As the busy summer cruise season gets underway in North America, Carnival Cruise Line is reminding guests of its shipboard policies through a renewed emphasis on its “Have Fun. Be Safe” guidelines.
The cruise line began distributing updated letters to passengers embarking from 1st June 2025, detailing several behavioural expectations aimed at ensuring safety and enjoyment for all aboard.
Key Policies Reinforced
The letter outlines the following shipboard rules:
Curfew for Under-18s: Guests aged 17 and under must leave public areas by 1 am, unless accompanied by an adult aged 21 or over from their travel group. The curfew will be “strictly enforced.”
Noise and Conduct: Passengers are asked to avoid running or shouting in hallways, and to maintain a quiet environment in guest corridors.
Restrictions in Nightlife Areas: For safety reasons, handheld fans and beverages are not permitted on dance floors or in nightclubs.
Personal Devices and Speakers: Guests using personal devices in public spaces must use earphones. All Bluetooth, wireless, and portable speakers are banned and will be confiscated if found – a policy in place since November 2024.
Smoking Policy: Smoking and vaping are restricted to designated areas only. Smoking in cabins or on balconies is strictly prohibited and may result in a $500 fine or removal from the ship.
Zero Tolerance on Drugs: Carnival reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs, including marijuana, regardless of its legality in certain states. Passengers found in possession of illegal substances may face arrest, be denied reboarding, and permanently banned from the cruise line.
Guest Accountability and Enforcement
The letter concludes with a clear warning:
“Any guest who violates these policies or whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety, or well-being of others will be disembarked at their own expense and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future.”
Guests are also reminded that any damage to ship property will be charged directly to their Sail & Sign account.
Ongoing Safety Measures and Public Feedback
The renewed communication follows increased interest and questions directed to John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, who regularly fields passenger concerns on social media.
Recent issues have included balcony smoking, which poses a serious fire risk, as highlighted by a balcony fire aboard Carnival Glory in February 2025.
Additionally, several guests have faced legal consequences for violating rules.
In one instance, a passenger was arrested in Galveston after attempting to board with multiple illegal substances.
Carnival has confirmed that drug-sniffing dogs are in use at embarkation points and that it adheres to federal laws, regardless of local state legislation.
While some may see the enforcement as strict, many guests have expressed support for the policies online, applauding the cruise line’s efforts to maintain a safe, comfortable atmosphere for all aboard.
But then you also have to ask, does Carnival feel it’s necessary to send the letter because of the poor behaviour from past guests? And could that put some people off sailing with Carnival?
Or is it even a little patronising, having to tell people how to behave?
Only time will tell.
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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.
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An open-air park in the middle of a cruise ship might sound like a gimmick – until you’re walking through thousands of real plants, flanked by fine dining and live music.
Central Park isn’t just a novelty; it’s one of Oasis of the Seas’ most impressive features, blending nature, luxury, and calm in the middle of the ocean.
Arguably it’s one of the most impressive features of any cruise ship – and if you’re cruising on Oasis then there are plenty of reasons to keep coming back here…
Oasis of the Seas Introduced Central Park
Oasis of the Seas does have a Central Park neighbourhood – as the first of the Oasis-class ships, it was where the Central Park concept debuted for the cruise line.
Central Park has been added to every Oasis-class ship since, and also appears on Icon-class ships.
Each Royal Caribbean Central Park is open to all guests, and it doesn’t cost to explore the area, although most of the venues you’ll find in Central Park do charge a fee, including the speciality restaurants and the bars. The only one that is free is Park Cafe.
You’ll also find some of the high-end stores in the park, as well as the library.
Central Park Explained
Central Park is one of the main neighbourhoods on Oasis of the Seas. It’s an outdoor space designed to be like a real park, with thousands of live plants. Nature sounds are piped into the area to add to the overall ambience.
As you walk through Central Park, you’ll find weaving paths to the sides that run beneath trellises that are wrapped in vines. It’s a great sensory area of the ship, with a wonderful fresh scent accompanying the sights and sounds of the flora.
It’s not just an outdoor space though – there’s a lot more to it than a pathway and some plants. Central Park is a great place to relax, with various seating areas amongst the foliage. It’s also lined by some of the more popular restaurants and shops on the ship.
Here’s the full list of venues you’ll find at Central Park on Oasis of the Seas:
1. Chops Grille
Chops Grille is the American steakhouse restaurant on Oasis of the Seas. The entrance is right at the entrance of Central Park, and you can get a window table with a view out onto the park as well – great when it’s all lit up at night. The restaurant serves premium steak and seafood dishes.
2. 150 Central Park
Directly opposite Chops Grille is 150 Central Park, a modern restaurant with a wide-ranging menu, created using locally sourced ingredients. Some of the dishes will even be prepared at the side of your table. Again, views out onto the park are available if you get a table by the window.
3. Rising Tide Bar
The Rising Tide Bar is a fun place to grab a drink. Part bar, part elevator, it’s pretty unique – the entire bar and seating area moves between the Royal Promenade up to Central Park. Seating is limited but it’s worth trying it once if you get the chance.
4. Trellis Bar
The Trellis Bar is an outdoor bar area with casual seating, perfect for a pre-dinner drink you’re eating at one of the restaurants in the area. In the evening, musicians will play to serenade you while you sip your cocktail or glass of wine, enjoying the calm outdoor ambience.
5. Park Cafe
Something a little more casual, Park Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch and serves a selection of deli sandwiches. Grab yourself one of the amazing Kummelweck roast beef sandwiches, find a seat and enjoy a luxurious picnic right amongst the plants.
This is the only venue in the Central Park area that is included in your cruise fare.
6. Giovanni’s Table
Another restaurant found in Central Park, Giovanni’s Table offers rustic Italian dishes. There is limited outdoor seating for this restaurant, so order your favourite pasta, meat or seafood dishes and enjoy them in the comforting atmosphere of the park at dusk. It’s a beautiful location that matches the beautiful food.
7. Vintages
Pull up a seat indoors or outside at this premium wine bar and enjoy some wonderfully crisp whites and some deep reds, along with a great selection of sparkling wines and Champagnes. Not sure what to pick? The servers are experts and can happily recommend some choice selections.
8. Central Park Library
Oasis of the Seas has a small library that’s accessible from Central Park. Drop in, pick up a book and then you can take it with you around the ship – but where better to read than sat amongst the plant life of the neighbourhood?
10. Tiffany & Co.
Oasis of the Seas was the first ship to host a Tiffany & Co. boutique when it was added in 2015. Browse the luxurious range of jewellery items available, and treat yourself!
11. John Hardy
Another first – Oasis of the Seas continues to host the debut John Hardy store at sea, renowned for its handcrafted jewellery and accessories.
Central Park Deck
Central Park is situated on Deck 8 of Oasis of the Seas. It takes up most of the entire deck – the exceptions are at the forward part of the deck, which hosts a number of staterooms, while towards the aft there is the Music Hall.
Take a look at the map below to see what it looks like from above…
Because the park is open air, the space directly above it is empty until you get to Deck 14, where there are walkways built above the space that host the Lime and Coconut bar.
Central Park View Balcony Staterooms Explained
An Oasis of the Seas Central Park View Balcony Stateroom is a stateroom that has a balcony on the inside of the ship, overlooking the Central Park area. They were the first inward-facing balconies to be featured on cruise ships.
They have their plus points and their downsides. People enjoy them because the view can be a little more interesting – you can people-watch, and see everyone milling around. Looking outwards, you might only be able to see the horizon.
