Luxury Cruising Editorial - Luxury Cruising

This 3-Storey Cruise Ship Suite Costs $80K Per Week!

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Choosing a cruise Cruise Lines Cruise News Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas might be the biggest cruise ship in the world, but the main reason that’s exciting is the fantastic accommodations and features she packs into all that space.

And none of the staterooms or suites on Icon of the Seas is more unique and thrilling than the Ultimate Family Townhouse. This takes the Ultimate Family Suite concept debuted on some of the Oasis-class ships to a whole other level – literally.

Let me explain why that’s a bad pun, and why the Ultimate Family Townhouse is one of the best family suites at sea – but also why it’s not for everyone.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is a family suite available to book on Icon of the Seas. It is a three-storey suite situated at the after corner of the ship, sleeping up to 8 guests in incredible luxury.

The Ultimate Family Suite accommodations first debuted with the two-storey Ultimate Family Suite on Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

With the Ultimate Family Townhouse, Icon of the Seas has added a third storey (there’s your “other level” pun) and is packed with great features for adults and kids alike.

The suite is massive!

The Ultimate Family Townhouse has 1,772 square feet of interior space, as well as three balcony areas – a main level balcony off the living room (410 square feet), a second balcony off the master bedroom (90 square feet) and a backyard area (251 square feet).

To put that into context, an Interior Stateroom on the same ship measures 156 square feet – so the Ultimate Family Townhouse has 11 times the interior space, along with three outdoor spaces – two of which are bigger than the Interior Stateroom in total.

And if you just totalled up the balcony and backyard space alone, that’s over 750 square feet – bigger than most of the other suites on the ship with their balconies included. This really is a massive suite.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is situated on Decks 7, 8 and 9 of Icon of the Seas, so it’s around the middle of the decks on the ship. You can find it on the Icon of the Seas deck plans – the information for it is listed under Deck 8, as that’s where the main living space is.

Here’s what you get for your money…

The Ultimate Family Townhouse consists of two bedrooms, a cinema room, a living room and an outdoor backyard. There’s a balcony off the master bedroom and another off the living room, and a slide connecting the upper floor with the main living space.

That just scratches the surface through. This is a suite that is packed with entertainment for the whole family. The living area includes a spacious living room and a dining room, which has an interactive gaming table. The sofa in this room is a double sofa bed, which is useful if you’re travelling with a party larger than 4.

Inside the cinema room, as well as a giant TV you’ll find your own popcorn machine and karaoke machine, and there’s comfy seating including a monster-themed daybed.

The master bedroom has a king-size bed and its own master bathroom with twin vanity and two shower heads, while the kids’ room has bunk beds and its own TV and games, and its own bathroom including a bath. So they can get that one messy and leave yours looking pristine.

Down the steps into the backyard, you’ll find a ping pong table and some cosy seats, along with a white picket fence which opens straight into the Surfside neighbourhood on the ship, so you’ve got easy access to the splash areas and many of the best family-friendly features on the ship.

There’s even your own mailbox – perfect for picking up any notes from your Royal Genie (more on that below). It’s also just really picturesque – your own idyllic private entrance to one of the most exciting parts of the ship.

You get some extra perks too

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is classed as a Star Class suite under the Royal Suites Program with Royal Caribbean. This means guests get extra benefits including the services of a Royal Genie, free drinks, free WiFi and more.

There are a lot of perks that you get as part of your cruise fare. The Royal Genie is one of the most notable ones – these are essentially the butlers of Royal Caribbean, but with a less formal name.

But the other perks shouldn’t be discounted. Free drinks packages and WiFi help to justify a small part of the additional cost, while your typical gratuities are included too – although, not those of your Royal Genie, which are extra.

Let’s talk about the cost…

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is one of the most expensive suites at sea – expect it to cost around £17,500 / $20,000 for a week. That’s the per-person cost too – although you may get discounts for booking up to the maximum 8 guests. Expect to pay around £70,000 / $80,000 for the suite in total.

That’s a lot of money for a one-week cruise. Bear in mind that you can get an Interior Stateroom on the same ship for around £950/$1000 per person; you’re paying 20x more if you decide you want the Ultimate Family Townhouse.

Or to put it another way, that’s 20 cruises at the ‘normal’ Icon of the Seas rooms prices, versus one cruise in an Ultimate Family Townhouse. I know which I’d choose!

So, is the Ultimate Family Townhouse worth it?

Whether the Ultimate Family Townhouse is worth it depends entirely on your budget. It’s out of reach for most passengers who’ll book a cruise on Icon of the Seas due to its high cost, but for some guests, it could be the perfect base for your family vacation.

You do get a lot of extra benefits included, but you also get those in some of the other suites on the ship – many of which are a quarter of the price of the Ultimate Family Townhouse.

Ultimately (sorry), it’ll come down to your own situation and budget. For the average cruiser, it would probably be better to spend the money on multiple cruises. But for the lucky few with the money to spend, it’s definitely a suite that’ll provide some magical moments for your kids (and for you, too).

It’s not the only Icon of the Seas family suite, either, so you do have other options if you want suite perks without paying the high prices for this one!

Final Word

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is a suite worthy of the biggest ship in the world – it’s massive, it’s fun-packed, and it’s innovative too.

It’s not indicative of the entire ship, though – it’s pretty exclusive, thanks to its high price point, while Icon of the Seas is very much about everyone having an incredible cruise, no matter whether you choose the best suites or an Interior Stateroom.

Anyone who books the Ultimate Family Townhouse will have one of the best holidays ever, but you don’t need to book the Ultimate Family Townhouse to have an incredible time on Icon of the Seas.

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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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What Smokers Need To Know Before Taking A Cruise For The First Time

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News First time cruisers

Smoking on cruise ships is a contentious topic and one that’s often debated in Facebook groups and forums. But, the fact is that smokers are always welcome on board. That said, there are a few things you’ll need to know to make sure you don’t break any rules or upset anyone.

1. You Can Smoke On Every Cruise Ship

All cruise ships allow smoking on board. While many people would relish the idea of a non-smoking cruise ship, in reality, every cruise ship has at least one smoking area.

With 13% of US adults regularly smoking cigarettes and 5% vaping electronic cigarettes, banning smoking from cruise ships altogether wouldn’t be practical or profitable for cruise lines in the modern day.

2. You Can Only Smoke in Certain Places Onboard

Smoking on cruise ships is only permitted in designated areas. Cruise ship smoking areas are usually tucked out of the way and are pretty easy for non-smokers to avoid.

When you board your cruise ship, you’ll receive a copy of the deck plan which highlights useful areas such as smoking areas, toilets and lifts.

Most smoking areas are outdoors, but there’s usually a covered area to shelter from the rain. Some cruise lines also allow smoking indoors in smoking rooms, cigar bars or in the casino.

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3. Some Cruise Lines Allow Smoking on Your Balcony

The question ‘Can you smoke on a cruise ship balcony?’ is often asked by smokers and non-smokers alike.

Some smokers dislike the idea of having to walk to the smoking area first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Whereas non-smokers worry about the possibility of second-hand smoke drifting onto their balcony from the one next door or below.

