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Royal Caribbean

I paid $3,800 for a controversial balcony on the world's largest cruise ship. The space was larger than expected but didn't have an ocean view and lacked privacy

Icon of the Seas is one of the most expensive mainstream cruise ships at sea, and during her inaugural year, it wasn't uncommon to see rates as high as $2,000 per person for an interior cabin. 

My partner and I couldn't justify paying those prices for a windowless cabin, so we booked a weeklong cruise over a year in advance for July 2025. However, due to scheduling conflicts, we changed our sail date twice and ended up on a 7-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean in April. 

Guests on an overbooked cruise could get up to two sailings for free — here’s how

Royal Caribbean is offering guests aboard an upcoming cruise on Allure of the Seas some amazing compensation if they downgrade their stateroom or change sailings. 

Passengers booked on the May 15, 2025, sailing from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, received an email asking if anyone had flexible travel plans.

While they didn't explicitly state that the cruise is overbooked, they're looking for passengers to either move to a "cozy interior stateroom" or Odyssey of the Seas' May 18 sailing from Civitavecchia. 

I spent $7,400 on a 7-night trip on the world’s biggest cruise ship. Here's what everything cost, from a $3,800 cabin to a $990 drink package

Cruising has never been pricier, as the soaring demand has driven up fares across the industry. In addition to higher fares, onboard add-ons, including drink packages, specialty restaurants, and shore excursions, have also been subject to price hikes.

Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries in size, amenities, and price. When she launched in January 2024, it wasn't uncommon to find windowless inside cabins advertised for $2,000 per person!

There are 5 choices I'm really glad I made on my cruise on the world's largest ship — but one thing I'd skip next time for a better experience

I recently returned from a 7-night cruise aboard the world's largest ship, Icon of the Seas. I had been looking forward to this particular vacation for nearly a year and a half, and though hours of planning helped ensure a memorable experience, there's one mistake I wouldn't make again. 

I tried Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class for the first time. I hated the crowds but loved the never-ending activities

Welcome guest writer Sarah Cinq-Mars! Sarah's a 5th-grade teacher based in North Carolina. When she isn't teaching or being taught the latest slang by her students, she's catching up on true crime podcasts, playing with her 12-year-old dog, or checking out the area's hottest restaurants.

When I started cruising, I never knew there were ships as big as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class.

Royal Caribbean ships by age — from oldest to newest (2025)

One of the most popular cruise lines today, Royal Caribbean International, had a humble beginning when founded in 1968. 

Their first ship, the Song of Norway, was launched two years later in 1970. Though a much more modest vessel compared to today’s cruising standards, it was revolutionary.

Royal Caribbean continued to build and release more ships, but things really started to set off when the cruise line debuted Freedom Class ships, which were the largest cruise ships in the world until 2009 with the introduction of the Oasis Class. 

I sailed on Royal Caribbean and Carnival’s newest cruise ships. They each had their flaws, but one was worse than the other

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most recognizable names in the cruise industry. Both mainstream cruise lines focus on offering affordable, family-friendly vacations across their expansive fleets. However, after sailing on the newest ships from both cruise lines, I’m convinced that one mega-ship stands out as the better choice.

I cruised on Utopia of the Seas. The 4-day cruise wasn't cheap, but I'd do it again

Royal Caribbean is making a bold push into the short-cruise market, and the brand-new Utopia of the Seas is a perfect example of that investment. But, it wasn’t always possible to take a short cruise on a massive, state-of-the-art cruise ship.

For decades, short itineraries were hard to find. Even if you could find a 3-night or 4-night sailing, it was almost guaranteed you’d be cruising on an old, small, and dated cruise ship.

What Is Free at Perfect Day at CocoCay?

When people think of Royal Caribbean's private island, they often envision the massive waterpark, hot air balloon, overwater cabanas, and zipline. While Perfect Day at CocoCay has a slew of activities for cruisers to enjoy, not all of them are included in the cost of your cruise. 

Royal Caribbean makes a major change to a convenient VIP perk

Royal Caribbean removed one of the free perks of its extra-cost VIP program. 

The Key is an optional add-on that passengers can purchase for exclusive benefits like a private embarkation lunch, reserved seating during theater shows, priority tender access, and more. 

However, an update was sent to guests who bought The Key to let them know one of the best features was dropped. 

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