Travellers wheeling suitcases along a city street, illustrating luggage storage in Southampton before a cruise

Luggage Storage in Southampton: Where to Leave Bags Before or After a Cruise

by Cruise NewsCruise TipsPacking

The easiest luggage storage in Southampton is through a booking app such as Stasher, Bounce, Radical Storage or Nannybag, which use shops, cafés and hotels around the city centre, Southampton Central station and the docks, with prices typically starting from about £1.49 to £4.90 per bag per day. The cruise terminals themselves have no left luggage office, and Southampton Central station has no left luggage desk either. If you are flying in, Southampton Airport runs a staffed left luggage desk at £10 per bag per day.

This guide explains where to leave luggage in Southampton before or after a cruise, what each option costs as of November 2026, and how cruise terminal bag drop actually works, so you can plan a free morning or afternoon in the city without dragging suitcases around.

Do you actually need luggage storage in Southampton?

Many cruise passengers never need it. If you arrive at the terminal at your allocated check-in time, porters take your main suitcases at the kerb and they are delivered to your cabin later in the day. You only keep your hand luggage.

Storage becomes useful in a few common situations:

  • You arrive by train hours before your check-in slot and want to explore the city, see SeaCity Museum or have lunch.
  • You disembark early in the morning but your train, coach or flight home is in the afternoon or evening.
  • You stay in Southampton the night before and check out of your hotel long before you can go to the terminal.

Visit Southampton, the city’s official tourism site, advises cruise passengers to arrive no more than 15 to 30 minutes before their allocated check-in time, because arriving much earlier can mean waiting outside. That is exactly the gap that left luggage in Southampton fills.

Southampton luggage storage options compared

The table below summarises what we could verify in November 2026. App prices are the advertised “from” rates and can change by location, date and bag size, so always confirm in the app before you book.

Option Where Typical price Best for
Stasher Hotels, shops and restaurants around the city centre, St Mary’s and near the airport From £1.49 per bag per day Lowest headline price, hotel-based drop points
Bounce Shops and salons near Southampton Central, Civic Centre Road and towards the port From £3.50 per bag per day Lots of central choice, flat price per bag
Radical Storage Near the station, the port, the city centre and Shirley From £1.90 to £3.90 per bag per day, plus a £1.99 per-bag protection fee Late opening hours at some locations
Nannybag Near Southampton Central, the port, Town Quay and the Cultural Quarter From £3.40 (small bags) to £4.90 (suitcases) per bag per day Drop points close to Town Quay and the docks
Your hotel Hotels near the terminals and city centre Often free for guests Staying the night before or after a cruise
Southampton Airport left luggage Main terminal, before security £10 per bag per calendar day Fly-cruise passengers arriving at SOU
Southampton Central station Station No left luggage service Use an app location nearby instead
Cruise terminals City, Ocean, Mayflower, QEII and Horizon No left luggage service Porter drop-off at your check-in time only

Luggage storage apps in Southampton

Luggage storage apps are now the main way to store bags in Southampton. You book online, get the drop-off address, show your booking at a partner business (usually a shop, café, salon or hotel reception), and your bags are sealed and kept behind the counter. Each of the four networks below advertised active Southampton locations when we checked in November 2026. Individual partner businesses do come and go, so treat the details as a starting point and check the live map in the app for the exact address and opening hours on your date.

Stasher

Stasher lists several Southampton stashpoints, including Premier Inn St Mary’s, a venue near the O2 Guildhall, a city-centre shop and the Premier Inn Southampton Airport. Prices start from £1.49 per bag per day, and Stasher states that every booking includes cover of up to £10,000. Hotel-based stashpoints tend to have the longest hours, which helps if your ship arrives early or your train leaves late. Stasher’s own Southampton page also confirms that the cruise terminals do not offer luggage storage.

Bounce

Bounce showed eight or more Southampton locations, including convenience stores on Civic Centre Road and in the Cultural Quarter, a salon a few minutes’ walk from Southampton Central, and a barber shop described as near the port. Bounce charges from £3.50 per bag per day with no surcharge for bag size, and advertises protection of up to £10,000. Opening hours vary a lot, from roughly 7am to 11pm at some shops to 5:30pm at others, so check closing times if you are collecting after disembarkation.

Radical Storage

Radical Storage listed points near the train station, near the port, on Millbrook Road, on Shirley Road, on East Street and in the city centre. Base prices were £1.90 or £3.90 per bag per day depending on location, but note the extra £1.99 per bag added at checkout for its guarantee and support. Some locations open until midnight, while the one listed near the port did not open until midday when we checked, which is too late for most morning disembarkations.

Nannybag

Nannybag advertised more than ten Southampton locations, with named areas including near Southampton Central, near the port, near Town Quay ferry terminal, the Cultural Quarter and Civic Centre Road. Its pricing is tiered: from £3.40 for small bags and from £4.90 for suitcases, with £10,000 protection included.

One thing worth knowing: the apps often share the same partner businesses. A single shop near the Marlands Shopping Centre on Civic Centre Road, for example, appears under several brands. If your first-choice app shows no availability, it is worth checking another, because prices for the same counter can differ.

Several suitcases and a backpack stored together behind a shop counter
App-based luggage storage in Southampton usually means a shop, café or hotel holding your bags behind the counter. Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels

Left luggage at Southampton Central station, the airport and the city

Southampton Central station

Southampton Central does not have a left luggage office or lockers. GWR’s station information lists left luggage as “No”. If you are arriving by train, the nearest options are app-based drop points a few minutes’ walk away, around Civic Centre Road, the Cultural Quarter and the streets just south of the station. Our guide to getting to Southampton cruise terminal by train covers the walk and taxi options from the station to each terminal.

For some sailings, cruise lines have arranged their own station bag drop. Visit Southampton has listed an MSC service at Southampton Central where bags were taken on to the ship for £3 per bag, charged to the onboard account, on selected MSC Virtuosa and MSC Preziosa sailings. This is not a permanent service, so ask your cruise line whether anything similar runs for your departure.

Southampton Airport

Southampton Airport has a staffed left luggage desk in the main terminal, before security near check-in. It costs £10 per bag per calendar day (not per 24 hours), there are no lockers, and the airport says the service depends on operational capacity. Stasher also lists a drop point at the Premier Inn Southampton Airport, which can be cheaper.

Specialist and longer-term storage

Visit Southampton lists Burlington House in the city centre as a luggage storage option with reception bookings on weekdays, 9am to 5pm, and storage for mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and scooters every day from 8am to 5pm. Bookings can also be made through Stasher.

Can you drop luggage early at Southampton cruise terminal?

Not in the sense of a left luggage room. Visit Southampton states plainly that there is no official left luggage facility within the cruise terminals. What the terminals do have is a porter service: when you arrive for your allocated check-in slot, you hand your labelled suitcases to porters at the drop-off area and the bags go straight to the ship.

Key points to know:

  1. Stick to your arrival time. Most cruise lines sailing from Southampton, including P&O Cruises and Cunard, give each cabin an arrival time and ask you not to turn up much earlier. Arriving hours early usually means waiting, not dropping bags.
  2. Label everything before you arrive. Print or attach your cruise line’s luggage labels at home or at your hotel so porters can take the bags straight away.
  3. Keep essentials in hand luggage. Passports, boarding documents, medication and valuables should stay with you, as cases can take several hours to reach your cabin.
  4. Ask about early baggage check-in. Visit Southampton notes that some cruise lines offer early bag drop. This varies by line, ship and terminal, so check your booking documents or the line’s help pages rather than relying on what happened on a previous cruise.

If you are driving, the porters can usually take your bags at the terminal before you park, which avoids carrying them from a car park. Our Southampton cruise parking guide explains how drop-off works with on-port and off-site parking.

A hotel reception desk with a staff member and a guest's luggage trolley
Many Southampton hotels will hold bags for guests before check-in or after check-out. Photo: Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

Using a hotel for left luggage in Southampton

If you are staying overnight before or after your cruise, your hotel is often the simplest and cheapest option. Most hotels will hold bags for guests before check-in and after check-out, frequently at no charge, though some charge a small fee or only hold bags for a set number of hours. Ask when you book and get it confirmed in writing if your timings are tight.

Hotels on the waterfront and around West Quay are within a short taxi ride of all five terminals, so you can leave bags in the morning, explore, then collect them and head to the port at your check-in time. See our round-up of hotels near Southampton cruise terminal for options at different price points.

Tips for storing bags after you disembark

Disembarkation day is when most people search for left luggage in Southampton, and it has its own quirks:

  • Check opening times against your disembarkation slot. Ships usually start clearing passengers early in the morning. Many app partners do not open until 9am or later, so pick one that is already open when you will arrive.
  • Book a location between the port and the station. Locations near Town Quay, the Cultural Quarter or Civic Centre Road keep you on the way to Southampton Central.
  • Allow for taxi queues. On busy turnaround days, several large ships can disembark at once. Build in extra time to get from the terminal to your drop point.
  • Read the cover terms. Most apps advertise up to £10,000 protection, but valuables, cash and electronics are often excluded or capped. Keep anything precious with you.

Sailing from the US instead? Our guide to Seattle luggage storage options covers both cruise terminals and the airport.

FAQs

Is there luggage storage at Southampton cruise terminal?

No. There is no official left luggage facility inside Southampton’s cruise terminals. Porters take your bags when you arrive at your allocated check-in time, but for storage before or after that you need a hotel or a luggage storage app location in the city.

Is there left luggage at Southampton Central station?

No. Southampton Central has no left luggage office or lockers. Several app-based drop points from Stasher, Bounce, Radical Storage and Nannybag are within a few minutes’ walk of the station.

How much does luggage storage in Southampton cost?

Booking apps advertise rates from about £1.49 to £4.90 per bag per day, depending on the provider, location and bag size, and some add a protection fee at checkout. Southampton Airport’s left luggage desk charges £10 per bag per calendar day.

Is there luggage storage at Southampton Airport?

Yes. Southampton Airport has a left luggage desk in the main terminal before security, charging £10 per bag per calendar day, subject to capacity. Stasher also lists a drop point at the nearby Premier Inn Southampton Airport.

Can I leave my bags at my hotel on cruise day?

Usually, yes. Most Southampton hotels will store bags for guests before check-in and after check-out, often free of charge. Confirm the policy and any time limits when you book.

cruise-cost.jpg

The Real Cost Of Cruises

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsFirst time cruisersMoney saving tips

How much do cruises really cost?

Look at the price of a cruise on any website – whether that’s a cruise line or a travel agent – and you’re not really getting the full picture.

How much is a cruise?

It does vary, but most of the time there are plenty of extras you need to take into account – and it’s always best to be prepared with your budget…

How Much It Costs To Go on a Cruise

A cruise can cost anywhere from $50 (£40) per person, per day, with a budget cruise line like Costa Cruises to well over $1,000 (£800) per person, per day, with an ultra-luxury cruise line like Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The average cost of a cruise is $193 (£141) per person, per day. This equates to $1,351pp (£989pp) for a 7-night cruise.

Cruise Mummy Disney Treasure

Of course, cruise ticket prices vary for all kinds of reasons – the ship, the destination, the demand etc. Asking how much are cruises doesn’t give a clear answer because some ships are so much more expensive than others.

(Source)

What’s Included in a Cruise

Cruise tickets generally include accommodation, meals, some drinks and entertainment. You’ll pay extra for speciality dining, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, spa services, casino, WiFi, flights, transfers and excursions.

What’s included in your cruise varies for each cruise line. Some cruise lines include gratuities in the ticket price. You may also get a drink package included at no extra cost. Sometimes, cruises come with free onboard credit, which you can spend on the ship.

Drinks on a cruise at sunset

If you plan your cruise carefully, it’s perfectly possible not to spend anything extra on top of the price of your cruise ticket.

