Timing is everything, including when you should book a cruise as it can mean the difference between an average price and a great deal.

Cruise vacations have never been more popular because of how convenient and family-friendly this type of a trip can be, and that demand has sent prices skyrocketing.

I've booked cruises years in advance, as well as just a few days before sailing.  There are advantages to both, but I've found it far more advantageous to book early than wait for a last minute deal.

Booking early is a bit of a gamble in terms of paying too much, but waiting until a few months before sailing might leave you with few appealing options.

Based on our team's hundreds of collective cruises, we've figured out that how early you should book a cruise is almost a trick question because there is no such thing as too early.

How early can you book a cruise?

Royal Caribbean will open up its bookings as early as two years or more prior to the sail date.

Typically, they release new sailings for guests to book at regular periods during the year and the advantage of booking a cruise right when sailings get announced is the fact inventory is at its highest.  

Once a sailing is open for booking, you may reserve a cabin at any point all the way until the week of the sailing.  

As cabins get sold, prices tend to go up.

Royal Caribbean uses a pricing algorithm to determine the price of a cruise, and there are many factors.  But there's no question that prices go up as cabins are sold and inventory drops off.

Advantages of booking a cruise early

There are four key reasons to book a cruise as soon as you can.

First, you'll have the widest selection of cabins available.  

Every ship comes staterooms of various configurations, from tiny inside rooms to spacious suites.  The first rooms to sell out on a cruise are usually the cheapest ones and the suites.  That's because there's limited availability of those rooms.

Modern cruise ships have a lot of balcony rooms, so they are the last to sell out.  

By booking early, you have more choice in the cabin category, as well as the location. You can get a great room on the back of the ship or right near an elevator. Best yet, you won't have to settle for a room that has noise problems.

The second advantage of booking your cruise early will be being able to take advantage of discounts and promotions.

Royal Caribbean offers a sale all the time, but you could take advantage of an offer that will actually save money.

Whether it's a Black Friday deal or bonus instant savings around a major holiday, you can tie those offers into the perfect cabin you want.

An equally important reason to book early is for the flexibility you have with ships, itineraries, and sail dates.

There's less compromise when you can cherry pick the exact ship and date to go on when you book early.  Waiting means a particular itinerary could sell out, and then you're scrambling to find something else.  Inevitably in this scenario, you're option for a secondary choice.

Lastly, booking a cruise super early gives you greater piece of mind because you have more time to plan it all out.

When you have years to plan a cruise, you'll have all the time in the world to budget, pick out the perfect shore excursions, and get everything lined up for a wonderful cruise.

Plus, you can budget it all together. I love to have my travel agent make regular payments so I'm not hit with a giant final payment closer to the sail date.

When a last-minute cruise makes sense

Waiting until the final weeks before a sailing to book a cruise has its benefits and drawbacks that you should be aware of before booking anything.

Booking a cruise at the last minute is like rolling the dice, with the hope a ship, itinerary and stateroom will be available at a cost you are comfortable with.  Moreover, because Royal Caribbean cruises have become more and more popular, last minute deals are fewer and fewer between.

However, you might get lucky with a significant discount.  This happens when there's a cancellation or a specific sailing isn't selling that well and the cruise line wants to "encourage" sales so they lower the price.

The best last-minute deals are usually during slower times of the year, such as when school is in session or it is hurricane season.

If you are flying to a cruise, quite often any last minute cruise savings may be negated by high airfare prices.

The ideal last-minute cruiser should be someone that is very flexible and can go on a cruise with little notice. 

Often I see last-minute prices that show up in the morning, but are sold out by that evening. It's the kind of booking you need to jump on immediately, and you can't be picky either.

If you're booking a cruise with just a few weeks before the sailing, there will not be many cabins to choose from. You'll need to be someone with minimal requirements for a cabin type. Likewise, where your ship is also going to be limited in choice.

There's no question a solo traveler or a couple will have an easier time with a last-minute cruise deal, compared to a family or large group.

How far in advance should I book a cruise to get the best deal?

The key to getting the best price is to book your cruise as soon as you know you want to go on the sailing and lock in the cabin you prefer.

In general, I'd recommend booking a cruise at least 9-12 months in advance to get the greatest selection of rates and sail dates. If you want to book a holiday sailing, then you need to book 12-18 months early to get a spot at a reasonable cost. 

The ideal strategy for booking a Royal Caribbean cruise is if you live in a country where you can reprice your cruise up until final payment date. Residents of the United States, Canada and select other countries are able to contact Royal Caribbean if there is a price drop and take advantage of the lower price.

By booking 12, 18 or even 24 months in advance, you have the luxury of watching the price and making a price adjustment if there is a lower price offered. You can do this unlimited amount of times until the final payment date at 90 days prior to sailing. 

In addition to the lower prices, booking well in-advance of a cruise assures you of the ship and stateroom you want to reserve. Suites and some of the higher in-demand cabins are the first to be reserved, and waiting to book usually results in far fewer choices. Moreover, my observation is the price for a suite on Royal Caribbean tends to only go up over time at a greater rate than standard cabins.

Is it cheaper to book a cruise through a travel agent?

The short answer is, not always, but you should always book with a travel agent.

In the 21st century, it is not difficult to reserve a cruise for your family, but travel agents provide a great deal of service and expertise that goes beyond simply placing a reservation.

A good travel agent has knowledge of all the ways they can save you money on a cruise. There are a variety of discounts offered by the cruise line that are not often apparent to someone browsing Royal Caribbean's homepage. Moreover, travel agents can have access to group pricing and special promotions only available to their agency and partners.

Beyond saving money, a good travel agent is your advocate during the entire vacation, from booking to cruise and beyond.  If an issue arises, or a billing discrepancy occurs, having a travel agent is worth it every time because they are the ones dealing with the cruise line instead of you. 

Most importantly, a good travel agent should cost you absolutely nothing extra to use their services. The cruise line pays the travel agent a commission for their services, and the price is the same for you whether you use an agent or not. So you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by using a good travel agent.

There are many wonderful travel agents that specialize in Royal Caribbean.  If you have read other posts on the blog, you might be aware that I use MEI-Travel for booking all of my Royal Caribbean cruises, and I can personally attest that they are fantastic!

Getting a really good deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise these days is harder than ever, thanks to record demand driving up prices.

Booking a cruise vacation is a great feeling, but it's even better when you can get a low price for it.

A few years ago, there were cruise fares as low as $99, but those have seemingly dried up as cruise lines have had little difficulty in filling their ships.

"Gone are the days of booking a cruise at rock bottom pricing 30 days before departure," said Jenn Greene, a travel advisor with MEI Travel who recently was awarded as the top Royal Caribbean agent in her company.

"With the surge in cruise demand, we are finding fewer and fewer deals especially close to sailing."

While it's more difficult to find cruise deals, they still exist.  The key is knowing where to look, and being as open as possible to sail dates.

In November, I was able to get a 4-night cruise on Allure of the Seas that cost $834.36 with taxes and fees for two people.  That came out to just about $100 per person, per day. 

The trick here was it was booked just two weeks before the sail date.

I try to be flexible with my dates

If you want to find the lowest possible prices, you're going to need to be as flexible with when you cruise as you can.

