Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has announced his For Fun Sakes #8 Cruise that will set sail to Alaska in 2026.
Every year, Heald hosts a cruise on a Carnival cruise ship. His most recent FFS cruise took place last week on Carnival Magic on a cruise to the Caribbean.
FFS #8 Cruise will depart from Seattle on May 5, 2026, a seven-night cruise to Alaska on Carnival Spirit. The itinerary will be as follows:
Seattle
Fun Day at Sea
Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
Victoria, B.C.
Seattle
Heald will host special events for guests who are booked on the cruise and register for the FFS #8 Cruise. Registration will open on May 5, 2025, one year before the cruise. However, guests can book their cabin on the cruise now as the sailing is currently accepting reservations.
One of the special events that will take place on the cruise is a private viewing deck while the cruise ship transits through Tracy Arm Fjord. There will also be special food and hot soup.
The cruise was originally called the “Blogger’s Cruise” back when Heald ran his popular blog on Carnival Cruise Line.
During the special cruises, John Heald hosts cocktail parities, meet and greets, question and answer times and other special events.
The cruise normally sells out well in advance and is extremely popular among Carnival’s most loyal guests.
Heald said the following about the cruise when he announced it on his Facebook page: “It is going to be a cruise full of fun, comradery, surprises and of course all to the backdrop of incomparable Alaska.”
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Royal Genies are pretty special – they look after suite guests in the Royal Caribbean Star Class and undertake a lot of tasks to make your whole cruise feel special.
This can include escorting you on-board and directly to your suite – no waiting around in queues – to booking your excursions and on-board experiences, bringing you snacks and drinks, and helping you to cut in line for certain facilities that may otherwise be difficult to book.
That just scratches the surface of how special a Royal Genie can make your cruise, so you’ll definitely want to thank them. But a Royal Genie isn’t included in the normal gratuities you pay – so if you want to tip them, you’ll have to do so separately.
How much should you tip though? I’ve taken a look through cruise forums and discussions and I can shed some light on the expected tip amounts.
How Much Do People Tip a Royal Genie?
How much people tip a Royal Genie on their Royal Caribbean cruise tends to vary, although many American guests tend to fall at around the $75-$100 per day. There are a number of factors that people use to decide how much to tip their Genie.
Firstly, it’s important to be clear that tipping a Royal Genie is completely at your discretion – you are not officially expected to, nor is there an official recommended tip amount.
Guests who book a Star Class suite on Royal Caribbean have their tips covered already as part of their cruise fare, but those tips only apply to the cabin attendants, the dining staff and the other crew members working behind the scenes – the Royal Genies don’t share in this tip pool.
While it is at your own discretion, every post I’ve seen on the topic of Royal Genie tipping in cruise forums says that people leave some form of tip for their Royal Genie. That includes the people who barely use the service, if at all.
That’s because whether you choose to use the Royal Genie or not, they are made available for you. Their time is taken up entirely by ensuring they can offer you (and the other suites they look after) any services you need, so it’s not like if you don’t use them then they can go make themselves useful elsewhere to earn more tips.
So I’ve scoured Facebook groups and popular cruise forums to find out how much people tend to pay their Royal Genie as a tip. And the only thing that’s consistent is that there are a lot of arguments about what the right amount should be.
Here’s a graph of how much people have tipped their Royal Genie for a seven-night cruise…
As you can see, most people claim to have tipped between $500 and $700. However, as this is a public forum, it may be the case that some people who only tipped a small amount or did not tip at all, chose not to leave a comment.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the factors that influence how much to tip a Genie:
Tipping Culture
One of the most commonly mentioned things on forums is tipping culture, and how the US varies greatly with other countries around the world.
American guests are used to the idea of tipping, and so are more comfortable leaving larger tips for Royal Genies than maybe some other guests would be.
“Guys, this American attitude of tipping is just so ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, if I pay USD 10K-20K plus or even much more for a week of vacation which includes the services of a Genie it’s the damn responsibility of the company, RCL in this case, to ensure that the employees are getting the deserved salary.”
It seems that most people agree that the Royal Genie should be tipped, but the question of how much can vary depending on where the guests are from.
A lot of the people suggesting tips of around $100 per day are based in the US, whereas I’ve seen European and Australian guests suggesting more conservative amounts, a couple of hundred dollars for the entire sailing.
How Much They Used the Genie
A lot of people specifically say that they base their tips on how much they’ve used the Royal Genie. If they’ve not asked them to do much, they will give a smaller amount.
“My husband and I had a Royal Genie on the Allure of the Seas last year and we tipped $500.00 for the week. We are pretty low key and didn’t use him all that much.”
The people that tend to use the Royal Genie to organise parties in their suite are the ones that tend to lean more into tipping higher amounts, which makes sense. Suite parties are pretty hard to coordinate – there’s a lot of food to bring in, decorations to potentially add and the drinks services too.
And if you take a look at some of the posts on Cruise Critic, people are saying that it depends on their ship too – where they want to use facilities like iFly or the bumper cars, they’ll tip more for the reservations, otherwise, on Oasis-class ships they may not use the Genie as much and so would tip less.
How Much Does a Royal Genie Make?
While the figure is not officially published, it’s believed that a Royal Genie on Royal Caribbean earns around $2,500 per month before tips. Their contracts tend to last for five months, with a month’s break, giving Genies an annual salary of $25,000 if they work two contracts.
Remember that this is a cruise line salary, which means there are certain expenses the Royal Genies don’t have to worry about – namely accommodation and food. They’re included for free and so the $25,000 will stretch a lot further than it would if it was a salary on land.
A Royal Genie will typically look after three suites during each cruise, so if we assume a weekly gratuity of $600 per suite based on the averages, then that’s an extra $1,800 per week that the Royal Genie is making.
If the Genie works for 42 weeks in a year, that’s an extra $75,600 they’ll make each year, for a total annual Royal Genie salary of $100,600. Split between the 10 months, that’s $10,060 per month that they’ll make.
Of course, that’s completely dependent on them hitting the average tips – some people may pay less. But what’s clear is that without the tips their income would be massively reduced.
In fact, these statistics show that almost 80% of a Royal Genie’s income comes from tips.
The Bottom Line
Tipping is absolutely at your own discretion, but remember that even if you don’t ask your Royal Caribbean Genie to do too much for you, they’ll be helping to make your stay more special through the priority embarkation and disembarkation, and making sure to provide small treats throughout your cruise.
Royal Genies won’t get a share of the gratuities that are included as part of your fare, so it’s definitely worth leaving them something as a thank you. If you can’t afford $75-100 per day then that’s OK, as you shouldn’t leave your cruise with financial worries.