Of course, there’s also the issue of safety as on balconies there are no staff members around to ensure that cigarettes are properly extinguished. There are also fears that some inconsiderate smokers may throw cigarette ends overboard and pollute the ocean.

For these reasons, smoking is banned on most cruise ship balconies. The only cruise line allowing smoking for the foreseeable future on private balconies is Costa Cruises. You can smoke on a balcony on a Fred. Olsen cruise ship but only until 1st April 2025 when the policy will change.

4. Some Cruise Lines Allow Smoking in the Casino

Smoking in cruise ship casinos varies by cruise line, by ship and even by the day of the week. Some ships have smoking areas or smoking rooms within the casino, some allow smoking throughout the casino and some ban it altogether.

Scroll down to see a table showing which cruise lines allow smoking in casinos. Please note though, that if mask mandates are in place, there may be a temporary ban on indoor smoking.

When I cruised on MSC Preziosa, I noticed that most people
in the casino seemed to be smoking and it did put me off staying in there too
long. At the roulette table, the etiquette seemed to be that players would
offer a cigarette to each person at the table before lighting up themselves.

Here’s Where Can You Smoke on a Cruise Ship

This table shows where smoking is allowed with each cruise line. Most information is given about each cruise line smoking policy below the table.

Cruise line	Outdoor smoking areas?	Indoor smoking lounges?	Smoking in casino?	Smoking on balconies?	Smoking in your cabin?
Carnival	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
Celebrity Cruises	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
Costa Cruises	YES	YES	NO	YES	vaping only
Cunard	YES	Cigars and pipes only	NO	NO	NO
Disney Cruise Line	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
Holland America Line	YES	NO	Selected ships on designated nights	NO	NO
Marella Cruises	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
MSC Cruises	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
Norwegian Cruise Line	YES	Cigars only	Yes (except for cigars and pipes)	Only for guests staying in Garden Villas	NO
P&O Cruises	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
Princess Cruises	YES	YES	At designated slot machines only. Not at table games	NO	NO
Royal Caribbean	YES	Cigars and pipes only on selected ships	Depends on departure country	NO	NO

Prefer to Vape?

The general rule regarding electronic cigarettes on cruise ships is that they are treated in the same way as cigarettes and so vaping is only permitted in designated smoking areas. There are three cruise lines – Costa Cruises, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, which allow e-cigs to be vaped in cabins.

It’s important to note that electronic cigarettes are illegal in many countries including the United Arab Emirates, India and much of South America and Southeast Asia. You should check before you travel as you may have to leave your e-cigarette on the ship. Punishment for possession ranges from confiscation to a fine or even up to ten years in prison.

Be Careful To Bring The Right Lighter!

Cigarette lighters are allowed on cruise ships. However, torch lighters that emit a powerful, concentrated flame are not allowed on most ships. Similarly, novelty lighters that look like guns are also not allowed.

What Happens if You Get Caught Smoking Somewhere You Shouldn’t…

If you get caught smoking on a cruise outside of the designated areas then you will first receive a warning. If you repeat the offence then you may be kicked off the ship. If you’re caught smoking in your stateroom you may have to pay a cleaning fee.

Fire is one of the biggest threats to a cruise ship, so you should only ever smoke in the designated smoking areas.

Suggested read: How To Get Away With Smoking On A Cruise Ship

What Should You Do if You See Someone Smoking on a Cruise?

If you see someone smoking on a cruise ship outside of the smoking area then you can either ask them not to do it, or tell a crew member.

It may be that the person is unaware that they should not be smoking, so they may be grateful for your tip-off. However, they may have chosen to break the rules and may not relish being reprimanded.

If you’d prefer to avoid confrontation, then you can tell a nearby crew member or telephone guest services. That way, the smoker needn’t ever know that it was you who reported them.

No Smoking Cruise Ships

At the moment, there is no such thing as a no-smoking cruise ship. However, if you are determined to avoid smoke, you most certainly can. All you have to do is look up where the smoking areas are and avoid them.

Cruise Line Smoking Policies 2024

Here are links to the latest smoking and vaping policies for each cruise line…

Celebrity Cruises Smoking Policy

Celebrity Cruises only allows smoking in designated outdoor smoking areas. This policy includes smoking-like products such as electronic cigarettes, pipes and cigars.

Carnival Cruise Smoking Policy

Carnival Cruise Line limits smoking to specific exterior deck
areas and designated casino and nightclub spaces that can be monitored. Cigars
and pipes may only be smoked in outdoor smoking areas.

Costa Cruises Smoking Policy

Costa Cruises allow smoking only in designated indoor areas which are marked as ‘cigar lounges’ and designated outdoor smoking points. Smoking cigarettes and tobacco are not permitted in cabins but electronic cigarettes are allowed in cabins. Smoking is allowed on private balconies.

Cunard Smoking Policy

The smoking of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes is
permitted only in designated outdoor smoking areas. Pipes and cigars are also
allowed at any time of day in Churchill’s lounge, but cigarettes are prohibited
here.

Disney Cruise Line Smoking Policy

Disney Cruise Line allows smoking and vaping only in
designated outdoor smoking areas.

Holland America Smoking Policy

Holland America Line allows smoking only in designated
outdoor smoking areas. Some ships (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Amsterdam,
Maasdam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Veendam) also allow smoking in the
casino, but only on certain nights and only whilst playing. Electronic
cigarettes may be vaped in staterooms.

Marella Smoking Policy

Marella cruise ships only allow smoking in designated areas
of the open deck. The same rule applies to e-cigarettes.

MSC Cruises Smoking Policy

Smoking is permitted only in designated indoor and outdoor
smoking areas and in the casino.

Norwegian Cruise Line Smoking Policy

Smoking is permitted in designated outdoor smoking areas. Most ships (all except Norwegian Sky, Sun, Star and Pride of America), have a cigar lounge where cigars are welcome. Nothing but cigars and pipes may be smoked in these areas.

Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore have a designated smoking room within the casino where people can smoke whilst playing.

On other ships, smoking is allowed throughout the casino. Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed in the casino.

Whilst smoking is not generally allowed in cabins or on balconies, guests staying in Garden Villas are allowed to smoke in their private garden and on their private sun decks.

P&O Cruises Smoking Policy

Smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor smoking
areas. These locations are not published as they change depending on the
weather or cleaning processes.

Princess Cruises Smoking Policy

Princess Cruises allow smoking in designated areas which
include outdoor smoking areas, cigar lounges and a section of the nightclub. In
the casino, smoking is allowed only whilst playing designated machines and not
at table games. The casino will have one or more non-smoking nights on each
cruise. Electronic cigarettes are permitted in cabins (but not on balconies)
and within the smoking areas.

Royal Caribbean Smoking Policy

On Royal Caribbean cruises, smoking is permitted in designated outdoor smoking areas. The rules about smoking in the casino varies for different regions of the world. On cruises departing from China and Hong Kong, smoking is allowed throughout the casino. On cruises departing from the UK and Australia, smoking is not allowed in the casino. On all other cruises, the casino will have a designated smoking area.

Cigars are not allowed in the casino, only in designated outdoor smoking areas. Freedom-class and Voyager-class ships feature cigar bars where cigars and pipes are allowed, but no other types of smoking.

