Viking has canceled its planned visits to Santorini in February due to ongoing seismic activity on the island. The Viking Star, known for its winter cruises in the Aegean and Mediterranean, was scheduled to dock in Santorini on February 10th and 15th. However, after the island declared a state of emergency and closed tourist areas, Viking decided to cancel these visits. This decision affects passengers’ itineraries, requiring alternative travel plans.
Seismic Activity in Santorini
Santorini has been experiencing a series of earthquakes, prompting local authorities to implement precautionary measures. The declaration of a state of emergency highlights the seriousness of the situation, with safety measures including the closure of tourist areas to protect both residents and visitors. These actions demonstrate the island’s commitment to ensuring safety amid natural challenges.
Alternative Arrangements by Viking
In light of the cancellations, Viking has revised its itinerary for the Viking Star. The ship will now call at Souda on the Greek island of Crete, offering passengers the chance to explore a different Greek destination. Viking remains committed to Santorini despite these changes, with plans to open the cruise season there in March. A visit is scheduled for March 11, 2025, as part of a 14-night cruise between Civitavecchia and Piraeus.
Broader Implications for the Cruise Industry
The situation in Santorini underscores the impact of natural disasters on cruise schedules and the need for flexibility in itinerary planning. Cruise lines must be prepared to manage unexpected changes, ensuring passenger safety while maintaining a high-quality travel experience. Safety considerations are crucial in cruise planning, influencing decisions and shaping the region’s future.
Viking’s Commitment to Safety
Viking’s decision to cancel its February visits to Santorini reflects a commitment to safety amid challenging circumstances. As the cruise industry navigates these changes, the focus remains on providing exceptional travel experiences while adapting to unforeseen events. The future of cruising in the Aegean holds promise, with Santorini poised to welcome visitors once conditions stabilize.
The Serenade of the Seas cabins to avoid are mostly a short, predictable list: the 15 or so balcony and suite cabins with partly obstructed views, deck 7 balconies above the lifeboat covers, forward cabins over the Tropical Theatre, and deck 10 cabins sitting directly under the pool deck and Windjammer Café. For the quietest, most comfortable stay, aim for a midship balcony on deck 8 or 9, where you have cabins above and below you.
Serenade of the Seas is a Radiance-class ship that entered service in 2003. At roughly 90,090 gross tons with 1,074 staterooms and about 2,148 guests at double occupancy, she is mid-sized by today’s Royal Caribbean standards, which makes cabin location matter more than on a mega-ship. She went into dry dock in early 2025 for planned maintenance and additional servicing, but the stateroom layout described below has not changed. This guide walks through which cabins to skip, which ones to target, and how to use the Serenade of the Seas deck plan to check any room before you pay.
Structure or equipment blocks part of the view; some balconies are small
Scenic itineraries, balcony lovers
Junior Suites 1098 and 1598; Spacious Balconies 9252 and 9652
Obstructed views (9252 and 9652 by a window-washing platform)
Anyone paying a premium for the view
Deck 7 balconies above the lifeboat covers
No straight-down view, sun glare off the roof below
Hot-weather sailings, photographers
Forward deck 7 cabins
Sit above the Tropical Theatre; rehearsal and show noise
Light sleepers, early nappers
Deck 10 midship and aft cabins
Below the Lido pool deck and Windjammer Café
Light sleepers, late risers
Lowest decks (2 and 3), far forward or aft
More motion, engine and anchor noise, long walks
Seasickness-prone guests, mobility concerns
Connecting cabins (if you don’t need one)
Thinner door to the neighbors
Anyone who values quiet
Obstructed-view balconies and suites
Deck plan resources such as CruiseDeckPlans flag a specific group of Serenade balconies as partially obstructed: 7064, 7066, 7142, 7506, 7564, 8058, 8060, 8162, 8164, 8558, 8560, 8662 and 8664. Some balconies in this group are also unusually shallow, with outdoor space listed as small as about 27 square feet, compared with roughly 45 square feet on a standard balcony.
Two Junior Suites, 1098 and 1598, are also listed as obstructed, as are Spacious Balconies 9252 and 9652, where a window-washing platform sits in the sightline. If the view is the whole reason you are booking a balcony or suite, cross these numbers off first. The upside is that these cabins are sometimes priced a little lower, so they can work for travelers who mainly want fresh air and natural light rather than a sweeping vista.
Deck 7 balconies over the lifeboats
Where the hull narrows on deck 7, some balconies look down onto a metal roof that shelters the lifeboats on the deck below and juts out several feet. Royal Caribbean does not usually label these as obstructed because the horizon is clear, but you lose the straight-down view of the water and the white roof can bounce sunlight and heat onto your balcony in the Caribbean. If you can, choose a balcony on deck 8 or 9 in the same section instead.
Noisy cabins: theatre, pool deck and dining venues
Noise on Serenade comes from what is directly above or below your cabin, so it pays to look at the decks on either side of your room, not just the room itself.
Above deck 6 (deck 7): Deck 6 holds the upper level of the Tropical Theatre, Casino Royale, Schooner Bar, the Safari Club, Crown and Castle Pub and Chops Grille. Forward deck 7 cabins sit over the theatre, and forward-facing oceanview cabins sit above a crew area. Most deck 7 midship cabins are fine, but light sleepers may want to go one deck higher.