Take a look at the video below to see what the view looks like from a Central Park Balcony on Oasis of the Seas.
Some people have said that the balconies are noisier, which is to be expected. And also remember that since you can people watch, people can also see you, especially on the equivalent balcony staterooms that are opposite.
This might feel like it invades on your privacy a bit, and you’ll need to remember to draw your curtains every time you’re getting changed – not usually a problem on an outward-facing balcony.
On a warm day, Central Park is a great place to relax with a light bite from Park Cafe, and at night it comes to life with the vibrant bars and speciality restaurants on offer, with musicians creating a fun and relaxing atmosphere.
It’s a quieter, calmer space than the Royal Promenade and Boardwalk, and a good spot if you need a break from the vibrancy of the pool decks too. Being surrounded by so much plant life, you can’t help but just feel at peace.
Make sure you explore Central Park at least once on your next Oasis of the Seas cruise!
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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.
Is there a more iconic TV show related to cruising than “The Love Boat?” I’ll tell you now – there isn’t.
The show aired from 1977 to 1986 and yet it’s still widely adored. It was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS Pacific Princess and was nominated for several Golden Globes before being taken off our screens (but you can stream it, these days).
The show brought us tales of love and humorous adventure on the high seas, but what has happened to the cast of the show since?
1. Gavin McLeod (Captain Merrill Stubing)
Gavin MacLeod’s role as the Captain of The Love Boat was iconic and helped to shape his career in the years that followed.
This is most obvious in his role as global ambassador for Princess Cruises which he began in 1986, the same year that the show ended. This role gave him the chance to attend ceremonies launching new real-life cruise ships.
Following his time on The Love Boat, MacLeod spent a lot of time working in the theatre and had relatively few appearances on TV after The Love Boat compared to his many and varied TV shows before he took on the role of Captain Merrill Stubing.
Gavin MacLeod appeared with Michael Learned in Love Letters and graced the stage in musicals like Gigi and Copacabana from 1997 to 2003.
That’s not to say he gave up film altogether and his TV appearances in the 1990s and 2000s include Murder, She Wrote, Burke’s Law, Oz, The King of Queens amongst others.
MacLeod’s commitment to his faith and values led him to take on roles in movies such as Rich Christiano’s Time Changer, exploring themes of time travel and societal morality, and playing the lead in Christiano’s 2009 film, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.
Gavin MacLeod the actor (not to be confused with the character of Gavin MacLeod in Supernatural), didn’t limit himself to acting and entertaining, he also served as the honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades for five years until 2011, when boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard succeeded him.
But there is no denying the impact that The Love Boat had on his later years. He celebrated his 80th birthday aboard the Golden Princess (one of the cruise ships run by Princess Cruises) and was presented with a 5-foot-long 3D cake replica of the Pacific Princess – the ship used in The Love Boat.
Pacific Princess
He attended a couple of Love Boat reunion shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1997 when he and fellow cast members reminisced about their time on the beloved series. The castmates reunited again on The Talk in 2013, where the hosts dressed in costumes to commemorate the special occasion.
The Love Boat link continued in Gavin MacLeod’s 2013 memoir, This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith & Life. This book saw him reflecting on his Hollywood journey, enduring friendships, battles with alcoholism, divorce, and his unwavering faith.
Gavin MacLeod was not gay, he was married twice to women. His first marriage, to the dancer Joan Rootvik, ended in divorce after 18 years. They shared four children together.
He found lasting love with Patti Kendig whom he married in 1974. The couple shared over four decades of marriage, and Patti was by his side until his final moments. Despite their clear love for one another they did actually divorce and remarry three years later during the 1980’s.
This is discussed in their 1987 book Back On Course: The Remarkable Story of a Divorce That Ended in Remarriage. In this book, they write about his struggles with alcoholism which contributed to their divorce. They also hosted a radio show together called Back on Course. This show about marriage ran for 17 years.
Gavin MacLeod died at his home in May 2021 at the age of 90. Stephanie Steele Zalin, his stepdaughter said that the cause of death was old age and went on to say:
“He had one of the most amazing, fun blasts of a life of anybody I know. He enjoyed every minute of it, I don’t even think in his wildest dreams he dreamt of the life that he ended up having and creating.”
2. Lauren Tewes (Julie McCoy)
Lauren Tewes only got given the role of cruise director Julie McCoy on the day before production started on the third and final pilot of the show. But she made the role her own and spent seven seasons on The Love Boat until 1984 when Tewes faced a highly publicised battle with cocaine addiction.
This led to her being sacked from the show but she was able to beat her addiction and she later made a guest appearance in a 1985 episode and the subsequent television films during the 1986–87 season.
Lauren Tewes’ cocaine addiction became a significant scandal at the time and despite widespread use of the drug in Hollywood and television during that time, she felt that only she was being punished for it. Tewes openly admits that her struggle with addiction commenced in the late 1970s, well before her dismissal from “The Love Boat.”
Lauren Tewes’ career continued to flourish after her rehabilitation and she starred in classic 1980s TV series like My Two Dads, The New Mike Hammer, Murder, She Wrote, T. J. Hooker, and Hunter.
In 1994, she moved to Seattle and shifted her focus to regional theatre acting and directing across the country.
But she couldn’t resist the lure of the Love Boat and in 1998 she reprised her role as Julie McCoy in the reboot Love Boat: The Next Wave. This ran for 2 seasons before she took on the recurring role as a police detective in The Fugitive TV series.
Like many of the cast members, Lauren Tewes has continued to work with Princess cruises attending many events over the years. In 2020, she met with Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell the hosts of CBS’s romantic adventure dating show “The Real Love Boat”.
Other than some unflattering photos Lauren Tewes shows no noticeable signs of weight gain beyond what you would expect as she ages.
Lauren Tewes has been married three times. Her first marriage was to John Wassel, a TV commercials director, followed by Paolo Nonnis, an Italian drummer, and finally, stage actor Robert Nadir. Tragically, in 1987, she endured the loss of her one-month-old daughter, who was born prematurely.
Bernie Kopell played the role of Dr. Adam Bricker on The Love Boat for all 250 episodes that were made.
The role became so famous and enduring that much of his career since The Love Boat has been spent playing versions of the same character or parodying himself.
He played a ship’s doctor in a dream sequence on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and took on the role of Doc in a Love Boat-themed spoof of Star Trek: The Next Generation on Saturday Night Live in 1994.
Kopell was able to take advantage of this recognisable persona and starred in a commercial for an anti-snoring product called D-Snore in the 1990s. This advert played on his reputation for having knowledge of medicines (even though he’s not a real doctor), and gave him the chance to state that loud snoring “can even ruin a romantic cruise.”
Bernie Kopell continues to work in film and television despite his advancing years. He is still best known for his role as Dr. Adam Bricker, but has appeared in a range of shows like Charmed, Monk, My Name Is Earl, Scrubs, and as Lex Skelton in Silicon Valley.
In August 2022, Kopell co-starred with Hal Linden in the off-Broadway production “Two Jews Talking” at the Theater at St. Clement’s
Bernie Kopell is still alive (he was born 21 June 1933 so his age is 90 at the time of writing).
He has been married three times. His first two marriages were to actresses Celia Whitney and Yolanda Veloz, respectively. In 1997, he married Catrina Honadle, and together they have two children, Adam (born 1998) and Josh (born 2003).
4. Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing)
Jill Whelan played the role of Vicki Stubing, the daughter of Captain Stubing, during six of the nine seasons of The Love Boat. This was her breakthrough role and remains the series that she is best known for.
When the show came to an end she relocated to New York where she worked as an event producer at Madison Square Garden.
But the lure of the cruise ship was enough for her to make a guest appearance on the revival show Love Boat: The Next Wave. She also starred as Karby Stalter in an episode of The Young and Restless.
In 1999, she decided to shift her focus away from acting and took on the role of an investigative producer at the Los Angeles television station KCOP. She also ventured into radio as a show host for a show on 1210 WPHT radio.
In November 2001, Whelan won a special episode of “The Weakest Link,” competing against other celebrity stars from the 1970s. She earned $57,000 for her chosen charity.
In 2013, Jill Whelan began co-hosting The Brian and Jill Show podcast alongside Brian Phelps. The show is a talk radio format discussing recent news events, interviewing guests, and performing sketches.
But it’s fair to say that she has never been forgotten for her time on the Love Boat and In 2015, she joined Princess Cruises as a celebrations ambassador.
In the same year, Jill appeared in an episode of Celebrity Wife Swap where she swapped lives with performer and musician Charo.
Jill Whelan has been married three times. She met her first husband, Brad St. John, while working as an associate producer for UPN News in Los Angeles. They married in December 1993 and had a son, Harrison, before divorcing in 2001.
Her second husband was Michael Chaykowsky whom she married in April 2004. Her second son, Grant, was born in 2006. However, in 2014, Whelan filed for divorce from Chaykowsky.
In 2017, she married former Denver Broncos quarterback Jeff Knapple. Jill Whelan’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million.
5. Ted Lange (Isaac Washington)
Ted Lange played the role of the ship’s bartender, Isaac, on the Love Boat. He appeared in 246 episodes and also worked as a director and writer for the series.
Following his departure from the show in 1987, Lange delved into various film projects and made guest appearances on a range of television series, such as 227, The Cleveland Show, Glitch!, Evening Shade, Scrubs, Drake & Josh, The King of Queens, Boy Meets World, Psych, and Are We There Yet?
He also took part in the production of Love Boat: The Next Wave in 1999, starring as Isaac and directing two episodes.
Ted Lange has worked extensively in the world of theatre as a playwright and stage director since his time on The Love Boat. He has written 17 plays, among them “George Washington’s Boy,” a historical drama exploring the relationship between the first president and his favourite slave, and the comedy “Lemon Meringue Facade.”
Lange has been honoured with the NAACP’s Renaissance Man Theatre Award, the Heroes and Legends HAL Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Dramalogue Award.
He’s a talented man but should not be confused with the Ted Lange who is in a polka band and was at the Mollie B wedding.
Ted appeared in the fourth season of the VH1 reality show Celebrity Fit Club where he was able to lose 28 pounds over the course of the show.
In 2022 Fred Grandy starred as Horace Tackleberry in the crie comedy TV series Sprung.
Ted Lange was married to Sheryl Thompson, at the time The Love Boat was on TV but they divorced in 1989. The couple share two children, Theodore William IV and Turner Wallace Lange. Ted’s second wife is Mary Ley.
Ted Lange has a net worth of around $4 million.
6. Fred Grandy (Gopher)
Fred Grandy starred as Gopher on The Love Boat. After the series ended he moved into politics, serving as a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa. He served four terms in Congress and sat on several committees. At the time he tried to distance himself from his career as an actor.
More recently, Grandy has taken on the role of host for The Grandy Group, a morning drive-time radio talk show on 630 WMAL in Washington, D.C. He’s also had various acting roles, including playing Father Corey in General Hospital.
Grandy has been married twice. His first marriage was to Jan Gough and together, they had a son and a daughter. The couple divorced in 1983.
In 1987, Grandy tied the knot with romance novelist Catherine Mann, whom he had initially met when she interviewed him. They had a daughter born in 1989. Was Fred Grandy’s daughter hit by a bus? I don’t think so, I cant find any record of this happening.
Fred Grandy has an estimated net worth of $2 million.
Final Word
There you go – the main actors from The Love Boat and where they are now.
Did you watch the show? Maybe you’re watching it for the first time now on Paramount+. It’s the iconic cruise ship TV show and a great way to pass the time that you aren’t actually cruising yourself!
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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.
Cruise lines are masters of the upsell – tempting you with paid perks at every turn (unless you’re on an ultra-luxury sailing, in which case you’ve paid enough already).
Priority Access from NCL bundles six perks into one shiny package – but is it really worth the extra cost?
For a lot of cruisers (myself included), it’s more sizzle than steak – and maybe not the upgrade you think it is…
NCL Priority Access Explained
NCL Priority Access is a package deal you can book if you have an NCL cruise. It includes a selection of features that are mostly related to ‘priority access’, but there are a few other benefits that are nice to have as well.
Here’s What’s Included…
NCL Priority Access gives you six perks:
Streamlined Embarkation
Faster Tendering
Quicker Debarkation
Complimentary Breakfast in Bed
$50 Spa Credit
Complimentary Canapes
Let’s look at each of these in more detail so you can see if it’s worth it or not…
1. Priority Check-In
One of the biggest perks with NCL Priority Access is the streamlined embarkation process.
In theory, having NCL Priority Access should mean you get through “security, check-in and boarding” faster so that you’re one of the first people onto the ship and can start relaxing right away.
In reality, it doesn’t seem to run very smoothly. There are meant to be priority lines for security and for check-in, but these vary, and sometimes are non-existent.
There are a lot of reports of disgruntled passengers who’ve either queued with everyone else, or had the wrong communication sent out, or had issues during check-in.
Check out this video review of Priority Access for a similar experience, where an issue meant that the guests were held up for over 20 minutes and watched regular customers checking in:
2. Priority Tenders
If your cruise calls at a tender port, you can be one of the first onto the tender boats with Priority Access. This means you’ll have more time ashore, and can really make the most of those ports of call. It’s handy if you’ve booked third-party shore excursions too, since it guarantees you won’t miss your set-off time.
Of course, this all depends on your itinerary and how many tender ports you have. Many cruises won’t have any, and so it’s a redundant benefit – you don’t get off the ship any faster if it is docked.
If you do have a tender port, and you’ve paid for Priority Access, you’ll be sent the information to your stateroom so that you know where to meet and when, if you want to get one of the early tender boats.
3. Priority Debarkation
The other ‘priority’ themed perk you get with Priority Access is debarkation at the end of your cruise. If you’ve never cruised before, you might be wondering why this is a perk – why would you want your holiday to end sooner?
But with up to 4,000 people trying to get off a cruise ship and potentially all travel to the airport, being first off can have its advantages.
You’ll get priority luggage tags sent to your stateroom before you’re due to leave the cruise. You can then choose ‘Easy Walk Off’, where you take your own bags off the ship on the last day, or you can select an early debarkation group, where you’ll meet at a lounge and be escorted off the ship to find your bags.
This is a useful perk but again, can be hit-or-miss in terms of organisation, according to some passengers in cruise forums.
4. Priority Access Breakfast
This perk is an interesting one, because the way NCL words it on their own website is a little bit misleading.
Officially, the perk is described as the following:
“Wake up to the wide selection of complimentary breakfast favourites from our room service menu every day of your cruise.”
Except that the continental breakfast items that are included in the perk are already complimentary – you don’t have to pay for them.
What you do normally have to pay for – and what the perk is actually giving you for free – is delivery.
