For me, spending the day at the beach or pool is a must-do when my cruise ship visits a Mexican port of call.

After readers asked me for a which Cozumel beach club to pick, I decided to try Mr. Sanchos Beach Club once again because it's the #8 ranked thing to do in Cozumel on TripAdvisor.

I had been there before in 2022, and frankly, I hated it. Compared to other beach clubs around Cozumel, I thought it was underwhelming. However, that was 4 years ago and I wanted to give it another try.

I booked 4 all-inclusive day passes on their website for $248 to give us up to 10 hours.

Easy to get there and get situated

If there's one easy thing about Cozumel that they do well, it's taxis. 

Along with a family we were traveling with, we got a taxi for 7 that cost $40 each way.

Once we arrived at Mr. Sanchos, we were warmly greeted by the staff and directed to check-in. You can pre-purchase admission before your visit for as little as $79.00 per adult; $50 per teen, and $40 per kid.

After checking in, we were assigned a waiter that would work with us for the day and the waiter took us to our spot.

You can request chairs and a palapa anywhere that's not already taken, either near the beach or pool. I prefer the pool, so we got one in the "new area" that was recently expanded.

We had plastic tables and chairs to use, and our waiter allowed us to also snatch a few nearby loungers. The seating is mostly typical of other beach clubs around Cozumel, although I've found others have more loungers.

There were unlimited food options and nonalcoholic beverages to choose from

Your admission includes unlimited food and drink, with just a few exceptions.

• Unlimited food from the buffet
• Unlimited food delivered by your waiter
• Unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Access to the beach
• Umbrellas at every table
• Use of ocean kayak
• Lockers

While everything is indeed unlimited, it's not exactly the best food or top shelf liquors either.

Our waiter service was excellent, and both Hillario and Diego were extremely attentive. We tried a wide selection of food, although I prefer to lean into Mexican food when I'm in Mexico.

The tacos, fajitas, and chicken sandwich were all adequate, but not great.  To paraphrase the Roman Caesar in "History of the World Part 1", it was good. Not great, but good.

In terms of drinks, they have plenty of your typical beach cocktails and beers.

One thing they don't have are shots. This was really surprising to me, but I'm guessing they want to keep things from getting out of hand.

Basically, nothing was exceptional, but it was certainly good enough.

The beach was huge, with lots of sand and few rocks

You won't struggle trying to get into the ocean at Mr. Sanchos.

The beach is enormous, as is the beach club itself. Even on our mostly overcast day, the beach was very inviting and water color looked tropical.

I appreciated there were not many rocks or seaweed to contend with. It's the right water depth for wading in and not immediately having the water go over your head.

As morning turned to lunch, it was clear how big the resort is and how many people were visiting.

I walked along the beach and it was easily a 10 minute walk from one end to another. Even though it wasn't completely sold out, you won't confuse a visit to Mr. Sanchos with any kind of a secluded beach.

Our day was dampened by ants, barely any Wi-Fi, and cold pools

My biggest issue with Mr. Sanchos was the lack of quality to the day. Meaning, it felt unremarkable and we had issues that dogged us all day.

There were two problems with the Wi-Fi. The signal barely reached out seats, resulting in off and on connectivity.

But even when the Wi-Fi did connect, there were dropouts often. It resulted in a lot of tossing your phone onto the table out of frustration.

Then there were a lot of ants around our seats. 

On top of that, the pools weren't heated, and it resulted in pools that were "you gotta get used to it" temperature.

No single issue was a deal breaker, but all of it combined to leave a poor experience. 

Next time I'll go to a different beach club

Ultimately, I think I'd rather go back to Paradise Beach or Buccanos than Mr. Sanchos.

I think the problem I have with Mr. Sanchos is how all the little things in their delivery add up to a less than stellar experience.

Their footprint is significantly bigger, and when it gets full, you'll definitely notice the crowds. The lack of functional Wi-Fi and mediocre food also were the things that instantly made us think of Paradise Beach.

Not to mention Royal Caribbean will be opening its own beach club in Cozumel later this year, which gives us yet another compelling alternative.

The staff were wonderful, so I have no issue with the service. But I think there are better places to spend your day in Cozumel.

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

Royal Beach Club Lelepa will be the first exclusive cruise destination in the South Pacific, and the cruise line revealed the first visitors will be able to go there beginning October 2027.

This will be the fourth Royal Beach Club operation, adding onto the two that will open later this year. 

