No one wants to get seasick on a cruise, and I've discovered it really does matter where your cabin is located.

Over the years, I've gone on plenty of cruises and stayed in cabins across high decks and low decks, forward and aft, starboard and port side. Despite all my cruising, I still get seasick from time to time.  I'd estimate one or two cruises a year it happens to me.

When the weather cooperates and the seas are smooth and winds calm, you won't even notice any movement and there are times you have to remind yourself you're on a ship moving through the ocean. But when the seas are swaying, it serves as a constant reminder.

Picking a cabin in a good location can have a significant impact on how much sensation you feel as the ship moves. In my experience, any relief is welcome.

Knowing which part of the ship has the least motion can not only lessen the chance of getting seasick, but also reduce any anxiety about it.

A cruise ship is like a seesaw

I think the chances of you getting seasick are pretty low to start with, but a lot of new cruisers are understandably worried about it because it's new to them.

The best analogy I ever heard about movement on a cruise ship is its akin to being on a seesaw.

If you imagine a seesaw, the least amount of movement is at the center, but the ends experience the most. By far the greatest movement is felt at the front and back of the ship.

The deck you're on also plays a factor.  Most experts recommend being on a low deck (instead of a high deck) because if the seas are rolling (side to side), then it helps being lower on the ship.

In short, being on a low deck and midship is the best spot to be in to minimize the feeling of movement.  Royal Caribbean is known for building the biggest cruise ships in the world, so you don't have to worry about being on an old vessel that would truly be problematic. But of course, no spot is necessarily going to be immune to the movement.

Most people do fine as cruise ships are massive vessels that can deploy stabilizers to reduce rolling to tolerable levels in most situations. Unless you are highly susceptible to seasickness, you should be okay.

How each part of the ship compares

When you consider where your cabin is located, there are advantages and disadvantages to picking cabins in different areas.

Conventional wisdom says the best spot is a cabin midship and on a low deck, but what this advice doesn't take into consideration is the room type.

In almost all cases, your choice of staterooms on a low deck and mid ship is going to be either an inside cabin or an oceanview cabin.

These are usually the least expensive rooms to book, but they also lack space or amenities that you'll find in other room categories.

Besides being in an area with less movement, they're also near the middle elevator bank, and that's convenient for simply getting around the ship.

If you want a balcony or suite, you're going to need to move to the upper decks.

Royal Caribbean begins offering cabins with a private balcony about halfway up the ship, sometimes as low as deck six. The higher up on the ship, the better the view you'll have.

However, if you compared the sensation of movement on deck 10 vs deck 2, you'd likely find it better on the lower deck.

Deciding between the front or back of the ship also plays a factor.

People that cruise a lot tend to love picking cabins on the back of the ship for the amazing views you can get.  Keep in mind, they mean cabins that face backwards, and not cabins that are still on the side of the ship, but towards the rear.

Some special cabins at the very rear corners of a ship might even feature a balcony that wrap around the vessel in an L-shape, giving you views on two sides.

Movement at the back can feel like you're going up and down.

Taking a cabin at the front is like being in the front seat of a car.  It has great views of what's coming up, assuming your cabin faces forward.

I think cabins at the very front are the worst for risk of movement.  The higher the deck, the more noticeable that rolling and swaying motion tends to feel. 

Because this part of the ship is what's encountering the waves first and it's far from mid-ship, it seems to always generate the sensation of seasickness in me the most.

Of course, these are generalizations based on my cruises.  Everyone's body handles it differently and the weather will play a major role in how good or bad the sea conditions are.

Picking a cabin midship is still the best advice if you're worried about getting seasick

Sometimes conventional wisdom is outdated, but I think picking a cabin towards the middle of the ship still makes the most sense.

When I try to save money and go with a guarantee cabin that puts me towards the front, I usually regret that decision if the seas are rough.

In those situations, I'll be in the ship's casino or a restaurant that is mid ship and then go back to my cabin to suddenly feel the difference.

You probably won't even get seasick, but if you have the choice in where your room is located, picking one midship helps with that.  Plus it's just more convenient to get around.

Staying in a balcony can help too

While your room location is a factor, I also think being in a room that has access to a private verandah helps too.

Being able to see the horizon and having access to fresh air are two things that can settle your brain if there's movement.

It helps me to have fresh air if I am feeling seasick.

