Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - Influencer of the Seas: How social media shape cruises

It might seem strange to book a suite that doesn't have a balcony, but I think Royal Caribbean came up with one of its best suite ideas.

Typically, cruise ship suites are massive cabins that offer more of everything regular rooms have, including a private verandah.

But not every suite is exactly the same, and the cruise line tries to cater to varying tastes.

The Solarium Suite is one of the top tier suites on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, and it's massive. No balcony, but plenty of room inside with views all around.

I wasn't sure how much I'd like this room, but I got to tour it and liked it much more than I expected.

A giant suite

While sailing on the inaugural voyage of Utopia of the Seas, I was invited to check out the room by a good friend who had booked it.

Prior to walking in, I was concerned about privacy with all the windows, and if the lack of being outside would matter.

The room is located at the very front of the ship, directly above the ship's bridge.  The bridge is where the Captain and other officers navigate the ship.

One advantage of this suite is it's really close to the Solarium, which is the adults-only area of the pool deck.

Thanks to Stef Christensen, I'm able to share photos of the room for you.

The room measures 839 square feet in size, making it over four times larger than a regular balcony cabin on Utopia.

If you're thinking is having that much space truly necessary, of course not, but it's super nice to have too!

I've stayed in a few different giant suites, including the Ultimate Family Suite on Utopia of the Seas. They're incredible rooms but having so much living space is the true definition of a luxury on a ship where most cabins are short on it.

The room opens up into a beautiful living room, and quickly the theme of this suite presents itself: lots of space and views all around you.

It's clear Royal Caribbean wanted to come up with a room that would make up for the lack of a balcony by offering sweeping views just about anywhere.

Since it's at the front of the ship, you're getting the best views available.

There's a powder room on your way into the suite, which is great when aging bloggers stop by to see the room.

I was impressed how much storage space there is in this room, including cabinets, drawers, and a fridge too.

The living room is especially well appointed. I like the couch and chairs facing the television, which makes it a space you'd actually want to lounge and watch a movie.

There's a bedroom with a large king bed in it, with its own views.

I like this bedroom has a door to provide privacy, rather than incorporating the bed within the living space.

There's power plugs and USB outlets (USB-A and USB-C) on the nightstand making it quite convenient.

There's also a sliding door to the bathroom, which also reveals the drawers and storage space.

There's many closets here as well, ensuring you won't run out of space.

In the bathroom, you have a giant shower that features marble design throughout.

There is a rain shower that can actually change colors, and a shower space that's probably bigger than your shower at home.

No balcony, but there's a fix for that

While this room doesn't have a balcony, it does an infinite balcony.

This is a sliding window you can control to open and close the top half of the window pane in the living room and let in the ocean breeze.

I thought this was the genius move with this kind of a room.  If you can't have a balcony, at least have the option to let in natural air.

It's motorized too, so no need to struggle to open or close it.

It comes with the best suite perk ever

While the room impressed me more than I expected, the best reason to book it is the Royal Genie services that come with it.

The Solarium Suite is a Star Class cabin, which means it includes first class amenities nearly all the other passengers onboard don't have access to.

Your genie is a crew member who works with everyone in your cabin, along with two or three other rooms.  

They take care of just about everything during your cruise, so you just need to show up and enjoy.

How much does the Solarium Suite cost?

On average, you can expect the Solarium Suite to cost between $5,000 and $6,000 per person for the first two people in the room.

Prices depend on when the sailing will take place, but that's I saw the cost consistently in that range.

Keep in mind that Utopia of the Seas only offers short Bahamas sailings that are 3 or 4 nights in length.

For comparison, a balcony cabin would cost about $1100 - $1300 per person for standard balcony rooms.

Of course, a balcony doesn't have nearly as much living space or amenities that the suite has. 

I changed my mind about the Solarium Suite

Before my visit, I wrote it off in my head as a room for me. But I've changed my tune.

The fact it has so much space and the ability to open a window is a big win for me.  I hate being outside in the hot summer months anyway, so I think this room would work well for my cruise style.

Plus, I think the bedroom and attached bathroom are fabulous and represent one of the prettiest rooms Royal Caribbean has.

It's not inexpensive, but for someone looking to splurge, I think the Solarium Suite is worth a try.