For the absolute lowest cruise prices, you're probably going to need to be an advantageous cruiser that can go with little advanced notice.

I've consistently found the lowest prices on cruises for last minute offers that sail within a few weeks.  Often these are "middle of the week" cruises, meaning they depart on a weekday and return before the weekend.  Or they're during the shoulder seasons, such as September in Alaska.

Basically, these are unsold cruises that most other people aren't interested in sailing. 

The problem is last minute deals aren't what they used to be, and this strategy isn't something I'd recommend for a family vacation. It's best for couples who don't have many obligations at home.

Royal Caribbean puts out most weeks a "Going, Going, Gone" rate sheet with advertised low rates.  

These sailings usually are available on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but sell out quickly.  How lucrative the deals are truly depends on your definition.

Look for shoulder season prices

If you want to find a good deal on a cruise that isn't coming up soon, then I would target sailings that take place off peak.

Every region has peak and off-peak cruising times, and the best prices are just before or after peak season hits.

As an example, it should come as no surprise the week of Christmas and New Years is one of the most popular times to go on a Caribbean cruise.  But the week before Christmas is when school is still in session, and you can find some really good deals.  Why? Because most people don't want to take vacation time from work and pull kids out of school a few days before they get it automatically with the holidays.

This is true for many other places, including Alaska, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

Just like a last minute cruise, you're going to need to be flexible with your time to take advantage of these prices.

• Caribbean: September and October, January, May
• Alaska: May or September
• Europe: April, May, September, October
• Australia: October, November, March, and April

How to get a lower price on a cruise

You won't find a spring break cruise deal or a Christmas week special because demand is so high that inventory never dips.

If you're interested in cruising during peak times, your best bet is still to book early.

"Ships are selling out up to a year in advance. If you want the best deal on your cruise, book as far out as possible- as that is when pricing is the lowest," said Ms. Greene.

Ideally, book a cruise when Royal Caribbean puts out new deployments for sale.  It may not get you a bargain basement price, but you won't overpay either.

There's another trick that her agency has, which Ms. Greene mentioned as a way to save her clients money.

"When you book with MEI Travel they have software that notifies them if the price does drop, and will proactively reprice your fare for you," she mentioned.

There are other ways to help lower your price overall, no matter what date you pick.

Older ships generally cost less than newer ships.  Booking Adventure of the Seas instead of Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral will net you significant savings.

A guarantee cabin could also save a lot of money, which is when Royal Caribbean picks your cabin instead of you.  Just be aware of the potential downsides of this strategy.

Travel agents can find great prices because they see them first

While I know a few good places to look for a good cruise deal, the truth is I get most of my low price alerts from my travel agent.

Travel agents price out cruises all day long, and in the course of their work, they run across lower prices.  More often than not, they see it before I can.  Plus, they're looking when I'm not.

The Allure of the Seas sailing I previously mentioned was a deal that my MEI Travel agent spotted and texted me about because she knew I'd be interested with a price that low.

Working with a good travel agent is one of the best cruise tips I can recommend to anyone, especially because they can save you money.

Plus, a travel agent might be able to sweeten any price with extras, like extra onboard credit, free specialty dining, and more as a bonus for working with them. 

In fact, MEI Travel is offering free specialty dining experience for two when booking a balcony or suite on select new bookings made through January 31, 2025.

Royal Caribbean is warning passengers on one of its ships that two past passengers later were sickened by Legionnaires' disease.

A guest on Symphony of the Seas received a letter from the cruise line "in an abundance of caution" to inform them of a possibility to be aware of, and the preventative measures the cruise line is taking.

To be clear, the guests were not diagnosed onboard the cruise ship, nor has there been a recognized outbreak linked to a specific sailing.

Reddit user b0sscrab posted a copy of a letter distributed to passengers, after the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Royal Caribbean about the cases.

The CDC said two passengers were later diagnosed with Legionella. One had sailed on Symphony of the Seas in October and the other in December.

"We are reaching out for your awareness, as the CDC has advised that while they are unsure where exposed, two guests who sailed on Symphony of the Seas (one in October and one in December), were later diagnosed with Legionella," the letter said.

Royal Caribbean was quick to note there is no evidence that the infection occurred on the ship.

As soon as the cruise line was notified, extra sanitation protocols were implemented aboard Symphony of the Seas, including extra cleaning of vulnerable surfaces and equipment as needed, and changes to operational protocols to limit any potential spread, "While this does not imply or confirm that they contracted this onboard our ship, as a precautionary measure, we implemented heightened sanitation protocols and followed all CDC guidance."

No other information was shared related to who the people are, or other details.

Symphony of the Seas is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. It can carry 5,518 passengers at double occupancy and is 228,081 gross tons spread over 18 decks.

Royal Caribbean is urging any passengers who experience symptoms associated with Legionnaires’ Disease after sailing aboard Symphony of the Seas to seek medical attention and alert medical authorities to their recent travel.

No one actually sick on a cruise ship

It's important to reiterate that no one on Symphony of the Seas is actually sick with Legionella, nor is there any certainty that the two people actually caught it on the ship.

The CDC investigates this particular bacteria to better identify its sources to prevent the spreading of it. As such, they alerted Royal Caribbean to the two cases because both people were on the same cruise ship.

It's possible the people had Legionella before they ever stepped foot onboard a cruise ship, or equally possible they contracted it after the cruise somewhere else.

A proper Legionella diagnosis can take some time to properly determine. The incubation period is typically 2-14 days for Legionella.

There's no record of any confirmed disease aboard Symphony of the Seas that has been reported to the CDC.

How it spreads

Legionella is not easily spread from person to person, but it's still something that could occur because cruise ships have pools and hot tubs.

According to Royal Caribbean, Legionella is not contagious from person to person. It is contracted by inhaling water droplets from a source containing the bacteria, which can be found throughout the world in any environment containing water - ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as municipal water systems, fountains, and whirlpools. 

Moreover, most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. 

Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches.  It's often confused with pneumonia.

Legionnaires' on cruise ships

Legionnaires' is a rare condition to begin with, but it has happened on cruise ships in the past.

During November 2022–June 2024, the CDC was notified of 12 cases of Legionnaires disease among travelers on two cruise ships. The CDC did not disclose the cruise line names or ships.

According to the CDC, their investigation revealed private hot tubs on selected cabin balconies were the most likely exposure source.

Some cruise ship cabin suites have a hot tub on the balcony, which is for the exclusive use of the guests staying in that cabin. The CDC says, "private hot tubs on cruise ships are not subject to the same maintenance requirements as are public hot tubs in common areas."

They recommended to cruise lines modification of the operation and maintenance of these devices by removing the heating elements, draining water between uses, and increasing the frequency of hyperchlorination and cleaning.

One of the best reasons to go on a cruise as a family is you don't all have to be doing everything together at the same time to have a good time.

If I was visiting New York City with my family, I'd spend nearly every minute of that trip with my wife and kids doing the same thing.  At best, we might leave them in the hotel room while my wife and I go out.

On a cruise ship, however, it's set up to be more contained and facilitating for families. In fact, there are entire areas of the ship meant to leave your kids.

