Several cruise passengers have reported being visited by security on a Royal Caribbean cruise, following complaints about social media posts.
The story originates from posts on a Facebook group for the transpacific cruise on Quantum of the Seas, where a guest made several posts.
These included asking for information on how to speak to the Captain or one of the “Genies” (referring to the Royal Genies, the name that Royal Caribbean gives butlers), and a post where they expressed disappointment that a crew member blocked their photo of a sunset.
These posts were then mocked on a separate Facebook group named Entitlement of the Seas, where cruise passengers like to poke gentle fun at those who act entitled on cruises or make complaints of an entitled nature.
Following these posts, three passengers noted that they were visited onboard by security, who had received complaints from the original passenger, saying that she felt “threatened”.
One of those visited by security noted that she wasn’t given any severe warning but the security team did ask for the guest to take their Facebook post down so that the passenger could enjoy the rest of their trip.
One passenger who was visited by security felt strongly about it, arguing that they weren’t bullying or being threatening, and that the cruise line should’ve then returned to the complaining passenger to warn them about making false claims.
Interestingly, Entitlement of the Seas is a private Facebook group, and the complaining passenger wasn’t a member, according to those reacting in the comments.
Which means that someone in the group found the screenshots and decided to send them to the complaining passenger – the plot thickens!
What do you think? Is complaining to cruise ship security about Facebook activity taking things way too far, or does that guest have a right to feel victimised?
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…
Related posts
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival Vista has suffered yet more engine problems following a summer of recurring issues, delaying its return to Port Canaveral by several hours. The ship’s engine problem meant that she…
A young woman, reportedly in her 20s, tragically fell overboard from MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa near the Channel Islands in the English Channel on 12th October 2024. The incident occurred…
Villa Vie Residences has revealed significant changes to the itinerary of its three-year world cruise aboard the Odyssey, which recently began service. Originally planned to explore North America and the…
A Carnival cruise passenger has complained that she felt discriminated against during a comedy performance, after being unable to see the comedian from her seat. John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador,…
The first Black Friday cruise deal for 2024 has been announced when a cruise line released an early access sale that includes a new cruise and resort experience.
Our free cruise newsletter offers the latest news and deals: Sign Up
Margaritaville at Sea has added a new partnership with the Margaritaville Beach Resort in Nassau. This will allow guests who are sailing to Nassau on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise to enjoy the day at the resort and all of the amenities that they offer.
The resort offers multiple pools, a water park, lazy river, FlowRider, and multiple restaurant and bar options.
The cruise line will sail two-, three- and four-night cruises to Nassau from the Port of Palm Beach. The Margaritaville resort is only a 10 minute walk from the ship and for $99, guests can purchase the Sail and Splash excursion to the resort when booking their cruise.
To go along with this announcement of the Sail and Splash excursion, Margaritaville at Sea is offering early access to their Black Friday Sale for 2024. It includes the following:
Cruises to Nassau starting at $99 for two
60% off cruises on both of their cruise ships
Up to $300 in onboard credit
Third and fourth guests sail free
Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea, gave the following statement:
“As we sail into 2025, we’re excited to add the vibrant city of Nassau to our growing list of island destinations. In addition to this great new port of call, we’re offering guests a unique ship-to-resort experience, making it the ultimate quick getaway to paradise.
“Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau has exceptional amenities, including private access to a spectacular beach on turquoise waters, the thrilling Fins Up! Water Park, FlowRider®, lazy river, multiple pools, and a variety of restaurant and bar options. We are excited to expand our offerings and provide new and loyal guests a reason to return to Paradise.”
Zachary Frangos, General Manager of Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau, added:
“Through this one-of-a-kind partnership with Margaritaville at Sea, we’re thrilled to welcome cruise passengers to explore, relax, and enjoy our world-class amenities, taking their Margaritaville vacation to the next level.
“Whether lounging by the pool, splashing in the ocean, or enjoying the high-energy fun of our water park, guests won’t miss a beat as they bring their Margaritaville state of mind from the ship to our tropical resort paradise.”
Want to know what are the best and worst cabins on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas? You’re in the right place!
Navigator of the Seas is a great ship with some fantastic cabins. However, there are some rooms that are a little noisy, in awkward locations or have obstructed views.
Read on to find out which Navigator of the Seas cabins to avoid, and how to pick the best room on the ship for your cruise.
Always choose the best cabin…
I’ve created a free checklist of what to look out for when choosing a cruise cabin. If you’d like a copy, just leave your email address and it will be with you right away.
Navigator of the Seas room categories
Navigator of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship with 15 different cabin types to choose from. The cabins can be broken down into four categories: inside, outside, balcony and suite.
Navigator of the Seas Inside Cabins:
Interior Stateroom – Sleeps up to 2 or 4
Promenade View Interior Stateroom – Sleeps up to 2
Interior with Virtual Balcony – Sleeps up to 2
Interior with Virtual Balcony
Navigator of the Seas Outside Cabins:
Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to 2 or 4
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to 2 or 4
Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to 4
Ultra Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to 6
Spacious Panoramic Ocean View
Navigator of the Seas Balcony Cabins:
Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – Sleeps up to 2 or 4
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – Sleeps up to 2 or 4
Balcony Stateroom
Navigator of the Seas Suites:
Ocean View Panoramic Suite (no balcony) – Sleeps up to 6
Junior Suite – Sleeps up to 4
Grand Suite (1 bedroom) – Sleeps up to 4
Grand Suite (2 bedrooms) – Sleeps up to 8
Owner’s Suite – Sleeps up to 4
Royal Suite – Sleeps up to 5
Owner’s Suite
Royal Caribbean’s suites come with not only more space but also a huge list of extra benefits. You can see those here: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks.
For a lot of people, an inside stateroom will be plenty – especially if your priority is just enjoying the destinations you’re sailing to, and you don’t feel like you need much room.
However, if you have the budget for it, there are some staterooms and suites which are much, much bigger.
Navigator of the Seas room sizes
The cabin sizes on Navigator of the Seas vary a lot. The largest suites are almost twelve times the size of the smallest staterooms!
There’s also some variation with cabins of the same type. Certain Interior and Ocean View cabins are 60% bigger than others. However, before you get excited about the possibility of booking a huge cabin, many of these are wheelchair-accessible cabins and so they’re only available for the people who need them.
If you do want a large cabin, there are some very big outside staterooms and suites to choose from. The Ultra Spacious Ocean View Stateroom, for example, is absolutely huge with over 300 square feet of space, yet it doesn’t cost that much in comparison to the suites or balcony staterooms.
Here are the sizes of Navigator of the Seas rooms, from smallest to largest:
Interior Stateroom – 160 to 256 sq ft
Interior with Virtual Balcony – 160 to 256 sq ft
Ocean View Stateroom – 161 to 276 sq ft
Promenade View Interior Stateroom – 167 sq feet
Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – 198 sq ft
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – 203 sq ft
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – 211 sq ft
Junior Suite – 277 sq ft
Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom – 283 sq ft
Ultra Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – 328 sq ft
Grand Suite (1 Bedroom) – 381 sq ft
Ocean View Panoramic Suite (No Balcony) – 406 sq ft
Owner’s Suite 506 sq ft
Grand Suite (2 Bedroom) – 547 sq ft
Royal Suite – 1260 sq ft
Navigator of the Seas Deck Plan
When choosing the best stateroom for your cruise, the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas deck plan can give you lots of useful information such as:
Where your cabin is located
The size of your cabin and balcony in square feet
What types of extra beds are provided e.g. sofa beds or Pullman beds
Picking your own stateroom, or letting the cruise line decide
When you book a Royal Caribbean cruise online, you’ll often see two prices, which look like this…
Royal Caribbean usually gives guests the choice to select their room for an extra fee. If you opt not to choose your own room, you’ll be assigned what’s known as a ‘Guarantee Cabin’.
What’s a guarantee cabin?
A guarantee cabin guarantees that you’ll receive a cabin in that category (e.g. interior stateroom) or higher (if you’re lucky enough to be upgraded).
The benefits of choosing your cabin number:
Choose your preferred location on the ship
Book two cabins next to each other
Avoid undesirable cabins
Booking multiple cabins
If you want interconnecting cabins that have a door between them, you will have to pay to pick your own room.
If you just want cabins next door to each other, you can opt to let Royal Caribbean choose your room and request that your cabins be close together. However, there’s no guarantee that they will be.
Tip: For a family of four, it’s sometimes cheaper to get two interconnecting cabins than to get one cabin that sleeps four.
If you have adjacent balcony cabins, you can ask your stateroom attendant to open the balcony dividers to create one large balcony. You do not need interconnecting rooms to do this. If you’re friendly with your neighbours, the partition can be opened, as long as everybody agrees.
Navigator of the Seas cabins to avoid
One of the main reasons why people choose their own cabin number on a cruise is to avoid ending up in one of the worst rooms on the ship.
If you choose a cabin that’s in a noisy location, a long walk from anything or has an obstructed view from the balcony, it can put a real downer on your trip.