The Average Cruise Cost

The average cruise ticket costs $1,457 (£1,068) per person. On top of that, guests spend an average of $697 (£510) on extras such as drinks, casino, spa services and shore excursions. This does not include the cost of any flights or transportation to the port.

(Source)

TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!

Don’t miss these offers…

Cruise Line Price Comparison Table

One of the biggest factors affecting the price of your cruise is your choice of the cruise line.

The table below shows the average price for a 7-night Caribbean cruise (excluding flights) in a balcony cabin (per person, based on two people sharing).

Cruise line Cruise fare Gratuities Drinks package Total
Costa Cruises $1032 (£759) $88 (£65) $285 (£210) $1405 (£1034)
MSC Cruises $1114 (£819) included $333
(£245)		 $1447 (£1064)
P&O Cruises $1236 (£909) included $380 (£280) $1616 (£1189)
Princess Cruises $1181 (£869) included with Princess Plus (drinks & more) $475
(£350)		 $1656 (£1219)
Royal Caribbean $1049
(£771)		 $129.50 (£95) $490 (£360) $1669
(£1407)
Celebrity Cruises $1069 (£786) $126 (£92) $623 (£458) $1818 (£1336)
Carnival $1234 (£907) $112 (£82) $578 (£424) $1924 (£1413)
Marella $1966 (£1445) included included $1966 (£1445)
Norwegian Cruise Line $1620 (£1191) $140 (£103) $248 (£209) $2008 (£1503)
Disney Cruise Line $2755
(£2024)		 $112 (£82) not available $2867 (£2106)

The aim of this data is to give you a rough idea of the average cruise prices for each cruise line. I sourced the prices from the cruise lines’ websites.

Marella and P&O Cruises are priced with flights included on the cruise line websites. I took off the flights to standardise the pricing.

Some cruises come with special offers, such as free onboard spend, which aren’t included in this table.

Celebrity Apex Resort Deck

You can only use this as a rough guideline, though. Some of the cruise lines that are more expensive for the Caribbean might be cheaper for the Mediterranean or Canary Islands.

And then ship plays a huge part too. The smallest Royal Caribbean ships are typically a lot less expensive than something like Icon of the Seas.

Suggested read: How Much Was A Ticket On The Titanic?

Cruise Costs for Families of Four

The price of a cruise for a family of four depends very much on what discounts are available for children. The price for a family could be double the price for a couple, or it could be very little extra.

Cruise Mummy and family on a cruise

Many cruise lines don’t offer any discounts for children. This is usually the case on ships which have a lot of activities made for children like kids’ clubs, water slides and splash parks.

However, it is possible to get cheap kids’ prices, by either choosing a cruise line that doesn’t charge full price for children or by looking out for special offers and booking at the right time.

Kids Fares By Cruise Line

This is how much each cruise line charges for kids:

  • Carnival – Full adult price
  • Celebrity Cruises – Full adult price
  • Costa Cruises – Children under 18 pay only port fees and service fees (approx £150 per week)
  • Cunard – Full adult price
  • Disney Cruise Line – Child rate for ages 3 to 12
  • MSC Cruises – Children under 18 cruise FREE when booking in the USA and from £99 when booking in the UK
  • Norwegian Cruise Line – Full adult price but there are promotions on occasion
  • P&O Cruises – Full adult price in the school holidays and from £49 in term-time
  • Princess Cruises – Full adult price, though £99 kids’ places promotions are sometimes offered
  • Royal Caribbean – Full adult price but there are promotions, including a Kids Sail Free deal

The price for children under two years old also varies and can be anywhere from free to the full adult fare.

Read more: Do you have to pay for babies on cruises?

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

Let them find your perfect trip…

Drink Costs

The price of drinks on a cruise varies quite a lot, depending on the cruise line. Drinks on British- and European-owned cruise lines (e.g. P&O Cruises, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises) are generally cheaper than on American-owned cruise lines (e.g. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival).

Also, the general rule is that the more luxurious the cruise, the more the drinks will cost.

Here’s the price range for drinks on cruise ships:

  • Beer: $3.50 (£3) to $10 (£8)
  • Glass of wine: $3.50 (£3) to $16 (£13)
  • Cocktail: $6 (£5) to $20 (£16)

You can find the full list of drinks prices broken down by cruise line here: The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Drink Packages

Cruise Costs by Destination

Around the World Cruise Costs

The cheapest world cruise fares start at around $15,000 per person for a 99-night cruise in an inside cabin on board a P&O Cruises ship, to around $1.7 million in the most luxurious Regent Seven Seas suites for cruises lasting 140 nights. The average cost of a world cruise is $32,000 (£25,000) per person.

Alaska Cruise Costs

An Alaska cruise can cost anywhere from $500 (£383) per person for a 4-night cruise in an inside cabin with Princess Cruises to $75,000 per person for a 15-night cruise in an expedition suite with Crystal Cruises. The average cost of an Alaska cruise is $1500 (£1148) per person.

Bahamas Cruise Costs

A Bahamas cruise costs from as little as $99 (£75) per person for a 3-night cruise in an inside cabin on the oldest MSC Cruises ships, up to $52,000 (£40,000) for a 7-night cruise in a Royal Loft Suite on the biggest Royal Caribbean ships. The average cost of a Bahamas cruise is $1300 (£995) per person.

Cheap Cruise Lines

Cruise lines such as Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises are cheaper than others because they have a lower space-to-guest ratio and a lower crew-to-guest ratio. Plus, they’ll charge extra for things that other cruise lines include for free.

Before you consider booking a cheap MSC cruise, I recommend that you read my full guide to why MSC Cruises are so cheap.

Related Posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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.

Read more about me


Source link

Large cruise ship sailing on open sea, illustrating a 2026 ranking of the worst cruise lines according to passenger reviews

The 10 Worst Cruise Lines According to Reviews (2026)

by Choosing a cruiseCruise LinesCruise NewsCruise Tips

Based on the biggest review datasets available in 2026, the worst cruise lines according to reviews are Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises and Carnival. Norwegian is the only line near the bottom of every major source, while the others score poorly on some platforms and well on others, usually because of crowding, extra fees, inconsistent food and service, or ageing ships.

Below is our own ranking of the 10 lowest-rated cruise lines, built from Cruise Critic member ratings, the Consumer Reports 2026 survey and the latest Which? cruise survey, with an honest look at why each line scores low and who it still suits. “Worst” here means lowest-rated by passengers, not unsafe or dishonest.

How we ranked the worst cruise lines

No single review score tells the whole story, so we combined three independent sources:

  • Cruise Critic member ratings (out of 5): the largest pool of cruise reviews, from tens of thousands of passengers, mostly from North America. Checked in October 2026.
  • Consumer Reports (US): a January 2026 survey of 18,850 members rating 19 ocean cruise lines on value, food, service, excursions and entertainment. It published rankings rather than scores.
  • Which? (UK): the most recent cruise survey we could find, published March 2025 from fieldwork in October 2024, with 2,865 respondents and a customer score for 26 ocean lines.

We used Trustpilot only as a supporting signal. Its scores swing wildly depending on whether a company invites reviews: MSC Cruises’ UK profile, which invites customers, scores 3.9 from more than 19,000 reviews, while its US profile, which does not, scores 1.7 from just over 100. That is a perfect example of why one site’s number should never be treated as the final word.

Lines ranked higher on this list were rated low by more than one source. Small specialist lines with too few reviews to compare fairly were left out.

Crowded pool deck on a large cruise ship with sun loungers, illustrating a common complaint about low-rated cruise lines
Crowding on big ships is one of the most common reasons lines score low. Photo: Brittany Yang on Pexels

The 10 worst cruise lines according to reviews (2026)

Cruise line Rating data Common complaints Who it still suits
1. Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Critic 3.6; last of 19 in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 66% (last) Extra charges, value for money, food changes, show queues Freestyle diners, Alaska and Europe fans who like big-ship choice
2. Costa Cruises Cruise Critic 3.0 (lowest major line); Which? 81% Food, service consistency, crowded buffets Europeans and Med lovers wanting a lively Italian vibe
3. MSC Cruises Cruise Critic 3.3; low in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 75% Crowding, buffet quality, disorganised service Families (kids sail free on many fares), new-ship fans, Yacht Club guests
4. P&O Cruises Cruise Critic 3.4; Which? 72% (second from bottom) Passenger space, entertainment, “cost cutting” UK cruisers wanting no-fly holidays from Southampton
5. Carnival Cruise Line Cruise Critic 3.8; low in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 76%; Trustpilot 1.5 Older ships, crowds, fees, customer service Budget short breaks, first-timers, families
6. Holland America Line Cruise Critic 3.9; Which? 74% Facilities and entertainment on older ships Quieter, older travellers; Alaska and long voyages
7. Ambassador Cruise Line Which? 74% Facilities on older, smaller ships UK adults wanting small, traditional, no-fly cruising
8. Cunard Cruise Critic 3.7; Which? 76% Waits for food, value for money Transatlantic fans and lovers of dressy tradition
9. Regent Seven Seas Cruise Critic 3.7; Which? 81% Cabin or technical issues, complaint handling Luxury travellers wanting excursions and drinks included
10. Princess Cruises Cruise Critic 3.8; Which? 75% Price versus value, food, crowding on big ships Couples and mature cruisers who like MedallionClass ease

Cruise Critic figures for P&O, Cunard and Regent are as reported by FinanceBuzz (October 2026) and Holland America as reported by Islands.com (April 2026); the rest were read directly from Cruise Critic in October 2026. Scores move over time, so check the latest before booking.

1. Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian is the clearest consensus pick for the worst-rated cruise line right now. It finished last of 19 lines in the Consumer Reports 2026 survey, last of 26 in the latest Which? survey (66%), and sits at 3.6 on Cruise Critic from more than 43,000 reviews. The recurring themes are value for money and charges: reviewers point to paid extras, Wi-Fi and drinks costs, and changes to dining and entertainment, such as a move away from reserved show seating. On the plus side, NCL’s freestyle dining and newer ships still win plenty of five-star reviews.

2. Costa Cruises

Costa has the lowest Cruise Critic rating of any major line at 3.0, with reviews split almost evenly between “excellent” and “terrible”. English-speaking reviewers often find the experience too unfamiliar: multilingual announcements, a busy European crowd and a buffet-heavy style. Yet Costa scored a respectable 81% in Which?, so British cruisers who know what to expect seem much happier than North American reviewers.

3. MSC Cruises

MSC scores 3.3 on Cruise Critic from more than 11,000 reviews and was among the lower-ranked lines in Consumer Reports. Complaints focus on very busy ships, the buffet, queues and service that can feel disorganised at peak times. The flip side is a young fleet, low prices and some of the best family value at sea, plus the well-reviewed Yacht Club. Ship choice matters a lot here, so see our list of the worst cruise ships according to real reviews before you pick one.

4. P&O Cruises

Britain’s biggest cruise line came second from bottom in Which? with 72%, with only two stars for passenger space, excursions and entertainment, and respondents saying standards had slipped due to cost cutting. Its Cruise Critic score of around 3.4 tells a similar story. It still wins on convenience: no-fly cruises from Southampton, British tastes and family-friendly big ships like Iona and Arvia.

5. Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is a mixed case. Its Cruise Critic score of 3.8 from almost 27,000 reviews is mid-table, but it ranked low in Consumer Reports, scored 76% in Which?, and has a Trustpilot score of just 1.5 from around 450 reviews. Typical complaints are older ships, crowding, extra charges and customer service when something goes wrong. For a cheap, cheerful three- or four-night Caribbean break, many guests are perfectly happy.

6. Holland America Line

Holland America is well liked by its loyal fans, but scored 74% in Which?, with only two stars for facilities and entertainment. Some ships are older and quieter than rivals, which younger cruisers see as dull and others see as the whole point.

7. Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador is a small UK line using older, mid-sized ships from British ports. It scored 74% in Which?, with two stars for facilities, which is not surprising for ships without big-resort features. Reviewers who want a calm, traditional cruise without flying often rate it highly, so think of this as a mismatch for some passengers rather than a bad product.

8. Cunard

Cunard sits at 3.7 on Cruise Critic and 76% in Which?. The most frequent gripes are waits for food and whether the price matches the experience, though its transatlantic crossings remain unique.

9. Regent Seven Seas

Regent is a surprise entry. Its Cruise Critic score of about 3.7 is low for a luxury line, and reviews mention cabin or technical problems and frustration with complaint handling. That is partly about expectations: at Regent prices, small failures generate harsh reviews. It scored 81% with Which? respondents.

10. Princess Cruises

Princess scores 3.8 on Cruise Critic and 75% in Which?. Complaints tend to centre on value for money, food and crowding on the largest ships, while many guests praise the crew and MedallionClass technology.

Elegant restaurant dining room with laid tables, showing the food and service that reviews often judge cruise lines on
Food and service drive more cruise reviews than almost anything else. Photo: Rene Terp on Pexels

Why some cruise lines score low

  • Crowding: mega-ships with 5,000 to 6,000 guests can mean queues at buffets, lifts and shows.
  • Extra fees: drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining, gratuities and excursions make the real price much higher than the advertised fare.
  • Older ships: worn cabins, plumbing issues and fewer facilities drag down scores.
  • Service under strain: stretched staff and slow complaint handling turn small problems into one-star reviews.
  • Expectation gaps: a budget line judged against a premium standard, or a European line judged by American norms, will always score lower.

The limits of review data

Review scores are useful but imperfect. Unhappy passengers are more likely to post, so open review sites skew negative, while lines that invite every guest to review (as MSC does on its UK Trustpilot page) look much better. Cruise Critic leans towards experienced North American cruisers; Which? reflects British members. Big lines get far more reviews than small ones, and individual ships within one line can vary hugely. That is why we only placed a line high on this list when several sources agreed.

Just missing out were Royal Caribbean, which ranked low in Consumer Reports but scores 3.9 on Cruise Critic and 78% in Which?, and Fred. Olsen, which scored 3.7 on Cruise Critic but a solid 80% in Which?.

What to book instead

If you want the lines passengers rate most highly, Which? respondents put Saga, Silversea, Noble Caledonia, Hurtigruten, Seabourn and Viking at the top, while Consumer Reports named Lindblad Expeditions, Windstar and Viking among its best. For individual ships, see our guide to the best rated cruise ships in the world. And if a low-rated line suits your budget, a good deal can still make it great value: browse our cruise deals for 2027.

If you are still deciding which line suits you, our step-by-step guide on how to choose a cruise can help.

If something goes wrong on board, our guide to common cruise complaints and how to raise them explains which issues guest services can fix and how to escalate after the cruise.

FAQs

What is the worst cruise line according to reviews?

Norwegian Cruise Line is the most consistent choice in 2026. It ranked last in the Consumer Reports survey of 19 lines and last in the latest Which? survey, mainly over value for money and extra charges.

Is Carnival the worst cruise line?

No. Carnival ranks low in some surveys and on Trustpilot, but its Cruise Critic rating of 3.8 is mid-table and higher than Norwegian, MSC, Costa and P&O. It remains good value for short budget cruises.

What are the 3 worst cruise lines?

Combining Cruise Critic, Consumer Reports and Which?, the three lowest-rated are Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises, with P&O Cruises close behind for UK passengers.

Which cruise line has the lowest Cruise Critic rating?

Among major lines, Costa Cruises has the lowest Cruise Critic member rating at 3.0 out of 5, followed by MSC Cruises at 3.3 and P&O Cruises at about 3.4.

Serenade-of-the-Seas-2.jpg

Cruise Ship Forced To Turn Around 2 Hours Into Sailing Due To Technical Issues

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsNews

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas has returned to Vancouver just two hours after setting sail on what was supposed to be a 7-night Alaska cruise, with guests still onboard and uncertainty clouding the rest of the voyage.

Serenade of the Seas

The ship had departed Sunday evening for a scenic Inside Passage itinerary but was back at the dock within hours.

Passengers noted engine-related trouble, though onboard systems unrelated to propulsion remain fully operational.

No injuries or safety concerns have been reported, and guests have not been permitted to leave the vessel.

This marks the second consecutive sailing where Serenade of the Seas has faced propulsion problems.

On its previous cruise, technical limitations forced the cancellation of both a scheduled port call at Icy Strait Point and a day of scenic cruising.

While the cruise line acknowledged “speed restrictions from a technical issue” at the time, no specific mechanical details were disclosed.

Impact on Itinerary Still TBC

The ship had been scheduled to call in Sitka, Alaska, on Tuesday 8th July, but given its current location and lack of departure progress, it is unlikely that original itinerary will be maintained.

Royal Caribbean has not issued a public statement regarding the current technical issue or plans for an adjusted sailing, though guests onboard are expecting further updates.

While unexpected problems can happen, this latest setback has sparked comparisons to past incidents aboard Radiance of the Seas, a sister ship that suffered repeated engine issues in 2024, culminating in a last-minute cruise cancellation after passengers had already boarded.

At just over 90,000 gross tons, Serenade of the Seas is one of the smaller ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, accommodating around 2,500 passengers.

The vessel has spent much of the year tied to the line’s ambitious Ultimate World Cruise, but is also deployed for seasonal Alaska itineraries during the summer months.

As of Monday afternoon, the ship remains docked in Vancouver. It is unclear whether the sailing will proceed on a revised schedule or face further disruption.

Guests booked on upcoming cruises will be watching closely to see if the issue proves persistent or is resolved in short order.

More updates will follow once Royal Caribbean confirms the next steps for the voyage.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

Related Posts

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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.

Read more about me

NCL Breakaway Ship

Norwegian Cruise Line has begun notifying travel agents that it will cancel dozens of sailings for two of its most popular ships, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Prima, due to upcoming…

Azamara Ship

Crew members aboard the luxury cruise ship Azamara Onward have been unexpectedly confined to the vessel following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness during the current sailing. As a result, they…

Carnival Coca-Cola Coke Products

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that the soft-drink fountains on its North-American ships will soon sparkle with Coca-Cola once more. The line first moved to Pepsi in January 2020 but…

Explora II Pool Deck

Explora Journeys has just rolled out a very tempting updated loyalty programme, which could tempt other cruisers to consider switching allegiances. The luxury cruise line has launched phase two of…



Source link

anthem-solarium.png-1.jpg

What’s Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? (2025)

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsRoyal Caribbean

One of the most common questions that I get asked in the DMs on my Instagram page is about what you get with Royal Caribbean when you book.

Which I guess isn’t surprising. It’s one of the biggest cruise lines in the world, if not the biggest. And when you book a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s not always obvious what the cruise fare includes.

Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas Solarium

So here are all the things you get for free when you cruise, as well as the hidden costs on Royal Caribbean cruises (though they aren’t really hidden…)

Drinks

Firstly, let’s talk about the thing that most people want to know about – the drinks!

Included Drinks

The free drinks on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are:

  • Water (not bottled)
  • Flavoured water
  • Lemonade
  • Tea
  • Iced tea
  • Coffee
  • Hot chocolate
  • Fruit juice (only at breakfast)

All other drinks are chargeable. You can add each drink to your bar tab via your SeaPass card and pay for your drinks at the end of your cruise, or you can buy a drinks package for all-inclusive drinks throughout your trip.

The free drinks aren’t available in all venues and at all times, but you can find out exactly where and when to get them here: Guide To Royal Caribbean’s Free Drinks.

Me with a drink on Anthem of the Seas
Enjoying a cocktail and an ice cream on Anthem of the Seas

Drink Prices

The drink prices on Royal Caribbean ships are:

  • Beer – $8.25
  • Glass of wine – $9 to $20
  • Cocktail – $14
  • Soft drink – $3.50
  • Fancy coffee – $4
  • Bottle of water – $3.25

You can see the bar menus for Royal Caribbean here: Royal Caribbean Drinks Menus With Prices.

Or Get a Drinks Package

The price of the Royal Caribbean drinks package varies depending on your cruise ship, itinerary and when you purchase the package. Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package usually costs somewhere between $50 and $115 per person, per day.

If you don’t drink a lot of alcohol, the Deluxe Beverage Package is rarely worth it. Instead, you may wish to consider the Refreshment Package or the Classic Soda Package.

I have a full guide to Royal Caribbean drinks packages which answers all your questions about them here: Royal Caribbean Drink Packages.

Whether or not the Royal Caribbean drinks package is worth it can be tricky to work out. To make it easy for you, I’ve made a drinks package calculator.

Just enter the drinks that you like to have and it will estimate your bar bill with and without the package.

Food

The next most-asked questions relate to what food you get included with your cruise…

There’s Plenty of Food Included

Royal Caribbean cruises include meals and snacks in a choice of dining venues. For something special, you can pay an extra fee to dine in one of the many speciality dining venues onboard.

On each ship, you can eat for free in the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer and at least two more free dining venues.

Lunch at the Windjammer
Lunch at the Windjammer

You can eat for free in these Royal Caribbean complimentary dining venues:

  • Main Dining Room – Formal restaurant
  • Windjammer – Casual restaurant
  • Mini Bites – Poolside snacks
  • Dog House – Hot dog stand
  • Cafe Promenade – Cafe food
  • Sorrento’s – Pizza slices
  • Noodle Bar – Fast food noodles
  • Vitality Cafe – Healthy breakfasts and lunches
  • Cafe @ Two70 – Cafe food
  • El Loco Fresh – Casual Mexican restaurant
  • Splashaway Cafe – Kids’ poolside snacks
  • Coastal Kitchen – Only for suite guests and Pinnacle Club members
  • Room service – Only continental breakfast items are free

Not every dining venue is available on every ship, but there will always be a choice of options available and the menus change every day.

Room service is free for continental breakfast items, but everything else has a $7.95 cover charge per order.

There’s really no need to pay anything extra for food as the free food is all excellent, but if you want to treat yourself then you might want to consider dining in one of Royal Caribbean’s speciality restaurants.

Royal Caribbean Speciality Dining Prices

The prices for speciality dining on Royal Caribbean cruises vary depending on your ship, itinerary and when you book it.

To find the exact prices for each speciality restaurant on your particular cruise, you’ll need to log into Royal Caribbean’s cruise planner. 

To give you a rough idea, here are the speciality dining prices for two cruises I’ve taken. Remember, these are just examples from two particular cruises. They are not average prices and yours could cost more or less than this.

Anthem of the Seas

  • Chef’s Table – £74.09 ($100)
  • Chops Grille (Dinner) – £38.99 ($53)
  • Chops Grille (Lunch) – £17.93 ($24)
  • Izumi – £31.19 ($42)
  • Jamie’s Italian (Dinner) – £31.19 ($42)
  • Jamie’s Italian (Lunch)  – £19.49 ($26)
  • Sushi & Sake (Lunch) – £31.19 ($42)
  • Taste of Royal (Lunch) – £27.29 ($37)
  • Wonderland – £42.89 ($58)

Dining Packages

  • Chops +1 Dining Package – £58.50 ($79)
  • 3 Night Dining Package – £77.22 ($104)
  • Unlimited Dining Package – £155.22 ($209)

Harmony of the Seas

  • 150 Central Park – £42.30 ($57)
  • Chef’s Table – £80.37 ($108)
  • Chops Grille (Dinner) – £42.30 ($57)
  • Chops Grille (Lunch) – £19.45 ($26)
  • Izumi – £33.84 ($46)
  • Izumi Hibachi Experience – £38.07($51)
  • Jamie’s Italian (Dinner) – £38.91 ($52)
  • Jamie’s Italian (Lunch) – £21.15 ($29)
  • Sabor – £18.61 ($25)
  • Sushi & Sake (Lunch) – £33.84 ($46)
  • Taste of Royal (Lunch) – £29.61 ($40)
  • Wonderland – £46.53 ($63)

Dining Packages

  • Chops +1 Dining Package – £71.07 ($96)
  • 3 Night Dining Package – £97.31 ($131)
  • Unlimited Dining Package – £168.37 ($227)

Children aged 5 and under dine in speciality restaurants for free. For children aged 6 to 12 you only pay $10 for speciality dining when ordering from the kids’ menu. 

