No matter which Royal Caribbean cruise ship you sail on, there's going to be a few thousands other passengers onboard with you, but that doesn't mean the ship will be crowded all the time and everywhere.

In some cases, a crowd is a good thing. It's nice to have the energy of a crowd for a theater performance, during a sing-a-long in a bar, or as part of the sail away party.

Royal Caribbean designs its ships to distribute guests around so crowding doesn't become problematic.  This is through a combination of placing venues at different ends and decks of the ship, as well as scheduling competing events at the same time.  

While these methods help reduce crowding, it's not going to feel like a private yacht or anything quite that empty.  That's to be expected to some degree on a mass market cruise line, but there's still a few ways to keep crowds to a minimum.

Depending on your cruising style, budget, and energy to seek out alternatives, you can enjoy a Royal Caribbean cruise without nearly as many crowds.

If your goal is to find ways to minimize crowds on your cruise, here are some strategies to side-step the crowds while enjoying your cruise.

Book a suite

If you want to throw money at the problem, staying in a Royal Caribbean suite gives you certain privileges that can assist with avoiding crowds.

Your suite cabin is going to be substantially larger than a standard balcony room, and that gives you private space to enjoy every day. This is especially nice with your suite balcony, which is quite a bit larger than a regular balcony.

Another way staying in a suite can give you an uncrowded experience is access to suite-only areas, such as the suite lounge and suite sun deck.

The suite sun deck is a popular option, because it allows you to enjoy the bright sunny days at sea without having to compete as much for a lounger.

Having your own bar and lounge in the suite lounge really makes a difference too, especially since drinks are complimentary here in the evening.

Looking ahead to Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has dedicated the most space ever for suite guests in an entire neighborhood.

Icon’s expanded Suite neighborhood will include a new Mediterranean restaurant in The Grove, a multideck outdoor area with a pool and hot tub, reserved for suite guests.

Of course, staying in a suite isn't a cheap option, and it may be out of the question for most people's budgets.  But if you can afford one, staying in a suite is one easy way to avoid crowds.

Seek chairs away from the pool

If you want to enjoy time outdoors in a chair or lounger, there are usually lots of seating choices if you don't mind being away from the pool.

While the pool is a focal point for sea day activities, you'll find lots of seating choices on the outer decks if you venture further aft or forward from the middle of the deck.

What I love about getting a lounger away from the pool is it's quieter and a better chance of getting a lounge chair in the shade.

There are also chairs on the promenade deck that wraps around the outside of the ship on deck 4 or 5 (depending on the Royal Caribbean ship class).

Go indoors on sea days

If you value a quiet day on a sea day, head indoors when everyone is outside at the pool.

During the day, the bars are open on sea days and you'd be surprised how uncrowded some of these venues can be in the morning and afternoon.

A bar indoors will be quieter and sparsely crowded because a lot of other guests want to be outdoors to enjoy the sun or activities. If your goal is to read a book, watch a movie, or chat, being in an indoor venue isn't a bad idea at all.

Plus, you'll still find activities held indoors to keep you busy.

Cruise in the shoulder season

While Royal Caribbean ships rarely sail less than full capacity, picking a cruise during the shoulder season can feel less crowded, especially in the ports of call you visit.

The term "shoulder season" refers to the beginning and end of a cruise season when demand is less. Some examples of shoulder season are:

• Alaska: May or September
• Europe: May or September
• Caribbean: January, September or October

These times of the year are when demand is less because of weather or school schedules, and the result is (generally) lower prices and less demand.

While I don't think your cruise ship will be half empty by any means, one advantage of shoulder season cruising is fewer ships in port. That makes shore excursion touring far less crowded, especially in cities or at popular beaches.

Avoid Windjammer on embarkation day

When you board a Royal Caribbean cruise, the first place you may run into a crowd is at the ship's Windjammer buffet restaurant.

A lot of people boarding want to grab lunch before enjoying their first afternoon onboard and that can result in a busy lunch crowd.

Instead, get something to eat at another venue.

Depending on your ship, there's usually a couple of alternatives you could choose from for an embarkation day lunch.

Park Cafe, El Loco Fresh, Cafe Promenade, or Sorrento's are all complimentary options you could enjoy a lunch at for no extra cost.

In addition, some specialty restaurants are open for lunch on the first day, such as Chop's Grille, Johnny Rockets, Playmaker's Sports Bar, or Giovanni's.

Check a past Cruise Compass to get a sense of restaurant choices and operating hours.

Book with a group and rent out a venue

If you're sailing with a group of friends, you might be able to rent out a venue onboard.

Assuming you all booked with the same travel agent, Royal Caribbean's group department provides certain services, such as the ability to rent out a venue.

You could rent out a bar, specialty restaurant, water slide, or lounge. Depending on the size of your group, this might be something the equity generated by the group could cover partially or entirely in cost.

You'll need to have a group set up with Royal Caribbean's Groups department, but with some advanced planning, this can be a really fun way to enjoy certain venues of a ship without anyone else!

Do activities during dinner time

Want to ride the water slides, climb the rocking wall, or try the Flowrider without any lines? Go during dinner time.

Royal Caribbean usually operates its signature activities into the late afternoon and early evening, and this is one of the best times to go without much of a wait because most other guests are either at dinner or preparing to go to dinner.

Once the clock hits 4pm or so, the pool and sports decks start to empty out considerably because everyone wants to go to dinner. 

In the summer, there's plenty of day light in the early evening, and it's a great time to enjoy these venues that are otherwise super popular other times of the day.

Book a private shore excursion

I mentioned how shoulder season cruising can ensure a less crowded port day, but if you can't do a shoulder season cruise, another good option to avoid crowds is to book a private tour.

No matter which port you visit, there are bound to be private shore excursions you can book through third party operators.

A private tour means it's just for you and your group, so you don't have to worry about a crowded bus or waiting around for a large group to move.

Plus, your private tour will be more nimble than a large group, and that can allow you to get to and from hot spots in port before the larger crowds descend.

A private tour will cost more than a group tour, but if you value avoiding the crowd, a private tour is the way to go.

Everyone likes easy ways to improve their cruise ship vacation, and Royal Caribbean just asked its fans for their best suggestions.

Royal Caribbean asked on its Facebook page for the best Royal Caribbean cruise tips, and it generated a lot of suggestions.

Whether it's your first cruise or you're a seasoned pro, tips and hacks that can help make the most of someone's cruise is always welcome. You never want to walk off of a ship and realize that you missed out on something. 

To kick off the discussion, Royal Caribbean shared one of our favorite tips: Johnny Rockets is open for breakfast on Oasis Class ships only and it's free! 

The post generated over 250 comments, and here's the best of the suggestions made by cruise fans.

1. Planning Ahead

The great thing about cruising is that you can get most, if not all, of your planning out of the way before ever stepping onboard. 

Robert Hildebrandt knows how to maximize time on your cruise vacation: planning ahead. By pre-booking as much as you can, including dining, excursions, drink packages, activities and more, you can board your cruise ready to enjoy the ship and just relax. 

2. To-Go Orders

Have you ever tried to book a specialty dining restaurant, but there weren’t any seatings available that fit your agenda?

Rebecca JoAnne has found a great hack to still be able to enjoy your favorite dishes, by ordering your food to go.

Utilizing this hack, she has enjoyed eating Izumi on her balcony several times. 

3. Avoid the crowds

There is nothing worse than having your plate full of food and searching for an empty table in the Windjammer during breakfast. So what do you do when you want to enjoy a buffet breakfast but without the crowds?

Brian Carty recommends heading to the Solarium Bistro if you’re sailing on Oasis and Quantum class ships.

Here they serve a smaller version of the Windjammer breakfast buffet, with a laid-back vibe.

4. Don’t fly the same day as your cruise departs

Now this may not be a secret, but not flying the same day of your cruise is one of the most important things you can do for any cruise.

Cassie Stapleton put it best, if you’re flying to your cruise, always plan to arrive the day before. You never know when a delay may happen, and you don’t want to miss your cruise because of one. 

5. Hold onto your belongings

When sailing through the ocean, you can expect to experience some wind. What many people don’t realize is how strong that wind can be, taking their towels and belonging off of their chairs.

Chelsea Rushton Fitchett advises future cruisers to bring towel clips or bands for those windy sea days so your towel stays put on your chair. 

6. Finding a quiet place

There is nothing better than experiencing the fresh air while sailing. However, it can be hard to find a peaceful place onboard to do so, with all of the different activities going on.

Johnna Stanton knows the perfect spot to go when onboard Freedom and Voyager class ships is the outside promenade deck to not only enjoy the view, but also get away from the noise on the other decks. 

7. First day lunch 

The Windjammer is known for being a hotspot on the first day for lunch. Majority of the cruisers will head straight there after boarding to get their first fix of food.

However Eric Lynn knows that when they bob, you weave - and suggests heading over to Park Cafe instead if sailing on an Oasis Class ship. Not only do they serve great lunch options in Central Park, it is also much less crowded than the Windjammer. 

8. Check-in

When it’s time to get on your cruise, you don’t want to have to wait any longer than you have to. With Royal Caribbean’s check-in process, you have to choose a check-in window for boarding.

Shelley Clifford suggests checking in as soon as it opens to ensure that you can get the earliest boarding time and start enjoying your vacation sooner. 

9. Keeping track of your SeaPass

When you’re onboard, your SeaPass card is your lifeline. You use it to get beverages, open your cabin, embark and disembark the ship, and more. This is one thing you do not want to lose.

Kassandra W. advises that cruisers get a lanyard and pouch prior to their cruise to hold their SeaPass card. She says not only will it help keep you from misplacing it, but it will handy when you need to use it.

10. Utilize all of your cabin space

We all know that cabin space is limited, and you don’t want to give up precious closet space to hold your suitcases.

Diana Baker let’s newer cruisers in on a hack: store your suitcase under your bed.

Not only does this keep it out of the way and free up cabin space, but you can also pull it out to use as a hamper for dirty clothes.

11. Keep the air conditioning running in your cabin

Some ships have a card slot to activate your ship cabin's air conditioning, but it doesn't need to use just your SeaPass card.

Tom Hinrichs suggested using any kind of gift card works in the slot to keep your room cooled while you're away.

12. Treat the crew members

Crew members are so helpful and important on a cruise, especially your cabin attendant.

Cathy Pye Barrett brings small gift bags on the ship and each day of her cruise, she drops a few goodies in one for her room attendant.

On the last day, she puts cash in one.

Michelle Taylor echoed Cathy's suggestion, "Tipping the hard working staff is important to us. A little bit goes a long way. It makes me appreciate others so much more."

13. Laundry bag

Dirty clothes pile up quickly on a cruise.

Sandy Volandt brings a laundry bag to place our dirty clothes in. This is similar to our cruise cabin hack of bringing a laundry hamper.

14. Pack a highlighter

A tried-and-true cruise tip is to bring a highlighter with you on your cruise.

Teresa Moretti suggested to bring a highlighter to mark all the things you can do in the Cruise Compass.

15. Take photos of crew member name tags

The post-cruise survey is so important for Royal Caribbean and the crew members. 

Among other things, the survey helps recognize crew members that stand out, but it's up to the guest to remember and note the guest's name.

