Royal Caribbean Guide — Isaac Goes Cruising

The Short Version

Why Royal Caribbean Stands Apart

Royal Caribbean International is the world's largest cruise line by capacity — and arguably the most innovative. They built the first rock climbing wall at sea, the first onboard surf simulator, the first indoor skydiving simulator on a ship, and the first overwater cabanas in The Bahamas. In 2024, they launched Icon of the Seas — the largest cruise ship ever built.

Unlike Virgin Voyages, Royal Caribbean is open to all ages. Families with young children are very much the core audience, but the ships are large enough that couples and solo travelers carve out their own space. Adventure Ocean kids' clubs (ages 3–11) are complimentary and genuinely well-run.

Dining works differently from a fully all-inclusive line: the Main Dining Room and casual buffet venues are included, and on a larger ship you'll have 10–17+ free dining spots. Specialty restaurants cost extra — but they're not necessary for a great food experience. Gratuities and drinks are also not included and need to be budgeted separately.

Know Before You Go

What's Included vs. What Costs Extra

Royal Caribbean doesn't market itself as all-inclusive — and it isn't. But it includes a lot more than most people expect. Here's the honest breakdown.

✓ Included in Every Voyage

Main Dining Room (breakfast, lunch on sea days, dinner nightly)
Windjammer Marketplace buffet (all meals)
Casual complimentary venues — Cafe Promenade, Park Cafe, Sorrento's pizza, El Loco Fresh, and others (varies by ship)
Broadway-style shows, ice shows, AquaTheater performances, live music
Rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf, sports courts (varies by ship class)
Main pool(s) and hot tubs
Fitness center / gym
Adventure Ocean kids' club (ages 3–11)
Teen programs
Zip line, water slides, RipCord by iFLY intro flight (select ships)
Beach access at Perfect Day at CocoCay (when it's your port)

+ Costs Extra

Alcoholic & premium non-alcoholic beverages
Specialty dining restaurants ($30–$65+ per person)
Gratuities ($18.50/person/day; $21/day for suites)
Wi-Fi / internet (VOOM, powered by Starlink)
Shore excursions
CocoCay premium add-ons (Thrill Waterpark, Hideaway Beach, Coco Beach Club)
Spa and salon (+ 20% auto-gratuity)
Casino gaming
Room service delivery fee (~$7.95–$9.95)
Laundry, photography packages

💡 Isaac's Budget Reality Check

The cruise fare is just the starting point. For a family of four on a 7-night sailing, budget an additional ~$518 in gratuities alone, plus drinks, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, and any specialty dining. The all-in cost is typically 50–75% above the base fare. That's not a bad thing — you just need to plan for it. I always walk clients through the full expected budget before we book so there are no surprises.

Food on Board

Dining: What's Free, What's Not

The included dining on Royal Caribbean is better than most people expect. The Main Dining Room isn't a cafeteria — it's a proper waiter-served restaurant with a rotating multi-course menu. On larger ships you'll have a dozen or more free venues to choose from.

Included Dining

Main Dining Room (MDR) — Multi-course, waiter-served meals every evening, plus breakfast and lunch on sea days. Two formats: Traditional (fixed early ~6 pm or late ~8:30 pm seating) or My Time Dining (flexible 6–9:30 pm, reservations recommended). Same menus either way.

Casual venues — Windjammer buffet, Cafe Promenade, Sorrento's pizza, Park Cafe, El Loco Fresh, Solarium Bistro, and others depending on ship. On Icon and Oasis Class ships, 17+ venues are included at no charge.

Specialty Dining (Extra Cost)

Specialty restaurants charge a cover fee — typically $30–$65+ per person for dinner. Popular venues across the fleet include Chops Grille (steakhouse, ~$59/person), Giovanni's Italian Kitchen (~$49/person), Izumi (Japanese/sushi), Hooked Seafood (~$54/person), and Wonderland (theatrical experience dining). Menus and venues vary by ship class.

If your group plans multiple specialty dinners, the Unlimited Dining Package (UDP) often delivers better value than paying per visit. Always purchase pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner — buying onboard adds 18% gratuity on top.