But if you’re planning on booking a Star Class suite, it’s definitely a good idea to set aside a small budget for tipping your Royal Genie service.
Let me know how much you’ve tipped your Royal Genie in the comments.
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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.
Royal Caribbean is continuing to roll out their cruise ship deployments for 2026-2027 as they just released their new, short cruises to the Caribbean.
Utopia of the Seas will continue to sail three- and four-night cruises to The Bahamas in 2026-2027. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever
Royal Caribbean will have 11 cruise ships sailing two- to five-night cruises to the Caribbean in 2026-2027 from five ports in the U.S.
These new cruises include year-round, summer and winter itineraries. Here is a look at Royal Caribbean’s short Caribbean getaways that were announced today.
Year-Round Cruises
Royal Caribbean will have three cruise ships sailing short cruises to the Caribbean year-round.
Utopia of the Seas will continue to offer three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral with all sailings visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Wonder of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas will offer cruises from Miami. Wonder of the Seas will sail three- and four-cruise with Freedom of the Seas offering four- and five-night voyages.
Summer Cruises
Three ships will offer summer sailings from Galveston, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.
Mariner of the Seas will homeport in Galveston, Texas sailing four- and five-night cruises to the Western Caribbean. Port stops on these cruises include Cozumel and Costa Maya.
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Tampa Florida on four- and five-night voyages to the Western Caribbean. The ship will visit Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.
Grandeur of the Seas will offer cruises from Fort Lauderdale. The ship will sail three- and four-night cruises to The Bahamas and Key West. The vessel will visit Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay.
Winter Cruises
Five Royal Caribbean ships will offer seasonal short cruises to the Caribbean/Bahamas during the winter of 2026-2027.
Liberty of the Seas will sail from Galveston on four- and five-night cruises to the Western Caribbean. The ship will visit two ports in Mexico, Cozumel and Costa Maya.
Harmony of the Seas will offer a variety of two-, four-, five- and seven-night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral. The ship will visit the following ports: St. Thomas, Falmouth and CocoCay.
Explorer of the Seas will also sail from Port Canaveral on four- and five-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Sailings to the Eastern Caribbean will visit Nassau and CocoCay while the Western Caribbean cruises will stop at Puerto Plata and Cozumel.
Vision of the Seas will offer short three- and four-night cruise to The Bahamas and Key West. The ship will stop at CocoCay, Bimini and Key West.
Oasis of the Seas will homeport in Fort Lauderdale sailing three- and four-night cruises to The Bahamas. The ship will visit Nassau and CocoCay on these sailings.
Royal Caribbean’s most loyal guests, Crown & Anchor Society members, can book these cruises ahead of the official opening on February 27, 2025.
To see all of the cruise line’s opening deployment schedule for 2026-2027, you can see the list here.
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One of the older ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Brilliance of the Seas still has a lot to offer, and she proves to be one of the more popular smaller ships for the cruise line.
But even amongst her many thousands of fans, there are some who don’t always have the best cruise onboard. And often, it could’ve been avoided if the guest had planned their cabin choice more before they booked.
Not all cabins are equal, and there are some that may not suit you and your style of cruising. So read on to learn which of the Brilliance of the Seas cabins YOU should avoid, and which are the best options.
How to Choose the Best Cabin
Some things to look out for are specific to a ship, while others are tips for all cruise ships. To help, I’ve made a free checklist of everything to look out for when booking a cabin, regardless of the ship you’re on. Leave your details here if you want a copy, and I’ll send it right over.
The Different Rooms on Brilliance of the Seas
To understand the best rooms and the cabins to avoid on Brilliance of the Seas, it’s best to start by looking at all the cabins onboard. There are 1,075 rooms in total, which includes 66 Suites.
Of all the rooms on the ship, 54% have a balcony, which is pretty consistent with most of the ships in the fleet – the smaller and older Vision-class ships stand out for having a much lower percentage, though.
In total, Brilliance of the Seas has 19 different cabin types, although some of these are only marginal differences. Here’s the list in full, including sizes and where you’ll find them:
Room
Type
Max. guests
Decks
Average Size (sq ft)
Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior
Inside
4
2-4, 7-10
170
N/A
Interior Accessible
Inside
3
3-4
258
N/A
Studio Interior
Inside
1
4
108
N/A
Ocean View
Ocean View
4
2-4
170
N/A
Ocean View Accessible
Ocean View
4
4
276
N/A
Connecting Oceanview
Ocean View
4
3-4, 7
170
N/A
Spacious Ocean View
Ocean View
2
7-8
170
N/A
Ultra Spacious Ocean View
Ocean View
6
7-8
265
N/A
Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
4
7-10
179
20-41
Obstructed Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
5
7-9
179
41
Connecting Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
2
7-10
179
41
Spacious Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
5
7-10
204
41
Junior Suite
Suite
4
10
299
41
Junior Suite Accessible
Suite
4
10
362
86
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom
Suite
4
10
385
106
Owner’s Suite – 1 Bedroom
Suite
4
10
532
57
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom
Suite
8
10
548
86
Owner’s Suite – 2 Bedroom
Suite
8
7-9
584
151
Royal Suite
Suite
4
10
952
172
Brilliance of the Seas Room Sizes
One thing that’s important to note is that the room sizes in the table above are averages. While most rooms will be right, there may be some that are a little larger than others.
It’s a good idea to browse the Brilliance of the Seas deck plans on the Royal Caribbean website, because then you can see all of the rooms to scale – and maybe grab yourself a room with a little more space. Or a balcony like this one..?
Accessible Cabins on Brilliance of the Seas
The Accessible cabins on Brilliance of the Seas are those that have been adapted for wheelchair users. This means they’ll have slightly wider doors, and a wet room instead of a traditional bathroom, with supports.
There are plenty of options available, including the cheapest interior rooms and suites, too. So whatever your budget, if you need an adapted room then you’ll be able to pick one that’s in your price range and has the amenities you want.
While not listed in the official cabins, there are accessible balcony cabins on Deck 7. They do have an obstructed view, but they are a lot more spacious than a regular balcony stateroom too.
Brilliance of the Seas Cabins to Avoid
While there are no real ‘bad’ rooms on Brilliance of the Seas, there are some that might be best avoided, depending on your personal preferences. So this is a list of the cabins you might want to avoid on the ship.
1. Obstructed View Balcony Cabins
Balcony Cabins 7050 to 7090, 7550 to 7590, 7110 to 7150, 7610 to 7650, 7160, 7164, 7664, 7670, 8058, 8060, 8558, 8161, 8164, 8662, 8664, 8666, 9048, 9050, 9252, 9254, 9652, 9654
On many cruise ships, some of the ocean view or balcony cabins that you can book will be advertised as having a restricted view. It is often the lifeboats that are the cause, but it can also be steel railings (due to high winds) or other objects in your view.