Previously, Royal Caribbean had indicated Lelepa would be more of a standalone product instead of a Perfect Day or Beach Club.  However, we now have a better scope of what it'll be when it's operational.

Pristine beaches

Located on the northwest side of Vanuatu, Royal Beach Club Lelepa will feature two stunning beaches. Vanuatu is located east of Australia.

Available exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers, visitors will be able to choose between the beaches, as well as an adults-only area (18+).

There is family-friendly East Beach and "adventure-primed" West Beach, plus a peaceful Nature Trail to explore.

Just like all of its beach clubs, it'll be all-inclusive with unlimited food and drink. However, there's one big difference.

While other Royal Beach Clubs require the purchase of a day pass to enter, entrance to Royal Beach Club Lelepa is included in your cruise fare.

Royal Beach Club Lelepa offers access free of charge to two beaches, an Adult’s Only area, and the Nature Trail, along with other complimentary items including:

• Entry
• Transportation via tender to the island
• Loungers
• Umbrellas
• Towel Refresh
• 2 Eateries
• Restrooms
• Beach Games (volleyball, beach cricket, and more)

You’ll also find equipment for games like cornhole and beach cricket at both beaches, and volleyball courts on West Beach, all free of charge. 

For an extra cost, you can pay for:

• Day beds
• Shore excursions
• Watersport equipment (kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear)

Guests will board a complimentary tender that takes from and to the ship. Royal Caribbean will build a brand new jetty to welcome the tender boats in.

One thing you won't find at Lelepa are any pool options. In addition, there won't be Wi-Fi on the island.

Opening in October 2027

Sailings departing at the end of October 2027 will be the first to visit.

Sailings with calls at Royal Beach Club Lelepa open for sale on March 18, 2026 EDT / March 19, 2026 AEDT.

Two ships will offer cruises to Royal Beach Club Lelepa, sailing from Sydney and Brisbane. Anthem of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas will each be the first two ships to call on the island.

Admission to the island is available to guests of all ages.

Food options to indulge

Food is complimentary at Lelepa, with two restaurants and four beach bars.

Gluten free and vegetarian options are available at all the island’s dining venues, as well as options to suit most dietary needs.

In addition to alcoholic beverages, there are non-alcoholic drink options, such as water, sodas, juices, teas, plus local coffee and smoothie options.

The minimum age to consume alcohol at Royal Beach Club Lelepa will be 18.

How this beach club will be different

Unlike Royal Beach Club Nassau, this one is included in your cruise fare. 

In fact, all three of its beach clubs required a separate admission cost, but Lelepa will be included in the fare. 

Speaking to the media in June 2025, Royal Caribbean indicated part of that decision not to charge was because Lelepa isn't exactly like the other beach clubs or even Perfect Day.

Another difference is there won't be a freshwater pool.

The cornerstone of the Royal Beach Clubs in Nassau and Cozumel are the heated pools. However, Lelepa won't have them.

Another key difference is there will be more of a connection to nature, which is something Royal Caribbean identified in their market research.  That's part of the reason there will be a different look and feel to it.

Expanding its private island strategy

When Royal Beach Club Lelepa opens, it will be one of four beach clubs that flank two Perfect Days.  It's all part of a broader strategy to outmaneuver and out deliver any other cruise line or resort.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island and Perfect Day at CocoCay are already open and welcoming thousands of guests a month.  Each has been a home run for Royal Caribbean in terms of guest satisfaction and revenue.

Opening this year will be Royal Beach Club Santorini in Greece, along with Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico.

Both of these clubs will build on the success of the first beach club, and have an unrivaled experience passengers can opt into while visiting for the day.

Following that will be opening of Perfect Day Mexico, a bigger and more impressive version of what we have at CocoCay.

All of them are available only to Royal Caribbean passengers (as well as sister brand ships).  But vacationers on other cruise lines are unable to visit, making it a walled garden just out of reach for the competition.

You check the weather forecast before your cruise and suddenly your excitement turns into dread: rain every day.

While it looks like your Caribbean vacation is about to be washed out before it even begins, the truth is it probably won't. That scary-looking forecast doesn't mean it will rain all day, or even for every long. In fact, it's more likely the rain will miss you and end up with plenty of sunshine.

The thing most people don’t realize is Caribbean weather forecasts are famously misleading. 

Before you panic, here's some reassurance why that "rain forecast for the entire cruise" rant is probably not as bad as it looks.