Angie Coard takes a photo of name tags of the crew that she wants to acknowledge in the post-cruise survey, "It helps them out a lot when they are praised by the guests and they all work so hard!"

More cruise advice

• 2023 Royal Caribbean Cruise Planning Guide
• Picking a Cruise Line and Ship
• 25 best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets
• 5 Costly lessons learned on a cruise (and how to avoid them!)
• 15 really cool things to do that you can only find on Royal Caribbean cruise ships
• Top things to do after booking a Royal Caribbean cruise

Like all Oasis Class ships, Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas offers passengers seemingly endless activities to choose from.

As one of the largest cruise ships in the world, it is hard not to love everything Symphony of the Seas has to offer. 

You can spend your day relaxing by one of four pools, ice skating, eating at one of 20 dining venues, zip lining across the Boardwalk, or taking advantage of Royal Caribbean's top-tier entertainment options. 

With only so much time onboard, knowing the "hidden" features and amenities of a ship as large as Symphony of the Seas ahead of time will help you make the most of your vacation. Be sure to make a note of them all before you set sail!

The Big Wonder

Unique to Symphony of the Seas' Solarium is Big Wonder, a one-of-a-kind architecturally integrated installation that is comprised of thousands of dichroic acrylic elements. It spans an impressive 2,594 feet and arches over the Solarium Bar, making it a fun place to grab a drink. 

Big Wonder is the most beautiful at night when it is lit up with a combination of pink, blue, and green hues. 

There is plenty of comfortable seating located directly under the installation, making it a great place to grab a pre-dinner drink or meet up with friends throughout the day!

Piano staircase

If you are heading up to the Windjammer to grab a bite to eat, make sure that you get off on deck 15! You do not want to miss the piano staircase.

The piano staircase is located near the deck 15 aft elevator bank leading up to the Windjammer Marketplace on deck 16. 

The stairs plays musical tunes when stepped on, and guests will recognize popular classical melodies, like Beethoven's Bagatelle No. 25 ("Für Elise"), that are played by walking up and down them. It is entertaining for all ages! 

Deck 7 AquaTheatre viewing area 

If you were not able to score reservations for HiRO or would just like a more exclusive viewing area, walk back towards the AquaTheatre and head up the stairs to the rock climbing wall on deck 7. You can access these terraces via the interior hallways, too. 

While the above decks (8-14) are the coveted AquaTheatre suites, the outdoor area on deck 7 is open to everyone. The elevated perspective provides a unique view of the show! 

Even when there is not a show, it is a great place to soak in some ocean views that is less crowded than the pool deck or adults-only Solarium! 

Artwork 

The artwork onboard Symphony of the Seas is some of the most impressive onboard any Royal Caribbean ship; throughout the ship you can find over 13,300 contemporary works!

From Big Wonder in the Solarium to Paradox Void in the Royal Promenade, unique stairwell art, and the Main Dining Room's "painting" on deck 5, there is so much to see and appreciate onboard.

Plus, many of the pieces are interactive and more than just a painting or sculpture. On deck 6 near the Schooner Bar, for instance, there is the Sound Shell, an LED piece created by Daniel Canogar that activates unique soundscapes and soothing light therapy when someone steps in front of the shell.

When navigating the ship, pay extra attention to the art in each stairwell landing. You will find photography collections, paintings, collages, drawings, and more. 

Deep Divers

While you are moving about Symphony of the Seas, keep a lookout for the four whimsical diver sculptures, which make for a great photo opportunity! 

There is one driver located in Central Park who is peering through a glass arch down into the Royal Promenade below. The other three are scattered throughout the pool deck at the forward, midship, and aft of the vessel.

Hunting for the sculptures is a great way to explore two popular neighborhoods onboard the ship.

Running track alcoves

Even if you are not planning on walking or running on the jogging track on deck 5, you should still make your way out there at least once! 

There are two enclosed alcoves located off the running track towards the front of the ship. They are a great escape from the crowded pool deck and offer activities like shuffleboard and ping pong.

The ship may even schedule activities out there. The Hyperlink Program, for instance, has hosted a "Frat Table Games Tournament" at the ping pong tables. 

There is also comfortable seating available for those who want a quiet place to read a book, take a nap, or just enjoy the ocean views on a sea day!

Aft chairs on the running track

The impressive wake views are one of the best parts about sailing on an Oasis Class ship (or any ship for that matter). During the day, the top deck can be noisy with all the activities going on; it is not the ideal place to relax! Rather than trying to soak up wake views near the Ultimate Abyss and FlowRiders, you can do so from the rear of the running track on deck 5. 

There are a number of chairs and plush couches for those who either want to take a break from exercising or who purposely sought out this relatively quiet area. 

Hooked Seafood

Symphony of the Seas was the first ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet to receive Hooked Seafood. Today, it is only one of three ships to have the specialty restaurant onboard; the restaurant can also be found on Wonder of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas.

If you are a fan of fresh New England-style seafood, you will want to make sure that you get a reservation to dine at this specialty restaurant! They even serve oysters three different ways: Rockefeller style, with leeks and white wine, or with brie and champagne. ch.

Onboard pricing is $24.99 per adult for lunch and $54.99 per adult for dinner. Children cost $12.99 each. It is also included with any of the specialty dining packages.

Solarium bridge wings 

Like other Oasis Class ships, there are two bridge wings that extend over the edge of the ship located in the Symphony of the Seas' Solarium. The wings offer guests a more tranquil spot to watch sailaway or a jaw-dropping sunset at sea. 

To access the bridge wings, head to the very front of the Solarium. There will be one bridge wing on the port side of the ship, while the other is located on the starboard side. If you are wearing a dress or loose blouse, be prepared to hold it down; it can get pretty windy out there, especially during sea days!

Best spot to view "Flight: Dare to Dream"

Flight: Dare to Dream is a Royal Caribbean Productions original that focuses on chronicling humanity's fascination with flying. It is one of the most ambitious stage productions to date, as Clayton C. Anderson, an Astronaut who lived in space for 167 days and completed 38 hours and 28 minutes over six spacewalks in two missions, helped curate the musical's set design. 

Based on recommendations from the show's tech team, as well as personal experience, the best place to sit is in the sixth and seventh rows in the center of the theater. These rows provide the perfect vantage point for the show's impressive finale. 

Like all onboard shows, reservations tend to go fast. Be sure you snag one as soon as you are able to! 

Are you planning a cruise on Symphony of the Seas? Check out more of our best tips & tricks:

• Symphony of the Seas Guide & Review
• Do's & Don'ts of Symphony of the Seas
• 10 free activities on Symphony of the Seas
• 10 things Royal Caribbean got right with Symphony of the Seas

Most people take a cruise once a year at the most, but there are some people that cruise all the time, and they get to experience and see so much more of what cruising is all about.

Greg Brockman lives in Iowa, but manages to work in multiple cruises in a row to the point he will stay aboard a cruise ship for months at a time.

"Living in Iowa, it rarely makes sense to sail for just a week," he stated matter-of-factly as to why he will be on a ship for up to a month or longer.

How long does Greg actually cruise for?  He combines multiple cruises in a row, which is referred to by cruise fans as a "back-to-back" cruise because the voyages are consecutive.

He's done six back-to-back cruises on 3- and 4-night sailings of Freedom of the Seas, as well as four back-to-back sailings on 6- and 8-night voyages on Explorer of the Seas in 2022.  That represents 4 weeks of cruising at a time.

In fact, Greg racked up 192 nights on a cruise ship in 2022.

With that many cruises at once, Greg has a lot experience with not only what Royal Caribbean has to offer, but sees what his fellow passengers do. It gives him an unique perspective on do's and don'ts of cruises.

I wanted to know more about what it's like to sail that much at a time, and what tips and advice he has for someone going on any cruise, regardless of length.

How do you pack for living on a cruise ship for a month?

The logistics of living on a cruise ship for many weeks may seem daunting, but Greg has a few tricks.

"With my Crown and Anchor benefits of laundry, staying on for several weeks really doesn’t add much to the total luggage needed."

Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

His cruise ship packing strategy is centered on having a  core of clothes he can rely on, and then embrace Royal Caribbean's laundry services.

"Typically, I pack for 10-nights. Most of my cruise shirts are lightweight. I replace a shirt or shorts if one is damaged or wears out."

"I use Royal’s wash and fold service for everything except dress shirts, dress pants and blazers."

Packing for a cruise can be a struggle, even for the most seasoned cruiser.

Some people can actually manage to pack for a week-long cruise in just a carry-on, but it's easier said than done for most.

Inevitably, the question boils down to what is essential to pack for a cruise and it's easy to overpack. In a way, it is difficult to blame anyone for over packing because the longer the cruise, the harder it is to figure out just what clothing you will need.

Your luggage will have vastly different clothing in it if you cruise heads to the Mediterranean versus Caribbean or Australia.

Why cruise so much at once?

Rather than cruise for many weeks at a time, Greg could spread out those cruises.  So what are the advantages of going on consecutive cruises?

"For me, one air flight and hotel on the front end saves over multiple trips," Greg pointed out.

"Also, my house sitter offers a discount for trips over 14 and 25 nights. So, that offers a savings."

I was curious if having the same restaurants and food choices was a problem, but Greg finds enough variety.

"Surprisingly, Royal does an amazing job in the main dining room to offer alternatives and “off-menu” meals to keep variety."

"Plus, each port offers alternatives for lunch."

Of course, there are negatives to all that cruising.

Greg admits being away from home for long periods isn't cheap, "The biggest downside for me is the credit card holds Royal places for onboard charges."

"I’m a casino player and sometimes have $2-3,000 charged to my SeaPass but pay down the balance with cash during the cruise."

"Royal can sometimes pre-authorize several times during the cruise and tie up much of a credit cards available balance. It can take 5 days for them to drop off. Sometimes requiring me to bring several credit cards to alternate between sailings."

As Greg has found, going on back-to-back cruises allows someone to maximize their airfare cost and get more out of a single vacation. This type of cruise allows you to get more bang for your buck by getting more time and experiences on the ship. Plus, you can often explore different ports and bring down the cost of travel by avoiding having to fly between cities.

Back-to-back cruises can be especially beneficial if you are looking to visit multiple ports or take an open-jaw sailing. With a back-to-back, you don’t have to worry about flying from one port to another - instead, you stay on board your cruise ship and enjoy all the amenities it has to offer while visiting several ports in succession.

For example, if you are cruising in the Caribbean, many ships alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, meaning that with a back-to-back cruise you can experience both sides of the region without having to deal with costly flights or extended stays in one city.

In addition, back-to-back cruises allow for great savings when it comes to airfare costs since they require fewer flight tickets than traditional cruises do. Since back-to-backs last longer than regular cruises, they offer more time onboard which helps justify the airline price tag. Not only that but they also provide travelers with ample opportunity to explore all the ports and attractions available at their destination - allowing them to make their trip as memorable as possible. 

Planning many cruises

Picking out the perfect week-long cruise is its own challenge for many, but trying to coordinate multiple cruises in a row has its own set of challenges.

Anyone planning a cruise must consider the ship, itinerary, cabin and so many other factors.  New cruisers can struggle with navigating the myriad of choices. 