To be fair, if you were in an interior room you could go out to a public deck and achieve the same thing. But if I'm feeling miserable, I'd rather be in private.

Prepare for seasickness with the right remedies

No matter which stateroom I book on any deck, I'll always bring the right seasickness medication with me.

I prefer to rely on over-the-counter medications to help and I always pack Bonine. (This is an affiliate link, which means I get a small commission if you buy from it, but it costs you nothing extra)

There are other medications you could take, such as getting a prescription before the cruise from your doctor for scopolamine, which is a patch behind your ear that you wear throughout the cruise. Benadryl also works for some people.

Be sure to bring your own medications with you, because the ship may or may not offer them onboard. And even if they do, I'm betting it's going to be cheaper at home.

Something else that can work well is to consume ginger.  

Ordering a ginger ale or taking a ginger supplement helps. You might also consider going to the Windjammer and see if you can find green apples, peppermint tea, or even a lemon. Everyone's physiology is different, and these can assist in reducing the symptoms.

I bet no other extra cruise purchase is as popular as a Royal Caribbean drink package because of how convenient it is.

But before you book it, you probably want to get the lowest price, especially considering how expensive these packages can be.

For two people, the Deluxe Beverage Package on a 7-night cruise can cost over $1,000 in total when purchased onboard. 

I've got good news and I've got bad news about getting a drink package for up to 40% less than the onboard price.

The good news is, you can absolutely save money by pre-booking it at the right time before the cruise begins.

The bad news is, you need to know when that is and it's not so obvious.

I was scrolling through the Royal Caribbean sub Reddit and someone shared they saw the price of a drink package at just $56.99 per person, per day.  That's one of the lowest prices in recent memory that I can see, and a lot of people thought the same thing.

"How'd you get this deal? The most I get offers for is 35% off," is what one person asked. Another posted, "how'd you get it that low? Any special codes or anything?"

In the case of the person that posted the deal, they said it was luck they ran into a random sale.  But you don't have to let lady luck dictate if you get a good price.

I've found there's a real advantage to making one change so you can jump in on these sales and get the best possible drink package price.

Use the Royal Caribbean app to get notified

I used to be like the person on Reddit that randomly logs into the Cruise Planner site to see if prices have gone down.

I changed my strategy this year because Royal Caribbean has embraced a cavalcade of pop-up sales.

In the past, most sales were primarily centered around major holidays, like July 4th, Christmas, and Black Friday. Those holidays are still excellent times to look for sales, but the cruise line has gotten creative since then.

I've seen more and more sales for seemingly minor reasons, and some don't even have a pretense.

Frankly, I got to the point I was relying on random people on the internet to post about a sale for me to go in and check it.

But I've found a better strategy is to rely on the Royal Caribbean app.

Royal Caribbean's app is essential to use while on the ship, but it's value pre-cruise has become enormous as well.

In the case of these sales, Royal Caribbean has started utilizing push notifications to alert users of a new sale.

Once you have the app installed on your phone, you just need enable app notifications for sales offers.

It's buried in their settings, but I've come to rely on it for how I see sales first.

To get to it, click on the Person Icon (option on the right) and then click Profile at the very top right corner.

Scroll down to the Settings section and click Offers & communication.

From there, enable email or mobile app notifications for Royal Caribbean.  I have it on for Royal Caribbean.

That should do the trick, provided your iPhone settings allow for regular push notifications to come from the Royal Caribbean app in the first place.

There's no guarantee you'll see super low prices

Before you turn on your app notifications and wait for the super low drink prices to roll in, I need to offer a reality check.

Royal Caribbean's drink package prices are vary depending on the ship, itinerary, sail date, and more. 

If you're booked on the brand new Star of the Seas and going over Christmas, don't expect to see prices anywhere as low as this. The bottom line is you'll pay a premium for a drink package (and many other aspects of a cruise) when you sail over a holiday and/or on a new ship.

The difference is you might be able to snag a drink package for a lower price than normal when one of these sales pop up.

Remember, you can always cancel and rebook your Cruise Planner purchases before the sailing begins with no penalty.  So if you buy the drink package today at $72.99 per person, and it drops to $68.99 per per day, per person next month, you can still take advantage of it.

Moreover, you should book it now if you want a drink package because the price can go up and might never come back down.

Royal Caribbean's added a way to track the ships and places you've been, and it's captured the attention of a lot of people who want them all.