Here are the cabins to avoid on Navigator of the Seas…
1. Noisy cabins
2330 to 2358, 2630 to 2658: Cabins at the aft end of Deck 2 are the closest to the ship’s engines and so you may experience some engine noise and propeller vibrations in these cabins. They are also beneath the main dining room.
2240: This cabin is right next to the Royal Theatre so you may expect some noise during performances and rehearsals.
Tip: If you only want one cabin, avoid the cabins with interconnecting doors. Cabin doors are never as soundproof as walls, so you may be able to hear your neighbours.
3540 and 3240: These cabins are located right next to public bathrooms.
3600 to 3616: These cabins are beneath Boleros bar and so there may be noise until the small hours.
6575, 6577, 6579, 6581, 6583, 6587, 6589, 6591, 6593, 6595 and 6597: These Promenade View Interior Staterooms are located directly above Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. Aside from the fact that people on the promenade on Deck 6 and your neighbours can see right in, these cabins have also been reported as being noisy until after midnight as people gather, chat and sing outside the Sports Bar.
1248 to 1305 and 1548 to 1605: These staterooms and suites are located directly beneath the pool areas. This could mean that you can hear some noise from deck chairs being dragged across the floor in the morning. Early risers should have no problems here, though.
2. Cabins that are a long walk from anything
9465, 9467, 9469, 9471, 9473, 9475, 9477, 9479: These cabins are a really long way from the elevators. All cabins right at the back of the ship are far from the elevators, but this problem is made so much worse on Deck 9, because you have to walk right to the end of the ship and then go back on yourself to reach your cabin!
On the deck plan below, you would have to follow the red line to take you from the nearest elevator to your cabin. This distance is about 500 feet, which is a really long way if you struggle with walking or are carrying a child.
3. Cabins with obstructed views
Aft cabin and suites: Aft balconies are the ones right at the back of the ship that look out to where the ship has been. On most cruise ships, aft balconies offer the best views of all. This is not so on Navigator of the Seas!
Due to the design of the ship, the aft cabin balconies aren’t at the rear edge of the ship. There’s an extra area between the balcony and the end of the ship. This means that steel structures partially obstruct your view looking out and completely obstruct your view when you look down.
Whilst the view from the aft balconies seems to be less than ideal, these cabins actually get great reviews online. One advantage of the aft cabins on Navigator of the Seas is that the balconies are much larger than standard balconies on the port and starboard sides.
If you do want to go for an aft balcony, I’d recommend choosing a corner one for the biggest balcony space and the least obstructed view.
This video shows a corner aft Navigator of the Seas balcony room…
Many people ask which is the best deck on Navigator of the Seas. In fact, there isn’t one deck that’s the best, but there are three decks that are particularly good if you want a quiet room that’s not too far from the action.
Decks 7, 8 and 9
If you’re looking for a nice quiet room on Navigator of the Seas, you can’t go wrong with Deck 7, Deck 8 or Deck 9. All cabins on these decks only have other cabins above and below them. This creates a buffer from the noise of the public areas.
It also means that you can avoid taking the elevator as from this midship location you can walk up to the open decks or down to the restaurants and bars.
Best rooms on Navigator of the Seas
The best cabins on Navigator of the Seas are very much down to personal preference. For some people, the cheapest inside cabins are the best. Others prefer a spacious room with panoramic windows. Whereas for some cruisers, a balcony is an absolute must.
Here are some Navigator of the Seas rooms which you should look out for as they offer something special…
BEST INSIDE: Interior with Virtual Balcony
One of the main drawbacks of booking an Interior Stateroom is the fact that you can feel like you’re missing out on the experience of watching where you’re sailing. But the Interior with Virtual Balcony staterooms go some way to addressing that.
Sure you’re not getting natural sunlight, but you are still getting an amazing view – and it helps you to at least tell how early/late it is in the day. You get the same view as you would from a Balcony Stateroom, just without the feeling of fresh air.
Take a look at this video to see what this stateroom type looks like…
The only drawback is if you wanted to cruise with the kids – the Virtual Balcony staterooms can only sleep two guests. If you’re travelling with more than two guests, a Promenade View Interior stateroom will be a better choice.
BEST OUTSIDE: Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom
The windows in outside cabins vary in size. On some ships, you’ll have just a small porthole above the bed. On Navigator of the Seas, however, the windows in many of the cabins are very large indeed.
I particularly love the window in this Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom. There are various different Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Staterooms on Navigator of the seas – they come in different shapes and sizes, so be sure to study the deckplan carefully of you want to find one of the largest ones.
BEST BALCONY: Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
There are two types of balcony stateroom on Navigator of the Seas – standard and spacious. Whilst you may expect the spacious one to be better, and in some ways it is, I just don’t think that the extra space is worth the extra price.
In fact, with the spacious balcony cabin, you get only five square feet more space in your room and four square feet more space on your balcony. That’s not even enough room for an extra chair, so you probably won’t even notice that your room is any bigger.
Be sure to look at the price difference before you make the decision to upgrade to a spacious balcony.
BEST SUITE: Royal Suite
The Royal Suite is the top suite on any Royal Caribbean ship. On Navigator of the Seas, the Royal Suite sleeps up to five people and, at 1260 square feet, it is more than twice the size of any other suite on the ship.
Of course, a photo would never do this suite justice, but take a look at the video below to see what you can expect from the Royal Suite with its private hot tub on the balcony and baby grand piano.
Navigator of the Seas vs. Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas has a sister ship, Mariner of the Seas. These two ships are very similar and have similar itineraries, but depending on what you like to do on board you might find that one is better than the other.
If you have a question about rooms on Navigator of the Seas, you’ll find lots of helpful cruisers in Facebook groups. Three groups that I would definitely recommend that you join are:
Have you cruised on Navigator of the Seas? I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments below, whether on the Navigator of the Seas rooms to avoid, or just the features and experience of the ship in general.
Related posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Celebrity Cruises and Carnival are two very popular cruise lines, but they offer very different experiences. In fact, you could even say that these cruise lines are polar opposites in many ways.
While Carnival Cruise Line is owned by the Carnival Corporation, Celebrity Cruises is owned by the rival Royal Caribbean Group.
There’s a cruise line for everyone, and when it comes to Celebrity Vs Carnival, you’re probably better suited to one or the other. So, read on to learn more about how Celebrity Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line compare.
Ships
With a fleet of 27 cruise ships, Carnival has more vessels than almost any other cruise line, including Celebrity Cruises, which has 16 ships. Carnival cruise ships are almost always larger than Celebrity cruise ships, whereas the Celebrity Cruises fleet is newer overall.
Carnival Cruise Ships
Carnival has eight classes of ships, ranging from the 2,606-passenger Fantasy Class ships that were built between 1991 and 1998 to the new and massive 6,500-passenger Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.
The cruise line is also expanding the fleet rapidly – two ships are transferring to the cruise line in 2025, and then five new ships are on order for 2027 to 2033.
Celebrity Cruises has just four classes of ships. The oldest ships are the Millennium Class ships. These were built between 2000 and 2002 and each accommodates around 2,200 guests. The new Edge Class ships aren’t much larger, accommodating around 2,900 guests.
As well as standard cruise ships, Celebrity Cruises has a fleet of three small ships that are purpose-built for expeditions around the Galapagos islands. These accommodate 16, 48 and 100 guests each. Two of these ships will leave the cruise line in 2025, though.
Both Carnival Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises offer cruises to destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Alaska and Europe.
The following table shows how many cruise itineraries are available in each destination.
Carnival
Celebrity
Alaska
19
38
Asia
1
24
Australia & New Zealand
36
27
Bahamas
133
27
Bermuda
7
2
Canada & New England
1
2
Caribbean
254
147
Europe
24
136
Galapagos
0
52
Hawaii
9
8
India
0
2
Mexico
40
10
Pacific Coast
0
3
Panama Canal
24
5
South America
0
8
South Pacific
24
4
Transatlantic
9
20
Transpacific
5
7
Carnival cruise destinations
Carnival cruises depart from 21 ports across the world, although the most popular departures are from the United States, visiting the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico. This cruise line is known for its short cruises from Florida to the Bahamas.
Celebrity cruise destinations
Celebrity Cruises depart from 32 ports across the world. The Caribbean and Mediterranean are the most popular destinations, but the cruise line also offers exotic cruises to the Galapagos Islands, Asia and across the Pacific Ocean.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…
Food
When comparing a Celebrity cruise against Carnival on food, most people would prefer the food on Celebrity cruises to Carnival. But that doesn’t mean that you will.
If you like an elegant dining experience with gourmet dishes from around the world, you’ll love Celebrity Cruises. But if you prefer casual restaurants with home-style favourites like steak and ribs, then perhaps Carnival is more suited to you.
Carnival’s food
On Carnival cruises, you can expect mostly American-style food like burgers, chicken and steaks. The ‘Big Chicken’ restaurant is sponsored by Shaquille O’Neal, while celebrity Chef Guy Fieri is the face of the burger joint and the smokehouse.
On Celebrity cruises, you can enjoy the most exquisite food with menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs and ingredients locally sourced from the regions your ship visits. The cruise line has won numerous awards for its food including Best Onboard Dining for eight consecutive years and Best Overall Food Experience for five consecutive years.