Read more: 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship

When cruising as long as Greg does, he relies on the cabin selection as being a primary consideration, "I usually pick the cruises by where I can keep the same cabin back-to-back."

"I also try to follow crew I know that will be onboard. I have a few Cruise Directors, Hotel Directors and others I keep in touch with throughout the year."

Choosing a ship and itinerary is always a subjective choice, so it's important to prioritize the aspects of the voyage that are important to you.

You'll start off with the price, destination and length, but quickly you may find yourself choosing a cruise similar to Greg: considering which restaurants, shows, or activities are available on one ship over another.

Read more: Picking a Cruise Line and Ship

With so many places around the globe to choose from, it can be difficult to know which itinerary is best for you. 

For first-time cruisers, it’s important to pick a sailing that offers a good balance of sea days and port days. Too many days at sea or too many days in port can make for an exhausting vacation, so look for an itinerary that provides plenty of variety and chances to experience both the open sea and exciting ports of call.

A typical cruise will include several days at sea, during which you’ll enjoy amenities like swimming pools, spas, fitness classes and themed activities onboard the ship. You’ll also have your pick of delicious restaurants, bars and lounges where you can kick back and relax after each day of exploration. At night, take in the dazzling entertainment shows or dance the night away in the ship’s disco. Days at sea are just as fun as any other part of a cruise – so don’t skimp on them! 

But port days are equally important when planning your itinerary. After all, these destinations are what makes cruising so special! From historic European cities to exotic Caribbean islands, there are countless amazing places to explore while sailing around the world. 

Ultimately though, it doesn’t matter if you choose a short weekend getaway cruise or a month-long journey around the globe – as long as you make sure there is a healthy mix of both sea days and port stops included in your itinerary!

What do you wish other passengers did differently?

When you sail for weeks at a time, it's easy to pick up on trends among other passengers. 

I asked Greg what stands out to him in observing other guests across his sailings.

"When you spend a lot of time onboard a ship you start to see the ship as the crew’s home. They live there and will be onboard long after passengers who sail once are long gone."

"It’s sad how disrespectful passengers are when they are actually guests in someone else’s home. Passenger frequently act entitled: 'it’s my vacation, I’ll do what I want.'"

Read more: 8 things some cruisers do that annoy everyone else

There's no excuse for being rude to any crew member, and it's an absolute faux-pas for anyone. 

From avoiding common mistakes to maximizing what's included in your cruise, I've come up with a list of the best Royal Caribbean tips and tricks anyone can use!

Hopefully these cruise tips will save you money or time when you go on vacation.  I've found even a few of these tips can make your voyage better.

I tried to ensure these tips could benefit almost anyone sailing on Royal Caribbean could use immediately.

If you have a great Royal Caribbean cruise tip that isn't on our list, please email me your best ones to [email protected].

Book your cruise as early as you can to save money

There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can.

Generally speaking, the best price for a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found when booked many months in advance.

Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on the concept of supply and demand. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a cruise ship cabin yet. As time progress, more and more staterooms are reserved and stateroom inventory drops, so the price increases conversely.

The earlier you can book, the best chance you will have at getting a good price on your cruise.

When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. Royal Caribbean puts its itineraries on sale as much as two years in advance of the sailing, and while that may be too far in advance for many to plan vacations, the earlier you can book the cruise, the better for that bottom line price.

Save money by pre-booking packages

To save time and money, you really should pre-book beverage packages, dining packages, internet packages and more.

In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard.

When you purchase anything before your cruise via the Cruise Planner site, you will be required to pay for it at the time of purchase.  This provides the ability to break up the total cost of the cruise.

When you make purchases onboard your cruise, at the end of the cruise you get a final bill with all of the charges tallied up. By pre-purchasing certain items, you can pay off parts of the cruise months or years in advance, allowing you to reduce the cruise bill at the conclusion of your cruise.

An intangible benefit to pre-purchasing anything is it saves you time onboard from doing the exact same thing, which means more vacation time back to you.

Taking the time to purchase anything onboard does not take very much time, but every little bit helps, and some purchases on the first day of the cruise can require waiting in a line, such as drink packages.

Use a good travel agent to book

In short, to save time and money, use a good travel agent.

There is a lot that goes into a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation, from your cruise fare (and the slew of discounts available), to dining, shore excursions, air travel and more. Using a travel agent simplifies this entire process.

The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean.  Tasks such as repricing, making special requests, dealing with weather events and more are why I use a travel agent every single I book a cruise.

Keep in mind that travel agents are paid by Royal Caribbean, so there is no additional cost to you to use their services. Talk to a few agents and feel them out for their knowledge of the product and when you find one that you are comfortable with, leverage their knowledge and expertise and book with them.

Bring a bathing suit on embarkation day

On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds!

Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that day. The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise.

You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use.

The drink package loophole

Did you know if one adult elects to buy the unlimited alcohol package, all other adults in the same room have to get it too?

If you have an adult in your room that does not drink (much) alcohol, you can get around this rule by calling Royal Caribbean and requesting that person get the Royal Refreshment package.

By having them get the non-alcoholic drink package, you will save a lot of money compared to buying them the Deluxe Beverage package that costs much more.

Bring magnets for your cabin

One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise.

Your stateroom walls are made of metal, and that means you can stick a magnet on any of them (even the ceiling). If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items.

Things like hats, coverups, important paperwork and more would be ideal. This frees up storage space in your closets and drawers for other things.

Download Royal Caribbean's app before the cruise

Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise.

Downloading the app before you get on your ship means you'll be able to easily and quickly download it and set it up before you step aboard.

Why is it important to have the app?

In short, the app is tied to so much of the cruise experience now. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages.

Plus, the Royal Caribbean app will have all of the activities for the day listed so that you can easily reference it during your sailing.

Don't worry, you don't need to buy an internet package to use the Royal Caribbean app. Once you get onboard and connect to the ship's wifi, it will ask you if you want to just use the app.

Check into your cruise as soon as you can 

Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens.

By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. And the earlier check-in time you have, the sooner you get to get onboard the ship and start vacation.

The price you pay for the cruise is the same whether you board at noon or 2pm, so you may as well get the extra two hours of fun!

The best spot for sailaway is the helipad

On Voyager, Freedom or Radiance Class ships, be sure to visit the helipad for my favorite sailaway spot.

The helipad on is located on the bow (front) of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. This is a great spot to see the port as you leave, especially for those that do not have a balcony stateroom or simply want something a little different.

Fly to your cruise port at least one day early

If you are flying to your cruise port, be sure to fly in at least one day before the cruise is scheduled to depart to protect against a travel delay.

By planning to arrive to your departure port at least one day early, you assure yourself that a travel delay will not impact your ability to get on your cruise. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays.  

As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner!  And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore.

Don't buy kids a dining package

Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults.

Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant.

When you make a reservation for a restaurant onboard, let your server know the adults have dining packages, but kids don't and you will get a better price than if you bought the dining package for everyone.

Best times for deals at the spa

If you want to find the best prices for the spa on your cruise, consider booking things on port days, or early in the morning or late at night for the best prices.

The common thread among these times is it is when others are unable or unwilling to go to the spa, so prices tend to be better.

Free breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Oasis Class ships

Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships?  

All Oasis-class ships offer this option, but many guests are unaware that breakfast is served here, nor that it is included with your cruise fare (Johnny Rockets has a cover charge for lunch and dinner).

Johnny Rockets tends to be not very crowded for breakfast, because many guests are unaware of this option, and it also has a large seating capacity (indoor and outdoor seating options).

Avoid embarkation day lunch lines in the buffet

The Windjammer is the go-to spot for most when they get onboard their Royal Caribbean ship for lunch, but there are good alternatives that are less crowded.

These locations include:

• Park Cafe
• Cafe @ Two70
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrentos

Look for the cooking stations in the Windjammer

Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options.

In the morning, there is an omelet station available. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more.

Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. 

You can bring water or soda on embarkation day...

Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroom with them on embarkation day.

You can bring soda, water, energy drinks and any other non-alcoholic beverages.

Be sure to pack these items in your carry-on luggage, and not your checked luggage.

...and wine too!

In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom.

Each adult may bring one (1) 750 mL bottle, per adult of drinking age, per sailing.

Corkscrews will be provided for guests to enjoy their drinks in their stateroom. If guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in a dining or bar venue, there will be a corkage fee applied.

Cruise off-season to really save money

If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons.

These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. People often wonder what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, and the key is cruise when others cannot.

Most people go on vacation based around their school or work schedules. If you can cruise during these times, there are some truly low prices to enjoy.

Read a past Cruise Compass

Want to get an idea of what entertainment, activities and things to do (along with times) will be offered on your cruise? Read a past Cruise Compass!

Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass.

There is no way to know in absolute terms what your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise will or will not offer, but Royal Caribbean insiders will consult past Cruise Compass' to see what was available on those similar sailings to get an idea of what to expect.

Use the porters to help with your luggage

Whether the first day or the last day of your cruise, be sure to grab a porter to make things easier on yourself.

Porters are available to assist with your luggage. Their services are complimentary, although a tip is expected for their trouble.

Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier.

Not only can a porter help take a load off of you, they can greatly assist with disembarkation and getting you through the terminal faster. In many ports, porters have a special line for Customs that allows you to get through it all faster.

Book entertainment before your cruise

If you are sailing on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, you can pre-book shows in advance, such as the Broadway musicals or ice shows.

Royal Caribbean does not charge for its shows, nor does it charge for advanced reservations. Take advantage of the opportunity to get tickets and not be stuck in a line waiting to enter the theater or worse, miss out on the show completely.

Just like dining, you can reserve shows in advance by going to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. Once logged in, navigate to Onboard Activities and select the show you wish to reserve.

On all ships, check for entertainment reservations once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app.

Research shore excursions before the cruise

The tours and excursions available to book in the ports your cruise will visit are many, so take advantage of the resources online to find the perfect tour before your cruise begins.

While you can book shore excursions onboard your ship, the lines at the shore excursion desk can often be quite long and doing your research from home gives you plenty of time to compare different options and learn what each port offers.

You can view all the shore excursions available by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner and browsing the shore excursions by port. Each excursion will list the price, details of the activity and any physical or age restrictions.

Royal Caribbean offers a lot of shore excursions in every port and on top of that, you can also consider shore excursions through third party groups to further expand your options.

Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. Here are some basic considerations:

• Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed.
• Third party shore excursions can offer more personalized tours at a lower price.
• Royal Caribbean shore excursions are fully refundable if your ship cannot dock at a scheduled port.
• Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean's shore excursions if they book onboard.

The Main Dining Room is open for lunch on sea days

Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open for lunch (and breakfast) too?

On sea days, the main dining room is open for lunch and it serves up a different menu of options than what is offered during dinner.

No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated.

Make My Time Dining reservations to avoid long waits

If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise.

By having a reservation, you will be seated faster. The larger the group, the more important having a reservation is to limiting the wait times.

Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important.

Look for the outdoor seating areas

If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer.

The Windjammer on Radiance and Quantum class ships offers an area at the rear of the ship to enjoy any meal with a fantastic view of the ship's wake.  

Oasis Class ships offer outside dining is also available on Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods.