Typically, to make up for the partially ruined view, you pay less for these rooms – so it’s a good value option for cruisers who don’t mind not having an unspoilt balcony or window view.
And that’s the case on Brilliance of the Seas, which has some obstructed view rooms on Deck 7 due to an overhang above the lifeboats, along with a couple of other cabins obstructed by poles higher up the ship.
What’s really interesting though is that Brilliance of the Seas has three sister ships – Serenade of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Radiance of the Seas. They all have this canopy above the lifeboats, but only Brilliance of the Seas treats the cabins as having enough of an obstructed view to make the cabin worth discounting.
It’s one to avoid if you want to sit and enjoy the view of the ocean below, but if you don’t care about the view, you just want the fresh air of a balcony and you want to save money, these rooms are actually a good choice.
2. Cabins Below the Pool Deck
1028 to 1052, 1528 to 1552
A common problem on cruise ships is the noise that can carry through the floor or the ceiling. And one of those problematic spaces is on Deck 10, situated right underneath the pool deck.
Specifically, it’s the sound of deck chairs being scraped across the wooden deck that can often wake guests in the early hours. If you enjoy a lie-in, consider avoiding this part of the ship directly underneath the pool areas.
3. Cabins Above the Theatre & Bars
Most of Deck 7
Another potentially noisy spot is Deck 7, since on the deck below you’ve got the Theatre and several of the ship’s bars. So this is less of a problem if your priority is a lie-in, but if you like an early night, you might find the evening noise runs a little long and is a little loud.
That’s my second recommendation for avoiding rooms on Deck 7 – if you want a good balcony view and a peaceful night, then definitely skip these rooms.
4. Small Studio Interior Cabins
While it’s great that Brilliance of the Seas offers single cabins for solo travellers, think carefully before you book one. The size of these cabins is pretty small and even on your own, they can feel a bit cramped.
Take a look at this video to see just how small it is…
If the price is good and it removes all single supplement fares, then it’s probably worth it. If not, consider booking a regular interior cabin and paying a little extra – you’ll get almost double the space.
5. Connecting Cabins
There are plenty of options for connected cabins on the Brilliance of the Seas, but if you’re not planning to book both of the linked cabins, it might be a good idea to steer clear of them.
The door that connects these cabins is thinner than a regular cabin wall. So, even when it’s shut and locked, you might catch some of the sounds from the neighbouring room.
Typically, this isn’t much of an issue unless your neighbours are being loud. But if they are, especially when you’re attempting to catch some shut-eye, it can get pretty annoying – and let’s face it, who wants their sleep disrupted?
6. Smaller Cabins for Families
A lot of the Interior and Ocean View cabins can sleep up to four guests, but when those sofa beds and pull-down beds are in use, they become very cramped, very quickly.
If you’re travelling with more than three people on Brilliance of the Seas, I would recommend you either book an Ultra Spacious Ocean View, or you choose a suite.
Best Rooms on Brilliance of the Seas
1. Aft-View Spacious Balcony Staterooms
The balcony staterooms on Brilliance of the Seas are already good choices, since they’re pretty roomy, but the Spacious Balcony Staterooms just feel a bit more special with the extra square footage.
Take a look at this video which gives you a good idea of the size…
And the best of those are at the rear of the ship with an aft view. Aft views are always popular on cruise ships – you’re sheltered from any wind and being able to look out over the ship’s wake is pleasant.
These rooms do cost a bit more than a regular Balcony Stateroom but if you want to make the most of your balcony, they’re a great choice.
2. Interior Staterooms
Brilliance of the Seas is a little dated in places, and she is an older ship. So when I recommend the Interior Staterooms as some of the best on the ship, it’s not because they’re stunning, or because they’re packed with the latest tech like you might find in modern Royal Caribbean interior rooms.
But, they are a decent size – not big, but there are many smaller cabins on other cruise ships. And they’re a good price too. If you’re on a budget then the interior rooms are a really solid choice, especially if you want a good sleep – being in total darkness with no window can be very soothing.
The Royal Suite is expensive, and for most people, it’ll be well outside their budget. But you can’t mention the best staterooms and suites on Brilliance of the Seas and not include it.
Compared to the rest of the rooms on the ship, it’s huge, and yet it isn’t designed to be crammed full of people. It’s all about enjoying luxurious space, with a balcony that’s bigger than hundreds of the actual staterooms on the rest of the ship! Plus you can take advantage of some great suite perks too.
Take a look at this video to see more of this impressive suite…
What is the Best Deck on Brilliance of the Seas?
The best decks on Brilliance of the Seas are decks 8 and 9. Here you’ll find some of the better accommodation options, and you’ll be surrounded by cabins above and below, which helps to minimise the noise levels.
What is the Best Room on Brilliance of the Seas?
The best room on Brilliance of the Seas is the Royal Suite – it’s huge and has a very large balcony. The Owner’s Suites and Grand Suites are other good options. For guests who can’t afford a suite, the Spacious Balcony Staterooms are the best choice.
Choose Your Own Room or Go For the ‘Guarantee’ Option?
When you book a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’re typically presented with two options – let the cruise line decide your room for you, or pay an extra fee to select your exact room. You’ll be shown two prices:
If you are happy for Royal Caribbean to choose your room then you still get to decide what type of room you want – Inside, Ocean View etc. – but the cruise line picks exactly which one. This is called a ‘guarantee’ cabin.
Benefits of choosing your cabin number:
Choose your preferred location on the ship
Book two cabins next to each other
Avoid undesirable cabins
If you don’t really mind which cabin you’re assigned to, then just pay the lower fee and let Royal Caribbean decide where to put you. But if you want to avoid those noisy locations, it’s best to pay a bit more and choose your cabin number.
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Find More Information About Brilliance of the Seas Cabins
I’ve spent a lot of time researching this guide, using Facebook groups and forums. If you want to spend a bit more time digging even deeper, then check these out:
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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.
If you’re a book lover and love to cruise, one cruise line may have just found the perfect way for you to spend your next vacation.
Luxury cruise line, Seabourn, has just announced a new program that is inviting bestselling writers onto their ships for some special sailings.
Seabourn’s all-new “Authors at Sea” program will invite several authors, historians, and biographers onto cruise ships like Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Ovation, and Seabourn Sojourn.
Let’s dive into who’s invited onto these special sailings and what cruise passengers can expect.
Debbie Macomber:
With over 200 million books sold, Debbie Macomber is known for her romance novels, some of which have become movies and the basis for a TV series.
She’ll be on the April 27 – May 16, 2025, 20-Day Pacific Passage, sailing from Yokohama to Vancouver.
