Royal Caribbean

One Royal Caribbean cruiser received backlash from social media when she asked her followers on TikTok whether a railing near her cabin’s balcony should be considered an obstruction.

Royal Caribbean's AquaTheater is one of the most unique entertainment venues at sea. Dancers and divers alike captivate the minds of audience members performing an array of synchronized dancers and daring feats. 

One performer, Ginni van Katwijk, took to social media to give a behind-the-scenes look into the adrenaline-fueled stunts that high divers perform onboard some of the world's largest cruise ships. 

Few travel experiences come close to the excitement of stepping foot on a brand-new cruise ship. Similar to driving a brand-new car with all the bells and whistles, the experience of cruising on a newly built cruise ship is unmatched. It’s undoubtedly exciting to see the latest and greatest that a cruise line has to offer.

Have you wondered why you hear about the newest largest cruise ship in the world every so often? That's because Royal Caribbean constantly strives to outdo themselves, breaking their own record for the largest cruise ship at sea.

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.