Try the signature activities on embarkation day

If you want to try FlowRider, rock climbing wall or zipline, take advantage of lower waits on the first day of the cruise.

Because so many guests are just getting onboard and acclimated to the new ship, many guests are unaware of where the headline attractions are or that they are open on embarkation day.

By going on embarkation day, not only will you likely have a short wait but you may be able to re-ride a number of times!

Stock shareholder benefit

Did you know Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock?

While buying stock in any company should be based on solid financial planning, if you happen to own at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Group stock, you can qualify for bonus credit to spend on your cruise.

Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit.

• $250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights
• $100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 13 nights
• $50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less

To redeem this benefit, you just need to email [email protected] with your name, address, confirmation number, ship and sailing date along with a copy of your shareholder proxy card or a current brokerage statement showing proof of share ownership.

Buy travel insurance

No one wants to think worst case scenario, but you're probably better off buying a travel insurance plan for your cruise than risking not having it.

While you may want to save the added expense, regular medical insurance will not usually cover medical services onboard or in port. It’s recommended to have travel insurance.

Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. From a bag getting lost in transit to flight cancellations, it’s always better to be protected than to not have insurance when you need it most.

Find a roll call for your sailing and meet other cruisers

One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing.

This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. 

The benefit of doing this is you get to "meet" other people on your sailing, which may result in new friendships, or saving money on a shore excursion or other activity that has a group discount.

In addition, these roll calls are helpful because someone might spot a change or announcement before you, which can greatly benefit you by getting ahead of the pack.

We have an entire forum dedicated to Royal Caribbean roll calls on our message boards that is totally free to use!

Avoid overpacking

Easier said than done, but you probably won't need all the clothes, shoes, and outfits you think you might need on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Dress codes look imposing, and you might feel like you need to have more outfit changes in a single day than most celebrities at an awards ceremony, but the reality is it's not nearly that stringent.

Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. Laundry costs extra, but it may save you money compared to paying to check an extra bag at the airport.

Don't assume all Royal Caribbean ships are the same

One mistake first-time cruisers make is to book the cheapest cruise they can find because they assume the ships are more less all the same.

While Royal Caribbean maintains a core experience across all ships, each vessel has its own list of amenities and activities, and even ships within the same Royal Caribbean ship class can vary.

What you want to do is look at what the ship you're considering has to do onboard, and ensure it has the most important options that you want to experience.

An an example, if you have kids and water slides are a must-do, then skip the Vision Class ships. If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas.

The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later.

Your drink package works at CocoCay and Labadee

If you're on the fence about buying a Royal Caribbean drink package, keep in mind you can use them at Royal Caribbean's private islands.

In addition to being able to use your drink package benefits nearly anywhere onboard your ship, Royal Caribbean also extends the benefit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti.

This means you can get extra value from your drink package purchase while anywhere in these private destinations.

In addition to the drink package, a WiFi package also works while at CocoCay. Unfortunately, there's no wifi coverage in Labadee.

Take advantage of all your loyalty benefits

There's an impressive amount of discounts and benefits included in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program that you should absolutely know about in advance.

The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status.

There are discounts, vouchers, and even freebies anyone can take advantage of once onboard.

Be sure to look up all your benefits, and ensure you use the most lucrative Crown and Anchor Society perks during your sailing so you can reap the best rewards!

Eat at specialty restaurants for lunch to save money

Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch.

Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner.

The menu can vary from lunch to dinner, but the experience is still the same. Any money saved is always welcome!

Two restaurants that always offer a cheaper lunch price than dinner are Chops Grille and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more).

Sign up your kids for Adventure Ocean on the first day

Save time on your cruise by getting your kids signed up for Royal Caribbean's complimentary kids programming on the first day of the cruise.

Adventure Ocean will be open on the first evening of your cruise, but they have an open house on embarkation day in the afternoon too.

The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions.

This is not only a great opportunity for your kids to become familiar with the kids club, but also save time later so all you have to do when the club opens up is drop them off and be done. Too many parents are unaware of the open house and waste time signing their kids up as the evening session is set to begin.

You can shower in the gym

If your stateroom shower is occupied by a family member, you could go to the gym and shower there instead.

Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. In fact, most people don't use these showers, so there's a good chance they are unoccupied when you would need it, especially in the evening.

Put your phone into airplane mode

Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise.

A really common mistake is for passengers to leave their phone on like normal, and come home to a monster bill because of hefty roaming charges. Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included.

In order to avoid having your phone try to use its cellular connection, all modern phones have an ability to turn off its cellular signal by enabling something called, "airplane mode."

By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose.

Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship.

This means you can still be on Royal Caribbean's wifi and use the app, but avoid a huge bill.

Don't book a cabin under or above public areas

Want to know one of the best tips for avoiding the worst cruise ship cabins? Don't book a cabin one deck above or below a public space, such as a pool, dining room, or bar.

Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues.

Don't double tip

Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included.

When you purchase a drink at a bar, a service at the spa, or almost anything else onboard, there's likely an automatic gratuity included with your bill.

When you get the receipt to sign, look for the line item that indicates if an automatic 18% gratuity is already included. If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member.

You can re-book on your cruise for extra onboard credit

The NextCruise office offers incentives to book another cruise while you're still onboard.

The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. The difference is booking onboard will get you extra onboard credit and reduced deposit.  

You can actually get hundreds of dollars of onboard credit by simply booking onboard, but the exact amount depends on how long a sailing you book and in which stateroom category.

Moreover, the onboard credit is stackable with other discounts Royal Caribbean is offering at the time!

If you're reading this at home, you're still better off booking a cruise now, rather than waiting to book onboard your ship. The reason is Royal Caribbean cruise fares are very erratic, and can change at a moment's notice.

If you wait weeks or months to book a cruise onboard, the price of the cruise may increase and negate any savings you'd receive from the extra onboard credit.

Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. But if you're at home, it's still a good idea to book as early as you can to lock in the lowest price.

You can't bring a power strip

Royal Caribbean doesn't allow power strips or surge protectors to be brought on its cruise ships, and they will confiscate it if they find them.

Instead, bring a USB hub. These devices that plug into an outlet and allow you to charge multiple devices at once are permissible and useful too!

Pack socks so you can go ice skating!

Did you know you can ice skate on some Royal Caribbean cruise ships?

On ships that have an ice skating rink, open skate sessions are offered for free, but you will need to wear socks and pants in order to participate. Skates are provided for free by Royal Caribbean.

There are ice skating rinks on Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, and Icon Class ships.

Bring your own hand sanitizer

You can never be too careful on a cruise ship when it comes to personal hygiene, so it's a good idea to pack hand sanitizer.

Similarly, sanitizing wipes are something else to bring that you can use to wipe down surfaces in your stateroom.

Royal Caribbean does a great job of keeping its ships clean, but shared surfaces always have an inherit risk.

Save money and wait to buy an internet package later in your cruise

If you can wait to use the internet until later in your cruise, you could save a lot of money.

While pre-purchasing a WiFi package is the best strategy for the lowest price if you need internet acces all cruise long, if you can go a few days and buy it, you could net big savings.

Royal Caribbean allows you to buy a WiFi package at any point in the cruise, and you're only charged for the remaining days of the sailing.

If you can wait to buy your WiFi package until day three or later, you will save a lot of money!

Look for a parade on the promenade

Royal Caribbean offers a fun family parade on its bigger ships, so be sure to take the kids.

Try to get a spot at least 30 minutes before the parade is scheduled to begin to get the best seats along the Royal Promenade.

Find the Small Wonders

Hidden all over Oasis and Allure of the Seas is a series of art displays known as "Small Wonders", where you will find 42 natural wonders positioned all over the ship.

When you find one, there will be something that looks like a periscope or telescope that if you peer into, you will find these tiny three dimensional pieces of art.

Hint: if you give up and cannot find them all, Guest Services can provide you with a list of them all to help!

Try onboard activities on a sea day

There's far fewer of your fellow passengers on a ship during a port day, so this is the perfect time to try the popular onboard activities.

Water slides, the Flowrider, zip lining, and bumper cars are all much easier to do with shorter waits if you go while your ship is in port.

Go to the spa raffle draw

Sign up for the Vitality Spa raffle on embarkation day and go to the raffle drawing on embarkation day. This is when they give away free spa treatments.

Many people who sign up, do not show up, which increases your odds of winning.

Don't overdo it

Don't try to do everything or you will enjoy nothing.

There is something happening constantly and you can quickly overwhelm yourself. Relax.

If this is your first cruise, focus on the "highlights" they publish. They know those things will give most newbies a great vacation and it will allow you to get your bearings for the next one!

Arrive early for shows if you don't have a reservation

Not all Royal Caribbean cruise ships allow you to pre-book shows, and on ships that do offer it, you may not be able to make a reservation. In either case, you'll want to show up early for any show time.

My advice is to get in line at least 30 minutes before the show time to get a good seat.

Getting there early assures you of a spot and probably a good seat too.

You can learn to surf on a cruise ship

If your ship has a Flowrider surf simulator, it is possible to learn how to surf.

There is no cost to use the Flowrider, and with a little practice it may be possible to get the hang of surfing.

All you need to do is bring your bathing suit and sense of adventure (and a lot of patience) and you might be able to master it!

Unpack completely

It can be tempting to live out of your suitcase, but unpacking makes a big difference.

The rooms are small but they have great storage space. Unpacking and keeping things in their place will make your room more relaxing.

Also, bring something to store your dirty clothes - worst case, throw them in your suitcase. 

Speak up if there's a problem

If something’s not quite right, mention it to a crew member rather than assuming there's nothing that can be done about it.

The crew’s ultimate goal is for you to have a great trip, and they’ll do whatever they can to make that happen.

Meet your cabin attendant as soon as possible

Get to know your room attendant right way to get things going on the right foot.

Your cabin attendant can help you with getting extra towels, ice stocked, and beds arranged. Moreover, they're your go-to resource if you have any problems.

Take photos of your favorite crew members

Take pictures of the crew and name tag that way you have it on your phone and readily available when completing the survey.

The post-cruise survey is very important to Royal Caribbean, and sometimes it can be difficult to remember names or how to spell them.

Start a cruise fund

Start a vacation account as a cruise fund to save for your cruise.

Putting away a few dollars here and there adds up. Maybe it's money towards your cruise fare, or just extra spending money onboard.

Some people will automatically deduct a small amount from each paycheck to move into a special savings account to help budget and save more easily.

Consider a travel credit card

Look at travel rewards credit cards to help fund your trip.

When used responsibly, credit cards have the potential to be very lucrative as ways to offset the cost of your trip. You can use their rewards programs to pay for airfare, have extra spending cash, or offset vacation costs that you'll accumulate during your trip.

Royal Caribbean has its own credit card that allows you to earn free cruises, but it's not necessarily the best travel credit card on the market.

Pack a pashmina

For ladies that tend to get chilly often, it's a good idea to pack a pashmina.

It doesn't take up much room in your suitcase and it comes in handy to keep you warm on the deck or at shows and to put over you head when it is windy. Even the Caribbean sailing can be chilly at night.

Purchase a lanyard for your SeaPass card

Something you won't think of until you get on the ship is how handy it is to have a lanyard for your SeaPass card.

