Adrian Ortega drives a taxi in Cozumel, Mexico and he's seen tourists do just about everything you could imagine, including plenty of mistakes.

Royal Caribbean cruises regularly visit Cozumel, Mexico on so many of their sailings, and with the cruise line poised to open a beach club there soon, even more tourists will be going there.

Cozumel is one of the more well-established Caribbean cruise ports you can visit. It has so many things you could do, and Mr. Ortega shared with me the things tourists should and should not do while they visit.

While having so many choices of what you can do is a good problem to have, it's easy to choose the wrong kind of experience leading to disappointment.

Here's what he recommends anyone visiting Cozumel on a cruise ship should do for a great visit.

Don't rent a scooter

When I asked Adrian what mistakes he sees tourists making, he didn't hesitate to immediately call out renting a scooter as a major potential problem.

As a taxi driver, he drives all around the island of Cozumel, and those scooter rentals have lead to a lot of tragedies.

The issue is a lot of people don't know how to drive them properly, and it leads to many accidents.

He's seen lots of scooters going down the wrong direction on a street, which is not only illegal, but causes accidents.

These accidents cause not only damage to the scooter, but injuries to the tourists involved.  Road rash and more severe injuries are common with these vehicles.

Skip the first tour opportunity you see

Another mistake he sees tourists making are overpaying for tours around the island.

"If they want a tour, maybe don't take the first one, because normally the first one inside the cruise ship, is the highest price," he explained.

There are shore excursions offered by Royal Caribbean that take guests around the island and that will cost a premium to go through the cruise line.

He estimates if a tour offered on the ship or in the port area costs $200 for 3 or 4 hours, that same tour could be had by an independent guide for around $100-130.

How to find reputable tour guides in Cozumel

Adrian's advice of going with a local guide is a good suggestion, but I'm sure many reading this would want to know how to find a good tour guide.

When you walk around Cozumel, there are many drivers offering tours of Cozumel.  It can be daunting to know who to pick.

Adrian's recommendation is to look for a few important details in any driver:

• Make sure the taxi has a taxi license plate or a printed license inside the cab to be a taxi guide
• Make sure the guide can speak English well

"It's going to be uh sure a boring tour because nobody can speak each other," he explained why it's important to work with someone that speaks English well.

If you'd like to contact Adrian, his phone number is +52 987 564 5430. We make no promises or guarantee about Adrian or his work, but you can contact him at your own risk.

His favorite beaches in Cozumel

Which beaches would Adrian recommend to someone spending the day in Cozumel?

He really likes the beaches on the western side of the island because of how sandy their beaches are. They don't have pools or other facilities, but he likes to go for the serenity it has.

"In my opinion, I prefer go there because it's more private for you. You only pay what you eat, what you drink, and you can stay at the beach the whole day."

However, if you want more facilities with your beach day, he prefers Paradise Beach, "Paradise Beach I think is the best beach club in the island."

He also really likes Playa Palancar Beach Club, or Chankanaab.

Where not to go in Cozumel

I asked which places he hears from tourists they didn't like, and he stressed it's important to go to a beach that has the amenities you care about.

He used Skyreef Beach Club as an example because it's great if you want to snorkel, but a bad choice for a sandy beach day because of how rocky it is.

Don't eat at the restaurants near the port

Cozumel has a lot of restaurants, but the ones near the port are usually overpriced.

He says the restaurants downtown are going to be less expensive.  The more you're willing to venture into town, the better the prices.

One issue with eating off the beaten path is going to be the language barrier. He said there's probably less English being spoken there, but as long as you have the basic phrases, you should be fine.

Eat at the better restaurants in town

I asked Adrian for his favorite restaurants in Cozumel.

Adrian's top choices are:

• La Monina
• Casa Mission
• La Mission
• La Choza

Piggybacking on his earlier advice of getting a guide for the day, drivers should know which restaurants are the best and help you with navigating any language barriers that exist there.

"In my opinion, take a tour guide for the whole day. It's going to be a little more expensive, but they know the recommendations of which places are the best go to go and everything."

Try the seafood

Mexican cuisine can be quite varied, so I asked Adrian what food is the best when in Cozumel.

"Seafood," he replied quickly.

Cozumel has a large fishing operation, and the best restaurants source fresh fish in their restaurants.

He's a fan of the fresh caught octopus or sea snails as two foods worth trying while in Cozumel.

Using your cell phone on a cruise ship is a big mistake because of costly roaming fees, but there's a new trend looking to reverse it.

Two of the largest wireless carriers in the United States have announced new plans that cover cruise ships and provide coverage in a similar way to being on land.

Day passes have become very popular for consumers, as they offer an instant option to call, text, or use data in a foreign country without crazy high roaming fees later.

Traditionally cruise ships have not been covered under such plans, and consumers who have used their phone on a cruise have come home to bills in the thousands of dollars.

This year we've seen two new approaches to how you can use your phone at sea without incurring those kind of issues.

