Royal Caribbean

Last month, I got to experience my first cruise inside a suite cabin. Suites on a cruise are expensive, but fans seek them out for a luxurious, upgraded experience.

As a new cruiser, staying in a suite cabin was an experience on my bucket list because I wanted to see how different a suite is from an inside or balcony cabin. I set out to discover if the luxury is worth the huge jump in price.

Royal Caribbean got almost everything perfect with their newest and biggest cruise ship, but there were a few things I disliked about my recent cruise on Icon of the Seas.

When itineraries on Icon of the Seas became available to book nearly a year and a half ago, I immediately booked a cabin for the first sailing. Having cruised on most of Royal Caribbean’s ships, I was interested to see how Icon of the Seas would stack up against the rest of the fleet.

While the advertised rate for any Royal Caribbean cruise might seem like a good deal at first, there are a few hidden fees that won't be applied until the final stage of booking, such as port fees and gratuities. 

Depending on your itinerary and cabin selection, these two fees can add hundreds of dollars per person to the total cost, so it's important to be aware of what they are before you eagerly go to book the "cheap" cruise that you found. 

One of the most popular add-ons for a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation is a drink package. While the cost of your cruise does include certain drinks, you will have to pay extra for alcoholic and select non-alcoholic beverages. Perhaps the biggest factor when debating whether or not to get a package is the overall cost. 

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have their own private islands within The Bahamas — Perfect Day at CocoCay and Half Moon Cay — that can only be visited when sailing on one of their respective ships. 

You won't, for instance, find a cruise onboard the revolutionary Icon of the Seas to Half Moon Cay. Similarly, Carnival Conquest won't be visiting CocoCay. 

Embarking on your cruise vacation is an exciting experience. After all, a cruise promises adventure, relaxation, entertainment, and exotic destinations, all at your fingertips.

However, as you step onto the ship, it’s important to be well-prepared to make the most of your cruise experience.

When it comes to cruising, there are many cruising tips and insider secrets that can enhance your journey and ensure you have smooth sailing.

If you book a Royal Caribbean cruise during a certain promotion or with a travel agent, there's a chance you might get some free onboard credit to spend. 

As with anything that's "free," there are some restrictions as to how you can use it. You can't, for instance, use it to pay off some of your unpaid cruise fare. 

Knowing how to spend your Royal Caribbean onboard cruise wisely will help ensure you maximize its value and, therefore, your overall cruise vacation. 

Loyal fans of Royal Caribbean know how lucrative reaching Diamond status within the Crown and Anchor Society is. While that's not to say you won't benefit from perks before reaching 80 cruise points, they just are not as impressive. 

Towering 20 decks above the Miami shore, Icon of the Seas has made her long-awaited debut. With plenty of pomp and circumstance, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship is here!

Although Icon of the Seas won’t be welcoming guests onboard for two more weeks, I was able to get a sneak peek of the world’s newest and biggest cruise ship.