It's a good idea to purchase a lanyard to carry your sea pass card on your neck, for ease of access.

Send your special needs requests in before the cruise

If you have medical issues, or questions, always ask in advance via the Special Needs form.

Royal Caribbean will provide distilled water and an extension cord for a CPAP machine, free of charge, which was a blessing not having to fly with a gallon of water in your checked luggage.

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Royal Caribbean cruises are designed for all ages, but they can be especially well-suited for cruisers over 60. Cruising is flexible, easy to plan, and offers an incredible value, so it’s no surprise that it’s a popular vacation choice for passengers aged 60 and older.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Brad Whitaker recently shared with us his experience cruising over the age of 60 and why he recommends it to other travelers his age.

After countless years planning elaborate family vacations on land, he quickly fell in love with the relaxing, exotic vacation experience a Royal Caribbean cruise provides, and feels that many cruisers over 60 will feel the same way.

Let’s take a look at Brad’s top 10 reasons to book a cruise if you’re over the age of 60.

Great value

Cruising offers one of the best values in a vacation due to the sheer amount of inclusions in the cruise fare, and Brad lists this as one of his top reasons for booking cruise vacations.

“I recently booked an 8-day cruise on Symphony of the Seas to Aruba and Curacao,” Brad explained. “For an ocean view balcony, I only paid $125 per person, per night. If you consider all you get for that, it was a steal. Plus, Royal Caribbean gave me $100 onboard credit for being a shareholder.”

Compared to land-based vacations, cruises offer a tremendous value. Accommodation, food, entertainment, activities, and visits to diverse destinations are included in one set price.

Related: What's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

While you can always purchase extras like drink packages, dining packages, and shore excursions, the impressive base value of a cruise vacation cannot be understated, especially for those searching for a vacation with few added fees.

Doing something different

As you get older and retire, you may find yourself following the same routine with little change from day to day. Brad explained how a huge benefit of taking a cruise vacation when over 60 is the ability to do something different.

“Even if you never leave the ship (which is crazy to think you wouldn’t), there are tons of things to do and none of them are the same. Cruising helps you break your mold and enlarge your variety of life.”

Just how many interesting things can you do on a cruise? Royal Caribbean offers an abundance of activities to guests of all ages, from toddlers to those in their 90s!

If you’re looking for something more relaxed, attend a trivia session, see a Broadway show, watch live music at the pub, or sign up for a wine tasting seminar.

If you’re a thrill seeker though, remember that being over 60 doesn’t exclude you from the adrenaline-filled activities onboard! Try the rock-climbing wall, waterslides, zip line, or skydiving simulator!

The amount of new things to try on a cruise is nearly endless, and that doesn’t even account for the variety of experiences you can have in port, either, such as snorkeling in the Caribbean and visiting glaciers in Alaska.

“The new, bigger ships have so much to do that it’s unlikely you can do it all!” Brad exclaimed. “Pace yourself and enjoy. You can do nothing or everything; it really depends on you.”

Only unpacking once

One of the biggest struggles with a land-based vacation—particularly those visiting several destinations—is packing and unpacking your suitcase several times.

Brad mentioned only unpacking once as one of the top reasons to book a cruise.

“I hate packing and unpacking. Of course, at some point, your cruise will end and you’ll have to pack up all your dirty clothes and stuff them back into your suitcase, but it’s worth it.”

While visiting 10 countries in one week with a backpack may have been appealing in your 20s, most cruisers over 60 are in the market for a more relaxing vacation experience. Only having to unpack your suitcase one time while visiting several unique destinations is a major plus of cruising.

No cooking required

Food is an important part of any Royal Caribbean cruise. Whether elegant dinners in the Main Dining Room or quick stops to the buffet for lunch, dining onboard is a highlight of the experience.

When it comes to food, Brad explained how not having to cook on vacation is a huge benefit for cruisers over 60.

“For many years during the summer, our family of seven would pack up the old family van and head to our houseboat on Lake Powell. It took weeks to plan, prepare for, and make happen. Just the food planning alone was a herculean effort!”

On a cruise, however, Brad does not need to worry about planning meals for his travel party, and the variety of options works well when traveling with a group.

“There is so much variety onboard the ships that you can literally eat different ethnic food each morning, afternoon, and night. If you want, one person can grab a hot dog and the other something more exotic.”

Related: Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Of course, a Royal Caribbean cruise provides the opportunity to try cooking styles and dishes you may not otherwise try at home. Because you can ask for unlimited appetizers, entrees, and desserts, you may end up finding a new favorite meal.

“The main dining halls are incredible and they are all part of the cost of the cruise,” Brad continued. “All of the food is amazing and there is a LOT of it. Be sure to ask for additional entrees if you want to try new things!”

If you’re the family chef back at home, you’ll certainly appreciate the break from meal prepping, cooking, and cleaning once onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Cruising is a social environment

Something cruisers over 60 often appreciate is the social atmosphere fostered on a Royal Caribbean cruise. It’s easy to meet new people onboard, whether at dinner, on a shore excursion, or during an activity.

“My wife and I have always met and made new friends on cruises,” Brad said. “I love asking people if I can take their picture with their camera so I can strike up a conversation! I know it’s an over-60 thing, but I do love doing it! Where else can I meet so many people?”

Compared to a land-based vacation, the social atmosphere on a cruise is much more prevalent. Those over 60 who enjoy meeting new people from around the world will love making connections with other passengers and crew onboard.

Choose between adventure or relaxation

Another benefit of cruising over 60 is having the choice between adventure and relaxation. Your travel style at 60 is likely a bit more relaxed than in your younger years, but that doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of exciting experiences!

“At my age, you may have the energy to be adventurous in the morning, but all you want to do in the evening is relax,” Brad explained. “On cruises, you can do both, and in no particular order!”

Many older cruisers find themselves enjoying a mix of thrill-seeking and chill experiences on a cruise. You may choose to play pickleball with friends in the morning, try the escape room in the afternoon, and spend a peaceful evening on your balcony.

Or perhaps you sleep in, spend all afternoon on the pool deck, and save your energy for a late night of dancing! There’s no wrong way to cruise, whether you’re 25 or 75, and having options is what makes a cruise such a wonderful way to vacation.

No cleaning required

Cleaning on vacation? No thanks.

A major benefit of a cruise vacation is avoiding any house chores during your vacation. On a cruise, there’s no need to empty the dishwasher, fold laundry, run the vacuum, or mop the floors.

Royal Caribbean’s crew members work diligently to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for guests onboard. A stateroom attendant picks up your room twice per day, attentive waiters quickly deliver food, and the maintenance crew can handle any potential issues that arise.

Brad enjoys the escape from housekeeping whenever he is on a cruise and joked, “Between no cooking and no housekeeping, these are my wife’s favorite things!”

Easy to plan

Brad’s aforementioned summer trips to Lake Powell involved a lot of planning.

“I never relaxed the entire trip. I was constantly working on equipment, worrying about various issues with the houseboat, the ski boat, and the jet skis. While I loved being there with my family, I rarely relaxed, and when I got home, I had to take a ‘vacation from vacation’ to unwind!”

A cruise, on the other hand, involves little planning, which is something Brad loves most about the cruise vacation experience. Royal Caribbean handles the transportation logistics, dining, and entertainment onboard, leaving you with nothing but time to rest and relax.

Brad explained how booking a cruise is easy, too.

“Most cruise lines have really easy to understand websites. They are simple to navigate through. However, if you are not so tech savvy, just call a travel agent and they will do it for you. All you really have to do is pick a date, and maybe a few potential destinations, and they will do the rest!”

Related: Top 5 things to look for in a good travel agent for your cruise vacation

We agree with Brad in that having a good travel agent can make your cruise planning process even simpler. Travel agents can help with the entire booking process; they’re available to answer any questions you have, plan travel to and from the port, and handle any discrepancies in the cruise planning process.

Exotic and romantic

Cruise vacations can offer an exotic and romantic cruising experience for those over 60, whether you sail to the Bahamas, Mexico, or Europe!

“I recently planned a cruise where we are going to celebrate our 49th anniversary, a birthday, and recovery from a liver transplant,” Brad explained. “Now that is a lot to pack into one celebration cake, but where better to celebrate than on the open ocean. I can’t wait!”

There are plenty of ways to celebrate a special occasion onboard, including:

• Booking an intimate dinner at a specialty restaurant
• Surprising your significant other with a spa treatment
• Upgrading your cabin to a balcony or suite
• Planning a private shore excursion
• Arranging for decorations or desserts to be delivered to your cabin on embarkation day

Just being onboard is a romantic experience for many cruisers, which is one of the reasons it’s so popular for celebrations like honeymoons and anniversaries. Cruising over 60 is a perfect way to make new memories with a loved one in a beautiful and stress-free way.

No responsibilities

Whether you’re 30 or 60, life is full of responsibilities. From taking care of grandkids to yard work, a cruise offers an amazing escape from mundane responsibilities back home, and this is the top reason Brad loves cruising with Royal Caribbean.

“I can relax from minute one on the cruise,” he stated. “I am totally unplugged for a week or so and don’t need to call or follow up on anything! We can come and go as we like, doing as much or as little as we want.

“We can go to bed early or stay up late, it just really doesn’t matter. Just about the only responsibility we have is to make sure we have fun, enjoy each other’s company, and do it all again the next day.”

Are you a cruiser over 60? What are your top recommendations and advice for other passengers over 60 planning a cruise? Let us know in the comments below!

If you're flying to your cruise, take heed of what happened today as an important reminder of what not to do.

Today’s air travel fiasco following a Federal Aviation Administration computer outage affected over 8,000 flights today (and counting), and it reminded us why it’s important to fly to your cruise port the day before your cruise begins.

One of the absolute worst mistakes you can make when planning a cruise vacation is to fly to your embarkation port the same day your cruise begins.

Airline delays, cancellations, and other unexpected problems are common, so it’s crucial to plan enough buffer time with your flights to ensure you can make it to the ship on time.

What happened this morning at the Federal Aviation Administration?

Flights in the United States were grounded Wednesday morning following an overnight computer outage at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA’s pilot alerting system crashed, leading the agency to perform a hard reset of their system around 2 a.m.

The cause of the problem is still unknown, but there has not been any evidence of a cyber attack.

Around 7,100 flights in the United States were delayed Wednesday and over 1,100 canceled due to the outage, according to Flight Aware.

According to the FAA’s 7:15 a.m. EST statement, the agency “ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures until 9 a.m. Eastern Time to allow the agency to validate the integrity of flight and safety information.”

Just an hour later, at 8:15 a.m. EST, departures were already resuming at Newark Liberty (EWR) and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) airports. By 8:50 a.m. EST, normal air traffic operations were resuming across the country.

Despite departures resuming, it’s possible the outage will affect flights through Friday. The ripple effect caused by today’s grounding of flights may affect millions of passengers this week, many of whom will be forced to cancel or rebook trips.

After so many flight delays today, this is a great opportunity to remind those planning a cruise that booking air travel correctly can make the difference between making and missing your cruise vacation.

Don’t fly to your cruise port on embarkation day

There are too many unpredictable scenarios with air travel. Weather delays, missed connections, and yes, even a computer outage by the FAA, can potentially occur on any travel day.