As my kids have gotten older, I've given them more freedom to be on their own and do what interests them.  That isn't to say I'm letting them loose with no guidelines either. I've seen examples of kids with too little supervision, and it's not what I want for my family.

On my latest cruise on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, my kids had the most roaming ability that I've ever given them and I think our approach worked well overall.

Here are the five important rules we put into place to ensure they could have safe, and have fun without being obnoxious.

Text when they go somewhere

Communication is so important, so we emphasized early they need to let us know what they're doing.

We told our kids we need to know when they're changing activities or going into a friends' cabin so we're aware of what they're up to.  

There are two ways you can stay in contact with kids on a cruise digitally: the Royal Caribbean app or an internet app.

Royal Caribbean's app has a totally free chat feature and it works great.  We used it to chat with our friends onboard the ship who did not buy an internet package.

It supports direct messaging as well as group messaging.  And Royal Caribbean seems to have fixed the lack of notifications that plagued the chat feature early on.

The problem with the Royal Caribbean app is you need to be at least 13 years old to have your own account. So if you have tweens, the only workaround is for them to sign in as a parent and then you're essentially texting yourself and notifications don't work in that scenario.

The other option is to buy an internet package and use a messaging app, which is what we did.

With an internet package for each kid, they can easily text us with iMessage or any other app you prefer. It's simple, works well, and everyone knows how to use it already.

We had the kids message us when they moved around, or we would let them know if we were changing what we were doing.  This also worked well if we wanted to do something they might be interested in.

One issue we ran into early was not them ghosting us.  We'd send them a message, see they read it, but not respond. 

After a quick talk about how that's not acceptable, they understood and wasn't an issue again.  Still, I think we'll need to remind them of that again on future sailings to avoid it.

Bring friends from home

The decision to let them roam was a bit easier given that we were cruising with friends who had kids their age.

I've often joked our kids are too annoying to be kidnapped, and if they're with their friends, I barely want to go near them. They laugh, share their inside jokes, and think they're smarter than everyone else.

By having their friends from home with us, it served two functions: a built-in support system and less reliance on other kids.

I want my kids to make new friends and be social, but just like at school, not every kid is necessarily your ideal candidate for friends with your child.

Plus, having their friends with them kept them more honest because their friends are familiar with me and my wife and won't hesitate to (playfully) tattle on each other.

It's not so simple to have friends join you on a cruise, but it did provide more peace of mind for me that I knew who they were mostly hanging out with.

Set curfew times

One of the first rules we set were curfews for our kids.

We'd set times they needed to be back in the cabin, no matter what.  Not only for bed time, but also in the afternoon.

Expectations are important, and we told them how curfews aren't suggestions.  

On a couple of occasions, my oldest texted me to ask to have her curfew pushed back.  Being able to quickly text made it simple, and we handled it then.

I would never not set a curfew for my kids, and we adjusted the curfew times based on what we had planned the next day.  They might think they can go to bed at midnight and be up and ready by 7am for a shore excursion, but I'm not playing that game.

Make sure we have family time everyday

I also made it clear that their roaming privileges don't come at the expense of family time.

We had certain activities that were meant to be enjoyed together as a family. Our shore excursion plans and dinners were the most important, and we planned our day around it.

Since the kids loved sleeping in, there wasn't much of an issue in the morning.  So really we had to work around primarily the afternoon and evenings.

I'm no parenting expert, but I think conveying that a cruise vacation is about time together first, and time apart second. They need to understand that and as a parent, I needed to make time for it too.

Point out examples of what not to do

One thing I wanted to make clear to my kids is what not to do, and pointing out examples to my own kids was my best idea.

Inevitably we'll get in an elevator, walk around the ship, or witness somewhere kids behaving badly. Most of it is harmless immaturity, but I'll usually make a comment that they'd better not to do the same thing.

I think it not only shapes their conceptions of what is acceptable or not, but also sets a kind of baseline for themselves. The less they can play the ignorant card, the better.

Did I feel safe letting my kids roam a cruise ship?

Letting my kids be on their own for part of the cruise was different, but overall I felt safe about the whole thing.

I feel there are risks with everything in life, and I can't hover over them every minute.  Certain activities were never allowed, such as swimming, eating alone (to prevent choking), disembarking the ship, or roaming CocoCay alone.

We also felt good about putting in time constraints in the form of curfews.  

The biggest x-factor are the other kids they'll meet on a cruise and if there are any bad influences. This risk was mitigated by the fact we cruised with friends from home, but it was probably the top concern.

I'm also in a unique situation that both me and my kids have cruised a lot, so they know the layout of the ship quite well.  There was less risk of getting lost.

Overall, I thought this foray into independence went well. Everyone's kids are different, so your experience may need to be curtailed in order to match up with your needs. 

I didn't know I needed a new cruise drink package, but there's been three spotted and I'm intrigued.

You can order drinks on Royal Caribbean cruise ships individually and pay for each one, but that can get costly when you start knocking a few back.  After all, you're on vacation and enjoying warm Caribbean days by the pool.

It looks as though on at least one ship there's a drink offering that might appeal to a lot of people who don't want to go all in on a drink package.

Dan Kline is the founder of Come Cruise With Me and shared photos from a recent sailing of Wonder of the Seas that has three happy hour specials that I've never seen before.

Three happy hour specials

At the English Pub on Wonder of the Seas, there are two advertised drink offerings.

The English Pub is where you'll find trivia events, as well as a guitarist playing bar songs each evening of the cruise.  

Photo by Dan Kline

The first is "2-for-1 draft beers in the pub all day," which would mean you as long as you drank drink in that one bar.

In looking up drink prices, domestic beers in the pub cost $7.49 + 18% gratuity, while import beers cost $7.99 + 18% gratuity. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is excluded from this offer.

There are two issues with this promotion. First, you have to drink in the pub. Or at least, go down and order the beers from the pub and then take them elsewhere and subsequently return for another round.

The other issue is how many beers are available on draft. At the pub on Wonder of the Seas, it's been my experience there's one or two beers on draft, and Heineken is usually one of them.

The second special is for a happy hour deal on margaritas. They served in the pub $6 Happy Hour Margaritas from 4 to 6 p.m.

Royal Caribbean says it's for house margaritas only and specifically said "no exceptions".

The third deal offered were $5 glasses of wine from 4 to 6 p.m. on glasses of Robert Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Why it's a good deal

Each of these happy hour specials could save cruisers a lot of money, if you take advantage of them.

The appeal is for someone who did not purchase a full Royal Caribbean drink package, which would cost hundreds of dollars more.

The average price for a regular beverage package sold on the ship is easily over $100 per person, per day. That means a couple on a 7-night cruise could spend over $1400 on just that purchase.

That sort of high price tag scares off a lot perspective buyers.

The happy hour specials offer a more affordable way to indulge in drinks compared to paying for the same amount of drinks individually.

Granted, a drink package would include a lot more and come with less time or location restrictions.  

Nonetheless, for casual drinkers who might want to enjoy a few drinks one afternoon, but not the entire cruise, this could be a great money saver.

Not offered on all ships yet

Before you make plans to take advantage of these happy hour specials, I'd warn it's likely you won't see it on your sailing.