Cruise fans have always been a competitive bunch, whether it's bragging rights to be on the maiden voyage of a new ship, reaching the top tiers of the loyalty programs, or sharing impressive itineraries they have book.  

Now there's one more way to prove you are a top cruiser.

Virtual Badges are an achievement tracker that you can find in the Royal Caribbean app, and it's been improved already with new options.

Track destinations and ships

In March, Royal Caribbean quietly added the badges to the app that listed which ships you've sailed on.

There's a total of 29 ships listed that are lit up if you've sailed on it at least once.

It will also indicate how many other cruisers have earned the badge. For instance, according to Royal Caribbean's app, over 1.1 million passengers have sailed aboard Allure of the Seas. 

Freedom and of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas are tied for second with 1 million.

Royal Caribbean has added a new feature with destinations.

There are 20 places around the world you can track your progress with.

Different regions of the world Royal Caribbean ships visit are listed, including Bermuda, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Europe, and Mexico.

Not surprisingly, The Caribbean is tops with 4.7 million people with a badge. Perfect Day at CocoCay is a close second with 3.6 million.

The least badges are for South America, with just 14,000 badges out there.

There's no reward or benefit of unlocking new ships.  It's really meant to be a fun way for guests to fondly reminisce.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean explained, "These digital rewards celebrate milestones like ships sailed and destinations visited, creating a visual timeline of each guest’s journey. "

How to see your badges

You can view the badges you have in the Royal Caribbean app.

After opening the app, click the person icon in the top right and then look for the "Profile >" link at the very top. It's to the right of your name.

You'll see "Recent Badges" on that screen. Click "View All" to see them.

If you don't see them yet, you might need to wait a bit. Royal Caribbean says badges can take up to 30 days post-cruise to display.

In the app it says if you're missing any, you can make a request to have it manually added as long as it's been within 12 months after the debarkation date of the sailing.

It's available for Celebrity too

The new feature isn't just for Royal Caribbean, as you can track your Celebrity cruises too.

Being sister companies, the two lines share a common app platform and the new feature is available for those ships too.

"It brought a smile to my face today"

Ever since they first appeared in the app, cruisers have quickly taken to admiring the badges as a fun new extra.

"Thank you for posting this, it brought a smile to my face today," wrote DNelson3055 on Reddit.

Reading_and_Cruising quipped, "This is exactly the kind of motivation I didn't need to have, lol."

Time_Slayer_1 added, "This will be the reason I’ll actually book on the older ships now."

One notable missing feature: retired ships

Now that destinations have been added, I hope retired ships are next.

Royal Caribbean cruisers are a proud bunch, and being able to show off they go back many years is just as important as getting on the new ones.

Unfortunately ships like Monarch of the Seas, Sovereign of the Seas, Empress of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Song of America, Song of Norway, and the original Legend of the Seas aren't in the app yet.

There's nothing more awkward than talking about how much to tip someone on a cruise, but the last thing anyone wants to do is insult a hard working crew member by stiffing them.

Gratuities have been a part of the cruise industry for decades, but they've also evolved to reflect changing views. The rates and how tips are offered have changed since I first started cruising.

New cruisers usually have two questions about tipping on a cruise ship: How much to tip and who to tip.

Here's what you need to know about how gratuities work and how much you should tip.

Automatic gratuities cover the basics

Royal Caribbean has an automatic gratuity that you'll run into off the bat.

There's an automatic daily charge, and you can either pre-pay it or wait to have it charged onboard. Residents of Australia actually have the automatic gratuities included in their cruise fare.

There's no right or wrong answer, it's up to you if you'd rather get it paid in advance or pay it later. Personally, I pre-pay just to lessen my onboard spending bill.

The automatic gratuities cover:

• Your stateroom attendant
• Dining Room waiters
• Head waiter

The current gratuity rate is $18.50 per person, per day in standard cabins, and $21.00 per person, per day in suites.

You don't have to tip more than that, but if you wanted to, you could give those people extra cash as you see fit.

Why tip them more? If you feel that crew member went above and beyond and truly did something special for your family, there could be a reason to give them something extra.

How much extra? I've tipped stateroom attendants anywhere from $20 to $100 extra, depending on the situation.  For waiters in the restaurants, about $20.  