Final Word

So, can you smoke on cruise ships? Yes, but only in very specific places. Usually, you can’t smoke on your balcony or in any of the restaurants, but there are very limited places indoors and outdoors where you can use cigarettes or vapes.

It’s important that you follow the rules because you can get in a lot of trouble if you keep flaunting them. One strike will probably just get you told to extinguish your cigarette but keep pushing your luck and you might be more severely punished.

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Cruise Ship Balcony Rooms Are NOT Safe for Toddlers

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Cruise Lines Cruise News

If you’re planning a cruise with your toddler, then one of the biggest concerns is their safety. And if you’re constantly worrying about your little one, you’re simply not going to have fun.

I’ve been cruising since my son was six months old and I’ve done it plenty of times with toddlers in tow. So I know exactly how you feel.

I’m not saying you can’t have a cabin with a balcony with young children. But if you do, you’ll have to be as vigilant as a hawk. So, read on and I’ll help you decide which is the best stateroom to choose for your family.

What Are Cruise Ship Balconies Like?

Cruise ship balconies are usually pretty small, with just enough space for two chairs and sometimes, if you’re lucky, a little table or footstool. The side is made of glass that comes up to waist height, and if you look down, the drop will be between four and 20 storeys, either into the sea, or onto a promenade deck.

cruise ship balconies on Iona — Balconies on Iona

People do go overboard from cruise ship balconies several times per year, and it’s almost always fatal. It’s important to note, though, that these instances are pretty much always caused by passengers who jump on purpose, or are doing something silly, like climbing.

You can’t fall off a cruise ship balcony by accident. But If you’re standing up holding a toddler near the edge, or letting them climb up on furniture, then the risk of them falling overboard is very real.

What Parents Need to Be Aware Of

Cruise lines go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their guests, but their measures are not foolproof. And as you’ll know, toddlers, are as nifty as they come.

Here are the things that you need to know about cruise ship balcony rooms, so you know what to expect if you book one…

1. The height of balcony rails

Waist-heigh glass barriers may seem impossible. But that’s not always the case, and you should never assume that your child won’t be able to climb over. Toddlers are very curious as you’ll know, and they may find a foothold somewhere that you haven’t spotted.

my daughter on the balcony — The height of balcony railings

While most modern cruise ships have balcony barriers made of glass, some do have either solid metal or metal railings. The solid metal balcony fronts usually have a ledge that a child could use to step up, and the metal bars of a railing make them the easiest to climb.

solif-fronted balconies — Solid-fronted balconies on Nieuw Statendam

2. Balcony furniture

A chair or a table may seem like an exciting climbing frame to our little explorers. But once a child has that added height, it becomes all to easy for them to go overboard.

You can ask your cabin steward to remove the furniture from your balcony, but this isn’t always possible. On our cruise on P&O Cruises Iona, we tried to bring the chairs in from the balcony, but they were simply too wide to fit through the door.

balcony furniture on Iona cruise ship — Our large balcony on Iona

3. Balcony doors

Cruise cabins usually have glass doors that open onto the balcony. Most have a lock at the top of the door that’s tough for a toddler to reach unless they get creative with a chair.

However, the locks aren’t always at the top, sometimes they’re much lower. As you can see in this photo that I took onboard MSC Virtuosa, my six-year-old was able to open the balcony door lock with ease.

Child opening balcony on MSC Virtuosa — Balcony door on MSC Virtuosa

The Golden Rule

There’s a golden rule you’ve got to stick to when you’re cruising with your little ones. Never, ever leave a young child unattended with access to a balcony. Even if you use the bathroom, make sure that there’s another adult watching your child so they can’t sneak out there.

Of course, the exact age at which you can trust your child to behave sensibly on a balcony depends on the child. I could trust my eight-year-old daughter not to do anything dangerous with 100% confidence. But when I remind my six-year-old son not to climb on the balcony footstool, he’ll likely forget five minutes later and do it anyway.

Baby and toddler on a cruise — Cruising with a baby and toddler

Other Areas of Cruise Ships That Can Be Dangerous For Toddlers

Aside from your cabin, there are several public areas that could prove to be hazardous for your child. It’s important to be aware of these and take necessary precautions.

1. Railings in Public Areas

Out on deck, the barriers are usually chest height to an adult and made of glass. Sometimes, they’re over head height. This makes them impossible to climb, unless there’s furniture involved.

However, many older cruise ships also have horizontal metal railing instead of glass, making it much easier for small adventurers to climb.

Railings on Bolette — Promenade deck on Bolette

River cruise ships are probably the most dangerous, with metal guardrails only reaching an adult’s waist height. These would be very easy to climb, and this is one of the reasons why most river cruise lines do not allow children under five on board.

balcony on a river cruise ship — Our balcony on A-Rosa Sena

You may remember the horror story when a grandfather accidentally dropped his grandchild through an 11th-storey window on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2019. He lifted the 18-month-old toddler up to what he believed was a wall of glass, but it was actually an open window. The child fell through his hands and sadly died.

2. Swimming Pools

Most cruise ships don’t allow toddlers who aren’t yet toiletry trained to use the pools. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t dangerous to young kids.

When my son was two, he was walking around the edge of a very deep swimming pool on P&O Cruises’ Britannia. I was walking right behind him. In the blink of an eye, he dove head-first into the water and immediately sank down to the bottom. I had no idea that a child would sink so fast!

Frantically, I reached down and plunged my whole arm into the water to grab his ankle and haul him out.

Luckily, my son was absolutely fine and somehow not upset at all. But I was very shaken, and also felt very lucky that he was underwater for just a couple of seconds.

Depending on the cruise line, the pools on your ship may or may not have lifeguards. But even if they do, the pools are often very busy, so you should always keep a very close eye on your toddler near the water.

3. Bars and Restaurants

Your little one might think it’s all fun and games at the bars and restaurants on a cruise ship, but it could be a recipe for danger. People come and go, toting trays laden with food and drink. One unexpected toddler dash could lead to someone tripping and spilling a hot drink or smashing a glass in the vicinity of your child.

While you’re enjoying your food and drinks, it’s vital that you don’t let your children run around. Be sure to pack some tabletop toys and activities that will keep them entertained between courses.

4. Stairs

The stairs on cruise ships can be incredibly dangerous for little ones. The problem is that they often have gaps in between each step. While these gaps may be small to an adult, they could be huge to a toddler, so they could fall through.

Kids on a river cruise ship — The stairs on A-Rosa Sena

As each deck is quite heigh, a flight of stairs may have 15 or more steps, and they’re sometimes made of marble, crystal or other materials that won’t give a soft landing.

5. Elevators

Ready for another tale from my accident-prone son?

A couple of years ago we were in the elevator on an MSC Cruise ship when he let out an almighty shriek. As the elevator doors opened, his finger had got sucked into the side and trapped.

We frantically pressed the button to close the doors in an attempt to free his finger, but they didn’t move. All that was left to do was to pull his finger out with force. Luckily, it wasn’t too badly damaged, but it was red and swollen for a few days. It could have been much worse.

6. Falling out of bed

Most cruise lines allow you to borrow a travel cot for your baby. But once they’re over a year old, you may find that they’re simply to big for it, or they try to climb out, which can be dangerous.