Below deck 11 (deck 10): The Lido deck has the main pool, Solarium, Park Café and the Windjammer Café at the aft end. Every deck 10 cabin has a public deck above it, so scraping loungers, early setup and late cleaning crews can be heard in some rooms. Deck 10 aft cabins under the Windjammer are the ones most often mentioned by past passengers.
Lower decks (2 to 4): Reflections Dining Room spans decks 4 and 5 aft, and the theatre starts on deck 4 forward. Cabins at the ends of decks 2 and 3 can pick up galley, engine or anchor noise.
The Vortex nightclub and Viking Crown Lounge are on deck 13, well away from passenger cabins, so late-night music is less of a problem here than on some newer ships.
A midship balcony on a middle deck is usually the safest pick for quiet and smooth sailing. Photo: Anderson Wei on Pexels
Motion, location and the smallest cabins
Like any ship, Serenade moves most at the bow and least low and midship. If you are prone to seasickness, avoid forward cabins on the higher decks, especially the forward-facing Family Oceanview rooms, and favor midship cabins on decks 7 to 9. Aft cabins offer lovely wake views, but some passengers report vibration and a low hum near the stern when the ship maneuvers in port.
Size is the other trap. Standard interior cabins are around 165 square feet, which is comfortable for two but tight for four. The three Studio Interior cabins on deck 4 are roughly 110 square feet and designed for one person. They are great value for solo cruisers, but no good if you expected a regular inside room. Oceanview cabins on deck 2 have portholes rather than large windows, so they feel darker than oceanview rooms higher up.
Connecting cabins share an internal door with the room next door. That door transmits sound far more than a solid wall, so if you are not traveling with your neighbors, skip categories marked as connecting (the CB balconies and CO oceanviews on Serenade). Families, on the other hand, may find them ideal. One quirk reported by Royal Caribbean fans is that on this ship, balcony dividers between connecting rooms generally do not open, so you get a shared door inside but not a shared balcony.
Serenade has 19 accessible staterooms according to published deck plans: two Junior Suites (1028 and 1528), six balconies on deck 7 (7110, 7112, 7114, 7610, 7612 and 7614), plus accessible oceanview and interior cabins on decks 2 to 4. These are wider, with roll-in showers and more turning space. Royal Caribbean releases them to guests who need them first, so if you do not require an accessible cabin, you are unlikely to be assigned one, and if you do, book early because there are so few.
Suites on deck 10 bring extra space and perks, but check what sits on the deck above. Photo: Faheem Ahamad on Pexels
Serenade of the Seas best cabins
The best cabins on Serenade of the Seas balance view, quiet and location. Here are the strongest picks by budget.
Midship balconies on decks 8 and 9: Cabins above and below, close to the elevators, minimal motion. This is the sweet spot for most couples. Spacious Balcony cabins (around 205 square feet) are worth the small upcharge over standard balconies (around 180 square feet).
Aft-facing balconies on decks 7 to 9: Wake views are a highlight, and these rooms are often quieter during the day. Expect some vibration near the stern.
Junior Suites on deck 10: About 300 square feet with a larger balcony and more living space. Avoid 1098 and 1598 for the view, and accept that you are under the Lido deck.
Grand Suites: Fifteen one-bedroom Grand Suites on deck 10 (about 360 square feet) plus a few two-bedroom Grand Suites on decks 7 to 9 that sleep up to eight, ideal for multigenerational groups.
Owner’s Suites and the Royal Suite: Five Owner’s Suites of about 590 square feet and a single Royal Suite of roughly 950 to 1,000 square feet with a baby grand piano, all on deck 10 midship. Suite guests also have access to the Concierge Club on deck 13.
Serenade does not have Crown Loft Suites or the multi-level suites found on Oasis-class ships, so the Royal Suite is the top accommodation on board.
Best deck on Serenade of the Seas
For most travelers, decks 8 and 9 are the best decks to book. They are sandwiched between other cabin decks, have balconies along almost their full length and are a short elevator ride from both the Lido deck and the main dining room. For a deeper look at choosing by travel style, see our guide to the best deck on a cruise ship for every type of cruiser.
Guarantee cabin or choose your own?
A guarantee (GTY) fare locks in a cabin category, but Royal Caribbean picks the room, often close to sailing. It can save money and occasionally earns an upgrade. On Serenade, though, the risk is landing in one of the obstructed balconies, a deck 10 cabin under the pool deck or a forward room over the theatre. If you are a light sleeper, prone to seasickness or booking a balcony specifically for scenery, such as an Alaska or Panama Canal cruise, pay the small premium to choose your own cabin. If you are flexible and mostly want the lowest price, a guarantee is a reasonable gamble.
How to check any cabin on the Serenade of the Seas deck plan
Here is a quick routine that top-ranking guides rarely spell out, and it takes about two minutes per cabin.
Open the official Serenade of the Seas deck plan on Royal Caribbean’s website or a reputable deck plan site.
Find your cabin number. The first digit or two is the deck (for example, 8162 is on deck 8).
Look at the same spot on the deck directly above and below. Public venues, the galley, the pool deck or crew areas are red flags.
Check whether the balcony is indented, where the lifeboat roof often sits below on deck 7.
Compare against the obstructed and connecting cabin lists above, then confirm the category code before you pay.