The automatic gratuity does not include gratuities you'll encounter elsewhere on the ship.

For example, if you order a drink, there's an automatic 18% gratuity that gets added to your bill.  Or if you visit the spa for a massage, you'll see a service charge added to that too.

There's nothing to do, it's a line item on your bill.

Beyond that, there's a number of discretionary tips you should plan on.

Porters

When you arrive at the cruise terminal, there are porters to take your luggage and deliver it to your cabin.

Likewise, at the end of the cruise, there are porters to assist you with picking up your luggage and taking it through the terminal and to your car, bus, or taxi.

I'd recommend tipping $1-$2 per bag.

When ordering a drink

As I mentioned earlier, any drink you order comes with an automatic 18% service charge and that is effectively your tip.

I'll still tip $1 per drink in cash on top of that, but it has less to do with the service.  I do so because tipping just $1 extra tends to get me better service later.

When the bar is busy, the bartenders and waiters definitely give preferential treatment to those that tip extra.  

I think it's worth it not only to reward attentive service, but ensure I'm not waiting a long time for my next one.

Occasionally, it gets me a free drink too, but you can't bet on that.

Specialty restaurants

Similar to drinks, you'll pay an automatic gratuity at the specialty restaurants on top of the cover charge or cost to eat there.

I usually tip $20 per meal extra, but it depends on the service we get.

I don't have a good rationale why I do or even how I came up with that number, but it's what I do.

Room service

Royal Caribbean includes a service charge with the cost of room service, but the complimentary continental breakfast has no cost.

I very rarely ever order room service other than breakfast, so I'll tip them between $2-$5 extra for bringing my food to the room.

Royal Genie

I've been lucky enough to stay in a few of Royal Caribbean's biggest and most expensive suites, which includes the services of the Royal Genie.

The Royal Genie is shared between a few suites, and they make your cruise as easy as possible. They can cut the lines for you, get priority elevators, make any reservation you need, and otherwise be your "magic maker".

The first time I stayed in Star Class I was completely lost how much to tip them.

The overwhelming consistent answer I found in the Royal Caribbean Star Class Facebook group is to tip the genie $100 per day.

I really don't think any genie would scoff at any tip amount. They appreciate what you feel is appropriate, and they're certainly not standing with their hand open on the final morning.

Cabana attendant

You can rent cabanas at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, and you'll have a cabana attendant for the day with your cabana.

The cabana attendant is there to bring you food, drinks, towels, or anything else you need during your stay.

The amount to tip depends largely on how much you utilize their services and size of your group. Some cabanas can accommodate up to 8 people.

Given that you're there for the entire day and that person might be running back and forth bringing food and drinks a lot, the amount to tip varies considerably.

I usually tip between $50 - $100 to the cabana attendant, and I'll often split that cost with friends.

Shore excursion tour guide

Tour guides are optional to tip during shore excursions, and I think how much to tip truly depends on a number of factors.

Tour guides play different roles depending on the nature of the trip. A snorkel excursion with someone actively helping you or a family member in the water is vastly different than a bus tour narrator.

In addition, you're almost always with a group and theoretically others are tipping too.

It's hard to give a good number, but $10-$20 for a tour host that is helpful, passionate, or insightful would be appropriate.  To be fair, I have not tipped tour guides in the past if they're glorified babysitters.

Entertainers in bars

Royal Caribbean has some amazing performers in various bars and lounges, and you could tip them too.

Most people don't tip the singers or performers, so it's really a matter of your choice in rewarding their skills and entertaining.

An unwritten rule of these bars is if you make a song request and they play it, you should tip them.

I'll tip bar entertainers $5-$20, depending if I'm tipping for one song or a few song requests.  Yes, I did tip the Mason Jar band $100 once to stop playing "Sweet Caroline" immediately. You're welcome.

Casino

Another unwritten rule is you should tip the casino dealers periodically.

Casino dealers at the various table games are there to keep the fun going, and the good ones will even step in and help you avoid making a mistake.

A dollar or two periodically works, especially if you're winning money.

You do you

All of the tipping amounts are ballpark figures of what you could consider, they're not rules about what you should or shouldn't do.

I have no doubt the comments section for this article have already erupted because some people cannot handle how others choose to spend their money.  Ignore them, and always rely on the principle of do what feels right for you.