Periodically Royal Caribbean rolls out drink specials like this on a per-sailing basis. Usually it's the bar team on the ship that offers them as a way to bump up low beverage sales.

Moreover, I have not seen any reports of these happy hour specials advertised on any other ship.  In fact, I'm not even sure I'd expect to see these same drink specials on next week's Wonder of the Seas cruise.

Just like spa deals, individual sailings may have one offer, but not the next. 

Another well-known on-again, off-again drink special available on certain cruises is the 10 drink punch card offer.

A drink card is a shareable card that can only be purchased on board during a cruise and is only valid for that cruise.  It provides for 10 drinks (or sometimes in a 10 draft beer version), depending on the ship.  

The drink card has ten allocated drinks and with each drink purchased, the crew member "punches" it (scribble with a pen).  Typical price is $99 plus 18% gratuity but it has been spotted higher and lower than that.  

It is typically only available after the halfway point of a cruise. 

Unlike a drink package, the drink card is shareable.  You can order a drink for you and your friend/spouse and they mark off each drink.  

Just like the happy hour deals, you won't know in advance if it's actually going to be offered on your sailing.

As of now, this is something to be aware that it has been offered and might be available on your sailing too. There's no harm in asking the staff at the pub if there are any drink specials when you sit down.

Having taken dozens of cruises over the years, I've been fortunate enough to visit many tourist attractions, but not all of them were worth my time.

These places I'm talking about are called "tourist traps", and they're sites that attract a lot of tourists.  There's a debate what exactly counts as a tourist trap, but I think you know one when you see one.

Usually they're very crowded, expensive, and in mostly designed primarily for tourists.

Sometimes popular and well-known sites are worth the trip, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Every tourist in the city probably tries to visit it, but it's a great place to people watch and enjoy an afternoon in and around the tower.

Here are some of the most overrated tourist attractions I've visited.

Times Square

If your Royal Caribbean cruise begins from Bayonne, New Jersey, your first instinct might be to tack on a visit to New York City before or after the cruise, but you're wasting your time in Times Square.

Unless you're headed to this part of Manhattan for a Broadway show, I'd steer clear of it.  Times Square is insanely crowded (even for Manhattan standards), has overpriced restaurants, scammy souvenir shops, and probably the most expensive hotels in the city.

There's a lot to love about exploring New York, and you can find better restaurants, cultural sites, activities, and generally fun activities elsewhere.

Definitely don't book a hotel in Times Square, because you're overpaying in order to be close to the area.  With New York's easy to navigate subway system, it's much better to get a hotel elsewhere in Manhattan to save some money. Not to mention a hotel outside of Times Square is almost certainly going to be quieter.

If you've never been and simply want to see it, my advice is hop in a taxi and drive through it.  With all the traffic, you'll get a good sense of it all without subjugating yourself to the hoopla.

Maho Beach

Maho Beach is the famous Caribbean beach where you can stand on the sand and watch airplanes land overhead. You've probably seen plenty of photos or videos of people that look like they're mere feet away from the plane.

The problem with Maho Beach is there is absolutely no shade at all, and that means you will profusely sweat under that hot Caribbean sun while you wait for a plane to arrive.  Sure, there's the ocean to wade in, but the beach is extremely narrow, somewhat rocky, and the hundreds of other people there trying to do the same thing will make it less than idyllic. 

There's one bar nearby, the Sunset Grill, which at one time would allow female patrons drink for free if they went topless.  Not sure if that's still a thing there.

While the planes landing overhead are indeed neat, there's a lot of waiting in-between on a beach with very few facilities or service. 

Depending on the day you're there and what time you make it out, you could be waiting over an hour for a plane to land.

Not only is Maho Beach a tourist trap, it's flat out dangerous.

Unfortunately a few tourists have died here in an effort to get close to the airplanes as they prepare to take off.

What happens is they try to hold onto the airport fence as a plane engages their engines for takeoff.  The jet blast hits the fence and people can go flying, leading them to hit their head on the way down and perish.

A good alternative is to book a daypass to the Morgan Resort nearby.  You can watch planes landing easily from their expansive and beautiful pool.

Space Needle

Another pre-cruise tourist trap is going up to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle.

The first time I took an Alaska cruise, I went with my family to see the Space Needle because it seemed like a must-do.

It's an interesting piece of history, but you can totally get by with a photo of it while on the ground rather than paying for a pass to get to the top.

Passes are expensive and the lines are long.  While you do get a lovely view, I feel like it's just not worth the wait and crowds to contend with in order to get there.

You'll spend hundreds of dollars to go in an elevator ride to a crowded platform for a nice view, only to be dumped into gift shop at the end.

Fun fact, the Space Needle was actually the inspiration for Royal Caribbean to build the Viking Crown Lounge on its ships.

Restaurants near popular attractions

Whether I'm in Europe, Alaska, or the Caribbean, you can bet the restaurants closest to the top attractions are going to cost a lot and underdeliver.

When visiting the Colosseum, El Morro, that sign with the name of the place you're visiting, or Big Ben, you're likely to find stereotypical restaurants nearby that are looking to suck up tourists.

Some tell-tale signs of a tourist trap restaurant are ones with long menus written in various languages, lots of photos of the food on the menu, and the waiter standing at the entrance looking to entice you to come in.

If possible, try to look up restaurants to eat at before you arrive.  A quick Google search should provide plenty of options nearby. 

But if you forgot to do that, try walking a few blocks away to see which restaurants are there.  Or you could getting takeout food and having a picnic near the attraction so you can enjoy the view.

Another idea is to ask your taxi driver or another local for a good spot for lunch.

Bars at the port

No matter which Caribbean port I go to, there's inevitably bars there that will cost you the same price as going out for drinks at home and just about the same level of authenticity.

Senor Frogs, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Margaritaville, Carlos n Charlies, and a slew of other lesser known bars are located right where cruisers disembark the ship and they're mission is to grab as many people as possible to pay for their expensive food and drink.

Many of these certainly play up a fun atmosphere, where it's a big party and the drinks are flowing. I understand the appeal of that, but I'm willing to bet you can have a great time and spend less money elsewhere on the island you're visiting.

Balloon hats aside, the food and drinks at these places are mediocre at best and you're going to pay top dollar for them.

I recommend searching for a beach bar that you can get to with a quick taxi ride and enjoy the ocean, breeze, and tropical drink without paying such high prices.

Hell

If there's an award for the cringiest tourist spot, it might go to Hell in Grand Cayman.

Literally the entire premise of this place is so that tourists can go here and tell their friends and family at home that they "went to hell." Zing!

It's a big rock formation that was named Hell because it reminded the European explorer that ran across it of what hell must look like. 

Grand Cayman is known for its beautiful beaches and luxury shopping experiences, so you can probably go almost anywhere else on the island instead.

Since Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas entered service three years ago, I've sailed on her five times and it's easily one of the best cruise ships in the world.

Mega cruise ships are the norm among the mass market lines, but the size isn't everything.

I sailed on Wonder in a few different cabins, including one of the biggest suites you'll find in the world while at sea.

Being the fifth in the Oasis Class, it's clear a lot of lessons learned have been applied and the ship stands out as a great choice for families that want a wide variety of activities, shows, places to eat, and a fun family vacation vibe.