It's an interesting new offer that could change how you stay connected on a cruise vacation.

International Day Pass from AT&T

AT&T rolled out a brand new option to cover cruise ships on March 16, with its International Day Pass that covers up to 400 ships, in addition to the 210+ land destinations and select airlines it already covers.

If you try to use your phone at sea, it will cost you $20 per device for 24 hours.

If you happen to be using it on land and on your ship on the same day, then it's $20 per device for 24 hours.

There is no additional line discount, all lines are charged $20/day.

This allows you to use your phone like you would at home.

You can sign up before you leave for this day pass, or if you try to use your phone on the ship, you'll automatically get it added once you try to use your phone at sea.

Cruise Daily Pass from Verizon

Verizon has a $20 per day offer as well, known as Cruise Daily Pass.

It offers unlimited data, talk and text.  The data component is 0.5GB of high speed data, and then unlimited data at 3G speeds for the remainder of the session.

If you disembark the ship during a Cruise Daily Pass session, you’ll pay applicable rates for the country you’re visiting.

Text “CRUISE” to 4004 before or at the start of your cruise to add a daily pass to your line. 

Making it easier to stay connected

Whether someone accidentally leaves their phone on during their cruise or purposefully wants to be able to use their phone on a cruise like they would at home, there are a lot of people on any cruise that would want phone coverage on a cruise ship.

Phone and texting at sea has largely been available for years, albeit at a higher cost.

WiFi calling has made it much cheaper and easier to use, but getting WiFi calling set up is cumbersome for those unfamiliar with the deep settings on their phone.

If you want to briefly use your phone for a few emails, calls or texts, buying a ship WiFi package is overkill and costly.

The flexible alternative: Royal Caribbean's Voom

In lieu of a wireless carrier's plan, you could get an internet package on your Royal Caribbean ship and use that on your phone.

Thanks to WiFi calling features, you will still be able to call or text during your cruise. In my experience, some automated text messages sometimes don't come through when using WiFi calling, but it generally works just fine.

The real advantage of Royal Caribbean's internet packages are the data speeds.

Because Royal Caribbean uses Starlink internet, the data speeds can be just as fast as being at home. It's unlimited data during your cruise, and you can use the internet interchangeably between devices and share access, which is something a wireless day pass won't offer.

I cannot comment on the speeds offered by either AT&T or Verizon, but Voom speeds are quite fast because of the Starlink technology.

The top two reasons people book a Royal Caribbean cruise are the food and destinations, and I can see why the food is such a draw.

I've been cruising on Royal Caribbean for two decades and I've been on almost 100 sailings so far, which means I've sampled quite a lot of food along the way.

If you think cruise food is limited to buffet trays of mediocre food, you'd be so wrong. Royal Caribbean has been upping its food game for years, even focusing massive effort to upgrade its complimentary pizza.

I've always thought Royal Caribbean's food ranges between "good" and "very good", with a few dishes truly standing out as excellent. I wanted to highlight those terrific dishes so you don't miss out on them.

I came up with 7 foods I've eaten on Royal Caribbean I think everyone should order, including one from its private island in The Bahamas.

Gyros at AquaDome Market

I came up with this list as I cruised on Icon of the Seas and went back to the AquaDome for my upteenth Mediterranean sandwich.

The AquaDome Market is a new food hall concept, and it's been a home run since the new ship launched last year.

I bet a lot of people would point to the crepes as a must-order, but I love the falafel even more.

Available at the Feta stand, it's complimentary and you can customize it anyway you like it.

It's probably easier to eat as a bowl than a sandwich because Royal Caribbean's pita bread is more like a base than a pocket. But I still order the sandwich because I like the texture of the bread brings.

It's light, made fresh on the spot, and doesn't make me feel guilty about eating it.

Beef tenderloin at 150 Central Park

Ever since I tried 150 Central Park many years ago, I've been drawn to its beef tenderloin entree.

150 Central Park is a modern American restaurant that's available only on the Oasis Class ships in the fleet. You'll find a lobster dish, steak, chicken, fish, and more. It has a cover charge to dine here.

I think it's a very strong menu overall, but the must-try option here is the beef tenderloin for two people.

You can order it for yourself, or even cut down the portion for a single person. There's no judgement when you order it from the waiter.

I prefer the steak at 150 Central Park over other restaurants that have a filet mignon, such as Chops Grille or Giovanni's.  I think its flavor stands out just a bit more.

French onion soup from Main Dining Room

I'm going on a limb to say the French onion soup served multiple times a cruise in any Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room is the best version of the soup I've ever had.

There's something about Royal Caribbean's version and their ratio of bread, to cheese, to onions.  Plus, I think their broth is the right amount of salt and flavor to it.

You can also get the same soup at Coastal Kitchen, and I've been known to go up to Coastal Kitchen to get a to-go soup before they close up for the night.

It's the very definition of a comfort food and it always satisfies. I could eat just the broth everyday, it's that good.