At that point, you’ll have to put them in a full-size bed. So it’s important to know what kind of beds are in the room when you book. Your best option would be a sofa bed.

kids asleep on sofa bed — A double sofa bed on Azura

If they’re likely to fall out you should bring your own bed guard from home, tuck a pool noodle under the sheet, or place some spare pillows on the floor. Alternatively, you could bring an inflatable ‘Ready-Bed’ for them to sleep on the floor.

Some cabins have Pullman beds that come down from the ceiling. These sometimes have age restrictions, but not always. When we cruised on MSC Virtuosa, our two-year-old slept up on the top bunk.

That bed had a large guard rail, but not all do. Here’s an example of what extra beds may look like on a cruise…

If, when you arrive, you’re at all concerned about the safety of where your toddler sleeps, you should be sure to let your stateroom attendant know.

Should You Book A Balcony Stateroom With A Toddler?

Cruise ship balcony staterooms do have their advantages for parents with young kids. It’s a private space where you can relax while your kids nap, with the fresh air from the sea making you feel alive.

But, if you feel that you wouldn’t be able to relax with a balcony, then an ocean view stateroom might be a better bet. As well as being safer, they’re more affordable and come with enough room and amenities for a comfortable stay.

The lure of a balcony stateroom can feel strong, but remember, the child’s safety comes first. Logically, an Ocean View stateroom might just hit that right balance of budget and safety.

My Recommendation

When it comes to cruising with kids, it’s all about ensuring they have a memorable time while staying safe. If you’re torn about which type of room to book, then make sure you read my article about why I (almost) always choose an inside cabins for a family cruise.

Choose your accommodation wisely, keep a keen eye on your kids, and you’re good to go. After all, a safe cruise is a happy cruise. And as a parent, that’s all we truly want.

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The Best Way To Book A Cruise (Online, Phone or In-Person)

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Money saving tips

Years ago, booking a cruise meant a trip into town to your local travel agent who would make the booking for you while you sat on the other side of their desk. Nowadays, however, most of us are used to booking all of our flights, hotels and car hire online.

But what about cruises? A cruise is a much more complicated product than your standard vacation, with lots of extra things to think about, like cabin types, dining times and drinks packages. So, should you book a cruise online? This article explains the pros and cons.

If you decide that booking your cruise online is the best option for you, then read on for tips about how to book your cruise online for the best price, whilst avoiding the common pitfalls.

Can You Book a Cruise Online?

Most cruises can be booked online, either on the cruise line’s official website or via a third-party website. Some cruises, however, can only be booked with the help of a real person.

Examples of cruises that typically can’t be booked online include ‘cruise and land tour’ packages, back-to-back cruises, cruises for large groups and cruises requiring wheelchair-accessible cabins.

There are three ways to book a cruise:

Online
Over the phone
Face to face

Which method is the best will depend on the cruise that you are booking and your own personal circumstances.

Should You Book a Cruise With a Travel Agent or Online?

A very common question that I get asked is – ‘Is it best to book a cruise with a travel agent or online?’

It’s a common misconception that booking online means booking directly with the cruise line and booking over the phone means using a travel agent. In fact, both cruise lines and travel agents offer options of online and telephone bookings.

The 9 different ways that you can book your cruise…

Booking directly with a cruise line:

Online – On the cruise line’s website
By phone – Call the cruise line
In-person – When on-board a cruise ship

Booking with a travel agent:

Online – One a specialist cruise travel agent’s websites
By phone – Call the travel agent or fill in a form to request a callback
By email – Some travel agents allow you to pay via a secure link
In-person – In a high street shop or at a travel agent’s head office

Booking with a third-party:

Online – If you live in the US, you can book cruises on sites like Expedia
By phone – A call centre worker can complete your booking

Which Is the Best Way to Book a Cruise?

If you’ve never cruised before, or have only a few times, then I would always recommend booking over the phone or face-to-face with a trusted cruise travel agent. They will have experience of many different cruise lines and can talk you through each decision to help you to choose and book the very best cruise for your family.

If you’re an experienced cruiser or have done enough research to know exactly what you want, then booking online could be a good idea.

Ask yourself – Have you done enough research to know what you want better than a cruise expert? If so, go ahead and book your cruise online.

Should You Book a Cruise Online?

If you’re considering booking a cruise online, there are a few things that you should consider…

Pros of booking a cruise online

Can book at any time of the day or night
Compare fares in your own time
There’s no pressure to book
Can take your time to look at the details
No hidden booking fees

Cons of booking a cruise online

No personalised advice
You need to do your own research
You’re responsible for any mistakes
You cannot hold cabins
No chance to haggle
Fly-cruise packages may be more expensive

Booking a cruise online offers a better experience for some people than others. For example, if you’re hard of hearing or have anxiety about speaking to people, then booking online could be a great option.

However, if you don’t have lots of spare time to spend on researching all the different options, then it may be better to hand this task over to an expert.

You might find that some websites try to drive you down the online booking option, including cruise lines’ official sites. They might only offer a “book cruise online” button, and not make it clear you can call.

That’s because it tends to be cheaper for them to get bookings online instead of having a packed call centre. But you can always choose the telephone option – don’t be put off if that’s what you prefer.

Where Can You Book a Cruise Online?

There are three places where you can book a cruise online:

Cruise line website
Cruise travel agent website
Aggregator website

Not every option is available in every country. Aggregator websites like Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak and Priceline tend to be based in the US, with the cruises priced in dollars. Whilst you can book your cruise via a US-based company if you live in the UK and vice versa, I wouldn’t advise this.

Firstly, paying for your cruise in a foreign currency means that you’ll probably pay more because of the exchange rate and bank fees. Also, if you need to speak to a real person at any point before your cruise, you’ll have to telephone overseas, which could be expensive, particularly if you have to wait on hold.

If you live in the UK, the options to consider are booking with the cruise line or a travel agent.

What’s the Best Site to Book a Cruise Online?

When booking a cruise online, most people go straight to the cruise line’s website. However, this isn’t always the best option.

If you’re not loyal to one particular cruise line, then searching on a travel agent or aggregator website will allow you to compare all the different options side by side.

Most good cruise travel agents will offer lower prices than you would get from booking directly with the cruise line. They can do this because they are given preferential rates, so even after they have taken a commission, the price that you pay will be less.

Cruise lines often offer incentives to book, such as free onboard credit or free gratuities, but some cruise travel agents will offer extra incentives on top of this.

The best place to book a cruise online will depend on where in the world you live and which cruise you want to book. It’s wise to compare the online prices from a few different websites before you decide.

What To Look for in a Good Travel Agent

Not all travel agents are equal – and this applies to both telephone and online bookings. Here are some tips you can use on where to book a cruise if you want the best help…

The Best Travel Agents for Telephone Bookings

There are specialist cruise travel agents who will spend as long as is needed on the phone to help you to plan the perfect cruise. If you don’t know exactly what you want, they will ask you questions to help you to decide.

These guys are highly experienced, have been onboard lots of cruise ships and have a good knowledge of lots of different cruise lines. They will work alongside you to help you to plan your perfect cruise.

