One of the most frequently visited ports by Royal Caribbean cruise ships has a new travel warning.

The U.S. State Department issued an updated travel advisory "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" for to the Bahamas.

This country was already at a level 2 prior to the update.

With any travel warning, it comes with a list of concerns that tourists should take into consideration. In the case of The Bahamas, the warming cites violent crime, swimming risks and firearm warnings.

Considering Royal Caribbean ships visit ports around The Bahamas a lot, here's what you should know.

What the new warning says

In reading through the State Department guidance, there's an outline of gang violence that travelers should be aware of.

To be clear, the warning is not telling Americans to avoid going to The Bahamas. Rather, it's urging caution. 

“Most crime occurs in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands."

Specifically, it warns of issues in the "Over the Hill" area in Nassau, where gangs have killed residents.

The warning also has other areas of concern that could be useful for cruise ship visitors.

New swimming-related risks were split into two categories: jet skis and boating, and beach safety.

"Never swim alone and beware of jet skis or other watercraft operating close to shore. Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert in public restrooms."

This warning is a result of reports of sexual assault by some jet ski operators , along with sexual assault reports on or near downtown Nassau beaches. 

There are also concerns over watercraft operators who may be unlicensed or uninsured or who may ignore weather warnings.

In addition, the warning contains things you should be aware of at any beach: never swim alone, watch out for watercraft, beware of sharks.  

More ships than ever are visiting The Bahamas

This travel warning is particularly interesting for cruisers because of how frequently Royal Caribbean ships go to the island nation.

Nassau, Bahamas is among the most common cruise ports you'll find, especially on Royal Caribbean.

Short 3- and 4-night cruises only visit The Bahamas, with stops in both Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

In fact, the line is doubling down on visits to Nassau, as more big ships will soon switch to short cruises.

Limited sailings will visit Bimini or Freeport, but they're not that common.

Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas, and it's also where Royal Caribbean is working to open a new beach club.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in December 2025 on a 17-acre piece of land on the western end of Paradise Island near Nassau.

The beach club has beaches and pools, three swim-up bars, seven beach bars, and more than 40 cabanas.

It will have a separate admission cost to enter, but will only be sold to Royal Caribbean passengers exclusively.

Is it safe to cruise to The Bahamas?

There's risk with anywhere you visit, including your own hometown. The key is being prepared and vigilant about your safety.

The purpose of the warning is to remind tourists to use caution, and to not arbitrarily go on tours without vetting them.

The warnings about jet ski operators, boating, beaches are the sort of things everyone should have been thinking about and apply to any beach in the world.

Part of planning a cruise vacation is researching your shore excursions, and working with vetted tour operators.

Excursions sold through the cruise line are advertised as third-party operators who are licensed and reputable, "ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience."

No matter who you work with, you'll always want to be mindful of your surroundings and not take unnecessary risks.

While the warning applies to the entirety of The Bahamas, the reality is visits to the cruise line's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay are not as applicable given the reality of the experience there.

Only Royal Caribbean passengers are allowed onto CocoCay, and the staff working there are a mix of Royal Caribbean crew members from the ship, as well as locals hired by the cruise line.

Since random people cannot access CocoCay, it's likely the risk factor is mitigated with visits there.

Thousands of federal employees were informed they would be laid off this week, which include divisions that inspect cruise ships.

Beginning on Tuesday, mass layoffs began at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of a plan to cut 10,000 jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services.

It's all part of an initiative by President Donald Trump to shrink the size of the federal workforce.  So far, more than 100,000 workers have been let go over the last two months.

Several internal agencies are being closed as part of this week's sweeping change, and the cuts have impacted one area that has the potential to impact cruise ships.

According to a report in Wired, workers in the Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice (DEHSP) received a reduction in force notification on Tuesday. Other divisions received similar notices, such as the Division of Population Health, the Division of HIV Prevention, the Division of Reproductive Health, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

The CDC's DEHSP center director sent an email saying its division would be "slated to be eliminated in its entirety."

Among the work DEHSP conducted, included the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program. The VSP was created to develop and implement a comprehensive sanitation program in order to minimize the risk of outbreaks on cruise ships and provide the public information on these health issues.

The report says it's unclear if the program’s work involving cruise inspections, or the lists of outbreaks on cruises, will continue. 

What the VSP does

CDC random inspections of cruise ships are meant to ensure cruise lines meet the standards expected of them and to mitigate the chances someone would get sick on a ship.

In each check, a cruise ship is given a rating on a scale of 0-100 once the inspection is complete.

In 2024, the CDC conducted a total of 151 inspections and most scored a 95 or better. Of those, 29 were Royal Caribbean ships.

After each inspection, crew members respond to the results and offer corrective actions to remedy the issues inspectors found.

As an example, a recent inspection of Symphony of the Seas revealed over 50 violations that raised serious concerns about the ship's hygiene and safety protocols.

Royal Caribbean swiftly implemented 57 fixes to address those issues.