Dining Packages – Worth It?

For a first cruise, I wouldn’t recommend booking speciality dining unless there’s a particular restaurant that you really wish to try. The free food is so good and the speciality dining is more expensive on Royal Caribbean ships than with some other cruise lines.

The dining packages don’t give a big discount compared to booking speciality dining restaurants individually.

Dining packages don’t include premium dining experiences like Chef’s Table, Wine Pairing Dinners, Taste of Royal and Mystery Dinner Theatre. Izumi Hibachi has a $10 surcharge with a dining package. 

WiFi

The only mobile phone reception at sea comes from maritime networks, which should be avoided at all costs as they are crazily expensive. If you want to stay connected, you might want to get a WiFi package.

WiFi is not generally included on Royal Caribbean cruises, although WiFi packages are sometimes given as a free perk when booking during a promotional period.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

There are three ways that you may be able to get WiFi for free during your cruise: How to get free WiFi on Royal Caribbean cruises.

WiFi Costs

Royal Caribbean WiFi costs from $20 per day for a single device.

There used to be several packages, including a cheaper one that started at around $10 per day, but that’s changed now that the faster Starlink internet has been installed across the fleet.

You also have alternatives, such as buying an esim.

Tips

On your cruise, rather than tipping cash to individual staff members, guests are charged a set fee per day, which Royal Caribbean distributes evenly to its employees.

Royal Caribbean Automatic Gratuities

Royal Caribbean gratuities (also known as tips) cost $18 per person, per day for guests staying in Junior Suites and below and $20.50 per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above. This applies to guests of all ages, including children and babies.

Royal Caribbean gratuities
Gratuities are tips for staff members

You can choose to pre-pay your gratuities before your cruise or have them added to your onboard account to pay at the end.

No further tipping is required or expected on board, although some people (mostly US guests) do sometimes give cash tips as well to recognise exceptional service.

Suggested read: 56 amazing examples of Royal Caribbean customer service

If you have any questions about Royal Caribbean gratuities, you’ll find those answered here: Royal Caribbean gratuities.

On-Board Activities & Entertainment

Royal Caribbean ships have so much to do that it’s impossible to be bored. The great news is that almost everything is included for free.

Most activities on most Royal Caribbean ships are included in your cruise fare. So you won’t need to pay any extra for things like the FlowRider, climbing wall, zip line, ice skating, laser tag, mini-golf, water slides, shows or to use the gym.

However, on cruises departing from the UK, China and Singapore there may be a fee to use the iFly and the North Star observation pod.

The price varies depending on your cruise. While these activities used to be free, the introduction of an extra charge means that each ride lasts longer and you can avoid any queues. For more info, see this video by Cruise With Ben & David.

FlowRider and iFly
FlowRider and iFly

There are a few more things that cost extra on Royal Caribbean cruises. The prices vary depending on the ship and may go up and down according to demand, but here are some ballpark figures…

Prices of extra activities on Royal Caribbean ships:

  • All-access ship tour – $49 to $129
  • Escape room – $20
  • Private FlowRider lessons – $69 to $552
  • Fitness classes – $12
  • Cooking classes – $35 to $70
  • Spa and beauty services – From $32 for a wash and blow-dry to $2000+ for some treatments
  • Casino and bingo – Various
  • Art auctions – Each ship has several million dollars of art for sale
  • Photographs – From $20 per print
  • Video arcade – $1 to $3 per game
  • Laundry – $2 to $15 per item
  • Gift shop purchases – Various
  • Medical services – From $150

Visits to the adults-only Solarium (pictured at the very top of this post) are included on most Royal Caribbean cruises. However, on cruises from China, this area is only available for guests staying in Gold or Silver suites or Crown & Anchor Diamond members and above.

Suggested read: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks

Childcare & Babysitting

One of the biggest perks of cruising for parents is that the kids’ clubs are the best in the world. Some parents barely see their kids all week because the kids want to spend all of their time having fun with their new friends in the kids’ club.

Royal Caribbean & Babysitting

Until 2018, Royal Caribbean used to offer babysitting in your stateroom but this service has been discontinued.

However, for kids aged 3 to 11, the Adventure Ocean kids’ club is open until 10pm for free, or 2am for an extra fee. Under 3s can attend the Royal Babies and Royal Tots clubs until midnight.

Royal Caribbean babysitting
Royal Tots Nursery

Babysitting Costs

This table shows the charges for childcare on Royal Caribbean cruises:

Age Time Price
0 to 3 9am to 6pm $6 per hour
0 to 3 6pm to 12am $8 per hour
3 to 11 9am to 5pm FREE
3 to 11 7pm to 10pm FREE
3 to 11 10pm to 2am $10 per hour
12 to 14 8pm to 1am FREE
15 to 17 9pm to 1am FREE

Under 3s are looked after in the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery. This isn’t available on every ship. You can see a list of ships that have it here: The best Royal Caribbean ships for kids.

Excursions

Royal Caribbean cruises don’t include shore excursions in the cost. You can see a brochure of shore excursions customised to your cruise and book excursions on your Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner.

Official Royal Caribbean cruise excursions can be very pricey, so you may want to look for cheaper alternatives on reputable websites like Viator or via the Shore Excursions Group. Alternatively, you can just get off the ship and do your own thing.

Excursion from Athens
Excursion from Athens

Private Island Activities

CocoCay Activities

If your cruise includes a visit to Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, then many of the activities are free of charge, but some have an extra fee.

CocoCay with kids
Perfect Day at CocoCay

This table shows the prices of activities on Perfect Day at Cococay:

Experience Price
Thrill Waterpark Age 4+: $44-$99 per person
Age 0-3: Free
Zip Line $79-$139 per person
Up, Up and Away helium balloon Age 13+: $39-$99 per person
Age 4-12: $24-$64
Age 0-3: Free
Coco Beach Club Age 13+: $54-$99 per person
Age 4-12: $34-$69
Age 0-3: Free
Kayaks, snorkels, beach mats etc Various

You’ll find a list of everything that you can do for free here: CocoCay free activities

Royal Caribbean Key Program

Royal Caribbean offers ‘The Key’ – a program that gives premier access to exclusive experiences during your cruise.

The Key includes:

  • Priority check-in and boarding
  • Carry-on bag drop off 
  • Welcome lunch on embarkation day
  • Private hours on the rock climbing wall and FlowRider
  • Priority departure at ports of call
  • VIP seating at shows
  • WiFi access
  • Exclusive breakfast on debarkation day

The cost for The Key varies depending on your cruise, but it will be somewhere between $26 and $40 per person, per day. If one person wants The Key, then everyone in the cabin aged six and over must also buy it.

Is The Key Worth It? I’m Not Sure…

Personally, I don’t think that the Royal Caribbean Key is worth it.

However, if you plan to purchase WiFi anyway, like to be first off the ship in each port and like the idea of having set times for the rock climbing and FlowRider when you don’t have to queue, then it could be worth it for you.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

The Bottom Line

If, like me, you’re cruising on a budget, then you don’t really have to pay anything extra at all for your Royal Caribbean cruise!

The only extra that you must pay for is gratuities. However, if you book your cruise during a promotional period then you may be able to get free gratuities included, or maybe some free on-board credit that you can use to pay for your gratuities.

With so many extras available, it’s easy to spend double your cruise fare or more on board the ship, particularly if you spend a lot of time in the spa or the casino!

When budget cruisers like myself book the cheapest inside cabins and don’t spend anything extra on board, cruise lines don’t make much of a profit at all and may even make a loss.

However, that’s okay because they make the money back with the people who do spend a lot onboard. Those that spend a lot in the casino even get free cruises because Royal Caribbean loves to have them on board spending money!

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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.

Read more about me


Source link

Royal-Caribbean-ships-1.jpg

15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsRoyal Caribbean

Have you found yourself with some Royal Caribbean onboard credit and want to know how you can spend it?

Royal Caribbean ships

There are plenty of things that Royal Caribbean onboard credit can be used for, as well as some that it can’t, and planning ahead (just a little) can make your $ go a lot further.

While onboard credit may seem like free money, you’ll get a lot more out of it if you spend it wisely…

How Onboard Credit Works

On a Royal Caribbean cruise, your cashless onboard expenses account is also known as your SeaPass account.

When you make purchases on the ship, these will be charged to your account. At the end of your cruise, you can settle your account with cash, by credit or debit card or with onboard credit.

When you receive onboard credit, this is credited to your SeaPass account. It will offset any purchases that you make on the ship.

How To Get Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit (OBC)

There are many ways that you can get Royal Caribbean onboard credit. These include:

  1. Promotions – If you book your cruise during a promotional period, you can get anywhere up to $400 of OBC per stateroom
  2. Booking Onboard – If you book your next cruise while you’re already on a cruise, you can get up to $500 of OBC to spend on either your current sailing or the next one
  3. Booking With A Travel Agent – Many travel agents offer onboard credit as a bonus for booking with them
  4. The Royal Caribbean Visa Card – Each time you use Royal Caribbean’s branded Visa credit card you earn points. If you collect 10,000 points you’ll get $100 in OBC
  5. Compensation – If something goes wrong on your cruise, such as if the ship has a technical problem or the service is poor, you may be given OBC by way of apology
  6. Price Drops – If the price of your cruise drops after booking, you may receive the difference in OBC
  7. Cancelled Cruises – If your sailing is suspended and you rebook for a later date, anything that was pre-purchased turns into OBC for your next cruise, sometimes with a 25% bonus.
  8. Shareholders – If you own at least 100 RCL shares, you will receive $50 OBC on cruises of 5 nights or less, $100 on cruises of 6-13 nights and $250 on longer cruises
  9. Military – Members and veterans of the US and Canadian armed forces may get $50 OBC per stateroom when booking certain cruise

Future Cruise Credit Vs Onboard Credit

If your Royal Caribbean cruise is cancelled, you may receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) that you can use to pay for another cruise ticket. This is different from Onboard Credit (OBC) which can only be used for onboard purchases.

You cannot convert Future Cruise Credit into Onboard Credit. So if the value of your FCC is higher than the cost of your next cruise, a new voucher will be issued for the remaining FCC.

What Royal Caribbean OBC Can Be Used For

Royal Caribbean onboard credit can be used to purchase most things onboard the ship. It can’t be used for medical expenses, taxes and port fees.

It used to be the case that you could only spend Royal Caribbean on board credit once you boarded your ship.

However, Royal Caribbean now lets you apply onboard credit to purchases made before your cruise via the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner website or via the telephone.

However, this only applies to certain types of onboard credit. If you purchase the onboard credit as a gift card, for example, you’ll probably have to wait until you board the ship to use it.

Unused Onboard Credit

If you don’t use your onboard credit during your cruise, you’ll lose it. So you must spend it all before the end of the last night of your cruise to avoid wasting it.

The Best Ways To Use Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit

When it comes to deciding what to spend your Royal Caribbean onboard credit on, some purchases are much smarter than others.

It’s a good idea to prioritise the things that you would purchase regardless of whether you have onboard credit or not. For example, everyone must pay gratuities, so budget to use your OBC on those first.

Some things you can buy on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are almost always a waste of money, even if you consider that money to be free!

So, here’s a list of how to use onboard credit on Royal Caribbean cruises, including all the best ways to make it work in your favour.