Royal Caribbean won't have any of its cruise ships visiting its private island in the Bahamas this week.

"Sorry folks, park island's closed. The moose out front shoulda told you."

It's not just cruise ships that need regular maintenance, private islands need them too.

A number of cruise fans noticed there are no scheduled visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay during this calendar week. Specifically, there are no visits between May 4 and May 10.

That's quite strange considering how important CocoCay has been to the cruise line's plans.

More and more ships now include visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, including the brand new Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. Both ships were marketed as offering visits there on every sailing.

Nonetheless, it does neither the cruise line nor the passengers any good if the island isn't in tip top shape, and as a result, it's closed this week.

An annual occurrence

After noticing the schedule for port visits to CocoCay was absent of ship visits, I asked Royal Caribbean for clarification. After all, sometimes the internet gets it wrong.

In this case, the rumor mill got it right.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed the reports, "This is a scheduled, annual maintenance week for Perfect Day at CocoCay."

On the Royal Caribbean message boards, devbak150 shared they recall this happening last year as well, "It was closed last year around the same time for our cruise that included Labadee.  We couldn't reroute to Coco Cay due it it being closed for its annual maintenance closer.  Sounded like it was an every year for a week timeframe."

According to online schedules, Freedom of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas will be the first cruise ships to return to CocoCay once the maintenance work is complete when they visit on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

Preparing the island for a year's worth of fun

Regular maintenance is fundamental to how the cruise line ensures all of its products are ready for passengers to enjoy.  It not only keeps things working properly, but mitigates the chances of problems later.

Russell McEwen posted on Facebook about what he heard from a crew member that's working on the island, "Mostly back of the house stuff being renovated.  Some work on roads that shuttles use.  Replacing worn equipment.  Staff accommodations enhanced."

There's an entire waterpark, pools, kitchens, trams, and all sorts of equipment that are used to keep Perfect Day at CocoCay running.

The wave pool in the waterpark contains 28,000 gallons of water and can generate waves up to 4.5 feet in height.  There are multiple restaurants throughout the island serving thousands of meals every day. All of this needs maintenance to ensure it works as expected.

Cruise ships are shutdown for maintenance too

Maintenance work is an ongoing process for cruise ships and private islands.

In both cases, there's routine maintenance that gets done without having to shutdown everything down.

But cruise ships get scheduled every few years to get work done too.

Dry docks are planned years in advance so that all the materials and personnel are in place to inspect all hull openings, primary systems, including firefighting, navigation, and lifesaving.

Cruise ships go into dry dock twice in any five-year period, with no span longer than 36 months between dry docks. 

My 3 favorite spots most people miss on CocoCay

When CocoCay re-opens, there are a few areas I love to go to that tend to be overlooked.

On your way to Chill Island, there are a number of hammocks to your left after you cross the bridge onto Chill Island.

These hammocks are in the shade and it seems like most people don't notice them until later in the day. It's probably because there's no beach access nearby, but if you want a spot for a nap or to read a book (or both), this is it.

While you're in Chill Island, I really like the vibe of the Wacky Seagull Bar.

It's not just a fun name for a bar, it's got great chairs in the shade that face the ocean.  Grab a drink at the bar, and then take in the views.

Plus, I find there tends to be a stiff breeze here quite often and that makes it comfortable to sit and relax.

If you're looking for the least crowded beach at CocoCay, I think it's Harbor Beach.

Located in the middle of the island, it's an inlet that is perfect for young kids who don't know how to swim yet.  

Even if you do know how to swim, I like it because it's calm and serene.  Plus, Royal Caribbean added these floating pads in the water you can swim out to and hang out on.

It looks like a compromise has been reached with a proposed tourist tax on cruise ship passengers visiting Mexico.

In early December 2024, Mexico's Congress voted to implement a cruise tourist tax that would have applied to every person visiting the country on a ship.

The proposal was for a $42 per person fee to enter the country. That's per sailing, not per port.

Mexico is one of the top cruising destinations in the world, with an over 10 million passengers estimated to visit the country by cruise ship in 2025.

The potential impact of such a high tax would have created major problems and likely resulted in ships turning away, negatively impacting the country and the cruise lines.