🍽️ Isaac's Dining Take

Don't stress over specialty dining if it's not in the budget. The MDR is a genuine multi-course restaurant-style experience that changes nightly, and the service is attentive. Many repeat RC guests never eat at a specialty restaurant and don't feel like they're missing out.

If you do want to try one, book embarkation night — the MDR is hectic on day one while the specialty restaurants often have availability and run special opening promotions.

The Fleet

Meet the Ships

Royal Caribbean operates 31 ships across six classes, from the classic Vision Class ships up to the record-breaking Icon Class. Not all ships carry all amenities — choosing the right ship for your priorities matters a lot.

Largest Ever Built

Icon Class

Icon of the Seas & Star of the Seas — the world's two largest cruise ships. 7 pools, 8 neighborhoods, 40+ dining and bar venues. A destination unto themselves.

Oasis Class

6 ships including Wonder, Utopia, Symphony, and Harmony. AquaTheater, Central Park (real trees at sea), Boardwalk neighborhood. Utopia does short 3–4 night sailings from Port Canaveral.

Quantum Class

5 ships: Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum, and Odyssey. Tech-forward ships with RipCord by iFLY (indoor skydiving), North Star observation capsule 300 ft above the ocean, and the Two70 panoramic entertainment venue.

Freedom & Voyager Class

8 ships total. Solid mid-size ships with rock climbing walls, FlowRiders, and ice rinks. Great value — the classic RC experience without the mega-ship scale.

Radiance Class

4 ships: Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade, and Jewel. Smaller, more scenic ships with panoramic glass elevators and intimate spaces. Excellent for Alaska, Europe, and ports that larger ships can't reach.

Vision Class

The classic, smaller RC experience. Great for short weekend sailings and budget-friendly Caribbean getaways. Ships include Enchantment, Grandeur, Rhapsody, and Vision of the Seas.

🚢 Choosing the Right Ship

Not every Royal Caribbean ship has every amenity. The FlowRider is on Voyager Class and larger. RipCord by iFLY and the North Star observation capsule are Quantum Class only. The AquaTheater is Oasis Class and larger. Radiance and Vision Class ships are better suited for scenic itineraries than onboard activity-heavy sailings. If a specific feature is a must-have, I always verify the ship's list before booking — and I'll do that for you too.

Essential Prep

The Royal Caribbean App: Download It Before You Go

The free Royal Caribbean app (iOS and Android) handles pre-cruise planning and onboard management. Here's what you'll use it for:

Online check-in — Upload your passport photo, choose a terminal arrival window, and complete check-in from home. This dramatically shortens embarkation day.
Muster 2.0 — Complete the mandatory safety drill on your phone before or on embarkation day (watch the video in the app, then briefly scan in at your muster station). No more hour-long group assembly on deck.
Dining reservations — Book My Time Dining slots and specialty restaurant reservations
Daily Planner — Browse every activity, show, and event scheduled for each sailing day
Shore excursions — Browse and book excursions at each port
Onboard chat — Message other guests on your sailing without purchasing Wi-Fi (the chat works on the ship's local network for free)
SeaPass account — Track your onboard charges in real time
Cruise photos — View and purchase photos taken by the ship's photographers

📱 Check In on Day One of Your Window

Online check-in opens 45 days before sailing. The earliest terminal arrival slots — which mean the earliest boarding — go fast, sometimes within hours of the window opening. Set a reminder and check in on day one if you want to be among the first to board and make the most of embarkation day.

Drinks On Board

Drink Packages: What to Know Before You Buy

Alcohol is not included in your fare. Royal Caribbean offers beverage packages you purchase pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner — always buy pre-cruise, as onboard prices are typically 20–40% higher.

Key Rule: All Adults Must Purchase Together

All guests 21+ in the same stateroom must purchase the same beverage package. You cannot have one adult on the package and another paying per drink.