1. Gratuities

The best way to spend any onboard credit that you have is on gratuities. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, gratuities cost $18 per person, per day for most guests and $20.50 per person, per day for those staying in suites.

Gratuities are mandatory, and they go towards paying the crew members who work so hard to look after us. As this is something that we all need to pay anyway, it makes sense to spend your onboard credit on gratuities first, then see how much you have left for the fun stuff.

gratuities for Royal Caribbean crew

Here’s how much gratuities cost per day on a Royal Caribbean cruise, for each person including kids and babies.

Cruise Duration Standard Staterooms Suites
2 $36.00 $41.00
3 $54.00 $61.50
4 $72.00 $82.00
5 $90.00 $102.50
6 $108.00 $123.00
7 $126.00 $143.50
8 $144.00 $164.00
9 $162.00 $184.50
10 $180.00 $205.00
11 $198.00 $225.50
12 $216.00 $246.00
13 $234.00 $266.50
14 $252.00 $287.00

At the end of your cruise, any leftover onboard credit will be automatically offset against any gratuities owed on your final bill.

So you don’t need to do anything, just check the bill at the end of the cruise, and if you’ve calculated correctly, they should cancel each other out, and you’ll be left with a zero balance.

You can get more info about Royal Caribbean gratuities here.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

2. Onboard Activities

Most activities on board Royal Caribbean ships are included in your cruise fare, but there are some things that you have to pay extra for.

Royal Caribbean includes less and less for free these days, as some activities like the North Star observation pod and the iFly skydiving simulator on Quantum-class ships are now chargeable.

iFlyskydiving simulator

Here are the approximate prices of extra activities on Royal Caribbean ships.

  • North Star – $25
  • iFly Skydiving Simulator – $55
  • All-access ship tour – $49 to $129
  • Escape room – $20
  • Private Flowrider lessons – $69 to $552
  • Fitness classes – $12
  • Cooking classes – $35 to $70
  • Video arcade – $1 to $3 per game

Note that these may vary by sailing and are subject to change.

You probably won’t want to do all of these extra activities as there are so many things that you can do on board for free.

But if there are any that you definitely want to tick off, then these would be a great way to spend any onboard credit that you have left over after paying for gratuities.

3. Drinks

Royal Caribbean cruises do include some free drinks like water, tea, coffee, flavoured water and milk. For all other drinks, you can either add them to your onboard account individually or buy a drink package before your cruise.

Royal Caribbean drinks

There are several drinks packages to choose from and the prices vary depending on your cruise and when you buy it.

To work out whether you should buy a drink package or pay for your drinks individually, read my guide to Royal Caribbean drink packages. Or, if you’re short on time, you can use my Royal Caribbean drink package calculator that will work it out for you based on what you usually drink.

Whether you add your drinks to your onboard account or get a drink package, you can use your onboard credit to cover some or all of the cost.

Suggested read: When Is The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package?

4. Speciality Dining

Treating yourself to a special meal in one of Royal Caribbean’s upscale restaurants could be a great way to spend any onboard credit you’ve accumulated.

Like most things with Royal Caribbean, the cost varies depending on the ship and the sailing, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $25 per head for lunch at Chop’s Grille or Jamie’s Italian to $100 for dinner at the Chef’s Table.

Royal Caribbean speciality dining Izumi

If you really enjoy speciality dining, you can buy dining packages that let you eat in a certain number of restaurants or upgrade to enjoy unlimited speciality dining throughout your cruise.

5. Spa Services

Spa services can be pricy on a cruise. But, if you rarely ever visit the spa then perhaps now’s the time to treat yourself using your onboard credit. After all, if you think of it as free money then surely you can justify the price?

Spa treatment on a cruise

While some of Royal Caribbean spa treatments can cost upwards of $2000, you can just buy a day pass to use the spa facilities like the sauna and steam room for as little as $30, depending on your ship.

Or, for a similar price, you could treat yourself to a wash and blow-dry in the hair salon so that you’re looking your best for the formal night.

6. Babysitting

Childcare in Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kid clubs is generally free of charge. But, there is a fee if your child is under three or if you want them to stay past 10 pm.

At between $6 and $8 per hour, the group babysitting option is cheaper than getting a sitter at home would be, so why not make the most of your time away and treat yourself to some adults-only time in the theatre, casino or nightclub?

This table shows the charges for childcare on Royal Caribbean cruises:

Age Time Price
0 to 3 9am to 6pm $6 per hour
0 to 3 6pm to 12am $8 per hour
3 to 11 9am to 5pm FREE
3 to 11 7pm to 10pm FREE
3 to 11 10pm to 2am $10 per hour
12 to 14 8pm to 1am FREE
15 to 17 9pm to 1am FREE

7. Souvenirs

You might think that the souvenirs on Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships would be ridiculously expensive. But actually, there are some great deals to be had, particularly if you’re shopping with your free onboard credit!

Shops on a cruise ship

While you’ll find plenty of designer bags, watches and jewellery costing thousands of dollars a piece, there are some affordable souvenirs too.

On my last cruise, I treated myself to some Royal Caribbean t-shirts which were two for $20. Bargain!

8. Shore Excursions

Your Royal Caribbean onboard credit doesn’t just have to be spent on things you find on the ship – you can also use it to purchase official shore excursions.

Shore excursions can be pricey, so it’s good to think about how much it would cost to organise a DIY version. But if you don’t have the time or want to avoid the hassle, then taking Royal Caribbean’s official excursions is the easiest way to explore ashore.

You can also use your onboard credit to pay for activities on Royal Caribbean’s island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. While there are lots of things to do on CocoCay for free, activities like the Thrill Waterpark and the Up, Up & Away balloon ride are chargeable.

Thrill Waterpark on CocoCay

9. WiFi

If you need to stay connected at sea, Royal Caribbean offers WiFi packages that start at around $20 per day.

While you may be able to get WiFi for free on a Royal Caribbean cruise, this isn’t always reliable. So, if you need to use your phone to keep in touch with work or family members who need you, then it makes sense to buy a WiFi package and cover the costs with your onboard credit.

Cruise guest using their phone on WiFi

10. Photos

Cruise ship photographers take some excellent photos, so why not take this opportunity to purchase some images that will give you everlasting memories of your Royal Caribbean cruise?

You usually don’t have to pay anything for the photoshoot, and then you can choose as few or as many photos as you like and take them home either digitally or in print.

Two cruisers enjoying each other's company on deck

When you visit the photo shop, just charge everything to your onboard account and it will be offset with any onboard credit you have left at the end of your cruise.

11. The Key Program

If you still can’t decide what to spend your onboard credit on, then Royal Caribbean’s The Key program gives you a little bit of everything…

The Key includes:

  • Priority check-in and boarding
  • Carry-on bag drop off 
  • Welcome lunch on embarkation day
  • Private hours on the rock climbing wall and FlowRider
  • Priority departure at ports of call
  • VIP seating at shows
  • WiFi access
  • Exclusive breakfast on debarkation day

The cost for The Key varies depending on your cruise, but it will be somewhere between $26 and $40 per person, per day. If one person wants The Key, then everyone in the cabin aged six and over must also buy it.

Personally, I don’t think that the Royal Caribbean Key is worth it.

However, if you plan to purchase WiFi, like to be first off the ship in each port and like the idea of having set times for the rock climbing and FlowRider when you don’t have to queue, then it could be a good way to use up your onboard credit.

To buy The Key, you’ll need to access Royal Caribbean’s cruise planner online before you set sail.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Key Program – Worth It Or Not?

12. Laundry

Royal Caribbean cruise ships don’t have any self-service launderettes, so if you run out of clean clothes then you can either clean them yourself in the sink or pay for them to be washed or dry cleaned and pressed.

Personally, I like to use a Scrubba wash bag to wash my clothes for free on a cruise ship. But if you don’t have one, you can pay $2 to $15 per item for professional cleaning.

Scrubba washbag

13. Casino

It may be possible to cash out your Royal Caribbean onboard credit in the casino, but this isn’t something that Royal Caribbean really want you to do.

Some cruisers have reported in forums that they’ve had some success with putting their Seapass cruise card into a slot machine and transferring money from their onboard account to the machine.

After spinning the wheels a couple of times, they press cash out and receive a ticket. You can take that ticket to the cashier’s window and receive real cash.

Cruise casino

To use this method, it’s best to use a slot machine as if you do it at a table you will be charged an extra 5% to convert your onboard credit into chips.

Plus, there are reports of an unwritten rule that you gamble with some of the money before cashing out. According to one cashier, at least 10% seems to be an acceptable amount.

14. Bingo

Buying bingo tickets is one possible way to spend Royal Caribbean onboard credit. There are some big prizes to be won and you could even win a free cruise.

However, there are some pretty small prizes too, so even if you win it might cost you more to enter than the value of the prize!

Royal Caribbean bingo prices

Royal Caribbean bingo tickets start from $49 for 24 chances to win, although if you spend $69 you get 48 chances, so it doesn’t make much sense to go for the cheaper ticket packages.

On the whole, the returns aren’t great. So if you love bingo, this might be for you. But for most people, you’ll do better in the casino.

15. Art

Cruise ship art auctions can be fun to watch and you’ll usually get a free glass of fizz. But that’s probably where you should leave it.

These art auctions use all kinds of tricks to get you to buy. One of which is putting very small paintings inside huge frames, you can see!

Royal Caribbean art auction

Serious art investors would never buy art on a cruise ship as the paintings are known to be ridiculously overpriced. If you do some research, you’ll be able to find the exact same prints for a fraction of the price elsewhere.

And that’s exactly what you’ll be getting anyway, as the art that gets delivered to your home doesn’t come from the ship, it comes from a warehouse on land.

That said, I did buy some art at a Royal Caribbean art auction with my onboard credit. The picture was only $60 and I really liked it. I did turn down the offer of a $450 frame though and opted to get my print framed in a local shop for £49.

So, yes, you can use your onboard credit to pay for art from the art auction. But honestly, you’d do better to enjoy the free drinks, take note of the prices and buy elsewhere (unless its a painting that you really do love).

Art for sale on a cruise ship

The Gift Card Trick

If you’ve taken a Carnival cruise in the past, you may know that people have been able to use their Carnival cruise onboard credit to purchase a Carnival gift card from the store on board as a way of extending their credit so that they can carry it over to their next cruise.

This trick won’t work on Royal Caribbean because, unlike Carnival gift cards, Royal Caribbean gift cards can only be used towards cruise fare, not onboard purchases and shipboard charges.

Royal Caribbean onboard credit expires at the end of your cruise, so be sure to use it before you lose it.

My Recommendation

If you have some Royal Caribbean onboard credit to spend, then the smartest thing to do would be to first put it towards gratuities, provided that you haven’t already pre-paid those.

Work out how much you expect to pay in gratuities based on the number of guests in your room, your stateroom type and the duration of your cruise. Then, subtract this amount from the amount of onboard credit you have.

This will leave you with an amount of onboard credit to spend on treating yourself. The best uses for any leftover onboard credit are drinks, speciality dining, spa treatments and souvenirs.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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.

Read more about me


Source link

Liverpool waterfront at Pier Head near the cruise terminal, where cruise passengers park and embark

Liverpool Cruise Terminal Parking Guide (2026-27)

by Car ParkingCruise LinesCruise NewsUK Homeports

The official option for Liverpool cruise terminal parking is Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS), which checks your car in at Q-Park Liverpool ONE (35 Strand Street, L1 8LT), takes your luggage and runs a free minibus to the terminal at Princes Parade (L3 1DL). If you’d rather book your own space, Princes Dock Multi-Storey and Q-Park Dale Street are both within a short walk of the ship. Whichever you choose, pre-book: spaces near the waterfront are limited on sailing days.