The only people that absolutely should be tipped extra beyond Royal Caribbean's automatic gratuity include:

• Porters
• Cabana attendants
• Royal Genies

Everything else is completely discretionary and there is no right or wrong answer. 

Crew members are appreciative of anything you can provide them, and I can safely say I've never heard of a crew member that was insulted by an additional tip from a guest.

The one faux pas you can make with tipping is not tipping at all.  Removing the automatic gratuity at Guest Services as a cost-savings measure is a really egregious act. 

Royal Caribbean incentives its guests to book another cruise while onboard, but many don't take advantage of the extra savings offered.

If you're like me, after a day or two on the cruise ship, I become so enamored with the experience I want to do it again.  That leads my brain to start thinking of ways to book another cruise.

When you're ready to double down on another cruise, Royal Caribbean offers a bonus for booking on the ship. Yet, a lot of cruisers miss out on it.

Beci Mahnken is the owner of MEI Travel, and one missed opportunity she sees from clients is when they don't book a cruise on the ship for the wrong reason.

Missing out on the best combination of perks

NextCruise is available on every Royal Caribbean ship, and it offers additional incentives when booking a cruise there.

By booking onboard, Royal Caribbean will add extra onboard credit and even reduce the deposit amount.

According to Ms. Mahnken, a lot of cruisers assume booking a cruise at the NextCruise desk means they can't use their travel agent.

"Too many people think booking at NextCruise means losing their travel advisor," she explained.

"But it’s not true. You get extra incentives, and your advisor still takes care of everything because the booking is transferred to them automatically."

I recently saw this first-hand when my neighbor returned home after a cruise and I asked them if they booked a cruise we discussed, but they didn't book onboard because they didn't think it worked that way.

Ms. Mahken has seen the same scenario play out many times, "It’s always frustrating when clients come to me after their cruise saying, 'I wish I’d known!' NextCruise can offer some valuable perks."

If you're working with a travel agent, you can still leverage their services while getting the extra money Royal Caribbean is offering with onboard credit.  And yes, it's all combinable.

Make a reservation at NextCruise to avoid waiting

I'd recommend going to the NextCruise desk after making a reservation.

Depending on the ship, you can either sign up for a time slot on a piece of paper at the desk, or do it within the Royal Caribbean app.

It's easy to do this, and it ensures you minimize waiting.  

By far the busiest day at NextCruise is the last day of the cruise because everyone seems to have the same thought: Let's book a new cruise because this one is ending!

Verify your travel agent is on the booking

When I make any booking at NextCruise, I'll always reconfirm my travel agent is on the reservation they are making.

Most of the time, the NextCruise agent asks me about it before I can remind them, but it's a good idea to double check it.

What to look for when booking a cruise at NextCruise

Besides your travel agent being on the reservation, there are a few things to verify.

The deposit type you pick is important, because you may want refundable cruise fare instead of non-refundable.

There's nothing wrong with a non-refundable cruise deposit. In fact, the price is usually a bit lower than a refundable deposit. But there are penalties for changing the ship or sail date with a non-refundable deposit.

The next thing to look for is the amount of onboard credit you'll be getting, in addition to whatever promotion Royal Caribbean is running at the time.

The onboard credit varies depending on the length of the sailing and the type of stateroom you choose.

The final printout should list exactly how much onboard credit you're getting, so it's important to understand how much there is on the booking.  I can get confused when comparing different cruises and how much I'm actually getting in the end.

Finally, if you have an internet package on your cruise, you could message your travel agent to give them a heads up that you're booking onboard.

There have been times when my travel agent tells me to pick one option over another because there's a better deal on it. 

As an example, there could be a group rate that's cheaper than Royal Caribbean offers.  So if I book that sailing at NextCruise, I get the bonus onboard credit but then my agent can roll it into the group and I get a lower price.  It's win-win!

A balcony cabin is the most popular stateroom choice for a cruise, but one person regretted it immediately.

Among the various rooms on a cruise ship, balcony rooms tend to be the ones people book.  In fact, any ship built in the last 30 years or so probably has more balcony rooms than any other room type.

But not all balcony cabins are made the same, and one person on Reddit found that out the hard way.

It serves as a good reminder of one our favorite cruise tips to verify before you book.

"I can't sleep this is beyond annoying"

CokeCanCowBoi posted on the Royal Caribbean Reddit complaining about the "paper thin walls" that prevented them from sleeping while cruising on Allure of the Seas.