If you are comparing Radiance-class sisters, our guide to Jewel of the Seas cabins to avoid covers the same layout with Jewel’s own noisy spots and obstructed balconies.
FAQs
What deck should I avoid on Serenade of the Seas?
Light sleepers often avoid deck 10, which sits under the pool deck and Windjammer Café, and forward deck 7, which sits above the Tropical Theatre. Decks 2 and 3 at the far ends of the ship can also feel more motion and engine noise.
Which Serenade of the Seas cabins have obstructed views?
Published deck plans list balconies 7064, 7066, 7142, 7506, 7564, 8058, 8060, 8162, 8164, 8558, 8560, 8662 and 8664 as partially obstructed, along with Junior Suites 1098 and 1598 and Spacious Balconies 9252 and 9652.
What are the best cabins on Serenade of the Seas?
Midship balconies on decks 8 and 9 are the best all-round choice for quiet and stability. Aft-facing balconies are great for wake views, and the Grand, Owner’s and Royal Suites on deck 10 offer the most space and perks.
Is Serenade of the Seas a good ship?
Yes, for travelers who prefer a mid-sized ship with lots of glass and ocean views. She lacks the big-ticket thrills of newer Royal Caribbean ships, but she has a range of specialty restaurants added during her revitalization and received maintenance work in a 2025 dry dock.
Does Serenade of the Seas have a Crown Loft Suite?
No. Crown Loft Suites are found on newer classes. Serenade’s top accommodation is the single Royal Suite on deck 10, followed by five Owner’s Suites and the Grand Suites.
Cruises can be an unknown quantity for those who have never had the pleasure. Having been on several cruises myself, I know that using the word “pleasure” might not always fit into the experience. It is location and weather permitting – it also helps if the cruise you’re on has a vast range of options and isn’t a deathtrap.
There are many places across the globe where you can jump on a ship and cruise, but with many of these options involving multiple days at sea, cruises need to offer the sort of variety you can find in top hotel resorts. Some cruises can have over 7,000 people on board, so gaming is just one area where they need to be able to entice customers and keep people engaged.
Virtual gaming
One stereotype, and may I say it’s an untrue stereotype, is that cruises appeal solely to the older, more esteemed generation. This could perpetuate the idea that the latest technology, especially in gaming, might not pique their interest. Thankfully, I do not hold these ignorant opinions; I love and respect Boomers, so you won’t hear me making such ageist remarks. I’d never dream of it!
If you’re wondering how virtual gaming is helping those in the gaming world showcase their talents and top titles to the cruise industry, VR is considered by many to be the next technological marvel in gaming.
This might seem like a grand prediction, given that the technology has been around for close to a decade. Still, with Mark Zuckerberg plowing billions of dollars into the technology – and with the price of VR headsets slowly coming down – more people have started to explore what this technology offers and how it can transform the gaming experience. Meta’s latest headset, released in September 2024, incorporates gaming ideas as well as “a healthy dose of AI” – whatever that means.
Why is it changing the cruise business?
Cruises must have a diverse range of entertainment for people to delve into – some of the options include:
Live cabaret shows.
Stand-up comedians.
Live music bands, including cover bands.
Cinemas.
Casinos.
Karaoke.
Bowling alleys.
Cruises need to stay at the forefront of any changes in the entertainment world. As already discussed, cruises appeal to a wide demographic, so their gaming options must also be broad.
Dedicated gaming lounges and luxury casino gaming
Casinos have long been an integral part of the entertainment cruise liners offer. I’ve sampled some of the casinos on cruise ships, and they are just as classy as any land-based establishment.
By ensuring they have a casino gaming selection that can rival some of the top brands, cruises keep their broader offer appealing and contemporary. Casinos can get rowdy, so remember, if you haven’t been on a cruise before, you can get kicked off. Enjoy yourself, but keep it measured and respectful.
Dedicated gaming lounges have only appeared on cruises over the last decade. Initially, the idea belonged to Royal Caribbean – they wanted to offer something unique to their passengers. It was successful and has since been rolled out to the broader industry. It’s here that virtual reality re-enters the conversation.
Although many gaming lounges resemble traditional arcades, many luxury cruises are putting their money where their mouth is, offering VR casino experiences and giving their customers a taste of what the future of gaming might look like.
The novelty of a casino on a cruise ship is not lost on people who come from countries that don’t have the sort of lenient approach to gambling that the UK or certain states in the US do.
But just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you should disregard responsible gambling ideals. You should only play casino games for fun, with money you can afford to lose. If you begin to chase your losses or start to view gambling as a source of income, these are just two red flags to watch out for.
Gaming cruises
The impact of esports and professional video gaming resulted in gaming-specific cruising emerging during the mid-2010s. While they’re not an idea that has set the gaming world on fire, it shows just how much potential there is in both industries. The GACUCON is a cosplay gaming concept, and the idea of the gaming convention is taken out onto the high seas.
While the majority of these cruises operate in North America, the idea first rolled out in 2023 and was renewed in 2024, and this year is shaping up to be equally successful. If it’s an idea that continues to generate noise in the gaming and cruise industry, it could be something other big cruise liners pick up on.
For now, it’s not something that’s causing too much of a wave in the industry, but considering how niche it is, it’s interesting to see its sustained popularity over the last three years.
