The final word information to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

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For megaresort lovers, Royal Caribbean often is the final cruise line.

The road’s greatest ships are greater than every other cruise vessels afloat, they usually’re chock-full of extra eating places, bars, leisure zones and sights than you may discover anyplace else at sea — and even at lots of the greatest land resorts.

On Royal Caribbean’s large Oasis Class and Icon Class ships, there are a number of pool areas, watery play zones, mountain climbing partitions, browsing simulators, miniature golf programs, basketball courts and even zip traces. And that is simply on the highest deck. Inside areas convey all the pieces from full-size spas and huge casinos to Broadway-quality theaters with top-name reveals.

For extra cruise guides, suggestions and information, join TPG’s cruise publication.

Some Royal Caribbean ships even function ice skating rinks. Actually.

If all that looks as if an excessive amount of to suit on a cruise vessel, think about this: The largest Royal Caribbean ships are 20 decks excessive, practically 1,200 toes lengthy and able to carrying greater than 7,000 passengers.

In brief, they’re just like the megaresorts you see in Las Vegas or Orlando. Besides they float.

3 issues TPG loves about Royal Caribbean

  • The unimaginable array of onboard actions
  • The over-the-top tremendous suites on some ships
  • The highest-notch leisure, together with Broadway reveals

What we might do with out

  • Offered-out reveals, notably in onboard comedy golf equipment

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The Royal Caribbean fleet

Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line by passenger capability, with 27 ships that collectively supply practically 100,000 berths.

These 27 ships embody the world’s six greatest cruise vessels — Icon of the Seas, Marvel of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Concord of the Seas, Attract of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas — every of which may maintain greater than 6,600 passengers.

5 of the these six large ships, all comparable in design, are a part of what’s often known as the Oasis Class — a massively standard collection of huge megaships that started debuting in 2009 and have modified the face of cruising. A sixth Oasis Class ship — Utopia of the Seas — is scheduled to affix the fleet later this 12 months, and the road lately ordered a seventh vessel within the collection that’ll be prepared in 2028.

The outlier among the many six ships talked about above is Icon of the Seas, which is not an Oasis Class ship however the first of an all-new collection of even greater vessels referred to as the Icon Class. At, 250,800 tons, It is presently the world’s greatest cruise ship. Royal Caribbean has ordered two extra Icon Class ships that can start crusing in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

The sheer scale of Royal Caribbean’s greatest ships is usually laborious for first-time cruisers to fathom. Icon of the Seas, proven right here, is 20 decks excessive and longer than 4 soccer fields. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean’s 5 Oasis Class ships are among the many greatest ships on the earth. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

The Oasis Class and Icon Class ships are usually not the one biggies within the Royal Caribbean fleet. 5 massive Quantum Class ships and three massive Freedom Class ships every have whole capacities starting from round 4,500 to five,600 passengers.

Add these in, and Royal Caribbean operates 14 of the world’s 35 greatest cruise ships.

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The road additionally operates 5 considerably smaller Voyager Class vessels that may every maintain round 3,800 passengers at most occupancy.

Collectively, the 19 Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager class vessels make up Royal Caribbean’s big-ship fleet.

The road’s remaining eight vessels, break up amongst two courses, are comparatively smaller, with most occupancy topping out at round 2,500 passengers.

Whereas not essentially the main target at Royal Caribbean, these smaller ships, which generally are the road’s older ships, permit it to supply itineraries to locations that are not as straightforward for large ships to go to. Not all ports on the earth can deal with a ship the scale of Marvel of the Seas.

The smaller ships additionally enchantment to a subset of Royal Caribbean followers who like a bit extra intimacy in a cruise vessel and do not thoughts giving up some onboard facilities to get it. These ships are additionally typically cheaper for vacationers on a per-day foundation.

