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Virgin Voyages’ new ship creates such a dilemma.
Or maybe ia brilliant plan cooked up to perfection.
Virgin Voyages’ new cruise ship Valiant Lady — the second in the new cruise line’s fleet — offers so many restaurants and fantastic dining options that you would need to cruise again and again on the ship to properly indulge in all the creative cuisine.
The ship offers more than 20 options for dining. You’ll find all sorts of international flavors but no big buffets or main dining rooms. Virgin Voyages really stands apart from the regular cruise concept when it comes to feeding its guests.
Plus, all of these eateries are included in your cruise fare. That’s right: no added fees for any of the specialty restaurants onboard Valiant Lady.
This is a beautiful space at the aft of the ship, and the entrance descends a gorgeous winding staircase below a huge bank of decorative hanging chandelier lights. It makes for a dramatic way to start your meal, entering the restaurant from Deck 7 down to Deck 6.
Passengers can indulge in the raw bar or traditional steak and seafood classics.
You can get a nice brunch here that features a small menu with eggs benedict specialties. We were disappointed that you can’t get eggs to order here during the brunches, so no scrambled or simple omelets even for those who don’t prefer eggs Benedict.
The lovely charcuteries board from Extra Virgin
Extra Virgin
This is the Italian restaurant on Valiant Lady. We enjoyed a great meal here that started with a basket of delicious fresh bread and a charcuteries board with a range of savory salamis, cheeses and chutney.
We arrived early for our reservation and had a drink at the bar before being escorted to our table.
After our delicious apps (which also included braised mini meatballs), we still had room to indulge in main courses of pasta (I had a pappardelle bolognese), a brussels sprouts and polenta dish and a porcini-rubbed New York strip steak.
The reveal!
The Test Kitchen
This one might not be for everyone, but it’s worth a try. The Test Kitchen is operated in a huge space that looks like a laboratory, complete with staffers in lab coats. The dining experience takes diners on a journey into molecular gastronomy, with the chefs creating a set six-course menu offering an array of flavors.
Our dinner included courses of mushroom mousse, a smoky egg and peas, scallop, venison fillet and a chilled semifreddo blue cheese preparation that was a creamy delight. We also eagerly plunged our spoons into the mouthwatering chocolate layer-cake dessert.
Gunbae
This restaurant is universally loved among all the passengers I met. Gunbae is a fun Korean barbecue experience. Servers prepare your main dishes on a heating dish in the middle of a table that seats up to six people. This is a lively evening of eating, and you also choose small bites like seaweed salad and crispy chicken. You also can pick from rice, noodles and stew to accompany your main course. We had bibimbap, kimchi stew and stir-fried vegetables, egg and vermicelli noodles.
I chose the chef’s combo of pork belly, short ribs and shrimp, and our server deftly flipped the meats, onions and peppers into the sizzling flameless grill.
We also had a blast with interactive games and shots of soju while we dined. The staff does a wonderful job of making this a festive and memorable experience.
This is the Mexican restaurant on Valiant Lady. Pink Agave is an inviting space with a variety of seating styles, including larger tables in more intimate nooks. The décor exudes the colorful and vibrant street scenes found in Mexico City.
The eatery features the largest variety of mezcals and tequilas found at sea, and they are used to help create a wide range of craft cocktails to be paired with authentic Mexican specialties. The menu offers small and medium plates good for sharing, such as guacamole, spicy grilled corn and ship and potatoes, as well as main course like a juicy pork pibil, pescado (fish) and chicken enchiladas.
The large menu of options is sure to please at Razzle Dazzle
Breakfasts are spectacular with menu items like avocado toast, coconut milk brioche french toast, smoked cheddar jalapeno croissant, acai bowls and malted buckwheat waffles. Plus, the variety of healthy smoothies (for a fee) are great choices for fitness-focuses cruisers.
The menu also offers Impossible burgers, black garlic bowtie pasta, ginger beer chicken, and fish and chips, as well as whole roasted heirloom cauliflower. Loaded tots and shishito peppers are popular sides.
While veg-focused, the menu also has a “Naughty” section with a salmon bowl, cobb salad with chicken and fried chicken sandwich.
Razzle Dazzle also has a wonderful array of desserts, especially the cookies, cheesecake and rainbow churros.
The Dock House/The Dock
Located at the aft of the ship on Deck 7, The Dockhouse is a bar and lounge area inside the ship, and The Dock is the cozy outer deck. These spaces have a relaxing resort feel, and the food options are delicious mezze (small plates) that are great for sharing. The dishes are Mediterranean-inspired creations like grilled octopus, goat cheese polenta and fire-roasted chicken thighs. Mezze carts offer ready-to-grab items like watermelon and feta, cauliflower couscous, beet hummus and black babaganoush.
This café features Hawaiian poke bowls served over greens or rice.
The Social Club Diner
Hot dogs of all kinds are featured here. The menu features the reuben, which is layered with pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. You can also try the Philly, Chicago or a vegan hot dog. We also ordered up some wings. Popcorn is available to munch on while you play board or bar games or watch sports on the two big TVs.
A sweets case features chocolates, cake pops and other sugary treats, too.
A sampling of Tacos and Ramen Bowl from The Galley
The Galley
This is a hip food hall with a dizzying array of tasty options. Each of these venues has fresh-made goodies. You can stroll through here and find something to satisfy any craving. The venue is filled with a variety of seating, in a bright space with nice views outside. You can also sit outside at the very aft of the ship. The Galley also features charging outlets at some of the seats and counters. So, you can charge your phone or device while dining.
It has the feel of a vibrant diner.
Check out the variety of food stations in this large space on Deck 15.
Noodle Around is a noodle bar features pho and ramen bowls.
Bento Baby offers grab-and-go sushi and other pre-prepped meals for breakfast (mixed berries), lunch and dinner.
Let’s Taco Bout It is the taco stand, and I always grabbed the tacos al pastor from here when enjoying lunch in The Galley. It has avocado burritos or chorizo burritos for breakfast, too.
Diner & Dash has all-day breakfasts hot off the grill, with all kinds of omelets available. There is a hot roast beef sandwich for dinner, as well.
Burger Bar is just what it says. You can get burgers and fries, including an Impossible Burger.
The Sweet Side is the station for tasty desserts. Cookies, cakes, pies and muffins — in addition to fresh fruits.
Well Bread features all kinds of freshly baked breads, rolls and bagels.
Hot Off the Press specializes in paninis, with standards like the turkey and Swiss or pastrami on rye and creative sandwiches like a crunchy PB&J on brioche or buffalo mozzarella.
The Daily Mix is a salad station, where you can create your own or ask for special concoctions. The menu includes chicken Caesar, Greek, spinach and quinoa and mixed green salads, and you can add proteins like chicken, tuna and eggs.
The Pizza Place is located on Deck 7 offers a simple menu of pizzas. Don’t forget you can ask for it to go also!
The Pizza Place
This pizza joint is located on Deck 7 and features a simple menu of pizzas (white truffle and egg, pepperoni, chicken pesto, white pie and classic cheese). They are small enough for one person to finish on their own if you have a decent appetite. Plus, the pizzas are all made fresh to order, to be enjoyed around the ship (ask for it to go) or at the cozy little eatery that has indoors seating and wonderful outdoors tables and seating on the promenade.
This place will having you coming back for more of for these amazing ice cream
Lick Me Till Ice Cream
Located close to the Pizza Place, this ice cream kiosk offers decadent and creamy flavors served in a dish or cones (try the red velvet cone).
Grounds Club
This is the ship’s coffee shop on Deck 7, and it’s worth a mention in our food guide for the fresh-made cookies, brownies and muffins you will be tempted to grab anytime you walk past.
This is a quite an array of food choices, huh?
We hope you can sail onboard Valiant Lady soon and try them all.
In this episode of the Cruise Addicts Talk Show, John Shallo interviews Lee Mason, the cruise director aboard Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the Carnival Celebration.
Plan Your Trip?
Need help planning a trip? Check out these helpful links:
If you’re new to cruising (or just new to P&O), it’s not always clear what’s included and what you’ll end up paying extra for. I get questions about this all the time on Instagram, so I’ve put together a simple guide to make it super easy.
P&O Cruises offer three different fares – Select Price, Saver, and Early Saver – and each one includes different things. If you want the best value for your money, you need to know the difference.
This quick guide breaks it all down: what’s included, what’s not, and how to avoid surprise charges on board. Perfect for planning – and saving!