Below you’ll find how the official service works, the best alternatives nearby, what it costs, and how to reach the terminal by train or taxi if you’d rather leave the car at home. The information is checked for the 2026-27 cruise seasons.

Where Liverpool Cruise Terminal Is (and Who Sails From It)

Liverpool Cruise Terminal sits on the River Mersey at Pier Head, right beside the Royal Liver Building. The sat nav postcode is L3 1DL (Princes Parade). Ships tie up alongside a floating landing stage, so you walk on via a linkspan that can be steeper at low tide. Fred. Olsen notes that a mobility bus runs between the terminal and the gangway for guests who struggle with the slope.

Since 2024 the port has been run by Global Ports Holding (GPH) under a 50-year lease from Liverpool City Council, and it now trades as Liverpool Cruise Port. GPH has committed up to around £25 million to add a second floating berth and a new terminal building, but those works depend on permits and there is no confirmed completion date yet. For now, you embark from the existing single-storey terminal, and car parking is handled off-site rather than at a large dedicated cruise car park like you’d find in Southampton.

The two lines that start cruises here most regularly are:

  • Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, mainly with Borealis, which has sailed from Liverpool on a long-running basis and has departures scheduled through 2027.
  • Ambassador Cruise Line, with the adults-only Ambition listed for Liverpool departures in 2027 and 2028.

Liverpool also welcomes plenty of visiting ships (Disney Dream, Cunard’s Queen Anne and Princess ships all called in 2026), but those are ports of call rather than embarkation points, so parking only matters if you’re starting or ending your cruise here. If you’re weighing up Ambassador against a bigger-ship line, our P&O Cruises vs Ambassador Cruise Line comparison is a useful read before you book.

Official Liverpool Cruise Parking: CPS at Q-Park Liverpool ONE

Both Fred. Olsen and Ambassador use Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS) as their parking partner in Liverpool, with Q-Park Liverpool ONE named as the terminal’s official car park. It is the closest thing to a door-to-ship service the port offers.

How it works on embarkation day

  1. Drive to Q-Park Liverpool ONE, Strand Street, L1 8LT (not the terminal postcode) at the time shown in your cruise documents.
  2. A CPS representative checks your vehicle in.
  3. You’re directed to the baggage drop, where porters take your cases and they’re delivered to your cabin.
  4. A minibus takes you and your party to the terminal for check-in at no extra charge.
  5. On your return, the process runs in reverse: you’re taken back to the car park to collect your vehicle.

CPS accepts cars, vans, motorbikes and even caravans, according to its Liverpool page. Fred. Olsen states there are no electric vehicle charging points at its Liverpool parking, so plan to arrive with enough charge to get home or to a charger after your cruise.

How to book CPS parking

You can book through your cruise line (Ambassador passengers use My Ambassador Sailing or their travel agent), online at cruiseparking.co.uk, or by phone on 0345 071 3939. Have your registration, vehicle make and model and any assistance needs to hand. If your fare includes free parking, you still need to reserve a space. Fred. Olsen warns that turning up without a booking can mean paying a higher on-the-day rate that it won’t refund.

Assistance parking

If you’ve booked assistance parking with CPS, you don’t go to Liverpool ONE. Instead you drive straight to the terminal at L3 1DL, where a representative meets you. Spaces are limited, so book this early and mention it when you book your cruise.

Rows of parked cars inside a multi storey car park, similar to the city centre car parks used by Liverpool cruise passengers
City centre multi-storey car parks are the main parking option for Liverpool cruises. Photo: Jan van der Wolf on Pexels

Other Parking for Liverpool Cruise Terminal

The official service is the simplest choice, but it isn’t your only one. Several public car parks are within walking distance of Pier Head, and some can be pre-booked for a week or more. With these you handle your own luggage and walk or take a short taxi to the terminal.

Princes Dock Multi-Storey (William Jessop Way, L3 1DL)

This is the closest public car park to the ship, about a six-minute walk from the terminal. JustPark lists it from around £3.75 an hour or about £21.50 a day, so a seven-night cruise could cost roughly £150 at the daily rate. Check whether a weekly rate is offered when you book. It’s open 24 hours and has a 2.1m height limit, so it won’t suit high-top vans or roof boxes.

Q-Park Dale Street

Q-Park lists Dale Street as an 11-minute walk from the terminal, with online pre-booking. Its booking pages showed limited availability on some dates, so it’s worth reserving as soon as your cruise is confirmed.

Liverpool ONE and Albert Dock area car parks

You can also park in a standard long-stay space in the Liverpool ONE or Albert Dock area and walk north along the waterfront, which takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Bear in mind that this is not the same as the CPS service: you won’t get the porter or the minibus unless you’ve booked through CPS.

Parking apps and private driveways

Sites such as JustPark and YourParkingSpace list private and residential spaces around the city centre. They can be cheaper for long stays, but check the walking distance, how the space is secured and the cancellation terms before you pay.

Liverpool Cruise Terminal Parking Options Compared

Option Postcode Distance to ship Luggage help Price guide
CPS at Q-Park Liverpool ONE (official) L1 8LT Free minibus transfer Yes, porters take bags to your cabin Not published online; get a quote from CPS or your cruise line
CPS assistance parking L3 1DL At the terminal Yes Pre-book with CPS
Princes Dock Multi-Storey L3 1DL About 6 minutes’ walk No Around £21.50 per day (JustPark listing)
Q-Park Dale Street L2 area, city centre About 11 minutes’ walk No Pre-book online for current rate
Private spaces via parking apps Varies Varies No Varies by space

Prices change often and can rise in peak months, so treat these as a starting point and check the live rate before booking.

Which Is the Best Place to Park for a Liverpool Cruise?

For most people, the CPS service at Liverpool ONE is the best option. You hand over your bags in the car park, ride a minibus to the terminal and never have to wheel cases along the waterfront. It costs more than a self-park car park and the price isn’t listed openly, but the convenience is hard to beat, especially for older travellers or anyone with heavy luggage.

Princes Dock makes sense if you pack light, want to know the price up front and don’t mind a short walk. Q-Park Dale Street and the Albert Dock car parks work if you’re spending a night or two in the city before you sail and want one booking to cover the whole trip.

One thing many guides miss: match the postcode to the service

The most common mix-up on sailing day is putting the terminal postcode (L3 1DL) into the sat nav when you’ve booked standard CPS parking, which actually starts at Liverpool ONE (L1 8LT). The waterfront road outside the terminal gets busy on turnaround days, and there’s nowhere to leave a car there. Unless you’ve booked assistance parking, head to Liverpool ONE. If you’re unsure, follow the instructions in your latest cruise documents, as check-in arrangements at Liverpool have changed several times in recent years.

Passengers with luggage on a railway station platform, an easy way to reach a Liverpool cruise without parking
Arriving by train avoids parking costs altogether. Photo: Bingqian Li on Pexels

Getting to Liverpool Cruise Terminal Without a Car

If you live within easy reach of the rail network, leaving the car at home can work out cheaper than a week of parking.

  • Liverpool Lime Street: the city’s main mainline station, with direct trains from London, Manchester, Birmingham and beyond. The terminal is about a 20-minute walk or a 5 to 10-minute taxi ride away.
  • James Street (Merseyrail): the nearest station to Pier Head, roughly a 10-minute walk from the terminal. You can reach it from Lime Street by changing to the Merseyrail underground loop.
  • From Manchester Airport: direct trains to Lime Street take around an hour, which suits anyone flying in before a cruise.
  • Taxis: Ambassador’s port guide lists several local firms, including Delta Taxis (0151 924 7373) and Alpha Taxis (0151 722 8888). Lime Street has a taxi rank outside.

Hotels With Parking Before a Liverpool Cruise

Staying the night before takes the stress out of embarkation, especially if you have a long drive. Many city centre hotels don’t have their own car parks but have arrangements with nearby multi-storeys, so ask whether the hotel can offer parking for the full length of your cruise or only for the nights you stay. If it’s only the hotel stay, you can move the car to the CPS service on the morning of departure.

Hotels around the Albert Dock, Pier Head and Princes Dock put you within walking distance of the ship. For a wider shortlist, see our guide to hotels near UK cruise ports. Sailing from the south coast instead? Our Southampton cruise parking guide covers the very different setup there.

Liverpool Cruise Parking Checklist

  • Book parking as soon as your cruise is confirmed, even if parking is included in your fare.
  • Use L1 8LT for standard CPS parking and L3 1DL only for assistance parking or a quick drop-off.
  • Check vehicle height if you’re self-parking (Princes Dock is 2.1m).
  • Charge your EV before you arrive; don’t count on chargers at the cruise car park.
  • Arrive at your allocated time, not earlier, to avoid queues.
  • Keep your booking reference and cruise documents handy for check-in.

Still choosing a sailing? Have a look at the latest cruise deals for 2027, including no-fly options from UK ports.

FAQs

What is the postcode for Liverpool Cruise Terminal?

The terminal is at Princes Parade, Liverpool L3 1DL. If you’ve booked standard CPS cruise parking, drive to Q-Park Liverpool ONE at L1 8LT instead, where your car is checked in and a minibus takes you to the ship.

How much does parking at Liverpool Cruise Terminal cost?

CPS doesn’t publish Liverpool prices online, so ask CPS or your cruise line for a quote. As a guide, Princes Dock Multi-Storey is listed at around £21.50 a day, which works out at roughly £150 for a seven-night cruise.

Is there free parking for Liverpool cruises?

Some Fred. Olsen and Ambassador fares or promotions include parking, but you still need to book your space with CPS in advance. There’s no free long-stay parking near the terminal for the general public.

Can I park at the cruise terminal itself?

Only if you’ve booked CPS assistance parking, which is meant for passengers with mobility needs. Everyone else parks at Liverpool ONE or another city car park and is transferred or walks to the terminal.

What is the nearest train station to Liverpool Cruise Terminal?

James Street on the Merseyrail network is closest, around a 10-minute walk. Lime Street, the main station for national trains, is about a 20-minute walk or a short taxi ride away.

Close-up of a large bronze ship propeller with curved blades, similar to a cruise ship propeller

Cruise Ship Propellers: How Many, How Big and How Azipods Work

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsFirst time cruisers

Most large modern cruise ships have two or three main propellers, each mounted on a steerable electric pod (often an ABB Azipod) under the stern, plus several smaller bow thrusters for docking. On the biggest ships, each cruise ship propeller is about 6 meters (20 feet) across and turns slowly, at a couple of hundred revolutions per minute or less, rather than spinning like a boat outboard.

Propellers are one of the few parts of a cruise ship passengers almost never see, yet they affect everything from how smoothly the ship docks to how much vibration you feel in an aft cabin. Here is a clear, up-to-date guide to how cruise ship propellers work in 2026.

How Many Propellers Does a Cruise Ship Have?

The answer depends on the ship’s age and design, but the pattern on today’s large ships is fairly consistent:

Ship Main propulsion Side thrusters
Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) 3 azimuthing ABB Azipods, 20 MW each 5 bow thrusters
Oasis class, e.g. Wonder of the Seas 3 azimuthing ABB Azipods, 20 MW each, with 6 m (20 ft) propellers 4 bow thrusters
Mardi Gras (Carnival) 2 azimuthing electric propulsion units, 18.5 MW each Not listed in sources we checked
Queen Mary 2 (Cunard) 4 Rolls-Royce Mermaid pods: 2 fixed, 2 azimuthing 3 bow thrusters
Viking Octantis (expedition) 2 ABB Azipods, 5.5 MW each Not listed in sources we checked

So for most big ships the count is two or three main propellers, with Queen Mary 2 an exception at four. Count the side thrusters as well and a ship can easily have seven or eight propellers in total. More propulsion power does not always mean more propellers: Icon of the Seas uses three large pods, while older ships often spread similar duties across two shafts plus rudders.

Azipod vs Traditional Shaft Propellers

What is an Azipod?