Seven cheese pizza from Giovanni's

I can't name seven cheeses, but Royal Caribbean put them in its pizza at its signature Italian specialty restaurant and it's so good.

I shouldn't be surprised how good it is, given the pizza is the creation of the amazing pizza chef Renato Viola. I was hooked the first time I tried it on Odyssey of the Seas, and it's been a must-order ever since.

All Royal Caribbean ships have pizza at Sorrento's or Park Cafe, but the quality of the pizza at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is about five levels ahead of that.

It has a thin crust, light sauce, and the perfect amount of cheese. The slices are so thin, it's easy to eat half the pizza by yourself.

When Royal Caribbean was working on crafting the menu for this restaurant, they spent weeks agonizing over the menu.  As an example, they tried to pick out the perfect San Marzano sauce.  The sauce has no added sugar, and relies on a simple recipe of San Marzano tomatoes, water and herbs.

There are a few other pizzas on the menu as well, and each has its place. I've tried almost all of them at this point, but the seven cheese pizza stands out as my favorite.

Miso broiled cod from Izumi Omakase

Available exclusively on Utopia of the Seas, there's a chef driven Japanese meal you can try and it goes well beyond sushi.

The miso broiled cod was my favorite of the eight courses we were served, and that surprised me given how much I love sushi.

In the roku course is when you get a petite serving of this fish, and it blew me away with how flavorful it was.

This was an extremely tender piece of fish that had a miso glaze on it, and it was my favorite flavor of the evening.

It was the kind of food that I wanted the recipe for so I could make it at home because I didn't want to go months before having it again.

While I also really liked the wagyu beef and the sakura carpaccio, none were as impressive as the cod.

Fried cheesecake from 150 Central Park

I'm going back to 150 Central Park for dessert, because they might have the best dessert on any Royal Caribbean restaurant.

The fried cheesecake is exactly what it sounds like, a piece of cheesecake fried and served to you. You'll get two of these fried balls served to you, but you won't want to share it.

Each one is a rich, creamy cheesecake covered with a crunchy, powdered sugar-coated shell and doused with fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce.

There's an argument that anything fried is going to taste pretty good, I think these are next level tasty.

Mozzarella sticks from the Snack Shack

If your ship makes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, you need to make a trip to the Snack Shack to try the mozzarella sticks.

Similar to other items on the list, the recipe for this specific version of the food truly stands out.  Royal Caribbean serves mozzarella sticks on its ships, but they don't compare to the CocoCay one at all.

I think it's the breading that makes them so very good. And then when you dip them in the marinara sauce, it always delivers on being the ultimate comfort food.

There's no shortage of beach shore excursions on a Caribbean cruise, but an opportunity to spend it a beachside villa sounded remarkably fun.

While sailing on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, our ship spent the day in Roatan, Honduras. 

Through the cruise line, there are a variety of tours that will take you to Turquoise Bay Dive & Beach Resort.  It is rated 4.6 stars on Google, and is situated along a white sand stretch of sand.  Looked to me like a great option for a beach day.

Truly the thing that sold me on this tour was the fact we'd get our own villa. I've done beach cabanas, but never a true villa and it sounded like a fun way to spend the day.  I value having space, shade, and good service to go with it.

The cost was $1,258.99 and it includes up to six people.  The cost is fixed, so it doesn't matter how many people you have with you. That cost also includes food, drink, and transportation.

My concern about this tour was like any cruise line beach excursion that we'd go to an oversold and super busy beach that didn't deliver on the relaxing vibe advertised.

Royal Caribbean provided roundtrip transportation, taking us to the beach. It's about a 40 minute ride, but the large van we were in was very well air conditioned.

Upon arrival, we were escorted to our villa at the far end of the beach.

Turquoise Bay has many of these villas, which are set back from the ocean and face the water.  It provides the right mix of views and privacy.

There are also over the water bungalows, beach beds, and a few other upgraded options you could book.  Ultimately I chose the villa because it seemed like there was the most space.

Each villa has sliding doors (both screen and glass) that lead into the main room. 

There's two couches, a television, mini-fridge, and even your own private bathroom. There's no air conditioning, but it does have a ceiling fan.

Outside the villa is a dining table and chairs.  There's also a few beach loungers in front of the villa.

There's a dedicated server that will get you food and drink delivered to your villa.

I thought the drink menu was varied enough to suit most needs. It covers the basics you need for day drinking at the beach, along with plenty of non-alcoholic beverages too.

The lunch menu is small, but it has lobster, steak, and shrimp.  

I wish it had a bit more variety of food, especially more non-shellfish choices.  But we found enough to be able to eat, and my kids are pretty darn picky.

Our server was attentive and brought us a fruit platter upon arrival, and kept checking on us.  She even had churros for dessert brought as a surprise.

The great thing about this room was how much space there was, along with privacy.  You could really seclude yourself from the rest of the beach crowd.

The walk to the ocean was a mere few steps, making it easy to get back and forth.

