Royal Caribbean is the ultimate cruise line for mega resort lovers.
There are more restaurants, bars, entertainment zones and attractions on the biggest ships of the line than there are on any other ship.
There are multiple pool areas, watery play zones, rock climbing walls, surfing simulator, miniature golf courses, basketball courts and zip lines on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships. It is on the top deck. Broadway-quality theaters with top-name shows are just some of the things that can be found in the interior areas.
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Ice skating rinks can be found on some Royal Caribbean ships. That's really true.
The largest Royal Caribbean ships are nearly 1,200 feet long and can carry nearly 7,000 passengers.
They are similar to the mega resorts you see in Las Vegas or Florida. They are floats.
The largest cruise line by passenger capacity is Royal Caribbean, with 26 ships that can hold more than 94,000 passengers.
Each of the ships can hold more than 6,600 passengers and are the world's five biggest cruise vessels. The Oasis class of ships are unlike any other at sea when it comes to size, amenities and passenger capacity.
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The Oasis-class ship, called Utopia of the Seas, is expected to join the fleet in 2024.
There are other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. There are six big Quantum Class ships and three big Freedom Class ships.
Royal Caribbean has 13 of the world's 30 largest cruise ships.
There are 4 things you will love about Royal Caribbean.
The line has five smaller ships that can hold around 3,800 passengers.
The big-ship fleet is made up of 18 Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager class vessels.
The line has eight vessels that are split into two classes and can carry up to 2500 passengers.
Smaller ships that are part of the line's older ships allow it to offer itineraries to places that aren't as easy to visit. Wonder of the Seas can't be handled by all ports.
Smaller ships appeal to a group of Royal Caribbean fans who like a little more intimate in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. Travelers can often find these ships cheaper on a per-day basis.
Less restaurants, bars, entertainment offerings and attractions can be found with each step down in size. Even the smallest of Royal Caribbean ships have a lot to offer.
Royal Caribbean will roll out a series of larger ships in just over a year. It will be made up of at least three vessels that measure more than 200,000 tons.
The first vessel in the Icon class will be launched in January of 2019.
There are 9 most exciting new cruise ships in the years to come.
The Caribbean and Europe are where Royal Caribbean has its biggest presence. In a typical summer, the line will deploy about half of its ships on sailings to the Caribbean, with the other half going to Europe. Three to four ships are usually sent to Alaska by the line.
More of the line's ships will be sent to the Caribbean during the winter season.
Royal Caribbean has sent ships to China for sailings in the past. One of the line's newest ships, the Spectrum of the Seas, has been offering trips for Chinese travelers out of two Chinese cities. Due to travel restrictions in China, such voyages are currently on hold.
In North America, Royal Caribbean ships can be found in PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Galveston, Texas. Sailings out of Barbados were introduced in the year 2021.
In Europe, the majority of Royal Caribbean ships sail out of England, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Barcelona, and Civitavecchia, Italy.
There are five best destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean ship.
The majority of Royal Caribbean's megaships appeal to people who like megaresorts. This is the line for people who like to stay at Disney World or at a giant Las Vegas resort. Some Royal Caribbean ships have more than 20 different places to eat, while others have just one place to eat. They are fun to be around.
They also offer calm places. You can enjoy a quiet afternoon reading a book on a bench in the tree lined Central Park area of Wonder of the Seas while thousands of vacationers frolic away at the ship's three distinct pool areas just a few decks above. Royal Caribbean's designers are masters at designing vessels that can carry a lot of people, but still not feel crowded in some areas.
The Solarium is a quiet place to go on a Royal Caribbean ship. Every Royal Caribbean vessel has a deck-top retreat for adults.
Some of the largest waterslides at sea can be found on Royal Caribbean ships. They are especially appealing to families. Royal Caribbean has a large amount of families.
Families are just one of the groups that flock to Royal Caribbean. The line has added solo cabins to more ships in recent years, and they appeal to a wide demographic, including couples of all ages and even solo travelers.
Customers come from a wide range of incomes. A plethora of bars and onboard attractions give Royal Caribbean ships a for-the-masses feel and make them easy to navigate on a budget.
A good number of luxury-seeking travelers choose the line because of the high-end suites, eateries and services. It would be the largest luxury cruise line in the world if Royal Caribbean carved out all the suites on their ships.
Royal Caribbean travelers all love a big, bustling resort.
A wide range of accommodations is offered by Royal Caribbean. Some ships have more than one category of cabins. You can find low-cost, windowless cabins that are perfect for the budget traveler, as well as massive, multi-room suites that are more than 10 times that size.
There is a guide to Royal Caribbean cabins and suites.
The accommodations at the high end are designed for travelers who prefer the megaship experience to being on a luxury ship and are among the most spectacular at sea. The Royal Loft Suites on Oasis-class ships are two decks high with sweeping views across the top of the ship.
Depending on the ship, top suites can come with perks such as private butlers who attend to your every need, access to a private restaurant, and reserved seating in entertainment venues.
Concierge lounge access on a cruise ship can be difficult to obtain.
Most of the line's vessels offer so many options that it can be hard to decide.