Final thoughts
Gaming isn’t the first factor holidaymakers look for when booking a cruise. Likewise, it’s not the first type of holiday gamers will think of if they want to get away for a few weeks. Slowly but surely, though, the enhancements in gaming have started to permeate the tourist industry.
Cruise liners aren’t a conventional area of tourism, not in the way hotels are. Sure, you get luxury hotels, many of which have world-class gaming options, but unlike cruises, you aren’t confined to the hotel. You can explore the city you’re in – once a cruise ship leaves the dock, it’s up to you to find entertainment and explore the vessel.
The onus is also on the cruise company to ensure you’re not sitting around twiddling your thumbs. While the cure to boredom doesn’t always come via the medium of gaming, it’s just one of the many pieces of the jigsaw that the cruise business uses to deliver world-class entertainment. Still, those cruises that get it right can stand out from the crowd and provide something to their passengers that’s outside of the box.
Let’s be real, one of the best parts of a cruise is the drinks, right? I mean, they are delicious. I remember when I was on a cruise a few years ago I was truly impressed by the cocktails served.
Whether you are by the pool, watching the sunset, or dancing the night away, there is something magical about those perfectly crafted cocktails while you stare at the ocean. But not all cocktails are great for every occasion.
For example, the Mint Julep is great when going through the Kentucky Derby entries, but not so much in the winter. So, you have to choose the cocktail based on location, vibe, and season.
But most cruise lines have exceptionally big bars and some professional cocktail masters, which means that choosing the perfect cocktail is kind of difficult.
With that said, we’ve selected some of our top choices that go along with the cruise vibe, and the ocean breeze, and there is something for everyone (no matter if you are a sweet or savory person).
Why Cruise Cocktails Hit Different
Best Cruise Cocktails From The Top Lines 3
Before we dive into the type of cocktails, let’s talk about why cocktails are so popular on cruise lines. Yes, you can get a basic drink like a beer, but cocktails are often the top choice among guests.
So, you are on the deck, the sun is setting, and the ocean is right in front of you. What do you crave? A whiskey? I don’t think so. There is no better time for cocktails than this.
Even a mediocre drink would taste amazing in that scenario. But fortunately, cruise lines don’t do mediocre. They usually go over the top, creating concoctions, and top-shelf liquors, and bartenders who have years of experience crafting the perfect cocktail.
Also, there is a lot of variety. You have classics like mojitos to exotic blends that you’ve never heard before. Most of the cocktails are included in the drink packages (except the premium ones which are available for purchase).
So, which cocktail you should try on your cruise adventure?
The Best Cruise Cocktails You Need to Try
Drinks from the Alchemy Bar are always extra special.
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. Here are some of the best signature cocktails from the top cruise lines, along with what makes them special.
1. Royal Caribbean: The Lavender Daiquiri
Royal Caribbean is known for its innovative drink menu, and the Lavender Daiquiri is a standout. This isn’t your average frozen daiquiri—it’s a sophisticated blend of rum, lavender syrup, and lime juice, topped with a sprig of fresh lavender.
Why It’s a Must-Try:
It’s refreshing without being too sweet.
The floral notes make it feel fancy (perfect for Instagram).
It pairs beautifully with a sea day by the pool.
Order it at the Schooner Bar for the full experience.
2. Carnival Cruise Line: The Caribbean Colada
Carnival is all about fun, and the Caribbean Colada embodies that spirit. Think of it as a piña colada’s cooler cousin, made with coconut rum, pineapple juice, and a splash of blue curaçao for that signature tropical vibe.
Why It’s a great choice:
It’s basically a vacation in a glass.
The blue color makes it Insta-worthy.
It’s available at most bars on board, so you’re never far from your next fix.
Add a floater of dark rum for an extra kick.
3. Norwegian Cruise Line: The Rebellious Fish
Norwegian is known for its freestyle cruising, and the Rebellious Fish is a perfect match for that laid-back vibe. This cocktail combines vodka, elderflower liqueur, cucumber, and lime for a drink that’s as refreshing as it is unique.
Reasons why you should try it:
It’s light and refreshing, making it ideal for hot days.
The cucumber adds a spa-like freshness.
It’s a great alternative to the usual fruity cocktails.
Pair it with sushi at Norwegian’s onboard sushi bar for a match made in heaven.
4. Celebrity Cruises: The Martini Bar Flight
Celebrity Cruises takes its cocktails seriously and nowhere is that more evident than at the Martini Bar. While you can’t go wrong with any of their martinis, the flight is the way to go. You’ll get a sampler of mini martinis, from classic to creative flavors like espresso and passion fruit.
What makes it special?
It’s a great way to try multiple drinks without overdoing it.
The bartenders put on a show while they prepare it.
It’s perfect for sipping while enjoying the bar’s chic atmosphere.
Pro Tip: Go during happy hour for discounted prices.
5. Disney Cruise Line: The Yellow Bird
Disney isn’t just for kids—their cocktails are proof. The Yellow Bird is a tropical delight made with rum, banana liqueur, orange juice, and pineapple juice. It’s sweet, fruity, and oh-so-Disney.
Why It’s a Must-Try:
It’s like a trip to the Caribbean in a glass.
The playful name and presentation fit Disney’s whimsical vibe.
It’s a hit with both adults and kids (don’t worry, the kids get a mocktail version).