Cost savings measure

The specific cuts within the Department of Health and Human Services was delegated by President Donald Trump, who sees this as part of a strategy to save money for taxpayers, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

"The president has given the responsibility to his Cabinet secretaries to hire and fire at their respective agencies," Leavitt said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"You saw the secretary of Health and Human Services announced more layoffs today. This is all part of the administration’s effort for a mass reduction in force in the federal bureaucracy here in Washington, D.C., to save American taxpayers money."

In a recent press release, HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that these layoffs, along with early retirements and deferred resignations, would reduce the agency workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees.

Ship safety and health goes beyond inspections

With or without the the inspections, the health and welfare of guest and crew members is work that is more than what federal workers account for.

The inspection reports are not the only factor in ensuring a cruise ship is clean.

No cruise line wants negative press because of sick passengers. Not only is that sort of attention bad for business, Royal Caribbean wants its customers to have a wonderful vacation so they'll come back and book another one.

Every ship features several health awareness tactics and oversight of outbreak prevention.

If guests do fall sick, Royal Caribbean has a series of health protocols to prevent further infection, no matter the source.

1. Stop buffet self-service if the onboard norovirus rate exceeds 1.5%
2. More crew training on acute GI symptoms and avoiding cross-contamination
3. More GI training for onboard medical teams
4. Increased oversight of the Outbreak Prevention Plan
5. Switching to PDI SaniCloth Prime hospital-grade disinfectant wipes, which carry a claim against norovirus (Contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use)
6. Contactless tap technology, so crew members don't have to handle SeaPass cards

Guests on Royal Caribbean ships will spot hand-washing stations, free hand sanitizer, health awareness signs, and even crew members reminding guests to clean their hands.

 It's true things cost more to do in Alaska, but there are a few great ways to enjoy time in each port without spending a lot.

When I took my first Alaska cruise in 2018, I was astounded by how much shore excursions cost.  Many tours cost hundreds of dollars per person to go on, and that's money on top of the cruise fare and airfare.

While Alaska is an amazing place that many people seek to visit at least once, it's also expensive and a lot of people want to keep their vacation budget in check.

And to be clear, some of the very expensive tours are totally worth it considering it might be your only opportunity to try it. As an example, taking a helicopter to land on a glacier is pricey, but it might be your only chance to try it. We also have a list of recommended tours in each Alaska port that cruisers swear by.

There are lots of ways to save money on an Alaska cruise. Before you shell out hundreds of dollars for your family to go on an expensive tour, here are a list of inexpensive or free tour ideas in each of the Alaska cruise ports.

A quick note, the links to paid tours contain affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you book it, but it costs you nothing extra.

Juneau

Juneau is a popular port for expensive excursions like whale watching tours and helicopter rides to glaciers. 

Free Activity: Downtown Juneau Stroll

Right in front of where cruise ships dock downtown is a boardwalk perfect for taking a stroll and admiring the views.

Downtown Juneau is walkable and full of hidden gems. Visit the historic Red Dog Saloon, browse local galleries, and snap a photo in front of the Alaska State Capitol. 

Don’t forget to stop by Taku Smokeries for free samples of smoked salmon.

Affordable Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Trolley Tour

Want to see Juneau’s most famous glacier without the hassle of public transportation? The Mendenhall Glacier Trolley Tour is a great value at $79 per person, offering scenic views and plenty of time to explore the glacier area.

Website

Skagway

Skagway is a small town located at the northernmost part of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Situated on mainland North America just 14 miles from Canada, Skagway is stunning, with tall, snow-capped peaks dominating the landscape.

The town is most known for its role in the Klondike Gold Rush, and many attractions in Skagway showcase its gold rush history, including the famous White Pass & Yukon Route Railway and the Gold Rush Cemetery.

Free Activity: Gold Rush Stroll & Lake Trail

Alaska is well known for its Gold Rush history, and Skagway is one of the best places to see it's impact.

Downtown Skagway has many restored 1890s-era buildings you can easily walk and see as you explore the town.

Reward yourself with a pint from Skagway Brewing Company or a peek inside the Red Onion Saloon.

Free Activity: Lower Dewey Lake Trail

You can enjoy a scenic hike along the Lower Dewey Lake Trail., This is a 2.5-mile loop trail that meanders through pine forest around Lower Dewey lake. 

If you want a shorter hike, try the hike to Yakutania Point. It's only 1.5 miles and it overlooks Tailya Inlet. It's the perfect selfie spot on the rocks.

Affordable Excursion: Skagway City and Summit Tour

If a city walk isn't enough, try one of the tours that offers much more of the history.

The Skagway City and Summit Tour costs $72 per person, and will take you up to the White Pass Summit, providing views and entertaining you with stories from Alaska's history.

Website

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “First City” as it is the first Alaskan city you’ll encounter while traveling north. Due to its southerly location, Ketchikan is usually the first or last port of call in Alaska on a cruise.

Although there are several excursions you could book in Ketchikan, such as a visit to the Misty Fjords National Monument, many of the town’s most popular activities are free of charge.

Free Activity: Self-Guided Walking Tour & Salmon Spotting

There's a great (and free) app you can download from the App Store or Google Play Store that takes you around Ketchikan to see its history.