Why Caribbean forecasts almost always show rain

Weather forecasting relies on models, and the models in the Caribbean are not nearly as sophisticated or well-developed as those in the United States.

Part of the reason for this is because there are less weather stations around the Caribbean. Many countries don't have the financial resources to buy a radar station and that means there's far less weather radar information to feed into models.

I'm not saying the weather forecasts are useless, but don't take them as the gospel truth for what to expect.

Rain is common in the tropics

As someone that lives in Florida, I know that when there's rain in the forecast, it's rarely an all-day affair.

When you get into the warm months of the year, rain storms tend to pop-up and develop as the day goes on. Warm ocean water + humidity = pop-up storms.

That means you start off the day sunny, see clouds in the afternoon, and experience a quick downpour.  Or not at all.  Tropical rain storms are usually small cells that move quickly and may hit one beach, but not another.

Even if the forecast is accurate that it will rain, it's doubtful the rain will last very long. Sometimes it's a few minutes, sometimes an hour or so.  But most of the day is likely to be rain-free.

That forecast is a percentage chance, not a guarantee

Something else you should look at in any weather forecast is the percentage chance of rain.

It may list rain every day of your cruise, but that doesn't mean it's a guarantee. Often the percentage listed is far less than 100%, and that means forecasters aren't really sure.  They see the potential for precipitation, but it's unclear when or where exactly it will rain and for how long.

So meteorologists use a percentage in their forecast to handicap the likelihood of rain. Even a 70% or higher chance or rain may result in no rain at all.

Weather apps show rain icons even if the chance is small. A 30–40% chance of rain may mean a short shower somewhere nearby.

This is one of those situations as a cruiser you need to have a "glass is half full" approach and hope for the best.

Why cruise ships are good at avoiding bad weather

On sea days, you have the best chance to avoid the worst rain.

Cruise ship Captains can reroute around large storm systems. That's not to say they'll avoid every rain cell, but they will seek a better route if there's a big system out there. In fact, Royal Caribbean has its own meteorologist to help predict bad weather and keep ships away from it.

In the case of a hurricane, Royal Caribbean could re-arrange ports or change itineraries.  They won't do that for a regular rain storm, but it's important to know major storms have contingency plans.

How to read a cruise weather forecast correctly

Before you text your family your "cruise is ruined", here's what I'd look at in any forecast.

Start by looking at hourly forecasts, not daily icons. If your ship is going to depart by mid afternoon, you could miss the worst of the rain.

Next, check precipitation percentage, not just symbols. They're estimates and anything less than 50% is probably not worth changing any plans around.

Lastly, even if it does rain, expect short bursts of rain, not constant storms.

Prepare for rain, but expect sunshine

My advice is understand that, yes, it could rain. But it probably won't be a washout.

Plan for a fun time ashore and enjoy your day.  However, if it does rain, don't let it stop you in your tracks.

Heck, if there's no lighting, hop in the pool or ocean and embrace being wet while you're already wet!

If you have plans on land, packing rain ponchos might be prudent. Or just duck under cover and let it all pass.

If your cruise is going to Alaska, the weather changes so quickly there that rain is likely. But it usually moves on soon enough.

As someone that cruises every month on Royal Caribbean ships, there are things I'd never do on a cruise.

Of course there are plenty of Royal Caribbean policies and rules to follow, and those go without saying as things not to do on a cruise.

Through all of my cruising, I've discovered a few hard and fast rules for how to cruise to avoid problems later. There are some things I might not prefer, but recognize that's a "me thing". As an example, I prefer Traditional Dinner instead of My Time Dining as my cruise dinner choice.

But I have a handful of full-stop, no discussions allowed type cruise tips I'll tell anyone to follow because I think breaking them would set yourself up for a potential problem later.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after cruising for 20 years and enjoying them as a passenger.

Ignore problems without asking for help

I get emails, message board posts, and Reddit threads filled with complaints from cruisers who come home after a cruise with problems that could have been resolved onboard the ship.

While not every problem you encounter on a cruise ship is something that can be totally fixed, I think too many cruisers tough it out and let it ruin their vacation.

If something is broken, disappointing, or not as you expected it, I'd start off by seeking the proper crew member to talk to about the issue. Then I'd escalate the issue before giving up.

Here are some examples. Let's say your stateroom is too hot because the air conditioning isn't cooling sufficiently.