Travel Agents To Avoid

Some travel agents are just call-centre workers who are trained to input orders. You tell them exactly what you want and they tick the boxes on their computer.

These guys want to do as many bookings as possible to meet their targets. If you call them and you don’t already know what you want, they will offer you whatever makes them the most commission. They’re instructed to try to upsell you to a balcony, without considering if you would be actually happier with the cheaper inside cabin.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…

The Best Online Booking Systems

The best online booking systems are easy to use. They have tips to help you make decisions throughout your booking journey. For example, if you’re asked to choose ‘Select Fare’ or ‘Saver Fare’, it will explain exactly what’s included with each. There will be a telephone number to call should you need to query anything.

I have attempted to book cruises using several different travel agents websites and have found that the Pure Holidays website is very user-friendly, making it easy to compare prices for the various fare categories and cabin grades.

Online Booking Systems To Avoid

Some systems offer a frustrating user experience for booking cruises online. They may be slow to load or crash. You may see the price change with no explanation or see codes that you don’t understand.

Some third-party and travel agent websites can be tricky to use to complete an online booking. Unlike cruise line websites, third-party websites have to handle bookings with several different cruise lines. They have to pull data from different places and in different formats, so they sometimes struggle to clearly communicate all the options.

How to Book a Cruise Online

If you want to book a cruise online, you’ll first need to choose your cruise in terms of the ship, the date and the itinerary. Then, you’ll need to know the answers to the following questions:

1. What fare do you want?

Certain cruise lines like P&O Cruises and Cunard offer a choice of different fares. Some fares let you choose your cabin number and give you free perks, but you’ll pay for the privilege. You may have the option of a ‘Saver’ fare, which is cheaper, but your cabin number will be assigned to you.

If you get a choice of free perks with your cruise, you’ll need to decide which is the most valuable to you. Do you want a free coach transfer to the port, free car parking or some on-board spending money?

2. What is your cruise loyalty number?

Most cruise lines have loyalty programs which offer discounts and perks for repeat cruisers. If you’ve sailed with your chosen cruise line before, you’ll need to enter your loyalty number when you book your cruise online.

The easiest way to find your loyalty number is to search your emails for a message from the cruise line that has it in. If this doesn’t work, take a look at these cruise line specific instructions.

3. What cabin do you want?

As a minimum, you’ll have to know if you want an inside cabin, outside cabin, balcony or suite. Unless you go for the ‘guarantee’ option, where your cabin number is assigned to you, you’ll be expected to select exactly which cabin number you want.

To do this, take a careful look at the deck plan and make sure you don’t pick a bad location like right above the nightclub! I have a handy checklist to help you pick a good cabin location.

4. What dining time do you want?

Depending on your cruise, you may have an option of early, late or flexible dining. There are pros and cons to each, which you can read here.

Personally, I would always go for the flexible dining time as this avoids having to either rush to get ready or wait around with hungry children. I also like to meet new people each evening on shared tables, although this may not be an option for the immediate future due to social distancing requirements.

The Bottom Line

Booking a cruise online can be a great idea, but it’s not for everyone. If you don’t need any help with choosing your cruise, then booking online can be a quick and easy way to book your cruise without having to wait on hold or speak to anyone.

Using a specialist cruise travel agent is generally a good idea and this should be cheaper than booking your cruise directly with the cruise line. Some travel agents have better online booking systems than others, but if you run into difficulties, there will be a telephone number that you can call to complete your booking.

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Silversea Is Owned By Royal Caribbean. Here’s What That Means For You

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Silversea

Silversea is one of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines. The standards of service on a Silversea ship are arguably unrivalled, with every guest feeling like they’re a truly special VIP from the moment they step on board.

So it may surprise you when you find out who owns the cruise line – although when you look at it from a perspective of success, it’s actually no surprise at all.

Silversea is part of one of the biggest and most successful ocean cruise companies in existence – let’s take a look at the line’s current ownership and history.

Silversea Was Acquired By The Royal Caribbean Group

Silversea Cruises is owned by the Royal Caribbean Group, and has been since July 2020. It was the most recent cruise line to be acquired by the group, which already owned various cruise lines including its flagship Royal Caribbean International brand.

While the brand ‘Silversea Cruises’ is owned by the Royal Caribbean Group company, you could argue that the cruise line is owned by various different investment groups, since it is publicly traded.

Capital Research & Management is the largest shareholder in the Royal Caribbean Group, owning over 16% across multiple subsidiaries.

The Royal Caribbean group owns three cruise lines outright – as well as Silversea, it owns Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. The company retains a 50% share in TUI Cruises, having sold half of the cruise line. And it currently owns two defunct cruise brands – Pullmanter and CDF.

The group did previously own Azamara as well, but sold that cruise line to Sycamore Partners in 2021.

In terms of net worth, the group is one of the most valuable in travel. As of November 2023, the net worth of the Royal Caribbean Group was $21.85 billion – around $7 billion more than Carnival.

The CEO Of Silversea Cruises

Roberto Martinoli is the President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. He has been with the company since 2016 and oversaw the cruise line’s acquisition by the Royal Caribbean Group. Originally from Italy, he has also studied in the US before embarking on a career in cruise.

Prior to his role at Silversea, Martinoli held senior positions with Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Crociere.

Silversea was founded in Monaco as a joint venture between the Vlasov Group of Monaco and the Lefebvre family in Italy. The cruise line still has its headquarters in Monaco.

The cruise line’s parent company, the Royal Caribbean group, does have its headquarters in the US but it is registered in Liberia.

Silversea Cruises History

Silversea Cruises was founded in 1994 by two groups – the Lefebvre Family of Rome and the Vlasov Group of Monaco. The two had worked together previously as the owners of Sitmar Cruises. They were based in Monaco but did add a US sales office.

They were the first cruise line to run with a marketing strategy around all-inclusive cruises, giving guests a fare that included drinks, tips, shore excursions and more.

Growth In The Fleet

Silversea was founded with one ship, the Silver Cloud, but this was quickly followed by the Silver Wind in 1995. It was then another five years before two more ships joined the fleet, the Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper.

The fleet has expanded slowly since. The next ship to join was Silver Spirit in 2009, before the company purchased Canodros S.A., a tourism company based in Ecuador. This led to the formation of Silversea Expeditions, and the launch of Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos. Silver Discoverer became the third Expeditions ship in 2014.

Since then, the Silver Muse, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn have launched. The newest Silversea ship, Silver Nova, set sail in July 2023.

Read more: List of Silversea Cruise Ships

Acquisition By Royal Caribbean

In 2018, Royal Caribbean made an offer to purchase two-thirds of Silversea for a cost of $1 billion. At the time, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the son of co-founder Antonio, was the sole owner. The deal was agreed upon, and Silversea ordered three new ships.

Then in 2020, the Royal Caribbean Group bought the rest of the shares and took the cruise line into full ownership in the group.

In 2022, Silversea bought the Crystal Endeavor ship from the now-defunct cruise line Crystal Cruises. The ship cost $275 million and has been renamed Silver Endeavor.

What To Know Before Buying Shares

Silversea Cruises does not have its own stock, but you are able to buy shares in the parent company Royal Caribbean Group (listed as RCL on the New York Stock Exchange). This is one of the highest-price cruise line stocks you could buy.

