coconut bar, which took up the space that used to be reserved for suite guests. Liberty of the Seas still has reserved chairs right in the middle of the pool deck for suite guests only.

The suite lounge has a newer look on Freedom of the Seas.

Entertainment

Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas have the same entertainment venues, but the show line-ups are different.

Liberty of the Seas has a full Broadway show onboard, while Freedom of the Seas does not.  Guests can enjoy Saturday Night Fever, which is shown in its entirety as you would see it in a theater on land.  The show is complimentary.

In the theater on Freedom of the Seas, you'll find musical acts and dance production shows, but nothing with as much plot and familiar music as what Liberty has.

Both ships have an ice skating rink, where you can see ice skating shows at no additional cost.

At the bars and lounges on both ships, there is live music each day. The pool deck has a live band as well as a DJ.  In the evening, the Schooner Bar has a piano player and the English pub has a guitarist.  There are other live musical acts at Boleros and other venues.

Pools & slides

Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas both have multiple pools and whirlpool hot tubs to enjoy, but the aesthetics of both differ along with the top-deck attractions.

Both ships have a common set of activities onboard:

• Main pool
• Solarium adults-only pool
• Splashaway Bay kids aqua park
• Rock climbing wall
• Flowrider surf simulator
• Mini-golf course

Freedom of the Seas' pool deck has a Caribbean vibe to it, while Liberty has the traditional Royal Caribbean pool deck look.

More importantly are the water slides. Both ships have a pair of Perfect Storm racer waterslides, but Liberty of the Seas has a big difference.

In addition to the duo of water slides, Liberty has "Tidal Wave", which is a boomerang style slide where two guests ride in a raft that goes up a near vertical wall to provide a moment of weightlessness before sliding back down.

Read more: The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler

Bottom line

Is Freedom of the Seas or Liberty of the Seas better for you? It really depends on which features are the most important, as well as the itinerary.

The biggest difference between the ships are the dining choices and pool deck experiences. The newer restaurants on Freedom of the Seas represent some of the best concepts the line has come up with in recent years.  That isn't to say the specialty dining on Liberty of the Seas is sub-par by any means.

The itineraries offered might be the most compelling factor to select one over the other.

Freedom of the Seas sails from South Florida year-round and offers cruises to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In summer 2024, Freedom will start offering longer Caribbean cruises.

Liberty of the Seas mixes up her itineraries, and moves between Florida cruises in the winter, and the Northeast United States in the summer.  Liberty visits Canada, New England, and Bermuda, along with longer sailings to the Bahamas.

The two sister ships are quite similar, and you really have to dig into the details to find a good reason to select one over the other.

If you have a top status with Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, you might be eligible to status match with another cruise line.

Unlike the airline industry, cruise lines don't offer a lot of status matching, but there are situations where it does exist, and it offers cruisers a way to instantly attain perks and benefits with another cruise line despite having never sailed with them in the past.

Because Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are sister brands under the same corporate umbrella, there is some reciprocity between the two lines.  Plus, there are ways to get benefits with other companies too.

Here are eight things you need to know before applying for a Royal Caribbean status match.

1. You can only get status match with one brand within the company

Royal Caribbean offers a status match with only Celebrity Cruises, but not Silversea Cruises.

The same applies to Celebrity passengers who wish to travel on Royal Caribbean.

Silversea's loyalty program, Venetian Society, is a simpler program that does not have tiers. Likewise, Azamara no longer offers a status match with Royal Caribbean because the company was sold off.

There are other companies that will status match with Royal Caribbean, but that is covered later in this article.

2. You need to have certain status first

Before you can get a matching status with Celebrity, you need to make sure you qualify.

Crown & Anchor Society members who reach the Platinum tier in Crown and Anchor Society are eligible to get status matching in the Captain's Club at Celebrity Cruises.

3. You can't status match to the top tier

Depending on your level in Crown and Anchor Society, that will determine which level you get with Celebrity Cruises.

Platinum & Emerald members qualify to get Select Status in Captain's Club. That will get you benefits such as a 25% discount on internet packages, a 30% discount on photo packages, a 10% discount on spa treatments and priority status for the shore excursion waitlist.

Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members will get Elite Status with Celebrity, which gets you unlimited free drinks from the Captain's Club menu each day between 5 and 7 p.m. at most bars and lounges on the ship. It also gets you 30% off Wi-Fi packages, 40% off a digital or print photo package, $200 off The Studio photo packages, and 15% discount on a drink package or a premium drink package upgrade.

On Celebrity's Solstice or Millennium Class ships, being an Elite status member will also get you free access to the steam rooms, saunas and heated loungers in the Persian Garden spa zone on a port day of your choice.

Even if you reach Pinnacle Club with Crown and Anchor Society, you cannot status match to Celebrity's upper most tiers.  The cap is Elite until you cruise enough to earn points on your own.

If you were a Diamond member with Crown and Anchor Society, in order to reach the next tier with Celebrity, you would need to earn at least 750 Captain’s Club points on your own. However, you would continue to receive Elite-level benefits through reciprocity until then. 

4. You're eligible to status match at any time

In short, you are granted a status match that remains with you until you cruise enough to have points to move up to the next level.

Points are only earned on the cruise line being sailed.   You only earn points in each respective program when you sail with that cruise line.  Points can not be added or moved between programs.  

This means even though you get a status with Celebrity, your point total will still be zero.  So you'll need to cruise enough to move up to the next tier.

There is no time limit of when you can status match. 

5. Applying for a status match is easy

Celebrity recommends anyone in Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor program that is not enrolled in Celebrity’s Captain’s Club program should confirm enrollment before booking their cruise.

From experience, I can tell you it's not a problem to status match and then add it to an existing reservation.

In order to status match, you simply need to call Celebrity Cruises to request the status match. The agent on the phone will create a Captain's Club number and then do the matching for you.

6. You can status match with a casino

In addition to status matching with cruise lines, Royal Caribbean has an agreement with MGM Resorts.

For no extra cost, you can link your Crown & Anchor level and immediately take advantage of MGM benefits such as resort fee waivers, discounts on entertainment, and complimentary hotel upgrades.

The tier level you receive with MGM Rewards depends on your tier in the Crown & Anchor Society:

• C&A Gold = Sapphire status with MGM Rewards
• C&A Platinum = Pearl status with MGM Rewards
• C&A Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club = Gold status with MGM Rewards

To link your Crown & Anchor Society account with MGM Rewards, first make a free account on the MGM Resorts website. Next, contact an MGM Rewards representative through phone or email.

Let the representative know your Crown & Anchor Society number. They will contact Royal Caribbean to confirm your information and link you to the appropriate tier with MGM rewards.

7. MSC Cruises will status match your Royal Caribbean status

MSC Cruises is one of the few cruise lines that will status match your loyalty status with other rival lines, including Royal Caribbean.

There is no fee to do so but you need to complete the process at least 7-10 days before your first MSC cruise. The application for this is located on the MSC Cruises website and is easy to complete.

MSC will status match Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Celebrity, Norwegian and Holland America Line. They'll even status match hotel loyalty programs, including Club Med, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood, Fairmont, Expedia, and RIU.

Depending on your status with Royal Caribbean, the benefits will vary. One of our writers was at Emerald Status and qualified for Gold status with MSC, which got her one free hour in the thermal spa, a welcome back cocktail reception, and a complimentary MSC Voyagers Club drawstring bag. 

One caveat to status matching with MSC Cruises is you may only apply for a status match one time.  So you cannot do it again later if you were to move up through Royal Caribbean's tiers.

8. Virgin Voyages will give benefits to top tier Royal Caribbean cruisers

Diamond, Diamond Plus, Pinnacle Club members in Crown and Anchor Society are able to participate in Virgin Voyages' Experience Match offer.

These cruisers get immediate status in the Virgin Voyages program. As part of this, they are granted Sea-Rovers status, which includes the $100 Bar Tab Bonus through 2024.

Is a Royal Caribbean status match worth it?

Royal Caribbean's reciprocity with Celebrity Cruises makes it a smart choice for any cruiser looking to jump between the two lines and be able to enjoy extra perks.

