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

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

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

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

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

You can now change dining times

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

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

Here are the steps:

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

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

Or you can opt for My Time Dining.

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

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

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

Let the ship know you're celebrating

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

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

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

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

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

Should you pick Anytime dining?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don't be late to dinner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tell your waiter if you need a faster meal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can order food to go

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

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

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

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

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

Don't bring up controversial topics

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

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

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

Things you should talk about can be much more fun:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Royal Caribbean News

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

New RCB Video: This Is Why I Think You’re Crazy to Do This on a Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — This Is Why I Think You’re Crazy to Do This on a Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Royal Caribbean overhauls its prohibited item list

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Royal Caribbean released new 2027-2028 cruises to book

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

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

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

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

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

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

Is being asked for feedback often a sign of care or too much pressure? One cruiser was bothered by it, but wasn't sure how to respond.

On the Royal Caribbean subreddit, Gohalo1 posted their recent experience on Icon of the Seas where they were asked so many times for feedback in the Main Dining Room it disrupted their experience. In fact, they questioned if it amounted to "pestering by the staff."

"Just got off Icon and my group of 4 felt this cruise was different in the way of staff asking in two ways," they started off their post.

They encountered so many different crew members asking if everything was okay in the Main Dining Room on the first two nights of their cruise that they, "didn't feel like going back after" and booked dinners elsewhere.

Their experience is something I've encountered across my cruises, but I think others might want to know how to handle this sort of situation if it were to happen to them.

"We felt like we could barely talk to each other"

According to Gohalo1, the Main Dining Room staff was "incredibly overbearing asking for feedback."

Across the first two nights at dinner, both the waiter and assistant waiter asked after each course if the food was good.  Then the Dining Room Manager came and did the same thing.

Their frustration stemmed from the fact it interrupted the flow of their conversation and they couldn't hold a conversation.

Things got worse on the third night when they didn't go to dinner, and the manager called their stateroom to ask why they were absent.

"Starting the third night, the manager called our staterooms every day asking for feedback as to why we hadn’t returned that night."

Why crew members are so concerned with guest feedback

I can't say this person's experience is unheard of, although it sounds like it was more than even I've encountered.

Royal Caribbean is obsessed with guest feedback, and wants to ensure the product they deliver is what guests expect.  But asking too often goes from "observant" to "annoying" quickly if it's done too often.

Part of this stems from the company's adherence to Net Promoter Scores (NPS) as a way to measure everything they do. Using NPS is very commonplace in the travel market (as well as other industries) because it quantifies the basic question "would you recommend this to others."

Crew members know at the end of the cruise, every passenger will get a survey asking for their feedback on every aspect of the cruise, including the Main Dining Room.

Presumably to avoid a situation where a guest has a poor experience because no one checked in to see if there were any problems or if anything could be improved, the crew will be proactive in seeking feedback.  They want their guests happy, well fed, and not leaving with any problems.

It's not rude to ask for a change

In this situation, it seems like the staff's level of concern went well past the point of doing due diligence.

Gohalo1 asked at the end of their post if  this was typical, and the answer is, no.  If each waiter and manager was checking in so much to the point they felt the flow of the meal was being disrupted, I would say that's abnormal.

Typically the waiter will be the point person for gathering feedback from their guests.  The best ones can almost sense it, but certainly asking how the food is, or if they can get you anything else, is common. 

The head waiter usually can be counted on to visit a few times per cruise. In my experience, it's not every night, but close to it. The head waiter calling the room to ask why they're not at dinner is not unheard of, but not common either. It's part of the reason why many cruisers will let their waiters know ahead of time they won't be at dinner because they're dining elsewhere.

Whether you want more check-ins or less, I would have started with the head waiter to politely explain while everything is good with the service and food, the flow of dinner isn't good.

I would explain I appreciate the concern, but the requests for feedback is disrupting our enjoyment and for just the waiter to ask once per meal, and that's it.

If that didn't stop it, I'd probably politely ask to speak to the Maître D or deck manager, and then explain the situation to them. I'd probably say something like, "We're enjoying our meal, but the constant requests for feedback is bothersome. If there's a problem, I'll speak up.  But in the meantime, can we please cut it back so we can enjoy the food and our time together?"

