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Royal Caribbean Weblog employees members cruised over 50 occasions in 2024, crusing on dozens of vessels to numerous ports world wide. As skilled cruisers, we actually know the ins and outs of cruising. That being stated, there are at all times classes to be realized on any cruise trip.
Whether or not crusing on the world’s largest ship, Icon of the Seas, or on one among Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships, Imaginative and prescient of the Seas, our group adopted a variety of cruise ideas all year long.
From stocking up on low-cost cruise necessities to opting out of Royal Caribbean’s shore excursions, listed below are the highest 10 cruise ideas that labored for our Royal Caribbean Weblog staffers in 2024.
Calista booked non-Royal Caribbean shore excursions to save cash
Royal Caribbean Weblog author Calista took 7 cruises in 2024, making an attempt out new ships like Utopia of the Seas and smaller, older vessels like Brilliance and Rhapsody of the Seas.
Her cruises took her across the Caribbean and Europe, visiting Good Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, and Barcelona, amongst different ports.
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On most itineraries, Calista booked shore excursions immediately by way of Royal Caribbean. But whereas this was handy, Royal Caribbean’s excursions are sometimes dearer than excursions booked by way of unbiased operators.
So, throughout a go to to Nassau, Calista branched out and booked an tour by way of shoreexcursions.com as an alternative of by way of Royal Caribbean.
She paid simply $50 per individual for an tour to close by Pearl Island, whereas Royal Caribbean charged over $100 for the same tour!
There are a number of benefits to reserving immediately by way of the cruise line, together with a assured return to the ship even when the tour runs late. Nonetheless, Calista had an important expertise reserving a shore tour on her personal.
Matt packed USB hubs and a protracted charging cable for his cabin
Matt boarded Attract of the Seas in February for a brief 3-night cruise—one among his 14 (and counting) cruises in 2024. Whereas packing, he made the error of assuming his cabin would have plentiful shops. As an alternative, because of the cabin’s older design, he discovered himself struggling to cost all of his electronics all through the cruise.
After this expertise, he packed further USB hubs and a protracted charging wire for the remainder of his cruises in 2024. Although cabins on new ships like Icon of the Seas have greater than sufficient charging ports, this isn’t the case for cabins on older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
Notice: Whereas Royal Caribbean banned multi-plug outlet adapters earlier this yr, USB hubs are nonetheless allowed.
Angie reserved leisure reveals earlier than her cruise to make sure she had a seat
On choose Royal Caribbean ships, visitors can reserve leisure reveals forward of their cruise on the Cruise Planner web site. As a result of standard productions like Broadway reveals can guide up rapidly, it’s really useful that visitors reserve leisure previous to embarkation day.
Earlier this yr, social media strategist Angie took benefit of this recommendation whereas making ready for her Concord of the Seas cruise. She made reservations on-line for the Broadway manufacturing of Grease and different standard occasions, which assured her a seat.
Through the cruise, Angie was grateful she took the time to make leisure reservations forward of time. When coming into the theater, she observed a protracted line of passengers ready for standby seats at these occasions.
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As an alternative of ready in line and hoping for a seat at a fully-booked present, Angie might stroll immediately into the theater together with her reservation.
Talking of strains, Angie reserved Conventional Eating over My Time Eating to save lots of time and problem
The Primary Eating Room is a staple of any cruise, and Angie loved dozens of meals within the restaurant on her 8 cruises this yr.
Whereas reserving a Royal Caribbean cruise, visitors should select between Conventional Eating and My Time Eating. Conventional Eating means passengers dine on the identical time every night with the identical desk and wait employees. My Time Eating, however, provides visitors flexibility to order completely different eating occasions every night.
Associated: Royal Caribbean My Time Eating Versus Conventional Eating
Though My Time Eating permits for extra flexibility, visitors should bear in mind to make eating reservations upfront. If not, they’ll be caught ready in line for an open desk.
Angie virtually at all times chooses Conventional Eating, and she or he was glad to have a assured desk and eating time every night of her cruises. There was no must make reservations individually for every dinner, and she or he by no means needed to wait in a protracted line to enter the Primary Eating Room.
Elizabeth tried an extra-cost exercise on a port day at no cost
When author Elizabeth cruised to Alaska earlier this yr on Quantum of the Seas—one among 11 cruises in 2024—she was excited to attempt RipCord by iFLY, the ship’s indoor skydiving simulator. This exercise is barely accessible on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships, so making an attempt the exercise was a should for Elizabeth whereas onboard.
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Nevertheless, RipCord by iFLY is in contrast to most Royal Caribbean actions in that it gives diverse worth choices. On port days, the exercise is complimentary for a 1-minute flight expertise. Sea days, in the meantime, provide a 2-minute flight for practically $100 per individual.