As for the beach itself, it was a beautiful set up and any concerns I had of it being crowded was quickly forgotten.

The beach is quite large, and they spread people around quite nicely.  We had just a few people in the ocean near us, so there was no issue with overcrowding.

I was equally satisfied with the level of service. I never felt like I "lost" my server, and they checked in quite regularly.

Of course, this was not a cheap shore excursion.  Paying $1200 for a villa rental is not inexpensive, but I really felt like it was worth the cost given the quality of the space, and service provided.

The reason to book this villa is if you have a group and want premium seating with lots of privacy and service to go with it.

Without a doubt you can have a great time at Turquoise Bay with just beach chairs and beer in hand, but everyone has different tastes.

Given the villa has sliding glass doors and is totally enclosed, I wish they'd add air conditioning to the units. I think that would really elevate the experience and justify the cost even more.

Anyone looking for a beautiful beach to enjoy in Roatan will enjoy Turquoise Bay, and if you want a VIP type day, the premium villa is a great choice.

Royal Caribbean is making so much good progress on its next new cruise ship, that it's once again bumping up the first sailing.

Star of the Seas will debut in August 2025, but will now have her first sailing August 20.

"We have an updated timeline for the arrival of Star of the Seas at Port Canaveral," Royal Caribbean said in an email to guests booked on the first sailings. "Building such a large and incredible ship is no easy feat, but lucky for us, there are times when we get to embark on our new ship ahead of schedule, and that time is now!"

The plan was for Star of the Seas to debut with a pair of 4-night "showcase cruises" before the official maiden 7-night cruise on August 31, 2025.

Those 4-night cruises will still take place, along with an extra showcase 3-Night Perfect Day Cruise on August 20, 2025.

According to Royal Caribbean, the three showcase sailings will take place before the August 31 sailing.

It's been an interesting game of changing first sailings for Star, which pushed back its inaugural voyage in February 2024, but has since moved up the first sailing two times now.

The initial Star of the Seas inaugural was scheduled for August 17th, 2025, and with this new sailing being added, the ship is even closer to getting back to that original timeline.

Anyone that was booked on the showcase sailings received an email on Tuesday to inform them of the new sailing, and to get first dibs on booking rooms on the new cruises.

Choice to change

If you're booked on either of the 4-night showcase sailings, Royal Caribbean is giving you the choice of staying on them, moving to the new 3-night sailing, or going on all of them.,

As you may have booked your Star of the Seas sailing to be first onboard and may have moved to one of our other two showcase sailing options or both, you’ll now have the opportunity to book the new showcase sailing OR to move your existing booking(s) to the first 3-Night Perfect Day Cruise as of today!

You could also do nothing and remain on either August 23rd or August 27th sailing.

If you want to move up your sailing, Royal Caribbean will make it as easy as possible.

Suite guests will have their same suites held for them as a courtesy, first come, first served. Guests in the Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony staterooms will have like-for-like staterooms available to choose from.

Royal Caribbean will transfer your current booking to the new sail date you choose, in the exact same suite or like-for-like stateroom currently booked – at the current prevailing rate.

The cruise fare rate will be adjusted to the current prevailing rate, and if there’s an overpayment on the booking, you’ll be refunded for the difference.

You can expect to receive any refunds, current taxes, fees, and any pre-paid gratuities, tours, and amenities to your original form of payment within 14 business days, though some banking institutions may take longer.

You have until next week to decide

If you want to move reservations, you need to act quickly.

Royal Caribbean is giving everyone about a week and a half to contact the line to make the change. Change requests must be made no later than March 25, 2025.

If you do not make a change by March 25, 2025, anyone booked on the showcase sailings will remain booked on that sailing, and you can still choose to add the new 3-night Star of Seas showcase sailings based on availability.

A brand new Icon Class ship coming this summer

The second in the Icon Class, Star of the Seas is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and has high expectations to follow-up on the success of Icon of the Seas.

Star will share similar dimensions with Icon of the Seas, coming in at approximately 250,800 gross tons. It is expected to accommodate around 5,610 passengers at double occupancy and up to 7,600 at maximum capacity. When factoring in crew members, the total number of people onboard could reach an impressive 10,000.

Once the showcase sailings are complete. the new ship will offer 7-night Caribbean cruises from its homeport in Port Canaveral. Its strategic placement directly competes with the mega theme park market in nearby Orlando, positioning itself as a top-tier vacation alternative.

Designed as a floating family resort, the ship aims to rival—if not surpass—the experience of a theme park vacation. "Icon will be the best family vacation in the world," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer.

The ship will feature an entire area dedicated to families, a massive water park, thrilling attractions, multiple live shows, and more pools than any previous ship. With an abundance of entertainment and experiences, it's shaping up to redefine family cruising.

Royal Caribbean added many new things it's never had on its cruise ships, including a dueling piano bar.