Riviera Maya News is reporting the Mexican government has agreed to cut the tax from $42 USD per passenger to just $5 USD per passenger.

The new tax goes into effect July 1, 2025.

According to State Senator Eugenio Segura Vázquez, the Derecho de No Residente (DNR) fee will gradually increase. 

Passengers visiting on a cruise ship in 2025 will pay $5, but that will go up to $10 in 2026 and $21 in 2027.

For its part, the cruise lines made concessions too.  

They promised to increase the number of cruise passengers to Mexican ports, promote infrastructure projects such as the fourth pier in Cozumel and the acquisition of domestic supplies, especially artisanal products, for sale on cruise ships.

Controversial since proposed

The new tax was met almost immediately with concern.

Mexico's goal was to ensure cruise lines contribute more to the country’s economic development, but such a high tax rate was eye-opening to many.

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) warned such a hefty tax could deter visitors, alter cruise itineraries, and create economic ripple effects in communities that heavily rely on cruise tourism.

If just 15% of cruise ships dropped calls to Mexico, the result would be a negative economical impact that could undermine the intended purpose of the tax to begin with.

"Even a minimal decrease in cruise traffic would result in millions of dollars in lost revenue for local businesses, tours, and services – offsetting or even surpassing the total tax revenue projected from the measure," the FCCA explained.

Plus, it seemed to be unfairly targeting cruisers. Tourists crossing the border by land who visit for seven days or less would have been exempt from the tax.

Almost as soon as the tax was passed, negotiations began between the cruise industry and Mexican officials.

The following day the cruise passenger tax was postponed until July 1, 2025.

Royal Caribbean has big plans in Mexico

The deal is good news for Royal Caribbean, which is on the verge of opening new projects in Mexico.

First up is the Royal Beach Club opening in Cozumel in 2026.

This is a private beach area exclusive to Royal Caribbean cruisers, and will include access to swim-up bars, pools cabanas to rent, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.

It's an optional add-on cost for passengers to be able to enjoy a curated and beautiful day maintained by the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean has even grander plans beyond that when it opens Perfect Day Mexico.

The cruise line has purchased the port of Costa Maya, and it will transform the area into a giant playground for its passengers.

Similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the version in Mexico is double the size, roughly 200 acres in total.

You'll find beaches, slides, excursions, and many ways to enjoy a day in Mexico.

During an earning call with Wall Street investors last week, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said we can expect more details soon about both of these projects, "we have a big event that we're hosting in New York City in a couple of weeks, and we'll be talking about the destination portfolio and sharing some of the images and concepts that will be coming alive in the coming years. "

Royal Caribbean revealed more of what we see and eat on its next new cruise ship, Star of the Seas.

Debuting this summer, Star of the Seas is the second ship in the Icon Class.  Not only is this one of the biggest ships in the world, but it's going to offer even more to love than the original Icon of the Seas.

The cruise line formally announced its dining and entertainment changes that will differentiate the ship from Icon, and there are a few new offerings cruisers are going to quickly notice.

Here's a breakdown of what's new and different coming to Star of the Seas.

Revamping the best restaurant

I think Royal Caribbean hit a homerun with its first food hall, and it's looking to make it even better on Star of the Seas.

The AquaDome Market will have five food stands, including a few new ideas.

• BBQ: smoky pulled pork and beef brisket
• Southeast Asian regional favorites like pad thai and beef panag
• South American staples like empanadas and arepas

This is a complimentary venue, and it's open late night. Best yet, it's custom made on the spot so the food is fresh.

I ranked Aquadome Market my favorite included restaurant and it looks like it's going to be even better on Star.

Other included restaurants returning to Star of the Seas include:

• Surfside Eatery family buffet
• Basecamp grab-and-go snacks
• Windjammer buffet

Bringing a hit Broadway show to the sea

You'll be able to see "Back to the Future: The Musical" on Star of the Seas and it will be included in your cruise fare!

This is the hit Broadway musical based on the incredible first film.

It's the signature show on Star of the Seas, and highlights the ways you can be entertained during your vacation.