Next to their room is a family with young children who are up crying throughout the night, which can be heard in neighboring cabins.

"I have a balcony room with a connected room to some family of 3 kids and its just constant crying and screaming at all hours of the night," CokeCanCowBoi posted.

They asked Guest Services to be moved to another room, but were told there are no open rooms.

They booked the wrong cabin

The title of the post asked if the walls were not soundproof at all, but the reality is they shouldn't have booked a connecting cabin.

Connecting cabins are wonderful choices for families, but a terrible choice if you didn't book both.

Many people that responded in the thread pointed out the fallacy in room choice.

"Never book a room with a connecting door unless you're also booking the other room too," wrote Living4nowornever. This is sage advice.

The connecting doors are not nearly as well insulated for noise as the walls are.  Moreover, there are small gaps at the top and bottom of the door that can let sound in more easily.

How do you know if you picked a connecting room

The outpouring of advice not to book a connecting cabin prompted some to admit they had no idea this was a choice.

"In fairness, I would have no idea how to check that," posted Extra_Shirt5843.

Before you pick any cabin, look at the ship's deck plans on Royal Caribbean's website to determine if it's connecting or not.

Connecting rooms usually have a double headed arrow on connecting cabins.

Because of nuances like this, choosing the right cabin for you can be an exercise that new cruisers may not be aware of. 

It's critical to know about noise, obstructed views, cabin size and room configuration (i.e. location of the bed to the balcony or extra bedding) before choosing a room.

It's quite easy and simple to pick up on, but you need to know what to look for in the first place.

We certainly advocate the right type of stateroom advice you may need, but a good travel agent can also greatly assist.

Travel agents have heard of stories like this one hundreds of times, and the good ones would immediately warn you about picking a connecting balcony room if you don't book both sides of the door. Heck, they probably wouldn't have quoted that kind of a room in the first place.

Soundproofing hacks for connecting rooms

Since knowing which cabin to book is too late for someone already in the cabin, Reddit shared a few tips for how to mitigate sound coming from the neighboring cabin.

One idea is to ask your stateroom attendant for an extra comforter.  Then, use magnetic hooks that you bought pre-cruise (because it's one of the best cruise hacks the internet loves to share) to make a sound baffle. (this is an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use).

Another option is to ask for pillows and stick them in-between the connecting doors.

If you can't block out the noise, then drowning it out is another idea.

Buy a USB powered fan (do not bring one that plugs into the wall, because it's not allowed) that you put by your head.

This is one such fan that could work well (These links contains an affiliate links).

Don't book a guarantee cabin either

While it's tempting to book a GTY cabin to save money, this is usually how people end up on the wrong end of a connecting cabin.

Royal Caribbean uses guarantee cabin bookings to fill in unsold cabins, and connecting cabins are definitely undesirable rooms.

My advice is if you don't want to potentially be in this kind of a situation, pay more to choose your own cabin location.

Royal Caribbean just reported it's had the best start to the year in its company's history, and cruise fans are a big reason why.

While some areas of travel are reporting troubling numbers related to an economic downturn, Royal Caribbean Group sees its loyalty program as being an economic moat protecting them.

The company's fiercely loyal cruisers are proving to be quite the powerhouse. Consumer habits shift a lot across the economy, but Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program is helping it outperform expectations.

"Our unified loyalty programs connect all our brands under one ecosystem, encouraging repeat travel and unlocking more opportunities to engage across ocean and river cruising along with our exclusive destinations," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.

The numbers shared during the company's first quarter earnings call on Tuesday exemplify how well customer loyalty factors into the cruise giant's bottom line.

Loyalty is driving revenue

Usually cruise lines tout how many new cruisers they attract, but this time Royal Caribbean Group executives focused on repeat business and how it's making a difference.

Nearly 40% of bookings in 2024 came from loyalty program members during the quarter. More importantly, loyalty members spend 25% more per trip than non-members.

In fact, Mr. Liberty shared repeat cruisers are now twice as likely to book through the Royal Caribbean app compared to non-members.

That's a big factor to have its customer loyalty leading the company's economic charge ahead, and a sign they're doing things right.

Deepening loyalty through status matching

Royal Caribbean Group also believes one change they made is having an impact on keeping customers in their ecosystem.