The tour takes you through the town and it's self-paced, so you can go as quickly or slowly as you like.  You’ll pass colorful buildings, totem poles, and Creek Street — the historic red-light district turned quirky shopping lane.

As you near the end of Creek Street, the boardwalk continues upwards into the rainforest, which is known as the Married Man’s Trail. Once used by married men to conspicuously reach the red-light district, the path is now a free way to explore Ketchikan’s nature.

Affordable Excursion: Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show & Axe Throwing

A very Alaska show that is quite popular is the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.

At $68 per person, you'll enjoy a rowdy demonstration of axe tricks, log rolling, and a high-energy competition. You can even try your hand at axe throwing!

Website

Affordable Excursion: Dolly’s House Museum

Dolly’s House Museum was one of the most famous madams working on Creek Street between 1919 and 1954. After prostitution was deemed illegal, she continued living in the house until moving to a nursing home. Her colorful, historic house has been maintained throughout the past few decades, transporting visitors to another era altogether.

Admission to tour Dolly’s House is just $10, making it an affordable way to spend an hour or so during your port day.

Icy Strait Point

Free Activity: Boardwalk Stroll & Wildlife Watching

One of the best spots for a nature walk that you can access right off your cruise ship is in Icy Strait Point.

The boardwalks are free to walk, and you might be able to see bears or whales during your stroll.  Plus, the scenery around you is lovely.

Affordable Excursion: Shuttle to Hoonah

You can take the shuttle to nearby Hoonah for just $5 each way.

Grab some halibut tacos at The Fisherman’s Daughter, then unwind with a cold brew from Icy Strait Brewing. Bonus: There’s a shuttle stop right outside the brewery!

Sitka

Sitka offers a quintessential Alaska experience, as the town allows visitors to easily explore nature, spot wildlife, and stroll through the charming downtown area.

Because most tourist attractions are located within close proximity to each other, it’s easy to explore Sitka without an organized tour. Not only that, but many of these attractions have a low cost, making it easy to enjoy your day without ruining your budget.

Free Activity: Downtown Sitka walk

Once you get into the town of Sitka, it's incredible easy to walk around and explore on your own. Many of the streets allow you to walk along the beautiful harbor, providing great coastal views.

The Visit Sitka site has a map you can use to identify the key spots that have historical and cultural significance.

Affordable Excursion: Sitka Scenic Tour

A great small-group tour that hits the major highlights of Sitka:

• Fortress of the Bear sanctuary
• Walk overlooking Indian River to learn about life cycle of salmon
• Totem pole viewing
• Learn about Sitka’s role in World War II

At $89 per person, it brings you to the major attractions within the area.

Website

Sitka Sound Science Center

The Sitka Sound Science Center is just ten minutes from downtown by foot and has an admission cost of $7 for adults and $5 per child.

At the science center you can get up close to aquatic creatures in the center’s aquarium—which include touch tanks—and take a tour of the facility, which teaches visitors the role of salmon and aquaculture in Southeast Alaska.

The Sitka Sound Science Center is one of the best kid-friendly activities in Sitka, and you can purchase admission online ahead of time or once you arrive.

Which extra cost area of Royal Caribbean's private island is a better choice: Hideaway Beach or the Coco Beach Club?

When you visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay, you could spend extra money to access certain areas of the island that offer a premium experience.

Royal Caribbean wants to offer something for everyone, so it's expanded CocoCay over the years with an elevated experience and an adults-only area.

Hideaway Beach is the newest expansion, and it offers a kid-free alternative to the rest of the family-focus elsewhere. Or you could head to the Coco Beach Club, which is a reduced capacity and better amenities enclave.

Each has a cover charge to access it, which brings up the question of which one is a better buy.

Hideaway Beach overview

Only guests 18 years old or older are allowed into Hideaway Beach, and it's intended to be an escape for any adult that wants a break from kids.

You'll find a large temperature-controlled freshwater pool, semi-circle beach, reserved cabana area, and various complimentary food choices.

Royal Caribbean designed this area to infuse a pool party vibe along with the fact there aren't kids. They wanted there to be a lot of energy and a place adults could have their own fun in the sun.

You'll find a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, catering to adults seeking a lively beach party environment. There are five bars, which is the the largest concentration of bars on the island.

The top highlights of Hideaway Beach include:

• Private beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas
• Heated infinity-edge pool with in-water seating
• Multiple bars, including a swim-up bar
• Dining options like Hideaway Hut and Slice of Paradise offering casual food choices
• Sports bar with multiple televisions to watch, and a live band that performs
• Two different types of cabanas

The primary appeal of Hideaway Beach is the no kids feature. Everything else is secondary to that. You can have a drink in hand, listen to live music, and have incredible views.

Hideaway Beach also has a fairly large capacity about 1,500 - 2,000 guests.

Coco Beach Club overview

The idea behind the Coco Beach Club is to offer an exclusive, upscale retreat that limits the amount of guests that can buy a pass here.  Think velvet rope meets beach day.

This high end experience allows guests of all ages in, including children, and it offers a freshwater infinity pool, large beach area with plush loungers, cabanas to rent, and a sit down complimentary restaurant.