Other shows on Star of the Seas include:

• Create: The must-see show follows the soul-searching journey of a curious robot, KRE-8 – harnessing song, dance, visual arts and all forms of expression.
• Pirates & Mermaids: Fun-filled show combines dance, artistic swimming, and thrilling diving skills, all set to a comedic vibe, as the pirates meet the mermaids, culminating in a heartwarming lesson about the true treasure of life.
• Torque: A revved-up aqua show featuring athletic artists, synchronized swimmers, dancers and slackliners for an action-packed show of thrilling stunts, cutting-edge tech and immersive visuals.
• SOL: The all-new ice show follows the sun’s path, complete with mind-blowing stunts and visuals

A new supper club experience

Another hit dining concept from Icon of the Seas is getting a plus up with the Lincoln Park Supper Club.

Located in Central Park, this multi-course intimate dining experience is about the fusion of food, cocktails, and music.

Inspired by 1930s Chicago, you'll find a pairing of live jazz music with the food. Each course has a paired cocktail and dish that matches up perfectly with the music.

Royal Caribbean found inspiration from Chicago hot spots, from the Chez Paree club to the famed dining spot, The Pump Room.

Other specialty restaurants returning on Star of the Seas are:

• Chops Grille steakhouse
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Celebration Table, a private dining experience perfect for every occasion

Late night fun

For those seeking to stay out past sunset, Star will have fun choices to go well into the late night hours.

More than 20 bars and nightlife spots are on Star of the Seas. You'll find a large casino to try your luck, a comedy club at The Attic, or karaoke bar.

The fun Dueling Pianos bar is back again, where you can watch as two pianists compete with each side of the bar rooting them on.

Other bars to check out include:

• Rye & Bean coffee-infused cocktail bar
• Lou’s jazz club
• Bubbles champagne window

Coming this summer

Star of the Seas will have her first cruises beginning in August 2025.

Beginning with the August 31 sailing, the new ship will sail 7-night cruises to the Caribbean.  There are a few showcase sailings prior to the official maiden voyage too.

Star will sail will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Port Canaveral.  Every sailing includes a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Bookings are open now through early 2027 for cruises on Star of the Seas.

Prices for a cruise on Star begin at $1,042.23 per person for the 3-night showcase sailing on August 20, 2025 for an inside cabin.

If you're going to spend money to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package, you're going to want to know the best tips to maximize the purchase cost.

Thanks to some recent sales offered by the cruise line, I've purchased the Deluxe Beverage Package on a few upcoming sailings.  Pre-ordering it before the cruise begins can net you savings up to 40% off the onboard price.

Regardless of how much you pay for it, you're going to want to recoup the cost of a beverage package and really make it a worthwhile purchase.

Whenever I buy a drink package, I always do four important things during my cruise. I think these take full advantage of the value offered.

Order a bottle of water with every drink

When I order a drink, I'll usually add at the end, "...and a bottle of water, please."

The Deluxe Beverage Package and Royal Refreshment package include bottled water, and it's a perk you should take full advantage of.

This includes Evian or Pellegrino, as well as the generic plastic water bottles.

There are two reasons to order a bottle of water with every drink. 

The obvious one is you can stay hydrated and combat a bad hangover the next day.  Drinking water regularly between alcoholic beverages will help ensure you don't feel awful the next day.

Some people will add in a supplement, like Liquid IV, to prevent a hangover.  I always forget to actually take them, but it's a good idea nonetheless. (Affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use)

The other reason to order a bottle of water with every drink is you can bring them back to your cabin and stockpile them.

Having extra bottles of water in your cabin is so convenient. There are all sorts of times they come in handy.

While the drink package includes bottled water, you can only order one at a time.  I find it easier to bundle my drink order with a bottle of water to help start building up our supply to bring back to the cabin.

Specify the liquor when I order a drink

One of the biggest drink package mistakes is not telling the bartender which liquor you want when you order a drink.

Instead of ordering a pina colada or margarita, order it and ask for the liquor: A pina colada with Kraken rum, or a margarita with Casa Migos.

If you don't do this, the bartender or waiter will usually include the well liquor.  It's a lower quality liquor and not only is not as smooth as the name brand stuff, it tends to be "harder" going down.

Your drink package purchase includes the good stuff, so take advantage of it! 