The fee will be “up to $9.95” per delivery, though expect to pay that most of the time. So, with Priority Access, you don’t have to pay this delivery fee for breakfast, though you do for other room service items.
It does cause some confusion:
How good a perk it is depends on how often you want to eat in your stateroom – some people love it, while others prefer to be up and about, getting breakfast in the buffet restaurant or Main Dining Room before a day exploring the ship or the port.
5. Priority Spa Credit
One of the other benefits you get with NCL Priority Access is $50 of spa credit.
On the one hand, it’s quite a good perk, since you get $50 of spa credit per person – even though you pay for Priority Access on a per-stateroom rate. So that’s good, since you don’t need to split the $50 between you.
The downside is that it can only be used on body or facial massages lasting at least 50 minutes, and only on days when the ship is in port – meaning you have to sacrifice time you could be spending exploring your destination.
The reason for that is because these days are less busy in the spa – they want guests to pay full price on sea days, since there are usually enough people onboard who are willing to.
And you also need to consider that body and facial massages don’t come cheap – these example spa prices from Norwegian Joy show that you’ll be paying around $200+ for a face massage, and between $200 and $400 for a body massage.
So are you getting $50 free, or are you being incentivised to pay at least $150 extra?
6. Priority Access Canapes
The final perk you get as part of Priority Access is canapes, which will be served to you on the second night of your cruise.
You don’t get to choose the canapes though, so you have to hope that you like them. A lot of people don’t…
How Much Norwegian Priority Access Costs
When buying NCL Priority Access, you pay a single fee for a cabin, and it depends on how many days you’re sailing.
3 to 5 Days – $129 per cabin
6 to 9 Days – $199 per cabin
10 to 15 Days – $279 per cabin
16+ Days – $329 per cabin
If you book it, you can cancel before you board, and a refund will be processed to your original payment method. However, as soon as you board the cruise, you are no longer able to cancel.
That makes sense, considering one of the biggest perks is priority boarding, when it works. It wouldn’t be fair to use it and then cancel once you’re on the ship.
Remember – NCL Platinum Members Get Priority Boarding
Members of NCL’s Latitudes loyalty programme who have reached Platinum status already get priority boarding as part of their perks list. They also get priority tender tickets and priority disembarkation, as well as 25% off spa treatments on port days – which may be worth more than a $50 credit.
So, if you’re an NCL Platinum member you absolutely should not buy NCL Priority Access unless you want the extra $50 spa credit and you think the complimentary room service breakfast and canapes are worth the additional money you pay.
NCL Gold members get 20% off spa treatments along with priority tender tickets and priority debarkation, but they don’t get priority embarkation.
So, Is NCL Priority Access Worth It?
There’s no simple answer on whether NCL Priority Access is worth it, even though most people on cruise forums will tell you that it’s not.
It’s true that priority embarkation can sometimes be a bit of a mess, but it does work for some people, and if you’re clear about it when you get to the port, you should be able to cut some of the bigger lines.
Plus if you’re travelling with someone else and you had planned on booking massages already, getting $50 off each isn’t a bad deal, especially if your cruise is 5 days or fewer and so you’ve only paid $129 anyway – that’s already $100 of value you’ve recovered.
You do need to check your itinerary though, to see if you have tender ports or not.
And then it depends on how many days you’d use the complimentary room service deliveries – at almost $10 a day, you can quickly recover more of the value too.
So whether it’s worth it depends on if you’ll book a massage and if you’ll enjoy breakfast in bed. The canapes aren’t really worth it, from the sounds of things, and the actual ‘priority’ part of the package may be a gamble, so it’s up to you whether you want to take the risk.
Honestly, this isn’t something I would buy myself.
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Where your cabin is located can make or break your cruise – especially if you’re prone to motion sickness, noise sensitivity, or just love a good wake view.
I’ve stayed in cabins at both extremes of the ship, and each comes with perks. Which does surprise some people, especially with the front of the ship – those cabins can get a bad rap.
But there are drawbacks to both locations too, and if you’re torn, you’ll want to make sure you know all the downsides before you book the wrong option…
The Best Cabins
The best cabins on cruise ships are actually in a midship location. These are usually more expensive than cabins at the front or the back?
Why? Well, cruise ships are generally pretty big, and it can take ten minutes or more to walk from the front to the back of the ship. Mid-ship rooms are the most convenient, as you’ll never have too far to walk to get to your cabin.
Cruise ships have either two or three banks of elevators. If your room is towards the front or back, then you’ll need to find the correct elevator. Otherwise, you face a long walk along a corridor with nothing but rooms. This is never pleasant.
With a mid-ship cabin, you can choose any elevator to get back to your cabin, and you’ll never have too far to walk when you get out.
There aren’t really any advantages to choosing a forward cabin for most people. But there are some things that may concern you.
Firstly, if you have a balcony cabin underneath the bridge, then the bridge crew will be able to look right down onto it, so it will feel less private.
Also, if you happen to be cruising in foggy weather, then you’ll be very close to the ship’s fog horn! This will blast every two minutes, and will probably start early in the morning, waking you up.
The ship’s anchor is located at the front of a cruise ship. When it’s lowered early in the morning, you’re also likely to be woken by a heavy clunking sound if you choose a cabin in this area.
Noise isn’t all you should be concerned about with a cabin at the front. If you have a balcony cabin, you should also know that the further forward you are, the windier it will be. So you may not be able to enjoy your balcony as much as you’d like.
Some cruise ships have cabins that face forward. These balconies have metal balustrades rather than glass to protect from the wind. A disadvantage of this is that you can’t see the sea when sitting down.
You may even find that you’re not allowed to use forward-facing balconies when the ship is moving, as it will be too windy to be safe.
Reasons to Choose a Cabin at the Front
Given all the negatives, you may be wondering why anyone would choose a room at the front of a cruise ship?
Well, the main reason is that they’re cheaper.
When you see a price advertised for a cruise, it will be based on the cheapest available cabin – usually one at the front. Upgrading to a midship cabin could set you back several hundred pounds or dollars – something that most people don’t think is worth it.
Forward cabins can be handy if they’re close to locations that you visit every day, like the kids club, the theatre or the gym. Be sure to check the deck plan of your chosen ship. If you plan on carrying a sleeping child to bed from the kids’ club each night, then a cabin beneath the kids’ club could be ideal.
What To Know About Aft Cabins
Cabins towards the rear of a cruise ship are known as ‘aft’ cabins. These can be similar in price to forward cabins, given that they have the same issues with being far from the action and you having to find the aft elevator if you want to avoid a long walk along a corridor that’s just cabins.
Aft cabins can also be quite rocky in rough seas, so they’re not ideal for anyone concerned about seasickness.
The engines are located at the back of a cruise ship, in the mid-aft area. So if you have a cabin on a low deck and towards the back, you’ll be right above them. Cruise ship engines aren’t usually noisy, but during certain manoeuvres, they can create strong vibrations that can be felt in the cabins. If the hangers in your wardrobe are rattling, this can be noisy too.
If you have a balcony room, you may sometimes find that soot from the funnel can land on your balcony, although this is quite rare.
Reasons to Choose an Aft Cabin
Despite their issues, some cruisers say that cabins at the back of the ship are their favourite. If you’re lucky enough to snag an aft-facing or corner balcony, then you’ll be able to enjoy wonderful views over the ship’s wake.
Aft-facing cabins are shaded from the wind, offering a warm and calm place to sit and watch the ocean. These balconies are usually a little larger than those on the side of the ship as well.