Whereas most Royal Caribbean ships are large by any measure, the road operates a handful of smaller vessels, such because the 73,817-ton Grandeur of the Seas. JUAN MANUEL GARCIA/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

With every step-down in measurement, you may discover fewer eating places, bars, leisure choices and sights. Nevertheless, even the smallest of Royal Caribbean ships nonetheless have fairly a bit to supply.

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Locations and itineraries

Royal Caribbean sails virtually in all places on the earth, however its heaviest presence is within the Caribbean and Europe. In a typical summer time, the road will deploy about half its ships on sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda whereas sending one other seven or eight ships to Europe. The road sometimes sends 4 ships each summer time to Alaska.

In the course of the winter, the road will transfer much more of its ships to the Caribbean and ship a number of to Asia and Australia.

In recent times, Royal Caribbean has deployed a number of ships to China for sailings aimed on the Chinese language market. One of many line’s latest ships, Spectrum of the Seas, has supplied journeys for Chinese language vacationers out of Shanghai and Tianjin, China (the port for Beijing).

In North America, Royal Caribbean ships typically sail out of PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades and Tampa in Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Galveston, Texas; New Orleans; Bayonne, New Jersey (one of many ports for New York Metropolis); Baltimore; Boston; Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska.

In Europe, Royal Caribbean ships principally sail out of Southampton, England; Amsterdam; Copenhagen; Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); Istanbul; Barcelona; Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome) and — since 2021 — Ravenna, Italy (which changed Venice as a house port).

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Who sails Royal Caribbean?

For essentially the most half, Royal Caribbean operates massive, bustling megaships that can enchantment to individuals who like a megaresort expertise. In different phrases, for those who’re the form of one who loves staying on property at Disney World or at an enormous Las Vegas resort, that is the road for you. Royal Caribbean ships supply vacationers a ton of choices, whether or not it’s for eating (some vessels have greater than 20 distinct locations to seize a chunk) or leisure. They’re vigorous and enjoyable.

That mentioned, additionally they supply serene spots. You’ll be able to get pleasure from a quiet afternoon studying a guide on a bench within the tree-lined Central Park space of Marvel of the Seas whereas, just some decks above, hundreds of vacationers frolic away on the ship’s three distinct pool areas. Royal Caribbean’s designers are masters at designing vessels that may carry hundreds and hundreds of individuals however nonetheless really feel comparatively uncrowded — at the least in some areas.

Insider tip: To flee the bustle on a Royal Caribbean ship, search out the comparatively quiet Solarium. It is an adult-only, deck-top retreat discovered on each Royal Caribbean vessel.

The outside Central Park on Symphony of the Seas provides a quiet respite from the bustle of different elements of the ship. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Royal Caribbean ships supply an inordinate quantity of teen- and tween-friendly sights — all the pieces from a number of the largest waterslides at sea to bumper automobile pavilions. That makes them notably interesting to households, together with multigenerational teams. Households are an enormous a part of Royal Caribbean’s enterprise.

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It isn’t simply households that flock to Royal Caribbean, although. The road’s ships are designed to offer a bit one thing for everybody, they usually enchantment to a large demographic, together with {couples} of all ages and even solo vacationers (the road has added solo cabins to extra ships lately).

The ships additionally draw clients from a variety of incomes. Plentiful smaller and reasonably priced cabins, included informal eating choices, and a plethora of bars and onboard sights give Royal Caribbean ships a for-the-masses really feel and make them accessible to vacationers on a finances.

Additionally, overlaid throughout most ships are high-end suites, eateries and companies which are at a luxurious stage, and the road attracts an excellent variety of luxury-seeking vacationers. Royal Caribbean executives prefer to say that in the event that they carved out all of the suites on their ships as a separate enterprise, it might be the most important luxurious cruise line on the earth.

What Royal Caribbean cruisers all have in frequent is that they love an enormous, bustling resort expertise.

Cabins and suites

Royal Caribbean is understood for providing a variety of lodging on its ships. Some ships have as many as 34 classes of cabins. You may discover all the pieces from comparatively low-cost, windowless inside cabins measuring simply 149 sq. toes (good for the finances traveler) to huge, multiroom suites which are greater than 10 instances that measurement.