Interestingly, there are currently no benefits to owning stock if you were to then sail on a Silversea cruise. Usually, when you’re a shareholder in a cruise company, you are entitled to an onboard credit allowance on every sailing you book.

And indeed, that same offer applies to Royal Caribbean Group shareholders when they sail with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises. If you own 100 shares in the group, you can enjoy up to $250 to spend on-board on every Royal or Celebrity cruise that you take.

But despite being a part of the same corporation, that benefit has not yet been extended to Silversea sailings. When questioned, the Chief Commercial Officer of the cruise line confirmed that they are looking into ways to partner with their sister cruise brands more and that one of those could be in the shareholder benefits offered.

Bear that in mind if you were hoping to buy shares in the Royal Caribbean Group in order to earn free onboard spend on your Silversea cruises – as it stands, you won’t be entitled to it. Though it is potentially a nice perk just to say you’re part of the Silversea ownership, one of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines.

How To Buy Shares

If you want to buy shares in Silversea Cruises, you’ll instead need to purchase Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) stock. You can’t buy shares in the individual cruise line, only the parent company. Use a stockbroker – either in person or online – to make your purchase.

It’s up to you whether you work with a stockbroker in person, or you just log onto a platform on your laptop or smartphone to buy the shares yourself. Stockbrokers charge higher fees but can offer financial advice, whereas you take the risk on entirely yourself if you just use an online platform.

I can’t advise you which is the best, but I personally chose to buy my RCL shares through an online investing platform called etoro. I chose this one because it is one of the most popular platforms with 20 million registered users and has great reviews and low fees.

I’ve been very happy with my share-buying experience and found it really easy to do.

(eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.)

Read more: Should you invest in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd?

To Conclude

Silversea Cruises isn’t just one of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world, but it’s part of arguably one of the two biggest cruise companies in existence too. The Royal Caribbean Group may now only hold three brands, but they are some of the very best names in mainstream, premium and luxury cruising.

If you want, you can invest your own money to become a part-owner if you buy stocks. Just remember that trading stocks and shares is a risk, and you could lose all your money if things worked out really badly.

And while at the moment you wouldn’t get any benefits on a Silversea cruise as a shareholder, you would if you decided to try a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise instead.

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Do Cruise Ships Check for Drugs?

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Packing

Smuggling recreational drugs onto a cruise ship is always a terrible idea. Not only could you get kicked off the ship, but you could also end up in prison.

Can you bring drugs onto a cruise ship at all? Well, prescription drugs on a cruise are usually fine. Just put them in your hand luggage, and be sure to bring a copy of your prescription with you.

However, if you want to bring medical marijuana, I recommend that you read my article about bringing marijuana on a cruise ship.

Can You Sneak Drugs Onto a Cruise Ship?

Illegal drugs are not allowed on cruise ships. If you are caught sneaking drugs onto a cruise ship, you will likely be handed over to the police, and you could face a harsh sentence for drug smuggling.

Do They Search for Drugs on Cruise Ships?

Cruise lines use a variety of methods to search for illegal drugs, including X-rays, metal detectors, scanners, and sniffer dogs. That said, the security team’s main priority isn’t to look for drugs, as they have other things to be concerned with.

Cruise ship security teams are mostly searching for alcohol and weapons. Due to the high cost of drinks on cruise ships, a lot of people try to sneak alcohol on board. And if anyone were to sneak a bomb onto a cruise ship the consequences would be disastrous.

Do You Get Searched on a Cruise?

Cruise ship passengers aren’t routinely patted down when boarding a cruise ship, although you will be asked to walk through a metal detector. If the metal detector beeps, you may either be scanned again with a hand-held metal detector or patted down by hand.

Do Cruise Ships Have Body Scanners?

Cruise ports don’t have the ‘nude’ body scanners that you step into and put your hand up like at airports. But they do have walk-through metal detectors to detect any hidden weapons.

Do They Check Your Bags on a Cruise Ship?

When you board a cruise ship, your bags will be x-rayed to check for alcohol and weapons. At many ports, the luggage is also checked by a sniffer dog who may be trained to detect drugs and explosives.

Carnival has shown that when they find CBD gummies on a person boarding, they will ban them for life. So they’d no doubt do similar for other drugs too.

Are There Drug Dogs at Cruise Ports?

Not all cruise ports have drug dogs present. Ports in Mexico, the United States, Australia, the Bahamas and Bermuda are most likely to have drug dogs present. Smaller ports are less likely to use sniffer dogs.

In 2021, cruise lines tested the use of sniffer dogs that are trained to detect passengers with COVID-19. It’s believed that these dogs can detect infected people with 97% accuracy, even in those who are asymptomatic. [Source].

Carnival Cruise Line has announced a renewed effort to sniff out drugs across the fleet. Guests can expect to see drug sniffer dogs at home ports, destination ports, and on the ships themselves.

How To Take Drugs on a Cruise Ship

If you plan on bringing drugs on a cruise ship, you should make sure that you also bring your prescription. That way, if there are any questions asked about the drugs, you can prove they you are legally allowed to take them.

Smuggling illegal recreational drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, hallucinogens and amphetamines on cruise ships is a serious offence and it is not something that anyone should consider doing. If you’re caught, the consequences could ruin your life.

Do You Get Drug Tested To Work on a Cruise Ship?

Cruise ship employees are drug tested before they begin working on a cruise ship and they are also subject to random drug testing. If the cruise line suspects drug use, they will arrange additional drug tests.

Cruise lines have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. If any guest or crew member is caught possessing or taking drugs, they will be sent home at the next port of call. Carnival has even stated that guests may be banned from taking future cruises.

The Bottom Line

if you want to take drugs on a cruise ship, you’d better make sure that you have a prescription for them. But even with a prescription, some drugs like medical marijuana are still not allowed.

If you just want to party and have a good time, get yourself a drinks package and you can get wasted legally every day of your cruise if you want to.

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Cruise Passenger Arrested For Soliciting Sex With Teenager Onboard

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News News Royal Caribbean

A 21-year-old cruise passenger onboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas was arrested last week after trying to initiate oral sex with a 14-year-old boy.

According to local reports, Anish Shan was detained once the ship concluded a 5-night cruise on 8th March in Miami. He has been charge with two felonies – less and lascivious behaviour, and lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child under 16.

The reports state that the incident occurred in the ship’s sauna at around 7pm during one night of the cruise.

Shan approached the teenager and asked how old he was. Upon learning the boy was 14, Shan began to masturbate while making eye contact with the boy, and then attempted to solicit oral sex from him.

It’s unclear whether Shan was arrested on the ship by the crew, and detained in his stateroom, but the Miami-Dade police arrested him immediately upon the ship’s arrival back to Port Miami.

The news comes just a short while after a crew member was arrested on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas for hiding spy cameras in guests’ rooms, along with hiding himself under the beds while guests showered.

That crew member has now been charged with multiple crimes, including child pornography, after footage of children as young as five was found on his cameras.