P&O Cruises is one of my favourite cruise lines, so I’m always following their latest cruise news. If you’d like me to keep you updated about P&O Cruises, just pop your email in the form below…
1. Accommodation
When you book a P&O Cruise, you can choose to stay in one of several different cabin types:
Inside cabins – The cheapest cabins with no windows
Sea view cabins – Include a window or porthole
Balcony cabins – With a private balcony to step outside
Suites – VIP accommodation with added perks
You’ll find specific cabin types such as mini-suites, superior deluxe balcony cabins, and single cabins within these types.
Whichever cabin type you choose, you’ll enjoy the following comforts:
En-suite bathrooms
Air conditioning
Tea and coffee-making facilities
Fridge
Hairdryer
Safe
TV
Toiletries pack
If you stay in a suite, you’ll also get lots of included extras in your room, such as fresh fruit, Champagne, chocolates, and a bathrobe and slippers, to name but a few. You can see a full list of P&O Cruises suite perks here.
When booking your P&O cruise, you’ll have two main decisions to make:
What type of cabin would you like? E.g. inside, outside, balcony or suite
Do you want to pick your cabin number or not?
If you want to choose your cabin number, you’ll need to book the Select Fare. If you don’t mind which cabin you get, then the Saver or Early Saver Fare will be cheaper.
Select Fare
Choose the exact cabin you would like.
Saver & Early Saver Fares
Choose the cabin type you would like, and your cabin number will be assigned to you.
So, should you choose your cabin number or book what is known as a ‘guarantee cabin’ and have it assigned to you a few weeks before your cruise?
Well, that really depends on whether you want a cabin in a certain location (such as a low deck if you get seasick or near the lifts, if you can’t walk too far).
To help you decide, take a look at my P&O Cruises cabin guides for the ship that you’re interested in…
Booking the Select Fare doesn’t just allow you to choose a cabin number; you’ll also get some other perks, which we’ll discuss further in this guide.
Sometimes, free upgrades are given. This can mean that you pay for an inside cabin but get upgraded to a balcony for no extra cost. Upgrades are first offered to Select Fare guests, then Extra Saver Fare guests, then Saver Fare guests.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest P&O Cruises offers…
2. Food
P&O Cruises include breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and snacks in a choice of venues. Each ship also has speciality restaurants where you can dine for a set fee.
The P&O Cruises menus change every day and special diets are always well catered for.
Included food on P&O Cruises:
Main Dining Room – For breakfast, lunch and dinner
Buffet Restaurant – For breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus an early tea for kids
The Quays – A multi-venue food court (only on Iona and Arvia)
Afternoon Tea – Finger sandwiches, scones, tea and coffee
Speciality Dining – Restaurants offering global cuisine with a cover charge
Market Cafe – Crepes, waffles, cakes and biscuits
Ice Cream – Outside of mealtimes, ice cream has an extra charge
The speciality dining venues vary by ship, with some favourites, such as Sindhu Indian restaurant, appearing on every P&O Cruises ship.
The cover charges are reasonable, ranging from £9.50 per person for dinner at The Beach House to £30.00 per person for dinner at The Epicurean.
Although children are welcome in the speciality restaurants, there is no children’s menu and no children’s prices. I prefer to take the kids to the earlier kids’ tea in the buffet restaurant and then leave them at the kids’ club while we enjoy an adult-only dining experience.
There’s really no need to pay any extra for food on your P&O Cruise, especially if you’re cruising for less than a week. While it can be nice to dine in a speciality restaurant for a special occasion, you really don’t need to budget anything extra for food if you don’t want to.
There are some drinks on P&O Cruises that are always available free of charge. For other drinks, you can either add these to your bill individually and pay for them at the end of your cruise, or you can buy a drinks package that will make your cruise all-inclusive.
Included drinks on P&O Cruises:
Glasses of water
Tea
Coffee
Cordial
Milk
Fruit juices (at breakfast)
When you book your cruise, you’ll need to decide whether to buy a drinks package or to pay for your alcohol and soft drinks individually. There are five different drink packages to choose from, and which one is best depends on what you like to drink.
To help you decide whether to buy a drink package or not, I’ve put together this thorough guide: P&O Drinks Packages Guide.
If you’d like to take a look at the drinks menus to get an idea of prices, you can see those here: P&O Cruises Drinks Menus.
I’ve also made a calculator to help you decide if you’ll pay more with or without a drink package. You just enter how many of each drink you plan to have, and it will work out your expected bar bill for you so you know if you’ll break even on the package or not…
4. Room Service
On P&O Cruises, room service is free of charge at breakfast time (7 am to 11 am), but there’s a charge at all other times.
Included room service breakfast on P&O Cruises:
Fruit juices and smoothies
Yoghurt
Cereals
Fruit and compotes
Croissants, muffins, Danish pastries, pain au chocolat
Toast
Panini with sausage, bacon and tomato
To order the free breakfast room service on your P&O cruise, just mark what items you want on the card along with your preferred delivery time and hang it on the outside of your door.
After 11 am, the room service prices on P&O Cruises are very reasonable.
P&O Cruises room service prices:
Baguettes with salad and crisps – £2.25
Wraps with fries and tabbouleh salad – £2.75
Speciality sandwiches with fries – £5.95
Kids sandwiches with orange juice, yoghurt and brownie – £2.95
Soups and salads- £1.95
Small plates (starters) – £2.50
Large plates (mains) – £5.95
Sharing plates – £7.95 to £12.50
Healthy salads and omelettes – £3.95
Desserts – £2.50
Cookies, brownies, muffins and doughnuts – £1.75
Below is the full P&O Cruises room service food and drinks menu…
You can also order drinks via room service. See the menu with prices above.
There is an extra charge for items from your minibar on P&O Cruises. The mini bar is not included in the drinks package either.
You can see P&O Cruises mini bar price list below…
I usually ask our cabin steward to empty the minibar. That leaves the fridge free so that we can store our own drinks.
P&O Cruises lets you bring up to one litre of wine or Champagne plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks on board with you. You can also bring on extra non-alcoholic drinks in each port of call and keep them in your minibar.
The cruise line used to let you bring spirits onboard too, but that policy changed in May 2024.
5. Entertainment
Your P&O cruise will include a range of entertainment throughout the day and evening at no extra cost. Each evening, you’ll receive a daily programme called Horizon, which will have the details of all of the activities and entertainment for the following day.
Included entertainment on P&O Cruises:
West End-style theatre performances
Cinema
Comedians
Live music and tribute acts
Cabaret, musicians and acrobats
Nightclub
There’s no charge to watch any of the shows on P&O Cruises’ ships.
6. Activities
On P&O cruises, the whole family can enjoy a wide variety of activities at no extra cost…
Included activities on P&O Cruises:
Swimming pools and hot tubs
Gym and fitness classes
Running track
Sports court with football, basketball and tennis
Golf nets
Deck quoits and shuffleboard
Darts
Table tennis
Dance classes
Card room and bridge classes
Pub quizzes
Family discos
Sports tournaments
Seminars with guest speakers
Library
Kids’ bingo
Some activities do have an extra charge. These are activities done in small groups, such as cookery classes or behind-the-scenes tours, as well as activities where you get to take something home such as photos or souvenirs.
Spa with thermal suite, saunas and steam rooms
Hair and beauty services
Casino
Arcades
Cooking classes
Art auctions
Shopping e.g. Clothes, jewellery, perfume and souvenirs
Behind-the-scenes tours
Photo shoots
1 to 1 dance tuition
Art classes
7. Kids’ Clubs
P&O Cruises offers The Reef Children’s Club, which, until June 2025, had been free of charge at all times.
However, P&O Cruises is now trialling a new system on Iona where parents can pre-book kids’ club sessions in The Reef for a fee – £4.95 for daytime and £8.95 for evenings. While some free spots will still be available onboard, they’re on a first-come, first-served basis. For families with two children attending all sessions, this could add up to £38 per day. No rollout date has been confirmed for its other family-friendly ships.
The Reef Children’s Club open from just after breakfast until late in the evening, with breaks for mealtimes.
The P&O kids’ club is split into four age groups:
Splashers: 2 to 4 years old
Surfers: 5 to 8 years old
Scubas: 9 to 12 years old
H2O/ The Scene: 13 to 17 years old
On cruises outside the school holidays, when there are fewer children on board, the groups may be combined.
