The best part of being a travel writer is traveling—and because my favorite way to travel is by sea, I’ve been lucky enough to do plenty of it. But even after 15 cruises with Royal Caribbean, I’m still learning something new every time.
That’s one of the things I love most about cruising. No matter how many times you sail, every ship, every itinerary and every vacation brings a new experience.
On my latest Royal Caribbean cruise, aboard Oasis of the Seas, sailing from Port Liberty in New Jersey on August 2, 2026, I picked up eight cruise tips and tricks that I wish I’d known sooner.
Here’s what I learned:
1. A Royal Beach Club Cabana Makes Sense for a Large Group
Traveling with a large group? Do the math before automatically buying individual admission to Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.
Admission to the private beach club can range from about $99 to $234 per person, depending on the season and how far in advance you book. But for our group of 10, a private cabana cost $1,200—making it surprisingly competitive with individual tickets.
And the cabana came with plenty of perks: a swing, couches, chaises, a refrigerator, hors d’oeuvres, fresh fruit, healthy snacks, beer and soft drinks, plus an upscale menu. And oh, that view!
Best of all, we had our own server who took our orders and delivered everything. No waiting in line in the heat.
The takeaway: If you’re traveling with a group, compare the cost of individual admission with a cabana. The cabana may be a better value—and a lot more fun.
2. Don’t Rush Off the Ship When Everyone Else Does
With two mega-ships in Nassau, our group thought we had a brilliant plan: Get off Oasis of the Seas as early as possible to beat the crowds heading to the Royal Beach Club.
It didn’t work.
It took us about an hour to disembark and board one of the tenders. Then, while we sat waiting for our tender to leave the dock, we watched other passengers simply walk right up and board.
The takeaway: Sometimes the best cruise strategy is to wait. If you head for the gangway at noon instead of joining the initial rush, you may end up on the same shuttle as the people who spent an hour fighting their way into crowded elevators at 11 a.m.
3. Royal Caribbean Knows How to Handle Medical Emergencies
No one wants to think about a medical emergency on vacation, but cruise ships are equipped to respond when something goes wrong.
On our return to New Jersey, we experienced not one but two separate medical emergencies.
The ship increased speed to quickly reach Atlantic City, where a helicopter met us to transport the patients to a hospital.
It was a powerful reminder that cruise itineraries can change quickly when there is a medical emergency—and that cruise lines have procedures in place to get passengers the care they need.
The takeaway: Travel insurance and understanding your cruise line’s medical and emergency procedures are important, even if you never expect to need them.
4. Don’t Like a Firm Cruise Ship Mattress? Just Ask
Yes, Royal Caribbean’s mattresses can be very firm. But if that’s not to your liking, look underneath the bed. You may find a mattress topper already there.
If not, just ask your room steward to bring you one. Or two.
(And, as I already knew, your stateroom attendant also can help with the bed configuration. The beds can be separated into two twin beds or pushed together into a queen-size bed. And if your friends and family are in the next room, he can remove the divider between the balconies so you can all sit outside together.)
The takeaway: Your room steward can often make small changes that make a big difference in your comfort. Just ask.
5. The Splash Zone at Aqua80 Is Exactly What It Sounds Like
Want to experience Aqua80 from a completely different perspective? Sit in the front-row Splash Zone.
You will get wet. Very wet. But it’s also a lot of fun—and a completely different experience from watching the show from farther back or on a balcony.
Bring a towel and protect anything you don’t want soaked. And take my advice: duck during the finale.
6. Royal Caribbean’s Staff Can Work Magic—If You Ask
One thing that always impresses me about cruising is how accommodating the crew can be.
Our group of 10 arrived at Giovanni’s at 7:00 and asked it would be possible to make an 8:30 show. And Josue came to our rescue, served us family style. (In the end, I didn’t really think Cats was worth the rush. (But our 14-year-old granddaughter who wants to be a vet loved it.)
Our group of 10 arrived at Giovanni’s at 7 p.m., and said we were hoping to make an 8:30 show. Josue serving our meal family-style so we could get through dinner more quickly.
In the end, I didn’t think Cats was worth rushing for—but our 14-year-old granddaughter, who wants to be a veterinarian, absolutely loved it.
The takeaway: Don’t assume the answer is no. Just ask.
7. Find a New Excursion If You’ve Been There Before
Having sailed this itinerary many times, I’ve done every excursion I care to do in Port Canaveral. So this time, we decided to keep things inexpensive and easy.
We just took an Uber a mile down the road to the Holiday Inn Vacation Club.
For just $45 for the adults and $25 for under 18, we got access to a huge and uncrowded pool, a lazy river, an ocean beach, and—if Florida’s weather turned on us—an indoor movie theater.
The pool bar serves food and drinks, or you can opt for indoor seating to escape the bees.
The takeaway: If you’ve done the major Port Canaveral excursions already, consider a nearby resort day pass for an easy and affordable alternative.
8. Use the Free Porter Service When You Leave the Ship
Here’s one cruise tip I should have taken advantage of sooner: Use the porter service at the end of your cruise.
For the price of a tip, porters will take your luggage all the way from the terminal to your car in the parking lot and load it into your trunk.
The takeaway: Best $20 I ever spent.