So many things to do on just one ship

I love how much there is to do on Wonder, and it's why it quickly became my favorite ship.

While Royal Caribbean has a well-deserved reputation for having as many activities as possible on a ship, Wonder of the Seas raised the bar with some of the changes it introduced. 

Just how big is Wonder of the Seas? It can handle up to 6,988 passengers when totally full.  Luckily like all Oasis Class ships, the layout and scheduling of activities helps distribute passengers.  That isn't to say there wont be lines or crowds, but it's not as bad as you might think on a ship with that many people.

What you'll notice first about Wonder of the Seas is just how many places there are to go, which I think is part of the appeal of a mega ship.  New cruisers are amazed how many areas there are and what's around the next corner.

There are three different theaters onboard with totally different experiences in each: an outdoor AquaTheater, indoor traditional stage theater, and an ice skating rink theater.

The pool deck is filled with lots for families to love. There are multiple pools, three waterslides, hot tubs, and even an adults-only pool for the parents to enjoy.

At the back of the pool deck is the sports deck with a zip line, surf simulator, play area for young kids, sports court, and even a mini-golf course. You could spend an entire day trying to knock out all of those things. 

Be sure to give the Ultimate Abyss a try, which is a 10-deck high slide that takes you down to the Boardwalk neighborhood. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it looks.

That's on top of the traditional cruise activities held around the ship, such as bingo, trivia, demonstrations, karaoke, and game shows.

I found every night so many compelling options to do, and that's why I booked multiple cruises on Wonder. I wanted to try to "see it all", but it just wasn't possible on a 7-night cruise.

How to get around the ship easily

When you board Wonder of the Seas, you'll walk right on to the Royal Promenade, which is one of the eight unique neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods is what Royal Caribbean calls its distinctly themed areas of the ship to help separate the ship and make it easy for passengers to navigate.

• Suite Neighborhood: Reserved for suite guests only with a private lounge, sun deck, world-class dining, and personalized service (Decks 17 & 18)
• Boardwalk: Open-air neighborhood  with a carousel, hot dog stand, candy store, sports bar, and arcade (Deck 6)
• Royal Promenade: Bustling area with shops, bars, and entertainment  (Deck 5)
• Entertainment Place: Where you'll find the main theater, comedy club, ice skating rink, and casino (Deck 4)
• Vitality Spa and Fitness: Spa and fitness center with a gym, salon, barbershop, and thermal suite (Decks 5 and 6)
• Pool and Sports Zone: Waterslides, pools, and sports activities (Decks 15 and 16)
• Central Park: Open air park with real plants, fine dining, boutiques, and a moving bar (Deck 8)
• Youth Zone: Special area for kids and teens with activities, games, and educational fun (Deck 14)

One key difference about Wonder of the Seas compared to the Oasis Class ships that preceded it is that it has a suite neighborhood, which was a new innovation at the time.  

This means if you're booked in a suite, there's an entire area of the ship reserved just for you, including a suite lounge, sun deck, and restaurant.

Once on the ship, I think the neighborhoods make it easy to quickly know where you are and figure out how to get to where you're going.

Lots of restaurants, but many cost extra

There's no chance of going hungry on Wonder of the Seas, as it has more restaurants than you can dine at in one week.

Like all Royal Caribbean ships, there's a mix of restaurants included with your cruise fare that cost nothing extra to eat there as well as other restaurants that have a cost.

Don't worry, you won't have to pay extra in order to stay full.  The Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet serve up three meals a day, while other restaurants have snacks and times when they're serving food too.

Of the included restaurants, don't miss El Loco Fresh. It's located near the pools and has fantastic grab-and-go Mexican food that always hits the spot.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention Sorrento's has pizza most hours of the day, and is quite popular for a late-night snack.

The selection of extra cost specialty restaurants is quite impressive, and when I sail on Wonder, I always get a specialty dining package so I can indulge in the various options.

My favorites are Izumi Japanese cuisine, Mason Jar restaurant and bar, 150 Central Park, and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. 

Many cruisers equally love trying Wonderland, which is loosely themed after the "Alice in Wonderland" story, or Johnny Rockets, which has burgers, shakes, and hot dogs with a 1950's theme to it.

If you are booked in a Grand Suite or higher, be sure to take advantage of the meals you get in Coastal Kitchen.  This is the suites-only restaurant that has breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered.  It's included with your cruise fare and it feels like a specialty restaurant without the price tag.

The best Oasis Class ship?

Compared to the other Oasis Class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, it's clear the tweaks, additions, and changes on Wonder of the Seas stand out from the pack.

While Royal Caribbean has continued to tinker with the Oasis Class formula with the even newer Utopia of the Seas, I think Wonder is so close in features to Utopia that you'd truly need to be a super cruiser to notice them.

By far the best change made is the addition of the Suite Neighborhood and the suite sun deck within that area.  I think it's a sun deck you'd actually want to hang out in, and it's conveniently located too.  The sun deck on other ships lack shade and are usually far from the cabins suite guests reside in.

Credit should also be given to the resort style pool deck, which has a feel to it of being better than the older ships. The addition of the Lime and Coconut bar offers creative cocktails to enjoy.  My favorite is the Lime and Coconut drink, which goes down so smooth that you can easily get to three before realizing it.

Royal Caribbean added The Vue bar onto the pool deck, and it's a fun twist on a traditional pool deck bar. As the name implies, it provides wonderful views and a great breeze to go along with its drinks.

Something else families will love is the Playscape within the sports deck.  It replaced a second Flowrider surf simulator, but gives parents of young children exactly what this age group needs: an enclosed space to run around and play and get out all that toddler energy.

If you've never cruised before, then comparing Wonder of the Seas to other ships is irrelevant, so just know you picked a really good ship.  If you have been on one of the other Oasis Class ships, I think you'll love these changes as much as I do.

Big change coming

Royal Caribbean is about the flip the script on Wonder, with a new itinerary.

Wonder of the Seas offers year-round 7-night sailings from Port Canaveral, but those plans will be changing.

Beginning September 1, 2025, Wonder of the Seas shifts to offer short cruises from Miami.

After Wonder moves to Miami, she'll begin offering 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas that include visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

This is a big change, because only offering short Caribbean cruises is meant to attract new cruisers.  Royal Caribbean wants to dominate the short cruise market by offering weekend sailings on its best ships in a bid to attract new cruisers.

Short Caribbean voyages are attractive to those seeking a shorter getaway or who might be new to cruising and cannot commit to the idea of spending a week on a ship. 

What I loved to do on Wonder of the Seas

Cabins have so much storage

Not only do the cabins on Wonder of the Seas have modern touches to them, the amount of storage provided is perfect.

Traditionally cruise ship cabins have limited storage, but I found more closets, drawers, and shelves to use than I expected.

Families will really like how easy it is to put things away and keep the room tidy, which is usually a struggle when I cruise with my kids.

Speaking of cabin design, there's more USB and power outlets than in older cruise ships, which is another boon.

Fun shows every night

If Royal Caribbean has a top strength, it's their ability to produce really good shows that you'll want to see again and again.

On Wonder of the Seas there's probably going to be at least two production shows per night, and it's included in your cruise fare.  Each of these shows has really high production values, and I'd recommend anyone sailing to see them all at least once.