The activities on board P&O Cruises ships for kids in The Reef include arts and crafts, sports tournaments, soft play, games consoles, quizzes, karaoke and movie nights.
As well as the kids’ clubs, P&O Cruises offer a free night nursery service for children aged four and under. This is a group babysitting service for children who are asleep. It’s open between 6 pm and 2 am on a first-come-first-served basis.
8. Service Charges
Gratuities
While some other cruise lines mandate a daily service charge known as a gratuity, P&O Cruises includes this in the cruise fare, so you won’t get a bill for it at the end of your cruise.
Tipping staff isn’t required or expected on board P&O Cruises ships. There’s also no service charge when purchasing drinks on board.
If you’d like to tip certain staff members, such as your cabin steward or waiter at the end of your cruise, you can do so, but you don’t need to and most people don’t, as tips are included in your P&O Cruises fare.
Corkage
If you bring your own wine on board with you, you may drink it in public areas, subject to a £20 per bottle corkage fee. If you drink the alcohol in your own cabin, there’s no charge.
9. WiFi
WiFi is available on P&O Cruises’ ships for an extra charge.
When your cruise ship is in port, you’ll be able to connect to the internet over 3G, 4G or 5G. However, when the ship is at sea, you’ll want to turn this off to avoid a huge bill. And I mean huge! Data roaming at sea is notoriously expensive.
If you’d like to stay connected to the internet at sea, P&O Cruises offers two WiFi packages:
My WiFi Essential – Web browsing, email, music streaming, social media, text, and images (no videos)
My WiFi Ultimate – As above, plus video streaming
You can purchase each package for 24 hours or for your whole cruise.
P&O Cruises WiFi prices
Package
Price for 24 hours
Price for full cruise
My WiFi Essential
£18
£12 per day
My WiFi Ultimate
£24
£18 per day
If you need internet access for medical reasons, such as a continuous glucose monitoring device for diabetes, you can get this free of charge on P&O Cruises. Just ask at the reception desk on board for a free 100-minute internet voucher.
You’ll find a laundrette on most cabin decks, just take a look at the deck plan to find your nearest. Here, there will be washing machines, sinks, tumble dryers, irons and ironing boards.
The self-service laundrettes can get quite busy on sea days on longer cruises, so you may wish to do your laundry in the early morning or evenings to avoid the queues. The laundrettes close at 10 pm until 8 am so as not to disturb people in cabins nearby.
It’s a good idea to take your own 2-in-1 washing tablets. Otherwise, you can buy them from the onboard shop.
Laundry Services
If you’d rather not spend your cruise holiday doing laundry, you can send items to be washed, pressed or dry-cleaned. If you hand laundry to your cabin steward before 10 am, it will be returned the same day.
Professional cleaning is charged per item. On longer cruises, you may find special offers for multiple items.
Here is the P&O Cruises laundry price list…
11. Flights and Overseas Transfers
P&O Cruises offers cruise holidays as well as fly-cruise packages that include flights and overseas transfers.
If your cruise departs from a port outside of the UK, you will usually get flights and overseas transfers included in the cost of your package holiday.
If you prefer, it is possible to arrange your own flights or have a travel agent do this for you rather than travelling on the flight that comes as a package with your cruise. One thing to bear in mind with this option, though, is that if you travel on a P&O Cruises flight and it’s delayed, the ship will wait for you. If you book your own flight, it won’t.
P&O Cruises offers flights from the following UK cities:
Belfast
Birmingham
Bristol
East Midlands
Glasgow
London
Manchester
Newcastle
There is often a supplement for regional departures outside of London. You may also choose to pay extra to upgrade your flight to premium economy, business class or first class.
12. Transfers To Southampton
Depending on whether you choose P&O Cruises Select Fare, Saver Fare or Early Saver Fare, you may be able to enjoy included transport to the Southampton cruise terminal. This is an option on cruises of seven nights or more that depart from Southampton.
Select Fare
Option to have return coach travel to Southampton from a local pick-up point
(You can instead opt for free parking or on-board credit)
Saver & Early Saver Fares
Make your own way to Southampton
When I lived in the north of England, I’d normally book the Select Fare because the free coach travel alone is worth the extra cost. In the past, I have paid as little as £1 for kids’ places, which include a seat on the coach!
If the coach to Southampton isn’t for you, you can instead choose free car parking in Southampton or some extra on-board spending money.
For cruises departing from Southampton, P&O Cruises can book internal flights from regional UK airports for an extra cost.
13. Shuttles Buses in Port
Another advantage of choosing P&O Cruises’ Select Fare is that it entitles you to ride the shuttle buses for free. These offer a constant service running between the ship and the city centre.
Select Fare
Free shuttle buses in port from ship to city centre
Saver & Early Saver Fares
Shuttle buses are available for around £5 per person each way
The shuttle buses aren’t available in every port. This is because in some ports your ship will dock very close to the city centre, so there is no need for one.
Some ports are working cargo ports where it’s not safe or possible for passengers to explore on foot. In these ports, a free shuttle bus will be provided for everyone.
In some ports, you’ll find independent buses and taxis which can work out to be a similar price to paying for the P&O shuttle bus.
14. Shore Excursions
On P&O Cruises, shore excursions are available for an extra charge. After booking, you can see which shore experiences are available for your cruise on the My P&O Cruises planner.
The excursions are usually a little pricier than doing your own thing and they can feel a little rushed sometimes. But if you prefer to step off the ship and onto a coach rather than planning your day ashore yourself, then it can be a stress-free way to explore.
P&O Cruises Onboard Credit
When you book a Select Price P&O cruise, you may receive some free onboard credit to spend on the ship. You’ll also get onboard credit if you’re a Carnival shareholder, as I am.
Many people wonder what to spend this free money on, and you may wish to plan this before you go.
You can spend P&O Cruises onboard credit on:
Drinks (individually or as a package)
Speciality dining*
Shore excursions*
Spa services, hair and beauty treatments*
Items from any of the onboard shops
Photographs
Laundry and dry cleaning
Internet and telephone charges
Artwork from the gallery
Celebration packages*
*To use your onboard credit, you must book these on the ship, not before embarkation.
You can not use P&O Cruises onboard credit to buy:
Shore excursions, speciality dining or spa services that are booked before embarkation
Visas
Medical charges
Cashback
Future cruises
Flight upgrades
Foreign currency
Casino and arcades
Charity donations
Shore excursion cancellation charges
There is no refund or cash alternative for any onboard credit that’s not spent before disembarkation. So if you have any left at the end of your cruise, be sure to head to the souvenir shop to spend it.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest P&O Cruises offers…
To Conclude
P&O Cruises offers great value for money as there’s so much included. Are P&O Cruises all-inclusive? No, but very few cruise lines are, and those that are tend to charge a lot more for the privilege!
While many other cruise lines charge extra for gratuities, service charges on drinks and breakfast room service, these are included in the ticket price with P&O Cruises.
The free late-night babysitting for under-fives is something that you also won’t find on any other cruise line.
It’s possible to cruise with P&O without spending anything at all on top of your cruise ticket price. That said, most people do leave with something on their bill, even if it’s just drinks.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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The more we do something, the more we learn. Each experience allows us to be a little bit more savvy and able to avoid the mistakes of the past.
The same goes for cruising. The more you go, the more equipped you are with the details and experiences to know your likes and dislikes. You can better refine your preparation, packing and onboard practices so that you have an even more amazing cruise each time out.
With that in mind, here are the 10 things that I wish I knew before I took my first cruise.
Before My First Cruise
Photo by Vlada Karpovich
You Don’t Need to Pack So Much
We were genuine excited for my first cruise – sailing on Carnival Inspiration out of New Orleans almost two decades ago – so we packed a lot. Much more than we needed, really, for a weeklong trip to the Caribbean.
The main culprits were the extra casual clothes and shoes. Sure, we needed some fancy items for dinners, but we found that we spent most of our time during the days in our swimsuits and sandals. So, we had too much casual wear. Also, a lot of the extras, like books and magazines, went untouched as we had so much else to do during the week. We now pack much lighter, and if we have to wear the same shirt or shorts a couple times, that works just fine and greatly lightens our load.
We now can typically do carry-on only for our flights.
Cruise lines offer all-you-can-drink plans. Note: Carnival Cruise Line’s Cheers! Beverage program allows a maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks per day (that should be enough, I would think).
