Royal Caribbean

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. 

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.

Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, will be the permanent residence of Rover, the Chief Dog Officer. 

After a few posts made by crew members, Royal Caribbean took to social media to welcome Rover onboard the ship. In the 44-second clip, Rover is seen in the backseat of a large SUV before making her way onboard with Allison, "her best friend and Chief of Staff." 

For my very first cruise, I knew I wanted to start big.

I booked a 7-night sailing on Wonder of the Seas, one of Royal Carribean's Oasis Class ships and the current largest cruise ship in the world. This title, however, will be taken by Icon of the Seas at the end of the month. 

For the length of this cruise, I stayed with my sister in a 172-square-foot inside cabin.

Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise has set sail! From day-in-the-life videos to cabin tours, we are able to get a glimpse into what this one-of-a-kind voyage is like thanks to social media.