6. Princess Cruises: The Ultimate Mai Tai
Princess Cruises knows how to do tropical drinks right, and the Ultimate Mai Tai is a prime example. Made with premium rums, orange curaçao, and almond syrup, it’s a classic with a luxurious twist.
Why It’s a Must-Try:
It’s a timeless cocktail done to perfection.
The use of premium ingredients elevates the flavor.
It’s best enjoyed while watching a movie under the stars.
How to Make the Most of Your Cruise Cocktail Experience
Now that you know what to order, here are a few tips to ensure your cruise cocktail game is on point:
Get a drink package: If you plan on indulging, a package can save you money.
Try something new: Cruises are the perfect time to experiment with flavors you wouldn’t normally try.
Ask the bartender: They often know the best off-menu drinks.
Stay hydrated: Alternate cocktails with water to avoid overdoing it.
Did we inspire you? These are some great choices that will have your taste buds screaming for more. Just remember to set limits, and don’t go overboard (not literally) with the number of cocktails. After all, you want to remember your cruise trip, right?
A solo cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel alone: your cabin, meals, entertainment and transport between ports all come in one booking, and you can be as social or as private as you like. The main catch is the single supplement, the extra charge for using a cabin priced for two. You can avoid it or cut it down by booking a dedicated solo cabin, and lines such as Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America, Cunard, P&O, Fred. Olsen and Saga all have them on at least some ships.
This guide explains how solo pricing works, compares solo cabins line by line, and covers meeting people, dining, safety and practical tips. Cabin details were checked against cruise line and trade sources as of October 2026. Ships get refitted and categories change, so always confirm on the deck plan before you book.
How the Single Supplement Works on a Solo Cruise
Cruise fares are quoted per person, based on two people sharing. Book a standard cabin alone and the line still expects most of the revenue two guests would bring, including onboard spending. That gap is charged as a single supplement, typically somewhere between 25% and 100% of the per-person fare. In other words, a solo cruiser often pays 125% to 200% of what one person in a shared cabin would pay.
There are four main ways to bring that cost down:
Book a dedicated solo cabin. These are priced for one person. They are not always cheap, because demand is high and many lines now use dynamic pricing, but you are not paying for an empty second berth.
Watch for reduced or waived supplements. Lines regularly run offers on regular cabins. Virgin Voyages, for example, cuts the second-guest portion of the fare by up to 70% on selected Sea Terrace sailings, and Fred. Olsen and P&O often release no-supplement or low-supplement fares on chosen grades.
Be flexible on dates. Shoulder-season, repositioning and late-booking sailings that are not selling well are where supplements tend to drop.
Use a travel agent who tracks solo fares. Solo cabins are a small share of any ship and sell out first. A good agent can hold one while you decide.
One thing many guides skip: compare the total cost, not just the headline fare. A tiny solo inside cabin on one line can cost more than a regular balcony with a 50% supplement on another, once drinks packages, gratuities and Wi-Fi are added. Price both options before you commit.
Cruise Lines With Solo Cabins: Comparison Table
Here is a summary of the main cruise lines with solo cabins for US travelers, plus the British lines worth knowing about if you sail from Southampton or Europe. Counts are approximate and can change after refits.
Cruise line
Solo cabin name
Ships
Cabin types
Solo extras
Norwegian Cruise Line
Studio (plus solo-priced cabins)
Studios on select ships, including Epic (the most, around 128), Breakaway-class and Bliss, Joy and Encore
Studios are inside, about 100 sq ft; solo-priced inside, oceanview and balcony cabins offered fleetwide
Private Studio Lounge with hosted pre-dinner meetups (access varies by ship)
Royal Caribbean
Studio stateroom
Select ships, mainly Quantum class (Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum, Odyssey), plus Harmony and some older Radiance and Voyager-class ships
Interior, virtual balcony, oceanview and studio balcony
No formal solo program; shared dining on request
Celebrity Cruises
Edge Single / Single stateroom
Edge-class: Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent and Xcel; a few inside singles on Silhouette
Edge Singles have an Infinite Veranda; Apex has about 24
Solo get-togethers on many sailings
Holland America Line
Single Ocean-View; Solo Verandah (from 2027)
Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam (12 each); Oosterdam gets 30 Solo Verandahs from fall 2027
Oceanview now, balcony on Oosterdam
Meet-and-mingle events, shared dining on request
Virgin Voyages
Reduced single supplement
All ships, select sailings
Sea Terrace (balcony) cabins at up to 70% off the second fare
Adults-only, no set dining times, communal tables, group excursions
Cunard
Single stateroom
Queen Mary 2 (15), Queen Victoria (9), Queen Elizabeth (9). Queen Anne has none
Mostly oceanview, one inside on QV and QE
Shared tables depend on the voyage; Queen Mary 2 has a planetarium and lectures
P&O Cruises (UK)
Single cabin
Arvia (30), Britannia (27), Iona (24), Ventura and Azura (18 each), Aurora (10), Arcadia (6)
Inside, sea view and balcony depending on ship
Solo coffee mornings, drinks receptions, shared tables
Fred. Olsen (UK)
Single cabin
Balmoral, Bolette and Borealis (around 157 in total)
Inside, oceanview and some single balcony suites
Daily solo meetups, mixed dining tables
Saga (UK, 50+)
Single cabin
Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure (109 each)
All with balconies, up to a Single Suite
Singles mingle party and singles lunch
Shared tables and casual venues make solo dining on a cruise easy. Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Solo Cabins by Cruise Line, in More Detail
Norwegian Cruise Line Studios
Norwegian is the line most associated with solo cruising. Its Studios are compact inside cabins of roughly 100 square feet with a full-size bed, and some have a window onto the corridor or a virtual porthole. The big draw is the keycard-only Studio Lounge, where solo guests can get coffee and snacks and meet at hosted gatherings before dinner. NCL also sells solo-priced inside, oceanview and balcony cabins across the fleet, which helps if Studios are sold out or you want daylight.