While it would be better if Royal Caribbean and Celebrity had a joint loyalty program where cruises on either line earned you higher status (which is something the company is considering for the future), it's still great to have something to show for it.

Similarly, the free benefits you can receive with MGM, Virgin, or MSC Cruises means there's no reason not to status match with them either, although you'll want to hold off status matching with MSC until you're sure you wont move up higher anytime soon in Crown and Anchor Society.

The only caveat is you must take action before the cruise to get the status match done so it can be applied to your reservation. If you think about it once on the ship, it's too late.

If you're looking at your shore excursion choices and not finding anything that excites you, it might be time to try a day pass to a resort instead.

In any port your cruise ship visits, you'll find lots of different tours. Bus tours, hiking, beach breaks, and historical sights are very common.  So common, that after a couple of visits you may find yourself at a loss of what to do.

I certainly felt that way in some ports of call, especially some Caribbean islands that are well-known for their beaches. I found taking a beach break tour or a taxi to a beach nice, but lacking often in more of the services I like in my day.

Read more: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

Cruising with my kids, it's nice to have shade, food and beverage choices, and sometimes a pool too. I'll admit that while there are stunning beaches to visit, I prefer the pool more than the ocean. But my wife tends to like the ocean.

Out of a need to find a compromise, I discovered that resort day passes were a great choice for so many Caribbean islands.

Years ago, a day pass involved calling the resort directly to inquire if they offered such an option.  It was difficult to know which options existed.

Luckily, the process has gotten a lot easier.  There are a few sites out there that sell resort day passes, specifically for cruise ship passengers.

A day pass to a resort gives you access to their grounds and many facilities. Think of it like being a hotel guest without the room.

There are two day pass websites I frequently check and book through: ResortForADay.com (contains affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use) and ResortPass.com.

No matter which site you choose, the process is pretty much the same. Browse available resorts on the island your ship will be visiting, and book a pass for each person in your party.

Some passes are quite cheap, and others much more expensive. It comes down to how popular the resort is, which amenities it includes, and if it's all-inclusive or not.

Transportation from the cruise ship to the resort and back is never included, so you'll need to arrange that on your own.  I almost always just take a taxi at the port.

One consideration before booking is if it includes food and drinks.  Many are all-inclusive, but not all.  By having all your food and drink included, you get a single price for the day, although it's going to cost more.

For the all-inclusive resorts, there could be a restaurant to go into to dine, or it could be waiter service at the pool. Keep in mind that some resort restaurants have a dress code related to bathing suits, so it might be a good idea to pack a change of clothes.

Some resorts have a stipend, where part of your admission cost will be used towards the food served there. The downside to this strategy is I've found most resorts price their food quite high, so that stipend goes quickly.

In some cases, there are resorts that offer simply a day pass and no food or drink with it. You can usually pay as you go with the food there.  This has a lower up-front cost, but depending on how much you consume, you might end up paying a lot before the day is over.

With ResortForADay, you'll pay a deposit at the time of booking and then have to pay the remainder of the balance once you get to the resort.  

With your pass, you'll get access to chairs and umbrellas that the resort offers. Depending on the resort, the amount of chairs will vary. Some have a lot, some few.  Shade is also a consideration, as it varies considerably from one to another.

Read more: Guide to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean shore excursion

Just like any shore excursion, there are a few things to bring along:

• Confirmation of your reservation
• Identification for the adults
• Money
• Towels
• Accessories for your day (sunglasses, sunscreen, etc)

When you arrive to the resort, you'll need to have proof of your booking with you.  I recommend having a print out to make it simpler. Plus, the agent at the resort will likely need to take it to reference, and phones return to a lock screen often.

All resorts check your identification, and some hold onto it as a sort of collateral while you're visiting.

Once checked-in, you will be free to roam the grounds and use the resort. Almost all provide a bracelet to wear during your stay.

Being that this is a hotel, there will not only be other cruise ship passengers visiting, but also resort guests. In short, the chair hog situation could be present depending on the day.

I've found depending on the resort, weather, and my mood, I love having access to both the beach and pool.

Quite often we go between the two, and then having the convenience of food and drink service makes booking a day pass worth it every time for me and my family.