Plus, she’s hosting a writing workshop! So, if you’ve got a story in you, this is your chance.
Ann Cleeves OBE:
Known as a British mystery crime writer, Ann Cleeves, the author behind “Vera” and “Shetland,” will be onboard.
She will be sailing on the Dec. 20, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026, 15-Day Australia & New Zealand Holiday, Sydney to Auckland.
She will be hosting crime writing workshops, and a murder mystery event.
Robert King Wittman:
Want to hear real-life art crime stories? Former FBI agent Robert King Wittman is part of the Seabourn lineup.
He will be on the May 17-30, 2025, 14-Day Iberian Coast & Bordeaux, Barcelona to Dover and the Aug. 30 – Sept. 9, 2025, 10-Day Tyrrhenian Treasures & Malta, Monte Carlo to Barcelona.
Lord Jeffrey Archer:
Thrillers more your style? Lord Jeffrey Archer, a global bestseller, will be joining the program. He was a member of British Parliament for 5 years and is now a renown novelist.
He will be on the July 1-11, 2025, 10-Day Spain & Moroccan Gems, Roundtrip Barcelona.
Lady Sandra Howard:
Novelist and freelance journalist, Lady Sandra Howard writes her novels that are drawn from real life experiences. Some of her works include “Love at War”, “Tell the Girl”, and “The Consequence of Love”
Former model, she will be sailing on the May 10-18, 2025, 8-Day Western Mediterranean Mosaic, Lisbon to Civitavecchia (Rome).
Zelda La Grange:
International Motivational speaker, and former aide to Nelson Mandela for almost 20 years, Zelda La Grange will be sailing on the April 27 – May 9, 2026, 14-Day Atlantic Crossing.
Zelda La Grange has authored books about her time with Mandela with titles like “Good Morning, Mr. Mandela” and “What Nelson Mandela Taught Me: Timeless lessons on leadership and life”.
The “Authors at Sea” program promises to not just be a lot of sitting through lectures. Seabourn says they are focused on making this an interactive and engaging program.
“Onboard entertainment and enrichment are so important to the Seabourn experience, and our ‘Authors at Sea’ program brings together celebrated writers to connect with guests in a meaningful way through engaging conversations and interactive sessions,” stated Handre Potgieter, Seabourn’s director of entertainment and enrichment.
Cruise passengers will have opportunities to interact directly with authors during meals, and throughout other activities on the ship. Guests can also join authors on select shore excursions. Interactive workshops and Q&A sessions will also be featured, allowing for in-depth discussions and insights into the authors’ work.
Here are the three ships mentioned in the press release and which authors are expected to be on them.
Seabourn Quest:
Debbie Macomber
Ann Cleeves, OBE
Zelda La Grange
Seabourn Ovation:
Lord Jeffrey Archer
Robert K. Wittman
Seabourn Sojourn:
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Have you ever wondered how many people go missing on cruise ships? Out on the open seas, a cruise ship is a very safe environment but it’s also away from prying eyes which makes them the perfect location for a murder mystery story or even a real-life crime.
You may have seen TV shows like ‘Cruise Ship Killers’ or ‘Disappeared – Troubled Waters’ and wanted to know more about people going missing on cruise ships. It really is a rare event, but in this post, we will take a look at some disappearances at sea.
How Many Go Missing On Cruise Ships?
Around 400 people have gone missing from a cruise ship since 2000. This has included both cruise ship passengers and members of the crew. To put this into context, many millions of people have cruised in that time – likely over 500 million.
It is hard to get an exact figure for the number of cruise ship disappearances as there is no single source that collects this data, and many disappearances go unreported. The figure I have used has been extrapolated from Marketwatch data on cruise ship missing person statistics to account for a longer time period [Source]
How Often Does Someone Disappear on a Cruise Ship?
People very rarely disappear on a cruise ship. On average, it’s around 19 people that go missing each year. This is out of the many millions of cruise ship passengers that travel aboard one of the 300+ cruise ships that sail the world’s oceans each year.
Why Do People Disappear on Cruises?
There are many reasons why people might disappear on a cruise ship. They may have fallen overboard or jumped off, or simply left the ship when it was in port. There have even been rare instances where people have been thrown off the ship.
What Happens If Someone Goes Missing on a Cruise Ship?
If someone goes missing and is known to have gone overboard, the ship will circle around and try to rescue them (around 1 in 4 people survive going overboard). If it’s not known where the person has gone then the ship’s Security Director will coordinate the search efforts.
If a person cannot be found on board the ship after a search, the cruise liner should return to the location that they were last known to have been on board the ship. There are no police on a cruise ship, but crew members will report disappearances to the local authorities.
Famous Cases of Missing People on Cruise Ships
Let’s take a look at some cases of people going missing from cruise ships that you might have heard of in the news or on the TV.
Merrian Carver
Merrian Carver disappeared from a Royal Caribbean Cruise to Alaska in August 2004. She had gone on the trip alone and used her cabin only on the first night, before disappearing on the second day of a seven-day Alaskan tour.
One of the crew members reported that Carver appeared to be missing, but the ship made no effort to find her. They argue that it’s not uncommon for passengers to sleep in other people’s cabins or even disembark at one of the ports. At the end of the cruise, they found her belongings and donated them to charity. They told no one that she was missing.
Her disappearance was not reported to the police until Carver’s family filed a missing person report after not hearing from her for several days. When they filed the report, they were not even aware that she had gone on a cruise.
Royal Caribbean ruled the disappearance a suicide, but without a proper investigation, Carver’s family will never know.
Amy Bradley was a 23-year-old woman from Virginia who went missing while on a Royal Caribbean International cruise with her family in March 1998.
Amy Bradley had spent the evening on board the ship where she had spent time in a club. She made friends with the house band and spent time drinking with them until around 1 am when she went off on her own. She was seen by her father later that morning, sleeping on the balcony of their cabin. This was at around 5.30 am, but by 6 am she had disappeared.
Soon after this, the ship docked in Curaçao and the search for her began. Some tourists reported seeing her in Curaçao but she could not be found.
Since this time there have been reports that suggest that she had been kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery. In 1999 a Navy man claimed to have met her in a brothel where she told him her name and that she was being held captive. She was also reported to have been seen in Barbados in 2005 whilst Amy’s parents were sent a photo of a scantily clad woman that could have been her.
Despite these potential leads, Amy Bradley has never been found.
Rebecca Coriam, 24, was an employee on the Disney Wonder cruise ship who disappeared on May 22, 2011. At the time the ship was sailing off the coast of Mexico.
In the last sighting of her, she was seen on surveillance video talking on one of the ship’s internal phones. She appeared to be upset. A passenger approached her and asked her if she was okay, it looks like she replied to say yes. She then hung up the phone and walked away never to be seen again.