The AquaTheater show and Effectors II are probably my top choices, for how talented the cast is and how they can make the amazing stunts they do look so effortless.

I've seen the aqua show the most across all my sailings, because it's that much fun to see the cast perform.

The sleeper hit is the ice skating show, which might be overlooked because it's ice skating. My kids and I loved the pacing and use of contemporary music.

I also love going to the various bars at night for live music.  Royal Caribbean puts a major focus on live entertainment, and it shows. Jazz performers in Central Park, a guitarist in the pub, or the country band playing at the Mason Jar bar, are all must-sees for me on my sailings.

A suite area I actually want to hang out in

Up until Wonder of the Seas, I never saw the value in spending a lot of time in the suites-only areas, especially the sun deck.

Royal Caribbean fixed the issues and designed an area that's comfortable, offers a lot, and is convenient to get to.  

The fact there's shade and sunny areas of the sun deck makes it so enjoyable to be up there, especially when the hot Caribbean sun makes it very warm.

There's a plunge pool to enjoy too, and it's perfect for lounging.  

Someone that hasn't cruised before may be drawn to booking a suite because they tend to stay in suites in hotels for bonuses that come with those rooms. Similarly, a cruise ship suite is about rewarding guests with added service that make the entire experience easier to enjoy.

Super specialty dining

If you're not at least sampling a few specialty restaurants on Wonder of the Seas, I think you're missing out.

There are a lot of top notch restaurants on this ship, and I could eat at a few of the specialty options every day, because they are that darn good.

Within Central Park are a number of great choices, and I think if you didn't plan on doing specialty dining, you'll quickly be tempted when you walk by them.

Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen are all located here, and the hardest decision is which to eat at first.

Izumi Hibachi is a real crowd pleaser for how much fun it is, I don't think I've ever missed dining at Izumi at least once on all my five cruises on this ship.

Then there's Playmakers Sports Bar in the Boardwalk, and I love going here for a burger at lunch, or late night snacks while I watch a baseball game on the many televisions they have.

What I hated about Wonder of the Seas

Bionic Bar

Royal Caribbean had a moment when it was really into robots, and the Bionic Bar is an example of that trend that has since faded away.

This bar is located right in the middle of the Royal Promenade and has robots that make drinks for you.  Kind of neat, but none of the drinks ever taste that great, and the novelty of the robots making the drink fades quicker than the ice melts in your drink.

The good news is the Bionic Bar was abandoned on Utopia of the Seas, but it remains on Wonder and wastes prime real estate.

Movie screen is really loud

Royal Caribbean added a movie screen to the pool deck, which is a great idea, because other Oasis Class ships lacked such a screen.

The problem is it's located above Central Park, and all that music, dialogue, and noise from the films emanates down into the park, and it's noticeably loud.

No Broadway show

While I really like Effectors II show in the Royal Theater, I wish there was a full Broadway show instead.

Wonder was the first of the Oasis Class ships to buck the trend of including a Broadway show onboard, and I miss it.  I really liked that it had a fully developed plot, great music, and was easily recognizable.

Plus, I felt the Broadway shows added a distinguishing factor to the cruise line to choose Royal Caribbean over the others.

Royal Caribbean's in-house shows are good, but they're not up to the caliber of total entertainment Broadway offers.

Who should book a cruise on Wonder of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has been focused on families for years, but Wonder of the Seas is its best offering in this market outside of Icon of the Seas.

The ideal cruiser for this ship is a multi-gen family looking to vacation together, but not necessarily spend every minute together.

You'll find lots for kids of all ages to enjoy. The teen area is quite big and even has an indoor and outdoor deck. Younger kids have the most space Royal Caribbean has dedicated to kids programming. 

Royal Caribbean's kids club is vastly underrated. There's organized events, along with self-led options so kids have the choice in what fun they're into at that moment.

Add in the Boardwalk and Playscape, and parents have an impressive array of options.

My wife and I prefer to sail on Wonder of the Seas because we can find plenty to hold our attention. There's a giant casino, live music at a half dozen bars, dance parties, karaoke, and plenty of pool fun.

The other perfect candidate for Wonder of the Seas is someone that has never cruised before.

Because the ship has the latest and greatest that Royal Caribbean has to offer, I think it's the perfect ship for anyone that has thought about trying a cruise.

I have friends and family that have felt this way for years out of concern that ships are overcrowded, isolated in the ocean, or otherwise bored.

When I hear from new cruisers, many are astounded by how much there was to do onboard. Any fear of not having enough to do or feeling "trapped" are almost always brushed aside after they get home.

Itineraries and pricing

Prices for a 7-night Wonder of the Seas cruise from Port Canaveral start at $1,046 per person for an interior cabin, based on double occupancy. 

Once Wonder begins offering short Bahamas cruises, the cheapest price begins at just $499 for an inside room on a 3-night sailing.

The exact cost of a cruise on Wonder of the Seas will depend on which cabin you book, time of year you sail, and how far in advance you book.

Royal Caribbean made two changes to the amount of onboard credit you get when you book another cruise while on their ship.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a NextCruise office, where you can stop in and book a future sailing.

As of this week, the amount of onboard credit has changed by dropping the offer for longer sailings.

The base onboard credit offer no longer has specific amounts for sailings 10 nights or longer.

• 3-5 night and Repositioning cruises
  • Interior/Ocean View: $25 per cabin
  • Balcony/Junior Suite: $50 per cabin
  • Grand Suite & Above: $150 per cabin
• 6+ nights
  • Interior/Ocean View: $50 per cabin
  • Balcony/Junior Suite: $100 per cabin
  • Grand Suite & Above: $300 per cabin

New NextCruise offer

Old NextCruise offer

With the update, the extra onboard spend now maxes out after a sailing of 6 nights or longer.

Royal Caribbean also made a change to add a "Bonus Savings Offer", where passengers could add extra credits that combine with the core offer.

The bonus offer is a limited-time offer to incentivize new bookings, similar to how the cruise line offers bonus savings on new cruises booked generally as part of a sales promotion.

• 5-nights or Less
  • Interior/Ocean View: $25 per cabin
  • Balcony/Junior Suite: $50 per cabin
  • Grand Suite & Above: $100 per cabin
• 6+ nights
  • Interior/Ocean View: $50 per cabin
  • Balcony/Junior Suite: $100 per cabin
  • Grand Suite & Above: $200 per cabin

NextCruise Bonus Savings apply to Book Now reservations or Book Later reservations converted between January 6, 2025 to February 28, 2025 to Short Caribbean (5 nights or less), Long Caribbean (9+ nights), and 7 night or less Los Angeles sailings departing October 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026.

When you combine the bonus savings and the core offer, there's the potential to earn more onboard credit than would have been possible under the old program that had no bonus offer.

How Royal Caribbean's offer compares to other cruise lines

If you're wondering, here's what other major cruise lines offer when booking a new cruise onboard the ship.

Carnival Cruise Line offers less onboard credit than Royal Caribbean in most cases. 

Their "Welcome Home" program offers price protection, upgrades, 50% off standard deposits, and up to $50 per cabin or up to $100 per suite in onboard credit.