I get it, you don't want to insult these people that are working very hard to ensure you're having a great meal. But as you're being polite, it's not rude to ask for them to take a step back.

At the end of day, their top goal is for you to be happy and have a great meal experience. 

The list of things you can't bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise has been revised with a new look to it and a focus on certain policies.

The policy governing what you cannot bring on a cruise has been a "living document" that has updated to reflect trends.  Some of the items have been prohibited for decades, while others are new.

This week, the prohibited item list got an overhaul and a new look.  Instead of it being a simple list, there's more context and even a few changes.

This is a good reminder to check up on what's been revised to prevent bringing the wrong things on vacation that could get you in trouble.

A new look

The first thing you'll notice about this list of items that are prohibited on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the format.

You can find the list on Royal Caribbean's website, and it's a page that gets regular updates. We monitor it closely to look for policy changes.

Compared to a copy of the webpage from January 31, 2026, the list has undergone an update to flesh out select areas and rearrange others.

Revised prohibited items list

Old list format

Certain prohibited items now have their own section with explanations, likely to further elaborate on what's not allowed.

In fact, Royal Caribbean even goes as far as to add what's included on your cruise to give reassurance that not being allowed to bring an item won't ruin your vacation. As an example, the list of which drinks you cannot bring now includes the free drinks that come with your cruise fare.

Ironically, the banned item list now includes many things you can bring.  

For example, the entire toiletries section talks about you're allowed to bring them, with no restrictions mentioned. The same is true for most of the baby things section.

This is likely to clear up any confusion if something not mentioned, but frequently asked about, is permissible to bring onboard.

The list also says there's a hair dryer included in every stateroom, even though hair curling irons, straighteners and hair dryers are permitted

At the bottom of the page is the traditional format of a list of banned items.

New banned items and policy adjustments

Snacks have been added to the prohibited item list, although there isn't an actual allotment defined.

"You can bring on a sensible amount of your favorite pre-packaged sealed snacks. Keep in mind there are lots of complimentary grab and go items and food all around the ship."

Previously, there was no mention of snacks on the banned item list.  Perhaps this change reflects a change in the amount of food guests are attempting to bring on a cruise.

Similarly, luggage is now included on the list with an explanation there is no limit, but their bags will be scanned.

Royal Caribbean also added a section that pets are not allowed on its cruise ships, with the exception of service animals.

This is an important step as our team has witnessed an increase in the amount of passengers who bring their pets onboard while trying to pass them off as service animals. Perhaps our anecdotal data is reflected in calling out the ban now on the full list.

Lastly, the recent addition of smart glasses has gotten an update. 

In February 2026, Royal Caribbean added smart glasses to its banned list, but restricted them from being worn in certain areas.

The verbiage is now more plain spoken and explains the restriction on where you can and cannot wear them.

"There are limits to where smart glasses can be worn onboard. Smart glasses cannot be worn in the casino, spa service areas, restrooms, locker rooms, medical facilities, security screening locations, youth facilities, during back-of-house tours, in crew areas, or anywhere there is a reasonable expectation of guest and crew privacy."

Guests violating the rule will have them taken away, "Smart glasses users who are seen violating this policy will have the glasses confiscated."

New ban on smoking in Mexico

Smokers should be aware that Royal Caribbean has updated its policy regarding smoking to match Mexico's new rules.

Mexico has a total ban on smoking in public places that has been in place since 2023.

This includes beaches, parks, hotels, restaurants, and workplaces. 

Nothing has changed with where and when you can smoke onboard, but there's a warning to passengers to be aware you could face jail time if you try to smoke while ashore.

"In Mexico, vapes and e-cigarettes of any kind are banned and cannot be brought ashore. Regular cigarettes cannot be smoked in public places including at beaches, hotels, restaurants and parks. Violators face fines or even jail time."

Royal Caribbean has offered summer cruises around Europe for years, but 2026 is set to make its biggest splash yet.