I'm someone that is very loyal to its English pub because I prefer bar songs that are typical of the '80s and '90s, but it's not exactly a place I can enjoy with my kids.

Children are allowed in any Royal Caribbean bar, but my kids simply don't care for this sort of music.  Plus, depending on the guitarist, it can be very un-interactive.

With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean added a brand new concept that they never had on a ship before with Dueling Pianos.

It's located on the Royal Promenade, and I wanted to give it a few tries to see what it's all about.

How dueling pianos work

The idea is pretty easy to figure out. There are two pianists performing, and each plays off each other.

Unlike the Schooner Bar or pub where you yell out requests, guests fill out small slips of paper with their song request.

The song request has your name, song you're requesting, and any special occasion.

It's a way to let them know any significance of a song or why you're requesting it. It feeds into the schtick of the show.

It's a very interactive show, the each pianist taking turns playing to the bar.  Each side of the bar is divided up into one section for each player, and it's a bit of competition.

Another major difference from other cruise bars is the fact guests get called up a lot.

Someone might be needed to explain a dance, start a conga line, or perform a function like yelling out unofficial lyrics to a song.

Introverts might not love hearing this, but if you sit far enough back, the chances being picked on are quite slim.

Tipping gets your song heard first

Depending on your perspective, the role tips play is either a great idea or not.

The pianists give preference to anyone that tips with their song request. The more you tip, the better chance your song gets played.

Most tips are about $5-10 per request.  If you move up to $20 or more, you're going to get their attention real fast.

A $50 or $100 tip is essentially like a turbo option, where you could literally stop them mid-song with a request. 

The benefit of this system is if you have money to throw around, you can quickly get your songs played. But of course, the "pay to play" system puts other requests towards the back of the queue.

To be fair, the pianists do a great job of balancing paid and free requests. They're not only talented players, but they can read the room quite well.

I love how interactive the shows become

One thing that drew me back to Dueling Pianos was how fun the pianists made the whole show.

On our cruise, we had Sarah Angel and Roel, and they had a great relationship trying to one up each other.

Being a family cruise line, they also welcomed the kids into it all too.

Unofficially, they keep it PG-13 until 11pm.  The jokes are tamer and the music more varied.

After 11, they turn it more adult-focused with "dirty" drink cheersing and songs that might involve profanity.

Like any bar, it's going to be more adult focused than not, but I do appreciate it's inviting to all passengers.

It's really hard to get a seat most shows

If there's proof how popular Dueling Pianos is, it's in the fact seats go very, very quickly.

If you don't show up to the bar at least 30 minutes before the performance begins, you probably aren't getting a seat.

On this cruise, I knew to show up early, but this isn't the bar to walk by and stop in for a couple songs.  

Unlike the pub or Schooner Bar, not only does it make sense to plan around the show times, but it helps to be there at the start of the performance so you get in on the schtick and jokes.

Each show is unique, and the pianists play off the audience's energy.

I've added Dueling Pianos to my must-do list

If I'm sailing on Icon of the Seas (or the upcoming Star of the Seas), there's a good chance I'll be at Dueling Pianos in the evening.

While I still prefer the pub as my go-to spot, Dueling Pianos is a fun experience for groups. I'd love to go here with friends and grab a table for us all to enjoy the show.

There's a good mix of energy, talent, and showmanship that goes into this concept, and I'm glad Royal Caribbean has added it to the mix.

It's going to be easier to skip the crowds with a new shore excursion option from Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean is now offering skip-the-line shore excursions with its Royal Signature Excursion options.

In addition to traditional shore excursions, there are a handful of shore excursions in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe that come with additional amenities.

These tours could include small group sizes, premium transportation, or elevated food options.

The idea is to not only offer great tours, but add a premium level to them for those that value paying more to enjoy a first class experience.

"From dipping their toes into cliffside hot springs in Santorini to sipping crisp champagne as their catamaran glides through crystal clear Caribbean waters — this is where unforgettable begins," is how Royal Caribbean describes the new offering.

Sights and benefits

In any cruise port a ship visits, there's always a bit of shopping guests do between cruise line excursions and things they can do on their own.

Royal Signature Excursions are a new batch of premium choices that cover three key areas: cultural sights, authentic experiences, and all-star benefits.

These tours seek to immerse you in local culture and are work with third-party operators who know the places, the people, the language and the culture.

The way they intend to make it stand out even more is to offer elite touches such as premium transportation, skip-the-line privileges, insightful local guides, intimate small group sizes, gracious service and more.