Azipod is ABB’s trademarked name for a podded propulsion unit. An electric motor sits inside a streamlined pod hanging below the hull, and the propeller is attached directly to the motor shaft with no gearbox. The whole pod rotates through 360 degrees, so it both drives and steers the ship. No rudder is needed. People often use “Azipod” loosely for similar units from other makers, such as the Rolls-Royce Mermaid pods on Queen Mary 2.

Most cruise pods use a “pulling” layout, with the propeller at the front of the pod facing forward. This lets the blades work in smooth, undisturbed water, which is more efficient and quieter.

How pods changed cruise ships

The technology was developed in Finland, with the first prototype installed on a small fairway support vessel in 1990. Carnival’s Elation, delivered in 1998, was the first cruise ship to use Azipods. According to ABB, sea trials showed Elation was about 0.55 knots faster at full power than its shaft-driven sister ships while using 9% less propulsion power, and its turning circle was roughly halved.

Traditional shaft propellers

Older cruise ships, and some newer designs, use long propeller shafts running from motors deep inside the hull out through the stern, with rudders behind the propellers. Some use controllable-pitch propellers, whose blades twist to change thrust and direction. Shaft systems are proven and robust, but the ship relies on rudders and thrusters to steer, which makes tight maneuvers harder.

Azipods / pods Shaft and rudder
Steering Whole unit rotates 360 degrees Separate rudders
Maneuvering in port Excellent, can push sideways Relies more on thrusters and sometimes tugs
Engine room layout Motor sits in the pod, freeing space inside the hull Long shaft lines take up hull space
Crash stop Pods turn 180 degrees; ABB cites about 50% shorter stopping distance Propellers must slow and reverse
Large bronze ship propeller with curved blades seen from below in a dry dock
Big ship propellers are usually inspected and repaired in dry dock. Photo: Richard REVEL on Pexels

Cruise Ship Propeller Size, Materials and Speed

How big is a cruise ship propeller?

On Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, each Azipod turns a propeller about 6 meters (20 feet) in diameter, roughly the height of a two-story house. Propellers on mid-size ships are smaller. Queen Mary 2’s propellers use separately bolted blades, and the ship carries eight spare blades on its foredeck, just ahead of the bridge.

What are they made of?

Large ship propellers are normally cast from copper-based alloys, most commonly nickel-aluminium bronze. The alloy resists seawater corrosion and stands up well to cavitation damage, and fixed-pitch propellers are typically cast as a single piece. Their golden color is why freshly polished propellers glow in dry dock photos.

How fast does a cruise ship propeller spin?

Much slower than most people expect. Cruise Critic notes that ship propellers usually turn at 250 rpm or less, and ABB’s own performance charts for its larger cruise-size pods plot propeller speeds in a range of roughly 50 to 250 rpm. The exact figure varies by ship, propeller size and speed. Large propellers turn slowly because a big, slow blade moves a huge volume of water efficiently and with less noise.

How Propellers and Thrusters Steer and Dock a Ship

Modern cruise ships are diesel-electric (or LNG-electric). The engines drive generators, and the electricity powers the propulsion motors, thrusters and the hotel side of the ship. During docking, the bridge team combines:

  1. Pods at the stern: rotated independently to push the stern sideways, forward or backward.
  2. Bow thrusters: propellers inside sideways tunnels through the hull near the bow that push the front of the ship left or right.
  3. Joystick control: many ships let officers maneuver with a single joystick, with the computer coordinating pods and thrusters.

This is why big ships can often berth without tug assistance. Queen Mary 2’s three 3.2 MW thrusters, for example, let it turn within its own length in port.

Noise and Vibration: Which Cabins Feel the Propellers?

Because the propellers sit under the stern, cabins at the very back of the ship on low decks are the most likely to feel some vibration, especially when the ship speeds up, maneuvers or sails in heavy seas. Pods have reduced this a lot compared with older shaft-driven ships, but sensitive sleepers still notice it on some ships.

Bow thrusters are the other common source of noise. Wärtsilä notes that tunnel thrusters used for docking can disturb passengers in forward cabins close to the hull, typically early in the morning when ships arrive in port. If you are a light sleeper, a midship cabin on a middle deck is the safest choice. Our cruise cabin secrets guide has more tips, and our list of Odyssey of the Seas cabins to avoid shows how this plays out on one specific ship.

Commercial diver working underwater beside a ship hull with bubbles around him
Divers can clean hulls and polish propellers while a ship is in port. Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels

Maintenance, Dry Dock and Cavitation

Propellers lose efficiency when their surfaces get rough from marine growth, scratches and cavitation, the formation and collapse of tiny vapor bubbles on fast-moving blades. Cavitation also creates noise: one industry estimate is that it can account for up to 85% of a ship’s radiated underwater noise.

  • Propeller polishing: divers can polish propellers while the ship is in port. The International Maritime Organization’s GreenVoyage2050 program estimates main engine fuel savings of around 3-4% right after polishing, or 0.5-3% averaged over a year, and suggests polishing about twice a year.
  • Dry dock: major inspections, seal and bearing work, and repairs usually happen during scheduled dry docks, when the ship is lifted out of the water. Newer pod designs are built so some bearing work can be done from inside the pod while the ship is in harbor.
  • Reliability: early large pod designs had some well-publicized problems that disrupted cruises in their first years, and today’s units have benefited from those lessons.

Propellers also need enough water beneath them. On pod-driven ships the pods can hang below the keel, which is one reason officers track the ship’s deepest point carefully. Our explainer on cruise ship draft explains how deep ships sit and why it matters for ports.

Are Cruise Ship Propellers Dangerous?

For passengers on board, no. The propellers are deep underwater beneath the stern, well out of reach, and there is no way to come into contact with them during normal cruising. The real risk is to people and small boats in the water near a ship that is maneuvering, because pods and thrusters create powerful currents. That is why ports keep swimmers and small craft away from berths, and why tender boats wait until the bridge gives clearance. If you ever see a ship’s wake churning beside the pier during docking, that is the propellers and thrusters at work.

FAQs

How many propellers does a cruise ship have?

Most large modern cruise ships have two or three main propellers on steerable pods, plus three to five bow thrusters. Queen Mary 2 has four main propellers.

What are the different types of propellers used on ships?

The main types are fixed-pitch propellers, controllable-pitch propellers whose blades can twist, and podded propellers such as Azipods. Ships also use tunnel thrusters for sideways movement.

How big is a cruise ship propeller?

On the largest ships, propellers are about 6 meters (20 feet) in diameter. Oasis-class ships use 20-foot propellers on each of their three Azipods.

How fast do cruise ship propellers spin?

Slowly, usually 250 rpm or less, depending on the ship and its speed. Big, slow propellers are more efficient and quieter than small, fast ones.

Do cruise ships have rudders?

Ships with fully rotating pods, such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Icon classes, do not need rudders because the pods steer. Ships with traditional shaft propellers still use rudders.

Bright cruise ship stateroom with a made bed and window, illustrating Nieuw Amsterdam cabins to avoid and book

Nieuw Amsterdam Cabins to Avoid (and the Best Cabins to Book)

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsHolland America Line

The Nieuw Amsterdam cabins to avoid are mostly a handful of predictable spots: ocean-view rooms on Deck 4 that look straight onto lifeboats, Deck 8 cabins directly beneath the Lido pools, cabins above or below the Mainstage theatre, and rooms right beside the busy midship lifts. For a quiet, steady stay, a verandah midship on Decks 5, 6 or 7 is the safest bet, sandwiched between other cabins.

Nieuw Amsterdam is one of Holland America Line’s two Signature-class ships (Eurodam is her twin), and it is a well-liked, mid-sized vessel with 1,061 staterooms. Almost two-thirds of them have a verandah, so there are plenty of good choices. This guide walks through the cabins to avoid on Nieuw Amsterdam, then the best cabins for different kinds of traveller, so you can book with confidence. Deck plans do change, so always check the current deck plan before booking.

Nieuw Amsterdam at a glance

Nieuw Amsterdam entered service in 2010 and had her most recent dry dock in December 2023. She spent the 2026 summer in Alaska, sailing mostly from Vancouver, including a 14-day Great Alaska Explorer and seven-day Inside Passage and Glacier Discovery cruises, and is part of Holland America’s six-ship Alaska line-up again for 2027. For the 2027-28 season she takes over from Oosterdam on South America and Antarctica voyages, which makes cabin choice for long, potentially rough sea days more important than usual.

Nieuw Amsterdam is also on the list for the line’s Holland America Evolution refurbishment programme, though no date or detail has been confirmed for her yet. Deck plan specialists list a dry dock pencilled in for late 2028 that could add new suites and solo cabins and change cabin numbers, so treat any cabin numbers you see for sailings after that date with caution.

Category Number of cabins Typical size
Interior 156 About 154 to 207 sq ft
Ocean view 187 Varies; some are obstructed
Verandah 602 213 to 379 sq ft including balcony
Signature Suite 52 273 to 456 sq ft
Neptune Suite 62 About 506 to 590 sq ft
Pinnacle Suite 2 About 1,357 sq ft

Nieuw Amsterdam cabins to avoid: the quick list

Many guests sleep happily in all of these, but light sleepers, anyone prone to seasickness and those paying for a view should think twice.

Location Why it can disappoint Who should avoid it
Deck 4 ocean-view cabins behind the lifeboats Partial or full view of lifeboats instead of the sea Anyone paying for a sea view
Deck 4 forward verandahs Solid steel railings block the view when seated; more wind Balcony sitters, sun lovers
Deck 5 indented verandahs Balconies about 4.5 ft deep instead of 5.5 ft Couples who want two loungers out
Deck 8 cabins under the Lido pools Early-morning chair dragging and foot traffic overhead Light sleepers
Cabins above or below the Mainstage theatre Bass and applause during evening shows Early sleepers
Deck 1 cabins under the Lower Promenade venues Bars, casino and late-night foot traffic above Light sleepers
Forward cabins on Decks 8, 10 and 11 Most pitching motion in rough water Anyone prone to seasickness
Cabins beside lift lobbies Corridor chatter at all hours Light sleepers

Obstructed-view ocean-view cabins on Deck 4

Deck 4, the Upper Promenade, sits just above the lifeboats that hang along the Promenade Deck. Many ocean-view cabins here look down onto the boats, and Holland America prices them accordingly: categories HH and H are sold as fully obstructed and category G as partially obstructed. If you only use the cabin to sleep, they can be a good-value way to get a window. If you want to watch the scenery from bed, pick a higher deck or a verandah. The amount of view varies from one cabin to the next, so look for photos of the specific cabin number.

Forward verandahs with steel railings

At the front of Deck 4, some verandah categories (VH and VE in particular) have solid steel panels instead of the usual glass. Standing up, you can see over them; sitting down, you mostly see painted metal. These forward balconies also catch more wind when the ship is moving. They are often discounted, which suits some cruisers, but they are worth avoiding if lazy balcony time is the point of your trip.

Shallower balconies on Deck 5

Standard Nieuw Amsterdam verandahs are roughly 5.5 ft deep, but on Deck 5 the ship’s hull steps in and some balconies are about 4.5 ft. That foot makes a difference if you want to stretch out on a lounger. Deck 6 directly above has the regular depth with the same benefit of cabins above and below.

Balcony with chairs looking out over the open ocean, like a verandah stateroom on Nieuw Amsterdam
Balcony depth and railings vary from cabin to cabin on Nieuw Amsterdam. Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Noise hot spots on Nieuw Amsterdam

Most noise complaints on Signature-class ships come from what is above or below the cabin rather than what is next door. The pattern is simple: public rooms above you are louder than public rooms below you, and anything involving deck chairs, trolleys or a band is the main culprit.