Elizabeth wished to save cash, so she tried the skydiving simulator when her ship was docked in Icy Strait Level. The complimentary 1-minute expertise allowed her to get a style for the exercise with out spending further.
Jenna booked her 2024 cruises with a journey agent, resulting in financial savings and additional perks
Maybe essentially the most tried-and-true cruise tip we share at Royal Caribbean Weblog is to guide with a journey agent, and I adopted this tip on every of my cruises in 2024.
As Royal Caribbean Weblog’s video editor, I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s two latest ships this yr: Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. Though I sometimes guide most journey, corresponding to flights and resorts, by myself, I at all times guide cruises with a trusted journey agent.
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Reserving with a journey agent meant I didn’t must do something myself, and I acquired further perks like onboard credit score and discounted charges alongside the way in which. On my Utopia of the Seas cruise, the truth is, my journey agent scored an upgraded balcony cabin in a extra central location than what I initially booked.
journey agent will price you nothing further, and it’s one of the useful cruise tricks to comply with.
Allie stocked up on low-cost cruise necessities from Greenback Tree
Packing for a cruise can really feel overwhelming, particularly should you comply with each packing listing on the web to a tee. That $30 pair of sandals and $300 underwater digicam could be good, after all, however there’s no must spend tons of of {dollars} in your cruise packing listing.
Nonetheless, there are some necessities you do must pack for a cruise, corresponding to toiletries, and lots of cruisers additionally take pleasure in packing enjoyable gadgets like door decorations, too.
When Royal Caribbean Weblog author Allie was making ready for a cruise this yr, she determined to buy at Greenback Tree for her cruise necessities. She bought gadgets like over-the-counter treatment, magnetic clips, and travel-sized toiletries for simply $1.25 every as an alternative of spending considerably extra at a retailer like Goal.
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Positive, gadgets could also be extra restricted, however Allie was shocked how effectively this packing tip labored whereas cruising on a finances.
When crusing on the world’s largest cruise ship, Calista tried as many eating venues as doable
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas was, undoubtedly, essentially the most anticipated cruise ship of 2024, and Calista had the chance to sail on the vessel this previous summer time.
As the most important cruise ship on the planet, Icon of the Seas boasts mind-blowing leisure venues just like the AquaDome and infinite thrills on the ship’s Class 6 Waterpark. Other than actions, although, are an abundance of eating venues, from informal grab-and-go spots to high-end eating places.
Associated: Icon of the Seas restaurant and eating information
Throughout Calista’s week on Icon of the Seas, she made it some extent to attempt the ship’s various eating choices. She cherished the Mediterranean bowls at AquaDome Market and grab-and-go snacks at Pearl Cafe.
It’s straightforward to get right into a routine of eating at solely the Primary Eating Room and Windjammer buffet, however making an attempt a wide range of eating places whereas cruising ensures that every day’s eating expertise is completely different from the final. Plus, you would possibly uncover a brand new favourite dish!
Elizabeth tried Royal Caribbean’s espresso card, permitting her to attempt new drinks
Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Bundle may be the most well-liked drink package deal—who doesn’t love limitless cocktails, in spite of everything—however espresso lovers shouldn’t overlook the cruise line’s Cafe Choose Espresso Card.
Elizabeth skipped a drink package deal on her latest cruise to Bermuda, as an alternative choosing Royal Caribbean’s espresso card. For $36.58, the punch card entitled her to fifteen espresso-based drinks all through the cruise. As a plus, the cardboard might be shared between Elizabeth and her journey accomplice (in contrast to a drink package deal).
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With the cardboard, the worth per specialty espresso got here out to round $2.43 per drink. Contemplating every drink might price over $5 with out the cardboard, Elizabeth was happy she gave it a attempt.
Matt arrived to his embarkation metropolis with greater than sufficient time to spare
European cruises are all the trend through the summer time, and Matt was excited to go throughout the pond this previous August for his personal European journey. Matt’s 7-night Spain and France cruise was set to depart from Southampton, so he made positive to reach in London with loads of time to spare earlier than embarkation day.
If there’s only one piece of recommendation to comply with when planning a cruise, it’s to at all times fly into your cruise embarkation metropolis at the least sooner or later forward of time.
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Our employees members have heard far too many horror tales of cancelled flights, missed connections, and different journey mishaps en path to a cruise. Reserving a flight the identical day your cruise begins is dangerous; nobody needs to danger lacking their cruise altogether because of a journey delay.
Due to this fact, Matt arrived in London two days earlier than embarkation day. Not solely did this guarantee he would make it to the port even when he encountered delays, but it surely additionally gave him time to get well from jet lag. As a plus, Matt had time to take pleasure in London’s highlights, too!
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