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Everything You Need To Know (2024)

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Royal Caribbean

If you want the very best experience that Royal Caribbean has to offer, then you need to book yourself into a Star Class suite. The Star Class is part of the Royal Suite Class – a category of accommodation that offers some amazing perks.

It’s not available on every ship in the fleet, and it isn’t cheap either – but few other mainstream cruise lines can offer an experience that rivals it.

So, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Star Class with Royal Caribbean so that you can decide if it’s for you.

What is Star Class on Royal Caribbean?

Star Class is a category of suites that are only found on the most recent Royal Caribbean ships. It is the top tier within the Royal Suite Class of accommodation and comes with a number of special perks including the services of a Royal Genie.

Only select suite categories are a part of the Star Class – these are biggest and most luxurious accommodation options in the entire fleet.

Ultimate Family Suite on Wonder of the Seas

What Royal Caribbean Ships Have Star Class?

Star Class is available on ships with Royal Suite Class options – including Icon Class, Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships.

These ships have Star Class suites:

Allure of the Seas
Anthem of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas
Icon of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas
Quantum of the Seas
Spectrum of the Seas
Star of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas

If you want to sail on one of the older ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet then you will still enjoy a selection of perks, but they’re different from the Royal Suite Class.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks

Which Suites are Star Class?

The Star Class Suites on Royal Caribbean are the largest (and most expensive) in the fleet. They range from 2-bedroom AquaTheater Suites that overlook the epic AquaTheater from their balcony, to the incredible two-storey Ultimate Family Suites and Royal Loft Suites.

Here’s the full list of the Star Class suites Royal Caribbean offers:

Ultimate Family Suite
Ultimate Family Townhouse
Royal Loft Suite
Villa Suite – 4 Bedrooms
Owner’s Loft Suite
Grand Loft Suite
Owner’s Panoramic Suite
Grand Panoramic Suite
Ultimate Panoramic Suite
Star Loft Suite
Spacious AquaTheater Suite with Large Balcony – 2 Bedrooms
AquaTheater Suite with Large Balcony – 2 Bedrooms

It’s important to note that the 1-bedroom AquaTheater Suites that are available on some ships are not a part of the Star Class. They are in the next tier down, which is the Sky Class.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is a new suite that’s only available on Icon of the Seas and upcoming ship Star of the Seas.

Royal Suite Class Deals

I recommend booking with luxury specialists Panache Cruises for the best service.

What Do You Get With Star Class?

Here’s a summary of all the perks you get as part of the Star Class:

1. Royal Genie Service

The Royal Genie is essentially your own butler – but with a much less formal name. They’re available to help make your cruise go as smoothly as possible, so their name is quite apt – your wish is their command.

They can escort you on board as a VIP, book your dining reservations on your behalf, arrange tickets to the live shows you want to see and more.

They’ll make suggestions too, based on what they learn about you – and they will get in touch before you sail so that they can start to understand your preferences sooner. That way, from the second your cruise starts, you get a special personalised experience.

2. Complimentary Gratuities

As a guest in a Star Class suite, your standard gratuities are included – this means you don’t have to pay the regular tips that you would that are then split between the housekeeping staff, dining staff and other servers around the ship.

However, it’s important to note that your Royal Genie is not included in the standard gratuities package, so if you want to reward them for their service (and you probably will) then you’ll need to do so separately.

Read more: How Much To Tip A Royal Genie

3. Complimentary Speciality Dining

This perk is pretty awesome – anyone in a Star Class Suite eats for free at any of the specialty dining restaurants on board, as often as you want to. It’s not a single meal, it’s for the duration of your cruise! So you really can dine anywhere on the ship without paying a penny extra.

You can also, if you prefer, have the food delivered to your suite instead. Just speak to your Royal Genie and they can arrange to have it delivered to you at a time that’s best.

4. Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package

All guests in a Star Class suite get a complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package, which would normally cost you between $63 and $89 per person, per day if purchased on board. It’s worth between $49 and $79 (excluding gratuity) for pre-purchased pricing.

This gets you most drinks on board without paying any extra, including beers, wines, cocktails, spirits, premium teas and coffees, sodas and more.

Any guests in your party who are under the legal drinking age will instead get a Refreshment Package, which includes fountain sodas (including the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines), mocktails, milkshakes at Johnny Rockets, bottled water, juices and premium teas and coffees.

5. Complimentary VOOM Internet Access

Every guest in a Star Class suite will be given a VOOM Surf + Stream internet package, with one device per person. This is the top-tier internet package offered on a Royal Caribbean cruise and it allows you to keep connected with each other or check in with family back home.

It’s also fast enough to support streaming, so if you want to watch a movie in bed using your existing Netflix or Prime Video subscription then you’re able to.

6. Priority Boarding and Departure

Nobody likes to wait in queues, but if you book a Star Class suite then you don’t have to. You’ll enjoy priority boarding on the day you embark, and you’ll be escorted onto the ship personally by your Royal Genie too for that extra VIP touch.

And on the last day of the cruise, you’ll also be able to debark before other guests, meaning you can beat the crowds of people trying to order a taxi to the airport or just get to their car at the port. Priority boarding is offered to Sea and Sky Class guests too, but priority departure is only for Sky and Star Class guests.

7. Access to the Suite Lounge

The Suite Lounge is a private area of the ship that only guests in suites can visit. Here you’ll be able to enjoy a quieter moment away from the crowds, while every evening there are complimentary hors d’oeuvres served alongside cocktails.

It’s not the most exciting venue but it is an exclusive spot that is a good choice for a pre-dinner drink with other suite guests, if you want to get to know those that you’re sharing the Star Class with.

8. Exclusive Signature Activities

There is a selection of activities that are only available on your ship to guests in a Sky Class or Star Class suite. These activities vary depending on the ship and itinerary but expect things like behind-the-scenes tours that let you peek behind the curtain of how the cruise ship is run.

You can also arrange to have exclusive early access to some of the onboard activities, like Ripcord by iFLY or the FlowRider surf simulator. These attractions are always super-popular so being able to beat the queue with your own private access is a great perk to have. It’s not available during peak times during the day though.

RipCord by iFly and FlowRider surf simulator on Ovation of the Seas

9. Extra In-Suite Amenities

There are loads of little extra touches that you’ll enjoy in your suite as a Star Class guest. These include plush bathrobes that you can use during your cruise (but you can’t keep them, sorry), a minibar that’s stocked with Coca-Cola branded drinks, a Lavazza Espresso coffee machine, and luxury bathroom amenities.

You also get upgraded bedding, and there will be fresh bottles of still and sparkling water placed in your suite every day.

Is Star Class Worth it?

It’s hard to give a definitive answer here because the Royal Caribbean Star Class suite price is often exceptionally high – the Ultimate Family Suite can cost in the region of $20,000 for a cruise, for example.

So it depends on your outlook. If you have a budget of $20,000 for your holiday, is it better to book one of the incredible Star Class suites and enjoy a week of being utterly pampered? Or is it better to instead pay for two $10,000 cruises instead?

If you’re lucky enough to not be working with a budget at all, then Star Class accommodation is definitely amazing, and the perks really will make you feel like a VIP for the entire duration of your cruise.

Royal Suite Class Deals

I recommend booking with luxury specialists Panache Cruises for the best service.