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
Activities & entertainment
Carnival and Celebrity are worlds apart when it comes to activities and entertainment. Carnival Cruise line calls its ships ‘Fun Ships’ because there’s always something going on to keep a smile on your face. Conversely, Celebrity Cruises promises world-class service in luxurious surroundings.
Loyal Carnival cruise fans are likely to find a Celebrity cruise to be boring if they’re used to being constantly entertained with a jam-packed program of fun. But then loyal Celebrity cruisers would probably find a Carnival cruise to be too loud, brash and tacky. It’s not that either is better, they’re just very different when it comes to the onboard experience.
Things to do on a Carnival cruise
Carnival cruise ships are packed with things to do like crazy golf, sports, waterslides and bingo. The Excel-class ships even have a rollercoaster on board! There’s always fun and games going on, from belly flop competitions to hairy chest contests around the pool.
The fun continues late into the evening with game shows, karaoke, comedy, movies and a nightclub where you’ll want to dance until sunrise.
Mardi Gras
Things to do on a Celebrity cruise
Celebrity Cruises are generally pretty relaxing – perfect for those who enjoy chilling out and watching the ocean. On Solstice-class ships, you can enjoy a picnic and a spot of croquet on the real grass lawn or just relax in a comfy chair on the sun deck.
In the evening, you can watch the ballet or a Shakespeare play at the theatre or find a cosy spot to enjoy the live music and each others’ company.
Celebrity Beyond
Kids facilities
If you’re cruising with kids, you’ll almost certainly be better off choosing a Carnival cruise rather than a Celebrity cruise.
Carnival cruises are designed with families and the young-at-heart in mind, whereas Celebrity cruises tend to be more popular with honeymooners, retired couples and those seeking a romantic break without kids.
Carnival cruises for kids
Carnival cruises are fantastic for families. The kids’ clubs are some of the best at sea, accommodating kids as young as two years old and with evening babysitting until 1 am that lets parents have a great time too.
Your kids will never be bored on a Carnival cruise with waterslides, high ropes courses, huge swimming pools, arts and crafts, sports tournaments and video games arcades. There’s even a Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Photo: Carnival
Celebrity cruises for kids
While Celebrity Cruises welcomes children on board, there’s not a whole lot for them to do outside of the kids’ clubs. The pools are smaller with no waterslides and so unless your kids are happy to relax with a book you might find that they get a little bored.
That said, the Camp at Sea kids’ club is decent. It offers a STEM-focused program that will expose your children to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, covering topics like marine wildlife, ecological conservation and nautical exploration.
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
Price
Celebrity Cruises generally cost more than Carnival cruises. As Carnival offers a lot of short Bahamas itineraries, whereas Celebrity focuses more on longer cruises to exotic destinations, you’ll find that Celebrity cruises tend to attract a more affluent crowd. But even when you compare itineraries like-for-like, Carnival cruises come out cheaper.
When comparing the overall cost of a cruise, it’s important to consider what’s included in your cruise fare. Some Celebrity cruises include drinks, tips and WiFi as standard, but you’ll find that extras like speciality dining are more expensive on Celebrity than Carnival ships.
The price of Carnival cruises
Carnival is one of the cheapest cruise lines, with only Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises offering cheaper fares. If you live in the United States, Carnival’s short cruises to the Bahamas are very affordable for most people. But Carnival cruises are far from all-inclusive.
The average 7-night Caribbean cruise with Carnival costs $963 per person. You’ll have to add an extra $112 for gratuities and $420 if you want the Carnival drinks package, making a total price of $1,515.
Celebrity Cruises is a more premium cruise line with pricing that’s towards the higher end of the mainstream cruise market.
The average 7-night Caribbean cruise with Celebrity costs $1,670 per person. Of course, deals are sometimes available, so it’s worth keeping a look out for these if you have a set budget…
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Celebrity Cruises offers…
The verdict
When comparing Carnival vs Celebrity Cruises, it would be wrong to say that one is better than the other. It’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges. You can’t say that one is better – they’re just different.
If you want a fun-packed family holiday or are cruising on a budget, then you would be better choosing Carnival. If you cruise during the school holidays, it can feel a bit like a zoo, and you may feel like you need a rest once you get home, but your kids will love it.
If you cruise to relax and would like to enjoy great service, gourmet dining, and elegant surroundings, then Celebrity Cruises is for you.
If you find yourself somewhere in the middle, Royal Caribbean is a cruise line that offers the best bits from both, so this is also one that you should look into. Take a look at my guide to what’s included in a Royal Caribbean cruise to find out more.
Related posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you may have heard the captain communicating with the crew using codes, and you might wonder what they mean.
When I hear a code spoken over the public address system, the first thing I think is, “I wonder what that means?” After all, it must be something set, otherwise, they would just say what the problem is!
In this article, I’ll reveal the meanings of some of the most common secret cruise codes, so you’ll no longer be kept in the dark about what’s going on on board your cruise ship.
But a quick note first – don’t let this article worry you if you’re nervous about cruising! You’ll rarely, if ever, hear these codes and even if you do, the crew will handle things quickly and efficiently.
1. Charlie Alpha
“Charlie” means a security threat, and Alpha” communicates a medical emergency. If you hear both, it’s a security threat caused by a medical emergency.
The code “Charlie Charlie Charlie” is used when the captain needs to communicate to the crew that there’s a security threat. If you hear it, try to remain calm and await instructions. This particular code is known to be used on Royal Caribbean cruises.
3. Alpha Alpha Alpha
The code “Alpha Alpha Alpha” is used to alert cruise ship crew to an onboard medical emergency. This code is known to be used on Royal Caribbean cruises, but other companies may use a single code Alpha. Either way, the Alpha Alpha Alpha cruise ship code means that somebody is in need of urgent medical attention.
4. Bravo
It might be repeated three times, so you might hear it as “Bravo Bravo Bravo,” but either way, “Bravo” means there’s a fire on board. Be sure to follow all instructions from the crew to ensure your safety – though this applies to all cruise ship codes, really.
5. Delta
Codes aren’t standardised across cruise lines, so the meaning if the code “Delta” depends on who you’re sailing with. It often means damage to the ship, but a former Norwegian Cruise Line employee wrote on the Cruise Critic Message Board that NCL uses the “Delta” cruise code to inform of pollution.
6. Mike
The code “Mike” is used by the cruise line Oceania Cruises to communicate to the crew that there is a medical emergency on board that requires urgent attention. Therefore, the code “Mike” performs a similar function to Alpha, but on Oceania Cruises only.
7. Oscar
The cruise code “Oscar” is one of the most important and urgent there is. It’s used by both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises to alert the crew to a man overboard.
The cruise code “Kilo” is used when the captain needs to request that all crew members report to their emergency stations. The code “Kilo” is known to be used on Royal Caribbean ships, and it may be said three times.
9. Papa
The cruise code “Papa” may sound innocuous, and cute even, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, it means the ship has encountered an oil spill or some other form of pollution.
10. Victoria
A cruise passenger on the Cruise Critic message boards has reported that the cruise code Victoria is used by Marella for “extreme flooding”. It’s not a code I’ve heard, but if you’re on a Marella cruise and you hear “Victoria,” there’s likely flooding on board.
11. Code 7
“Code 7” likely relates to the seven short blasts and one long blast that signals that all guests and crew must report to their muster stations.
You should be briefed on this during your muster drill as it’s important that you take action. Put on warm clothing, gather any medication you need and head straight to your assigned muster station for further information.
12. Code Red
On a cruise ship, “Code Red” means that an illness has broken out on board. This is often norovirus, which sadly, isn’t exactly uncommon on board cruise ships, as regular cruisers will know.
I have been on a cruise ship during a norovirus outbreak and have heard this code. Unfortunately, my daughter was quarantined to the cabin for 24 hours after becoming sick. The rest of our family managed to avoid it.
On a cruise, “Code Purple” is used to signify a bomb threat or some other form of chemical or biological threat. If you hear it, you’ll probably be a bit scared, but try not to panic, the crew will have robust procedures in place to deal with it.
An announcement of “Code Black” on a cruise can be used to alert the crew to a few possible situations – none of them good. A code black can mean the possibility of a violent confrontation, or the possibility of a suicide threat.
15. Code Gray
Code Gray alerts the crew to the presence of an abusive person or a combative person on board. I’m sure it won’t be you but do remember to be respectful to your crew and fellow cruise travellers at all times.
16. Code Pink
Code Pink is used to alert the crew that an infant under the age of 12 months is suspected (or confirmed) as missing. This is a rarely used code that I hope you’ll never hear on any of your cruises.
17. Code Green
On a cruise, “Code Green” is generally nothing to worry about, and just the captain alerting the crew to a less serious issue on board. Think of it as a kind of “traffic light system, with green for go” meaning things are relatively fine.
18. Code Blue
Some cruise lines use “Code Blue” as an alternative to “Alpha” codes to communicate that there is a medical emergency on board. Alternatively, some cruise lines use “Code Blue” to warn of hull damage. So the meaning of this code really depends on the ship.