You can book these elevated tours now

Here's a list of all the Royal Signature Excursions to try:

Caribbean

• PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN
  • Orient Beach, Prosecco & Gourmet Lunch
  • Small Group Brewery & Distillery Tasting Tour with Bites
  • St. Maarten Small Group Island Exploration with Lunch
  • Small Group Open Bar Carnival Immersion & Plane Spotting
  • Small Group Johnny Cake Baking Experience & Guavaberry Sips
  • Anguilla and Meads Bay Beach Day: Bubbly & Lunch
  • Catamaran Sail with Champagne Plus Beach Break & Lunch
  • Small Group America’s Cup Sailing Regatta
  • Small Group Foodie Tour: Flavors of St. Maarten
• BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS & NEVIS
  • Taste of St. Kitts: Wine Sampling, Local Treats & Beach
  • St. Kitts: Power Catamaran, Snorkeling & Unlimited Drinks
  • Ultimate Twin Island Catamaran Sail & Sip with Lunch (Nevis & St. Kitts)
• CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS
  • St. John Beach Escape: Trunk Bay with Snorkeling
  • Ultimate St. John: Kayak & Snorkel
  • St. John by Sea: Catamaran, Champagne & Snorkel
  • Cas Cay Small Group Adventure: Kayak, Hike & Snorkel
  • Flavors of St. Thomas: Small Group Tasting Tour

Alaska

• JUNEAU, ALASKA
  • Small Group Taku Glacier Lodge by Seaplane & 5 Glaciers with Lunch
  • Small Group Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Ride & Dog Sledding
  • Small Group Helicopter Tour to Juneau Icefield
  • Small Group Kayaking Tour & Alaska Wildlife Whale Watching
  • Small Group Tour of Norris Glacier by Floatplane, Paddle & Hike
  • Small Group Whale Watching on Luxury Yacht
  • Taste of Alaska: Orca Point Lodge, Wildlife Quest & Meal
• ICY STRAIT POINT, ALASKA
  • Epic Whale Watching & Seafood Sampling
  • Ultimate Adventure: Small Group Whale Watching & ZipRider
• SITKA, ALASKA
  • Wildlife & Otter Spotting with Alaskan Canapés
  • Wildlife Expedition Cruise, Homestead Adventure & Treats

Europe

• FLORENCE/PISA (LA SPEZIA), ITALY
  • Truffle Hunting and Tuscan Farmhouse Lunch
  • Architectural Wonder: Pisa Guided Tour & Leaning Tower Climb
  • 3 Town Tour: Paradise Gulf by Land & Sea with Lunch
  • History of Florence: Accademia Gallery, Piazza del Duomo & Lunch
  • Explore Cinque Terre: Three Villages & Italian Lunch
  • Cinque Terre Vineyard: Wine Tasting & Scenic Coastline Drive
  • Small Group Adventure: Cinque Terre Villages & Motorboat Tour with Lunch
  • Gulf of La Spezia by Land & Sea: Portovenere and Lerici Small Group
• NAPLES, ITALY
  • Small Group Pasta Making: Sorrento & Gragnano with Lunch
  • Small Group Day Trip to Pompeii, Positano & Sorrento with Lunch
• ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY
  • Rome by Tuk Tuk: Small Group Sightseeing Tour
• MYKONOS, GREECE
  • Farmhouse Wine Tasting & Mykonos Walking Tour
  • Day in Delos: Small Group Tour & Mosaic Workshop with Lunch
  • Small Group Mosaic-Making: Expert Handcrafting Workshop
  • Small Group: Luxe Catamaran Day Trip, Greek Lunch & Aegean Swim
• SANTORINI, GREECE
  • Santorini Catamaran & Swim: Small Group Tour & Lunch
  • Santorini Catamaran & Swim: Red Beach and Hot Springs with Lunch
  • Santorini Small Group Kayaking & Seaside Picnic
  • Thirassia Winery Tasting & Blue-Domed Santorini
  • Unforgettable Wine Tour: Stunning Santorini Views, Tasting & Fira
  • Chill & Savor: Perivolos Beach & Gourmet Lunch

How much do these tours cost?

If all of this sounds wonderful, you can expect premium pricing to go with it.

An upcoming sailing on Oasis of the Seas that visits St. Maarten in October had these prices.  This is to give you an example of ballpark prices:

• Small Group Foodie Tour: Flavors of St. Maarten: $148 (originally $199) per guest
• Small Group America's Cup Sailing Regatta: $103.99 (originally $139) per guest
• Catamaran Sail With Champagne plus Beach Break & Lunch: $125.99 (originally $169) per guest
• Anguilla and Meads Bay Beach Day: Bubbly & Lunch: $433.99 (originally $579) per guest
• St. Maarten Small Group Island Exploration with Lunch: $193.99 (originally $259) per guest
• Small Group Brewery & Distillery Tasting Tour with Bites: $148.99 (originally $199) per guest
• Small Group Open Bar Carnival Immersion & Plane Spotting: $73.99 (originally $99) per guest
• Small Group Johnny Cake Baking Experience & Guavaberry Sips: $95.99 (originally $129) per guest

The discounted prices is a reflection of a pre-cruise sale available at the time of this article's publishing.  It's likely the original price is the onboard price you could expect.

The tours do not list exactly how many people constitute a small group.

How to book a Royal Signature Excursion

You can book any of these tours from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner website or the Royal Caribbean app.