First, start with your stateroom attendant. Alert them to the issue and then call the maintenance department (there's an extension on your cabin phone) to get someone in there.  Telling your cabin attendant keeps them in the loop of the issue for escalation later.

If the maintenance team comes and the issue isn't resolved, ask your cabin attendant to speak to the deck supervisor and explain the issue to then. Ask them to come in the room to see what you're experiencing and work with them.

Crew members are there to make sure your vacation is excellent, and they'll do whatever they can to assist.

Cruise without travel insurance

I think you're crazy to cruise without travel insurance given how many complexities exist in traveling today that I wouldn't want to leave things to chance.

Admittedly, I used to skip buying travel insurance when I was younger out of a combination of ignorance, being cheap, and high risk tolerance.  But that's changed and now the safety net a travel insurance policy provides seems like a must-buy for every trip.

Travel insurance covers so much more than your medical insurance includes, and most will take care of you in situations that aren't your fault.

Airline delays, lost baggage, a death in the family, unexpectedly losing your job, hurricane disruptions, and more are common scenarios that travel insurance kicks in for that you would otherwise be left without any compensation.

Cruise lines are sympathetic to people's unexpected plights in life, but they're under no obligation to offer last-minute refunds if someone gets sick, diagnosed with a severe disease, or an airline cancels all your plans.

Moreover, travel insurance also can go beyond covering the usual medical bills. Did you know cruise ship medical centers don't accept any travel insurance? It's all out of pocket and out of network service that you'll need to seek reimbursement for later.

Travel insurance is probably an extra cost you won't need, but if you do, it's the best investment you ever made.

Plan my tours to end at least a couple hours early

Any shore excursion or tour I take, I'll plan to be back to the ship at least two hours before the all aboard time.

While your time in a port of call is short, I don't play games with making it back to the ship on time.

As a general rule of thumb, I'll plan to be back to the ship two hours early.  I think this provides enough buffer for unforeseen delays or stops. Traffic, backups in security, or even a "we need to buy a souvenir at this store" stop are the sort of things I don't want to put us in danger of missing the cruise ship.

Of course, if we get back to the port area with plenty of time left, then I'm good with taking some extra time to hang out in the port area near the ship. As long as I can run back to the ship, there's far less risk involved with being that close.

Feed any animals

No matter how cute an animal looks or how much my kids think it would fun, I never feed any animals on a cruise ship.

The most common culprit are birds. I will never understand why some people think it's a good idea to feed seagulls and other birds food.

Wild animals don't understand "okay, that's enough". They get more aggressive because they want more (especially when you stop) and it tends to attract their friends that also want in on free food.

Plus, some animals will defecate when fed and that creates an entirely different issue.

Suffice to say, don't feed wild animals and leave the birds alone.

Limit myself to just the included food

I get it: cruise vacations aren't cheap and the food Royal Caribbean includes in your fare is pretty good and plentiful.  But, if I'm on vacation, I think limiting oneself on principle is a mistake.

While I'm not advocating going all-in on food that costs extra, I think you can splurge for a specialty restaurant, latte, or bucket of popcorn without financial strain.

On most cruises I take, I like a blend of included and specialty food. It's rare I only go for the extra cost stuff anymore because there are some fantastic included restaurants.

Wait until the first day to book my shows

If you're on a newer ship that offers pre-cruise reservations for shows, book them at all costs.

When I boarded Star of the Seas for spring break this week, there was a long line of people waiting at the box office to get a show reservation.

There's no cost to make a show reservation and it's pretty quick too. It just requires a little bit of advanced planning.

Considering how good Royal Caribbean's shows are, I wouldn't chance it to try to get into a show once onboard.

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

How does a cruise vacation compare to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico?

Jenna's taken over 30 cruises, but she stayed in her first all-inclusive, but was worried she'd feel bored or "trapped" there.

While the resort had some impressive amenities, the high price tag was hard to ignore.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean’s Cozumel beach club project will include new public beach access
• Carnival just copied Royal Caribbean’s plan to make cruise dinners faster
• Royal Caribbean just unveiled 2 new cocktail menus on its cruise ships
• El Niño watch issued, what it means for cruise ships during hurricane season
• 5 cruise complaints you can safely ignore
• I've cruised on Royal Caribbean ships for 20 years. Here are 5 things that live up to the hype and 2 I tell first-timers to skip
• Photos show what cruise ship midnight buffets used to look like
• I stayed in a 299-square-foot Junior Suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The extra space and loyalty points were worth it
• When can you book shows on Royal Caribbean?
• What a crew member cabin on Star of the Seas looks like
• I cruised Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. It's obvious why NCL is in desperate need of changes
• The deceptive cheap cruise offers that trick too many vacationers

New RCB Video: I'm Never Cruising From This Port Again

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — I'm Never Cruising From This Port Again (Not Royal Caribbean's Fault!) — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Royal Caribbean Brings "America’s Got Talent" to Sea

The popular talent show, "America's Got Talent" is coming to Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas with a new stage show this summer.