Royal Caribbean Studio Cabins
Royal Caribbean’s studio staterooms are on selected ships rather than fleetwide. Quantum-class ships have the widest choice, including studio balconies and inside studios with a “virtual balcony” screen showing the live view outside. Older ships tend to have just a few small inside studios with twin beds. The newest Icon-class ships do not have a dedicated studio category, so if you want a Royal Caribbean solo cabin, start with Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum or Odyssey of the Seas.
Celebrity Edge-Class Single Staterooms
Celebrity’s Edge-class ships have single staterooms with an Infinite Veranda, where the glass wall slides down at the touch of a button so the cabin and balcony become one space. That makes Celebrity one of the few premium lines where solo travelers can get outdoor space without paying a supplement on a double cabin. Celebrity Apex has the most singles in the fleet.
Holland America Single Ocean-View and the New Oosterdam Solo Verandahs
Holland America currently has 12 single ocean-view cabins on each of its three Pinnacle-class ships: Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam. The bigger news is the line’s Holland America Evolution refit program. Its first ship, Oosterdam, will get 30 new Solo Verandah cabins of more than 200 square feet each, with private balconies, glass-walled showers and a workspace, from fall 2027. Zuiderdam follows later. Holland America has said these will use dynamic pricing based on demand, so solo fares will not be fixed, and early sailings appear to be selling quickly.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is adults-only, has no fixed dining times and puts communal tables in The Galley food hall. All of that suits solo travelers well. Rather than relying on a large block of solo cabins, its main solo offer is a reduced single supplement on balcony (Sea Terrace) cabins on selected sailings. The discount is capacity-controlled and changes with each sailing, so check the current list before you plan around it.
Cunard
Queen Mary 2 has 15 single oceanview cabins, and Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth each have nine (eight oceanview, one inside). Newest is not always best for solo cruisers here: Queen Anne, which entered service in 2024, was built without dedicated single cabins. A Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing in a single cabin is one of the classic solo trips at sea.
UK Lines: P&O, Fred. Olsen and Saga
If you are open to sailing from the UK or Europe, British lines have far more solo cabins than most American lines. P&O Cruises has more than 130 single cabins across its fleet, including balcony singles on Arvia, Iona and Britannia, and it often runs sailings with no single supplement. Fred. Olsen’s smaller ships have inside, oceanview and some balcony singles. Saga, which sails only for guests over 50, sets aside more than 20% of the cabins on its two ships for solo guests, all with balconies.
Meeting People on a Solo Cruise
Many first-time solo cruisers worry about spending a week alone. In practice, ships make it easy to meet people if you want to:
Solo meetups. Most mainstream lines hold a solo travelers’ get-together early in the cruise, often on the first sea day. Check the daily program or app. If none is listed, cruise forums and roll calls for your sailing often arrange one.
Group activities. Trivia, dance classes, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and fitness classes put you in a room with the same faces every day.
Shore excursions. Ship-run tours mean you are not exploring a new port on your own, and you will often end up having lunch with the people beside you on the bus.
Bars with counters. Sitting at the bar rather than a table makes casual conversation far easier.
Shared tables are an easy way for solo cruisers to meet people at dinner. Photo: fauxels on Pexels
Dining Alone or With Others
Dining is where solo cruisers have the most choice. In the main dining room you can usually ask for a table for one or a shared table with other guests. Ask the maître d’ on embarkation day, because shared tables are set up early. Traditional fixed-time dining means you see the same tablemates each night, which many solo travelers like. Flexible dining gives you more freedom but fewer repeat faces.
The buffet, casual venues and room service are easy places to eat alone without feeling noticed. Some lines also host solo dinners. Saga holds a singles lunch, and P&O and Fred. Olsen set aside mixed tables. Speciality restaurants tend to be quieter, so they are a good place to bring a book.
Solo Cruise Safety Tips
Cruise ships are generally safe, with security staff, cameras and controlled access. Still, the usual travel sense applies, and a few points are specific to cruising:
Keep your cabin door closed and use the safe for your passport and valuables.
Do not tell people you have just met your cabin number. Meet in public areas instead.
Watch your drinks, and keep an eye on how much you are drinking, especially on a drinks package.
Know the “all aboard” time and allow a margin. If you go ashore independently and are late back, the ship will not wait, and nobody else is checking on you.
Leave your itinerary, the ship’s contact details and your cabin number with someone at home.
Buy travel insurance with good medical cover. Medical care at sea is billed privately and can be very expensive.
Practical Tips for Your First Solo Cruise
Book early for solo cabins. There are often only a dozen or two per ship, and the best ones go first.
Pick a ship that matches your style. Big resort ships have the most activities and organized meetups. Smaller and British ships tend to have more solo cabins and a larger share of solo guests.