It's not easy to get into the habit of asking for them like this, but you need to remember to help get the value back of your package cost quicker.

Take advantage of the non-alcoholic drinks too

It's easy to fall into the trap of focusing just on the beers, cocktails, and shots your Deluxe Beverage Package includes, but the secret to getting the best value is ordering other drinks too.

Royal Caribbean includes pretty much all the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in your DX Package purchase, and it's where I get the most value.

My top four favorites are:

• Premium coffees
• Gatorade/Powerade
• Fresh squeezed orange juice
• Red Bull energy drinks

The premium coffee alone can get me halfway to "breaking even" on my daily drink cost because I'll have two of them over the course of the morning, and an afternoon pick-me-up is not out of the question.

Taking a Gatorade to the gym or chugging one the morning after a late night with someone named CookingYo is also an apt strategy.

Lots of cruisers love the fact the fresh squeezed orange juice is included, and you can find it in either the Windjammer buffet or Main Dining Room on most mornings. It's much better than the concentrate stuff.

The bottom line is you need to take advantage of what they include because it not only makes it easier to get the value back from the package, but greatly expands your enjoyment of the package.

Look for special drink menus

I don't think Royal Caribbean gets enough credit for the special drink menus they develop.

On Icon of the Seas alone, Royal Caribbean's beverage team came up with 13 new bar menus because they wanted to go beyond the clichéd cruise drinks.

While there's nothing wrong with the standard drink menu found at the pool, you should seek out the fun new drinks too.

My favorite spots to experiment and try new drinks include:

• Lime & Coconut
• Mason Jar
• Pesky Parrot
• Rye & Bean
• Izumi
• 1400 Bar

There are plenty more, but don't limit yourself to just the usual assortment of pina coladas, daiquiris, or margaritas.

Demand for a Royal Caribbean cruise has never been higher, and that's driven prices up leaving consumers to look for ways to find a deal on a vacation.

Add in the falling value of the U.S. Dollar against foreign currencies and you might be reconsidering how to make your cruise vacation work.

The good news about Royal Caribbean is they have lots of options to help find value in a vacation market where prices continue to soar. Even with rising prices, many travelers see a cruise vacation still offers a greater value than a land vacation.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said in an earnings call last week that value gap helps sell a cruise when the economy is off kilter, "I think that — one of the things that we've been trying to close — that value gap to land-based vacation — and the appreciation of so much more you get out of cruise experience than you do by land base…it does serve in times like this when there's maybe a greater level of uncertainty."

It's no secret a new cruise ship comes with a premium price, so you could skip them and instead shift your cruise plans to a more affordable ship.

The value packed older ship

Let's begin with a ship that will probably cost you the least to sail on but I liked a heck of a lot more than I expected.

Enchantment of the Seas, and the rest the Vision Class, represent the oldest ships in the fleet.  But age isn't everything.

Royal Caribbean does a good job keeping these 30-plus year old cruise ships running well, and they deliver the classic core cruise experience most people want in a vacation: sun, pool, dining, and a few restaurants.

I sailed on Enchantment of the Seas earlier this year for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised how enjoyable it was.

The age and lack of things to do on bigger ships might put you off, but I had a great time and really wouldn't mind going back.

Odds are these will be the cheapest ships to go on, with prices starting as low as $319 per person for a 5-night cruise on September 27, 2025.

Ship size isn't everything, and Vision Class ships are going to be the lowest price on average you can find.  Just understand what it offers and doesn't offer before booking.

A ship that balances age, amenities, and value

The sweet spot of cruise ship amenities and price is a Voyager Class, like Mariner of the Seas.

These are big ships with things to do onboard, but not the mega ship price tag. In fact, they received new updates, such as water slides, new restaurants, and escape rooms.

Mariner of the Seas is one ship I point to for a great blend of value.  It's not the cheapest, but there's still lots for families to love about it.

The ship size provides a "big ship feel" with the things a lot of cruisers want. 

I really like the different specialty restaurants onboard, including Playmakers and Izumi hibachi.  Plus, it still has an ice skating show, Royal Promenade, and updated pool deck.

A fun ship out of Orlando without the premium price tag

There's no hotter cruise market right now than Port Canaveral, which is near Orlando. Royal Caribbean is about to stack the deck there with Star of the Seas coming this summer.