"America's Got Talent LIVE" will be the first time the franchise will debut at sea.

The show promises to bring the excitement of the Got Talent universe to Legend’s Royal Theater, with a mix of acts, including magicians, aerialists, musicians, and acrobats.

Port Canaveral is working on a fix to Royal Caribbean cruise parking that has annoyed passengers

Overcrowded parking has been a problem at Port Canaveral, but it should be fixed soon.

The port is constructing a massive 13-story parking garage that will add over 3,000 new spaces for those sailing out of Terminals 5 and 6.

It should be complete in a few more months.

This $10 accessory make Royal Caribbean embarkation way easier

Luggage tag holders are a simple solution to making sure your bags make it to your cabin.

They're cheap to buy, seem to last forever, and really work well at reducing the chances your luggage tags get ripped off accidentally.

They provide peace of mind that my luggage tag will remain intact during embarkation. Also, they hardly take up any space for packing.

New app feature added that could save you from missing your cruise ship

No one wants to be a pier runner, so a new feature in Royal Caribbean's app could help with that.

Guests spotted a new countdown feature in the app, along with a progress bar.

It seems this offers a very obvious reminder to anyone that may have lost track of time while in port.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

We've just released the 600th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt shares etiquette advice for the Main Dining Room to avoid being "that guy".

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

Royal Caribbean is rolling out two new drink experiences on its ships.

Periodically, the cruise line will offer new drinks or cocktails for its guests that coincide with special events, new brand partnerships, or as a way to offer more than just traditional cruise drinks.

One of these new offerings is a year-long celebration of cocktails and wines created by female master distillers and winemakers.

The other introduces a new Aperitivo Hour happy hour with discounted cocktails in select bars.

Here's what you can look for on your next sailing.

Royal Caribbean launches Aperitivo Hour happy hour

Royal Caribbean is leaning into an Italian tradition with a new happy hour option.

A new Aperitivo Hour being introduced on ships.

In Italian culture, apertivo is a pre-dinner "warm-up" held in the early evening to stimulate the appetite, typically featuring light, bitter-sweet cocktails like a Spritz or Negroni.

Available between 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Ed Eiswirth, Royal Caribbean's Director of Beverage Operations, said there are five new cocktails that will cost $10 when ordered during happy hour at Vintages or Giovanni's Wine Bar.

What cocktails are included

The drink menu consists of:

• Aperol Spritz
• Hugo Spritz
• Miami Spritz
• Campari Spritz
• Negroni

New cocktails celebrating International Women’s Day

At the same time, Royal Caribbean launched a new drink menu to celebrate women-lead drink makers.

There's a limited-time drink menu celebrating International Women’s Day, which will be offered this year featuring 3 cocktails and 2 wines.

All of them were created with spirits or wines from female master distillers and winemakers. This is part of Royal Caribbean’s effort to highlight women in the beverage industry.

Spirits and wines featured

• Mijenta Tequila
• Woodford Reserve
• Appleton Rum
• Zolo Malbec
• Villa Maria Wines

The "Cheers to Her" menu has six drinks on it

• Strawberry Sunset
• She Shines
• Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc
• Coffee Boulevardier
• Desert Light
• Zolo Malbec

Where guests can try the new drinks

The new menus are available for an undisclosed amount of time, but here's what we know.

The Aperitivo Hour appears in Vintages Wine Bar and Giovanni’s Wine Bar. While the International Women’s Day cocktails likely offered fleetwide at select bars. The Schooner Bar would be a good guess for where you could find it.

Availability may vary by ship or sailing.

Royal Caribbean has been pushing recently to highlight drinks and cocktails that go beyond what most vacationers think of on a cruise. While there's nothing wrong with a pina colada or daiquiri, the cruise line has promoted and added many more drink options.

Plus, these new options are a great choice for guests who enjoy craft cocktails and wine experiences.