The overarching concept at the Coco Beach Club is luxury of being on the beach. 

Highlights of Coco Beach Club include:

• Private beach with complimentary premium lounge chairs and umbrellas
• Infinity pool with in-water loungers
• Complimentary upscale dining at the Coco Beach Club restaurant, featuring dishes like lobster and steak.
• Two different types of cabanas

When you spend the day at Coco Beach Club, you can expect a serene day that is less crowded than the rest of the island while also a bit more luxurious. It's ideal for guests seeking a tranquil and refined beach experience.

Differences between Hideaway Beach and Coco Beach Club

Before you can choose one over the other, you'll need to know the key differences between each area.

Age Restrictions

Hideaway Beach is exclusively for guests aged 18 and over. 

Because there are no kids allowed here, you'll need to figure out plans for what to do with your children otherwise.

Coco Beach Club welcomes guests of all ages, including kids.

Ambiance

At Hideaway Beach, it's meant to be a party-like atmosphere. Think Las Vegas pool party vibes, DJ dancing, drinks, grab and go food options.

Hideaway Beach is perfect for couples, friends traveling together, maybe a bachelor/bachelorette party.

Coco Beach Club is a lot more relaxed, focusing on tranquility and luxury.

Amenities and Services

Both areas have cabanas you can rent, and each has an impressive top tier cabana choice.

The Hideout Cabanas at Hideaway Beach have a heated plunge pool at the front of each cabana to give you that ultimate VIP feeling.

These cabanas are also set further back from the pool and party area, meaning you can enjoy your own party.

At Coco Beach Club, the Overwater Cabanas are truly impressive for how large they are and their sense of exclusivity since they are accessible only by walking across a pontoon bridge.

Each Overwater Cabana has a private slide into the ocean, overwater hammocks, and even a shower.

You'll find food included at both clubs, but Hideaway Beach's options are far more casual. Pizza, fried shrimp, burgers and mozzarella sticks are the type of food you can get here.

At the Coco Beach Club, there's only one dining venue, but it's some of the best food Royal Caribbean serves. Filet mignon, lobster, peeled shrimp and all served to you tableside.

Both clubs have a temperature controlled heated pool.

Pricing

You'll need to pay extra to access either area, and pricing will vary depending on your sail date.

Both clubs offer a day pass admission cost, or a cabana rental that includes admission.

The Hideaway Beach entry fee will almost always be less than what you see at Coco Beach Club.

Typical Hideaway Beach day passes run between $48 - $97 per person. 

You can expect to find the price of a Coco Beach Club pass to be between $98 - $250 per person.

How to choose between Hideaway Beach and Coco Beach Club

Depending on your priorities and whom you're traveling with, the choice of which pass to buy can lean in one direction or another.

If you want an adults-only day, then the choice is Hideaway Beach. Royal Caribbean added it because of overwhelming requests from its customers for this kind of an offering.

Plus, Hideaway Beach is going to be a lot cheaper than the Coco Beach Club.

• Coco Beach Club
  • All Ages
  • Luxury
  • 1 Upscale Restaurant
  • 1 Bar
  • Private Cabanas
• Hideaway Beach
  • Adults-Only
  • Pool Party Experience
  • 2 Casual Food Spots
  • 5 Bars
  • Private Cabanas

Whether you're on a budget or simply want to spend less, day passes and cabanas usually cost significantly less at Hideaway.  Even the cabanas are going to be likely half the cost of a Coco Beach Club cabana.

The reason to choose Coco Beach Club is if you're someone that prioritizes having a relaxed atmosphere and without crowds.  Plus, you're looking for the finer things during your beach day.

Families or mixed-age groups may prefer Coco Beach Club simply because they can't go to Hideaway Beach together.

One other consideration between the two is if you're in the market for a cabana rental.

The Overwater Cabanas are even better than they look, and there's simply nothing like them elsewhere. Plus, they're way more private and quiet than the Hideout Cabanas.

On the other hand, the Hideout Cabanas have their own plunge pool.  If you prefer pool over ocean, this is a great choice.

Ultimately, your budget and who you're traveling with will likely point you in one direction or another.

If you take the cost out of the equation, the party atmosphere of Hideaway Beach vs the chill vibe of Coco Beach Club may be a reason to choose one or the other.

However, it's hard to ignore the price difference.  More often than not, a day pass at Coco Beach Club is going to cost a lot more.  You could knock down either price with a well-timed Royal Caribbean sale before the cruise begins.

No matter which one you choose, be sure to book admission before the cruise begins.  It's common for both areas to sell out, especially the cabanas.

I'd recommend booking a day pass or cabana at least three months before your cruise begins to avoid the risk of it selling out.

Simple changes can have a major impact on making your cruise vacation better.

Having sailed on almost 100 cruises, I've found doing things slightly differently improves the efficiency or value you get from the experience.

Think of it like learning a new shortcut on your drive home from work. Shaving a few minutes isn't a big deal, but it gets you there faster.

Plus, these little tricks could save you money or reduce the stress of a cruise.