Backwards-facing balcony cabins can be quite expensive, and you’ll likely pay quite a bit more than if you choose one on either the port or starboard side.
Again, you’ll want to take a look at the deck plan for your ship and think about which venues you’ll likely visit every day. On most ships, the buffet is located at the back, which means that you won’t have far to walk for your breakfast in the morning, unless you prefer to eat in the main dining room, that is!
My Recommendation
When it comes to choosing the best cabin for your cruise, there’s no right answer as to which is the best, as it depends very much on your personal preferences. I like to cruise on a budget, and so for me, it’s never worth the extra money to choose a cabin in a midship location.
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I usually opt for a ‘guarantee cabin’. This is when you let the cruise line choose your cabin number for you. Most of the time, these cabins are in the least desirable locations – the front or the back. However, being someone who’s lucky to be able-bodied and doesn’t suffer from seasickness, this doesn’t bother us at all.
Remember, the bigger the ship, the further you may have to walk.
When we booked a Christmas cruise on Arvia, we picked the cheapest inside cabin right at the very front of the ship. However, when we boarded, we had a bit of extra spending money so I went straight to guest services to see if any upgrades were available due to last-minute cancellations
We were able to upgrade to a midship balcony for a relatively cheap price, and while it was Christmas, we treated ourselves. I must say, having a midship room on one of the world’s largest cruise ships was very much appreciated!
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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.
Cunard Launches 195 NEW Voyages, Visiting 115 Destinations!
Cunard has unveiled its latest programme of extraordinary voyages with 195 new itineraries across its iconic fleet, visiting 115 destinations in 32 countries between April 2027 and January 2028.
The new itineraries include 93 UNESCO World Heritage sites. With 18 overnight port calls and 33 late-evening departures, the new programme offers guests even more opportunities to explore the world.
Among the highlights are four maiden calls for Queen Anne, including Sorrento in Italy and La Rochelle in France, as well as a maiden call for Cunard when Queen Mary 2 sails to Charlottetown in Canada. Queen Victoria will also enjoy a first visit to Riga, Latvia, with Queen Elizabeth enjoying maiden calls to Trieste in Italy and Calvi in France.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “This new programme is all about giving our guests more choice and more unforgettable voyages. Whether it’s Queen Anne visiting new destinations, Queen Elizabeth returning to favourite ports in the Med, or Queen Mary 2 sailing iconic routes with her usual style, there’s something to suit every kind of traveller. From exploring remarkable places to enjoying exceptional experiences on board, we’re proud to offer voyages that feel truly special from start to finish.”
Queen Anne
As the newest addition to the Cunard fleet, Queen Anne will offer a rich variety of exciting roundtrip voyages from Southampton, from sun-drenched Mediterranean getaways to Nordic adventures in search of the Northern Lights. Highlights include extended time in Barcelona and Copenhagen, as well as a late-evening New Year’s Eve call in Maderia to witness the famous fireworks.
Queen Mary 2
Fresh from a major refit in early 2027, Queen Mary 2 will continue to offer iconic Transatlantic Crossings, as well as immersive itineraries to Norway, Canada, New England, North Cape and the Caribbean – where guests can spend Christmas and New Year on picturesque golden beaches. She will also spend Independence Day on July 4 2027 in Boston.
Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria will return to the UK to operate roundtrip Southampton voyages, including discovery itineraries such as Scandinavia, Iceland and the Mediterranean. Queen Victoria will also visit Grundarfjordur, Iceland in 2027 – the first time a Cunard ship has called since 2009. There are no shortage of extraordinary moments to be made on these 25 Queen Victoria voyages, whether you dream of the soaking up the sun in the Mediterranean or an adventure-filled trip with stunning landscapes waiting to be explored.
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth makes an exciting return to Europe in 2027, with Mediterranean voyages from May until October, visiting 22 ports she hasn’t visited for 15 years. The 65 new voyages boast itineraries varying from seven nights to 28, taking in visits to many enchanting ancient cities on the continent, from the stunning foodie scene of Palermo in Sicily to the cultural richness of Istanbul.
For many guests, sailing on just one Queen isn’t enough, but with Cunard’s Queen-to-Queen voyages, travellers can book onto multiple voyages and experience two, or even three, of the line’s iconic ships in one holiday. For more information, visit https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-types/queen-to-queen-cruises
There’s no shortage of cruise packing lists online.
Heck, I’ve contributed a few myself, because I know they can be handy. Some people who work for cruise lines have even told me they use my packing guides when they’re travelling!
Having a list of what to pack for a cruise take away a few of those pre-cruise stresses, particularly if it’s your first cruise or your first time travelling with a baby or child.
But here, rather than listing hundreds of items (do you really need someone to tell you to pack shoes?), I’m going to focus on the nine cruise essentials – things which you really MUST NOT forget to take with you on your cruise.
1. Passport
Most people will need a passport to take a cruise – it’s the ultimate of the cruise necessities. Whilst there are some cases where US citizens can cruise without a passport, it’s still a good idea to get one.
If you meet the criteria to cruise without a passport, you’ll need some other form of ID such as a driver’s license. Check with your cruise line to see what they will accept.
When you book your cruise, it’s vital that you make sure that your passport has enough time left on it, as some countries require six months validity on your passport.
2. Visa
Depending on where you’re cruising to and your nationality, you may also need a visa as one of your essentials for a cruise.
Without the necessary visas, you’re likely to be refused to board the cruise ship. Staying on board and not disembarking at the port of call in question is not usually an option for anyone who has forgotten to apply for a visa.
Applying for a visa can be a lengthy process. For example, it can take up to four months to get a visa for India, making last-minute cruises to this country not an option unless you already have a visa in place.
For other countries, the application can be much quicker, but this is still something that you don’t want to leave until the last minute.
If you have a different surname to your children, you’ll need to take their birth certificate with you when you leave the country. It’s also a good idea to also get written permission from the other parent if they aren’t travelling with you.
If your name on your child’s birth certificate doesn’t match your name on your passport, because of marriage, divorce or changing your name, then you’ll also need to bring additional documentation, such as a marriage certificate, to verify this.
Taking a child abroad without parental consent is illegal, so it’s important to have everything you need to prove your case should you be stopped.
4. Travel Insurance
Another vital document to take on your cruise is your travel insurance policy.
Of course, it also covers medical treatment, which can be very expensive at sea, particularly if you have to be air-lifted to the hospital.
You don’t need to take all the bulky insurance documentation, but at the least, you should take a paper copy of your insurance company name, policy number and contact details.
When purchasing a travel insurance policy for a cruise, it’s very important that you make sure that your policy includes cruise cover. Some policies charge extra for this. If you already have an annual policy in place, check that it has cruise cover, and if not, upgrade it.
My Recommendation
My recommendation for cruise insurance depends on where you live.
These are trusted price comparison sites that will quickly get you lots of quotes to match your exact needs.
5. Vaccinations
The vaccinations needed to travel depend on your cruise line, your destination, how long you intend to stay there, what you’ll be doing there, and your general health.
It’s not always straightforward to know what vaccinations your family will need for a cruise, so it’s a good idea to check with your cruise line before you book.
Don’t leave it to the last minute, as some immunisations require more than one treatment spread over time to be effective.
As well as travel vaccinations, it’s also important to make sure that your children are up to date with all their normal immunisations and boosters. Diseases that are relatively rare in your home country may be more widespread abroad.