Flying to your cruise port on embarkation day is risky, and you’re risking missing your cruise by doing so. A cruise ship will not wait for one passenger with a delayed flight when 5,000 other passengers are onboard and ready to set sail.

Related: The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation

Because of this, we always urge passengers to fly in at least one day before the cruise begins. By flying to your embarkation port the day or evening before, you have much more wiggle room in your flight schedule. If your first flight is delayed and you miss a connecting flight, you can always be placed on a flight later in the day. 

Likewise, if your flight is unexpectedly canceled, having 24 hours before your cruise departs gives you time to figure out an alternative way to the cruise terminal.

Here are a few additional ways to minimize the chance of travel delays when booking airfare before your cruise:

• Book a direct flight whenever possible
• Don’t book a layover shorter than 1 hour. If your first flight is delayed even 30 minutes, you may not catch the second flight on time.
• Book flights earlier in the day. There’s often a ripple effect of delays throughout the day as incoming flights arrive late. Booking the earliest flights of the day can help negate this issue.

Although you’ll have to pay for a hotel by arriving ahead of time, spending $200 on a place to stay for the night is much preferred to spending $2000 on a cruise only to miss the ship because of a travel delay.

As a plus, flying in early means you have extra time to explore your embarkation ports. Many of Royal Caribbean’s embarkation ports are located in the country’s most intriguing cities, from Miami to Los Angeles and New York. These cities make the perfect place to kick off your vacation one day early.

Other considerations to make when planning travel to your cruise

Outside of booking a flight the day before your cruise departs, there are a few other ways you can make your cruise vacation go much more smoothly.

First is to book your cruise with a travel agent. Following a major delay like the FAA encountered today, chaos can ensue with thousands of people calling airlines and cruise lines.

If you book your cruise with a travel agent, they can be the ones calling Royal Caribbean and figuring out an alternative scenario for your vacation plans. A travel agent should not cost you anything extra, meaning you have access to their helpful resources at no additional cost.

Related: Top 5 things to look for in a good travel agent for your cruise vacation

Travel agents can be a lifesaver in stressful situations such as what happened today at airports across the country.

Another thing to consider is purchasing travel insurance before your cruise. While you may not end up using the insurance on your vacation, it’s always better to be prepared rather than need travel insurance when you don’t have it.

Travel insurance covers you from the moment you leave for your cruise vacation until when you return home. Depending on the plan, you should expect travel insurance to cover airline delays, cancellations, lost luggage, injury or sickness, and medical treatment onboard your cruise ship.

If you cruise frequently, you may even want to consider an annual travel insurance plan, which can cost as little as $125-300 per person.

Related: Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

We recommend the following travel insurance companies for your cruise:

• Allianz Travel Insurance (great for annual plans)
• AIG Travel Guard
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
• Travelsafe Insurance

The Bottom Line

With so many flight delays and cancellations today, the Federal Aviation Administration outage served as a reminder to never book flights the same day your cruise begins. Far too many people risk their entire cruise vacation by booking a same-day flight, and in our opinion, it's never worth it.

As you plan your next cruise vacation, be sure to book flights that leave plenty of time for you to make it to your ship in time. After all, it's much better to spend an extra night by the beach in Miami than to start your vacation stressed about missing the ship!

Cruising in 2023 is mostly back to normal following the pandemic-induced changes implemented across the industry in 2021 and 2022. Pre-cruise testing has been almost entirely abolished, ships are sailing at full capacity, and new ships are being constructed.

Nonetheless, there are still a few new changes–as well as evergreen advice–to be aware of before you cruise in 2023. Remaining flexible with policy changes, purchasing travel insurance, and arriving at your embarkation port the day before your cruise begins are all just as important in 2023 as they were in previous years.

Here’s our list of the top 23 Do’s and Don’ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2023.

1. DO remain flexible

Flexibility is key when it comes to planning a Royal Caribbean cruise. Itinerary changes, ship changes, and unexpected weather conditions can alter your vacation plans.

Whether you miss a port due to a storm, a show gets canceled, or your favorite specialty restaurant is fully booked, it’s important to remain flexible.

Keeping an open mind when changes occur is essential to avoid a small change ruining your vacation. If your port stop in Mexico gets canceled, for example, consider splurging on something onboard (a spa treatment, perhaps?) instead of sulking in a pool chair.

Staying flexible ensures you can still have an enjoyable vacation even if unexpected changes occur.

2. DO book refundable cruise fare

If you’re planning a cruise in 2023, be sure to book a refundable cruise fare, especially if the sailing is far in advance.

Refundable cruise fares allow you to receive a full refund of any deposit/money paid towards your vacation prior to final payment date. If you put down a $500 deposit on a cruise, for example, but later have to cancel the reservation, you’ll receive the deposit back with no penalty.

Related: Royal Caribbean refundable versus non-refundable cruise fares

Non-refundable fares, on the contrary, do not provide a full refund of your deposit. Instead, you’ll receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the deposit paid minus a $100 per person service fee on the canceled cruise.

3. DO purchase travel insurance

If you have a cruise booked in 2023, make sure to purchase travel insurance beforehand. Good travel insurance plans will cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay coverage, baggage delays, emergency medical coverage, onboard medical expenses, and other unexpected scenarios.

While it’s always recommended to purchase travel insurance before a vacation, it’s especially helpful on a cruise, as the onboard medical center is not covered under most insurance plans that work at home.

Related: Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

4. DO the online check-in as soon as it’s available

Royal Caribbean’s online check-in opens 45 days before your departure date, and we recommend completing the process as soon as possible.

Checking in on the Royal Caribbean app or website allows you to get ahead of the game in preparation for embarkation day. You’ll provide your documentation information, photo, emergency contact information, etc.

Most importantly, you’ll select a check-in time which indicates when you can arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day. The earlier you check-in, the higher chance you’ll have at scoring an early check-in time.

5. DO book with a travel agent

If you’re booking a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2023, be sure to book with a travel agent. Travel agents act as your own personal expert on Royal Caribbean cruises.

Not only can they provide helpful information and resources throughout the booking process, but they have access to Royal Caribbean’s best deals and offers. Plus, a good travel agent will not charge any fees for their services as they get paid a commission through Royal Caribbean.

Related: Top 5 things to look for in a good travel agent for your cruise vacation

6. DO know what’s new for Royal Caribbean in 2023

Royal Caribbean is constantly innovating and building new projects, and there are several new offerings coming to the cruise line in 2023.

First is Hideaway Beach, an adults-only area of Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is set to open in late 2023. We’ll also see the launch of a new Main Dining Room menu, construction finished on Icon of the Seas, and the launch of Royal Caribbean’s first world cruise in December 2023.

Related: What's New and Coming to Royal Caribbean in 2023 & 2024

7. DO remember to do the muster drill

Royal Caribbean introduced their new eMuster safety drill in 2021, which allows guests to review safety information at their own time on the Royal Caribbean app prior to setting sail.

After completing the first two steps on the app, guests must visit their assembly station once onboard, where a crew member will verify you completed the briefing.

Everyone onboard must complete the muster drill before the ship can leave. Therefore, be sure to do this as soon as possible once onboard to avoid being the passenger preventing the ship from leaving!

8. DO confirm necessary documentation

One common mistake far too many first time cruisers make is not understanding which documentation is required to board a Royal Caribbean cruise.

We recommend having a passport for every member of your travel party. If you do not have a passport but are sailing on a closed-loop cruise from the United States, you’ll need the following documents:

• State-issued ID
• Official birth certificate

All required documentation can be found on Royal Caribbean’s website here.

9. DO double check for any remaining Covid protocols and requirements

Compared to a year ago, Royal Caribbean’s Covid protocols and requirements are extremely relaxed. In fact, only a few sailings still require a pre-cruise Covid test:

• Cruises from the US and Caribbean that visit Colombia
• Transatlantic cruises
• Cruises from Australia

Protocols are always subject to change, though, so it’s a good idea to keep up to date on any potential pre-cruise testing requirements for your sailing.

10. DO apply or renew your passport ASAP

While passport processing times are not as long as in 2021 or 2022, it can still take several weeks to receive a new or renewed passport.

We recommend that you apply for a passport/renew your passport with plenty of time to spare. Current processing times are 6 to 9 weeks for new passports (3 to 5 weeks expedited) and 4-5 weeks for passport renewals. These estimates do not include mailing times.

11. DON’T be surprised by last-minute policy changes

While it’s unlikely that Royal Caribbean will reimplement Covid-specific policies like social distancing and mask requirements, it’s always a possibility.

If a new variant or Covid numbers raise alarm, there’s potential for the Covid protocols used in 2021 and 2022 to return on cruises in 2023. This is unlikely to occur, but remaining flexible in case of any changes is recommended.

12. DO book refundable hotels and airfare

Just like cruise fare, we always recommend booking refundable rates on pre-cruise purchases like airfare and hotel stays.

Refundable rates only cost slightly more than the non-refundable options, but provide flexibility in case of any expected situations like canceling your cruise or changing the day and time of your flight.

13. DON’T fly to your cruise port the same day it begins

One of the most rookie mistakes you can make while planning a Royal Caribbean cruise is to fly to your embarkation port the same day your cruise begins.

Weather and air travel is extremely unpredictable. Thunderstorms, staffing problems, tight connections, and hazardous winter conditions can easily cause you to miss a flight. Booking your flight the day before your cruise begins provides a little extra wiggle room in case of any travel mishaps.

14. DON’T wait to book pre-cruise purchases on the Cruise Planner

In the past year, Royal Caribbean has raised prices on many of the cruise line’s most popular pre-cruise purchases. From drink packages to specialty restaurants and shore excursions, expect higher prices in 2023.

The Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay, for example, sold day passes for as little as $88 in early 2022. Today, on the other hand, you’ll likely see prices closer to $200!

Related: Coco Beach Club: cost, tips & review

Because of these price increases, we recommend booking pre-cruise add-ons as soon as possible. This ensures you can lock in the lowest price possible. Plus, if you see that the price of a pre-cruise add-on decreased, you can easily cancel and rebook the purchase with no penalty.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

15. DON’T overlook the new Main Dining Room menu

One of the most controversial changes coming to Royal Caribbean in 2023 is the cruise line’s new Main Dining Room menu. This new menu will feature a themed cuisine each night and will stop offering the same classic dishes previously offered each evening.

Naturally, any change Royal Caribbean announces is met with criticism, and there seems to be a divide between cruisers excited about the new menu versus those against the change.

Related: Royal Caribbean will introduce new main dining room menu in January

Before criticizing the new menu, make sure to give it a try on your 2023 Royal Caribbean cruise. Several new dishes–such as the spaghetti all’arrabbiata or the chipotle-lime-crusted salmon–may end up being your new go-to items.

16. DON’T be surprised by Royal Caribbean policy changes

Speaking of the new Main Dining Room menu, don’t be surprised if Royal Caribbean announces more changes in 2023.

Any current offerings and policies are always subject to change. 2022, for example, saw many policy changes, including:

• Diamond Plus no longer allowed in Concierge Club
• Daily drink vouchers changed from resetting at midnight to resetting at 5AM
• À la carte restaurants can only be visited once per day with Unlimited Dining Package

Looking back at these changes in 2022, it’s possible that additional policies may change, be added, or be removed in 2023.