I came up with a list of 9 ideas to do things differently on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Walk to the further gangway

When your ship is docked in port, there's almost always two gangways open at the middle and forward sections of the ship.

Most people go for the first gangway they encounter, but I've found the line to get back on the ship is almost always far less crowded on the gangway further down the pier.

The truth is this tip is less about the wait on the gangway as it is for the elevators.

After you scan back onto the ship and go through security, you have to wait for an elevator. Wait times for an elevator can get pretty high when everyone is coming back to the ship in the afternoon, and it's always worst at the first entrance back onto the ship.

It's worth the extra steps if you can hop right onto an elevator and get to your room (or the pool) faster.

Apply sunscreen before you disembark the ship

Getting sunburned is such an easily avoidable problem, and yet, it happens all too often because people don't apply soon enough.

It's amazing how quickly you can get sunburned, even when just walking off the ship and down the pier.  That sun can beat down on your neck, head, and shoulders, and leave you with a red burn before you even get to to the beach.

Even if you do avoid a burn off the bat, you're supposed to apply sunscreen at least 15-20 minutes before diving in the water.

If your kids are like mine, they'll want to go right in and not wait.  

Instead, apply the sunscreen in your cabin before you depart for your shore excursion.

Pick up beach towels at the gangway instead of the pool deck

I never remember to pick up towels for my time ashore the day before, so inevitably I'd be the one to go in the opposite direction to get towels from the pool deck on an already busy morning trying to get everyone ready to disembark the ship.

Royal Caribbean seems to have figured out there's a lot of people like me doing this, and they started putting towel pick up locations right near the gangway.

You'll almost always find a towel station right before the gangway location.  They're usually near the staircase when you reach the gangway deck. Occasionally it's on the Royal Promenade, like on Icon of the Seas.

To be fair, there's a slight chance there won't be one, but I've seen them consistently offered on Caribbean sailings near the gangway for quite some time.

This is so much more convenient than going up to the pool deck.

Plus, on your way back on the ship, they're in the same spot near the gangway taking towel returns!

Of course, another idea is to check out towels the day before your port day and have them ready to go, but that requires more forethought than I'm capable of while on vacation!

Get a theft-proof bag

I've always been "that guy" that puts his wallet and other valuables in my pockets, but I had to change that when I went to Europe.

Pickpocketing is a problem in some European countries (and elsewhere), so experts recommend getting an anti-theft backpack.

I never liked the idea of these because they look too much like fanny packs, but fashion sense aside, they really do work well.

I went with the Wander Plus Anti Theft Travel Bag (this is an affiliate link, which means I get a small commission but there's no extra cost to you) because it can be worn as a crossbody bag or as a sling bag. No embarrassing '90s vibes here.

These bags work because there are hidden/well concealed openings and zippers that aren't as inviting to a pick pocketer as your pant pocket.

Pick pocketers are looking for easy prey, not to undertake a Mission: Impossible endeavor.  They want to get in and out quickly, so an anti-theft bag has enough protection to cause them to probably look elsewhere.

I'd put your phone, SeaPass card, cash, credit card, and pretty much anything else valuable in the bag while you're ashore.

Get to shows early, even if you have a reservation

Royal Caribbean provides free reservations you can make for shows on its big ships, but you shouldn't roll in at the last minute.

Where you sit in the theater makes a difference, so I'd recommend arriving to the theater at least 30 minutes before show time to ensure you get the best seats.

This is especially important at the Broadway shows available on certain Royal Caribbean ships. There's no cost for the seats up front, so why not get the prime location?

There's bar service offered before the show begins, so take advantage of a drink or two while you wait.

Eat lunch on embarkation day at a specialty restaurant

It seems everyone has the same idea when they board the ship: head to the buffet for lunch.

Rather than compete with everyone, a more relaxing alternative is to book a specialty restaurant.

Depending on your ship, the options will vary, but there's usually one or two specialty restaurants open on the first afternoon. Chops Grille is almost always the standard offering.

I've eaten at Giovanni's a few times on embarkation day when checking out Utopia of the Seas, and it's so nice to start off with a seated meal that puts me in "cruise mode" with that level of service right off the bat.

An ancillary benefit of eating lunch is it's usually cheaper. You can experience the exact same, or similar, menu as dinner, but at a lower cost.

Stay on the ship on a port day (or hurry back early) for low crowds at the pool

The Flowrider, water slides, pools, and sports courts are so much emptier on a port day.

Most people on your cruise ship will be off the ship doing something on shore. But all those fun ship activities are open while your ship is docked.

It’s possible to ride waterslides with no wait on port days, climb the rock climbing wall several times in a row, and slide down the Ultimate Abyss without waiting in a long line. 

Trying activities on a port day doesn’t mean you have to skip going ashore, either. Even if you spend the majority of your day in port, you can do an activity immediately after getting back onboard.

I'd still recommend trying a fun port activity, but if you're on a longer sailing with multiple stops, you might consider staying onboard one day.

Tip a waiter in cash when you order a drink

While I agree tip culture has gotten out of hand, I still thinking tipping a dollar when you order a drink is a smart idea for speedier service.