6. Booking Details
While you’ll likely have booking confirmations for your cruise, hotels, flights, and transfers saved electronically on your phone, it’s also a good idea to print them out.
If your phone runs out of battery, loses signal, or you smash it on the floor, you’ll be very grateful for your paper copies rather than facing an awkward delay when checking in.
7. Money
You can’t spend cash on a cruise ship. Instead, everything is charged to your cruise card, which also acts as your ID and your room key onboard.
You can link a credit or debit card to your onboard account, either before you cruise via your cruise line’s mobile app, or when you check in at the port.
It is possible to settle your onboard account with cash: you may be asked to deposit a certain amount of cash when you check in if you want to do this. Check with your cruise line for their exact policy as they vary.
Whilst it’s possible to enjoy your whole cruise holiday without spending a penny of cash, it’s worth taking some small notes like $2 bills in case these are needed in port. Check which currencies are accepted in the countries you plan to visit and exchange money in advance for the best rates.
8. Car Seat
If you’re planning on taking taxis or Ubers abroad, you may need a car seat for your children, depending on the country. Each country has different laws, and in some countries, you might find that some taxi drivers follow these more strictly than others.
If you’re cruising with children, your options are:
It’s also worth noting that just because it’s legal to travel in a taxi without a car seat, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe.
If you’re flying to join your cruise, you should arrange airport transfers in advance. Choose a company such as HolidayTaxis.com who can provide car seats for you on request.
9. Medication
Don’t forget to pack any medications that you might need for your cruise.
Cruise ships’ medical centres are generally well-stocked with most things, so you can probably pick up anything essential, but the chances are you’ll have to pay for it.
So, it’s definitely worth double-checking that you’ve packed all your tablets.
What Else?
Once you’ve arranged these necessities for a cruise, you can relax knowing that you have all the most important items packed and taken care of.
However, if you would like a really thorough list, I’d recommend that you have a look at this cruise holiday checklist, which includes everything you need to arrange from before you book until the moment you set sail.
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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.
You might think you’ve got cruise private islands all worked out, but Harvest Caye is a little different…
Harvest Caye is a destination that crops up on a number of itineraries for Norwegian Cruise Line, and occasionally other cruise lines too. It’s located in southern Belize, meaning it’s typically included on cruises that travel more to ports around the Central America region.
And sure – it offers plenty of things you’d expect from a private destination like this, but there are some really important differences, especially regarding food and drink – you’ll want to make sure you know these before you visit.
1. It’s a Private Island
Harvest Caye is a private island, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line. This means that the only way to visit the island is if you book a cruise on an NCL ship, or one of the two luxury cruise lines owned by the same company – Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Because it’s a private island, this means you won’t be sharing the space with other tourists – the only people on the island will be your other cruise ship guests, and the staff employed by Norwegian Cruise Line, either from the ship or those who work on the island itself.
This means you’ll be able to enjoy a little more of a tranquil space, with only your fellow ship guests taking up loungers on the beach. It’s a fun-packed location too though, so you’ll still want to book any excursions early to avoid disappointment.
2. A Lot of People Mispronounce the Island’s Name
The word ‘Caye’ is used throughout Central America, and it is pronounced “key”. Harvest is pronounced normally, as you’d expect. A lot of guests still refer to the island as “Harvest Kay” without realising the correct pronunciation.
That’s likely because it can be pronounced as “kay” in parts of the Bahamas, so you end up with the same word being said differently in regions which are relatively close to each other. Don’t worry about it too much though, because no locals are going to be offended if you say it wrong.
It does cause confusion though – so if you’re looking for Harvest Key Belize, you actually want Harvest Caye.
3. There’s a Pier – No Need to Tender!
There is a pier terminal at Harvest Caye where your ship will dock – you don’t have to worry about taking a tender boat from the ship to shore. The pier is quite long, but it is covered to provide shade during the hotter, sunnier days – of which there are many.
Because the ship docks at the pier, you don’t need to worry about queuing to get back onto the ship. You can return and go back and forth between ship and the island as many times as you want before the final departure time, which is usually around 3 pm.
4. It’s Safe – So Relax!
While Belize itself has had some issues with high crime rates, the island of Harvest Caye is comparatively very safe, since it is a private destination where there is always a presence of staff employed by the cruise line.
There are some locals from Belize who work on the island. They aren’t employed by the cruise line, but they are given permission to work there in partnership with the government. They are generally friendly and shouldn’t try to scam you – the people who work here understand that their repeat business depends on offering good service.
5. Only Cruise Guests Can Visit
Permanent residents of Belize are not permitted to visit Harvest Caye of their own volition. They would have to book a cruise just like any other guests. There will be some Belizeans on the island, who are employed by the cruise line.
There are around 400 people who work on the island that are not part of the ship’s crew, but some members of the crew will also likely have work to do on the island during port days as well.
6. Food Isn’t Included – Unlike Other Private Destinations
Unlike most other private islands owned by cruise lines, food is not included on Harvest Caye – you will need to either buy your own from one of the local businesses or return to the ship where you can enjoy the restaurants as normal.
Usually, with a private island, the cruise line will bring food ashore and set up a buffet restaurant, but that’s not the case on Harvest Caye.
Part of the agreement that NCL has with Belize is to run the island in a way that benefits local businesses, and so guests will need to pay to eat at one of the restaurants on the island.
There are various restaurants to choose from to suit different budgets, and you can pay with a credit card or using US dollars. Bear in mind that a lot of people may return to the ship to eat in order to save money, so the restaurants might not be as busy as you would expect them to be on a regular port day.
7. Drunks Also Aren’t Free
Drinks are not included when you travel to Harvest Caye – you’ll need to pay for them. Unlike some other private islands, the bars aren’t owned by the cruise line, so you’ll need to pay by cash or credit card, instead of being able to use your cruise card.
The drinks prices are similar to those on the ship, so if you’re paying for your drinks anyway then you may as well enjoy them on the island.
8. Your Drink Package Won’t Work Here
The NCL drinks package won’t work on Harvest Caye, because the bars are not owned by the cruise line. If you have a drinks package, then you can save money by returning to the ship to grab a drink, but it’s quite a walk if you’re just feeling thirsty.
You won’t be able to bring drinks ashore with you, so you’ll either need to decide whether to take some cash or your credit card with you for drinks, or if you’ll cut short your visit to come back aboard in order to make use of your drinks package.
9. There’s So Much to Do!
There is a huge amount that you can see and do during your trip to Harvest Caye – including a selection of things that are free. Many of the most exciting activities are paid excursions, but you don’t need to spend extra if you don’t want to.
You might just want to head straight to the beach – there are some really nice ones on the island after all, overlooking the beautiful azure waters. There’s no cost for a lounger, but the beaches can get a little busier so you might want to get there early if you want to nab a shaded spot.
Otherwise, you may want to head to the swimming pool. Not many private islands have a pool, since guests are comfortable swimming in the ocean, but there’s a huge pool with loungers and cabanas for hire if you want a fresh-water dip instead.
And just a little further away from the pier there’s a splash pad that is great for kids. If you have younger children with you, they’ll have a great time splashing each other, tipping out water buckets and more.
One of the famous attractions of Harvest Caye is the Blue Morpho Butterfly Sanctuary. You can explore this area for free, along with the wider wildlife sanctuary, which is home to toucans, macaws, snakes, and other animals, with lots of educational material to support your tour. The butterfly sanctuary has large glass spaces where you can get very close to the creatures flying around.