There are more than 20 places to eat on Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships.
There is a main dining room and a casual buffet eatery on every vessel. If you want to eat dinner in the main dining room, you need to sign up for either My Time Dining or Traditional Dining.
There are other included-in-the-fare offerings on some ships.
Every ship has an extra-charge eatery. Chops Grille is the most common one in the fleet. Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver is one of the Italian eateries on many ships. Hooked Seafood is a new concept on three ships that serves lobster rolls, fish sandwiches and the like.
Izumi, a sushi-serving Asian eatery, Vintages, a small bite-serving wine bar, and Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade are all on some ships.
Some ships have Starbucks cafes on them.
Some ships have private restaurants for passengers who stay in suites, as well as top tier members of the line's loyalty program.
The extra charge eateries usually have a flat fee of $35 to $50 per person, not including the cost of drinks. Some are free.
If you want to eat at a few extra-charge restaurants during your voyage, you can buy a dining package that offers meals at a discount.
You can have the best meals at sea.
Royal Caribbean has a wide variety of entertainment and activities on its ships. Multiple entertainment venues can be found on the line's biggest vessels, from theaters to comedy clubs to large casinos. You will find more bars, lounges and night spots than you can imagine.
You won't believe what you're seeing on a cruise ship when you see Royal Caribbean's theater entertainment.
State-of-the-art theaters with top-name Broadway shows can be found on many of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats" and "Hairspray" are both works by symphony of the seas.
The casts aren't the A-team you'll find on Broadway and the shows are cut down a bit. These are good productions. They are completely free. You will spend a lot of money to take your family to a show in New York City.
Ice skating shows are put on at the ice skating rinks on 13 of the line's ships. The shows are out of this world and the rinks are in the interiors of the ships.
Skaters from the Olympics have been hired to star in the productions. More world-class professional skaters are employed by the line than any other company.
There are 735 seats in the outdooraqua theaters on Oasis-class ships. Two70 is an extraordinary, high tech theater space that offers multi-sensory shows combining singing, dancing and acrobatics.
Live music can be found in multiple venues on some ships. The Music Halls on Quantum-class vessels are very high.
It's a good idea to book the free comedy club tickets early. Heavy demand and limited capacity can lead to them selling out in advance.
In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Royal Caribbean ships are loaded with other venues where passengers can kick back and relax.
There is a casino on every Royal Caribbean ship and on the line's larger vessels. There are 450 slot machines, 27 table games, and a bar at the Casino Royale on Oasis of the Seas. The casinos on the other ships are very large.
Some of the cool bars at sea, as well as food outlets and retail shops, can be found in the Royal Promenades, which are indoor malls that are home to some of the best bars at sea.
The Rising Tide Bar, which rises between the Royal Promenade and the Central Park area three decks above, is one of the innovative features of the Royal Promenade. The line's signature Schooner Bar is located one deck up in a balcony area.
A smaller version of the Royal Promenade called the Royal Esplanade can be found on the line's five Quantum-class vessels.
There is an indoor bumper car pavilion on the Quantum-class ships. The space is turned into a roller rink when the bumper cars aren't being used. Air hockey is one of the activities at SeaPlex.
Royal Caribbean ships have spas for a more relaxing experience. There are more than two dozen treatment rooms and thermal areas with hot stone chairs and rainforest shower areas.
Things get crazy on the top deck of the ships. There are things you won't see on other vessels.
There are lots of pools on the big ships. Kids can play in a watery play zone on the Oasis class ships. There are water parks on many Royal Caribbean ships.
Giant rock climbing walls, surfing simulators, zip lines, miniature golf courses and basketball courts are just a few of the fun attractions. Skydivers can experience the sensation of skydiving on a recently built ship.
There is an outdoor carousel on Oasis-class ships.
The North Star rides are among the most popular attractions on Royal Caribbean ships. The biggest attraction on a cruise ship is the giant mechanical arms that are topped with glass and will take you to the top of the ship.
The North Star is open to the public. It can be booked for a fee.
There are 12 cruise ships with the most amazing attractions.
Children as young as 6 months old can participate in Royal Caribbean's extensive children's programs at sea.
There are free, supervised activities for children ages 3 to 12 every day at Adventure Ocean.
There are three age groups for children here, Aquanauts (ages 3 to 5 years), Explorers (ages 6 to 8 years) andVoyagers (ages 9 to 12 years), each with their own activities. There are dedicated areas for different groups on ships.
You can leave your kids at Adventure Ocean until 2 a.m. when it becomes a supervised late night party zone.
The Royal Babies nursery program at Royal Caribbean has interactive child and parent classes with activities developed for early childhood experts. There are 45 minutes of interactive playground sessions for ages 18 months to 3 years. Trained youth staff host both programs. On ships, parents can drop off their babies at the nursery for short-term babysitting.
Children ages 12 to 17 can participate in Royal Caribbean's teen programs. Teens can hang out in The Living Room on some Quantum-class ships, as well as play games and watch a disco.
There is a peek at Perfect Day by CocoCay.