That puts its two newest ships on the doorstep of the theme park capital of the world, with Utopia of the Seas and Star balancing short and long cruises. But those new ships have premium pricing too.

A fun alternative is Adventure of the Seas, which is the same size as the aforementioned Mariner of the Seas.

This is a classic, "do this, not that" example where you can still enjoy a big ship vacation without paying as much for it.

If you compare almost any sailing, there's a good chance the prices will come out in Adventure's favor, giving you far more value.

Looking at March 2026, here are the cheapest cruises among the three:

• Utopia of the Seas: $719 per person for 3-nights
• Star of the Seas: $1440 per person for 7-nights
• Adventure of the Seas: $842 per person for 6 nights

On a per-night basis, Adventure is coming out a much better value.

You can even find lower prices on Explorer of the Seas, with a 4-night sailing in March 2026 starting at $441 per person, or $502 per person for a 5-night cruise.

I prefer Adventure over Explorer since it sails a longer cruise, but that's a matter of your own preference.

Pick an older but updated ship within the mega ships

If you're set on going on one of Royal Caribbean's amazing mega ships, I'd go on one of the refurbished vessels to find a good value.

Oasis of the Seas is probably going to be in that spot, as it's the oldest Oasis Class ship. What I like about Oasis is that it has some nice updates that bring it more in line with newer Oasis Class ships.

Allure of the Seas just got a big update too, so it might be a good alternative as well.

Any Oasis Class ship is going to be a really fun choice for your family because these big ships simply have so much to see, do, and eat. I love the variety of what's offered.

Going on an older Oasis Class ship might save you a few hundred dollars compared to a newer one.

Any of the cruises from LA

Odds are the lowest prices for a cruise are probably on the west coast.

Royal Caribbean is building up its Southern California presence, and soon there will be ships sailing from both Los Angeles and San Diego.

In the meantime, I find the lowest prices for a cruise from the United States out of LA.

The best think about these sailings is that they're on good ships too. Royal Caribbean has had Navigator of the Seas there for a few years, but Ovation of the Seas is about to join the fray. Quantum will join later this year too.

Why are these cruises inexpensive?

Getting to California isn't as convenient if you're not from the area. Plus, the weather in western Mexico might not be as tropical as what you'll find in the Caribbean.

I like that it's not the "same old", especially if you can do a cruise longer than 4 nights that goes down the Baja peninsula.

A cruise sounds like such a good vacation that you might be tempted to add friends or family to join you.  One of the first ideas that comes to mind is calling your travel agent and putting someone else in your cabin. But does that really work?

It sounds easy. Just have the cruise line add the other people to your cabin in the same way they'd do if you booked a hotel room. Although this sounds simple, it's not only not practical, it can cause issues with maritime regulations.

This post will address the reality of changing how many people are in one cabin, and why you can't simply add someone else to a reservation.

If you want to add someone else to your room (or add more people, in general), here's what you need to know about how and why to do it.

Every cabin has a capacity for an important reason

Regardless of which stateroom you choose, there's a maximum capacity for that room specified by the cruise line.

While you can potentially have less people than that in the room, you cannot exceed it, no matter what.

When you look at a cabin on the deck plan, the specific room category lists how many people can be booked into that room.

Most cabins are double occupancy, which means up to two people can stay in the room.  A few cabins are designed for solo travelers, but they're few and far between.

There are bigger cabins that can handle anywhere from 3 to 8 people, and they are sometimes referred to as "spacious staterooms" or are simply suites.

The reason why each cabin has a max capacity is for safety reasons.

Cruise lines take safety at sea extremely seriously, and that applies to cabins.

Every cabin correlates to spaces available in life craft that would be needed in the case of an emergency.

Any cruise ship needs to ensure there are more than enough spaces on life boats and life rafts for every single passenger and crew member. To achieve this, they never oversell a specific cabin so the math always works.

Safety even comes before sales

In some cases, Royal Caribbean may still not allow you to add an extra passenger to a stateroom, even if that room is designed to accommodate more people than you had originally booked.

Let's say you booked two people in a spacious balcony cabin that could accommodate up to four people, but later wanted to add a third or fourth passenger to that room.