As an added bonus, the Aperitivo Hour provides a lower-cost drink option before dinner. This is helpful for those that do not have a drink package (although a beverage package covers these cocktails too).

Royal Caribbean recently partnered with a whiskey maker

The two new cocktail menus follow another recent partnership that was added with Pappy Van Winkle.

Available on ships with a Mason Jar (Allure, Wonder, and Utopia), there are new drinks for those that want top shelf bourbon whiskey.

The specialty curated collection of bourbons available at the restaurant includes Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year and 20 Year, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year, Sazerac 18 Year, and others. These offerings join Royal Caribbean’s robust beverage line and specialty cocktails.

This high-end bourbon is something to appeal to those that prefer this sort of a drink.

While there are many things people will complain about on a Royal Caribbean cruise, some are opinions you can safely ignore.

The internet is a great resource for learning about just about anything, including a cruise vacation. It can also help a lot with finding the right cruise, shore excursion, or activity onboard. Heck, this entire website is built around that premise.

I like to read through others' experiences on cruises, but there are some things you probably shouldn't make a buying decision off of because you read a negative experience online.

Some subjects are simply too subjective, and a cruise is so personalized. Unlike a review that criticizes Enchantment of the Seas for not having nearly as much to do for families as a newer ship, a dismal review one person have may have more to do with that person's likes and dislikes than an objective viewpoint.

Before you make any rash decisions, here are five complaints about cruises I wouldn't take to heart.

How comfortable the beds are on a cruise ship

Let's start with an easy topic that is so subjective, you may as well stop reading as soon as you see the topic: beds.

There are all sorts of complaints that Royal Caribbean's mattresses are too firm, too soft, too lumpy, or simply not what they prefer in bedding.

This is why the entire mattress industry has been built around different firmness levels. Everyone will never agree on what's the right level of firmness.

Personally, I prefer a firmer mattress, and I sleep well on Royal Caribbean ships. So clearly they work for what I prefer, but there are others that have a different feeling.

Don't forget you can ask for a mattress topper to help make it softer.

Ultimately, don't freak out if you see someone complaining about the comfort level of the beds. It might not be the as wonderful to sleep on as your luxury mattress at home, but it does the job.

Cruise ship reviews

If I had to pick one kind of complaint you should never use as the basis for any decision, it's cruise reviews.

You'll find plenty of negative reviews on Facebook and Reddit talking about how some ship is horrible, but I've been on those ships and I scratch my head how they had such a worse experience than I did.

The issue is a cruise ship has so many ways you can experience it.  For example, you could stay in your cabin all cruise and only order room service, but someone else could spend all day in the casino. 

There's simply too much variation on what you can do on a cruise ship to use a review as the basis for booking or not booking it.

Most often, bad cruise ship reviews stem from unrealistic or uninformed expectations. People writing cruise ship reviews aren't trained reviewers: they're dads that thought a ship should have free WiFi and less trivia events because "that's what it's like at Marriott".

What one person considers a deal-breaker, might be exactly what another cruiser loves about the vacation. Add in variables like weather, itinerary changes, and individual service interactions, and two people on the same cruise can walk away with totally opposite impressions.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships are not copies of each other.  Even within the same ship class, you'll find stark differences between each vessel. 

There's nothing wrong with reading ship reviews to see specifics that people liked or didn't like. Online reviews tend to reflect personal preferences more than an objective measure of how good a cruise actually is.

The stage shows around the ship

Royal Caribbean is known for their entertainment as being a differentiating factor from other cruise lines. Specifically, they're a market leader in the onboard shows.  But that doesn't mean everyone loves them all.

A great example of why show reviews shouldn't be taken as the gospel truth is the Broadway show, "Cats" on Oasis of the Seas. Perhaps no other show has such divided views among fans that either despise the show or love it.

I've told readers I can't stand magicians, jugglers, or ventriloquists because they're all the same and bore me.  But I know there are lots of people that love these shows too.

I try to go into every show I've never seen with an open mind, and I think you should give a show a try. You might love a show that gets lambasted by someone else. 

All those food reviews

Nothing is more synonymous with subjective than food reviews. After all, the word "taste" is used for both review and experience.

I would guess the top complaint among all cruisers is centered around food on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 

I could write about how much I loved a particular restaurant and there will be plenty of readers who claim it's a terrible restaurant, they have better food at home, or they didn't like the food at all.