Exactly what happened is unknown. The most common theory is that she was swept overboard from the crew pool, or that she jumped or fell from the ship. Her family states that she would never willingly have gone overboard but it’s not clear whether this was a simple accident or something more sinister.
George Smith disappeared from the MS Brilliance of the Seas in July 2005 whilst on honeymoon with his new bride Jennifer. They were on a two-week Mediterranean cruise and were headed from Greece to Turkey. It’s thought that George Smith went overboard, but how that happened remains unknown.
The newlyweds had eaten dinner before embarking on a long night of drinking with both of them getting very drunk.
Their onboard neighbours reported hearing loud talking, arguing, and a thud coming from the Smith’s cabin. Investigations found blood on the canopy beneath the cabin, indicating that Smith had fallen or had been pushed.
Jennifer had not been with George before he went missing as she had wandered off and passed out in a hallway. Crew members helped her back to her cabin in the morning but nobody noticed that anything was wrong.
Nobody is sure what happened to George Smith; it may be that in his drunken state, he simply fell off his balcony. But this doesn’t explain the raised voices. Another theory is that he was pushed overboard by some men that he had met in the casino. Four men claim to have helped him back to his cabin, but the neighbour says that he only saw three men. No one admits to knowing what happened that night.
Turkish police opened an investigation and concluded that Smith accidentally went overboard.
Fariba Amani, a 47-year-old Canadian woman, vanished in February 2012 whilst on a Bahamas Celebration cruise with her boyfriend Ramiz Golshani.
Ramiz Golshani said he last saw Amani at the ship’s gift shop at around one in the morning. He then went to the casino on his own. When he returned to their cabin, she was not there and he went to sleep. When he couldn’t find her in the morning he looked for her on the ship before reporting it to the ship’s crew.
A search was conducted but nobody has ever seen Fariba Amani since.
Amani’s sister has claimed that her sister’s relationship was troubled and that Golshani had been cheating on her. There isn’t any evidence of any foul play and the events that led to the disappearance of Fariba Amani remain a mystery.
Micki Kanesaki, 52, disappeared from a Mediterranean cruise in May 2006, she had been travelling with her ex-husband. Her body was found days later near Italy. An autopsy conducted on her body revealed that she had been strangled and killed before her body was thrown overboard.
Because she died before she hit the water her lungs were filled with air, not water. This meant that Micki’s body floated and allowed it to be discovered.
Eventually, 14 years after her death, Micki Kanesaki’s ex-husband, California lawyer Lonnie Kocontes was convicted of her murder. His new wife had initially testified on his behalf in 2006, but in 2013 she revealed that Kocontes had murdered Kanesaki in order to inherit her million-dollar estate.
Annette Mizener was 37 when she won a Carnival cruise to the Mexican Riviera in December 2004. She went on the trip with her teenage daughter and her parents.
On the night of her disappearance, she sang karaoke with her daughter and visited the casino, but she failed to meet her parents to play Bingo as arranged. Her father began to search for her and discovered that her handbag had been found close to the railings. This has led many people to think that she somehow fell, jumped, or was pushed overboard.
There was a surveillance camera that could have filmed the location but its view was obscured by a map placed in front of the lens. This has led her family to suspect foul play. Further investigations found spots of blood near the scene and beading from her bag was scattered across the deck which suggests there could have been a struggle.
Before her disappearance, Annette had reported being repeatedly harassed by an unknown man, but nothing was done by the crew of the ship.
A 16-hour search of surrounding waters was carried out involving the U.S Coast Guard, aircraft, and a naval ship, which covered approximately 833 square miles. However, Annette Mizener was not found and her fate remains a mystery.
One of the more widely reported Carnival cruise ship missing person stories, Hue Pham, 70, and Hue Tran, 65, went missing whilst on a Carnival Cruise ship heading from Barbados to Aruba in May 2005. The couple were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on the cruise and were travelling with their daughter and granddaughter.
Shoes belonging to the couple were found on the ship’s deck but they have never been seen again.
Some have speculated that the couple jumped overboard to commit suicide, but their son doesn’t believe this saying that they were happy and had been planning a trip to Vietnam to see family.
Stories of people going missing on cruise ships are fascinating and there is certainly quite a lot of intrigue behind these disappearances. It seems likely that we will never know the true fate of the people who have disappeared whilst on a cruise.
It’s worth emphasising that these cases are incredibly rare and if you are sensible, there is no real danger of falling overboard.
Millions of people go on cruises each year and virtually all of them come home safely. A few hundred people going missing over two decades is a very small percentage and it’s most definitely not something that you should worry about, so please don’t let it put you off from cruising.
But, if you have had a few drinks, maybe don’t try climbing about on the railings. Actually, please don’t do that, even if you are stone-cold sober.
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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.
If there’s one thing that I loved about my cruise on the Disney Wish, it was the food. Disney cruises are known for amazing cuisine and immersive dining experiences, but the Disney Wish was a step above anything I’d experienced before.
In this guide, I’ll show you all of the restaurants on the Disney Wish as well as some photos of the menus, for the complete Disney Wish dining guide.
Enjoying a mimosa at breakfast onboard Disney Wish
If you happen to be vegan, then you should also check out my guide to Disney cruise vegan dining, which has some more details on that.
The Restaurants On The Disney Wish
The Disney Wish has three rotational dining restaurants, two adult-only speciality restaurants, a buffet-style restaurant, a food court with five different outlets and a dessert store.
All of these dining options are included in your cruise fare, with the exception of the two speciality restaurants – Enchanté and Palo.
List of dining options on the Disney Wish:
1923 – Rotational Main Dining
Worlds of Marvel – Rotational Main Dining
Arendelle – Rotational Main Dining
Enchante – Specialty Restaurant
Palo – Specialty Restaurant
Marcelline Market – Buffet
Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods – Poolside Eats
Keg & Compass – Pub
Joyful Sweets – Desserts
Room Service
Disney Wish Rotational Dining
Like all Disney cruise ships, the Disney Wish has rotational dining. This means that you eat in a different restaurant each night and your waiters come with you.
As Disney Wish only does three- and four-night cruises, this gives guests the opportunity to sample all of the main dining rooms on board.
Here’s some more information about each of the rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Wish…
1923
Named after the year that The Walt Disney Company was founded, this elegant 20s-style restaurant serves dishes inspired by California’s varied heritage.
I love the decor of this restaurant, which reminded me of my Grandma’s house. Kids are given an activity booklet to keep them busy. But, if you’re thinking of skipping one of the rotational dining restaurants to eat in a speciality restaurant while the kids are in Disney’s Oceaneer Club, then I would say that this is the one to miss.