Norwegian Cruise Line has "CruiseNext", where passengers can book a deposit worth $250 or $500.

The $250 CruiseNext deposit can be used as a full deposit for nonsuite categories or as partial payment of suite deposits. The $500 deposits are full deposits for bookings in suites or The Haven.

MSC Cruises' program is more similar to Royal Caribbean in that the amount of onboard credit depends on the length of sailing and what type of cabin you book.

The amount of onboard credit ranges between $20 to $200, and it comes with a $100 per cabin reduced deposit amount, plus double MSC Voyagers Club loyalty points.

Advantage of booking a new cruise onboard a ship

One of the easiest ways to get money off a cruise is to book while on a ship.

For many years, Royal Caribbean has incentivized guests to book another cruise while on their current sailing.

It's a straight forward offer: book while on the ship and you'll pay the same price as what's listed online, but with extra onboard credit on top of any other promotion the cruise line is running.

Another benefit of booking at NextCruise is a reduced deposit, which has not changed with this week's update.

Royal Caribbean allows guests to book a sailing with only $100 per person deposits on select fares.

Once again, the deposit amount depends on the type of cabin you select, but this takes the sting out of the initial reservation cost.

The beauty of NextCruise is you can combine it with other offers that Royal Caribbean is running.

This makes it easy to stack promotions and rack up the greatest savings. You could get a Kids Sail Free deal, a BOGO offer, and add on the NextCruise offer.

The reason not to take advantage of this bonus

If all this onboard credit from NextCruise sounds like the perfect icing on the cake for your next booking, you probably should not wait to book onboard the ship.

Because Royal Caribbean cruise fares change by the minute, waiting to book on the ship could actually cost you more in the long term.

As more cabins are booked up for a given sailing, the price of a sailing will generally rise.

By waiting to book on the ship, the money you'd get from NextCruise might be outweighed by the higher cruise fare, thus negating the benefit you intended.

My advice is to book a cruise is early as you can in order to lock in the price.

The time to book at NextCruise is when you're on your cruise and have the notion to book a new sailing.  In that scenario, you should absolutely take advantage of the bonus credits.

Nobody imagines they will be let down by their cruise ship vacation , but it happens sometimes for possibly avoidable reasons.

Cruises have never been more popular with tens of millions of people trying them out, especially people that have never cruised before.

But if you don't plan things out or manage your expectations, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment later.

These are the 10 reasons why some cruisers come home disappointed and how you can bypass these issues have a great cruise experience!

They pick the wrong cabin location

Cruise ship cabins aren't like hotel rooms in the sense they're not all similar.  In fact, you can make a really poor choice in where your cabin is located, leading to frustration later.

There are many categories of cabins, from spacious suites to tiny inside cabins. In a lot of cases, your vacation budget is the driving factor in which you pick.

But chasing the lowest price room is often a mistake because you end up with a cabin that's too small and lacks amenities you didn't realize you cared about, such as having natural light or fresh air.

This is especially true when you cruise with family and are sharing a cabin with more than one other person. Would spending more to have an extra bathroom make a big difference? Would you be okay stepping over everyone's belongings constantly?

Beyond cabin choice, is where the room is located.

Some rooms should be avoided because of noise bleed issues or because they might be more likely to make you seasick. 

The top downfall here is picking a guarantee cabin, where Royal Caribbean assigns you a room location in exchange for a cheaper price.  I'd recommend as a new cruiser skipping this option and picking the right cabin location that you won't regret every night.

They didn't use a good travel agent

There's no doubt the best way to book a Royal Caribbean cruise is with the help of a good travel agent.

A lot of new cruisers are surprised how useful and still relevant travel agents are when it comes to a cruise, but they truly are.  That's because of how personalized a cruise vacation is, and all the individual decisions you need to make in order to book a cruise.

Plus, travel agents are a tremendously useful resource for answering common questions and solving problems.  Royal Caribbean isn't perfect and they make mistakes.  It's much better to let a travel agent fix them for you.

Plus, they can assist with booking you flights, hotels, and other logistical needs associated with your trip.

I always use a travel agent and I recommend everyone use them too.  My favorite travel agency is MEI Travel, and you'll want to ask family and friends who they use and recommend too.

They chose the wrong cruise ship

There isn't a bad Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but there are definitely better ships for you and your family.

Royal Caribbean has a fleet of almost 30 ships, but picking the right one depends on what you're looking for and need in your trip.

Do you want a ship that has a lot to do for your kids? Or are you traveling without children and prefer to focus on the places you're visiting?  Do you want to book the best service possible in the biggest suites? Or are you looking to save money on your accommodations?

One mistake often made is chasing the cheapest price and ending up on a small, old cruise ship that lacks all of the cool features you see advertised.

But you could make the opposite mistake and book the newest cruise ship because it's the newest cruise ship and find there are far more families (and their kids) onboard.

They did not look into what's included with the cruise fare

Royal Caribbean cruises are not all-inclusive, but I think a lot of people that have never cruised before think it is.

The price you pay for your base fare includes some basics:

• Accommodations
• Unlimited food at certain venues
• Unlimited select beverages
• Entertainment
• Transportation between ports

Everything else will cost extra, and that's important to factor into your vacation budget.

There are extra costs you can optionally buy:

• Beverage packages
• Shore excursions
• Internet access
• Spa services
• Casino gambling
• Certain onboard activities

You'll want to look into what's included with your cruise fare, and what amenities are on your ship so you can take advantage of it.

They forgot to book things that are prone to selling out in advance

Some things will sell out before your cruise begins, and that could really leave you dismayed.

Royal Caribbean gives cruisers the option to book specialty restaurants, shore excursions, or cabana rentals and you will want to book them in advance.  Not only is it cheaper to book pre-cruise, but they have limited availability.

You'll have access to the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you book a cruise, and that's where you can book extras, including internet and drink packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, arcade credits, classes, and more. 

There are sales quite often, and that could mean lower prices.  Moreover, any price you find online will be cheaper than the cost onboard the ship if you wait.

Some of the discounts offered can be as much as 40% off onboard pricing.

They chose the wrong dining time for dinner

You have the choice of three dining options for dinner when you book a cruise: traditional early, traditional late, or My Time Dining (there's actually a third middle dining time too now).

If you select a traditional dinner time, you'll have the same table assignment, waiters, and tablemates every day of the cruise at the same time.

My Time Dining means you get to choose different times to eat dinner, but you'll need to make reservations.  The idea is you can curtail your dinner time to your other plans.

Both have their disadvantages, and that leads to disappointment. 

Having a fixed dinner time means a very rigid schedule each evening, and you may not like your waiters or tablemates.

The flexible dining times puts the onus on you to make reservations, and even with a booked time, there can be lines to get a table.

These dining times only apply to dinner, as other meals are all served first-come, first served.

They hated the crowds and lines

You can't sugar coat it: Royal Caribbean ships are giant ships that have thousands of passengers onboard any sailing. 

The biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas, can handle as many as 7,600 guests!

Without a doubt, there will be times where there are lines and crowds, and some new cruisers are unprepared for that reality. Lines develop at the buffet, elevators, on disembarkation day, and even a lack of pool chairs on a sea day.