The European cruise season is about to start, and this year's offering is different in a few ways. Royal Caribbean is introducing new products and new experiences, both of which are designed to stand apart from every other vacation option.  Not just cruise ships, but destinations.

Royal Caribbean doesn't compete with other cruise lines. They see themselves as peers among the broader vacation market, looking to offer a fresh alternative to Airbnb, resorts, and the busy planning mess of trying to "see Europe".

You'll see this in the Mediterranean, when their new offerings open up alongside venerable favorites.

Here's why Royal Caribbean is about to reinvent European cruises this summer.

An Icon becomes a Legend

The next biggest cruise ship in the world will launch with Legend of the Seas entering service in early July.

Icon of the Seas debuted two years ago, and it instantly set a new standard for what we expect on a cruise ship. Legend may be the third Icon Class ship, but it's hardly a copy job.

Legend of the Seas will introduce a few new features, such as a "Charlie and Chocolate Factory" musical, immersive train restaurant, and many new dining choices.

Not to mention these Icon Class ships offer the best mix of resort, beach club, and theme-park-style experiences around.

Plus, Legend enters the crowded Mediterranean market. But like a heavyweight fighter, its entrance stands out from every other option there. Royal Caribbean isn't placing Legend there haphazardly. They want to make a statement and draw a line for consumers that there's a new big deal.

Legend of the Seas will sail 7-night Western Mediterranean adventures from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. 

A bold beach club entry

At the same time, Royal Caribbean is opening a new entry to its portfolio that no other cruise line can match.

Beginning in April, the Ultimate Santorini Day is a full-day, curated experience that will give Royal Caribbean cruisers an exclusive new way to see this highly coveted Greek island.

The Royal Beach Club Santorini is the brand’s first ever Royal Beach Club in Europe. At the beach club, guests can take in unbeatable views and authentic, local flavors while enjoying the volcanic sand beaches and serene Mediterranean vibes.  

You'll be able to take in the views in Fira, explore the iconic white and blue domes of Oia, and enjoy the beach club experience.

Unlike a private island, this beach club is more like a "super shore excursion" that leverages the very best of what Royal Caribbean offers packaged into a beach day. Offering an exclusive destination gives passengers "the easy button" to seeing an island that is otherwise known for being crowded and difficult to traverse.

I'm going on my first Mediterranean cruise

The launch of Legend of the Seas has gotten to me, because I'm going to try my first Mediterranean sailing.

A new cruise ship is always exciting, but to combine it with incredible places I've always dreamt of visiting in Italy, France, and Spain means a whole new adventure.

Ever since I took my first cruises around Northern Europe, I'm ready to tackle the most popular destinations in this region.

The beauty of exploring the Med by cruise ship is I get a sample of what each city and country has to offer. Will I love Provence or Rome more? Will I eat over 4,000 calories a day in every city? These are the exciting questions I'm already pondering.

Truly, one of the best reasons to take a cruise is how much it opens you up to exploring the world. I started off with Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, but the more you sail, the wider your appetite for bigger adventure grows.

While it will be a challenge to mix seeing a new ship with visiting ports, I think you've got to get your feet wet one way or another.  Jumping right in is a good start.

Royal Caribbean has more ships sailing around Europe this summer

Of course, there are more adventures this summer in Europe that go beyond the big two entries.

Odyssey of the Seas is headed back to the Mediterranean once more. Odyssey has become a mainstay in Europe, offering a summer season there every year since her debut.

You can book 7- to 9-night cruises on Odyssey to places like Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Naples, Italy; Mykonos, Greece; and Santorini, Greece.

Another megaship offering Mediterranean cruises will be Harmony of the Seas.

Tied to her upcoming amplification, Harmony will sail 7-night adventures await on Harmony from Barcelona, Spain.

Harmony is getting new restaurants, an expanded casino,, new bars, and more.

Two more ships will sail the Med, and each expands the the cruise line's footprint in the region.

Brilliance of the Seas will offer 7–9-night vacations on Brilliance from Ravenna (Venice) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy and Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

Explorer of the Seas is sailing along the Adriatic and Mediterranean coasts.