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On the excessive finish, the lodging are aimed toward well-heeled vacationers who, for no matter purpose, desire the megaship expertise to being on a luxurious ship, and these really are among the many most spectacular lodging at sea. Some, such because the Royal Loft Suites discovered on Oasis Class ships, are two decks excessive with sweeping views throughout the highest of the vessel. Icon of the Seas has a set that’s three decks excessive — the tallest suite in all of cruising.

Royal Loft Suites on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships are two decks excessive with hovering ceilings in a central lounge space. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
The everyday “commonplace” cabin on Royal Caribbean ships appears to be like extra like this. It is a class D8 “Superior Ocean View with Balcony” cabin on Concord of the Seas. MICHEL VERDURE/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Relying on the ship, prime suites can include such perks as non-public butlers (referred to as Royal Genies) who attend to your each want, entry to a personal restaurant, entry to a personal suite lounge and solar deck, reserved seating in leisure venues, and precedence boarding and disembarkation.

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Eating places and eating

Whereas a number of of Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships have comparatively restricted eating choices, a lot of the line’s vessels supply so many decisions that it could possibly virtually be overwhelming.

On Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships there are greater than 20 locations to seize a chunk, starting from Johnny Rockets diners to high-end eating places serving six-course tasting menus.

Each vessel has a predominant eating room and an informal buffet eatery the place meals are included within the fare — the latter referred to as both Windjammer Café or Windjammer Market. For dinner in the principle eating room, you have to join both My Time Eating, which is the place you go everytime you need, or Conventional Eating, the place you will have a set desk and dinner time.

The principle eating room on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Sorrento’s on Royal Caribbean’s Concord of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Different included-in-the-fare choices discovered on some ships embody Sorrento’s pizza parlors, the Mediterranean cuisine-themed Solarium Bistro and the espresso bar Cafe Promenade.

As well as, each ship has a least one — and generally many — extra-charge eateries. The commonest one discovered throughout the fleet is Chops Grille, the road’s signature steakhouse. Many ships even have an Italian eatery, referred to as both Giovanni’s Desk or Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver. There’s additionally Hooked Seafood, a comparatively new idea now on 4 vessels (Icon of the Seas, Marvel of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas) that serves lobster rolls, fish sandwiches and the like.

On some ships, you may additionally discover Izumi, a sushi-serving Asian eatery; Vintages, a small bite-serving wine bar; imaginative cuisine-serving Wonderland; and Playmakers Sports activities Bar & Arcade, which provides chilly brews, burgers and wings together with video games like foosball.

Royal Caribbean’s Concord of the Seas has an Asian-themed hibachi restaurant referred to as Izumi Hibachi. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

There are full-blown Starbucks cafes on some ships or at the least a Starbucks stand.

As well as, some ships function non-public eating places only for passengers staying in suites together with top-tier members of the road’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program.

A number of the extra-charge eateries include a flat payment, often round $35 to $50 per particular person, not together with the price of drinks. Others are a la carte.

If you need to eat at a number of extra-charge eating places throughout your voyage, you should purchase certainly one of a number of eating packages that supply meals at a reduction.

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Leisure and actions

No different cruise line has as broad a variety of leisure and actions on its ships as Royal Caribbean. As famous above, the road’s greatest vessels supply a number of leisure venues, from theaters to comedy golf equipment; all method of deck-top sights; giant casinos; full-service spas; and even ice skating rinks. Plus, you may discover extra bars, lounges and nightspots than you possibly can assume attainable.

Theaters and reveals

One in every of Royal Caribbean’s nice strengths is its theater leisure, which could be mind-blowing at instances — i.e., you will not consider you are seeing what you are seeing on a cruise ship.