If you plan to have plenty of cocktails, beers, sodas, premium coffees and fresh-squeezed juices daily, your cruise line’s beverage plan is a great option. It also is a hassle-free way to go without worrying about signing for a drink each time you place an order. Plus, with alcoholic drinks typically priced from $6 to $11 each, the program price of about $55 to $60 daily might work out to be a bargain for you.
Most passengers board during the same window of time on the first day of the cruise, and this tends to be right around lunch time. This means that most people head straight to the buffet area on the upper decks.
It can be incredibly frustrating to deal with the crowds. Food lines are long, people are wandering and weaving throughout the facility, and it’s often difficult to find a table. Ask a crew member whether the ship has any other venues open that are serving lunch. Sometimes the main dining room could be open, or a smaller specialty restaurant might be serving food.
The Dining Room – Deck 2 & 3 Aft
Koningsdam – Holland America Line
However, I occasionally enjoy a slower paced meal, with table service, and the main dining room is a nice option. I usually choose this venue on sea days when I have more time to relax and enjoy a meal ordered from a menu and while joining others at a table. This is a great way to meet people who might very well become your new friends.
Photo by RODNAE Productions
Use a Travel Agent
Perhaps the best advice for first-time cruisers: Get a good travel professional who specializes in cruises to help you with you booking. A travel agent won’t cost you anything but can offer great services such as monitoring your reservation for price drops ensuring that you will pay the best price possible for your voyage. They often will include a few added goodies for you, too, as a way to show their appreciation for your business.
This could mean a welcome-aboard gift like a bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries, specialty dining vouchers or onboard credit. They also can help you book shore excursions, and travel agents have intimate knowledge of the ships to help you pick out just the right, ship, itinerary and cabin so you have the best experience possible.
MSC Seashore, Infinity Pool
Book Excursions on Your Own
Cruise ships offer an array of shore excursions for each port they visit. These are typically fun or culturally enriching activities. But they often cost up to twice as much as the same experience you can get by booking the experience on your own after doing a little bit of online research. These cruise ship tours often are larger groups of people, so you only move as quickly as the slowest member of the group.
If you prefer a more intimate and customized tour experience, you could be better off booking on your own. Read reviews to learn about the experience, and you can find reputable tours through sites such as TripAdvisor or Viator.
You can also often find tours offered once you arrive in port if you want to keep your schedule open and flexible. You can check at the kiosks with vendors at the pier area and negotiate a price on many of the tours.
If you get on the ship around noon for lunch and to enjoy the amenities – and you should make the most of your cruise by getting on to start your vacation ASAP – you will need things like phone chargers, a magazine or book, sunscreen and your swim trunks so you can get the fun started. Plus, if you drop off a large suitcase with the porters before you board, it might not arrive to your room for several hours.
Guests aboard Carnival Vista can enjoy burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint with cooked-to-order hamburgers and French fries inspired by Food Network star Guy Fieri. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Food, Food and More Food
I knew that there would be a lot of food to choose from. I just hadn’t realized how much and how often I would be enticed to indulge. The buffet, multi-course dinners, ice cream stations, poolside grills and pizza eateries are always beckoning.
Late-night snacking will be part of your cruise, even if it’s not your habit back home. Go ahead, and enjoy it. I always do. But I also do a little pre-cruise dieting to prep myself and also make sure to stay active and hit the gym regularly while onboard.
You Can’t Do It All
That daily cruise program is filled with all kinds of things to take part in, from trivia contests to dance lessons, karaoke events and late-night themes parties. Plus, your ship might offer features like water slides, rock-climbing walls, skating rinks, ziplines, ropes courses and basketball courts. Don’t forget the pool time, beach visits and other shore excursions, time at the bar, watching shows in the main theater, getting a massage and … (deep breath).
Cruise Hive is here with another busy day full of cruise news, including the suspected arrest of a cruise ship spy, Carnival adjusts its price for the Celebration key pool noodle, MSC warns passengers about the Santorini fee, and an investigation into the Disney overboard incident.
A BIT ABOUT US: Cruise Hive was founded in 2008 by Emrys Thakkar, a former crew member and someone who has a massive passion for cruise ships. He has grown Cruise Hive into what it is today, a leading independent publisher covering the latest cruise news, advice, and more!
No Captain? No Experience? No Problem! How to Rent a Yacht in Croatia Without Ever Holding a Helm
Dreaming of sailing along Croatia’s stunning Adriatic coast, hopping between island paradises like Hvar, Vis, or Korčula — but don’t know port from starboard? Good news: yacht chartering in Croatia isn’t just for salty sea dogs. Even if you’ve never held a helm or tied a knot, you can still have your yacht adventure.
Here’s how it works — and why even complete beginners can (and should!) set sail.
1. Yacht Rental Options for Beginners
Croatia is one of the world’s top sailing destinations, and its yacht charter industry is tailor-made for every level of experience — including absolute zero.
You’ve got three main options:
Charter with a Skipper (Captain)
This is the most popular choice for beginners. A professional skipper handles the sailing, docking, and navigation. You just sit back, relax, and focus on important tasks — like deciding between rosé or rakija.
Ideal for: First-timers, families, groups who want a stress-free trip.
Cost: Skipper fees typically range from €150–€200 per day, plus meals and tips.
Bonus: Skippers often act as local guides, showing you hidden bays and restaurants only locals know.
Crewed Yacht Charter
Take it a notch higher with a full crew — usually a skipper, a hostess/cook, and sometimes even more. They’ll take care of everything from sailing to meals and tidying up.
Ideal for: Luxury seekers or those celebrating special occasions.
Cost: More than bareboat or skippered charters, but pure indulgence.
Vibe: Think floating boutique hotel.
Cabin Charter
Want the yacht life without renting the whole boat? Cabin charters let you book just a cabin on a shared yacht, often with a fixed itinerary and crew.
Ideal for: Solo travelers, couples, or budget-conscious adventurers.
No planning required: Just pack your swimsuit and sunscreen.
2. What Documents Do You Need?
If you’re chartering with a skipper or crew, the paperwork is minimal:
Valid ID or Passport
Contract from the charter company
Travel insurance (recommended, not always required)
If you’re going bareboat (without a skipper), you’ll need:
Valid sailing license recognized by Croatian authorities
VHF radio license
But let’s be real — if you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re not going bareboat. So forget the licenses and leave the sailing to the pros.
3. Is It Really for Beginners?
Absolutely. Chartering a yacht in Croatia as a newbie is easier than renting a scooter in Rome. You don’t need to know how to hoist a sail or read nautical charts. The yacht, crew, and route are all handled for you.
Thousands of tourists do it every year — from honeymooners to retirees to adventurous groups of friends. Many fall so in love with the sailing lifestyle that they come back year after year… and some even get their own license!
Ready to Set Sail?
If you’re curious about available options, check out what’s on offer in Croatia yacht charters — from sleek catamarans to luxurious crewed yachts.
Whether you want to swim in secret coves, sip wine under the stars, or just unplug from the world, there’s a yacht in Croatia with your name on it.
And remember: you don’t need to be a captain to live like one.
Think cruising is all about cocktails and bottomless booze? Think again. Whether you’re sober-curious, in recovery, or just don’t drink, you can still have an amazing time at sea, without a single sip.
As someone who’s cruised alcohol-free while pregnant and with a husband who doesn’t drink, I’ve got plenty of tips to help you stay strong and still enjoy every minute of your holiday.
Here’s how to cruise sober without missing out on the fun.
Sober Cruises
Sober cruises do exist, although they don’t typically have entire cruises where no alcohol is served. Instead, they are itineraries planned where groups of sober passengers can travel together and support each other, avoiding the alcohol sold on board.
As well as specially organised sober cruises, there are regular cruises where you may be able to attend AA meetings, sometimes referred to as “Friends of Bill W” meetings or FOB meetings. Anyone looking to stay sober on a cruise can use these groups as a support network.
If you want to stay sober on a cruise and you’re worried about the temptation of alcohol, it’s best to book through a dedicated travel agent that organises these cruises.
That way, you’ll either be able to travel with a larger group of sober passengers, meaning you know there won’t be as much of a ‘drinking party’ atmosphere on the ship. And you can get tailored support to ensure you have plenty of sober activities to look forward to.
If that’s not an option – the dates don’t work for you, or your preferred cruise is sold out already – then you can look at a regular cruise and use forums and social media to find sober groups who will be travelling.
While you might have the option to drink alcohol on those cruises, you can help to remove that temptation by connecting with a support group.