17. DO consider packing for a cruise in a carry-on

Lost luggage is one of the worst mishaps that can happen en route to a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you’re sailing on a short cruise–or are a light packer–consider bringing a carry-on bag to your cruise instead of checking in large suitcases at the airport.

Related: The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

You can fit a surprising number of clothes in a carry-on suitcase, and you can always do laundry halfway through your cruise if you run out of clean clothes. Plus–best of all–you won’t have to worry about your luggage going missing while traveling to the cruise port.

18. DO expect higher prices than last year

Following the restart of the cruise industry in 2021, cruise fares were lower due to less demand, which continued into 2022. In 2023, though, don’t expect to find cruise fare prices as low as the previous two years.

Related: How much does a cruise cost?

Luckily, there are still many ways to cruise on a budget, including staying in a lower category cabin, sticking to complimentary dining options, and exploring on your own in port versus booking an excursion.

Related: How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget

19. DO look for last-minute cruise deals

While cruise fares are higher than last year, you’ll still have the chance to find fantastic last-minute cruise deals. Last-minute deals can be found year round, but are most commonly found during non-peak times of the year.

Less busy months for cruises, such as January, September, and October, see less demand, thus opening up the possibility for last-minute deals. 

If you’re looking to cruise on the cheap in 2023, make sure you know the ins and outs of finding last-minute deals:

• How to get last-minute cruise deals
• Why January is the best time for last-minute cruises
• Why booking a last-minute cruise isn’t always a great idea

20. DON'T expect less crowded ships

A year ago cruises were still operating at limited capacity, and it wasn’t uncommon to feel as if you had the entire ship to yourself. Nowadays, however, this is not the case, and you can expect Royal Caribbean ships to operate near 100% capacity throughout 2023.

21. DON’T overlook Royal Caribbean’s older ships

If you’re planning a cruise in 2023 but aren’t sure which ship to pick, don’t overlook the older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Older ships, while not as big and modern as the newest ships, offer their own set of benefits.

Whether cheaper cruise fares, more unique itineraries, or a relaxed atmosphere onboard, there are many reasons to book a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s older ships.

For more tips and information about sailing on older Royal Caribbean cruise ships, start here:

• Pros and cons of sailing on an older Royal Caribbean cruise ship
• 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

22. DO expect ships in new ports

Several Royal Caribbean ships have been deployed to new homeports in 2023 whereas others will be cruising to new destinations for the very first time.

Harmony of the Seas, for example, will be homeported in Miami for the first time, whereas Brilliance of the Seas will offer cruises to Alaska.

Likewise, Wonder of the Seas will offer Caribbean cruises throughout the summer, a first for the ship as she spent her inaugural summer season in Europe in 2022.

23. DO understand the new à la carte dining change

Royal Caribbean added a daily limit to the Unlimited Dining Package at à la carte restaurants, and this is something to be aware of as you cruise in 2023.

For restaurants with à la carte pricing, each guest with an Unlimited Dining Package will receive a $20 food credit which can only be used once per day.

This means you cannot dine at Playmakers for lunch and dinner on the same day and have both meals be covered with your dining package. You can, however, dine at two separate à la carte restaurants on the same day (Playmakers for lunch and Portside BBQ for dinner), and have both of these included in your dining package.

Looking around a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you’ll undoubtedly see many families enjoying their vacation together.

Cruises are an excellent vacation choice to suit many different travel styles; in fact, it’s not uncommon to see multiple generations traveling together on a cruise ship for this reason.

I grew up as a cruise kid, taking to the high seas with my parents and sister year after year for family cruises. Even into high school and through college, our family of four made it a priority to continue taking cruises and traveling together. 

Being married and living thousands of miles away from home now (my parents in South Dakota and I in Florida), continuing to cruise allows us to have quality time together as a family. My husband is a military pilot and, unfortunately, his demanding work and deployment schedule hasn’t aligned recently with our family cruises.

Now, as I near my 30s in the coming years, I still prioritize cruising with my 62-year-old parents - but it’s a totally different dynamic than it used to be.

We have yet to take a family cruise in my adulthood that hasn’t had its fair share of tiffs, head-butting and even a few tears. Honestly, it seems like the bigger the trip, the more opportunities for drama to arise. 

All this to say, I wouldn’t change it for the world - we love our family unconditionally even when they drive us nuts, right?

In October, I set sail on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas for a 12-night Holy Land cruise to Israel. This sailing was a bucket-list itinerary for my dad, as he’s dreamed of visiting the religious sites in Israel for the last decade. With the pandemic pushing back our plans, we finally made the trip happen!

My husband was booked originally to join, but (as anyone with a family member in the military knows) those plans had to change with his training schedule. 

It would be just the four of us with my sister and I sharing a cabin and our family of four finding a new groove while navigating this port-intensive, culturally immersive cruise. 

Here are my best tips for other adults looking to survive a cruise with your parents. 

Pack your patience

My best tip for cruising with your parents is to pack your patience - and a lot of it!

With each family cruise we take, I have to remind myself there’s always an adjustment period when the four of us are spending that much time together. Without my husband there to create a natural separation in the family between the two of us and the three of them, the four of us have to get used to each other again.

Traveling and cruising meshes everyone together quickly, but that’s not without a learning curve to adjust to a new dynamic. 

For our family, this means my dad’s always in a hurry and my mom is a notorious worry-wart. I’m the bossy, outspoken older sibling while my sister can be oblivious at times about the plan. I know these things about our family and I have to remind myself to be patient and accept everyone’s quirks. 

My patience was immediately tested as my sister and I flew to Rome from Paris to meet up with our parents prior to the cruise. As we tried to find a meeting point, mom and dad were in a tizzy trying to figure out which terminal they landed in and where their shuttle was picking them up. 

“Here we go” my sister and I laughed to one another as we heard them frantic on the phone, attempting to read signs in Italian about where they were. 

Packing your patience also involves allocating more time than you think for travel and cruising logistics. 

For instance, my dad prefers to get to the airport or train station way before we need to (I’m talking like 3 hours before departure). While I certainly don’t need that much time to catch a flight or train, I would rather be patient and wait additional time at the airport than create unnecessary stress for my parents. 

Similarly, cruising has continued to utilize technology to improve the onboarding experience; however, this requires most passengers to be familiar with their phones and the Royal Caribbean app.

While my parents are pretty tech savvy, be prepared to help with technology to ensure they can keep up. 

Go at you parents’ pace

When you’re an adult cruising with your parents, it’s best to take everything at their pace. Remember, it’s easier for you to slow down than it is for your parents to speed up.

It’s not always easy to come to terms with our parents getting older and seeing their capabilities change over the years. While my parents are still relatively young and healthy in their early 60s, my sister and I try not to push them too much.

We would rather go a bit slower so we can all enjoy our time together than pressure our parents to do more than they are comfortable with.  

For example, while my sister and I loved the convenience of riding electric scooters around Paris before we boarded the cruise, we knew our parents would simply not be able to ride these scooters - nor did we want them to for safety reasons!

Instead, we would take point to order Ubers or taxis for the four of us so our parents didn’t have to navigate these apps or attempt to hail a cab in a foreign country.   

Similarly, we picked excursions and activities that could accommodate our parents with what they were comfortable doing. Pushing them to keep up with us could be a point of contention.

Take time for yourself

There’s nothing wrong with taking some time to yourself when cruising with your parents. Having time to yourself is a great way to ensure you are properly getting your rest and it also ensures you don’t get burnt out.

Personally, I prefer to go to bed earlier than my parents do these days - how the tables have turned!

Instead of forcing myself to stay up late and attend every show, trivia and gameshow in the evenings, I don’t have a problem excusing myself for the night. This alone time is something I enjoy having to myself when traveling with my parents. 

Sometimes I use this quiet time to catch up on remote work, blog for Royal Caribbean Blog or FaceTime my husband. 

Having this time to yourself isn’t selfish - remember, it’s your vacation too. You are getting plenty of quality time together, so you don’t need to spend every waking moment with one another. 

I’ve even had times on an excursion or tour where I didn’t feel like waiting around for my parents while they were slowly meandering or shopping; it’s okay to walk away once in a while to have a moment to yourself and separate from the group.

Plan ahead strategically

Making appropriate plans that everyone in your family can enjoy is another great tip for cruising with your parents. 

While my husband and I might prefer doing independent exploration in port rather than excursions, this doesn’t always work best with my parents. 

On our 12-night Holy Land cruise, we booked 3 full day excursions in Israel and a full-day tour in Santorini. I made sure that none of the excursions required too much walking or hiking on uneven surfaces, as I didn’t want my parents to overdue anything. 

Santorini can be a logistically challenging port because you are not only required to tender from the cruise ship, you are required to take a cable car, donkey or long walk down a lot of stairs. The cable car can get very congested during busy days, which can compound an already stressful situation. 

However, if you book the right excursion that involves coach busses, you can avoid this predicament.

Although my husband and I didn’t have any issue a few years ago doing the stairs at the tender port, I knew this would be very stressful for my parents to deal with the donkey or cable car.

For this reason, I purposefully chose an excursion that utilized coach busses to ensure we weren’t put in this potential situation. 

Planning ahead to ensure everyone is comfortable with the excursions and tours is key for successfully cruising with your parents. Read the warnings carefully and make sure your parents are okay with the tour requirements. 

Set realistic expectations

You know your parents just about as good as anyone, so set realistic expectations with yourself before heading out on your cruise. 

My parents are notoriously bubbly, Midwestern-friendly and very talkative. They can be loud - and we all know it. This can certainly draw attention to our family when cruising, even though they are just being themselves. But, I mentally prepare for this and accept that it's going to happen when we cruise together. 

After traveling a lot on my own or with my husband these days, these are things that I notice more when I am back together with my family. You only ever know your own immediate family growing up, so you are used to whatever that dynamic is. 

These days, my husband and I naturally have our own family dynamic, which can add to the adjusting time when I am cruising with my parents. 

But, this means we always have a lot of fun together laughing, talking and catching up when I cruise with my parents. It might also mean that I have to eat dinner at 5:00pm, though! 

Go with the flow

When I cruise with my parents, I have to remind myself to go with the flow often. 

Sometimes my parents have different interests than I do these days, which is totally fine! It’s tough to please everyone, but this means there will be compromise on how you spend your time both onboard and in port.

While my husband and I might enjoy trying out small coffee shops, eating local cuisine and sipping on a seaside cocktail, my parents aren’t necessarily interested in doing that. They will appease me once in a while, but our cruising styles are a little different. 

I remind myself that if I wanted to do exactly what I’d like to do on a cruise, then I would have simply taken a cruise without my parents. We are there to experience these moments together and that quality time is most important.

Sometimes that means going with the flow if everyone in your family is able to agree on what to do, where to go, etc. 

Also, don't forget that your parents are also adjusting to traveling with you in the same way you are adjusting to cruising with them. When I told my family about this article, my mom joked about wanting to share what their experience is like cruising with adult children!

Enjoy the moments

Time together is precious, especially as you get older. Moving to Florida because of my husband’s military service means that I don’t get to see my parents very often. 