19. Code Yellow
Similar to “Code Green”, the ship’s captain might use the cruise code “Code Yellow” to alert the crew to a less serious issue. The traffic light analogy holds up, with yellow (similar to amber) being nothing serious to worry about.
20. Sierra
The secret cruise code “Sierra” is used to communicate that a stretcher is required on board to assist with a medical emergency. Due to this, you might hear the “Sierra” cruise code after you hear one of the “Alpha” cruise codes.
A code like this is unlikely to be announced to the whole ship. Instead, it will be radioed to the medical centre on board.
21. Echo
If you hear the “Echo” cruise code, this means that the ship has started to drift, but don’t panic! It’s possible that the Captain will get the ship back under control – they’ll certainly have a procedure for correcting the problem.
The bottom line
I hope my article hasn’t made you anxious about your cruise, as that certainly wasn’t my intention. Remember that it’s unlikely that you’ll hear most, if any, of these cruise codes during your cruise, but it’s always worth being in the know about what they mean.
Also, remember that your cruise crew and captain will be highly trained professionals who will be able to deal with any emergency efficiently, so even if you do hear one of these cruise codes, there’s no need to panic!
After reading about secret cruise codes you may be wondering whether your cruise crew will include doctors or police officers, well, for your peace of mind, I’ve written articles answering these questions.
Related posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
If you’ve never cruised before, it’s really important to know what NOT to pack to take on the ship. You’ll want to avoid any potentially embarrassing situations at check-in by making sure you don’t pack any cruise ship contraband.
Cruise port staff regularly scan and search passengers’ bags, and if any of your belongings are confiscated, it’s highly likely that you won’t get them back. So, what can’t you take on a cruise? Read on to find out!
Spoiler: You can’t take any of this stuff!
Photo: Janice Leeson
Food & drink
Alcohol rules vary by cruise line
Some cruise ships allow you to bring your own alcohol on board, although this is usually limited to one bottle of wine per person. It’s usually free to drink in your room, but if you want to take your own alcohol into public areas on the ship, they charge a corkage fee of around $15 per bottle.
Drinks on board a cruise ship can be expensive. Whilst P&O Cruises charge pub prices for drinks, some other cruise lines charge much more. If you’d rather not pay $15 for a glass of wine, then you’ll probably want to know whether you can save money by bringing your own booze on your cruise.
The great news is that most cruise lines DO allow you to bring some alcohol on-board with you. However, the limits are usually pretty small – just one bottle of wine, or maybe Champagne.
P&O Cruises used to let you bring beers and spirits but that changed in May 2024.
Some cruise ships allow passengers to bring some wine on board to drink in their cabin. There is usually no corkage fee, as long as you don’t drink it in any of the public areas of the ship. If you want to drink your own wine in a bar or restaurant, you’ll be charged around $15.
The following table shows how much wine you can bring with you on your cruise…
Cruise Line
How much wine can you bring?
Carnival
One bottle per person
Celebrity
One bottle per person
Costa
None
Cunard
One bottle per person
Disney
Two bottles per person
MSC Cruises
None
NCL
Unlimited but $15 fee per bottle
P&O Cruises
One litre per person
Princess Cruises
One bottle per person for free then $15 per additional bottle
Royal Caribbean
One bottle per person
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…
Most cruise lines permit bottled water
Most cruise lines allow guests to bring bottled water with them, but not all. If you’re cruising with Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises or NCL, you won’t be allowed to bring water unless it’s needed for medical purposes.
The reason behind this is that, in the past, people have used water bottles to hide spirits or other drinks. Banning water and soft drinks has undoubtedly made it easier for cruise lines to spot anyone sneaking alcohol on board.
The following table shows how much water or other non-alcoholic drinks you can bring on your cruise…
Cruise Line
Non-alcoholic drinks allowance per passenger
Carnival
12 x 330ml cans or cartons
Celebrity
No limit
Costa
Water only permitted for medical needs
Cunard
No limit
Disney
No limit
MSC Cruises
Water only permitted for medical needs
NCL
Water only permitted for medical needs
P&O Cruises
No limit
Princess Cruises
No limit
Royal Caribbean
12 x 500ml bottles, cans or cartons (per stateroom)
Snacks are usually fine
You can take most types of snacks with you on board a cruise ship, including crisps, sweets, and biscuits. (That’s chips, candy, and cookies if you’re from the US).
We usually take a few cereal bars, a tube of Pringles and maybe some sweets for the kids. There’s always lots of food available on board, but sometimes it’s nice to have your favourite snacks too.
Whilst packaged food is always fine to bring on a cruise, you may not be allowed to take perishable items such as fresh fruit or any homemade food like sandwiches. It really depends on your cruise line’s food policy and on the local laws of the ports which you’re cruising from and to.
Cruise ship food is generally some of the best in the world. Special diets are catered for really well. So, if you’re at all concerned about being able to eat the food on-board, have a chat with your cruise line representative before you cruise and they’ll make sure that you’re well catered for on the ship.
Protein powder is also allowed (but be careful)
You are allowed to take protein powder on a cruise ship. It’s best to bring it in a sealed new container and to pack it in your carry-on bag to avoid arousing suspicion.
If you’re planning to carry a big bag of white powder through security, I can see why you might be a little worried about ending up in the naughty room being asked questions. However, in reality, plenty of cruisers bring protein powder on board without an issue. You don’t need to worry about bringing protein powder on a cruise.
Electrical items
Hair straighteners are OK but may not work properly
Hair straighteners and curling irons are allowed on cruise ships. While most appliances that produce heat are forbidden, cruise lines make an exception for hair styling devices.
You may need to consider the voltage of your appliances as some UK hair straighteners may not work on board American ships without a voltage converter.
My old GHD hair straighteners didn’t get hot in the USA or on cruise ships. But my newer ones work just fine. If you’re not sure, it’s worth Googling the model of hair straightener that you have to check.
Power strips/extension cables – strict rules apply
You may be able to take a power strip or extension cable on a cruise, so long as it meets the cruise line’s requirements. Cruise ships require that power strips do not have a surge protector, as this could overload the circuit and cause a fire. Extension cords should be less than one metre long.
It’s a bit weird since, on a home electrical network, a surge-protected strip is the safer option. But cruise ships aren’t wired up like your house.
With many of us taking a multitude of electronic devices such as cameras, phones and tablet computers, which all need to be charged, people often worry whether there will be enough plug sockets in their cruise cabin to plug everything in.
The number of electrical sockets varies from ship to ship, with some cruise ships only having two power outlets per cabin. The type of power outlets also varies, with some ships having a mix of UK, USA and European sockets.
If you’re wondering how many plug sockets will be on your cruise ship, you can find that information here.
You do need to check with your cruise line though. Royal Caribbean doesn’t allow extension cords at all, and also recently updated the ban to include multi-plugs.
The best solution to the issue of not having enough plug sockets or them being the wrong type is to get a 4-port USB universal charger plug.
This universal charger will fit into any plug socket (UK/USA/EU/AUS) and enable you to charge four devices at the same time.
Hair dryers are provided but you can bring your own
All cruise ship cabins are equipped with hairdryers that guests may use free of charge. The hairdryers vary in quality, and some have low wattage, so they are not very powerful. If you have long, thick hair, you may prefer to bring your own hairdryer from home.
When I cruised on the Disney Magic, the hairdryer that was attached to the wall in the bathroom was over twenty years old and pretty useless. However, there was another hairdryer in a drawer in the living area.
Irons usually aren’t allowed
Cruise lines generally do not allow guests to take clothing irons or travel irons on cruise ships. One exception is Marella Cruises, which does permit travel irons on board its ships.
Alternatives to bringing an iron on your cruise include:
Clothes steamers are not allowed on cruise ships as they are considered a safety hazard. Just like irons, there’s a chance that a garment steamer could cause a fire, so they are not allowed to be brought onto any cruise ship.
Packing a drone? Don’t use it on the ship
Some cruise lines allow guests to bring drones on board cruise ships. However, you aren’t allowed to fly the drone while on the ship. It may only be used on land, away from port areas.
If you want to bring a drone on your cruise to use on land, you should check with the cruise line before you travel. Some cruise lines do not permit drones, even if they remain stored in your cabin, and they may confiscate them when you check in.
Most cruise lines allow walkie-talkies
Walkie-talkies are allowed on cruise ships, but they often don’t work too well on board. Most walls on cruise ships are made of metal, which kills the signal, so you may find that bringing a walkie-talkie on your cruise is a waste of time.
A pair of walkie-talkies that might work over several miles on land, probably won’t work across the length of a cruise ship. As well as all the metal walls, cruise ships have large obstacles like swimming pools and elevators, which can all block the signal from a walkie-talkie.
If you really want to use a walkie-talkie on a cruise ship, you can’t just buy any cheap model and hope that it will work. You’ll need a powerful two-way radio that can transmit a strong enough signal to get through all of those metal walls.
Liquids are fine – don’t expect airport rules for cruises
Whilst airports limit the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage, there are no such rules on cruise ships for liquid toiletry items. You can take as many liquids as you like on a cruise.