While it's true your drink package includes gratuity, and if you order a drink individually without a package you're charged 18% gratuity, tipping a dollar for each drink ordered makes a difference in how quickly they come back to you.

When I cruise, I keep bunch of dollar bills in my pocket to tip when I order a drink. Not only do I think the crew members deserve a little something extra, but I've noticed it makes a difference when you want speedy refills.

Bars get busy, especially at night or by the pool deck.  But a little extra tipping usually gets the bartender to come to you first.

Order the free breakfast room service

While room service has a service charge, you can have a continental breakfast option that costs nothing extra.

Continental breakfast items, such as pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice are complimentary and can be delivered to your stateroom free of charge. 

It's fun to have a casual start to your morning with a table of light food and coffee in your cabin, especially if you have a balcony cabin.

There are door hanger order sheets with the included continental breakfast menu on one side and room service breakfast menu on the other. You choose what items you want then hang it on the door before you go to sleep. The earliest delivery time is 6 or 6:30, and they give you a wake up call before delivery.

This is a fun way to start your morning and no need to compete with everyone else at the buffet!

Spending the day on a beautiful beach in the Caribbean seems idyllic when you're at home planning it all, but multiple visits ended up feeling like a mistake.

I took my family on a 7-night cruise on Icon of the Seas to the western Caribbean, which included four port stops.

The sailing began with with three port stops in a row: Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.  And there was a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay at the end of the cruise.

I like spending time at each of these ports on their own, and even have a few must-dos in each port.  

However, three beach days in a row is not only a "first world problem", it also felt like a missed opportunity. By the end of the cruise, we were all "beached out" and it felt like we overdid it.

Fun, but repetitive

I booked three separate beach days: Turquoise Bay, Maya Chan, and Paradise Beach.

Don't get me wrong, I had a good time at each of the beaches we visited.  The issue was the getting up early, getting everyone ready, and then getting to and from the beach.

One of the top reasons I love to cruise are the places I visit, but I wish I had mixed up the activities instead of doing all beach.

Right after our second day in a row of beach time, the reality began to sink in.

It started with my kids asking what we had planned the next day because they were hoping for time to sleep in and rest after two early days in a row.

Ordinarily I don't take my kids complaining about getting up early seriously at all, but I had to admit they might have a point as I considered the ramifications of another early day.

My wife and I started talking about it and we realized that our plan made sense in a vacuum, but combining so many port days doing the same activity felt a bit tiresome.

We could have spent more time on the ship

Not only would have skipping a beach day been a way to relax more, it also would have been perfect on a ship as impressive as Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean added so many fun things to do, including some of the best pools on any ship. I love the Swim & Tonic bar because it's a swim-up bar, but I never got a chance to go in.

The ship also has six different water slides to try within its water park.

Something experienced cruisers do often is stay onboard while a ship is in port to take advantage of these fun things without big crowds.

Those same pools and slides get crowded on sea days, and we only had two sea days on this itinerary.

In retrospect, we could have slept in and then hit the pools and waterslides in the morning.

I could have also booked a different activity

Something else I considered was doing something different from a beach.

I could have skipped the beach in Cozumel and taken a taxi downtown for shopping and eating. Or tried an ATV tour in Roatan.

I think mixing up activities is equally important to the rate of when you are on or off the ship.

In thinking about this, I might have gotten off the ship in the morning with my wife to enjoy some time in Cozumel and get some food, before coming back to the ship to take the kids to the pools and waterslides.

The other idea was to try something different in our first port stop of Roatan so it wouldn't be beach right off the bat.

Plan your shore days with the big picture in mind

My advice to myself and anyone planning a Caribbean cruise in the future is look at the itinerary in totality, and not just in a silo.

If variety is the spice of life, it applies to shore excursions as well. I didn't regret any single beach I visited, rather, the combination in a short span of time added up quickly.

While some people might absolutely love nothing but beach day after beach day, don't forget to take into consideration wake up times, prep time, and travel distances to and from the beach.

This is especially important when you're cruising with kids, as multiple early starts in a row takes their toll.  And that applies to aging adults too, who enjoy late nights around the ship.

If you're sailing on a big Royal Caribbean ship that has so many activities, it makes the decision to embrace skipping a port day a good plan.

When we repeat this itinerary in November on the soon-to-be-launched Star of the Seas, I'll be sure to change plans to avoid so many beach days while also taking advantage of what the ship has to offer.

Some Royal Caribbean policies tend not to be enforced consistently, but it looks like things may be changing with the wine you bring onboard.

Royal Caribbean allows its passengers to bring bottles of wine onto its ships, but the corkage fee that is supposed to be applied has largely been ignored for many years.

That could be changing now.

The official policy states guests can bring up to one bottle of wine per adult on embarkation day onto the ship. If that wine is opened in a bar, restaurant, or lounge, then it's subject to a $15 corkage fee.

The wine you bring onboard must be carried on and not put in your checked luggage.

In reality, that corkage fee has rarely been enforced.  It's been my experience that the crew member will open it and not say anything.