In May 2024, the company unveiled status matching across its brands, and that is making a difference.

They're seeing cross-brand bookings increasing, and that means more guests are trying different styles of vacations without ever leaving Royal Caribbean Group’s portfolio.

"The ecosystem is working. Cross-brand bookings are increasing, loyalty members are more likely to book in the app, and spend significantly more per trip," said Mr. Liberty during the call.

They call it "a commercial flywheel" because it turns as the customer becomes more invested in the RCG brands.

With each cruise someone takes across the brands, it fuels a fuels deeper loyalty and more engagement. 

When you add in new ships and private destinations opening over the next few years, it gives loyal cruisers more reasons to stay inside Royal Caribbean’s world.

Star of the Seas will launch this summer, followed by Legend of the Seas next year.  Plus, there's going to be new beach clubs and Perfect Day Mexico opening over the next three years.

Loyal cruisers are so valuable with economic uncertainty

Repeat business is always good to have, but much more so when the economic situation is not so clear.

Generally speaking, when there are economic concerns, consumers may cut back. However, the public is reluctant to give up their vacations, especially among committed cruise guests.

Surveys show 9 out of 10 consumers prioritize value for money when planning vacations — an area where cruising beats land vacations.

Royal Caribbean sees no signs of loyalty members trading down or cutting spend.

"Cruisers are more financially secure and more likely to protect their travel budgets during times of uncertainty," Liberty said.

"When financial concerns impact lifestyle or spending, travel is not the first place consumers indicate they will pull back."

Royal Caribbean is continuing to pause its visits to one of its private destinations.

Increasing concerns in Haiti as forced the cruise line to halt visits to Labadee in the north part of the country. Haiti has had the highest level of travel advisory for well over a year, which is “Level 4: Do Not Travel." issued by the U.S. State Department.

Royal Caribbean began re-routing its cruise ships away from Haiti last week.

Labadee is a private beach stop exclusive to Royal Caribbean ships, and it's not in a city. The beach is located in a remote area of the country that is inaccessible except by cruise ship. There is a large wall with private security.

Nonetheless, Royal Caribbean has cancelled another visit to the area.

Icon of the Seas to skip Labadee

Guests booked on the May 3rd sailing of Icon of the Seas received an update their ship will not visit Labadee.

"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and out of an abundance of caution, we’re swapping out our visit to Labadee for a Sea Day," is what the email read.

Any booked shore excursions in Labadee will be refunded.

It appears a replacement port of call for Labadee could not be found, and it will have a sea day instead.  Other ships that skipped Labadee have been re-routed to places like Falmouth, Jamaica or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Nonetheless, Royal Caribbean is offering onboard credit as a gesture of goodwill since this sailing will have just two port stops.

"While we know it’s not the original itinerary we planned, we’re excited for our journey together! As a token of our appreciation for your understanding, you’ll receive credit to spend onboard per stateroom"

• $75 USD for Interior and Ocean View
• $100 USD for Balcony
• $150 USD for Suites
• Plus, an additional $25 USD for each third or more guest to spend onboard

Other ships that skipped Labadee in the last week or so did not get onboard credit offered, but they did get to visit a replacement port of call.

Royal Caribbean also padded the ship's time in Ponce, Puerto Rico to add more time for guests to enjoy time in that port.

Unclear how long the pause will last

No one knows quite how long Royal Caribbean’s Labadee pause will continue. 

Royal Caribbean had previously stopped visits to Labadee between March and October 2024 when the situation in the country initially deteriorated.  But they later resumed visits when it was clear there was no impact to the security of Labadee.

Unlike last year, Royal Caribbean is not sharing any kind of timeline of when they might consider resuming visits.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson has gone on record last week to say simply, "Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily paused our upcoming visits to Labadee. We have already communicated with guests directly."

What's happening in Haiti to cause the change?

Haiti's government is actively fighting back a surge in well-coordinated gang violence that's threatening the country's capital.

Haiti’s transitional government recently declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to the violence.

On April 16, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert for Port-au-Prince over "widespread protests with potential for violence between police, protestors, and criminal gangs."

Upset cruisers

The cancelled visit by Icon of the Seas exemplifies how some cruisers are upset at the change in plans.

Totally disappointed Royal Caribbean International for adding a sea day in replacement to Labadee instead of another port," wrote Jamie Nguyen on Facebook.