However, cruise lines do restrict the amount of alcohol you can take on board with you, and some even prohibit you from bringing soft drinks and bottled water aboard, so be sure to check the rules on that.
If you’re flying to join your cruise, you should be aware of airport restrictions on liquids and pack them in your checked baggage rather than your carry-on luggage.
So full-size toiletries are OK
There are no limits to the size of toiletries you can take on board a cruise ship. There’s probably no need to bring a 500ml bottle of shampoo with you, but if you really want to, there’s nothing to stop you.
In fact, cruise ships have no restrictions on luggage weight. Your luggage allowance will only be limited if you have to take a flight to join your cruise ship.
Medical equipment
Oxygen canisters are usually OK
Cruise lines are generally very accommodating for medical needs, and most cruise lines permit guests to bring oxygen with them on their cruise ships.
However, cruise lines’ policies about the use of medical oxygen vary, so it’s best to check with the company you plan to cruise with to find out exactly what can be brought on board and how to check it in.
If you need to use oxygen therapy to help with conditions such as COPD, cystic fibrosis and heart failure, you’ll find lots of information about cruising with oxygen here: travelwithoxygen.com
Wheelchairs are permitted
You are allowed to take a wheelchair on a cruise ship, although they may not be allowed on some river cruise ships. Collapsible wheelchairs can be used in most cabins. If your wheelchair doesn’t fold down, you’ll likely need to book an accessible cabin for your cruise.
If you don’t usually use a wheelchair but are worried about being able to walk long distances in ports, or concerned about keeping your balance with the movement of the ship, you might want to buy a lightweight travel wheelchair for your cruise.
Lightweight wheelchairs can fold down into a bag so you can store it under your bed and get it out if and when you might need it.
Check the rules for your cruise line too, before you book. P&O Cruises now only permit a certain number of guests onboard with wheelchairs or mobility scooters, even if you only use them temporarily.
That’s because they need to make sure they’ve enough crew to help anyone with a mobility issue during an emergency. Some people have been barred from cruising because they didn’t declare they needed a wheelchair or mobility scooter!
Mobility scooters are allowed (and common)
Mobility scooters are allowed on cruise ships. However, there may be restrictions on the types of batteries that can be used, and you may be required to book an accessible cabin.
Each cruise line has its own policy about the use of mobility scooters, so be sure to ask your cruise line or travel agent when you book.
CBD – even medicinal – is banned
You won’t be able to take any CBD products on a cruise with you, even if you have a prescription from your doctor. If you are concerned about not being able to use CBD products during your cruise, ask your doctor for temporary alternatives.
It’s essentially a blanket ban – there are a lot of different laws about CBD use in the countries that cruise ships visit, so they keep things simple by banning it outright.
Babies are allowed on family-friendly cruise ships, but they need to be at least 6 months or 12 months old, depending on the cruise line and the itinerary. Some cruise ships do not allow children at all.
Most cruise lines require that babies are at least six months old to cruise. However, MSC Cruises has no minimum age for babies, so if you want to cruise with a young baby, this is the cruise line to choose.
The age requirement for babies on cruise ships may be increased to 12 months on cruises that have a lot of consecutive days at sea (such as transatlantic cruises) or visit exotic and remote destinations.
You can’t take a baby monitor on a cruise with you. It wouldn’t work anyway – cruise ship staterooms have metal walls, and so the signal would be blocked. You also wouldn’t be able to connect a WiFi baby monitor to the network on a cruise ship – they won’t allow you to connect.
Instead, most cruise lines that allow babies will have some form of babysitting service, which normally comes with an additional cost. While babysitting staff on a cruise ship will be able to change nappies or feed your child, you’ll be expected to provide the supplies to do so.
Bottle warmers and sterilisers may be banned, so check
Some cruise lines outright ban bottle warmers and sterilisers, but check with your cruise line as they may permit travel sterilisers. Costa, Cunard, Disney and P&O all have a limited number of sterilisers on the ship that you can hire.
Otherwise, you may want to take sterilising tablets with you instead, and wash the bottles in the sink of your cabin. It might not be quite as sanitary but it should be sufficient to keep your baby safe.
Rules on dogs
Service dogs are allowed on cruise ships, but pet dogs are usually not. The only cruise ship to allow pet dogs is Cunard’s Queen Queen Mary 2, which has special kennels to accommodate dogs on transatlantic cruises.
Queen Mary 2 has luxurious onboard kennels and indoor and outdoor exercise spaces for pets. Dogs are looked after by the ship’s Kennel Master, with owners allowed to visit at set times.
But, before you go ahead and book a cruise with your dog, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. Kennel spaces on Queen Mary 2 cost $800 for dogs under 26lbs and $1000 for dogs weighing over 26lbs!
Very large dogs such as Great Danes, Dobermans, Bull Mastiffs, and Greyhounds aren’t allowed as they would be too big for the kennels.
You’ll also need to get your dog a health certificate from your vet and a rabies vaccine before cruising. If that doesn’t put you off, you should get your dogs’ names down for a place as soon as possible, as kennel spaces often book up far in advance.
Service dogs such as guide dogs, hearing dogs and seizure-alert dogs are welcome on most cruise ships. On my last cruise, I saw a Labrador guide dog who was helping a visually impaired guest and a German Shepherd dog. I’m not sure what his job was, but he was very well-behaved.
To bring a service dog on a cruise, your dog must be officially registered, and you’ll need to get permission from the cruise line before you book.
In the past, a handful of people have been known to bring pet dogs on cruises by pretending that they’re service dogs. Obviously, this hasn’t been well-received when these dogs haven’t been as well-trained as professional assistance dog would be!
Cruise lines have cracked down on this and now require paperwork when booking a cruise with a service dog. Emotional support dogs, which may help with certain mental health conditions, are not allowed on board most cruise ships.
What about cats?
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 cruise ships also permit cats, dogs and ferrets to travel in the kennels on transatlantic crossings.
Most cruise ships have a smoking area, which includes traditional cigarettes, so you are allowed to take matches or a lighter on board for these purposes. You aren’t allowed to take a torch lighter onto a ship, or a novelty lighter shaped like another banned item, like a gun.
Matches and lighters are the only source of a flame that you’ll be allowed to take on a cruise ship, but only for smoking cigarettes. And novelty lighters shouldn’t be shaped like a gun if you want to take them on board as they could frighten other passengers, so just take a normal one.
You aren’t allowed to take pool inflatables on your cruise. You might get away with a small one, but generally, they are banned – they take up too much room, and the pools on cruise ships are not enormous.
Some cruise lines may permit you to take inflatables with you if you only intend to use them when you head to the beach in a port, but this varies by cruise line, and you’ll need to check before you travel; otherwise, they could be confiscated.
Photo credit: Carnival Cruise Line
Balloons are usually banned too
Most cruise lines ban inflatables of all kinds, including balloons, although some cruise lines only specify pool inflatables – you would need to check with your cruise line. You may instead be able to buy balloons from the cruise line, and have them delivered to your room already inflated if you’re celebrating a special occasion.
Helium balloons could cause havoc on a cruise ship if they were accidentally released as you brought them on-board, so it’s best to assume that they aren’t allowed. If you really want your stateroom to feel special, you may be able to order decorations – including pre-ordering them so they’re in your room waiting when you arrive.
Photo credit: Princess Cruises
Musical instruments
Most cruise lines won’t allow you to take a musical instrument on-board with you. Some cruise passengers have said they were allowed to take one on a Carnival cruise, but were told it could be confiscated if other passengers found it to be a nuisance. Instruments aren’t mentioned specifically in their policy.
Again, it’s best to leave the musical instruments at home unless you have a very special reason to bring them with you. Don’t assume that you can bring an acoustic guitar and set up a sing-a-long in a bar or by the poolside – most other cruisers won’t be impressed and you’ll very quickly have the crew asking you to stop, regardless of how good you are.
There are plenty of paid performers on a cruise ship, after all.
Golf clubs
While most sporting equipment is banned from cruise ships, golf clubs are generally allowed by most cruise lines as long as they are only taken ashore for organized golf excursions. You can’t take your own putter to use on the mini golf course on your ship!
Some cruise lines will be able to arrange club rental for you instead, so if you don’t want to take your golf bag with you for golfing excursions (and remember that most staterooms aren’t that big), then you do have the option to leave them at home.
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean
Metal detectors
Most cruise lines will not allow you to bring a metal detector onboard your cruise, although some don’t mention it in their policy, and you may need to check. You certainly can’t turn one on while onboard, as the entire structure is made from metal, including stateroom walls.
If you only wanted to use a metal detector on a beach during a port day then a cruise line may allow you to bring it onto your cruise ship, but they may turn you down. Definitely check in advance, don’t leave it to chance for embarkation day.
Candles
You aren’t allowed to take candles onto a cruise ship with you. Any kind of naked flame or fire hazard is banned from staterooms. The only exception would be matches or lighters if they are to be used for smoking.
Electric tea light candles may be permitted if they are battery-powered, but they probably don’t provide the ambience you were looking for. If you do book a cruise where you have a bathtub, you may have to rely on just music to set the mood for your relaxing soak.