While traveling and cruising with your parents as an adult can come with its challenges, it’s also an incredible opportunity to make new family memories together. It’s hard for me to turn down that quality time with my parents while they are relatively young, healthy and still able to travel. 

Although we can have our inevitable scuffs when traveling, I wouldn’t trade the special moments and experiences we’ve had together for the world. 

I love that my family still enjoys cruising together, even as my sister and I have become grown-adults. 

Seeing my mom with tears in her eyes as my dad stepped into the Jordan River in Israel - something he’s always wanted to do - makes everything worthwhile. 

Quality time with your parents is priceless, and I will continue to prioritize cruising with my family as long as I am able. 

I love sharing cruise tips and tricks because it helps people have a better cruise, and I'm always looking for new secrets.

The TikTok social media platform has become well-known for sharing advice on just about every topic, including going on a cruise.

Just like anything on the internet, just because it's on the internet, doesn't mean it's true.  So I wanted to check out the top cruise advice to see which tips were being shared and if I agreed with them or not.

I spent a couple hours checking out every cruise related tag to see what tips I could find, and I'm happy to report the vast majority of tips were quite helpful and the sort of tried-and-true advice that has been shared for years.

There really was no outlandish or bizarre advice that truly defied logic. I guess that's still relegated to investment advice on there.

But I did find 7 popular videos that cover various aspects of going on a cruise with tips and tricks that I thought were worth evaluating since they had fairly high view counts.

Be sure to follow Royal Caribbean Blog on TikTok if you don't already for our own collection of cruise tips and fun videos!

Let's dig into these cruise tips!

Bring your swimsuit on the first day

@yourstrulychelsea A tip for first time cruisers #cruise #cruiselife #cruisetips #cruisetipsandtricks #cruisehacks #vacation #royalcarribean #royalcarribeancruise #carnivalcruise #carnivalcruiseline #virgincruise #virgincruiseline #norwegiancruise #disneycruise #disneycruiseline #ocean #cruisequestions #cruisequestionsanswered #qanda #cruisefacts #goingonacruise #crusingtok #cruisetok #cruisetiktok #cruisetiktoks #cruiseessentials #cruisefood ♬ Good Day - Nappy Roots

The first video I found was by yourstrulychelsea and it talks about wearing your swimsuit on the first day of the cruise.

"Be sure to bring your swimsuit in a carry on bag or wear it under your clothes," she shared because of how uncrowded pool deck activities can be on the first day.

She recommended it for the water slides, FlowRider and even pools or hot tubs.

Matt's advice: I totally agree with Chelsea, and this is very underutilized tip.

Pack your bathing suit in a carry on bag and then change in one of the public restrooms.  By bringing bathing suits with you to change into on embarkation day, you will be able to enjoy the pools and hot tubs without the crowds that will soon arrive for the rest of the cruise.

Verdict: True

Read more: 25 things you need to know for your first day on a cruise ship

Don't shower in your stateroom

@joe_tolley My number one cruise tip… #cruise #cruiseship #cruisetok #royalcaribbean #carnivalcruise #disneycruise #norwegiancruise #fyp #foryoupage ♬ Blue Blood - Heinz Kiessling & Various Artists

Our next tip is by joe_tolley and he advises instead of using the shower in your cabin (or having to share it with someone in your cabin), use the free showers in the fitness center.

He says for guests to go to the changing room in the ship's gym where you'll find (likely) a nearly empty space where you can enjoy a complimentary sauna, steam room, and of an extra large shower.

Matt's advice: There's some truth to what Joe recommends, but it depends on your ship.

He's right that every ship's fitness center has a changing room and shower that you could use. No denying that piece of advice.

The issue is not all ships offer complimentary sauna and/or steam rooms for guest use.

To the best of my knowledge, these ships offer complimentary steam rooms and saunas in the fitness center changing rooms:

• Adventure of the Seas 
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Rhapsody of the Seas
• Serenade of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas

The rest of the ships do not offer these.

Verdict: Somewhat true

Don't pack towels

@yourstrulychelsea #cruise #cruiselife #cruisetips #cruisetipsandtricks #cruisehacks #vacation #royalcarribean #royalcarribeancruise #carnivalcruise #carnivalcruiseline #virgincruise #virgincruiseline #norwegiancruise #disneycruise #disneycruiseline #ocean #cruisequestions #cruisequestionsanswered #qanda #cruisefacts #goingonacruise #crusingtok #cruisetok #cruisetiktok #cruisetiktoks ♬ Anti-Hero - Taylor Swift

Another TikTok by yourstrulychelsea says not to pack towels because the cruise ship will provide them.

"You can use them at the pool and you can take them off the boat and use them in port."

She also advocated returning them to avoid being charged for them later.

Matt's advice: Chelsea is correct again, there's no need to bring towels with you on a cruise ship.

I think maybe some people think they should pack towels for use on a shore excursion, but Royal Caribbean's towels are more than sufficient. 

You can get the towels from the pool deck. Don't take the bath towels in your cabin off the ship.

And Chelsea is also right about the hefty fee if you don't return them. It's $25 per towel for any unreturned towels after the cruise is over, whether you take them home or left them somewhere.

Verdict: True

Hacks for Cruisers from a Crew Member

@ezrafreeman PART 1: Hacks for Cruisers from a Crew Member!!!! 🥳🚢 did you know you could do this!?!? #cruiseship #travelhack #travel #cruisehacks #cruising ♬ original sound - Ezra 🙏 Georgian-American Life

Ezra works on a Princess Cruises ship and listed tips and hacks for cruisers from a crew member perspective.

She recommends asking the activities staff to add events to the calendar if there's something you think is missing.

"This is something people don't take advantage of," she says in her TikTok. "You can literally add it in. You have way more power than you realize, as guests."

She says it's their job to keep guests happy and if the staff can add it to the schedule, they absolutely will.

She mentions an example of when a guest wanted more outdoor deck parties on a recent sailing instead of the one they had on the schedule.  They ended up adding one every day of the cruise as a result of the request.

Matt's advice: I'm certainly not going to doubt a crew member as to whether or not this is possible.

I think it's a terrific piece of advice that most are unaware of, but I think the important thing to remember is the activities staff can't accommodate every request.

On an Anthem of the Seas cruise I took a few years ago, I remember asking the Cruise Director about an event I didn't see on the schedule and he checked on it and then was able to get it added to the calendar.

Piggybacking on Ezra's tip, I'll add it's important to get the request in early on in the sailing so they have time to circle back with their team and verify it can be done and then still have time to add it to the schedule.

Also keep in mind that they'll likely schedule it where there's a gap, and that doesn't necessarily mean it will be at a convenient time for you.

Nonetheless, this is a terrific piece of advice to keep in mind if your favorite activity isn't listed.

Verdict: True

Unconventional packing tips

@flyingwithjames Unconventional packing tips for a cruise — thank me later 💡 #carnivalcruise #carnivalpanorama #cruisetips #cruiselife #traveltips #packingtips #cruisingtok #fyp ♬ Che La Luna - Louis Prima

This video had 2.4 million views and included these items you should pack:

• Over the door shoe organizer
• Multi-plug outlet
• Magnetic hooks
• Laundry hamper
• Nightlights

Matt's advice: Having recently put these packing hacks to the test, I agree with flyingwithjames' advice.

The only tip I personally don't find useful is the over the door organizer, just because I don't find it all that useful.  But I do recognize others may find it helpful.

Regardless, these are smart ideas to bring on your next cruise.

Verdict: True

Five things I would never do while cruising

@dutchworld_americangirl Five things I would never do while cruising #cruise #cruiseship #hollandamericaline #cruisedirector #alaska #caribbean #europe #travel #dontdothis #traveltips ♬ Sunroof - Nicky Youre & dazy

Another (former?) cruise director, dutchworld_americangirl, shared her list of 5 things she would never do when taking a cruise.

1. Never fly in the same day of the cruise
2. Picking cruise line more important than picking destination
3. Never travel internationally without travel insurance
4. Book shore excursions with the cruise line
5. Never forget to put phone into airplane mode

Matt's advice: I agree with all of Christine's advice, but there are two pieces of her advice I want to expand upon.

Her suggestion to pick the cruise line before picking the destination is very interesting, and I like this tip a lot.

She talks about the importance of knowing what you are looking for in a ship, such as water slides, being able to learn something, dining options and more.  Figure that out first, and then look at where you can sail to.

I think a lot of first time cruisers can overlook this tip because they may assume all cruise lines are mostly the same.  Cruise lines can vary quite a bit in terms of how the onboard experience, as well as what they excel in.  It's a very good idea to learn about the line and ship you're considering before you start looking at where you can go.

Her other tip is to book shore excursions through the cruise line, "if you're in a port of call for only a limited amount of time."

The reason why she recommends this is if there's some kind of an unexpected issue during the tour that prevents you from getting back to the ship on time. Cruise line sponsored tours have the benefit of ensuring they'll get you back even if the tour is delayed.

This is definitely true, although I think you can safely book a tour on your own provided you give enough time before the all-aboard time to protect against traffic, flat tires, or some other delay.

How much time should you pad? Two hours is a good number to start with.

But there's nothing wrong with booking a tour with the cruise line if that concern is too great for you.

Verdict: True

Get free credit card points or cash back

@thecreditbrothers The Cruise Ship Hack To Get Free Credit Card Points Or Cash Back @alexojeda ♬ original sound - Credit Brothers

I tried to find a piece of cruise advice I've never shared and something I haven't really heard of either, and I think I found it with this tip from thecreditbrothers.

Their advice is if you have a credit card that gives you 2 or 3 times points back on travel purchases, to get up to $2,000 per day in cash advances from the ship's casino. 

Because that cash advance gets billed to your room, the charge to the credit card after the cruise will still be from "Royal Caribbean", it will be categorized as a travel charge.

In their example, on a 7-night cruise where you take $2,000 out every day, you'll rack up $14,000 in cash and that counts for (up to) 42,000 credit card points.

That is the equivalent of $420 in cash back, or just a ton of points to redeem for travel or something else.

Matt's advice: I can't speak for all cruise lines, but this advice has a major catch if you're brand new to Royal Caribbean or someone that doesn't gamble a lot in the casino.

Yes, you can take out cash advances every day of your cruise and those charges do come back to your credit card as a travel category charge because everything on your SeaPass account gets lumped into one final cost at the end of the cruise.  If you had the right travel credit card, it would then qualify you for bonus credit card points.

The catch is the fee the casino charges (besides having $14,000 in disposable income you can draw from and a high enough limit not to hit).

Casino Royale on Royal Caribbean charges 5% on every cash advance you make at a table or from the cashier.

There is a workaround, where any money you take out as a cash advance from a slot machine does not accrue the 5% charge for some reason.

However, the slot machine limits you to $500 per cash advance, as I recall. You may be able to get $500 four times a day from the slot machine, but I've never tried it.

Another workaround is if you are Prime or higher in the Casino Royale loyalty program, but I suspect not many people are at that level.

So this hack is feasible, but not for everyone. And the financial responsibility side of this hack is an entirely different question that you need to evaluate for yourself.

Verdict: Theoretically possible, but maybe not a great idea.