I recently visited San Juan, Puerto Rico on a cruise ship visit and it reminded me how much there is to do in one city (and island).

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise and one of the ports of call was a visit to San Juan.

From bars, to historical sights, to shopping, and the beach, there's a surprising amount to do here. Most Caribbean ports are usually "one trick pony's", meaning they primarily lean in one direction for what to do.  But that's not really the case in Puerto Rico.

Before you purchase a shore excursion to take you around, I'd recommend exploring on foot on your own because it's a lot easier than you might think.

If you have a cruise ship visit to San Juan, here are my top recommendations for fun that won't break the bank.

Exploring the city's history is a must

The name "Old San Juan" lives up to to the reputation, because there is so much history you can take in during your visit.

Within a reasonable walking distance are a lot of historical sites you can easily get to in just a few hours. 

Here's an example of a walking tour that you could use as a loose guide of what to see. If anything isn't of interest, keep walking to the next one.

The two Spanish forts are probably the top must-sees within the city. El Morro and San Cristobal are excellent examples of traditional Spanish colonial forts.  

They're great for young kids too, because there is lots of climbing and exploring.  For adults, read the placards or just walk around and get a sense of what they looked like.

If you're a Walt Disney World fan, the castle at the beginning of "Pirates of the Caribbean" is based on El Morro.

Plus, admission to one fort gets you admission into the other one if you visit on the same day!

I'd also prioritize the Paseo de La Princesa, which is part of the old city wall.  

You'll get views of the harbor, wall, and it's a beautiful vantage point.

Within the city itself, you'll find lots of historical spots to see. It seems like around every corner is something else to see.

The city is built on a hill, so it's practically impossible to get lost

If you've never been to Old San Juan, it's a lot easier to walk around on foot than you'd imagine.

Because the city is built on a hill and your ship docks at the bottom of the hill, it's nearly impossible to get lost.

If you ever get turned around and have no idea where you are, just walk downhill and you'll run back into the cruise ship.

While the streets don't have a grid, it's still remarkably easy to know where you are. Plus, Americans can use their cell phones here and with the aid of Google Maps, you shouldn't have trouble getting around.

More bars and restaurants than you can imagine

I've visited Old San Juan many times across so many sailings. Initially I was drawn in by the history, but the food and bars are what I look forward to more today.

On nearly any street you'll find various bars and places to eat. Some are more formal than others, but each has its own character to it.

It's fun stumbling upon a "hole in the wall" bar and trying the drink special. Or grabbing lunch at a cafe that offers terrific people watching on the street.

My kids love how many ice cream shops there are, which is a must-do when we visit during the very hot and humid days of the year.

While there are a few well-known restaurants many people recommend, such as Raices or Barrachina (where the Pina Colada was invented), I think it's fun to see where the path takes you and try a random spot.

Recommended places to visit

If you've got a cruise ship visit to San Juan, here are a few ideas of places to hit up:

• El Morro: Old Spanish fort, you can skip admission and just look at it
• Raices: Traditional Puerto Rican restaurant with less adventurous food too
• Vaca Brava: Puerto Rican food, lots of seating for large groups
• Barrachina: Puerto Rican food, creator of the Pina Colada
• Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista: Traditional Spanish church with grave of Juan Ponce De Leon
• Himalaya Ice Co: My kids' favorite ice cream spot
• Convento hotel: walk through this for an incredible decorated hotel lobby
• Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery: Final resting spot for many prominent residents of Old San Juan

There are great beaches, but I'd save them for another port

Puerto Rico is well-known for being a tropical destination, but I'd save the beach day for a different port.

There aren't any beaches in Old San Juan, so you'd have to take an excursion or taxi to get to the beaches that are in a different area of San Juan.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with the beaches here, I'm willing to bet every other port your cruise visits will offer a typical beach day. Instead, I'd lean into a day of city exploration while in San Juan.

People discover all sorts of ways to make their cruise even better with some really creative hacks.

What's more surprising to me is how many new cruise hacks get invented as time goes on, and I always have the same thought, "Why didn't I think of that?".