Seashells
Whether you can bring seashells back onto your cruise ship after a day in port is at the discretion of the ship’s crew. Carnival is the only cruise line to mention it in their policy, saying they are allowed if they are clean, dry and free from living organisms.
Remember that seashells are often used as homes by beach creatures, and even if they are just filled with sand they may have organisms inside them. If you want to bring a seashell onto the ship, clean it out properly first, and make sure it’s dry. You should be OK, but be prepared that some cruise lines may still confiscate it.
Handcuffs & restraints
You aren’t allowed to take any kind of restraints onto a cruise ship with you, including handcuffs and leg cuffs. They are mentioned in most cruise line’s policies as specifically banned items.
This will still include ‘fluffy’ handcuffs and those clearly designed to be used by consenting adults in the bedroom. Unfortunately, if you enjoy using handcuffs with your partner, you won’t be able to do so on a cruise ship. And you will have them confiscated by port security staff, which may or may not be embarrassing for you. Either way, leave them at home.
Pepper spray
Despite being designed for self-defence, you are not allowed to bring pepper spray or any similar chemical products with you on a cruise ship. Pepper spray or mace is normally one of the named items that makes it onto most prohibited items lists for cruise lines.
Unusually specific items banned by cruise lines
Most cruise lines have very similar lists when it comes to prohibited items, but there are a couple of unusual items I’ve spotted that I thought were worth highlighting, just because of how oddly specific they are.
A number of cruise lines specify that you can’t take any form of wheeled transport on-board, including skateboards, bicycles and hoverboards. It’s understandable, since if the deck was slick you could easily charge too fast toward a railing. But Carnival is the only cruise line I’ve seen to make particular mention of heelies – children’s trainers with wheels inside the sole. They are also banned.
Similarly, there is a blanket ban on electricals that generate heat – things like hot plates. But Disney Cruise Line includes rice cookers in their list. That policy will be the same across all cruise lines, but has Disney seen a number of passengers trying to bring rice cookers on-board?
Finally, Norwegian Cruise Line has a very specific entry on its list of banned items – the Samsung Note 7. This was the oversized phone/small tablet released in 2016 which had serious battery issues, often causing it to explode, before the model was withdrawn from sale. If you have one, don’t try to take it on an NCL cruise. In fact, you probably shouldn’t use it anyway.
Final thoughts
Each cruise line will have a policy detailing the things that guests are not permitted to bring on cruise ships. As well as the items mentioned in this guide, this will include obviously dangerous things like weapons, illegal substances and chemicals.
So if you want to know what are prohibited items on P&O cruises, or what’s banned with MSC or Princess, it’s best to check their individual policies, otherwise you might end up having an awkward time at check-in.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Booking a suite on a Royal Caribbean ship is an incredible experience – these are some of the most luxurious accommodations you can find outside of the ultra-luxury cruise lines. But, with that comes a pretty hefty price tag.
If you’re thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean suite then you’ll want to know what perks you’re getting for your chunky cruise fare. And depending on the ship and the suite, it will vary.
So, let’s dive into the different Royal Caribbean suite class perks you can enjoy.
Royal Caribbean suite perks explained
There are a number of benefits of booking a suite on a Royal Caribbean ship. All suite guests enjoy priority boarding, as well as luxury bathroom amenities, a Royal Caribbean bathrobe (for onboard use only) and an espresso coffee machine. Many more perks are available in higher suite tiers.
The Royal Caribbean Suite benefits can be a little confusing because the perks that you get depend on which ship you cruise on. So, the first thing that you need to know is whether your ship is a Royal Suite Class ship, or whether it has the old Royal Caribbean Suites Program.
Royal Suite Class (for newer ships)
Available on: Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean Suites Program (for older ships)
Available on: Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas.
Basically, the Icon-, Oasis-, Quantum- and Quantum Ultra-class ships (every ship built since 2009) have Royal Suite Class. All of the older ships (built before 2009) have the Royal Caribbean Suites Program.
So first, let’s take a look at the Royal Suite Class perks. If your cruise is on one of the older ships, you can scroll straight down to the Royal Caribbean Suites Program section.
Royal Suite Class Deals
I recommend booking with luxury specialists Panache Cruises for the best service.
Royal Suite Class perks
On ships that have Royal Suite Class, the suites are grouped into three different tiers:
Sea Class
Sky Class
Star Class
Let’s delve a little deeper into each of those…
Sea Class
The suites in the Sea Class tier of the Royal Suite Class program are:
Junior Suites
Junior Suites with a Large Balcony
If you book a Sea Class suite, you’ll get:
A Royal Caribbean bathrobe (not to be kept, but to be used onboard)
A luxury pillowtop mattress
Luxury bathroom toiletries
A Lavazza espresso coffee machine to use in your suite
Dinner at Coastal Kitchen (reservations are needed and drinks aren’t included)
The Sea Class benefits are pretty similar to the Junior Suite perks on the older ships in the fleet, except that you lose priority boarding. Instead, you get the pillowtop mattress and you get to enjoy dinner at Coastal Kitchen, a contemporary restaurant exclusively for suite guests.
The suites in the Sea Class tier of the Royal Suite Class program are:
Sky Loft Suite
Spacious AquaTheater Suite – 1 Bedroom
AquaTheater Suite – 1 Bedroom
Crown Loft Suite
Owner’s Suite – 1 Bedroom
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom
Grand Suite with Large Balcony – 1 Bedroom
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom
Golden Balcony
Golden Junior Suite
With a Sky Class suite, you get the same selection of perks that you would in the Sea Class, along with a whole lot more:
Concierge Service
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Coastal Kitchen (reservations are needed for dinner, and drinks aren’t included)
Speciality bottled water in your suite on arrival
Complimentary VOOM internet access (one device per guest)
Flexible arrival times and priority departure
Priority dining reservations
Early access to seating in some entertainment venues
Access to the Suite Lounge (complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails every evening)
Access to the exclusive Suite Sun Deck
These are Royal Caribbean’s standard suite benefits and they include a whole host of valuable extras. Many cruisers rave about the food in the Coastal Kitchen and having access to other VIP areas like the Suite Lounge makes you feel really special.
Suite Deck on Wonder of the Seas
Star Class
The suites in the Star Class tier of the Royal Suite Class program are:
Ultimate Family Suite
Ultimate Family Townhouse
Royal Loft Suite
Villa Suite – 4 Bedrooms
Owner’s Loft Suite
Grand Loft Suite
Owner’s Panoramic Suite – 1 Bedroom
Grand Panoramic Suite – 1 Bedroom
Ultimate Panoramic Suite
Star Loft Suite
Spacious AquaTheater Suite with Large Balcony – 2 Bedrooms
AquaTheater Suite with Large Balcony – 2 Bedrooms
As you’d expect, booking a Star Class suite will get you all of the perks of the Sky and Sea classes, as well as some additional benefits:
Exclusive access to the Royal Genie Service
Complimentary dining in speciality restaurants, including Chef’s Table
Complimentary Deluxe Beverage drinks package for adults
Complimentary Refreshments soda package for children
Still and sparkling water provided in-suite and refreshed daily
Complimentary gratuities
Expedited boarding and departure
Access to the best seats for entertainment shows
Priority entrance to many onboard activities
Complimentary minibar stocked with Coca-Cola drinks and water
Complimentary laundry and pressing services
Luxury Frette linens
It’s worth explaining some of these in a little more detail.
Royal Genie
The Royal Genie Service is essentially Royal Caribbean’s version of a butler – but because Royal Caribbean is modern, it prefers to call its staff ‘Genies’. They can definitely make your wishes come true though, and are on hand to help with various tasks, including:
Escorting you onboard and making sure your luggage is expedited
Arranging your seating in entertainment venues
Managing your dining reservations (and making recommendations)
Planning celebration requests if you have a birthday or anniversary while sailing
Royal Genie
Priority access
The priority access to activities includes things like the FlowRider or iFly. Those are really popular attractions and sometimes you would normally have to queue for a little while to get a turn.
Not with your Royal Genie’s help – they can get you priority access so that you can try them without all the waiting around. They can’t work miracles though, so this is only outside of peak times (so not between 1 pm and 4 pm on sea days).
It’s worth pointing out that these services are only available to guests who are booked in the Star Class. So, if you’re travelling with a larger group but you’re the only ones sailing in Star Class, your Genie can’t make reservations for the rest of your party.
Complimentary gratuities
It’s also important to clarify that your complimentary gratuities just cover the ‘standard’ tips, so that’s your general housekeeping, stateroom and dining staff.
Your genie doesn’t get a tip as part of your complimentary package, so if you want to reward them you’ll need to do that separately. The same applies to your Concierge too.
There are a lot more benefits when you book one of the Grand, Panoramic or Owner’s Suites on your Royal Caribbean ship.