Shopping is another option as well – there’s a market area populated with stalls and stores owned by local business owners and selling a wide selection of gifts, handmade crafts, perfumes, rum and more. Just be wary of what you buy and what you take back onto the ship – rum bottles will be taken from you and returned at the end of your cruise.
If you want to try a paid-for excursion, why not explore the Mayan ruins of Nim Li Punit? A guided tour will get you close to these fascinating ruins, with your expert guide explaining more of the history during your ride.
Looking for something a little more action-oriented? The island has a zip line running across the bay, or you can try one of the many water sports offered on the island, including paddle boarding and snorkeling. You don’t have to be an expert – there are plenty of excursions aimed at novices or children too.
There are also WaveRunner tours – essentially jetskis where a tour guide will train you on riding one before leading you around the island to some unique sights of interest.
And because the island is not far from the coast of Belize, there are a selection of excursions that take you off the island to explore some of the nearby sights. Journeys are short, so you can still explore the island itself, too, when you return.
Staying on the island, you’ll be able to try river rafting or take things a little easier with a fishing excursion – master fishermen will help you learn how to bait for the local fish on a catch-and-release trip.
10. Cabana Rental is Available (But Not Cheap)
And if you really want to enjoy a quieter day, book a cabana either on the beach or by the pool. These private spaces are the ideal place to unwind with a cold drink and some shade.
The cost of these paid-for excursions varies, but expect to pay in the region of $80-100 for most of them, per person, with some minor discounts for children. If you don’t want to pay this extra amount, then stick to the wildlife sanctuary, the swimming pool, the beach or the splash pad as these are all free.
Cabana rental costs a little more – expect to pay $450 to $500 for a cabana for the day for up to 6 people. The cabanas do have a lot of extras to make your island visit more comfortable, including air conditioning, a TV, a mini fridge, a private bathroom and a golf cart that you can use for the day to get around the island.
11. Snorkeling is an Option
Snorkeling is an excursion option at Harvest Caye. Belize is home to the world’s largest living barrier reef, so snorkeling excursions offer plenty of incredible sights to enjoy. The excursions last for around 2.5 hours in total, so you’ll still have time to explore the rest of the island.
The water entry is shallow, which means these snorkeling excursions are suitable for beginners and veterans alike. Some of the common creatures you’ll encounter include larger fish schools, eagle rays, large starfish and queen conchs.
12. You Can Take a Ferry To Placencia
The boats that take you from Harvest Caye to Placencia take around 15-20 minutes. Excursions to the lagoon give guests the chance to see the mangroves and the wildlife that inhabits them, including manatees.
These tours are fully guided, meaning guests will be able to learn about the wildlife from an expert. A complimentary drink is also served during excursions to Placencia – either a rum punch or a water.
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Final Word
There are loads of things to do in Havest Caye Belize, so you’ll want to head to the island as early as possible – and because you don’t need to tender, you should be able to walk straight off the ship.
Just be prepared for the day, and how you’ll need to pay for your food and drink – it might save you money if you plan to return to the ship for lunch and then head back ashore for a couple of hours, if it doesn’t cost you too much time out of your day.
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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.
Think “Platinum” means top-tier treatment? Not quite…
When you cruise with Royal Caribbean, you automatically join their loyalty club – the Crown and Anchor Society. The more you sail, the more perks you unlock.
One of those levels is Platinum – and while it sounds fancy, it’s actually somewhere in the middle. So… is it worth aiming for?
This guide breaks down exactly what you get with Royal Caribbean Platinum status – and whether the benefits live up to the name.
Platinum Status On Royal Caribbean
Platinum Status means that you are a member of the Crown and Anchor Society with Royal Caribbean and you have at least 30 loyalty points. It means you’ve progressed past the original Gold status, but there are still several more rankings to move through as you cruise with Royal Caribbean in the future.
Being a Platinum-level guest shows that you’ve cruised with Royal Caribbean before, either for a few cruises or for one long voyage. It entitles you to a number of benefits whenever you’re booking a cruise or when you’re onboard.
How Many Cruises You Need For Platinum
You need 30 Crown & Anchor Society points to be a Platinum-level member on Royal Caribbean. This means you need to either cruise for 30 nights in a regular stateroom or 15 nights in a suite.
With most cruises lasting between 3 and 7 nights, it can take as many as 10 cruises to reach Platinum status. However, you could get there on one cruise if you booked a longer sailing and stayed in a suite.
Royal Caribbean cruises lasting 30 nights are very rare, so if you can’t afford suite-level accommodation, you’ll likely need at least three cruises to be able to get to Platinum level.
Royal Caribbean Platinum Benefits
Let’s take a look at the full list of perks you get as a Royal Caribbean Platinum member:
1. Drinks Discounts
As a Platinum tier member cruising with Royal Caribbean, you’ll receive four drink coupons to enjoy during your voyage. Two of these can be redeemed for any glass of wine, beer, or soda, while the remaining two can be used at Johnny Rockets for a discount on their milkshakes.
All the coupons offer a generous 50% off, allowing you to make significant savings on your beverages (unless, of course, you’ve already opted for a drinks package for your cruise).
As well as that, you’ll also get a one-time discount of 10% which you can use against any beer, wine or soda that you purchase. So once you’ve used the 50% coupons, you can still get a discounted drink onboard.
There’s more too – you’ll get 50% off any coffees that you buy, except for those in Starbucks. No Crown & Anchor Society level gets you Starbucks discounts, unfortunately.
Finally, you also get a free complimentary non-alcoholic coffee drink (not a Starbucks one) whenever you book a speciality restaurant dinner.
2. Private Departure Lounge Access
Another perk you can enjoy is access to a private departure lounge. Available at “most” embarkation ports, this gives you the chance to kick back with a coffee, a juice and some pastries while you wait to board.
As nice as this might sound, you should know it’s open to anyone Gold tier and above, not just Platinum members. That means anyone who has cruised with Royal Caribbean before. So it’s not going to be a quiet lounge…
The Royal Caribbean terms also don’t specify which ports it’s available in, so you’ll need to wait until you get your boarding info to see if this is a perk you can take advantage of.
3. WiFi Package Discounts
If you haven’t bought a VOOM WiFi internet package before you set sail on your cruise, you’ll get 15% off when buying onboard as a Platinum-tier member.
However, you can’t combine this with any other offers, so it’s worth keeping tabs on the Cruise Planner app before you sail. It could go on sale on the run-up to your cruise, with a bigger discount than 15%. If it does, snap it up.
All guests Platinum and above on a 5+ night cruise will be invited to a ‘Top Tier’ event. Here, the Captain, the Hotel Director and/or the Cruise Director will spend an hour talking to the room about the cruise, breaking down the number of guests in each Crown & Anchor Society tier onboard.
There’ll usually be some music from a band, and you will normally get a glass of Champagne too. You don’t have to attend, so it’s up to you – maybe something to try once.
5. Casino And Bingo Perks
Fancy trying your luck at the casino with no risk? Platinum members get a $4 FreePlay that you can use on the slot machines. $4 may not be a lot, but you could spin in a jackpot!
How to claim your free credit:
Log into your casino account using the card machine in the casino and your SeaPass
Click on ‘PERSONAL BANKER’, then ‘TRANSFER TO GAME’ and then ‘PROMO$’
You’ll see the free credit there, so transfer it to your account and then use it on the slot machines included in the offer
If you were wondering, no you can’t just cash out the $4 to spend elsewhere. You need to spend it on slots. But if you win, you can cash that out.