Some of these tricks are so clever it almost seems like it has to be against the rules or would get you in trouble.  While some people come up with ways to cheat the drink package that are definitely against the rules, most others are well within your rights to try.

After spending an afternoon hunting down new cruise hacks on Facebook, here are eight new tips that you could try out.

There are Amazon affiliate links in this article that cost you nothing extra to use, but I make a small commission if you buy it.

Buying a drink caddy to make family orders easier

I saw someone bought a drink caddy to bring on Utopia of the Seas and I immediately scoffed, but it actually is a smart idea.

Dedreanna bought the non-alcoholic drink package for everyone, so they were taking full advantage of the drink package investment and buying lattes, soda cups, milkshakes, and so forth.

I know from my experience, the second someone says they're going to get a drink, everyone else wants to get their drink order in too. So having a drink caddy for a family might not be a bad idea, especially if you need to transport the drinks up to another deck.

The four drink holder costs $13.99 and you could also use this at home just as much as on the ship.

This seems like the perfect idea to bring on my next family cruise so I can put my kids to work.

Bringing a food container to buffet to bring snacks for later back to the room

While we think of a cruise as being a never-ending stream of food, there are times restaurants close down. The Windjammer isn't open 24 hours, and closes before 10pm.

Traditionally, some cruisers brought Ziploc bags to take food back to the room and keep it fresh, but they're small and don't have any support for food that isn't meant to spill around.

A few cruisers recommended bringing a small food container so they could easily transport snacks back to the room for later. This is actually a great idea so you could have a "fourth meal", "second dinner", or whatever you want to call it.

The one that was recommended costs $11.98 and like the drink caddy, it's an investment you can re-use at home too.

Create DIY cocktails

As you may be aware, Royal Caribbean allows you to bring certain drinks on a cruise.  Leveraging these can turn into smart money-saving drink hacks.

• Bring your own bottle of champagne onboard and then ask for orange juice each morning to create your own mimosa
• Order a shot of Baileys to add to your mocha latte from Cafe Promenade
• If you're Prime in Casino Royale, stockpile cans of sodas or bottled water in your cabin to use later

It's a smart way to extend what you have access to onboard.

Use the showers in the gym so you don't have to wait

Did you know there are showers in the ship's fitness center that you can use for free? 

They're usually not occupied and much more spacious than your tiny stateroom shower. This is a great tip for anyone sharing a room with someone else.

Before you plan on this tip, I'd recommend bringing shower shoes, such as flip flops. Since it's a communal shower, it's a good idea to wear this to prevent the spread of any bacteria.

Make your own root beer floats

Instead of paying for a ice cream float, you can probably make your own.

If you brought root beer on the ship, grab a cup and a get soft serve ice cream and add it to your root beer.

Scooping my soft serve ice cream into my root beer to make a root beer float. 

Another idea is to get soda from your drink package and then follow the same steps. This works really well in the Windjammer, because they have both soda and ice cream readily available.

Eating at Johnny Rockets for free at breakfast

It almost feels like you're getting away with something when you enjoy breakfast at Johnny Rockets for no cost.

This isn't a new hack at all, but a surprising amount of people are still unaware. This is only available on Oasis Class ships, but breakfast is free there.  Lunch and dinner still cost extra.

They serve an American style breakfast, and it's usually less crowded than the Windjammer or Main Dining Room. This is mostly because most people don't know breakfast is complimentary.

Wake up to coffee every day

A "work smarter, not harder" hack is using room service as a wake-up service.

Room service usually costs extra, but the continental breakfast room service is complimentary. It includes coffee, toast, bagels, juice, and cereal and there's no cost.

The idea is to order room service each morning as a way to force yourself to be awake. Not only will they call before they arrive, but it forces you to get up and not roll over and go back to sleep.

Unlike your phone alarm, this alarm will bring coffee or a light breakfast for no cost! If you're going to be tired and unhappy about having to wake up, at least you can have coffee to go with it!

Stockpile bottled water

If you buy a drink package, get into the mantra of saying with each order, "... and a bottle of water".