As well as all the benefits of a Junior Suite, you also get:
A pillowtop mattress
Priority departure on disembarkation day
A Concierge service
Access to the Suite Lounge or Concierge Club, with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails every evening
Priority dining reservations, spa bookings and short excursion tickets
A Suite Party invitation (on cruises of 5 nights or more)
Tours of the Bridge, Galley and Backstage
VIP pool deck seating (on Voyager Class ships and above)
Priority tendering for shore excursions, where available
A welcome gift of fruit and Evian water
The option to enjoy the Main Dining Room menu in your suite
Complimentary 24-hour room service
Private lunch and breakfast seating
A departure breakfast
Access to a reserved section in the Theatre
Complimentary outfit pressing on the first formal night
No sign-up fee for luggage valet service
That’s quite a lot! Royal Caribbean want to make your suite stay special, and if you book one of these suites then you’re going to have an amazing experience with all these extra added in.
Not to be confused with ‘Royal Suite Class’, Royal Suites and Villa Suites are the best suites available on the older ships in the fleet.
With these, you get all of the perks from the lower suite grades, as well as:
An officer will escort you onboard when you check-in
A welcome bottle of Moet & Chandon
It might not seem like a long list, but when you already have all the perks of the lower suite grades, it’s plenty.
You’ll feel like actual royalty being escorted onboard by an officer of the ship, and if you like Champagne then you’ll love having a bottle of Moet waiting for you in your suite – the perfect way to toast the start of your cruise!
Royal Suite
Are suites worth it with Royal Caribbean? It depends…
Royal Caribbean suites aren’t cheap but they are a lot more spacious and come with a lot of benefits. Whether it’s worth it depends on your cruising style – Royal Caribbean ships are packed with activities, so you may not spend much time in your suite at all.
If you’re the sort of person to only use your accommodation as a place to sleep and get ready, then you can save a lot of money by not choosing a suite. You’ll miss out on perks like the best seats in venues, or priority boarding, but many of the other benefits are things you can pay for on an ad-hoc basis.
You don’t need complimentary speciality dining if you only want to visit one of those restaurants, you can just pay for it as a one-off.
But there’s no denying that Royal Caribbean suites are special, especially with Royal Suite Class on the newest ships in the fleet. If you have the budget, and you enjoy spending a bit of time in your suite, then there are few better trips you could book.
To help you avoid these worst cabins on Royal Caribbean, I’ve created a cabin checklist that you can get for free.
Just enter your email address below and you’ll receive it in your inbox straight away.
Royal Suite Class Deals
I recommend booking with luxury specialists Panache Cruises for the best service.
Related posts:
Royal Caribbean Suite guides:
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
When you sail with Carnival, you’ll be given a Sail & Sign card. This is your room key, but it’s also the card that you’ll charge any onboard spends to, whether that’s drinks at the bar, or paying for something in the onboard stores.
However, you might notice other people have different colored cards from you. And as you cruise with Carnival, your card color might change as well. This isn’t random – let me explain what the different card colors represent.
The cruise cards represent your loyalty level
The different Carnival card colors represent what level of the VIFP program you have reached. This is the cruise line’s loyalty program and indicates how much time you’ve spent cruising with Carnival and the benefits that you’re entitled to receive.
There are multiple different Carnival color levels of the VIFP program, ranging from first-time cruisers to those who have been loyal to the cruise line for years. And while you don’t need the Sail & Sign card to show off your status – you’ll be able to claim the benefits without flashing the card – it’s a nice status symbol to show off.
VIFP explained
VIFP stands for Very Important Fun Person – after all, Carnival is all about the fun when you’re on a cruise. Everybody who sails with Carnival is considered a VIFP, even if it’s your first time, although as you keep returning to the cruise line, you’ll move up the ranks.
As you do, you’ll unlock different perks. At lower levels, these aren’t particularly special, but it’s still nice to have your loyalty rewarded. As you move higher up the VIFP program, you’ll start to get some really worthwhile benefits for your holiday.
The different levels of VIFP
There are five levels of the VIFP club, and five different Carnival Sail and Sign card colors. When you first sail with Carnival you will join on the Blue tier, before progressing to the Red tier for your second. From there you will progress through Gold, Platinum, and eventually, Diamond, based on the number of nights you’ve cruised.
Blue: First Cruise
Red: 2-24 VIFP Points
Gold: 25-74 VIFP Points
Platinum: 75-199 VIFP Points
Diamond: 200+ VIFP Points
Milestone: 25th, 50th, 75th and 100th cruise
Blue card = Carnival newbie
Having a blue Sail and Sign card means that you’re on your first cruise with Carnival. Every Carnival guest is automatically registered in the VIFP program, and you only get a blue card once – after that, you move up to red.
Your blue Sail & Sign card will, therefore, become something of a memento for you – an item to celebrate your first time with the cruise line.
Blue VIFP benefits
Because every person who sails with Carnival is a Blue-level VIFP, the list of benefits is hardly exciting.
You’ll get:
A members e-newsletter
Access to members-only offers
It’s not really a list of perks to get excited about. The offers aren’t too special. But it’s the first step on your VIFP journey, and you’ve done nothing to earn them beyond booking a cruise.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Carnival cruise offers…
Red card = relatively new to Carnival
Being a red card holder with Carnival Cruises means you’ve reached the second stage of the VIFP program. You get the red Sail & Sign card on your second cruise, and you’ll stay at this level until you have completed 24 nights on a Carnival cruise.
This is the first time that ‘VIFP points’ become important. You get one point for every night you spend on a Carnival ship, and you remain a Red level VIFP member until you’ve accumulated 25 points, at which point you’ll move up to the next level.
It doesn’t happen immediately, but on your next cruise. So if you are on a Red level cruise and you pass 25 nights mid-way through, you’ll stay at the Red level until the end of that sailing.
Red VIFP benefits
As well as the members’ e-newsletter and the access to the members-only offer, being a Red-level VIFP member only qualifies you for one extra benefit:
Complimentary 1.5-litre bottle of water
You can claim it at any bar or restaurant, or through room service. You get one bottle on every cruise.
That’s it, a bottle of water? Yep, I’m afraid so. It seems that the vast majority of people get pretty much nothing when it comes to VIFP perks.
Gold card = serial Carnival cruiser
Once you have cruised with Carnival for 25 nights or more, you’ll have accrued enough points to reach the Gold level of VIFP. This is the mid-level tier, and you’ll stay here until you’ve cruised for 75 nights, at which point you’ll move up.
A lot of people will reach Gold and never progress further – after all, it’s the equivalent of taking ten 7-night cruises, which for most people is quite a lot. I’ve certainly never had close to ten cruises with any particular cruise line.
But if you prefer longer cruises, or you start cruising with Carnival at a young age and shun other brands in favor of ships with whale tails, you may get past this level.
Gold VIFP benefits
As a Gold-level VIFP, you’ll enjoy the same perks as those on the Blue and Red levels, along with:
An Appreciation Drink on cruises of 5 nights or more
A Gold VIFP pin badge on every cruise
You can get the drink from any bar on the ship on the last evening of your cruise from 5pm onwards, while the pin badge can be claimed at the Photo Gallery, but don’t leave it too late – you can’t claim it in the last two days of your cruise.
Platinum level = loyal Carnival guest
If you cruise with Carnival for 75 nights or more, you will reach Platinum level in the VIFP program, and your Sail & Sign card will be platinum-colored. At this stage, you will unlock a long list of benefits, which improves when you pass 200 nights.
To put this into perspective, in order to reach Platinum you need to book 11 week-long cruises with Carnival, which is quite a lot for most people. But if you do that, then you are certainly revered as you unlock a long list of perks.
These include:
Priority check-in and boarding
Complimentary drinks and parties
Unique pins
Free gifts on every cruise
And a lot more. Platinum is where the VIFP program starts to feel like a loyalty program that’s worth being involved in, as it should, considering the number of nights you need to sail with Carnival in order to qualify.
Diamond is the very top level of the VIFP program – in order to reach this level, you must cruise with Carnival for 200 nights or more – if you choose 7-night sailings exclusively, this means taking 29 cruises.
There are a number of perks exclusive to this top tier, including unlimited laundry during your cruises, priority reservations at specialty restaurants, and a one-time complimentary meal. You also get a one-time free cabin upgrade or you can have a third and fourth guest sail with you for free.
Plus, a nice addition is that for every person who reaches Diamond status, Carnival makes a $100 donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Signing up is easy
You’re signed up to the Carnival VIFP program automatically when you first sail with the cruise line. You’ll be assigned a number which you can see when you log onto the Carnival website. Points are tracked automatically too – there’s nothing you need to do.
You don’t even need to sail on your first cruise to join the program. As soon as you register an account on the Carnival website, you’re in!
The VIFP Club is free
The VIFP Club is completely free to join – you won’t be charged for being a member at any stage. It is just a loyalty program that rewards you for the number of nights you spend on a Carnival cruise ship.
So technically, it’s not free to move through the different stages, since you have to pay for your cruises (unless you have a very generous family member paying for you). But the actual club doesn’t have any costs associated with it.
Checking your VIFP status
You can check your Carnival VIFP status at any time just by logging into your account on the Carnival website. Once logged onto the website, click on ‘Your Name’ to see your profile, and then ‘My Cruises’ to see your VIFP level.