However, reports are popping up of stickers being added to wine bottles to indicate if the corkage fee has been waived or not.

This applies to wine with twist tops, as the corkage fee is more a fee for bringing your own wine rather than the actual mechanics of opening it.

New stickers

A number of cruisers who have gotten bottles of wine gifted onboard the ship are reporting stickers on their bottles.

Pattycruise wrote on the Royal Caribbean Blog message boards, "I just saw another photo from a group I’m in that said corkage  fee waived on the sticker."

These stickers are appearing on bottles of wine that passengers receive from Crown and Anchor Society or Casino Royale as an incentive for their loyalty.

Enforcing an old rule

What cruisers needs to be aware of is they may be charged for wine they bring onboard.

What this means is if you're someone that has been bringing bottles of wine on your cruise and skated by without paying the corkage fee, this could be changing.

Essentially, the policy hasn't changed at all, but it may now be enforced. That could be confusing to someone who wasn't aware of the corkage fee being applied before.

If you buy a bottle of wine on your cruise ship, there is no corkage fee.

After a bottle of wine is opened for you, you can either take any unfinished wine in the bottle with you or have it stored for you to be used on another day and time.

It's quite convenient to have your bottle opened in the Main Dining Room, have the crew store it, and enjoy the rest on another day in the same or a different restaurant.

The crew marks your name and stateroom number on the bottle, and any crew member around the ship can retrieve it to serve you elsewhere.

You can still open your wine on your own

One way to get around the corkage fee is to open the wine and keep it in your cabin.

The corkage fee is for wine that's opened in public venue onboard, but there's no such application if you have it in your room.

In fact, your stateroom attendant can provide a wine opener upon request for no fee.

You could enjoy the wine in your cabin, or opt to take a glass with you around the ship.  In either of those scenarios, there would be no fee.

Bringing your own wine is a great way to save money

One of the oldest hacks for saving money is to bring your own bottle of wine.

Not only will you pay less for wine if you buy it retail while at home, but you'll have a far greater selection of choices.

Even with the corkage fee, you'll probably come out ahead with your own bottle of wine than buying a bottle onboard the ship because of the markup with wine offered for sale by Royal Caribbean.

Tips for bringing your own wine (and not ending up with a broken bottle)

Bringing your own bottle of wine can save you money, but no one wants to end up with a bottle that breaks.

Instead of buying the bottle of wine at home, you could wait to buy it at your embarkation city. This avoids packing a bottle in your luggage and hoping it doesn't break during transit.

Not only could you buy it at a store near your hotel, but you could leverage a shopping app like UberEats and have it delivered to your hotel.

If you are going to pack your own wine, a wine diaper could do the trick (this is an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use). These are reusable, protective and absorbent wine bottle bags designed for traveling.

If you prefer a DIY approach, try putting your wine in a 1.5 gallon ziplock bag and pad the wine with clothing around it, such as socks.

You can save a lot of money if you know when to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package, even as much as 40% off the total price.

One of the most popular cruise add-ons available are beverage packages because they offer a flat fee for unlimited drinks. 

It's a convenient way to avoid a high bar tab, but enjoy drinks on your vacation without worrying about bills later.

Unfortunately, they aren't cheap if you pay the regular price onboard the ship. The onboard price for the Deluxe Beverage Package costs typically around $115 per person, per day.

The good news is there are sales offered throughout the year to get a significant discount, but you need to know when to book.

Many of these sales are tied to major holidays, such as Black Friday, July 4th, and New Years.  But there are other sales too, and each has the potential to save money.

Without a doubt, buying a drink package early could save you as much as 40% off the onboard price of a drink package.

How to get the 40% off deal

The secret to getting a discount on a Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy it before your cruise begins.

The highest price you'll pay is if you buy a drink package on the ship, so avoid that mistake by booking it early.

To see how much of a discount is being offered on a drink package, you can log into your Royal Caribbean account in the cruise line app or on their website.  Navigate to your sailing and you can spot check the price there.

On any day, the price will be cheaper online, but the price can fluctuate in the months before your cruise begins.

Depending on the sale, there could be no discount on your sailing, or truly deep savings.  Royal Caribbean usually advertises "up to 40% off", which means it may not be exactly that sort of a discount.

Moreover, there are different drink packages.  So depending on the promotion it could be the Deluxe Beverage Package or the Evian Water Package that has a 40% discount.

Royal Caribbean uses variable pricing, and that means drink packages cost differently from sailing to sailing, and ship to ship. Plus, there can be deeper discounts offered on select days.

Most sales last just a few days, so you'll need to act quickly before the price goes back up.

The best sale of the year is typically on Black Friday, when the cruise line has the deepest discounts.

Is the drink package worth it at 40% off?

The lower you can buy the drink package, the easier it is to get your money's worth from the drink package.

The Deluxe Beverage Package includes a lot of different beverages, such as beer, wine by the glass, liquors, premium coffees, juices, and sodas.  There are so many possible combinations of drinks you could order during your sailing.

In looking at Royal Caribbean drink prices, it's easy to see how quickly your bar tab would be if you paid for drinks a la carte.