Consider sea days. Itineraries with a few sea days give you more time to meet people at activities.
Check what’s included. On some lines, solo cabins are excluded from promotions, while on others they qualify. Read the fare terms.
Join the roll call. Online forums for your sailing often connect solo travelers before you board.
Keep an eye on deals. Solo-friendly offers appear in the lines’ big sales. Our roundup of cruise deals for 2027 is a good place to start.
Is a Solo Cruise Right for You?
If you like having a plan for the day and the freedom to change it, a solo cruise works very well. You unpack once, see several destinations, and decide each day how much company you want. The best value usually comes from booking a dedicated solo cabin early, or from watching for reduced-supplement offers on regular cabins. If you want a balcony, look at Celebrity’s Edge class, Holland America’s Oosterdam from late 2027, or UK lines such as P&O and Saga.
If you are weighing up cabin types, our guide to balcony vs inside cabin explains when the extra cost of a balcony pays off.
Once your cabin is sorted, our practical tips for cruising solo cover meeting people, dining, port safety and packing for your first sailing.
For many people, yes. A cruise bundles accommodation, meals and entertainment, has a built-in social life if you want it, and lets you see several places without organizing transport. The main downside is cost if you have to pay a single supplement, so look for dedicated solo cabins or reduced-supplement offers.
What cruise lines offer single-person cruises?
Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America and Cunard all have dedicated solo cabins on at least some ships, and Virgin Voyages offers reduced single supplements on selected sailings. In the UK, P&O Cruises, Fred. Olsen and Saga have some of the largest numbers of single cabins.
How much is the single supplement on a cruise?
It typically ranges from 25% to 100% of the per-person fare, so a solo guest pays 125% to 200% of a sharing guest’s price. Dedicated solo cabins avoid the supplement, though they may be priced dynamically.
Which cruise ships have solo balcony cabins?
Celebrity’s Edge-class ships have single staterooms with Infinite Verandas, and Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships have studio balconies. Holland America’s Oosterdam adds 30 Solo Verandahs from fall 2027. In the UK, Saga’s two ships and P&O’s Arvia, Iona and Britannia have balcony singles.
Do solo cruisers get to meet other people on board?
Yes. Most lines run at least one solo meetup per cruise, and Norwegian has a dedicated Studio Lounge. Shared dining tables, group activities and ship-run shore excursions also make it easy to meet people.
P&O Cruises vs Princess Cruises comes down to atmosphere and budget. P&O is built around British holidaymakers: you pay in pounds, tips are included and the ships sail year-round from Southampton. Princess has a more international feel, with American-style service, the OceanMedallion wearable and a strong name for food. Pick P&O for a simple, all-British fare with very little extra to pay. Pick Princess if you want a more global ship and are happy to budget for packages and gratuities.
Both lines belong to Carnival Corporation and some of their ships share a design, so on paper they can look alike. On board, the two feel quite different. Below, we compare P&O and Princess on the things UK cruisers usually ask about: ships, Southampton departures, cabins, food and drink packages, entertainment, children, price and dress code. We finish with a quick verdict on who each line suits.
P&O vs Princess at a glance
Feature
P&O Cruises
Princess Cruises
Main market
British, overwhelmingly UK passengers
International, with many American, Canadian and Australian guests
Fleet size (Oct 2026)
7 ships
17 ships
UK departures
Year-round from Southampton
Seasonal from Southampton (roughly March to October)
Onboard currency
Pounds sterling
US dollars
Tips
Included in the fare
Daily crew appreciation charge, unless you buy Plus or Premier
Bundled packages
Classic and Deluxe all-inclusive add-ons
Princess Plus and Princess Premier
Kids’ clubs
The Reef on family ships
Camp Discovery on most ships
Adults-focused option
Arcadia and Aurora (adults-only on most sailings)
No adults-only ships, though the Sanctuary sun deck is adults-only
Signature tech
App-based booking and onboard account
OceanMedallion wearable for payments, ordering and door access
P&O Cruises ships vs Princess Cruises ships
If you have been searching for “P&O cruise ships” or “Princess cruise ships”, this is the section to read. P&O runs a small fleet aimed squarely at the UK. Princess runs a much larger fleet spread across the world, and only part of it sails Europe in any one season.
The P&O Cruises fleet
Ship
Entered service
Approx. guests
Good to know
Arvia
2022
5,200
Newest and biggest; winters in the Caribbean
Iona
2020
5,200
Arvia’s sister; SkyDome and lots of dining choice
Britannia
2015
3,600
Mid-size family ship with a more traditional feel
Azura
2010
3,100
Family-friendly; often used for fly-cruises
Ventura
2008
3,100
Family-friendly, mid-size
Arcadia
2005
2,100
Adults-only on most sailings; leaving for Holland America in 2029
Aurora
2000
2,000
Adults-only on most sailings; classic small-ship style
There is one big change coming. Carnival Corporation has confirmed that Cunard’s Queen Anne will move to P&O Cruises. She is due to enter service in May 2029, under a new name not yet announced, after her 2028-29 world voyage and a refit. Arcadia will leave P&O after a farewell season in 2029 and join Holland America Line. Read more in our news piece on Queen Anne heading to P&O and Arcadia moving to Holland America.