Lots of Royal Caribbean’s greatest ships have state-of-the-art theaters as massive as you may discover on Broadway, with top-name Broadway reveals. Symphony of the Seas has “Hairspray,” as an illustration, and Oasis of the Seas has Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.”

In some circumstances, the reveals are minimize down barely (although some nonetheless run practically two hours), and the casts aren’t the A-team you may discover on Broadway. Nevertheless, these are high quality productions. The most effective half is — they’re totally free. Evaluate that with the a whole lot of {dollars} you may spend to take your loved ones to a present in New York Metropolis.

The musical “Hairspray” is on Symphony of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Much more “wow,” as Royal Caribbean executives prefer to say, are the ice skating reveals placed on on the ice skating rinks discovered on 14 of the road’s ships. The rinks are within the interiors of the ships, surrounded by stadium seating for as much as 775 folks, and the reveals are out of this world.

The road has employed Olympic-level skaters to star within the productions. In actual fact, the road likes to boast that it employs extra world-class skilled skaters than every other firm on the earth.

On Oasis Class ships, there are also 735-seat outside “aqua theaters” which are house to dazzling aerial and water reveals (Icon of the Seas has its personal model of this beneath a glass dome referred to as the AquaDome). Quantum Class ships have Two70, a rare, high-tech theater area that gives multisensory reveals combining singing, dancing and acrobatics.

The ice present “1977” on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
The 735-seat, outside AquaTheater on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas is house to aerial and water reveals. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Some ships even have comedy golf equipment, and there is at all times reside music in a number of venues nightly. We’re notably keen on the two-deck-high Music Halls on Quantum Class vessels.

Insider tip: Make sure to guide the (free) tickets for onboard comedy golf equipment early. They generally promote out upfront on account of heavy demand and restricted capability.

Different inside sights and actions

Along with leisure areas, the interiors of Royal Caribbean ships are loaded with different venues the place passengers can sit back and let free day and night time, together with a seemingly limitless array of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Each Royal Caribbean ship has a on line casino, and on the road’s greater vessels, these are massive operations. The On line casino Royale on Oasis of the Seas sprawls with 450 slot machines, 27 desk video games (together with blackjack, roulette and craps) and a poker site, plus its very personal bar. The casinos on the 4 different Oasis Class ships are equally large.

The on line casino on Quantum of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

The 14 vessels which are a part of the Voyager, Freedom, Oasis and Icon courses even have Royal Promenades — indoor, mall-like areas which are house to a number of the coolest bars at sea, in addition to meals retailers and retail retailers.

The model of the Royal Promenade on Oasis of the Seas, as an illustration, provides the Bionic Bar, the place a robotic makes the drinks, together with the equally modern Rising Tide Bar, which rises between the Royal Promenade and the outside Central Park space three decks above when you drink. There’s additionally a British pub, a karaoke lounge, a Latin-themed nightspot and — situated one deck up in a balcony space — the road’s signature Schooner Bar.

The Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean’s Attract of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
The Bionic Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

The road’s 5 Quantum Class vessels have a a lot smaller model of the Royal Promenade referred to as the Royal Esplanade that transitions into one other indoor space referred to as The Through.

The Quantum Class ships even have an indoor enjoyable zone often known as The SeaPlex that features a bumper automobile pavilion. When the bumper automobiles aren’t in use, the area transforms right into a curler rink, which can also be used as a “circus faculty” with classes on a flying trapeze. Different SeaPlex actions embody air hockey and desk tennis.

Bumper automobiles in The SeaPlex on Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

For one thing quieter and extra pampering, Royal Caribbean ships additionally all have spas. Some are monumental, with greater than two dozen remedy rooms and thermal areas with sizzling stone chairs, rainforest bathe areas, saunas and steam rooms.

Deck-top sights

The highest decks of Royal Caribbean ships are the place issues get wild. There’s stuff you simply will not see on every other vessel at sea.