• Cocktails: $10-$14
• Beers: $8-$9
• Specialty coffees: $3-$5
• Bottled water: $2.25

If you bought the Deluxe Beverage Package at $65.99 per person, per day, you could "break even" if you ordered 3 cocktails, 1 premium coffee, 1 beer, and 1 bottled water per day.

That's fairly easy to accomplish on a sea day, but port days make it more difficult because you're usually off the ship on a shore excursion. That reduces the amount of hours to take advantage of your drink package benefit.

It's much easier to make the value proposition work in your favor if you are a social drinker, specialty coffee lover, or like to try a a lot of drinks.

In short, a drink package is worth it if you drink enough every day to have it save money.

Tips for booking the drink package

Be sure to look at drink package prices as soon as possible.  There's usually an ebb and a flow to pricing, so getting in on the lowest price is easier the earlier you start looking.

My advice is book the drink package as soon as you can because you can always cancel or reprice later.

There's no penalty for cancelling a beverage package purchase before the cruise begins, whether you change your mind or want to take advantage of a lower price.

Adding the drink package to your cart does not lock the price.  You must buy it to get it at the given price.

You can also take advantage of onboard credit and stack the savings.

If Royal Caribbean is offering 30, 35, or 40% off the drink package, you can lower the price further by applying any onboard credit you have.

Even after you buy it, you can always cancel and rebook at a lower price.

If you bought it at 35% off, and then a few months later a 40% off deal appears, you can cancel and immediately re-book under the new price.

There's no penalty for cancelling and rebooking, and the refund from the original purchase will come back to your original form of payment in about a week or less.  Any onboard credit you used for the purchase will become available immediately.

Things to know before you buy

Royal Caribbean has important rules about its drink package you'll want to know before you buy any.

The most important rule is you cannot share drinks if you buy any of the three unlimited drink packages: Deluxe, Royal Refreshment, or Soda packages. Sharing will get you in trouble and loss of a drink package without refund.

If you want to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package, all adults in the same stateroom are required to purchase the same package.

Any drink package you buy adds gratuities on top of the cost.  It's called a "service fee" in the line item, but it covers tips when you order a drink. Be sure to factor this cost into your package price, especially when re-pricing packages.

Lastly, your drink package works almost everywhere, but it doesn't cover room service or Starbucks drinks at a Starbucks kiosk.

Let's welcome spring with Royal Caribbean! It was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

One of the biggest cruise ships in the world is getting a lot of major changes and upgrades.

Allure of the Seas is at a shipyard in Spain, and we have new photos of the work in progress.

Changes include the addition of water slides, the Pesky Parrot Bar, a revamped pool deck, new staterooms, an Ultimate Abyss slide, and many updates around the ship to make it look refreshed.

Royal Caribbean News

• Two men arrested for molesting teen boy in cruise ship sauna
• Two Royal Caribbean megaships in drydock at the same time for upgrade work
• Royal Caribbean just removed a perk from its VIP program
• Celebrity cancels cruise stops at Royal Caribbean private beach
• Royal Caribbean rolls out badges for every ship you've sailed on
• I tried Royal Caribbean's controversial $520 VIP add-on. While some perks were nice, it was a waste of money
• Table of cruise ship confiscated items show too many people still packing the wrong travel item
• Experts recommend joining a Facebook group for your cruise, but I stopped because it's become toxic
• How much does a Royal Caribbean Icon Class ship cost to build?
• 7 items to buy your first time on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• MGM makes player-friendly change to its loyalty program with better cruise benefits
• 8 Old Royal Caribbean cruise traditions no one remembers anymore

New RCB Video: My best and worst Royal Caribbean cruises last year, RANKED

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 — My best and worst Royal Caribbean cruises last year, RANKED — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

I went back on Icon of the Seas a year later. It was better than I expected

Matt went back on Icon for a week-long cruise and the ship is easily still his favorite ship.

Icon of the Seas had a lot of hype when it launched, but does the ship live up to it all now?

Not only is the ship the biggest in the world, but it has the best features in the industry.

I tried Carnival and while I liked the food, I missed 4 things from Royal Caribbean

After coming across a cheap, last-minute cruise fare on Carnival Firenze, Jenna gave it a try.

Jenna has taken 22 Royal Caribbean cruises, and she was curious how it would compare to Carnival.

Some aspects of the cruise were great, but she missed four key aspects of a Royal Caribbean ship.

5 food hacks that will save you money on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Ready to spend less on food during your cruise?

On any ship, there's a mix of included and extra cost restaurants. But that doesn't mean you have to overspend to enjoy it all.

Matt shared five Royal Caribbean food hacks that will save you money.

I tried the secret menu at a Royal Caribbean bar that I couldn't get enough of

Did you know there's a food menu at Trellis Bar that you can't find on any other ship?

Icon of the Seas has one change from all other bars in that it offers food, and it's really darn good.

Matt tried the food and was surprised how good the offerings were, and it's worth trying.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 558th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt reviews his recent Icon of the Seas cruise.

Matt went back on Icon a year after she debuted to see if it lives up to the hype.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.