I love the flexibility it provides, especially with timings. Unlike a group tour, we can arrive and depart when we're ready. This means if my kids are done early, we can hop in a taxi and go back.   Or if things are going really well, we can stay a bit longer.

Not all resorts are the same, so it's important to do your research into what you're getting with a visit.  I recommend skipping the publicity photos the resort provides and doing an internet search for the resort name to get first-hand reviews, as well as photos of the facilities.

You should also be crystal clear on what is and what is not included. Look for verbiage on the individual resort listing to understand what you'll be getting, and what you need to bring or pay extra for.

Just like any excursion you do on your own apart from the cruise line, manage your time to avoid being late. The cruise ship will not wait for you if you're late, so take note of how long it took to get from the cruise terminal to the resort and pad extra time to return.

Ultimately, I find a resort day pass is the perfect family shore excursion for a Caribbean visit, especially if I've visited the island a few times.

I value the amenities you get with a resort pass, and greatly prefer to be able to enjoy the time at the resort on my family's schedule instead of a group visit. It's probably not the cheapest shore excursion you'll find, but I find good value in what I get.

The next time you're considering tours and nothing jumps out at you, perhaps a resort pass might be the best choice.

A balcony stateroom is one of the most popular types of cabins on any cruise ship, and it's a great choice on Wonder of the Seas.

As one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas has quickly become one of the top choices for a cruise vacation. When the ship debuted in 2022, I spent two weeks in a balcony cabin to experience this type of room for myself.

While I've stayed in plenty of balcony rooms on other Royal Caribbean ships, I came away impressed with how the cruise line has continued to improve on this core cabin type.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide

The reason I tend to book a balcony cabin the most is for the balance of space and amenities. It has more living space than an inside room, and it comes with a private balcony without paying a lot more for it in a suite.

I stayed in room 10552, which is a category 4D Ocean View Balcony cabin. This means my room is located on deck 10, and has a private bathroom, balcony, and room for up to two guests.

It connects with cabin 10550.

Here's a look around what this cabin looks like, and what you can expect in a similar room.

For $2,409.94, I spent seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom that sailed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nassau, Bahamas, Labadee, Haiti, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The ship has 2,867 staterooms. My room was towards the center of deck ten.

The best thing about booking a balcony cabin is the fact you have a private balcony that allows in natural light and fresh air. It's not nearly as expensive as a suite, but a step above inside rooms.

My room measured 182 square feet, and that is just enough space for two people to be comfortable for a week on the ship.

As you walk in, there is a keycard slot to put your card (or any card) to activate the electricity in the cabin. 

While it's meant to save energy when not in the room, most people tend to just stick any card they have in there to keep the air conditioning running during the warm summer months.

Royal Caribbean has mastered how to maximize the small space with more storage than ever, especially compared to older cruise ships.

A sitting area has a large mirror, along with a desk and chair.  There are USB and power outlets to keep everything charged here.

The sitting area is quite useful in terms of being somewhere you can work, eat, prep yourself, and have access to charging outlets. Power outlets used to be very few on cruise ships, but new ships come with many more outlets.

Across from the desk is a couch. I find the couch ends up being a collection location for bags, shirts, and souvenirs, but once in a while I clear off enough of it to actually use to sit on.

Next to the couch is a rather large closet, full of hangers, shelving and a safe.

Just like the outlets, there's so much more storage space in this balcony cabin than in a similar room on an older ship. In fact, the amount of storage space on Wonder of the Seas' standard cabins rivals suites on older ships.

Every cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship has its own bathroom, and on Wonder of the Seas Royal Caribbean made a subtle change to the bathroom door.

The bathroom door is magnetized, so it shuts on its own when it gets close to closing.

The bathroom has a stand up shower, sink, and toilet.

The king-size bed is actually two twin beds pushed together. All Royal Caribbean cabins come in this configuration, but you can ask your stateroom attendant to split the beds if you'd like.

There is a nightstand on both sides of the bed, with a lamp and additional charging ports and power outlets.

Across from the bed is a large flat-screen TV with storage hooks below.

The private balcony is accessible from a sliding glass door.