There are swimming pools, in fact — on the larger ships, oodles of them. The Oasis Class ships have three distinct pool areas, in addition to a watery play zone for teenagers. A rising variety of Royal Caribbean ships even have water parks with vital waterslides.

The Excellent Storm advanced of waterslides is a spotlight of the highest deck of Royal Caribbean’s Concord of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Miniature golf programs, browsing simulators and basketball courts are frequent on the largest Royal Caribbean ships. MICHEL VERDURE/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

You may additionally discover all kinds of different fun-focused sights — large mountain climbing partitions, browsing simulators, zip traces, miniature golf programs and basketball courts, to call a number of. Some lately constructed ships even have skydiving simulators — large acrylic tubes the place you get to expertise the feeling of skydiving.

On Oasis Class ships, there’s additionally an out of doors Boardwalk space with a hand-carved carousel. On the brand new Icon Class ships, the Boardwalk space is changed with a watery play zone for youthful youngsters referred to as Surfside.

Skydiving simulator atop Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
A hand-carved carousel sits on the heart of the Boardwalk space on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Probably the most out-there deck-top sights on Royal Caribbean ships are certainly the North Star rides discovered on Quantum Class ships. Maybe essentially the most weird sights ever conceived for a cruise ship, they’re large mechanical arms topped with glass-enclosed capsules that can take you hovering above the ships for the view.

The North Star attraction on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

The North Star is mostly free to experience. It additionally could be booked for particular occasions, comparable to weddings, for a cost.

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Youngsters’s applications

Royal Caribbean has one of the crucial intensive kids’s applications at sea, with applications and actions for youngsters as younger as 6 months outdated by the age of 17.

The center of this system, referred to as Journey Ocean, has free, supervised actions every day for youngsters ages 3 to 12.

The road splits kids right here up into three age teams: Aquanauts (ages 3 to five years), Explorers (ages 6 to eight years) and Voyagers (ages 9 to 12 years), every with its personal age-appropriate actions starting from scavenger hunts to arts and crafts. On many ships, there are intensive devoted areas for the completely different teams.

Arts and crafts are among the many actions for youngsters on the Journey Ocean youngsters program space on Royal Caribbean ships. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Whereas the free programming ends at 10 p.m., you may pay further to go away your youngsters at Journey Ocean till 2 a.m., when it transforms right into a supervised Late Evening Occasion Zone.

Royal Caribbean additionally operates a Royal Infants nursery program for youngsters ages 6 to 18 months outdated that features interactive youngster and father or mother courses with actions developed by early childhood specialists. The Royal Tots program (for ages 18 months to three years) provides 45-minute interactive playground classes with age-appropriate actions and toys. Each applications are hosted by educated youth employees. On many ships, mother and father can drop off their infants on the nursery for short-term babysitting (this service comes with an additional cost).

Royal Caribbean additionally provides devoted teen and tween applications on ships for youngsters ages 12 to 17. On some vessels, such because the Quantum Class ships, you may discover a devoted area with video games and a widescreen TV referred to as The Dwelling Room the place teenagers can hang around, plus a teens-only disco referred to as Gas.

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What to know earlier than you go

Required paperwork

In case you’re a U.S. citizen on a cruise that begins and ends in a U.S. port, you may want both a present passport or an official copy of your delivery certificates and a driver’s license or different government-issued picture identification to sail. Passports should be legitimate for at the least six months. For cruises from worldwide ports, you may want a passport. The title in your reservation should be precisely as it’s said in your passport or different official proof of nationality.

Gratuities

Royal Caribbean provides an computerized service gratuity of $18 to $20.50 per particular person per day to ultimate payments, relying in your cabin class. If you’re sad with the service you obtain, you may modify this quantity on the Visitor Providers desk earlier than disembarking. An 18% gratuity is added to payments for bars, minibars, salons and spas.

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Wi-Fi

Royal Caribbean has one of many quickest Wi-Fi methods at sea — so quick that you simply’re capable of watch Netflix out of your room in your cell system. Pricing adjustments over time, however lately has been priced at $17.99 per day per system for a package deal that features streaming. There are also multi-device packages which are cheaper on a per-device foundation.