Also, there’s a bingo perk too – every time you buy a bingo package, you get three free jackpot cards, so your odds of winning are slightly improved.
6. In-Stateroom Perk – Robes
You’ll be given bathrobes to use during your cruise if you’re a Platinum member. You can’t keep them, though! And the cruise line will likely charge you for them if you ‘accidentally’ put them in your suitcase.
Platinum guests get $5 off any dry-cleaning or pressing service costing $25 or more. You’ll also get a $5 discount on any $34.99 bag of wash-and-fold laundry, provided your cruise lasts five or more nights.
Not bad if you’re on a longer sailing and don’t want to overpack.
8. Photo Offers
Platinum-level members get 20% off any single photo (print or digital), photo package or photobook bought from the photographer onboard. This perk was updated in December 2023 – previously, you had to pay for something full price, and then you’d get 50% off your second purchase.
So if you were buying multiple photography products, the deal is now worse, but if you just want one then it’s a better perk.
9. Discounts On Royal Caribbean Products
If you buy any Royal Caribbean-branded merchandise from the onboard stores, you’ll get 10% off if you spend at least $25 as a Platinum-status member. It’s a nice way to get a souvenir of your cruise at a slight discount.
10. Spa Discounts
If you’re a Platinum member, you’ll get 15% off any spa treatments you book. That’s 5% more than Gold members get. Just so you know, Medi-Spa services aren’t included in this offer.
11. Member Newsletter
Every member of the Crown & Anchor Society receives a dedicated newsletter containing information about upcoming ships, imminent sales, and other noteworthy updates.
12. Access to Exclusive Rates
Anyone in the Crown & Anchor Society gets special rates for booking future cruises. Don’t expect massive discounts – this doesn’t just include Platinum members, but all other tiers, including Gold, which is anyone who’s cruised with Royal Caribbean before – you can hardly expect 20% off if it applies to so many people.
You also get discounted rates on Balcony and Suite accommodation options, which only start once you reach Platinum level.
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13. Loyalty Match
Guests who reach Platinum status can enjoy loyalty programme perks when they cruise with Celebrity Cruises or Silversea, too. You’ll be classified as a Select member of the Captain’s Club with Celebrity Cruises, or you’ll be on the second tier of Silverseas’ Venetian Society, enjoying some extra perks when you cruise with those lines, too.
Lapel Pins
Until 2023, Royal Caribbean gave out a lapel pin for everyone who reached Platinum status. This would be delivered on the following cruise after reaching Platinum. However, Royal Caribbean has now stopped the Platinum pins, and you need to wait until Emerald if you want one. Alternatively, you can always get one off eBay!
Youth Member Benefits
Royal Caribbean is quite cool in how it treats children in the Crown & Anchor Society. Kids can sign up and get their own membership, accruing their own points in the background. But until they reach 18, they’ll share the benefits of their parents’ status.
This means that, if you’ve been on cruises before you had children, they’ll get extra perks to enjoy while they build up their own points behind the scenes. Once they hit 18, they won’t be bumped down to Gold level – you might already have them at Platinum level or even beyond.
If you’re a Platinum-status member of the programme, then these are the perks your kids will enjoy until they reach their 18th birthday:
1. Ice Cream Discount
Whenever you visit the ice cream parlour on a Royal Caribbean ship, kids will get 50% off their ice cream purchases. True, there is free ice cream available elsewhere on the ship, but it won’t have the wide range of flavours (or the quality) of the parlour, so a 50% discount is pretty cool. No pun intended.
2. WiFi Package Discounts
Your kids will get the same WiFi discount that you get, so that means they get 15% off a package if you’re a Platinum-tier member. This discount won’t change at Emerald, and if you make it to Diamond, it becomes free days instead.
3. Buy-One-Get-One-Free Movie Rentals
A perk that’s offered at every level of the Crown & Anchor Society, kids get 50% off a second movie rental in their stateroom once they’ve bought one. If you enjoy a comfy night in bed with room service, this is a great option to keep them busy.
4. Arcade Cashback
Whenever kids in the Crown & Anchor Society play in the arcades, they can get cashback, which is deducted from your onboard account at the end of your cruise.
Royal Caribbean offers cashback on arcade spends for young guests – every time you top up the arcade credits, you’ll get money back on your cruise account at the end of the cruise.
For every $15 you spend, you get $5 back, but if they pay for $50 credits in one go, you’ll get $25 back instead. Half-price arcade credits are a pretty sweet deal.
Royal Caribbean Platinum Choice
If you’re a Platinum Choice member, that’s actually a combination of two different programmes. The ‘Platinum’ bit is your membership in the Crown & Anchor Society, while the ‘Choice’ part is your status in the Club Royale casino programme.
Anyone who plays casino games is registered for the Club Royale programme, and Choice is the entry-level tier. You’d need to spend a lot in the casino to move up those tiers, so it’s designed more for regular players.
Most people who are Platinum level are Platinum Choice, or they don’t have a Club Royale status.
Beyond Platinum Status
The next tier up after Platinum in the Crown & Anchor Society is Emerald. To reach this status, you need 55 points – so an additional 25 nights at sea in a regular stateroom, or another 13 nights in a suite.
You’ll then reach Diamond status at 80 points, and Diamond Plus at 175. Very few people make it to the top tier, which is the Pinnacle Club – 700 points needed, the equivalent of 700 nights at sea in a regular stateroom. That’s 100 week-long cruises, or three per year for around 33 years.
Royal Caribbean Gold Vs Platinum – Tiers Compared
Platinum level offers a small number of additional benefits compared to the earlier Gold tier, but the biggest changes are in some of the discount levels – you get more off your drinks or WiFi packages with Platinum.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
Benefit
Gold Level
Platinum Level
50% off coupons for wine, beer & soda
2 per cruise
2 per cruise
50% off coupons for Johnny Rockets milkshakes
2 per cruise
2 per cruise
Access to private departure lounge
YES
YES
Discount on wine, beer and soda
10%
10%
Discount on coffee beverages (excluding Starbucks)
25%
50%
Discount on VOOM internet
10%
15%
Exclusive Top Tier event on 5+ night sailings
No
YES
Casino Royale FreePlay
$2
$4
Free Jackpot cards with Bingo packages
1 card
3 cards
Robes to use on the cruise
No
YES
$5 off $25 dry-clean or pressing
No
YES
Discount on $34.99 laundry bags
No
$5
20% off a photography purchase
No
YES
Discount on Royal Caribbean branded products
10%
10%
Discount on spa treatments
10%
15%
Newsletter & exclusive rates
YES
YES
Discount on Balcony & Suite Staterooms
No
YES
Loyalty Match with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club
No
YES
Youth Benefits
YES
YES
Perhaps the biggest difference is the Loyalty Match – if you wanted to cruise with Celebrity Cruises (a sister cruise line of Royal Caribbean), Platinum members would get extra perks on that cruise line too (though they will be different to Royal’s), whereas Gold members would not.
Final Word
Platinum status in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society may not have a wealth of incredible benefits, but the list of perks you do get is quite long and they’re better than nothing.
After all, it’s not like you’re only paying to get these perks – you earn them by cruising and you’re paying for the cruise holidays. These extra benefits are just a nice bonus.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to try every cruise line, you may not get to the Platinum level, or at least you’d be unlikely to progress past it. But for loyal Royal Caribbean fans, there are some nice perks to enjoy as you work your way towards the higher tiers.
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Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
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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.