The balcony is large enough for two people to enjoy, as it comes with with chairs and a table.  Having your own balcony means you have a great spot for sailaway, watching the sunset, or taking in the scenery while in port.

The balcony measures 50 square feet, and that adds a considerable amount of living space to the total room.

A balcony cabin is the most popular type of cruise ship cabin, because it has just enough living space to feel comfortable. You won't confuse it with a suite, but compared to an inside room, it's so nice having more area to enjoy.

Plus, the balcony is such a nice area. My wife really enjoys going out to read a book on it.

I don't always book the same class of ship cabin on every cruise, but I tend to book an oceanview balcony most often and I never regret the choice!

How do two of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships compare to each other?

Wonder of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas are the two newest Oasis Class ships, and that makes them the biggest vessels packed with lots to do onboard.

You might think the ships are mostly the same, but there's some major differences between the two vessels. Truthfully, the ships are more the same than different.

Here's a look at the key differences.

Ship size

Wonder of the Seas is slightly bigger than Symphony of the Seas, which was a marketing decision more than anything.

By making Wonder "bigger", she gets to assume the mantle of the world's largest cruise ship, and that gets Royal Caribbean more attention.

Here's how they size up:

Dining

Both ships have complimentary and specialty dining choices, but it's the extra-cost restaurants where you will the variations.

In terms of complimentary food, you will find on either ship:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Cafe
• Solarium Bistro
• Park Cafe
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrento’s Pizza
• Boardwalk Dog House
• El Loco Fresh
• Vitality Cafe
• Coastal Kitchen (suites only)
• Room service (continental breakfast only)
• Johnny Rockets (breakfast only)

The Windjammer on Wonder of the Seas is arguably better, as it's been moved to deck 15 and is significantly larger and with a better layout.

For the specialty dining, here's what the differences are:

The differences in specialty dining are few, with primarily being a different Italian restaurant in Central Park, and having Mason Jar.

In terms of bars, there are minor differences between the two ships.

Suites

One difference Royal Caribbean made with Wonder of the Seas was having less suites than on Symphony.

Considering how lucrative suites are for the cruise line, as well as how in-demand suites can be for passengers, it seemed a strange decision to change the amount of suite cabins.

Wonder of the Seas has an entire suite neighborhood, which is the first Oasis Class ship with an eight neighborhood. In order to make room for the new amenities suite guests will enjoy, the amount of suites had to be cut back so there could be room for it all.

By adding a private deck area for suite guests, it cut into the amount of suites the ship can have.

There are 188 suites on Symphony of the Seas, while Wonder of the Seas has 174 suites.

Symphony has a few more suite categories that Wonder does not have:

• Villa Suite
• Star Loft Suite
• 2-bedroom Grand Suite

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

Entertainment

Nearly every Royal Caribbean ship differs on entertainment.  The cruise line likes to offer different shows on its ships, although sometimes you'll find a show repeated across multiple vessels.

The show lineup in the main stages are completely different on Wonder and Symphony.

Wonder of the Seas is currently the only Oasis Class ship without a full-length Broadway show onboard. Here's a look at the shows:

Royal Theater

• Wonder
  • Voices
  • The Effectors II
• Symphony
  • Hairspray
  • Flight: Dare to Dream

AquaTheater

• Wonder
  • inTENse
• Symphony
  • HiRo

Studio B

• Wonder
  • 365: The Seasons on Ice
• Symphony
  • 1977

Speaking of these venues, the AquaTheater on Wonder of the Seas is semi-enclosed in glass, which means it's more protected from the wind.

Activities

There's so many activities on both ships.  It's what has made the Oasis Class such a hit with cruisers, but there are notable differences among each.

Wonder of the Seas has Wonder Playscape, which is underwater-themed climbing playground for kids. Kids can explore slides, climbing nets, and games. The Wonder Playscape is connected to the Wonder Dunes mini golf.

The space taken up by Wonder Playscape replaces what would have been a Flowrider, so Wonder only has one Flowrider while Symphony has two.

Both ships have Splashway Bay aquapark, as well as three water slides.

In addition, Wonder of the Seas has Music Hall instead of Dazzles on Symphony of the Seas.