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Carry-on drinks coverage

Royal Caribbean means that you can convey two bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin onto ships at boarding, plus as much as a dozen commonplace cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks comparable to sodas. The road expenses a $15 corkage payment for those who convey the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or different public areas to drink.

Smoking coverage

Smoking (together with e-cigarette smoking) is allowed solely in designated outside areas, casinos and the cigar golf equipment discovered on Freedom Class and Voyager Class ships. It is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and people who violate this rule will face a $250 cleansing payment. Within the on line casino, solely cigarette smoking is allowed, and solely in designated areas on most ships (smoking in casinos is forbidden on sailings out of Australia and U.Okay. ports).

Laundry

Not like some traces, Royal Caribbean doesn’t construct self-service launderettes onto its ships. Vessels supply extra-charge laundry and dry cleansing companies.

Electrical retailers

All vessels have North American-style 110-volt retailers in rooms, in addition to European-style 220-volt retailers. A rising variety of vessels even have USB ports in cabins.

Foreign money

The forex used on all Royal Caribbean ships is U.S. {dollars}, regardless of the place they’re on the earth. All vessels function on a “cashless system,” with any onboard purchases you make posting mechanically to your onboard account. You may obtain a SeaPass card that you should use to make expenses.

Ingesting age

You should be 21 to devour alcohol on sailings originating in North America or the United Arab Emirates. The consuming age on sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is eighteen.

Costume code

In the course of the day, there isn’t any particular costume code, and other people costume casually. If it is a sea day in a warm-weather vacation spot, and also you’re certain for the highest deck, which means trying like you are going to the seaside — T-shirts, shorts and bathing fits (with a cover-up to go inside) are simply tremendous.

In the course of the evenings, there is an official costume code, however it solely applies to passengers coming into the principle eating room. On any given night time, certainly one of three costume codes will apply — informal, sensible informal or formal.

Informal means simply that — denims, polo shirts and sundresses. Good informal is a step as much as collared shirts, attire, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits, with a jacket for males non-compulsory. Formal formally means fits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail attire or night robes. Don’t be concerned for those who do not need to go that fancy, although. Not everyone performs into it. You may see most males sporting fits or sports activities coats and girls in cocktail attire.

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Royal Caribbean loyalty program

Royal Caribbean has a point-based frequent cruiser program, the Crown & Anchor Society, that has six tiers starting from Gold (requiring 3 factors) to Pinnacle Membership (700 factors).

Members earn factors for each night time they sail on one of many line’s ships, with double factors awarded to passengers staying in suites. It takes one cruise to hit the primary tier, Gold. It will take 5 cruises for those who’re doing seven-night journeys (fewer for those who’re in a set) to succeed in the second tier, Platinum (30 factors).

Decrease tiers do not convey all that a lot when it comes to really beneficial advantages. You may obtain issues like precedence check-in and a personal departure lounge with continental breakfast on the finish of a visit. Nevertheless, larger ranges of this system begin to be very attractive.

The second-to-highest tier, Diamond Plus (175 factors), brings Concierge Membership entry, precedence seating at onboard reveals, an unique quantity to name for bookings and lowered charges for solo vacationers, plus different issues. The highest Pinnacle Membership stage brings free cruises after hitting key milestones.

Observe that, not like airline frequent flyer applications, cruise line loyalty applications don’t require you to requalify for standing yearly. So, sure, the perks with decrease tiers aren’t nice, however it’s not as troublesome as it’d at first appear to hit the extra rewarding higher-level tiers in just some years for those who’re cruising so much.

A passenger staying in suites can get to the Diamond Plus stage with simply 13 seven-night cruises. Take a number of longer voyages, like a transatlantic crusing, and you’ll attain it even sooner.

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How a lot does a Royal Caribbean cruise value?