While you understand you can't do that in other rooms, why not this one?

The request may be denied if the ship is booked with lots of other passengers maxing out their cabins.

Specific cabins use the specific muster stations.  A given muster station is designed to use a specific set of lifeboats.    For example muster station A1 might use lifeboats 3 and 4.  

If there are already a number of cabins for muster station A1 that have more than double occupancy such as during peak summer month when more families with kids travel, then the lifeboat capacity may be reached.  

In our example, someone with two people in a cabin in that muster station who wants to add another person. Despite the cabin being able to accommodate the next guest, the cruise line can't allow another guest or else the lifeboats would not be able to accommodate everyone in an emergency.  

They aren't allowed to say, "In an emergency go find another lifeboat with spare room."

What you can do to get friends or family onboard instead

In short, the workaround to this issue is you need to book them a new reservation.

If your room is maxed out, it's usually simpler to book them their own cabin.

Upgrading your cabin to a larger room might work, but it depends if there's a larger cabin available left to book.  Plus, you'd be booking at the prevailing rates instead of whatever price you originally paid.

Moreover, if you're past final payment date, there could be penalties to changing your room.  In my experience, if you're willing to spend more money than you originally paid, Royal Caribbean doesn't usually assess penalties after final payment on the same sailing. 

But the simplest approach could be to book a new cabin, assuming one is available.

If you have minors that you want to add, Royal Caribbean will allow you to book minors by themselves in a cabin if that room is adjacent, connecting, or across from their parents room.

Otherwise, you could swap adults around to have one in the new room, and move a kid back into the original room.  Name changes are allowed without any penalty, even after final payment, as long as one person from the original reservation remains in the cabin.

Stay up-to-date with all the Royal Caribbean news from this week with our roundup of all this week's news.

The buffet on a Royal Caribbean ship is still a go-to spot on every sailing, but I'll do 4 things every time I go.

There are so many good choices to pick from, so I'll want to maximize any visit I make to the Windjammer.

By taking advantage of a few key tips, I can ensure my visit is always a satisfying one!

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is reportedly buying a Bahamas resort
• Royal Caribbean is raising cruise prices on people who book a cruise at the last minute
• Royal Caribbean's secret weapon are loyal cruisers who spend 25% more and keep coming back
• Royal Caribbean is out with a truly epic 25-night cruise across half the world
• The new rules of a cruise this summer to follow
• I tried a $50 cocktail class on my cruise. I discovered a risk-free way to try new drinks
• Royal Caribbean is defying the economy: How record bookings and higher prices are fueling a blowout year
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• A Royal Caribbean drink package flash sale saved me the most money since Black Friday, and there's one trick to knowing about them
• Royal Caribbean updated its virtual badges
• Royal Caribbean just raised its expectations for the year, but Norwegian warns of slowing demand
• I wish more cruisers did one thing before they leave the ship, says travel agent
• Best cruise for first timers that you won't regret

Royal Caribbean stops visiting popular port

One Royal Caribbean ship that skipped Labadee this week actually got onboard credit instead of a replacement port.

Guests sailing on the May 3 voyage of Icon of the Seas were notified by Royal Caribbean their ship would have a sea day instead of visiting Labadee, Haiti.

To make it up to the passengers, Royal Caribbean offered them a per-stateroom credit to spend on board the ship.

How much to tip on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

When and how much to tip on a cruise is a hot button topic, but it's a very commonly asked question.

A lot of new cruisers are unsure what's expected and definitely do not want to insult anyone by stiffing them.

Matt shared exactly how much he tips to give you an idea of what to expect.

Cruise ship passenger regrets cabin choice

One person thought they booked a great cabin, but ended up regretting it because of a noise problem.

The cruiser complained about the "paper thin walls" that prevented them from sleeping while cruising on Allure of the Seas.

As it turned out, the mistake made could have been avoided given the specific room category chosen.

I paid $1,260 for an inside cabin on Allure of the Seas. It was outdated and tiny, but I still enjoyed my cruise

What's it like staying in a small, inside room on the amplified Allure of the Seas?

Jenna paid paid $1,260 for the inside room on the first sailing after the ship returned to service.