Both venues specialize in live music, but Music Hall tends to have more cover bands.

Symphony of the Seas has a dedicated escape room game.

Cabins

The assortment of standard cabins is the same between Wonder of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas (minus the suite differences mentioned earlier in this article).

There are a few things within the staterooms that are different.

The bathroom door on Wonder of the Seas is magnetic, which means it doesn't have that "ka-chunk!" sound the door makes when slamming shut.

The bathroom doors use a magnetic element which pulls shut the the door when it's within about 1/2 -1” from closure. 

There's also many more USB outlets on Wonder of the Seas.

In addition to the USB outlets at your desk, they've finally added USB outlets near the beds.

Something else helpful on Wonder are hooks on the wall. Below the television are a series of hooks that came installed already.

Wall hooks are very helpful in a cabin because you can use them to keep apparel off the ground, and more importantly, free up drawer space.

Bottom line

Wonder of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas are very close in look and feel, with a few minor differences.

By far the most notable difference is with the suites, as Wonder has a more expansive offering. If staying in a suite is important to you, then having an entire suite neighborhood would be a nice option.

The shows are different across both ships, which is standard among any Oasis Class ship.

Another difference worth mentioning between Wonder and Symphony is the price.  Generally speaking, Symphony will usually be priced a bit lower than Wonder simply because it's not as new.  Royal Caribbean tends to price newer ships with a premium.

Whether it's legal where you live or you have a medical license for it, you might be wondering if you can bring marijuana on your next cruise?

You might be surprised to learn that you cannot bring marijuana on a cruise ship, and it's not because the company has an anti-drug view.

Cruise ships operate between many different countries, and the laws of those countries apply to cruise ships that visit them.

So before you pack pot for your cruise, let's review the rules that are in place so you can avoid any problems later.

Can I bring marijuana on a cruise ship?

Regardless of what the law is where you live, the cruise line's policy supersedes it.

You are not allowed to bring marijuana (even for medicinal purposes) on a cruise ship.  In fact, no illegal drugs or illegal substances are allowed onboard.

They're also not allowed to be used on its private islands, inside cruise terminals, at ports of call, or during shore excursions.

This policy even applies if the port of call your ship leaves from has weed as a legal substance in that state.

The rule prohibiting marijuana in any kind is part of the cruise contract that you agree to when you booked the cruise.

Read more: Things that can get you kicked off a cruise ship in an instant

"I didn't see any cruise contract!"

It was there when you booked, but it's your responsibility to actually read it. The contract is a check box you must select when booking a cruise on the website.  Likewise, a travel agent should convey the terms and conditions of going on a cruise when you book it.

Can I bring CBD on a cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean bans any form of marijuana, including its various forms.

The exact wording of the policy states, "marijuana, even in its medicinal form or for medicinal purposes, shall be prohibited."

Even if you possess a medical marijuana card, bringing cannabis or edibles, including those containing CBD, aboard a cruise ship is strictly prohibited.

Why does Royal Caribbean ban marijuana?

The rationale for banning pot is less about the company's views, and simply because of the local laws for the countries they visit.

Depending on which country your ship visits, those nations may have laws in place that address and severely punish drug possession. As a cruise ship passenger, you are a visitor in that country and subject to their laws.

What happens if I'm caught with marijuana on a cruise?

Royal Caribbean's security along with law enforcement do regular screening of baggage during the embarkation process, and throughout the cruise there are security officers that roam the ship. Looking for illegal drug use is one of their duties.

There are all sorts of possibilities if you were caught with marijuana during your cruise.

According to Royal Caribbean's guest conduct policy, it's no slap on the wrist, "Guests found in violation of such laws are subject to arrest and prosecution in the relevant jurisdiction (and perhaps United States or other authorities as well) and may be prevented from boarding or re-boarding the ship."

Based on past incidents, passengers that were caught with the drugs onboard have been arrested. There's plenty of examples of this, such as on Anthem of the Seas while in Bermuda.

A woman was found to have two bags of pot and was arrested by Bermudian authorities and then charged $4,000 in fines before she could fly home.

Carnival Cruise Line just banned a woman for life for bringing CBD gummies in her luggage.