Worlds of Marvel is more than just a restaurant on the Disney Wish. It’s a cinematic dining adventure where guests will play an interactive role in an Avengers mission while enjoying world cuisine.
If you plan to sail on the Disney Wish, I suggest that you go and watch the movie Ant-Man before your trip. It will give much more context to what happens in this restaurant.
Frozen fans of all ages will love Disney’s Frozen-themed restaurant, Arendelle. At the centre of the room is Ana and Kristoff’s engagement party. While the characters do a tour of the room, some tables do get a much better view than others.
If you’re a Concierge-level guest, then I definitely recommend speaking to your Concierge host in advance to ask if they might be able to secure you a table at the front for this one.
Enchanté offers French-inspired cuisine from a fine dining menu crafted by three-Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement. You can enjoy an evening meal, a Champagne brunch or if you have a sweet tooth there’s a five-course ‘Just Desserts’ experience.
As you enter, look out for Lumiere, he’s hiding amongst the candelabras on the wall!
Palo Steakhouse
The ever-popular Palo restaurant on Disney cruise ships has had a slight name tweak on the Disney Wish and it is now called Palo Steakhouse.
In a beautiful setting inspired by Cogsworth, from Beauty and the Beast, the show-stopping menu includes a selection of Italian dishes as well as the world’s best steaks. For dessert, you won’t want to miss the signature Palo chocolate souffle.
Disney Wish Casual Dining Options
As well as the main dining restaurants, Disney Wish has a host of other casual eateries that are open around the clock.
Marcelline Market
Disney’s buffet restaurant on the Disney Wish is called Marceline Market. It features lots of little outlets that are inspired by street food markets from around the world.
The menu changes all the time – don’t miss the extra couple of options around the back! There’s a choice of indoor and outdoor seating, all with spectacular ocean views.
Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods
This open-air food court on the Disney Wish features five different eateries:
Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue
Donald’s Cantina
Daisy’s Pizza Pies
Goofy’s Grill
Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream
It’s open for lunch, dinner and any time in between with tasty fast food options that the whole family will love. Food is made fresh to order and you can eat it poolside on the outdoor tables that are shaded from the sun.
Keg & Compass
The pub on Disney Wish, The Keg & Compass, offers a ‘pub grub’ menu with classics like fish and chips, bangers and mash and steak and ale pie. These are all available for an extra charge. There are some good vegan and vegetarian options here too, with fishless fish and plant-based chicken tenders.
Joyful Sweets
Joyful Sweets is a dessert store that’s inspired by the Pixar movie, Inside Out. Here, you can enjoy ice cream, gelato, candy and novelty treats that are based around the emotions of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust.
Everything costs a little extra here, but it’s definitely worth a visit, even if just for a look around.
Room Service
Your final dining option onboard Disney Wish is to order room service via your stateroom telephone. Room service is free on Disney cruises, but it’s polite to tip the person who brings it a couple of dollars to show your appreciation.
Disney Wish Menus
When I cruised on the Disney Wish I took photos of all of the menus so you can see what’s on offer. Please note that these may be subject to change.
If you have a food allergy or intolerance such as gluten-free or nut-free, then you will be given a special allergy-friendly menu.
1923 Menus
1923 Menu
1923 Drinks Menu
1923 Allergy-Friendly Menu
1923 Kids’ menu
1923 Dessert Menu
Arendelle Menus
Arendelle Menu
Arendelle Drinks Menu
Arendelle Kids Menu
Arendelle Dessert Menu
Worlds of Marvel Menus
Worlds of Marvel Menu
Worlds of Marvel Drinks Menu
Worlds of Marvel Kids Menu
Worlds of Marvel Dessert Menu
Mickey’s Festival of Foods Menus
Goofy’s Grill Menu
Mickey’s Smokestack BBQ Menu
Daisy’s Pizza Pies Menu
Donald’s Cantina Menu
Breakfast Menus
Breakfast Menu
Disney Wish Room Service Menu – Breakfast
Speciality Dining Menus
Keg & Compass Menu
Joyful Sweets Price List
Castaway Cay Menu
Castaway Cay Allergy-Friendly Pre-Order Menu
Drinks Menus
Quiet Cove Drinks Menu
Keg & Compass Drinks MenuKeg & Compass Drinks Menu
Nightingales Bar Menu
Luna Drinks MenuLuna Drinks Menu
To Conclude
I found the amazing selection of delicious Disney Wish food to be one of the many highlights of my cruise. You can learn more about this incredible new ship with my Disney Wish guide.
Now that you’re up to speed on the DIsney Wish cruise restaurants, you might also want to take a look at my guide to Staterooms and Suites on Disney Wish so that you can choose the best room for your 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.
Setting sail on a magical voyage with Disney Cruise Line is undeniably a dream come true for many families. But I understand that as a larger family, you might be wondering about the accommodation options on board these enchanting ships.
Do they have space for everyone in your party? Will you all be comfortable?
In this blog post, we’ll be journeying through the spacious staterooms and lavish suites of Disney Cruise Line that comfortably sleep five or more guests.
Whether you are a family of five or seven, there is a perfect stateroom or suite waiting for you aboard one of Disney’s majestic ships. Let’s dive into the details…
How Many People Can Sleep in a Room on a Disney Cruise?
On a Disney Cruise, the number of guests a stateroom can sleep varies by ship and cabin type. For larger families, the Concierge Royal Suite on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ships can accommodate up to 7 guests. However, on the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish and Disney Treasure ships, the maximum occupancy ranges from 5 to 6 guests, depending on the suite or stateroom selected.
Rooms for Large Families on the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure
The Disney Wish sails with a host of room options that are perfect for larger families. On this grand vessel, you’ll discover a variety of suites and staterooms designed to accommodate 5 or 6 guests, ensuring everyone has enough space to stretch out and relax.
Disney Treasure is a sister of Disney Wish, and the accommodation options will likely be very similar
Concierge Tower Suite
Sleeps 8 – Category 1A
The unique Wish Tower Suite offers a Moana-inspired décor located high above the upper decks. It sleeps 8, making it perfect for larger families.
Features include a double-height living room with expansive ocean views, two main bedrooms, a children’s room, and a convertible library/bedroom. It boasts 4.5 bathrooms, a two-story living space, a grand spiral staircase, and a dining salon. The suite spans 1,966 sq. ft. with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Let’s start with the crown jewel of the Disney Wish, the Concierge 2 Story Royal Suite. This luxurious suite offers an elegant, spacious haven for families of up to 6.