Deck 8, beneath the Lido Deck

Deck 9 is the Lido Deck, with the covered Lido Pool, the Sea View Pool aft, and the Lido Market. Deck 8 cabins directly beneath these areas, roughly the midship and aft sections, are the ones most often mentioned for early-morning scraping as crew set out loungers and clean the deck. If you are sensitive to this, book Decks 5 to 7 instead.

Above and below the Mainstage and Lower Promenade

The Mainstage theatre sits forward on the Lower Promenade and Promenade decks, and the casino, bars and music venues are on the Lower Promenade (Deck 2). That puts some Deck 1 cabins beneath late-night entertainment and some forward Deck 4 cabins above the theatre. Bass travels through steel, so early sleepers should look further aft.

Lift lobbies and connecting cabins

Nieuw Amsterdam has lift banks forward, midship and aft. Being close to one is convenient, but cabins right next to the lobby hear doors, chatter and room-service trolleys. Two or three doors away is the sweet spot. Connecting cabins, which share an internal door with the neighbouring room, also let more sound through, so skip them unless you are travelling as a group and want the connection.

Cabins to avoid if you get seasick

Nieuw Amsterdam is a stable ship in most conditions, but some of her itineraries, including the Gulf of Alaska crossing and the 2027-28 South America and Antarctica season with Drake Passage and Cape Horn sea days, can be lively. Motion is felt most at the bow and on the highest decks. If you are prone to seasickness, avoid the forward cabins on Decks 8, 10 and 11 and choose a midship cabin on Deck 1, 4 or 5. A low-deck interior midship is often the steadiest and cheapest option on the whole ship.

Best cabins on Nieuw Amsterdam

With the trouble spots out of the way, here is where to look for each type of traveller. For a broader view of how this ship compares with the rest of the fleet, see our guide to Holland America ships ranked by real customer reviews.

  1. Midship verandahs on Deck 6. Standard balcony depth, cabins above and below, and an easy walk to both the Lido and the dining room. This is the all-round best choice for most couples.
  2. Aft-facing cabins for wake views. The aft cabins on Decks 4 to 8 look over the ship’s wake, which is a lovely sight in Alaska. Be aware that many stern balconies on the Signature class are not especially deep, and some Deck 8 aft cabins sit near the stern structure and the Sea View Pool area above. Compare balcony sizes on the plan before you pay the premium.
  3. Signature Suites. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony around 6.5 ft deep and a marble bathroom with a whirlpool tub, for a modest step up from a verandah.
  4. Neptune Suites. Most are on Deck 7, close to the Neptune Lounge with its concierge, and include perks such as laundry and priority boarding. Sizes vary by cabin number, so check the square footage of the specific suite.
  5. Pinnacle Suites. The two top suites on Deck 7 offer a separate bedroom, living and dining areas, a pantry and a large balcony. They are the only true multi-room suites on board.
  6. Low midship interiors. For the best value and the least motion, a midship interior on Deck 1 or 4, away from the lifts, is hard to beat.

Spa cabins: worth it?

Spa staterooms (grades such as IQ, CQ, VQ and SQ) are located close to the Greenhouse Spa and come with extras like a yoga mat and upgraded bathroom amenities. They are the same size as the standard equivalents and do not include access to the thermal suite, which is sold separately. Book one only if you will use the spa daily; otherwise the premium is better spent on a higher deck or a suite. Note that the VQ verandahs on the Observation Deck have small, narrow balconies.

Accessible and family cabins

Nieuw Amsterdam has around 36 accessible staterooms across several categories, including suites, with roll-in showers, fold-down seats and grab bars. Not every one is fully wheelchair accessible, and some are listed as ambulatory, so confirm the exact features with Holland America before booking. Families will find many cabins that sleep three or four on a sofa bed or pull-down berth, and connecting rooms are available if you want two cabins side by side.

Traveller studying a printed map on a table, like checking a Nieuw Amsterdam deck plan before booking a cabin
Checking what sits above and below a cabin is the simplest way to avoid surprises. Photo: Bluehouseskis on Pexels

How to choose a good cabin on Nieuw Amsterdam

  • Check above and below. Open the deck plans for the decks above and below your cabin. Cabins in both directions are ideal.
  • Look up the category code. Obstructed and restricted categories are clearly coded, so you can rule them out instantly.
  • Mind the itinerary. On an Alaska cruise the side of the ship matters less on round trips, but on one-way Glacier Discovery sailings the scenery is often on one side. Ask your travel adviser which side faces land on your route.
  • Watch for renumbering. If you are booking for late 2028 or beyond, check whether your sailing falls after a planned refurbishment, as cabin numbers and categories may change.
  • Compare sister ships. If you like the newer Pinnacle class, our guide to Nieuw Statendam cabins to avoid covers a ship with a similar Holland America feel but different trouble spots, and our Oosterdam cabins to avoid guide covers the slightly smaller Vista class.

Planning a cruise on a smaller Vista-class ship instead? See our guide to Noordam cabins to avoid and the best rooms to book.

For a mid-sized alternative with Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings, see our Holland America Zuiderdam cabin guide.

If you lean towards Holland America, check whether the Holland America Have It All package makes sense for how you drink and explore before comparing total costs.

FAQs

What is the best deck for a verandah cabin on Nieuw Amsterdam?

Decks 5, 6 and 7 midship are the safest choice, because they have cabins above and below rather than public rooms. Deck 6 is a favourite as it avoids the shallower indented balconies on Deck 5 and sits well clear of the pool deck.

Which Nieuw Amsterdam cabins have obstructed views?

The main obstructed cabins are ocean-view staterooms on Deck 4 (Upper Promenade) that look out over the lifeboats. Categories HH and H are sold as fully obstructed and G as partially obstructed, and some forward Deck 4 verandahs have solid steel railings instead of glass.

Are Deck 8 cabins on Nieuw Amsterdam noisy?

Deck 8 cabins sit directly beneath the Lido Deck, so those under the pools and Lido area can pick up early-morning noise from deck chairs, cleaning and foot traffic. Cabins at the far forward or aft ends of Deck 8 are less exposed, but check what is overhead on the deck plan.

Where should I book on Nieuw Amsterdam if I get seasick?

Choose a cabin midship on a low passenger deck, such as Deck 1, 4 or 5. Motion is felt least in the middle of the ship and closest to the waterline, and most at the bow and on the highest decks.

How big is Nieuw Amsterdam?

Nieuw Amsterdam is a Signature-class ship of about 86,000 gross tons that entered service in 2010. It has 1,061 staterooms and carries around 2,100 guests at double occupancy.

Cunard-gratiuties-1-1.jpg

Everything You Need to Know Before You Cruise (2025)

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsCunard

If you’re booking a cruise with Cunard, it’s important to know how onboard tipping works. Daily gratuities are automatically added to each guest’s account, along with extra charges on drinks and spa treatments – and the costs can add up fast.

Cunard Gratuities

This info isn’t always easy to find, so I’ve put together a quick guide to help you understand exactly what you’ll pay. That way, there are no surprises when your final bill arrives!

Cunard’s Gratuities Explained

Gratuities (also known as tips) are service charges that are added to your onboard account when sailing with Cunard. When guests pay gratuities, it enables the service staff, including waiters and stateroom stewards, to be rewarded for the work they do, in addition to their wages.

Gratuities are the same price for all four of Cunard’s ships – Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne. However, there is a difference in price depending on your accommodation category. This is outlined in more detail below.

There are two types of gratuities on Cunard cruises:

  • Gratuities for hotel and dining services – Calculated daily
  • Gratuities for drinks and spa services – Calculated per purchase

It’s worth noting that casino staff do not receive any automatic gratuities, as not all passengers use their services. The tips are shared amongst the hotel, restaurant, bar and salon staff, including those who work behind the scenes.

Every dollar of the gratuity charges goes directly to the crew in these areas and there is no administrative fee.

Gratuities are typically paid off at the end of your cruise, the night before you disembark. You can check your onboard spend using the Cunard free WiFi to log in to your account.

Cunard restaurant service gratuities

Daily Cost Of Gratuities On Cunard

In 2025, Cunard’s daily gratuities are $16 per person, per night for guests staying in Britannia Staterooms and $18 per person, per night for guests staying in Grill Suites. The charge is the same for adults and children.

On Cunard cruise ships, all bar, wine and salon services have an additional 15% charge for each purchase made. This is in addition to the daily gratuities.

If you buy a Cunard drinks package, you don’t have to pay the 15% gratuity – it’s included in the price of the package.

The gratuities on Cunard are pretty reasonable, and as fellow travel blogger Karen said in her review of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, the gratuities are “the lowest in the industry”.

Cunard’s Gratuities Are Compulsory

On a Cunard cruise, the gratuities added to each drink and spa service are compulsory. The daily gratuities for hotel and dining services are recommended but can be removed. You can also tip above and beyond the recommended amounts if you wish.

Cunard gratuities for bar, wine and spa services are added to your onboard account automatically along with each purchase. The hotel and dining service charge will appear on your onboard account as a daily charge.

Cunard hotel service gratuities

Removing Gratuities On A Cunard Cruise

On a Cunard cruise, you can opt to remove or adjust the daily gratuities (hotel and dining service charge). This can be done at the Guest Services desk once you’re on board the ship.

While some people like to remove daily gratuities and instead tip cash to certain crew members, this isn’t recommended. As well as waiters and staterooms stewards, there are many crew members who offer support behind the scenes, working in the kitchens, laundry rooms and other areas.

If you remove gratuities from your onboard account, the people who work hard that you may never see will lose out financially.

If you have had a bad experience with the service on your cruise and wish to remove the gratuities, you should speak to the staff at Guest Services, who will be able to remove them from your account.

Cunard guest services

Prepaying Gratuities On Cunard

You cannot prepay for your Cunard gratuities before your cruise. However, you can pre-purchase onboard spending money, which can be used against your hotel and dining service charges, as well as bar, wine and salon service charges.

Log onto your My Cunard account to manage your cruise before you sail.

Tipping Extra On A Cunard Cruise

Whether to tip extra on top of the standard gratuities on your Cunard cruise is entirely down to personal preference. If you feel there is a member of the crew who has gone above and beyond what is expected to make your time on board memorable, you are welcome to reward them individually for doing so.

Each Cunard stateroom has its own steward assigned to it – usually, you will see them making up rooms up and down the ship throughout your sailing. The same steward will make up your stateroom and will likely introduce themselves on your first day of embarkation.

Many people tip their cabin stewards personally, leaving money in an envelope for them in their room on the morning of disembarkation or tipping them personally on their last day. The guest services desk will supply envelopes to those who ask for them.

Other members of staff you will see around the ship on a regular basis include your dining team. When visiting the main dining room, in particular, you will notice the same faces sitting and serving you. Many people will also be assigned an area or specific table throughout the cruise, so you will see familiar faces as the cruise continues.

These are also members of staff who people like to personally tip due to them being seen regularly and shown to make their cruise experience special.

Cunard waitress

Cunard Cruises With Free Gratuities

For those sailing on Cunard world cruises, promotions are sometimes available, which include complimentary hotel and dining service charges. Look out for these, as they can save you a lot of money.

In some promotions, Cunard offers free onboard spending money. You can use this free spending money to pay for some or all of the gratuities incurred on your cruise, depending on the amount of free credit and the gratuity charge.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Cunard offers…

Final Thoughts

People often have differing opinions towards paying gratuities. While paying tips comes naturally to Americans, Brits and Australians aren’t used to paying a lot for tips. And the daily gratuities on a cruise can certainly add up to a hefty sum.

Some cruisers like to tip on their own terms and will remove all gratuities to award individual members of staff. Others remove them to save on costs as soon as they step aboard. However, most people will be glad to pay the daily gratuity charge to ensure that every member of staff is rewarded fairly for their hard work.

It’s important to know which you prefer, so you can factor in the cost before you set sail and know where your onboard account will end up at the end of your sailing.

Related Posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

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.

Read more about me


Source link