What To Expect On A Sober Cruise
If you’re someone who doesn’t drink, that certainly does not stop you from enjoying an amazing cruise holiday, especially if you choose a sober cruise.
I won’t lie, there are bars everywhere on a cruise ship, and there are often special offers on cocktails of the day posted on your daily updates. So, if you’re someone trying to enjoy a sober cruise but you don’t travel on an organised event or with a support group, it can be a challenge.
And yet, there is so much to do on a cruise ship that isn’t alcohol themed that you can definitely keep yourself entertained without a drink.
Cruise ships are becoming more and more packed with things to do on board. It’s not like classical ships where sunbathing with a cocktail was all you had to do between meals on a sea day.
Instead, here’s a snapshot of just SOME of the activities you could enjoy on a cruise that don’t involve alcohol:
Riding waterslides
Playing mini-golf
Rock-climbing walls
Riding go-karts
A roller-coaster around the ship
Escape rooms
Interactive, Augmented Reality (AR) activities
Movies on a big screen on the open deck
Live theatre shows
Skydiving simulators
Spa treatments, wellness activities and gym workouts
In fact, for many of these activities, you have to be alcohol-free to take part. Cruise lines will turn away anyone who’s intoxicated. I was actually turned away from the high ropes course on Arvia because I had drunk half a pint of lager.
The very latest ships are full-on floating entertainment resorts and you can find enough to keep you busy, without drinking alcohol, even if you didn’t step ashore for the entire time.
But when you do head into your ports of call to explore, you’ll find even more to do, including sightseeing tours around Mediterranean cities, exciting water sports in the Caribbean, hikes around some incredible natural scenery in Northern Europe or Alaska, and so on.
Despite the fact that cruise ships do have a bit of an alcohol culture to them on regular sailings, cruises are still some of the best options for a sober holiday because you have more entertainment options on hand, and your scenery (and choice of activities) changes with each new port you visit.
Finally, cruises do host meetings to help anyone who wants to stay sober on a cruise. They’re just a little more subtle about it – look out for those “Friends of Bill W” meetings.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages Aplenty
Teetotalers are spoilt for choice when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks. Gone are the days when you’d feel lucky to get your hands on a Becks Blue!
Nowadays, most cruise ship bars have a choice of at least three mocktails on the menu as well as several different bottles of zero-proof beers. Many also have alcohol-free wine, cider and gin on the menu.
And just because you don’t drink alcohol, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a drink package. Most cruise lines also offer non-alcoholic drinks packages so you can fill up on mocktails, smoothies, fruit juices, soft drinks, teas, coffees and bottled water.
Where To Find Sober Cruises
You can find sober cruises online – there are a number of organisations that arrange sailings. Here are some of the more popular providers of sober cruise itineraries, including some sober cruise 2025 options:
Sober Celebrations
Sober Celebrations is a US-based travel company specialising in organising group trips for sober vacationers. They offer regular cruise holidays, including an annual cruise break around Halloween.
For 2025, Sober Celebrations has arranged cruises with Royal Caribbean to Alaska and the Caribbean.
One Day At A Time Cruises is run by two American travel agents who want to help guests find a great cruise where they can be sober.
Rather than arranging group sober cruises, they are more aimed at providing tailored itineraries to guests who want to enjoy travel without the alcohol, including cruise holidays.
Travel Sober organises multiple sober cruise holidays every year across a variety of destinations. They are aimed at people who just want to relax without alcohol, or those who are on a more intensive sober recovery journey.
Cruises in 2025 are available with Noweigan Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and AMA Waterways, including destinations all over the world.
Sober Vacations is an organisation that doesn’t exclusively deal with cruises, but they do offer some of the more exotic itineraries for sober guests, where you can thrill in the destination, ideal for distracting yourself from any boozy atmosphere onboard.
Upcoming trips in 2025 include a trip to Alaska onboard Celebrity Solstice and a French river cruise onboard AMAKristina.
Fellow-Ship is specifically aimed at those in recovery from alcohol, helping to create a fun-packed cruise where you can focus more on wellness and health whilst enjoying a variety of activities.
Their next cruise is a 9-night trip from Istanbul, Turkey.
While it is true that alcohol is freely available on cruise holidays, that doesn’t rule out this type of getaway if you are someone who is recovering from alcohol addiction, or you are just someone who isn’t fond of drinking and wants to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere.
It’s best to book a cruise with a sober cruise group, but if you can’t, the best advice I have is to avoid cruise lines with more of a party atmosphere – Carnival and Virgin Voyages being two of the most prominent for that sort of lifestyle. There are no alcohol free cruise ships, but some are definitely more suited to an alcohol free cruise.
And make sure you check forums and social media groups to find other sober passengers on your sailing, so you can find support if you need it.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Anthem of the Seas is packed with some amazing features, but not every cabin is a winner.
With so many options, it’s easy to pick one that looks great on paper but turns out to be noisy, awkwardly placed, or just not right for your style of cruising.
This guide breaks down which cabins to steer clear of – and which ones are worth snapping up instead.
How To Choose The Best Cruise Cabin
While I’ve written this guide specifically about Anthem of the Seas, I also have a handy checklist you can keep with you that applies to any ship.
Just drop your email in this form and I’ll send it straight to you.
The Different Rooms On Anthem Of The Seas
With over 2,090 cabins on Anthem of the Seas, including over 170 suites, it’s hard to even know where to begin. Never mind the fact that there are actually 24 different cabin types onboard!
While a standard balcony like the one I stayed in is the most popular choice, it’s not necessarily the best. There are some really unique room types that you should also consider.
Here’s a look at all of the accommodation options on Anthem of the Seas:
Room
Type
Max. guests
Decks
Average Size (sq ft)
Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior with Virtual Balcony
Inside
4
3, 7-14
166
N/A
Interior with Virtual Balcony Accessible
Inside
4
8-11
256
N/A
Connecting Interior
Inside
2
8-11, 13
166
N/A
Studio Interior
Inside
1
6-13
101
N/A
Ocean View
Outside View
4
3, 8, 9
182
N/A
Ocean View Accessible
Outside View
4
3
182
N/A
Spacious Ocean View
Outside View
4
8-11
214
N/A
Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
4
6-13
198
55
Ocean View Balcony Accessible
Balcony
4
7, 9
298
81
Connecting Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
2
8-12
198
55
Ocean View with Large Balcony
Balcony
4
6-13
198
82
Obstructed Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
4
6-8, 13
198
55
Studio Ocean View Balcony
Balcony
1
6, 7
119
55
Junior Suite
Suite
5
6-13
267
81
Junior Suite Accessible
Suite
4
8
354
107
Junior Suite with Large Balcony
Suite
4
6-13
276
161
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom
Suite
4
8-12
351
109
Grand Suite with Large Balcony – 1 Bedroom
Suite
4
6-8, 13
351
259
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom
Suite
8
9, 10
543
259
Owner’s Suite
Suite
4
11, 12
541
259
Sky Loft Suite
Suite
4
8-9, 10-11
673
183
Grand Loft Suite
Suite
4
8-9, 10-11
696
216
Owner’s Loft Suite
Suite
4
8-9
975
501
Royal Loft Suite
Suite
6
8-9
1,640
553
Anthem Of The Seas Room Sizes
One quick but important note – the room sizes listed in the table are averages. Some might be slightly smaller, but some might even be slightly bigger.
The best thing you can do is check the Anthem of the Seas deck plans when you’re booking a room. They’re accurately drawn to scale, so you can see which rooms look to be slightly bigger or smaller, or have a slightly extended balcony.
Often they’ll be the same price as a regular-sized room in the same category, so you can nab a bargain.
Anthem Of The Seas Cabins To Avoid
A lot of thought was put into the stateroom options on Anthem of the Seas, and there are some spectacular choices available. Still, not every cabin is right for every cruise passenger. It’s not that there are bad cabins, just some that maybe you would like but someone else wouldn’t, and vice versa.
While it’s true that the Quantum-class ships aren’t the biggest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, they’re still pretty massive, and so it’s worth planning which parts of the ship you’ll spend the most time in, and using that info to work out a good stateroom. You don’t want to have to trek up loads of floors and across the length of the ship a couple of times a day if you don’t have to.
So, here are some of the cabin types and cabin locations to consider avoiding:
1. Obstructed View Rooms
6160 to 6232, 6560 to 6632
It’s not unusual for cruise ships to have obstructed-view rooms. They’ll be balcony or ocean-view rooms where your view is compromised, usually by lifeboats but sometimes by other ship structures.