There's no difference in booking these tours compared to any other one, with the added filter you can use to find them.

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

After nearly failing a health inspection, Royal Caribbean made a lot of changes on one of its ships.

Symphony of the Seas scored one point above "unsatisfactory" in a recent CDC inspection, which has raised a few eyebrows.

As a result, sweeping changes were made to address the problems.

Royal Caribbean News

• Alaska Senator pushing to suspend law requiring cruise ships visit Canada
• Royal Caribbean is bringing back a luggage perk its customers loved
• 7 changes to make how you cruise once you hit Diamond status
• 8 tips I swear by to make crowded sea days better
• 5 things you're missing from Royal Caribbean's suite lounge
• How different cabins on Utopia of the Seas compare
• The rules for adding people to your Royal Caribbean cruise
• Try these 9 tricks for better sleep on a cruise ship

New RCB Video: 3 Cruise Excursions to NEVER Book & 3 to BOOK!

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 — 3 Cruise Excursions to NEVER Book & 3 to BOOK! — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

I tried the adults-only beach at CocoCay, but it wasn't worth the cost

Allie bought passes to Hideaway Beach, paying $86.50 each her and her husband to try it out.

While the area was uncrowded, she thought the price was too high for what she was charged.

If timed during a good sale, it could be a great value.  But she thinks it cost her too much.

New ban in Caribbean port is surprising a lot of cruise passengers

Roatan made a new rule the prohibits a popular shore excursion activity.

New regulations have been added to cut down on the “over manipulation of wildlife," including, "carrying and holding animals for exhibition and taking photographs."

This has an impact on shore excursions where guests can interact with monkeys, sloths, and other animals.

The entree worth ordering, according to Reddit

There's all sorts of great food on any Royal Caribbean ship, but the internet thinks one particular dish is the best choice.

Indian food is available at both the Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet everyday, and it's the top recommendation among various Reddit threads about which foods are best to order.

"The Indian food on the ship was their best food they had!"

Royal Caribbean tries to fix port problem with free bus offer

Traffic has become a real problem in Miami at its cruise terminals, so Royal Caribbean is trying to fix it.

Passengers on upcoming cruises are getting offers from the cruise line for a free bus ride to the airport, even if they already paid for one.

Heavier traffic around the cruise terminal is prompting Royal Caribbean to offer this in an effort to reduce congestion.

Getting to Diamond level in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program literally changed how I enjoy my cruises.

I think Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society is the best cruise line loyalty program in the industry because of how lucrative it is, especially at the upper tiers.

I made it to Diamond status many years ago, and have since reached Pinnacle Club. The higher the tier, the better the benefits and it's encouraged me to cruise even more.

You don't need to get to Pinnacle to enjoy the best benefits, because Diamond level is the sweet spot for the perks available to guests.

Diamond level requires 80 points, which is about 12 weeklong cruises in a standard cabin. You could get to Diamond faster if you book a suite or cruise solo.

Once you get there, here's what I'd change about cruising to maximize the benefits.

You can possibly skip the drink package

It's incredible that Royal Caribbean gives all of its Diamond members four free drink vouchers per day to use on pretty much any drink.

For a lot of people, this is just enough beverages to warrant not buying a costly drink package.

If you're a casual drinker, or someone that doesn't buy that many alcoholic beverages, relying on your Diamond drinks could be a much better value.

Kids get them too, and it's the reason I've never bought my kids a drink package ever.

While I get six free drinks for being a Pinnacle Club member, I do occasionally still buy the drink package when I can take advantage of a good sale.

Ironically, your Diamond status can actually get you some of the lowest prices on a drink package with some of the recent sales I've seen offered before the cruise begins.

Nonetheless, the Diamond vouchers have saved me a lot of money over the years, and it's easily the top benefit.

Take a free photo souvenir every cruise

Souvenir photos are a great way to capture a memory from a particular trip, and I like getting at least one to have for home.

Because we cruise a lot, we don't take that many onboard photos, but it's still nice to get them on formal night or when there's a good backdrop available.

This is especially important with our kids, as cruises have become milestones in them growing up. Each cruise is kind of like a way to remember a special age or occasion.

Plus, your spouse or partner gets one too, so effectively we get two photos per cruise to take for free.

Strategically use free internet day

Diamond members get one free 24 hour pass of internet access, so you can use that to your advantage.

Never use it on the first day, because by the time your ship leaves port, you still have cellular coverage for most of the day.

Ideally, try to stagger your free day so it's used on a day when you can get the most use of it.  Sea days seem to be the best idea, because I'd hate to be off the ship on a shore excursion when I have internet access.

Just like the photos, your spouse gets a free day too.  Same for kids.  So spreading it out and sharing the login is a good strategy.

Gamble away free money

Whether you're a gambler or not, everyone likes free money.

Diamond members get a few extra dollars to gamble with their freeplay onboard.

Everyone gets a few dollars of free play to use in Royal Caribbean's casino on the first two nights of the cruise. It's enough for just a few spins on a slot machine, but it's true when they say, "you can't win if you don't play".