Deluxe Beverage Package

Covers cocktails, spirits, beer, wine by the glass, premium non-alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, bottled water, and fresh juices — up to $14–15 per drink. Pricing varies significantly by ship and sail date: roughly $56–$120/person/day before the 18% gratuity that's added on top. Buy early pre-cruise for the best price.

Royal Refreshment Package

Non-alcoholic only: juices, sodas, specialty coffees, bottled water, and mocktails. Approximately $29–$42/person/day. Good option for non-drinkers who want the convenience of included specialty coffees and bottled water throughout the day.

Classic Soda Package

Fountain sodas only. Approximately $10–$18/person/day. Basic drip coffee and water at meals are included in your fare, so this is only worth it for heavy soda drinkers.

🍹 Isaac's Drink Package Tips

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing — the same package can swing 30–50% based on how far out you buy and the specific sailing. The Cruise Planner lets you cancel and rebook if the price drops before sailing, so it's worth checking back periodically.

Run the math before buying. On a 7-night cruise, two Deluxe packages at $75/person/day plus 18% gratuity comes to roughly $1,239. If you'd typically have 3–4 drinks a day between the two of you, paying per drink may actually be cheaper. The package makes most sense for moderate-to-heavy drinkers, or anyone who wants the simplicity of not tracking every order.

Port Days

Shore Excursions & Perfect Day at CocoCay

Royal Caribbean offers shore excursions at every port covering adventure, beach days, cultural tours, food and wine experiences, and family-friendly options. You can book through Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, onboard at the Shore Excursions desk, or explore a port independently.

Booking Tips

The Cruise Planner opens for excursion bookings 6–12 months before sailing. Pre-cruise prices are always lower than buying onboard.

Important: Excursions booked through Royal Caribbean include a ship guarantee — if the tour runs late, the ship will wait. Independent exploration carries no such protection. Royal Caribbean-booked guests also get priority access to tender boats at anchor ports.

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, developed at a cost of over $250 million. When it's your port of call, island access is included in your fare — and there's a genuinely full day of free activities available. Premium experiences cost extra and should be pre-booked.

Free at CocoCay

Beach access (Chill Island, South Beach)
Oasis Lagoon — the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean
Captain Jill's Galleon water play structure (kids)
Splashaway Bay aqua park (kids)
5 complimentary dining venues on the island
Beach chairs & umbrellas in free zones
Tram service around the island

Extra Cost

Thrill Waterpark (includes North America's tallest waterslide at 135 ft) — ~$70–$109/person
Hideaway Beach (adults-only, 18+) — ~$40–$75/person
Coco Beach Club (upscale beach club + pool) — ~$79–$129+/person
Overwater cabanas — from several hundred to $1,000+/day
Watersports rentals (kayaks, paddleboards)
All alcoholic beverages (your drink package applies here)

CocoCay add-ons use dynamic pricing and sell out regularly. If your itinerary includes CocoCay, pre-book anything you want through the Cruise Planner — prices are lower and inventory is limited.

Where You'll Sleep

Cabin Categories Explained

Royal Caribbean's cabin tiers run from budget-friendly Interiors up to lavish Star Class suites with a personal butler. Here's how they break down:

Interior & Ocean View

The entry tiers. Interior cabins have no window (~160 sq ft); Ocean View cabins have a porthole or picture window. Both are well-designed — great for guests who prioritize budget and plan to spend most of their time exploring the ship and ports.

Balcony

The sweet spot for most cruisers — a private balcony makes a meaningful difference, especially on sea days. Typically ~198 sq ft of cabin space plus balcony. Note: some balcony locations have obstructed views — always check the deck plan when booking.

Junior Suite — Sea Class

Entry-level suite with a separate seating area, upgraded bath amenities, Lavazza espresso machine, and bathrobes. Key perk: Sea Class guests receive Coastal Kitchen dinner access — Royal Caribbean's exclusive suite restaurant serving Mediterranean and Pacific Coast cuisine.

Sky Class Suites

Grand Suite and above. Concierge service, Coastal Kitchen for all meals (not just dinner), priority boarding and disembarkation, Suite Lounge with daily cocktail hour, and priority reservations for dining and entertainment.