The room doesn't have any natural light, but is one of the best values on the ship.

New RCB Video: BOLD predictions about Royal Caribbean's future!

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 — BOLD predictions about Royal Caribbean's future! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 563rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, discussing Royal Caribbean's strategy to target Walt Disney World visitors.

Royal Caribbean has made it no secret they want to attract vacationers who would otherwise go to Walt Disney World and the other attractions in Orlando. How effective will this strategy be, and how do these vacations compare?

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

Could there be a new private beach spot for cruisers coming soon?

According to report in local media, Royal Caribbean Group is in the process of buying a defunct hotel in Freeport, Bahamas.

This project appears intended for Celebrity Cruises, instead of Royal Caribbean International.

The news was part of a reveal by The Central Bank of The Bahamas, who said Celebrity Cruises has offered to spend $348 million to acquire Freeport’s long-closed Xanadu Beach Hotel and surrounding land.

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

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

It closed in 2011.

In total, it encompasses a 40-acre site that they intend to transform into "recreational and entertainment facilities", according to the bank.

"Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines - Celebrity Cruises Incorporated obtained approval for the acquisition of 40 acres of privately-owned land for the development of recreational and entertainment facilities. The investment is valued at $348m," the Central Bank confirmed.

The bank did not disclose the specific property, but Tribune Business is reporting it's the Xanadu site.

There has been no announcement by Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean Group yet, nor have they confirmed or denied the report.

According to an anonymous source, the closing on the deal could occur in either late summer or early fall.

Royal Caribbean was first rumored to be in talks to get the Xanadu resort in December 2023

What is Celebrity going to do with the land?

When any cruise line acquires land in the Caribbean it's almost always for a private shore option for its guests.

The local news report says the buying up of the Xanadu property and other adjacent land is for the purposes of combining it all into a shore destination for the cruise passengers.

Royal Caribbean recently acquired the port and surrounding port area in Costa Maya to build Perfect Day Mexico.

They've also acquired land in other ports, such as Vanuatu, Cozumel, and Nassau, Bahamas.

One guess is Celebrity would branch out to have its first private beach property, which would offer its cruise ship passengers a secluded and exclusive day ashore.

It could be similar to either Perfect Day at CocoCay or one of the beach clubs that Royal Caribbean is developing. 

Royal Caribbean almost bought another property in Freeport

The reported purchase of the Xanadu resort in Grand Bahama Island is reminiscent of another project that almost happened.

Right before the cruise industry shutdown in 2020, Royal Caribbean was in talks to acquire both Freeport Harbour and the Grand Lucayan hotel and surrounding area.

The idea was to redevelop the port and build a water-based adventure theme park.

The Grand Lucayan resort would have been turned into a world-class beachfront destination with a 526-room hotel, shopping village, spa and wellness center, water-based family entertainment including a massive water and adventure theme park, a 40,000-square-foot convention center, adventure activities such as zip lines and off-roading, restaurants and bars, entertainment and lively nightlife. 

The resort would have been a place for both land and cruise guests to visit.

Both deals fell apart due to a combination of the financial troubles associated with the cruise industry shutting down, as well as an inability to finalize a deal with the Freeport Harbour Company.

Building on the private destination trend

If Celebrity is indeed getting in on a beach spot for its passengers, it's one of many such projects around the Caribbean.

Private beaches for cruise ship guests isn't new, but there's been an upward trend in opening new ones.

Royal Caribbean is developing two new beach clubs, with the first one opening in Nassau in December 2025.  That's in addition to Perfect Day Mexico coming in 2027.

Carnival is about to open Celebration Key this summer, which is yet another private destination for its line that seems to take many cues from Perfect Day at CocoCay.

MSC Cruises is developing a private island in The Bahamas on a natural sandbank that is aimed at offering a private, luxury beach experience.

Disney Cruise Line recently opened its second private beach spot at Lighthouse Point.

There's a major advantage for cruise lines to invest in private destinations, as it ups the guest experience while partnering with local destinations.

Cruise lines get a "walled garden" experience that give passengers the kind of picturesque, relaxing beach day they imagine.  

The ports get guaranteed visitors, and in the case of Royal Caribbean, funding and equity to the local community.