You never know - you could turn that $6 into hundreds!

Hang out more in the Crown Lounge

Every Royal Caribbean ship has dedicated space just for you, and I'd start going there instead of public lounges.

The Crown Lounge is open to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members. It's open 24 hours a day, with snacks and drink service during certain times.

Most of the day, it's quite empty and it's the perfect place to read, play cards, socialize with friends, or meet cruisers.

There's also a complimentary coffee machine in here that you can use 24 hours a day, and it's a good way to save your Diamond drink vouchers for something else instead of coffee.

Plan cruises around blocks

Some Diamond cruisers will plan out their future sailings in order to time it with a crystal block giveaway.

Once you reach 140 points, you will receive a beautiful crystal block that has the name and photo of your ship.  You will then receive one every 70 points thereafter. 

They are lovely keepsakes, and I use them around the house as bookends, paperweights, and conversation pieces.

It's a good idea to think about your bookings and "do the math" as to when you'll reach every 70 point tier in order to avoid getting the same ship again.

You can now start to cruise with Celebrity

Ironically, reaching Diamond is the perfect time to start cruising with another cruise line.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are sister brands, and thanks to loyalty status matching, this is the right time to dip your toe into this line.

I think Diamond status coincides well with the equivalent status in Captain's Club, and it's a good opportunity to give Celebrity a try.

I've done a few cruises on Celebrity so far, and it's opened up different options and ways to sail.  While I prefer Royal Caribbean, I can appreciate the things Celebrity does better.

Royal Caribbean's suite lounge is a reserved area of the ship exclusively for passengers that booked a suite, and it's one of the best perks you get with your stateroom.

I love to spend time in the suite lounge to take advantage of the comfortable seating, snacks throughout the day, and complimentary drinks each day.

Access to the suite lounge is only for those that booked a Grand Suite or higher cabin, as well as Pinnacle Club members on sailings where there are not too many Pinnacle members.

With so much happening on your Royal Caribbean ship, it's easy to overlook the suite lounge, especially given it's usually located away from many of the activities and things happening around the ship.

If you happen to be in a suite that has access to the suite lounge, there are five good reasons to stop in each day.

There are three servings of snacks per day

You won't run out of food on a cruise ship, and there's even more waiting for you in the lounge.

Each day there's an assortment of quick bits offered during select hours.  Essentially, there's a breakfast, lunch, and dinner offering.

You won't get a meal, but it's usually something quick and easy for something to tide you over.  It's great for when you get back on the ship or are about to leave and need something quick.

I think the evening hor d'oeuvres are the best option, with various hot items along with fruits, salad, and desserts.

In the morning, there's a few pastries to choose from.  If your cabin is nearby, it might be easier to pop in for something here than going down to Cafe Promenade.

The coffee machine

Speaking of food, I love the complimentary coffee machine they have in the suite lounge.

Each suite lounge has a self-service coffee and espresso maker that you can use 24 hours per day.

Just like the snacks, it's so convenient to have this. Plus, it might save you money as you won't have to pay for an espresso at one of the coffee shops around the ship.

And because it's available 24 hours, you're never too early or too late to get a cup.

The suite concierge offers personalized assistance

Probably my favorite benefit of the suite lounge is the suite concierge, and so few people take advantage of what they offer.

Think of the concierge like your own version of Guest Services, but without the long lines.

Even before your cruise begins, the concierge will email you to welcome you onboard and you can send them any pre-cruise requests you might have.  Dining reservations, cabana location requests, or bedding changes are all things they can assist with.

If you're trying to get into something sold out, they can be a great resource in assisting as well.

I recommend going to the suite lounge on the first day and introducing yourself to them so you can put a face to the name and let them know of any requests you have.

Even if you have nothing special to ask for, they're a friendly face and I've had really interesting conversations about the ship, ports, and fun stories.

During your cruise if you run into any issue, including billing problems, the concierge can help fix all of it for you.

The suite lounge has a full-service bar

Perhaps the top value you can get from booking a suite are the free drinks in the lounge each night.

Depending on the ship you're sailing on, there are select hours when you can order complimentary sodas, beers, wine, and alcoholic cocktails.

The Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships have beer and wine from 11am to 11pm, and then a full bar happy hour in the evening. Other ships just have a happy hour between 5-8pm (or around those times).

Given that the drinks in the lounge are complimentary and there's no limit, for a lot of people it can work in lieu of a drink package purchase.

Some suite lounges have an actual bar, while all of them have waiter service too.

A beautiful view

Even when there's no food or drinks to enjoy, I love going up to the suite lounge for the views.

Because chairs with a view can get quite crowded (especially around the pool), it's nice to grab a book, iPhone, or magazine and head up to the suite lounge to take in the views around you.

Every lounge has large windows, and you can pull the comfortable chairs right up to them and enjoy a great view with plenty of air conditioning.