Star Class Suites

The pinnacle. Royal Loft Suite, Owner's Suite, Ultimate Family Suite, and similar. Comes with a dedicated Royal Genie — a personal butler/concierge. All drinks included, all specialty dining included, Wi-Fi included, plus VIP access to everything on the ship. One of the most talked-about luxury experiences in mainstream cruising.

🛎️ The Royal Genie

Star Class guests are assigned a Royal Genie before sailing — a dedicated personal concierge who handles everything from pre-cruise restaurant reservations to surprise birthday setups. They're proactive, not reactive, and RC guests consistently call it the best part of the Star Class experience.

Loyalty Program

Crown & Anchor Society

Royal Caribbean's loyalty program is free to join. You earn 1 cruise point per night sailed — suite guests and solo travelers earn 2 points per night. Points accumulate across all RC sailings over your lifetime and never expire. There are six tiers; the program delivers modest perks early on but becomes genuinely valuable at Diamond.

Gold

Gold — 3 to 29 points

Coupons for 50% off wine, beer, and soda; 50% off a Johnny Rockets milkshake; Crown & Anchor departure lounge access on embarkation day.

Platinum

Platinum — 30 to 54 points

All Gold perks plus discount coupons toward balcony and suite cabins on future sailings.

Emerald

Emerald — 55 to 79 points

All Platinum perks plus complimentary bottled water delivered to your stateroom.

Diamond

Diamond — 80 to 174 points

4 complimentary drinks per day (up to $14 value each, redeemable at any bar or the Crown Lounge); Crown Lounge access; 1 free day of Wi-Fi; priority spa and excursion waitlists. This is where the program starts delivering real, tangible daily value.

Diamond+

Diamond Plus — 175 to 699 points

5 complimentary drinks/day; 2 free days of Wi-Fi; 1 free bag of laundry; priority seating at theater shows, ice shows, and AquaTheater.

Pinnacle

Pinnacle Club — 700+ points

6 complimentary drinks/day; complimentary specialty restaurant breakfast daily; Suite Lounge access regardless of cabin category; flexible embarkation; milestone free cruises at certain point thresholds.

Optional Add-On

The Key: Is It Worth It?

The Key is a purchasable package available to anyone pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner — it cannot be bought onboard. Every guest in your stateroom aged 6 and older must purchase it; you can't buy it for just one person in the cabin.

What's Included

Priority check-in lane at the terminal
Luggage valet on embarkation day — bags are delivered to your room so you don't have to carry them
Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room on day one
VOOM Surf + Stream Wi-Fi (1 device per guest)
Reserved seating at main theater shows, AquaTheater, and ice shows
Priority / shorter wait times at FlowRider, zip line, and other popular activities
Priority tender departure at anchor ports
Express disembarkation on the final morning
50% discount on onboard sports activities
$60 spa discount (one-time use, requires a treatment of $250 or more)

🗝️ Isaac's Take on The Key

The Key is best evaluated by which specific benefits matter most to your group. For families who want guaranteed FlowRider and show access without long queues — and who'd be buying Wi-Fi anyway — the math can work out well. For more flexible couples or guests without kids, you can often get most of the same outcomes through good planning. Pricing runs roughly $25–$35+/person/day, so it's worth calculating before you click buy. I'm happy to run the numbers when we book.

Honest Assessment

Is Royal Caribbean Right for You?

You'll love RC if...

You're traveling with kids or a multi-generational group
You want maximum onboard activities and entertainment
You're happy with the MDR included and specialty dining as optional
You want flexible itineraries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Europe, and more
You appreciate loyalty perks and plan to cruise more than once
A private island day at CocoCay appeals to you
You're drawn to the scale and variety of larger ships

RC might not be the best fit if...

You want everything included (drinks, gratuities, specialty dining)
You prefer smaller, more boutique ships
You want an adults-only sailing environment
You dislike large crowds and busy pool decks on sea days
You'd rather have a quieter, port-intensive itinerary over an activity-packed ship

Royal Caribbean:The World's Most Innovative Cruise Line