While the official rules are you can only order one beverage per order with a drink package, the crew rarely will stop you from also getting a bottle of water to go with it.

I think the idea is they don't want you to be hungover or dehydrated, so bottled water is acceptable to throw in.

My advice is to order bottled water with any drink order you make so you can start bringing back extras to the room. I stock them in my cabin fridge for use later, like when we're headed off the ship for a shore excursion.  Or if I need a drink in the middle of the night.

I was at a party recently and the topic of cruise vacations came up, and that's when one guest asked if cruises were just something old people went on. 

I've been asked or heard similar statements many times over the years, so I'm not new to this line of thinking, but it's surprising that so many hold onto this misconception about cruises. Especially given how prolific new ships have been in garnering all sorts of press for being anything but conventional and dull.

The Cruise Lines International Association says 22% of all cruisers were millennials and 14% were Gen Z. Those numbers are much higher on Royal Caribbean, where the average age of a cruiser is a millennial now.

A study last year by Morning Consult Intelligence showed Gen Z and millennial respondents were showing a greater interest in booking a cruise on one of the mainstream lines, with a 2-5% jump year-over-year.

Unfortunately, despite these growing numbers of young people wanting to cruise, the narrative has not yet caught up with the facts. 

Targeting younger cruisers

Like all myths, there's a source of truth to them. But that's greatly changing with Royal Caribbean.

While some cruise lines may still retain an older demographic, the mainstream lines are moving forward to appealing to the younger generations.

"More than half of the millennials tell us they are more likely to consider cruising today compared to two years ago," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty last year.

He says that up-tick in interest is because of, "the attractive value proposition of a cruise."

The result is almost 1 in 2 guests sailing on Royal Caribbean ships are millennials or younger.

The Royal Caribbean app has undergone tremendous updates and feature additions to make it more useful and more engaging. Not only does it contain activity information, but it has been designed to be more useful for younger cruisers.

Mobile badges make tracking which sailings and destinations you've visited more personal. There are "Netflix-style recommendations" for dining, nightlife, and excursions based on personal preferences.  And push notifications make it easier to browse add-ons that could be of interest (and save money too).

Younger travelers see a cruise ship as an easy way to explore different places in one trip, "Consumers place significant value on visiting multiple destinations and this is even more important to Millennial and Gen Z consumers; something that cruising is uniquely positioned to deliver on."

More parties, less formality

Beyond the stats, what you can experience on a cruise has changed over the years and many of the trends lean towards people that want more than classic cruise activities.

Royal Caribbean made waves when it launched a brand new ship specifically aimed at attracting new cruisers and those that want a party vibe.

Utopia of the Seas was designed to be the weekend party cruise ship, and other ships have shifted to this dynamic as well.

In addition to the traditional things to do, there are more parties and themed events than ever before.

Royal Caribbean dropped the "formal night" moniker years ago, instead opting to lean into theme nights. While wearing a tuxedo is quite rare to see on a ship, families dressing up with matching outfits for Y2K night, white night, and Caribbean night are all much more popular than ever before.

Royal Caribbean went even deeper with appealing to families with building out an entire area of Icon of the Seas to be dedicated to young families.

Offering more than ever for parents and children to do together draws younger cruisers to try a cruise.  Plus, their parents can opt for the party fun later in the evening after dropping their kids off at kids club.

"I'll be bored on a cruise"

Tangentially related to the idea only the "nearly wed and nearly dead" go on cruises is the idea it's a boring vacation.

This is probably rooted in the idea you wake up and go to the pool deck every day.  In truth, there's so much more to do.

Cruise ships offer shopping, surfing, water slides, ice skating, laser tag, and deck parties. There are Broadway shows you can see, video games to play, gambling in the casino, karaoke and so much more.

If you look through the daily activities on Royal Caribbean, you'll quickly see how much is available to try.

Royal Caribbean designs its ships to compete with Las Vegas or Orlando. They want it to be a floating destination with more to do and try. So much of what you can do on land is available to do on a cruise ship too. And odds are even more.