If you don’t have an account with Carnival, you can register at any time. If you’ve sailed with Carnival before, you’ll be able to add booking details to bump you onto the second tier immediately.
How to find your Carnival VIFP number
You can find your Carnival VIFP number on your online Carnival account. Log into the website, click on ‘Your Name’ and then ‘My Cruises’ and you’ll see your VIFP number and your current status. If you can’t find it, you can call Carnival and they can locate it from your booking history.
You may need to enter your VIFP number in future when booking a cruise if you want to claim the VIFP points, so it’s worth keeping it noted. Usually it’s automatic, especially if you book direct with Carnival.
To conclude
Most cruise lines have a loyalty program, and Carnival likes to show theirs off with their Sail & Sign cards being different colors to match your status. It’s fun for passengers who feel proud to be loyal.
The lower levels – Blue, Red and to some extent Gold – don’t have perks that are super exciting. But once you reach Platinum, you’ll unlock some great extras to make every cruise even more special.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Carnival cruise offers…
Related posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise line, has announced a new destination for their cruise ships to visit starting in 2027, Perfect Day Mexico.
Our free cruise newsletter offers the latest news and deals: Sign Up
Perfect Day Mexico will open in 2027 on Mexico’s Caribbean coast in Mahahual. This new destination for Royal Caribbean is in addition to the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel that is opening in 2026.
Perfect Day Mexico will have a thrilling waterpark, jaw-dropping pools and beaches, restaurants, bars, music and more.
Royal Caribbean released a short teaser video about this new destination that you can watch below.
Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, gave the following statement about this new destination:
“Perfect Day at CocoCay has been a gamechanger for both our guests and our business. With travelers prioritizing unique experiences and destinations driving their booking decisions, we’re excited to expand our Perfect Day Collection by creating Perfect Day Mexico to super serve guests who want to explore the Western Caribbean.
“Our momentum for reimagining the ultimate vacation experience for guests of all ages continues as we help guests turn the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations across our brands.”
Mara Lezama, governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, added:
“We are very excited that Royal Caribbean has decided to invest in Mahahual, a land of opportunity and hard-working people. Under the framework of the Well Being and Development Accord and the new era of tourism, my administration is looking forward to working very closely with the company to ensure a sustainable destination that brings shared prosperity to the region and that our local communities are part of this historic investment.
“I am sure that guests will be marveled by the beauties that southern Quintana Roo has to offer but most importantly, the kindness of our people.”
Royal Caribbean said that they will release more details on Perfect Day Mexico in the coming months.
Royal Caribbean’s Grand Suites are often considered to be the first true suite that you can book on board. There are Junior Suites, considered the entry point into the suite classes, but they don’t come with anywhere near the same perks as the Grand Suites.
Grand Suites are where you’ll really enjoy the benefits of being a suite guest, but what exactly do you get?
It can be a little confusing since there are two different packages, depending on which ship you’re booked onto, but this guide will make it clear.
Grand Suites explained
A Grand Suite is considered to be the true entry-level to the full suite class on Royal Caribbean. Grand Suites are upgraded veranda staterooms, offering more space in both the room and on the balcony, as well as coming with a number of extra benefits.
Grand Suites offer the full suite experience, so if you want to feel like a true suite guest with Royal then these are the lowest level of suite you should book.
Grand Suite perks
The perks you get with a Grand Suite vary depending on which ship you book, but you will always get priority boarding and departure at the start and end of your cruise, a Concierge service, access to the Suite Lounge on-board and priority dining reservations.
There are two different suite packages depending on which ship you sail with, and that impacts the Royal Caribbean suite benefits you’ll enjoy. Older ships are part of the Royal Caribbean Suites Program, while newer ships – specifically the Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships – offer the Royal Suite Class.
Grand Suites are one of the few accommodation types available fleet-wide, so there are different Grand Suite perks depending on your ship.
The perks you get, regardless of your ship
Priority boarding
One of the best perks of booking a Grand Suite is priority boarding. On the day of your cruise, you won’t have to wait in line with potentially thousands of other guests, waiting your turn to be allowed onto the ship.
Instead, you’ll be one of the first to be allowed to board, which means you’ll not only queue less port-side, but you’ll also beat the rush for lunch on board as well. You may not get access to your suite any earlier, but you’ll be able to explore the ship at your leisure before everyone else.
Concierge Service
The Concierge service really helps to make your suite experience feel special. Think of your concierge as your own personal guest services, as they do very similar jobs except that the concierge is available whenever you need them.
They can reserve your shore excursions, or book you a table at a speciality restaurant. They can help you with spa reservations, or pre-order your wine for dinner. If there’s something you need, the concierge will likely be able to do it for you, or at least make it as easy as possible for you.
Access to the Suite Lounge or Concierge Club
Depending on your ship, you’ll either have access to a Concierge Club or a Suite Lounge. Both are very similar, being private lounges that only suite guests are permitted to access. Here, you can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres every evening, as well as a selection of cocktails.
Concierge Lounge – Quantum of the Seas
The lounges are open during the day as well, giving you a quiet space to unwind away from the rest of the ship, and there are normally a selection of movies that you can borrow from the lounge to use in your suite too.
Priority dining reservations
Speciality dining restaurants are very popular on Royal Caribbean ships, and so the option to book a table before they’re available to the masses is a definite plus.
Grand Suite guests, along with other suite guests, can make reservations for all of the speciality dining venues early, ensuring you get first dibs on your preferred dining venue every night.
Wonderland Restaurant
Priority theatre seating
Booking a Grand Suite means that you’re able to enjoy priority theatre seating for a lot of the live shows on board. This varies slightly depending on whether you’re on the Royal Suite Program or Royal Suite Class.
With the older ships, you have a reserved section of seating just for suite guests. Newer ships don’t have this reserved area but instead allow you to book seats in advance, so you can get first dibs on the best seats in the house for the shows that you want to see.
Plus these smaller perks…
A Royal Caribbean bathrobe (not to be kept, but to be used onboard)
A luxury pillowtop mattress
Luxury bathroom toiletries
A Lavazza espresso coffee machine to use in your suite
The Grand Suite perks on older ships (Royal Suites Program)
Tours of the Bridge, Galley and Backstage
Priority spa bookings and shore excursion tickets
A Suite Party invitation (on cruises of 5 nights or more)
VIP pool deck seating (on Voyager Class ships and above)
Priority tendering for shore excursions, where available
The option to enjoy the Main Dining Room menu in your suite
Complimentary 24-hour room service
Private lunch and breakfast seating
A departure breakfast
Complementary outfit pressing on the first formal night
No sign-up fee for luggage valet service
The Grand Suite perks on newer ships (Royal Suite Class)
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Coastal Kitchen (reservations are needed for dinner, and drinks aren’t included)
Complimentary VOOM internet access (one device per guest)
Access to the exclusive Suite Sun Deck
A Royal Caribbean bathrobe (not to be kept, but to be used onboard)
Luxury bathroom toiletries
Dinner at Coastal Kitchen (reservations are needed and drinks aren’t included)
Decide whether the benefits are worth the cost…
The price of a Grand Suite on a Royal Caribbean ship varies depending on the ship, the duration of the cruise and the time of year. As a rough guide, expect to pay in the region of £3,000 / $3,500 per person for a typical week-long cruise.
That isn’t cheap – but then, suites on a cruise ship never are. I’ve checked some itineraries and the Grand Suites can be as much as 10 times the cost of an Inside Stateroom on the same sailing, which is a huge difference!
You need to weigh up whether you’d rather pay $350 per person for an Inside, or $3,500 for a Grand Suite and all the perks that you get. Obviously, these aren’t your only options, but it shows you just how stark the difference is!
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
Grand Suites really are a step up from Junior Suites
Junior Suites are the lowest class of suites you can book on a Royal Caribbean ship. They are not as big as Grand Suites and they only offer a fraction of the benefits, the best of which is priority boarding – but only on older ships.
The full list of perks you get in a Junior Suite are:
A Royal Caribbean bathrobe (not to be kept, but to be used onboard)
A luxury pillowtop mattress
Luxury bathroom toiletries
A Lavazza espresso coffee machine to use in your suite
Dinner at Coastal Kitchen (Royal Suite Class only)
Priority boarding (Royal Caribbean Suites Program only)
Compare that to the full list of benefits offered in a Grand Suite, and you’ll see how different they are. When it comes to a Royal Caribbean Grand Suite vs Junior Suite, there’s only one winner.
Whether a Grand Suite is worth it entirely depends on your budget and circumstances. If you are stretching to afford it, you might be better served to opt for a lower class of room and then pay separately for the perks you will use. But Grand Suites are spacious and offer a lot of extra benefits in their package.
Ultimately, you just need to weigh up how much you’re happy to spend on your cruise and how much you would make sure of the extra benefits. If you don’t think you’d use them too much, then maybe consider a lower accommodation class, saving the additional funds for another cruise instead.
To help you avoid these worst cabins on Royal Caribbean Grand Suite, I’ve created a cabin checklist that you can get for free. Just enter your email address below, and you’ll receive it in your inbox straight away.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
Related posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