"I book this reservation based on the destination and now I’m quite disappointed for the amount I paid and the lack of destination I will be visiting," the person added in their comment complaining about the cancellation.

"I feel this is total rip off!"

On the Royal Caribbean message boards, TZsavonH described the change as "disgusting" and cancelled the cruise booking despite being well past the final payment date.

"I think it's disgusting... especially when you've spent thousands on excursions and cabanas. "

While the fact Icon is only visiting two ports, the ship is also a floating destination in and of itself, which other cruise fans pointed to as a positive point with the situation.

"The Icon is a destination. Stay on the ship and enjoy," is what one person wrote on Facebook.

Jolene Palmore added, "Would much rather be at sea. The ship is the destination!"

While the US economy might have a few question marks, Royal Caribbean doesn't see any slowdown on its end.

Royal Caribbean Group released its first quarter results and blew past expectations and raised its full-year guidance.

The results indicate the company is seeing strong demand for its products, reinforcing the trope of experiences over products.

"Our strong first quarter results are a testament to the enduring appeal and attractive value proposition of our leading brands and the incredible vacations they deliver," said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO.

Royal Caribbean Group’s first quarter results point to a company thriving, fueled by record bookings, improved margins, strategic investments, and newly regained investment-grade financial strength.

First quarter by the numbers

Royal Caribbean Group saw good indicators all around for its products and showed a healthy return in the quarter.

• Report Q1 earnings: $2.70 EPS vs guidance, $2.71 Adjusted EPS.
• Total revenues of $4.0 billion, Net Income of $0.7 billion.
• Adjusted EBITDA $1.4 billion — margin strength is key.

About 2.2 million guests took a cruise with Royal Caribbean Group in the quarter, which is a 9% increase year over year.

Record breaking demand

The first few months of any year is known as "WAVE season" because it acts like an ocean wave carrying bookings throughout the rest of the year.

This was a very good WAVE season for Royal Caribbean, and that continued into April. Bookings in April still stronger than last year, showing momentum is sustained.

The company reported "record bookings during WAVE season."

"Bookings for 2025 have remained on track, cancellation levels are normal, and we continue to see excellent close-in demand," said Liberty.

Even in April this held true, "during April, the company's bookings were greater than the same period last year, including continued strength in close-in bookings"

Executives continue to believe that consumers are spending on experiences (vacations) over material goods.

How Royal Caribbean is pulling this off

Royal Caribbean Group's formula is a mix of cruise fares rising and people willing to pay them.

That pricing power is evident in onboard revenue and pre-cruise purchases, "Guest spending onboard and pre-cruise purchases continue to exceed prior years driven by greater participation at higher prices."

Strong close-in demand at higher prices is what they've reported in this quarter. Plus, continuous investment in adding new ships and private destinations generate higher interest among consumers.

There is quite a line-up of big projects coming soon:

• 7 new cruise ships by 2028
• Increasing from 2 to 7 exclusive destinations by 2027
• Celebrity Cruises River launching in 2027

Cost control and investment upgrades

Another factor helping the company this quarter is its strict adherence to cost controls.

"Our strong balance sheet allows us the flexibility to continue to expand capital return to shareholders, invest in growth and innovation, and maintain investment grade balance sheet metrics in a range of macroeconomic environments," said Naftali Holtz, CFO.

During the quarter, the company was upgraded to investment grade by S&P Global Ratings. Plus, they exercised significant debt reduction and share buybacks.

On top of that, they have a good amount of cash on hand, with $4.5 billion in cash and available credit.

"This quarter, we continued to opportunistically reduce debt, while lowering cost of capital and recapturing a portion of our Covid-era share dilution," Holtz added.

Hinting at a strong year to come

Royal Caribbean Group isn't making any bold predictions for the year, but they are seeing good signs to come.

The company increased its full year 2025 Adjusted EPS guidance from$14.55 to $15.55. The increase in earnings expectations is driven by the better than expected revenue performance in the first quarter and the benefit of currency exchange rates and lower fuel costs for the remainder of the year.

"With our industry-leading brands, state-of-the-art ships, exclusive destinations, and a fortified balance sheet, we will continue dreaming and innovating to win a greater share of the growing $2 trillion global vacation market," Liberty said.

While there are economic doubts for many companies, Royal Caribbean's results show cruising is one luxury people are willing to prioritize.