Royal Caribbean designs its ships to enchantment to a broad combine of individuals, partly by providing a variety of cabin varieties at various worth factors. On a typical crusing, you would possibly discover an entry-level cabin for round $100 per particular person per night time, whereas a high-end suite is 5 or 10 instances that quantity.

As of the time of this information’s posting, as an illustration, a two-bedroom Star Loft Suite on Concord of the Seas for a seven-night Caribbean cruise in January 2026 was going for $7,559 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy. That is greater than 11 instances the price of the least-expensive inside cabin (which was beginning at $646 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy). Balcony cabins on the identical crusing began at round $836 per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy.

Observe the “primarily based on double occupancy” caveat. As is typical for cruise traces, Royal Caribbean expenses on a per-person foundation, not per room, and it costs most cabins primarily based on two folks occupying a room. It does supply a small variety of cabins on some ships which are priced primarily based on single occupancy for solo vacationers.

Some Royal Caribbean ships have studio cabins for solo vacationers which are priced primarily based on single occupancy. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Normally, Royal Caribbean’s massive, resort-like Icon Class, Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships will probably be dearer than the road’s older, smaller vessels (Icon Class ships are notably dear). Nevertheless, there are quite a lot of elements that go into pricing for any given cruise, together with the recognition of the particular itinerary, the time of 12 months when the cruise is going down and altering demand traits.

As you would possibly anticipate, pricing for all ships will typically be much less throughout offseason durations comparable to September and October.

The timing of once you guide also can matter. Cruises guide up a lot additional upfront than airplanes or accommodations. Many cruisers will inform you that the very best pricing for any given crusing typically is obtainable when cruises first go on sale (which could be a good two years earlier than a departure). Reserving far upfront additionally provides you the very best likelihood of getting your most popular cabin kind and site on a ship.

As soon as on board a Royal Caribbean vessel, you may pay further for many drinks (most beers will set you again $7.99, as an illustration; wine by the glass ranges from $8 to $14), extra-charge eating places, spa companies, shore excursions, web service and some different issues — except you’ve got purchased a package deal for a few of these objects upfront.

Most onboard actions, comparable to mountain climbing and zip lining, are included within the fare, as are your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge eating places) and leisure.

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guide

In case you’re positive what kind of cabin you need, on which ship, on which itinerary — and a couple of dozen different issues — you may head over to RoyalCaribbean.com and guide straight.

That mentioned, given the complexity of reserving a cruise — there are quite a lot of choices to make in the course of the reserving course of, belief us — we advocate that you simply use a seasoned journey agent who makes a speciality of cruises.

A great journey agent will quiz you about your explicit pursuits, journey fashion and preferences and steer you to the proper cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. An agent additionally may also help you if one thing goes unsuitable earlier than, throughout or after your voyage.

In case you’re positive that Royal Caribbean is your line, search for a journey agent who makes a speciality of journeys with the model. You need somebody who is aware of all 34 of these cabin classes that we talked about above and, ideally, has carried out ship inspections to see them firsthand.

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Whether or not you utilize a journey agent or not, ensure that to maximise your bank card spend when paying for the cruise by utilizing a bank card that gives further factors for journey purchases. This might be the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which provides 3 Final Rewards factors per greenback on journey and eating (excluding the annual $300 journey credit score). There’s additionally the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card, which provides 2 Final Rewards factors per greenback on journey (and three Final Rewards factors per greenback on eating).

Backside line

Royal Caribbean has grown into the world’s greatest cruise line by passenger capability for a purpose. It has lengthy dazzled clients with gorgeous, resort-like vessels full of each form of amusement and exercise you possibly can think about.

In case you’re a megaresort lover, you may certainly love the road’s greatest ships, notably the enormous Oasis Class vessels. In case you’re extra of a small boutique resort form of particular person or somebody who simply is not completely satisfied round crowds, effectively … this won’t be the road for you.

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