Anthem of the Seas is no different. The obstruction isn’t awful – the rooms are above the lifeboats, so it’s only when you look over the railing that it’s obstructed – but definitely one to be careful of if you choose one of the balcony cabins or suites in this part of the ship.
2. Cabins Directly Adjacent To The Royal Theatre
3146, 3149, 3546, 3549
There are a few places on a ship where you might suffer from some noise disruption. Common locations on a ship include above the loudest bars, or below the pool deck, and that advice would apply to Anthem of the Seas, too.
But there are four rooms in particular worth steering clear of from a noise perspective. They share a wall with the Royal Theatre, which is where nightly live performances will take place.
While they don’t run super late, it’s best to steer clear if you want a good early night ahead of the next day’s adventures.
3. Rooms A Very Long Walk From Elevators
Because of the size of Anthem of the Seas, she has some slightly awkward elevator placement. She’s not big enough to fit three sets, so instead, there are elevators near the front of the ship and then in a mid-ship location, slightly towards the aft.
It means that any of the aft-facing rooms from Deck 8 upwards, and a handful of inside cabins on Deck 7, are quite a long walk from the elevator.
It’s not an issue for most people – especially if you want to get those steps in to burn off the buffet food each day – but if you’re carrying younger children back from the kids’ clubs (right at the front of Deck 11) when they’re tired and napping at the end of the day, you’ll definitely notice the distance!
4. Deck 11 Forward Rooms Without Kids
11118 to 11160, 11518 to 11560
The staterooms and suites right at the front of Deck 11 are adjacent to the Adventure Ocean kids’ clubs. There are Balcony Staterooms, Junior Suites and Inside Staterooms there, and regardless of which one you choose, you’re going to experience a higher level of traffic outside the room – and a lot more noise.
If you aren’t sailing with kids, then this is probably one of the worst places you can book, unless you plan on being out of your room nice and early and staying out until late.
Otherwise, the excited kiddos on their way to the kids’ club, or the many parents picking the kids up, could easily disturb you.
5. Expensive Suites
Anthem of the Seas has several options for loft suites, ranging from the Sky Loft Suite up to the best suite on the ship, the Royal Loft Suite.
These two-storey accommodation options are beautiful and very spacious… But they also don’t come cheap. And it’s definitely something to think very carefully about when deciding whether they’re worth the money.
It’s not just about whether you can afford the high prices (up to £20,000 per person, per week for the Royal Loft Suite). It’s whether you’d be better booking that, or choosing a Grand Suite for a week and then having the budget spare for another 1-2 cruises in a Grand Suite again.
You need to check out the Royal Caribbean Suite perks to see what’s included, as well as having the extra space, but for a lot of people, it’d make more sense to choose a cheaper option (including some of the smaller suites) and book several cruises instead.
6. Rooms That Can Cause Seasickness
The worst places on any ship for seasickness are right at the forward or aft parts of the ship, on the highest decks. That’s where you’ll feel the most motion.
With Anthem of the Seas, height isn’t a huge issue – there are no decks above Deck 13 with accommodation options. However, I’d still steer clear of forward and aft Deck 12 and Deck 13 rooms if you know you suffer badly from motion sickness.
The best rooms would instead be something mid-ship and lower down, preferably with a balcony so you can focus on the horizon and get some fresh air while lying in bed.
In fact, the obstructed balcony staterooms could be ideal if seasickness is your concern.
7. Connecting Cabins If You’re Not Booking Both
A common problem with cruise ship staterooms is when you book a connecting room without needing it.
The shared doorway between connecting rooms is not great at isolating noise, so while it’ll stay locked if there are strangers on the other side, you might hear more from their room than you would in a regular stateroom. And equally, they might hear more from you.
All kinds of noises can come from an adjacent stateroom. Loud snoring, arguments, other things… If you’d rather avoid the risk of hearing those, don’t book a connecting stateroom. Leave those for when you’re travelling with a group and want to book both together.
8. Deck 13 Rooms
I mean, it’s Deck 13 – why tempt fate?
I’m joking, of course, but it does seem odd that the Quantum-class ships are the only ones in the Royal Caribbean fleet that have a Deck 13.
Most skip it, going from Deck 12 straight to Deck 14, and that is because of superstition.
It’s not like the Quantum Class set the tone for Royal ditching superstition – the newer Icon-class ships also avoid a Deck 13.
Best Rooms On Anthem Of The Seas
While most rooms are great, here are some of the standout rooms on Anthem of the Seas:
1. Studio Rooms
The Quantum-class ships for Royal Caribbean introduced more options for studio rooms.
On other ships, it can sometimes be rare to get a room designed for single passengers, and when you do it’ll be an inside room, 99% of the time, with maybe a chance of a window, unless you’re willing to pay double the fare to book a regular room as a solo passenger.
While many of the studio rooms on Anthem of the Seas are Interior, there are also Balcony options, which are fantastic for single travellers who don’t want to miss out on waking up to a wonderful view.
Solo travel is becoming more and more popular, so it’s great for guests to have this option on the ship.
2. Family Connected Rooms
Some of the Studio Interior staterooms on Anthem of the Seas are connecting cabins, linked with a standard Balcony stateroom and a Junior Suite, so that you can sleep 10 people in total.
The rooms don’t have the traditional connecting doors – each has its own main door, but they’re then linked by a small vestibule. So, if booked separately, they’re just like regular staterooms but with an extra door first. Or if you book them together, that outer vestibule door works as your main entrance instead.
If you’re travelling as a group, booking these rooms together can be a great idea, since you can share the balcony space but enjoy a separate bedroom area.
The Studio room has to be registered with an adult, but you could take a teenager with you and then let them have the Studio as their own, even if the Studio officially belongs to the parent. Then they get their own space, without needing an expensive two-bedroom suite.
What’s a little unusual is that, on the Anthem of the Seas deck plans, the connecting arrows aren’t shown. They are on sister ships Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, which have the same room layouts.
3. Corner Spacious Oceanview Staterooms
From Decks 8 to 11, the staterooms right at the front of the ship are Spacious Oceanview rooms. They can’t be balconies, because the wind would force the balcony door to remain shut most of the time, so instead they offer a bigger Oceanview room with a fantastic view.
If you can book one of the corner rooms, you’ll get even more space – they’re considerably bigger again! Just check the deck plans and you’ll see what I mean:
4. Virtual Balcony Staterooms
First introduced on Anthem’s sister ship, Quantum of the Seas, the Virtual Balcony staterooms are a great alternative to a regular Interior stateroom.
You still get a view, albeit on a digital screen. While it won’t help with the lack of natural light, it is good if you want to see what time of day it is (the virtual balcony is a livestream from outside the ship) and it’s better than just having four plain walls.
5. Deck 11 Rooms with Kids
See every reason I gave for not booking a Deck 11 Forward stateroom if you didn’t have kids?
Reverse those if you do. It’s great being so close to the kids’ clubs, and having the pool deck and buffet restaurants only a couple of decks away, too.
Super-convenient, especially when it comes to collection time and the younger kids are refusing to walk and have to be carried in your arms.
The Best Deck On Anthem Of The Seas
There’s no single best deck on Anthem of the Seas, but it’s recommended to have staterooms above and below you if you want the least noise, so Decks 7 to 12 would be the better options.
Avoid rooms on Deck 11 near the front of the ship if you don’t have kids, but anything mid-ship towards the aft would be fine since that’s away from the kids’ clubs.
The Best Room On Anthem Of The Seas
The biggest room on Anthem of the Seas is the Royal Loft Suite, and it is a stunning option, though it’s very expensive. The Interior Staterooms with Virtual Balcony are a great option if you’re on a budget and want to enjoy some form of view, even if it is digital.
Choosing Your Own Room Vs Going For The ‘Guarantee’ Option
When booking your Anthem of the Seas room, you’ll be able to pick a category and then have the option of paying extra to choose your specific cabin number, or opting for a cheaper ‘Guarantee’ room where the cruise line will pick your room for you.
It’s risky because you can only select whether you want Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, or a specific Suite type. You can’t pick a deck, so you could end up with one of the rooms I’ve told you to avoid.
Benefits of choosing your cabin number:
Choose your preferred location on the ship
Book two cabins next to each other
Still, if you’re laid back and don’t intend to spend much time in your cabin anyway, the savings might be worth it to you.