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Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships That Offer Pickleball

March 11, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Diplomacy

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports and cruise lines are adding the sport to many of their cruise ships.

You can get your pickleball fix on 22 different Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Pickleball combines different elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong and can be played by two or four players at a time.

Here is a list of Royal Caribbean cruise ships that currently offer pickleball:

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Adventure of the Seas
Allure of the Seas
Anthem of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Explorer of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas
Icon of the Seas
Independence of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Liberty of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas
Quantum of the Seas
Radiance of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas

The Nickelodeon Cruise 2024 – Can You Book It?

March 11, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Kids

A cruise is a great way to enjoy a family holiday, and having your children’s favourite characters on board is sure to make the trip even more memorable.

You probably know all about the Disney Cruise Line but today I’m going to be talking about the Nickelodeon Cruise.

Nickelodeon & Norwegian Cruise Line Announce Nickelodeon at Sea Partnership

The bad news is that the chance to cruise with Spongebob and the rest only existed for a few years and is no longer running, but fear not, I will run through all the best alternatives to the Nickelodeon cruise that you can still book in 2024

What Cruise Line Has Nickelodeon?

Norwegian Cruise Line featured Nickelodeon characters on board its ships between 2010 and 2015. These NCL cruises offered passengers the chance to meet, greet and interact with their favourite Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Patrick Star.

Norwegian Breakaway was the first ship to include Nickelodeon-themed experiences on its voyages. It was the newest ship in the fleet at the time, so it was the obvious choice to introduce the new partnership.

Over the next few years, several NCL ships introduced Nickelodeon partnership experiences.

The five ships that sailed with Nickelodeon-themed entertainment were:

Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Gem
Norwegian Jewel
Norwegian Getaway
Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Escape was under construction at the time that the deal with Nickelodeon ended and the planned Nickelodeon branding was removed before her debut.

Is the Nickelodeon Cruise Still Open?

The Nickelodeon cruise is no longer running. The Nickelodeon cruise was a partnership between Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon’s parent company, Viacom. The partnership ran for 5 years between 2010 and 2015. The deal was not renewed and Nickelodeon branding was soon phased out.

When they were running, the Nickelodeon cruises included character meet and greets and the chance to splash around with Spongebob and others in the kids’ aqua park.

One of the most popular events was Slime Time Live which gave cruise passengers the chance to have green slime dumped on them whilst playing high paced games.

A less messy alternative was the chance to enjoy Dancing with Dora or special themed breakfasts called Pajama Jam Breakfast.

Here’s a TV advert for the Nickelodeon cruise that shows what you could have expected from it…

What Happened to the Nickelodeon Cruise?

Nickelodeon cruises ended in 2015 and since that time they have not re-appeared. The reason for the cruises ending has never been announced publicly but it was not due to customer dissatisfaction, since the Nickelodeon cruises were very popular with passengers.

It seems likely that the partnership ended as Nickelodeon wanted to go in a new direction. They announced a new partnership with Karisma Hotel and Resorts at around the same time. This was in order to work together to build modern resorts in the Caribbean including an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana.

Norwegian stated that the partnership had been successful and had resulted in a 20% increase in guest satisfaction with its youth programming.

7 Alternatives to a Nickelodeon Cruise

So, you can’t book yourself on a Nickelodeon cruise right now. But that doesn’t mean that you (and your kids) need to miss out on all the fun!

If it’s Nickelodeon that you love then there are a few other options.

1. Nickelodeon Resorts

As mentioned above, Nickelodeon has branched out into resorts which you can find at NickResorts. There are currently two resorts, at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.

These luxury resorts feature character meet and greets with the likes of Paw Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

There are also pretty amazing water parks that feature Nickelodeon character theming throughout. The brightly coloured splash park with water slides is sure to be a big hit with families.

But It’s not all about the kids. Adults can enjoy a relaxing all-inclusive stay and can pamper themselves at the spa and fitness centre while the little ones enjoy the Club Nick Kids Club.

2. Nickelodeon Theme Parks

Another way to get your Nickelodeon fix is to visit one of their theme parks.

Universal Studios Florida is one of the biggest and best theme parks around and it includes a Character Party Zone with favourite Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick or Squidward, Dora the Explorer, Diego, Boots or Baby Jaguar.

Nickelodeon Universe in Minnesota is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the United States. It has a wide range of very colourful themed rides packed into the Mall of America in Minnesota. There are some pretty impressive rides here and all your favourite characters will make an appearance. There is another Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream in New Jersey.

If you’re in the UK, Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a great option. Here you will find 12 amazing rides and a whole host of Nickelodeon characters. Rides include Rugrats Lost River, Spongebob’s Splash Bash, Diego’s Rainforest Rescue, Dora’s World Voyage and young kids are sure to enjoy Wonder Pets Big Circus Bounce.

Other great options include Nickland at Movie Park, Germany, Nickelodeon Land at Sea World on Australia’s Gold Coast, and Nickelodeon Land at the Parque de Atracciones in Madrid.

3. Disney Cruise Line

If it’s cruising with characters that you want then a Disney Cruise is probably the best option.

The whole voyage is filled with Disney magic from a range of beloved characters that is hard to match.

Disney Cruises feature amazing live shows, and character meet-and-greets from characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Disney Princesses throughout the ship. There are also themed parties, deck parties, and fireworks displays to keep guests entertained.

4. P&O Cruises with Aardman Animation

P&O Cruises has partnered with Aardman to bring Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep on their cruises.

The characters appear at a welcome on-board party and there are special character appearances at dance sessions for the little ones. I love that they have a clay workshop where you can create your own characters.

You can also enjoy story time with the characters and there are a whole host of themed arts and crafts activities including making a character mask, Gromit ears, or your very own rocket. There is also a 30-minute stage show featuring Wallace and Gromit.

5. Peppa Pig on Costa Cruises

If your little one is a big fan of Peppa Pig then Costa Cruises have your back. As soon as you board, children receive an invitation to meet Peppa, while the kids club recreates the atmosphere and setting of the cartoon.

The highlight is the on-deck swimming pool which features Grandpa Pig’s boat. There are also Peppa Pig-themed activities like coloring, puzzles, and treasure hunts, plus in the evening the disco is Peppa’s Pirate Party.

Be aware though, Peppa is only onboard during the school holidays. I cruised in January and I didn’t see her once.

6. Seuss at Sea on Carnival Cruises

Carnival has brought the world of Dr. Seuss on board their ships. You can enjoy a character parade, interactive story time, and arts & crafts activities.

But the highlight is sure to be the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat where you can enjoy a fantastical feast. Bright colours and patterns decorate your table, while you choose from fun and unique menus. It’s a pretty unique experience!

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The Bottom Line

Unfortunately, the Nickelodeon Cruise is no more. It ran for a few years, people loved it and then it disappeared. It’s a shame, but there are a few good options for cruises with popular kids’ characters.

Disney is the best. They have amazing shows, a huge range of characters, fireworks and Disney Magic sprinkled throughout the ship. You might also want to look into Peppa on Costa if your child is a big fan of everyone’s favourite pig.

If it’s Nickelodeon that you love then their resorts are great or you can get a quick character fix at one of their theme parks.

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