There are some strategies to counter the crowds, depending how flexible you are. You could choose to have dinner at off-peak hours, take the stairs instead of the elevator, go to the pool in the late afternoon or evening, or carry your own luggage off the ship on the final morning to beat the crowds.

You could also throw money at the problem and book a suite so you can have access to suite-only areas of the ship and the assistance of the suite concierge to mitigate waits.

They didn't purchase travel insurance

I think the single biggest mistake a new cruiser makes is skipping on travel insurance, which covers unforeseen events such as travel delays, medical emergencies, and luggage mishaps.

It's peace of mind, and like all types of insurance, is so useful if you ever need it. The cost of a travel insurance plan depends on the cost of your trip, but it's usually a couple hundred dollars.

For example, if your cruise costs $2,400, purchasing insurance through Royal Caribbean will cost you $199. 

In addition to the travel insurance Royal Caribbean sells, there are a myriad of third-party providers that sell it.  Just like auto or home insurance, there are different coverages and you can select which ones you need.

You never know if a calamity could strike, and your medical insurance probably doesn't cover you when you're outside the United States.  Plus, Royal Caribbean's medical facilities do not take any insurance and will charge you directly.

Besides a medical need, travel insurance kicks in to cover scenarios that most new cruisers never imagine, such as your ship getting stuck at sea and coming back later than scheduled. Or you losing your job right before a vacation and not wanting to travel.

Because a travel insurance plan is relatively inexpensive, you ought to get one to cover your family.  You probably won't ever need it, but if you do, it's a godsend.

They didn't research shore excursions

One of the top reasons someone books a cruise is for the places the ship visits, so don't leave your port plans to chance.

Trying to wing it, or booking the first tour you can find, is often the path to frustration when you realize you could have done things better.

The key is to take some time and plan out each port by looking into the tours offered, as well as what you can do on your own.

Piggybacking on one of the earlier tips in this article, doing research and finding the perfect tour in advance means you can book it before it sells out. Shore excursions seem to be the first thing to sell out on a cruise, especially when you're visiting far-flung destinations like Alaska or Europe.

The last thing you want to do is leave everything until the day you arrive in port and try to decide on the pier what your plans should be.

They didn't learn what certain words and phrases mean

You will probably hear certain words during your cruise that really don't get used anywhere else.

• Aft
• Forward
• Port
• Starboard

These are all directional words to help you better navigate the ship. The reason why these words exist is so that you can know your bearings from anywhere, regardless of the direction you happen to be facing.

The bow is the frontmost part of the ship, while the stern is located at the rear, opposite the bow. The terms "forward" and "aft" describe locations on the ship: "forward" refers to the front, and "aft" refers to the back.

Another really important term is "ship time", because it can mean the difference between being on time for returning to your ship or not while in port.

When your ship traverses time zones, the local time may change but not necessarily the time on your ship.

You'll hear people say, "stick to ship time", and that means to ignore local time and keep your phones and watches synched to the ship's time.

There are rules about what you can and cannot bring on a cruise ship, including water.

Royal Caribbean has specific rules about what you can and cannot bring onboard with you, and there are limits to things like bringing water.

More travelers are bringing water bottles with them on their cruise. There's a heightened awareness of the importance of staying hydrated in our lives, and that leads many to want to know how much water they can bring with them on a cruise.  Or if they can refill a water bottle.

Before you pack for your cruise, don't ignore the rules about how much water you can bring, and be sure to investigate what alternative options you have for having enough water for your needs.

Royal Caribbean’s official policy on bringing water

Royal Caribbean allows its passengers to bring water on a cruise, but only on one day of the sailing and in a limited quantity.

The cruise line does not distinguish between water or soft drinks, but does allow some non-alcoholic drinks to be brought:

Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day.  Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom.

This means you can bring up to 12 bottles of water with you on embarkation day only.

Moreover, it needs to be carried onboard and not put into your luggage that you give to porters to be delivered to your cabin.

Why? Because all bags are scanned in an X-Ray machine, and if they see bottles, the security team many not be able to distinguish between bottles of water or bottles of liquor. In that case, they'll hold your luggage back and you'll need to go to security and have them open it up and check it out.

You can also bring a water bottle to use and refill

Instead of plastic bottles, you're allowed to also bring your favorite water bottle onboard.

Whether you prefer a Hydroflask or Yeti cup or Stanley cup, they're all allowed onboard (Contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).  There's one important caveat.

You cannot directly refill your water bottle at one of the ship's refillable water stations because of health concerns.  

Cups should never be re-used for refills because that cup was in contact with your mouth, and that's how illnesses can be spread.  Instead, Royal Caribbean provides plastic cups you can use to easily grab and fill.

In the case of a water bottle, you'd have to get the water from a plastic cup, and then pour the water into your water bottle from there.

Any bar or food service location will give you a glass of iced water. You can pour into your own sports bottle.

You don't need to bring water for a CPAP machine

If you have the need for a CPAP machine on your cruise, Royal Caribbean will provide water for you without the need for you to bring any.

The key is to fill out an online form for your CPAP requests.

There's no fee for the cruise line to provide you with the distilled water.

Royal Caribbean can provide the distilled water and an extension cord, at no extra cost. These items will be placed in your stateroom on the day of sailing.

Be sure to carry your CPAP/BIPAP machine onboard with your carry-on luggage. Don't check it in with the porters.

Alternatives to bringing your own water

If carrying your own water onboard seems like more hassle than it's worth, there are other options for you.

First and foremost, there is complimentary tap water in staterooms, dining rooms, and buffet areas.

It's perfectly safe to drink the water on a cruise ship straight from the tap, including the water that comes out of your bathroom sink.

All the water on your ship is rigorously distilled or purified according to sanitation standards approved by the U.S. Public Health Service.

The water is regularly desalinated, treated, filtered, and tested to confirm the water quality. It's probably cleaner than the tap water you get at home.

Read more: 8 Royal Caribbean cruise questions guests are too embarrassed to ask

If you prefer spring water, Royal Caribbean sells bottled water packages.

Packages of 12 Evian water bottles are sold that you can pre-purchase from the Royal Caribbean app or its Cruise Planner website.

The water will be delivered to your stateroom, and you can even share it with others. Plus, there's no heft on your part to worry about getting it to the ship.

The standard price for a 12 water bottle package is $45.

Another option is to buy an unlimited drink package, which also includes bottled water.

Both the Deluxe Beverage Package and the Refreshment Package include bottled water during your sailing, and there's no limit to it either.  Plus, you get other drinks to enjoy too as part of the cost.

Plenty of water, whether you bring your own or not

The bottom line is you can stay hydrated on your Royal Caribbean cruise whether you bring your own or not.

Packing water to bring on your cruise means you could save money on a costly drink package, and provide the exact brand and type of bottled water you prefer.

Remember that there's a limit on the amount of water you can bring, even if in practice, crew members sometimes don't get too concerned with the exact amount brought onboard.

Royal Caribbean's water policy is simple, but don't overlook the fact there's lots of water you can drink on the ship at no cost.

In fact, one really useful cruise hack is to bring water drink mixes to enhance the flavor of the water included with your cruise fare (Contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use). 

Plan ahead and review the cruise line rules to avoid surprises on embarkation day.