The bottom line is the risk is greater than the benefits of trying to sneak it onboard the ship. Given the hefty penalties you could face if caught, it seems like it's simply not worth it.

My advice is not to bring any.  You might think the chances of you getting caught are low, but why put your entire vacation and family at risk for it?

Can I smoke weed while in port where it's legal?

Let's assume your cruise is taking you to a place where marijuana is legal, is that okay?

Royal Caribbean stipulates on its shore excursions, it's still not allowed at all.

Of course, if you were to go off on your own and do a shore excursion through a third-party or simply walk around, the responsibility falls to you.

First and foremost, you'll have to research what the local laws are for possession and/or smoking it in public. Be sure to look into if there's a venue that offers it, are you allowed to take it outside.

You might find a tour on your own that includes a cannabis visit. For example, there are shore excursions listed on Viator that offer a visit to a weed farm.

Regardless, don't plan to bring any back to the ship at the end of the day.

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship will have one of the most famous soccer players of all time to name the ship.

Royal Caribbean announced that Lionel Messi will be the "official icon of Icon of the Seas". This appears to be a role similar to a ship's Godmother.

As part of a longstanding maritime tradition, Messi will take part in the iconic naming celebration for Icon in January 2024 in Miami. The Icon of Icon will have the honor of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew and the millions of families who will create memories of a lifetime on board in the years to come.

This means he will welcome the new ship at an exclusive naming celebration in Miami. The naming ceremony will take place on January 23, 2024.

"I’m thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas," said Lionel Messi, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of Icon. 

"Icon is beyond anything else that’s out there for family vacations, with incredible never-before-seen features, all designed for making memories together."

Royal Caribbean's choice seems to have been in the making for a few months.

In July 2023, the cruise line invited the soccer star onto the bridge of a cruise ship to meet cruise line President and CEO, Michael Bayley.

The next month, Royal Caribbean announced an advertising agreement with Inter Miami CF, which is the club Messi plays for. More details are forthcoming related to Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF celebration of the arrival of Icon with the next phase of the partnership.

Who is Lionel Messi?

Photo © Chbm89 | Dreamstime.com

In case you're not familiar with Lionel Messi, he's one of the most well-known soccer stars today and arguably one of the best of all time.

Born in Argentina, he spent most of his career playing for FC Barcelona, where he made a name for himself as one of the top goal scorers.

He rose to fame for his playmaking skills and has won numerous individual awards, including the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which he has won multiple times.

Changing the status quo

As part of the announcement, Mr. Bayley said the choice of Messi to be the ship's Icon was based on the fact that his career matches that of the new ship.

"It’s that ability to make such a widespread impact and change the status quo that the Icon of Icon must personify, and Lionel Messi has proven to be the perfect example of that for years in the world of sports and most recently in introducing a new era of excitement and passion for fútbol in Miami and the U.S."

Icon of the Seas is built with far more family-focused activities than other cruise ships, and it's a brand new type of cruise ship.

Scheduled to begin sailing in January 2024 and already available to book, will feature a water park, kids club, entire portion of the ship for young families, and more dining and entertainment than on any other ship since.

Icon of the Seas will have more cabins to cater to families with higher capacities, thanks in large part to new room designs.

Adults aren't being left out either.  While the kids are busy with all of their activities, there's a jazz club, elevated supper club, adults-only pool and bar, dueling piano bar, and lots more.

What is a cruise ship godmother?

Every cruise ship has a godmother, and it appears Messi will be serve that role.

It's a ceremonial position that is traditionally held by a woman, but in recent years that has changed.  Symphony of the Seas had a Godfamily, and Norwegian Cruise Line had a Godfather for one of its ships.

Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The Icon's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

Royal Caribbean's partnership with Ben & Jerry's ice cream is coming to an end.

The cruise line informed travel agents that the line will remove Ben & Jerry's from its cruise ships before the end of the year.

Royal Caribbean has ice cream shops that stocked the Vermont brand ice cream on 13 of its cruise ships.

In an announcement to travel agents, the line said the final date will be December 15, 2023, "Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Shop onboard 13 of our ships will be moo-ving out and making way for something sweeter!"