If you are a U.S. citizen on a cruise that starts and ends in a U.S. port, you will need either a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months. A passport is required for cruises from international ports. The name on your reservation needs to be the same as the one on your passport.
An automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18.50 per person per day is added to final bills. You can adjust the amount at the guest services desk if you are unhappy with the service you receive. There is an 18% gratuity added to the bill.
There is a lot of information about tipping on cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean has a system that is so fast that you can watch a show on your phone from your room. The price for a package that includes streaming has gone up recently. Multi-device packages are less expensive per device.
The internet on Royal Caribbean ships is slow. We tested it.
You can bring up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of non alcoholic drinks with you on a Royal Caribbean ship. If you bring wine or champagne on board, the line will charge you a corkage fee.
Smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and cigar clubs on ships. Those who violate the rule will be charged a $250 cleaning fee. Smoking is forbidden on sailings out of Australia and the UK, and only in designated areas on most ships.
Royal Caribbean doesn't build self-service launderettes. Laundry and dry cleaning are offered by vessels.
The vessels all have European-style 220-volt outlets in the rooms. A growing number of vessels have docking facilities.
All Royal Caribbean ships have U.S. dollars in their currency. Any onboard purchases you make will be posted to your onboard account. You will be given a SeaPass card that you can use to make purchases.
You have to be 21 to drink alcohol on sailings from North America or the U.A.D. On sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the drinking age is 18.
There isn't a dress code during the day. T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits are fine if you are going to the beach on a warm-weather day.
Passengers entering the main dining room are only subject to the official dress code during the evening hours. One of three dress codes will be applied on any given night.
Casual is defined as jeans, polo shirts and sun dresses. A jacket for men is optional in smart casual, which is a step up to collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouse. Formal includes suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses and evening gowns. Don't fret if you don't want to go that fancy. Some people don't play into it. Most men and women are dressed in suits or sports coats.
For your first cruise, what to pack.
The Crown & Anchor Society is a frequent cruiser program that has six tiers ranging from gold to 700 points.
Double points are given to passengers who stay in suites on the line's ships. One cruise will get you to the first tier. If you do seven-night trips, it would take five cruises to get to Platinum.
The benefits of lower tiers are not as valuable as they could be. You will get priority check-in and a private lounge at the end of your trip. Higher levels of the program are very appealing.
Concierge Club access, priority seating at onboard shows, an exclusive number to call for booking and reduced rates for solo travelers are some of the perks of Diamond Plus. After hitting certain thresholds, the top level of the club gives away free cruises.
Cruise line loyalty programs don't require you to requalify every year. The perks with lower tiers aren't great, but it's not as hard as you might think if you're cruising a lot.
The Diamond Plus level is reached with just 13 seven-night cruises. You can get to it even sooner if you take a few longer voyages.
There's a guide to cruise line loyalty programs.
Royal Caribbean offers a wide range of cabin types at different price points in order to appeal to a wide range of people. A high-end suite is five or 10 times more expensive than an entry level cabin on a typical sailing.
As of the time of this guide's posting, a two-bedroom Grand Suite on Harmony of the Seas for a seven-night Caribbean cruise in January 2024 was going for $3,020 per person. That's more than six times the cost of the least expensive inside cabin. The cost for a balcony cabin on the same sailing was $683 per person.
The caveat is that it's based on doubleOccupancy. Royal Caribbean charges per person, not per room, and most cabins are priced based on two people occupying a room. Some ships have cabins that are priced based on how many people you have on board.
The Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships will be more expensive than the line's smaller vessels. Pricing for a cruise can be influenced by a number of factors, including the popularity of the itinerary, the time of year when the cruise is taking place, and the demand for cruises.
Pricing for all ships will usually be less during the cooler months.
It's possible that the timing of when you book can affect it. Cruises are more likely to book up in advance than airlines or hotels. When cruises first go on sale, you can usually find the best pricing for any given sailing. You can get your preferred cabin type and location on a ship if you book in advance.
If you book a Royal Caribbean ship, you will be charged an extra fee for most drinks, including beer, wine, and wine by the glass.
Rock climbing and zip lining are included in the fare, as are your lodging, meals, and entertainment.
There are 15 ways that first-timers waste money on cruises.
You can book directly at RoyalCaribbean.com if you know what type of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary, and a number of other things.
We recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises since there are a lot of decisions to be made during the booking process.
A travel agent can help you find the perfect cruise line, itinerary and cabin for you. If there is a problem before, during or after your voyage, an agent can help you.
Look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand if you think Royal Caribbean is your line. You want a person who knows all 34 cabin categories and has done ship inspections to see them first-hand.
Booking a cruise with points and miles is related.
If you use a travel agent, make sure to maximize your credit card spend by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases. 3 Ultimate rewards points per dollar on travel and dining is offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve 2 Ultimate rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 Ultimate rewards points per dollar on dining are offered by the Chase preferred card.
Royal Caribbean has grown into the largest cruise line by passenger capacity. It has long impressed customers with its stunning, resort-like vessels full of amusement and activities.
If you like megaresorts, you will love the line's Oasis-class vessels. It might not be the line for you if you are more of a small boutique hotel kind of person.
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