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More Information About Anthem Of the Seas Cabins
To put this guide together, I spent a lot of time reading Anthem of the Seas reviews and browsing some social media groups and forums. I recommend you check them out, too. You might find specific information on a stateroom you have your eye on.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Want insider tips, honest reviews, and a place to chat with other cruise lovers? These cruise forums are where it’s all happening!
Unlike Facebook groups (where good info disappears fast), these forums are super organised, so you can actually find what you’re looking for.
From planning your next trip to meeting people on the same sailing, here are 7 forums that every savvy cruiser should check out.
Here Are the Best Cruise Forums to Join:
The main Cruise Critic website offers reviews and cruise tips on various ships, but the site is much more famous for its forum – it is absolutely massive.
Cruise Critic claims to be the originator of the roll call thread. At the time of writing, they have around 21 million posts just for roll calls alone, which is frankly staggering. They have another 25 million posts with questions about cruise lines in general.
There are other sub-forums too, including those where new cruisers can have their questions answered, and those about particular destinations or special cruises.
The Cruise Critic forum is popular internationally, so while most users will be from the US, there are plenty from the UK and elsewhere.
The only real downside to Cruise Critic is the scale of it, which could be a little overwhelming since there’s so much information. But, it’s well organised, and you should have no trouble finding people to chat to, though don’t expect a tight-knit community – it’s just too busy.
Cruise Addicts is a forum that’s popular in the US. While it’s a lot smaller in scale than Cruise Critic, you might find that you prefer the closer-knit community. In total, there are over 1.7 million posts on the site, so there’s still a lot of information.
You can ask a general cruise question, or visit the sub-forums for cruise lines or destinations. But these are quite limited. The destination sub-forums only cover Europe, Alaska & the Pacific Northwest, and the Caribbean. While these are the more popular cruise destinations for US travellers, there’s no mention of Asia or Australasia.
The Cruise Lines sub-forums are also quite narrow in focus, only covering 8 of the bigger cruise lines. Notable absentees include any of the six-star luxury cruise lines, P&O Cruises, Virgin Voyages and any smaller cruise lines.
I’d say this is a site that’s better for anyone in the US who wants to chat, rather than find information.
The Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial site dedicated to all things Royal Caribbean, and their forum, while not huge, is a great place to meet other people who love the cruise line.
There are sub-forums dedicated to general Royal Caribbean discussion, roll calls, news and rumours, dining and shore excursions as well as a sub-forum dedicated to sister cruise lines Celebrity and Silversea, although this is small with just over 3,000 posts.
But, if you want tips on Royal Caribbean, then there are a quarter of a million posts to run through, and you can use the Roll Calls to find passengers on your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise.
It’s a forum that’s best for the specifics, though – not many places will have over 50,000 posts just on news and rumours about Royal Caribbean, or almost 35,000 just on dining. If you want to get into the finer details of Royal Caribbean, this is the place to do it.
The Tripadvisor site in general is a great place to find reviews of all kinds of attractions, accommodations and cruise lines, but they also have forums. The cruises forum is pretty active and has over 20,000 topics of discussion on all kinds of topics from cruising to travel agents and more.
The biggest drawback to Tripadvisor’s forum is that there’s very little organisation. With no sub-forums, you just have a long list of topics to browse through. There is a search bar, but that’s a little hit-and-miss when you want specific information about a subject.
However, it’s not one to disregard completely. There’s a list of the top questions about cruising that people from the forum have answered, so you can browse those to see if the information you’re looking for is covered. And there’s also a section highlighting the top cruise experts from the forum, so you can browse their replies to other people.
It does seem to have a little more of that Tripadvisor vibe of negativity, though – a quick glance shows that there are more topics related to complaints than on other forums. That’s Tripadvisor for you, though.
I wanted to include a UK-specific cruise forum on this list, and previously, I had the Cruise.co.uk forum listed here, but in 2024, that closed down. The travel agency still exists, but the forum has gone, which is a shame as it was the biggest UK forum for cruises with over 125,000 members.
In its place, I’ve found the Cruise Community Forum, which is primarily aimed at Brits but does offer information on cruises and cruise lines all over the world. It has a more retro design, but it is current, though there aren’t a huge number of active posters. Some of the sub-forums haven’t been touched in a little while.
Still, I’d recommend taking a look, as even the historic posts have valuable info. And maybe with the Cruise.co.uk forum gone, this one will explode in popularity?
DIS boards is a massive community of Disney fans, with millions of posts to do with everything Disney, including resorts, theme park tips, news and more.
One of the sub-forums is dedicated to Disney Cruise Line, and it’s also massive. It has over 5.8 million posts for you to browse already and a thriving community that you can engage with.
The biggest drawback is that there aren’t many sub-forums within this area to help make it easier to navigate. There’s a general forum for the cruise line, one for roll calls (called Meets) and one for trip reports, but that’s it. If you want to learn about a particular ship or restaurant, then you’ll need to search.
The benefit of DIS boards is that they’re a great place to get tips if you’re planning a cruise and stay holiday. You can get all the info about the cruise line and about your chosen Disney hotel, and there’s a lot of useful information on getting the most out of your time at the parks.
If you know about Reddit already, you’ll know that it’s a massive site that has separate boards (called subreddits) about all kinds of topics. The subreddit for general cruising has exploded in popularity recently, going from 50,000 users at the start of 2023 to over 400,000 users by the start of 2024, and 1.2 million users by the start of 2025, with a lot of new topics posted daily.
One of the benefits of r/Cruise is that it’s one of the easiest to follow from your phone. Most other forums don’t have an app, but Reddit’s app is one of the easiest to use, so you can monitor the latest posts and interact with cruisers on the go.
There are other subreddits you could explore too, including r/RoyalCaribbean or r/CarnivalCruiseFans. If there’s a particular topic you want to know more about, just try searching Reddit, and you might find an entire subreddit dedicated to the answer.
My Recommendation
There are a lot of different options for cruise forums, and depending on what you’re looking for, I would say that there’s not a single one I would recommend above all others.
If you want pure information or you want to use a roll call to find other passengers, then the Cruise Critic boards are pretty much unrivalled in terms of size. Dedicated forums for cruise lines can also help if your question is specific, or if you’re someone who’s just really passionate and loyal to one cruise line.
But other people use forums to make online friends and enjoy a thriving community discussion. On the Cruise Critic message boards, that’s hard because there are so many users – you’ll get drowned out.
For UK cruisers, your best bet is the Cruise Community Forum, and I’d recommend a smaller site like Cruise Addicts for US-based cruise fans. These are great if you like the idea of getting involved regularly and chatting with others who share your love of cruising.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
There are a number of reasons why you might want to consider opting out of gratuities on your Carnival cruise.
It might be that your budget is super-stretched, or you’re not happy with the levels of service you’ve received. Perhaps you think that the gratuities are too expensive, or you may just not be used to the idea of tipping people.
A lot of people have threatened to cancel gratuities over the new Carnival Rewards program, as a form of protest…
So – can you opt out of your gratuities?
Gratuities Aren’t Mandatory
Carnival gratuities are not optional, in that they are automatically added to your account. They can be removed, but only if you visit the Guest Services desk on the ship and ask them to take them off your account. Otherwise, you are expected to pay.
Carnival Cruise Line isn’t going to make you jump through a huge number of hoops to get the gratuities removed, but they will ask you your reasoning, and they will explain the impact of your decision.
However, if you are adamant that you want them taken off your cruise account, you can opt out of paying them provided you make sure they are removed from your account.
The gratuities make up a considerable portion of the salary for the crew on the ship. If you disembark the ship without asking for them to be removed, you will be charged for them.
Generally, your cruise account is settled while you’re on the ship, but the point is that if you choose to disembark and then realise afterwards that you’ve paid gratuities, and you didn’t want to, it’s too late. By that point, you’ve been charged and you can’t get a refund.
But broadly speaking, gratuities are not mandatory. Yes, they will be added to every guest’s Sail & Sign account, unless you’ve prepaid them, but you have to go and ask for them to be taken off if you don’t want to pay for them.
Gratuities for Carnival Cruises in 2025
With Carnival cruises, gratuities cost $16 per person, per day for cabins and $18 per person, per day for suites.
Gratuities are applied to all guests, including children – only those aged under 2 are exempt. So if you’re travelling as a family group of 4 or 5, expect to pay the per-person amount for everyone.