Replacing Ben & Jerry's will be an in-house brand of ice cream.

"We're excited to announce that our own Ice Cream Parlor will be replacing Ben & Jerry's. We hope your clients saved room for dessert!"

The partnership brings to an end a multi-year deal that has had the ice cream on many of its ships for a long time. Ben & Jerry's cost extra, and was not included in the cruise fare.

Depending on the ship class, you could find Ben & Jerry ice cream as a stand-alone location on the Royal Promenade, or as a section of another venue.

The standalone locations had Ben & Jerry decor, seating, and of course the signature cows nearby.

A change to the sweet cabins

Did you know on Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships there was one cabin that was themed to Ben & Jerry's signature cow mascot?

These special cabins had extra perks that came with the room, but they too are already on their way out.

These rooms (cabin 6305) included Suite Lounge access, as well as free ice cream every day.

The cow decor was dropped in 2022, but the benefits remained.  Then in 2023, we received reports that the benefits were also being removed.

What will replace it?

Royal Caribbean has not announced what ice cream will replace it exactly, but it's likely going to be the same sort of ice cream the line has planned for Icon of the Seas.

Sprinkles is the name of the complimentary soft serve ice cream available on the new cruise ship.  

It's not clear what the new venue name will be. Cups & Scoops was one brand available on the original Oasis Class ships, but Sugar Beach has been the name of the dessert shop

The rumor mill is swirling with the possibility of Royal Caribbean eyeing a new resort in Freeport, Bahamas as part of a bigger plan to revamp the harbor.

Prior to the cruise industry shutting down in 2020, Royal Caribbean announced plans for redeveloping Freeport's harbor and create a combination new port and resort.  Those plans fell through during the shutdown.

There's now word of a potential purchase of the Xanadu Beach Hotel in Freeport as part of plans to develop a resort and water park destination, according to The Tribune report.

According to "multiple well-placed sources", Royal Caribbean is in talks with the property owner to buy the line, and that negotiations towards an offer being made by the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean has made no announcement, nor have they confirmed or denied the original report. 

The deal could cover an area of 40-50 acres, which would be tied to redeveloping Freeport's harbor.

One source indicated that the project could be used by sister brand Celebrity Cruises as well.

The Xanadu Beach Hotel was built in 1968 and then purchased by Howard Hughes in 1972. Mr. Hughes lived at the hotel until just before his death in 1976.

It was an escape for Hollywood stars, and included 215 rooms and an 80 slip marina. Stars such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Lucille Ball visited there.

It closed in 2011.

The original Freeport plan

The original plan for the cruise giant was to purchase the Grand Lucayan resort in Freeport, and tie that to a harbor deal.

Royal Caribbean had about 20 projects on the drawing board prior to the global health crisis, including the Freeport project.

Under the deal announced in 2020, there were to be two locations that included a port terminal and the Grand Lucayan hotel.

The first phase of the Lucaya Property would have been a beachfront destination with a 526-room hotel, shopping village, spa and wellness center, water-based family entertainment including a massive water and adventure theme park, a 40,000-square-foot convention center, adventure activities such as zip lines and off-roading, restaurants and bars, entertainment and lively nightlife. 

The enhancement and expansion of the port terminal, to be called Harbour Village, would have been nine miles west of the Lucaya Property, at the cruise terminal in Freeport Harbor. Here, visitors would have been able to enjoy numerous spaces with multiple shopping and dining venues, beach areas, shore excursions and more. 

The plan was for it to be finished in winter 2022.

Freeport still an option

It remains to be seen if a deal to purchase the Xanadu property will happen, or if a Freeport project in general will continue, but it seemed like the cruise line is still eyeing the possibility.

In March 2023, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told Bahamian media that he was "increasingly optimistic" that its Freeport port project will finally happen.

"I would say we are increasingly optimistic about the timing of that. In the coming months hopefully we will be in a position to make some positive announcement on Freeport."

"Our intent is to bring more capacity into Freeport. The first step, which will be in conjunction with others, is investing in improving the port."

Mr. Bayley said development of a water-based adventure theme park for passengers in close proximity to the port area was still the plan.