Inspired by Sleeping Beauty, these suites offer 2 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, a large living area, dining room, and a private verandah with a whirlpool tub. At 1,759 sq. ft., it features premium amenities such as plush Euro-top mattresses, Frette® cotton linens, luxury robes, a Sub-Zero wine cooler, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Guests also enjoy access to the Concierge Lounge, a private sun deck, and personalized pre-arrival and onboard concierge services, ensuring an unforgettable, luxurious cruise experience.
Concierge 1 Story Royal Suite with Verandah
Sleeps 6 – Category 1C
The 1-story Concierge Royal Suite offers similar luxury for families of 5 or 6. The suite features 2 main bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, a spacious living area, and an open dining salon. The private verandah comes with a whirlpool and magnificent ocean views.
The suite also offers exclusive concierge amenities and services, including an expanded range of offerings like down duvets and complimentary WiFi. As Concierge guests, families also enjoy access to exclusive areas on the ship for enhanced comfort and relaxation.
Concierge 1-Bed Suite with Verandah
Sleeps 5 – Category 2B
The main difference between the Royal Suites and the Concierge 1-Bedroom suite is that you only get one bedroom – but it still has plenty of space for a family of 5. That’s because you get a king bed and then a living area with a double convertible sofa, and a single pull-down bed from the wall for a fifth member of the family.
The suite is still spacious at 608 square feet, including the verandah, and you get two bathrooms, so it won’t take an age for everyone to get ready. You also get the same suite benefits as the Royal Suites, including the down duvets and WiFi.
Concierge Family Oceanview with Verandah
Sleeps 5 – Category 3A
Comparing it to the opulence of the Royal Suites and the 1-Bedroom Suite, the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah is a slightly more compact choice, yet wonderfully accommodating for a family of 5. With its 296 sq. ft. layout, families can enjoy the cosiness of one king bed, a single convertible sofa, and two pull-down beds.
Though the size might be humbler, the offerings remain luxurious. Boasting a private verandah for morning coffee or evening relaxation, families also delight in the superior comfort of Frette® cotton linens and plush Euro-top mattresses. You also get the split bathroom that’s common with Disney’s staterooms – one main bathroom, with the toilet in a secondary half-bathroom.
Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom
Sleeps 4-5 – Category 3B
Unlike the Concierge Family Oceanview with Verandah, this room category doesn’t have any kind of balcony, but instead has floor-to-ceiling windows. You also get more floorspace – up to 357 square feet, which is nice and roomy when the stateroom is at full capacity.
Only some of these staterooms sleep five guests (others are limited to four). The ones that sleep five still have the same bed layout – a king-size bed, convertible single sofa, and two pull-down beds. This is also the last of the Disney Wish staterooms sleeping five or more guests that has the Concierge amenities included.
Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
Sleeps 4-5 – Category 4A, 4B, 4C, 4E
The Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah offers a blend of comfort and value. While it doesn’t match up to the luxury of the Concierge staterooms, it doesn’t skimp on space or features either. These rooms, found on various decks, provide up to 284 square feet of space, which is quite ample.
Only some staterooms in this category can accommodate up to five guests. When they do, the bed configuration is a queen bed, a single convertible sofa, and two pull-down beds. It’s a practical setup, ensuring a good night’s sleep for everyone.
You won’t find all the high-end amenities that come with the Concierge level, like the 1,000-thread-count linens. However, the room does boast a comfy Euro-top mattress with 300-thread-count Frette® linens and a range of other conveniences. Plus, there’s that bonus of the split bath design, which makes getting ready a breeze for families.
Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
Sleeps 4-5 – Category 8B, 8C
The Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom gives families a touch more room than its non-Family counterpart, offering a decent 237 square feet. Located on decks 6 through 9, these spaces can comfortably house up to five guests using a queen bed, convertible sofa, and two pull-down beds.
Instead of a balcony or verandah, a grand porthole window brings in the ocean views. With top-notch amenities like a Euro-top mattress, 300-thread-count linens, and that handy split bath design, it’s a space crafted for comfort. The room’s design, with a cosy sitting area and privacy curtain, ensures relaxation after a day of Disney-fueled fun.
Rooms for Large Families on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder
If you’re travelling with a slightly larger family, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder could be the perfect choices for your ship. Some of the suites can accommodate up to seven guests, meaning you don’t have to split your family between multiple staterooms.
Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
Sleeps 7 – Category 1A
While not as big as the two-storey Royal Suites on Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, the Royal Suites on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are still exceptional choices. With over 1,000 square feet of space, they’re capable of sleeping up to seven guests, with a master bedroom, a second bedroom with twin beds and two pull-down beds, and a final pull-down bed in the lounge.
With it being a Concierge-class room, you get the upgraded amenities including the down duvets, complimentary Wi-Fi and personal robe and slippers. However, unlike the Royal Suites on Disney Wish, you don’t get the very finest linens, but instead the same 300-thread count linens as in the lower Concierge-class rooms.
Concierge 2-Bed Suite with Verandah
Sleeps 7 – Category 1B
Similar to the Royal Suite, the Concierge 2-Bed Suite is capable of accommodating larger families of up to seven guests. The layout is a little different though – the second bedroom only has one pull-down bed, with the living room having a double sleeper sofa instead.
These rooms are still incredibly spacious, at 945 square feet, and you get two full bathrooms and a half bathroom to make it much easier for everyone to get ready for their day of adventure.
Concierge 1-Bed Suite with Verandah
Sleeps 7 – Category 2B
The Concierge 1-Bed Suite is a comfortable space for families of up to five guests. The main bedroom has a queen bed, with the rest of the sleeping arrangements handled by the living area, with a double sofa bed and a single pull-down.
You get Disney’s split bathrooms too, with the main bathroom including a whirlpool tub, which the kids will love (or the grown-ups can enjoy when they need to rest after an action-packed day!). At 614 square feet including the verandah, there’s plenty of space for everyone to unwind.
Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
Sleeps 5 – Category 4A, 4B, 4E
On Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the only non-Concierge level family room is this one – sleeping 5 guests, it’s around half the size of the 1-Bed Suite option with 304 square feet of space. It’s cleverly used though, with the living area including one single sofa bed, a wall pull-down bed, and an upper pull-down bed. So during the day, when the beds are all tucked away, the room still feels spacious.
While you don’t get the Concierge-level amenities in this room, you can at least still enjoy your own verandah, along with the convenience of the split bathroom.
Rooms for Large Families on the Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy
In terms of accommodating larger families, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are the most limited ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The biggest staterooms and suites have a maximum occupancy of five – still enough for many families, but if you’re a group of six or seven, you’ll need to look at the other ships in the fleet.
Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
Sleeps 5 – Category 1A
The Royal Suite on the Dream and Fantasy is comparable to the two-storey Royal Suite on Disney Wish, at least in size. While it only sleeps five guests, it has a huge 1,781 square feet of space (with the verandah included), with an open dining salon and a pantry.