To be fair, I slammed the specialty restaurant Hooked for years, but then tried it again and liked it much more than I ever expected. 

If you're a classically trained chef and know how lobster thermidor should be served, bravo, I defer to your opinion. But since I think most of us are just people eating on a cruise, food reviews are just someone's random opinion.

I like to give any restaurant a chance because it might be my new favorite. Pier 7 is another good example of a restaurant others panned, but I really liked because I gave it a try.

How crowded a ship felt

A study by the University of Tokyo looked at how people judge how crowded a place is, and it found that people perceive how crowded a space feels largely based on the gap between the speed they want to move and the speed they’re actually able to move in a crowd.

This boils down to everyone has a different definition of how crowded is too crowded.

I won't pretend Royal Caribbean ships aren't crowded at times, or that you can easily get a pool chair at noon on a sea day. Those are valid complaints and definitely things I've experienced.

The difference is crowds ebb and flow, and I certainly wouldn't say it's a poor experience when it happens.  Unless you have your own private ship, there's going to be crowding of some kind.

You could argue a crowd means energy, which is important if you want a party atmosphere or are looking to socialize.

So reading "my ship was crowded" doesn't really mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of what makes that ship a fun vacation or not.

If you're wondering when you can book shows on Royal Caribbean, the answer depends on your ship, sailing date, and when reservations open in the Royal Caribbean app.

The problem is shows aren't available to book immediately. Royal Caribbean opens reservations for its shows much closer to the sail date.

Without a reservation, you will have to wait in the standby line for the show. That isn't inherently a problem, but it requires you to show up earlier and there's a risk of not making it in.

If you have the option to make a show reservation, here's when and how to book them so you can see all the performances onboard.

Royal Caribbean's policy isn't always accurate

The official policy is you can book a show on a ship a month before your cruise, but in practice, it's not always the case.

"Show reservations open on the first day of the month before sailing," is what the cruise line has on its website.

That means if you had a cruise in July, shows would be available to book on June 1st.

In my experience, show reservations don't always open exactly then. More often, there are discrepancies for when shows actually become available, and that's likely why you searched the internet to find an answer to this question.

I recommend starting to look for show reservations up to 60 days before your cruise is scheduled to set sail, because there's no consistency when Royal Caribbean actually opens up reservations to book.

Furthermore, there's no notification function to alert you that shows are open to book. It requires you to proactively log in and check to see if show reservations are available yet.

This is why a lot of cruisers will join a roll call for their cruise so that they can crowd-source when one person spots shows open to book.

Only Icon, Oasis and Quantum class ships require pre-reservations.  Other ships don't offer reservations because it's not needed.

Reservations can be made online up to 4 days before the sail date. After that, you'll need to wait to make a show reservation onboard.

New ships are even less predictable when shows are available to book

Royal Caribbean is consistently inconsistent with opening show reservations online, but it's worse with a new ship.

Legend of the Seas launches this summer and will offer a brand new musical onboard, Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

There seems to be an extra lag factor with opening reservations on any new ship because apparently the onboard process of loading everything associated with a new ship requires extra time.

How to pre-book show tickets

Once reservations are open, it's free and easy to make a reservation.

You can use the Royal Caribbean app or My Royal Cruise website to book them by going to the Entertainment section.

Each show will appear, and from there you can select a show time.

There's no cost to make a pre-show reservation.  Reservations are available on a first-come, first-booked basis.

If you're staying in Star Class, you don't need to make show reservations because your Royal Genie will arrange seating for you.

If you bought The Key, you still need to make a reservation for the show.  The difference is there will be a section of seats held back for guests who bought The Key up until a few minutes before showtime.

If you're sailing with friends or family and want to book them tickets, all you need is is their reservation number and the last name of the primary guest.

When you go to make a reservation, there's an option to add other passengers.

What if all the shows are sold out?

If you missed the chance to book a show, you're not out of luck to actually see the shows.

Periodically check back if more reservations are available. It's unlikely, but sometimes more shows are added or people cancel their reservations.

Once you board the ship, I would recommend going to the box office on your ship. You can ask a crew member where it's located, but there are usually extra tickets held back to be offered onboard.

Likewise, the Royal Caribbean app once connected to the ship Wi-Fi may be able to access those extra seats.

Let's assume none of those tips worked, now what should you do? Get in the standby line!

Every show has a standby line, which begins letting people in once you're about 15-20 minutes before the show is scheduled to start.