That means a 7-night cruise for a family of four will cost $448 in gratuities. Eek!
It might sound like a lot – especially if your cruise fare was quite cheap – but remember that this is covering the excellent service that you all receive onboard.
And not just from the crew you deal with on a daily basis, but from everyone on the ship you don’t see too, who are working hard in the background to ensure your cruise is the best it could be.
It is worth noting though that there are some additional gratuities automatically added to certain purchases on a Carnival ship. An 18% service charge is applied to any drinks you buy, any speciality restaurants you visit, and some room service orders.
These aren’t covered by your daily gratuities on your account, even if you choose to prepay them.
If you want to remove or reduce your gratuities, you need to visit the Guest Services desk. Explain your decision to them, and expect to be asked questions about the standard of service you have received.
The team will likely also explain to you the ramifications of your decision – because removing gratuities does have a significant impact on how much the crew members make.
If you still wish to go ahead with it, then the team will remove them from your account and you won’t need to pay for them.
But, Should You?
I can’t stress this enough – you really shouldn’t opt out of paying your gratuities!
Carnival is an American cruise line, and so tipping is a big part of the culture for the company, even if most of the crew are hired from overseas.
If you opt out of tipping, then you’re depriving the crew of money they likely need.
And while yes, there are thousands of people on a ship, they will still feel the effects if only a handful were to opt out of paying.
As one cruiser said in response to whether you can opt out of gratuities:
You also shouldn’t choose to remove gratuities from your account if you’re planning on giving cash instead.
Yes, it is nice to give cash to crew members that have earned a reward if they serve you really well, but doing that instead of paying gratuities means you’re depriving all of the crew members behind the scenes from their share.
You’re hardly likely to walk into the kitchen to pay the cooks, are you? Or down to the crew laundrette to tip the people washing your bedding?
I understand that, if you’re upset at the service you’ve received, you might not want to pay gratuities. But try to remember that the crew are typically trying their very best.
And while you can reduce your gratuities, you can’t exclude certain people. If a waiter was rude, you can’t say that you don’t want your tips going to them. The reduced amount would be split equally, as normal.
If something goes wrong, try to resolve it with Guest Services – that’s their job, to make sure your cruise is all smooth sailing.
But think twice before you ask to remove gratuities because you’ll be impacting the crew quite harshly, especially those people behind the scenes who don’t ever get cash tips.
Onboard Credit Can Be Used
You can use onboard credit on your Carnival cruise towards your gratuities if you want to. If your cruise booking includes onboard credit, and you don’t plan on drinking a lot or booking speciality restaurants, it can be a good way to make sure the staff get paid without you spending your own money.
You can only do this if you pay your gratuities on the ship though. If you wanted to prepay your gratuities before you cruise, you can’t apply onboard credit to them.
A lot of cruise bookings will include onboard credit – either as a special offer when you book, or because you’re a shareholder, or if the price of your cruise drops once you’ve already paid.
People will often use it to treat themselves to speciality dining or to some cocktails, but if you’re happy eating in the included restaurants and you have a drinks package, then putting it towards your gratuities is a good idea.
Is It Better To Prepay Gratuities or Pay Them at the End of the Cruise?
Whether it’s better to prepay your gratuities before you sail, or pay for them using your Sail & Sign card on the ship, usually depends on whether you want to pay for them with onboard credit.
If you do, then you should pay for them at the end of your cruise. You can’t use onboard credit if you’re prepaying.
Otherwise, the choice is yours but most people tend to prepay – it’s one less thing to pay for on the ship, and it means you can budget for your cruise more effectively.
Whether you choose to prepay before you sail or pay on the ship, both options are miles better than opting out.
Final Word
I would always pay the gratuities on a cruise, even if I felt like some things had gone wrong. If someone has provided excellent service, such as my cabin steward, then I will tip them extra in cash as well.
If you have a bad experience with a waiter or room steward, it’s not really fair to then opt out of paying gratuities, since it impacts so many of the crew.
But yes, technically it is possible if you want to. Just make sure you do so before you get off the ship. Otherwise, it’s too late.
Choosing your cabin for a cruise isn’t just about selecting between an interior, oceanview, balcony or suite. It almost matters just as much which deck you end up on.
And you might not even get a choice – if you’ve booked a ‘guarantee cabin’, then the cruise line will choose it for you.
Deck 3 is one of the lowest on the ship – so if you’ve the option to stay here, or you’re placed here by the cruise line, is it something you should worry about?
Deck 3 Location
Cruise ships number their decks ascending from the bottom of the ship, so Deck 3 is the third-lowest deck on the ship. This usually puts it around the waterline, or just above. It’s often the lowest accessible deck on a cruise ship for passengers.
Most cruise lines will number every deck on the ship, meaning the very lowest is Deck 1. But guests typically only access the Decks from Deck 3 and above, leaving the lower decks to the crew and everything behind-the-scenes that keeps the cruise running.
On some ships, guest accommodation begins on Deck 4 and Deck 3 is only used for the medical centre and crew accommodation.
Carnival doesn’t number the decks that the crew uses on its ships, so Deck 1 is a passenger-accessible deck.
Disney Cruise Line is similar, except that Deck 1 has just a few staterooms for passengers, everything else is for the crew or the workings of the ship.
Deck 3 is normally close to the engines of the ship, but it depends on where about on Deck 3 you are. The staterooms on Deck 3 might be restricted to the front of the ship, while the engines are closer to the aft.
Most People Avoid Deck 3
Generally, people try to steer clear of booking Deck 3 if they have a choice.
The rooms will either be Inside or Oceanview only, and they can be smaller and in a noisier part of the ship. They’re also the furthest from the pools and other outdoor facilities. However, some people do enjoy the seclusion of Deck 3.
Whether a deck is bad or good depends entirely on your opinion. There are a number of factors that affect whether you’d consider a deck to be a good choice, but they’re all subjective to the person.
Here are some things to think about if you’re considering a cabin on Deck 3…
1. Seasickness
Seasickness is often a major concern for cruise ship passengers, especially those who suffer from motion sickness and are taking their first cruise.
Generally, the best advice for anyone who might suffer from seasickness is to choose a lower deck, nearer the waterline. You’ll feel the movement of the ship less here.
So for those people, Deck 3 might be perfect, especially an Oceanview cabin where you can pick a point on the horizon to focus on – that can also help.
2. Noise
Noise is another major concern for cruisers, and for some people, Deck 3 might be a bit too noisy.
The rooms will be close to the engines so you might hear (and feel) them, especially as the ship manoeuvres into port. It’s also close to cabin quarters and the parts of the ship used to move supplies around, so there can be a lot of activity going on around you.
3. Distance
On most cruise ships, the restaurants, shops and kids clubs are on lower decks – often Decks 4 to 6 – while the swimming pools, and any sporting facilities are on the higher decks.
Bear in mind that the biggest ships have as many as 20 decks, so from Deck 3 that could be 17 floors you need to travel in order to get to some of the facilities! If you’ve ever walked up 17 decks in one go, you’ll see why this is something that even the fittest people choose to take the lift for.
4. View
Don’t forget about the view. Sure, the view from an Oceanview cabin on Deck 3 will be pleasant, but you’ll get a much better view from a Balcony stateroom higher up the ship.
Of course, there are always the other outdoor parts of the ship where you can go if you want the view.
So unless you’re a motion sickness sufferer, why would you consider Deck 3 if given the choice?
5. Cost
Well, cost is another major consideration. Deck 3 cabins, since they tend to be noisier and further from some facilities, so may be a lot cheaper than those higher up the ship.
If you’re a heavy sleeper or don’t mind a queue for the elevators, you can save a lot of money.
Remember that these factors will all be influenced by the ship, too. Some won’t even have accommodation on Deck 3, but instead, that’ll be where the dining rooms and bars are located.
So, always check the deck plans. And check Decks 2 and 4 to see what’s above and below so you know what sounds you might hear.
And you can always use my cabin checklist to make sure you get the best stateroom every time, too. Leave your email below, and it will be sent straight to your inbox.
The Best Deck…
There isn’t a single best deck on a cruise ship, though most people prefer a mid-ship location with cabins above and below, since those tend to be the least noisy and they’re roughly an equal distance from all the facilities on the ship.
There’s a lot to bear in mind – whether people can see into your stateroom from a promenade, or how close you are to laundry facilities or elevators (where there may be a lot of people walking right outside, sometimes late into the night).
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.