The solo bedroom has a queen bed, while the living room has two beds that pull down from the wall, one of which is a double. There are two full bathrooms, one of which has a whirlpool tub, while there’s a second whirlpool tub on the verandah itself.
Concierge 1-Bed Suite with Verandah
Sleeps 5 – Category 2B
The Concierge 1-Bed Suites are around a third of the size of the Royal Suites, and instead of a double pull-down bed in the living area they have a double sofa bed. They still have plenty of space for five guests, although the verandah is a lot smaller and doesn’t have a whirlpool bath. You do still get one in the primary bathroom, though.
You also get the upgraded Concierge amenities in this suite and the Royal Suite – it’s the same amenities you get in Concierge suites on other ships in the fleet, such as free WiFi, a pillow menu, and a feather duvet.
Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
Sleeps 5 – Category 3A
The Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom measures 306 square feet, so around half the size of the Concierge 1-Bed Suite and a sixth of the size of the Royal Suite. And yet it’s not cramped – that’s just a testament to how big the Royal Suite truly is.
In the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom you’ll get a queen bed and a double sofa bed, with an upper pull-down bed to allow for five guests in total. You don’t get the full two bathrooms, but you do get the signature split bathrooms, so the toilet is still private while someone is using the bathtub in the primary bathroom.
This still comes with the Concierge amenities, too.
Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
Sleeps 4 to 5 – Category 4A, 4B, 4C, 4E
The Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandahs are almost the same size as the Concierge equivalents – at 299 square feet, they’re very close. There are two main differences – firstly, instead of a double sofa bed, you get a single sofa bed and a second pull-down bed in the rooms that sleep five (some only sleep four).
And secondly, you miss out on the Concierge-level amenities, so no free WiFi, pillow menu, or luxury duvet. You do still get the split bathroom, with a tub in the main bathroom, and a comfortable verandah with patio furniture.
Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
Sleeps 3 to 5 – Category 8A, 8B, 8C
The Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms on Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are the smallest in the entire fleet when you are looking at rooms that sleep up to five guests. They measure 241 square feet, which isn’t tiny, but don’t expect to have a lot of personal space if you’re filling the queen bed, the single sofa and both pull-down beds.
Otherwise, the room has similar amenities to the Verandah version – only, instead of the verandah itself, you get porthole windows – either one large or two smaller ones, depending on the specific stateroom you get.
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The Bottom Line
There are a lot of room options for families of five, six or seven on Disney’s cruise ships, but a lot of them are Concierge-level rooms. While it’s great to have the additional amenities, it does mean you’re paying more for the stateroom or suite too.
It’s always worth checking whether paying for two smaller connecting rooms would be better than one larger family room, though. These are limited on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, though, so you need to book early to secure them.
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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.
A ground-breaking new platform, The Cruise Globe, has officially launched, allowing cruise travellers to log, track, and share their entire cruising history with unprecedented accuracy – and it’s completely free!
In just one week, users have already logged over 50,000 cruises, demonstrating the platform’s instant appeal among cruise enthusiasts.
Designed as the world’s first visual logbook for cruisers, The Cruise Globe provides a seamless way to relive past voyages, track exact routes using historical AIS satellite ship tracking data, and generate detailed cruise statistics.
The project is the creation of three cruise and travel enthusiasts – Matthew Jones, Will Ellison, and Emma Le Teace.
Their combined expertise in marine technology, startup development, and cruise content creation has resulted in a one-of-a-kind interactive digital platform for cruisers.
Will Ellison, a naval architecture expert, has extensive experience in marine technology startups, while Matthew Jones has been instrumental in developing successful startups and has a deep family connection to Cunard.
Meanwhile, Emma Le Teace, known as Emma Cruises, brings her insider knowledge as one of the world’s leading cruise content creators.
Their previous success with The Cruise Maps, which offered personalised, accurate cruise route prints, paved the way for The Cruise Globe, which takes digital cruise tracking to the next level.
What The Cruise Globe offers
The platform delivers a range of innovative features, enabling users to:
Log and visualise every past cruise with pinpoint accuracy using AIS satellite tracking technology.
View personalised cruise statistics, including exact distances travelled.
Fly through previous routes in immersive 3D, reliving every port and landmark.
Explore ports in satellite view to zoom in on past destinations.
The overwhelming response to The Cruise Globe has already led to an expansion of the data validation team, doubling in size from four to eight members.
Co-founder Will Ellison has confirmed plans to introduce live ship tracking, future cruise mapping, and river cruise coverage by the end of the year.
Additionally, while The Cruise Globe is already optimised for mobile devices, plans are underway to develop a dedicated app to enhance accessibility and functionality.
Emma Le Teace expressed her excitement about the platform’s success:
“We know that cruisers love to keep track of their travels, often jotting them down in notebooks or spreadsheets. With The Cruise Globe, we’ve created a way for them to showcase their cruise journeys both visually and statistically in a beautifully interactive way.”
With its highly detailed tracking features and future expansion plans, The Cruise Globe is set to become the ultimate tool for cruise lovers, offering an unprecedented way to document, share, and relive their travels in real time.
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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Royal Caribbean has been forced to adjust the itineraries of several ships due to ongoing pier-related problems in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The cruise line has confirmed that multiple vessels have been impacted by the situation, which stems from a partial closure of Pier 4 at the Pan American Pier.
The pier issues began earlier this month when a structural assessment revealed concerns about the dock’s stability. As a result, authorities limited access to the pier, disrupting the schedules of numerous cruise ships that typically call at San Juan. Royal Caribbean has responded by rerouting affected ships to alternative ports or modifying their time in San Juan to use other available docking facilities.
Among the impacted ships are Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, along with Wonder of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas. For instance, Icon of the Seas, which was scheduled to dock in San Juan on February 25, 2025, has been reassigned to a different pier, while other sailings have seen their port calls shuffled to nearby destinations like St. Thomas or St. Maarten. Guests aboard these voyages have been notified of the changes, with the cruise line emphasizing its commitment to safety and a seamless experience.
The situation has caused frustration for some passengers who were looking forward to exploring San Juan, a popular Caribbean port known for its historic charm and vibrant culture. Royal Caribbean has assured travelers that it is working closely with local authorities to monitor developments and adapt plans as needed. No timeline has been provided for when Pier 4 might fully reopen, leaving the cruise industry in the region in a state of uncertainty for the time being.
This isn’t the first time San Juan’s port infrastructure has posed challenges. The aging facilities have long been a point of discussion, with calls for upgrades to accommodate the growing size and number of modern cruise ships. For now, Royal Caribbean and its passengers are navigating the inconvenience as best they can, with the cruise line promising to keep guests updated on any further adjustments.