The reality is people book up show reservations early because it's free and they want to get reservations just to have them.  But once they're on the ship, they're busy, tired, and distracted.  So there are a lot of no-shows to performances.

In my experience, if you can get in the standby line at least 30 minutes before the scheduled performance, there's a good chance you'll make it in.

Royal Caribbean just made it harder to miss the ship on port day.

Missing the ship is every cruiser’s nightmare. If you’ve ever wondered what happens if you miss a cruise ship, the rules are pretty strict.

A recent update to its app has a new countdown feature that makes it clearer what time you need to be back on the ship while in port.

Royal Caribbean Blog message board user Twangster shared screenshots while using the Android version of the app on Icon of the Seas as the ship was docked in Cozumel, Mexico.

In the final hour before all aboard time, the app sends a new warning notification counting down.

Making it easier to know to get back on the ship

In any port, passengers are told what time they need to be back on the ship before it departs. Of course, time flies when you're having fun and losing track of time can occur.

Passengers that are late to the ship can delay sailaway and even result in being left behind. That's not what the cruise line or passengers want.

The latest update adds a countdown timer and indicator bar how much time is left before the official all aboard time. That's the deadline to be back on the ship.

In every port, the all aboard time is posted on signs as you walk off the ship, as well as published in the Cruise Compass and Royal Caribbean app.

Don't confuse "departure time" with "all aboard" time. If you arrive at the gangway at the departure time, the ship will likely be gone. 

The all aboard time is typically 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled departure. The idea is to get everyone onboard so the ship can depart on schedule.

With the new feature, at one hour before sailaway, a new notification appears. Similar to how an airline app will pop up with a warning when boarding will begin and then continuously update when different boarding groups are ready to go.

It's a small update, but a new way to easily convey (and remind anyone still ashore) to hurry back onboard.

What happens if you miss all aboard time on a cruise?

All aboard time is the deadline for passengers to return to the ship before it departs a port. If you miss that time, the cruise ship will usually leave without you. Guests who miss the ship must arrange their own transportation to the next port of call and are responsible for any travel costs.

In practice, it's up the ship's Captain if they'll wait for you or not.  Depending on the circumstances, the Captain may be more willing to wait.

In the case of passengers booked on a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, one advantage they have is the excursion can call the ship and remain in contact to alert them that they're behind schedule.

Royal Caribbean advertises anyone that books a tour through the cruise line is guaranteed to make it back onboard.

"When you book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, we guarantee that if your tour is delayed, the ship will wait for you. In the unlikely event that your tour is significantly delayed, and the ship cannot wait, we will make all the arrangements for you to return to the ship at no expense to you."

However, there is no such guarantee if you're running late on your own.

"The ship will not wait for any guest faring on their own, as it is their responsibility to be onboard before the ship's scheduled departure time."

I have one piece of advice for anyone that gets stuck and is running late, based on what a cruise ship Captain once recommended.

On the back of your Seapass card is a phone number to call in the case of an emergency.  The Captain of Voyager of the Seas once said it's best to call that number so you can convey how late you are.

There are no promises, but if you're in a taxi running 10 minutes late, letting Royal Caribbean know may convince the Captain to wait the few extra minutes for you to return.

But don't rely on this as a back-up option.  I recommend always planning to return to the ship at least 2 hours before the all aboard time.

Other tips for not being late to the ship

While the new app feature is a great addition, here are a few other tips for ensuring you're never on the wrong side of sailaway.

Set an alarm

I recommend planning to be back onboard the ship at least two hours before sailaway so that you have a buffer for traffic, emergency bathroom breaks, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Setting an alarm on your phone is a good idea so you don't overlook the fact you're coming up on when you need to return.

Set your phone or watch to ship time

Before you leave the ship, make sure your phone or watch is aligned with the ship time.

Ship time refers to what time the ship is following. If you're passing through different time zones, or the country you're in doesn't observe daylight savings time, the local time might be different.  And many phones will automatically adjust to the local time without notifying you.

You can always find the official ship time in the top left corner of the Royal Caribbean app.  It's also the time you'd see on any clock on the ship.

Double check it before stepping off the ship.

Avoid over drinking

Not to be the party pooper, but if you're drinking to excess, it's easier to lose track of time.

If you've seen enough "pier runner videos" over the years, you've seen people that are clearly inebriated trying to make it back on the ship.

Have a good time in port, but stay in control so you don't end up the subject of a TikTok short.