So which is the best P&O cruise ship? It depends on what you want. Arvia and Iona offer the most to do. Britannia, Azura and Ventura are mid-size options. Aurora and Arcadia suit people who want a quieter, adults-focused ship. For a ship-by-ship breakdown, see our guide to P&O cruise ships compared and which to choose.
The Princess Cruises fleet
Princess has 17 ships. The ones UK cruisers are most likely to meet are below.
Ship / class
Entered service
Approx. guests
Relevance for UK cruisers
Sun Princess (Sphere class)
2024
4,300
Newest design; Mediterranean seasons from Barcelona, Rome and Athens
Star Princess (Sphere class)
2025
4,300
Sun Princess’s sister, launched October 2025
Sky Princess (Royal class)
2019
3,660
Southampton round trips in 2027
Majestic Princess (Royal class)
2017
3,560
Refurbished; Southampton round trips in 2027
Enchanted, Discovery, Regal, Royal Princess (Royal class)
Caribbean Princess sails the Baltic from Copenhagen in 2027
Grand, Diamond, Sapphire, Island, Coral Princess
1998 to 2004
2,000 to 2,700
Mostly Asia, Alaska, Australia and longer voyages
The new Sphere-class ships are the main reason some P&O regulars are now looking at Princess. They have a glass-domed venue and a much wider choice of restaurants than the older ships. Our first impressions of Sun Princess explain what is new. Note that neither Sphere ship is based in Southampton for 2027, so a fly-cruise is the usual way to sail on one.
One useful detail the brochures don’t spell out: P&O’s Britannia and Princess’s Royal-class ships are built on closely related designs. If you already know one of them, the layout of the other will feel familiar, even though the décor, food and service are different.
Both lines sail from Southampton, but P&O stays all year while Princess is seasonal. Photo: Altaf Shah on Pexels
Destinations and Southampton departures
For many UK cruisers, sailing from home without a flight decides it. Here P&O is ahead. Southampton is its home port all year, with ex-UK itineraries to Norway, the Baltic, the Canaries, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, plus Christmas markets and short breaks. In winter, P&O adds fly-cruises from Barbados, and some holidays start in Malta or Tenerife.
Princess is growing its UK programme. Its 2027 season has 45 round trips from Southampton, up from 32 in 2026, on Sky Princess and Majestic Princess between roughly March and October. Itineraries include the British Isles, Norway, Northern Europe and longer Mediterranean voyages, plus a 14-night solar eclipse cruise leaving Southampton on 24 July 2027. If you want to cruise from the UK in winter, P&O has much more choice.
Further afield, Princess wins clearly. It is one of the biggest names in Alaska and also sails Japan, Australia and New Zealand, the Panama Canal and long world voyages. P&O’s range is narrower and built around what British holidaymakers book most.
Cabins
Both lines offer inside, sea view, balcony and suite cabins. On Princess’s Royal-class ships most cabins have a balcony. Newer Princess ships add Reserve Collection mini-suites, and the Sphere-class ships also have new suite categories.
Solo travellers should note one real difference. Several P&O ships, including Iona, Arvia, Britannia, Azura and Ventura, have dedicated single cabins with no single supplement on the cabin itself. Princess has traditionally had very few, so solo guests usually pay a supplement for a double cabin. Check the deck plan for your exact ship before booking.
Food and drink packages
Food is where Princess usually gets the most praise. Its main dining rooms have a good reputation, and specialty venues such as the Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian restaurant are well liked. P&O plays to British tastes, with familiar dishes in the main restaurants and a strong line-up of extra-charge venues such as Sindhu (Indian) and The Epicurean. On Iona and Arvia, food is spread across many more venues.
P&O packages. For cruises of five nights or more from March 2026, P&O sells two all-inclusive add-ons. Classic is £49 per person per day and includes the classic drinks package, essential Wi-Fi and a speciality dining credit. Deluxe is £59 per person per day and adds premium spirits and cocktails, faster Wi-Fi and a bigger dining credit. These prices are for 5 to 14 night cruises and may change. Drinks packages can also still be bought on their own.
Princess packages. Princess Plus and Princess Premier are still the names in use. Plus includes a drinks package, one Wi-Fi device, four casual dining meals and crew appreciation. Premier adds unlimited specialty dining, four Wi-Fi devices, professional photos, reserved show seating and a shore excursion credit. Princess raised its US prices for sailings from 13 October 2026, to $70 a day for Plus and $105 for Premier when bought before the cruise. They cost a little more on Sun Princess and Star Princess. UK sterling prices are set separately, so check the price for your sailing on the Princess UK site.
The main point for price comparisons: P&O includes tips in every fare, while Princess adds a daily crew appreciation charge unless you have Plus or Premier. When you compare quotes, add tips to the Princess price, or compare a P&O fare plus Classic against a Princess fare plus Plus.
Evening shows are a big part of both lines, but the style differs. Photo: Margo Evardson on Pexels
Entertainment and atmosphere
P&O’s entertainment is aimed at British audiences: West End-style shows from its in-house company, comedians, quizzes, tribute acts and live music. On Iona and Arvia, the SkyDome turns into a show venue after dark. Princess offers Broadway-style production shows, Movies Under the Stars on a big poolside screen and, on the Sphere ships, newer venues under the glass dome.
The atmosphere is where people notice the difference most. A P&O ship feels like a British holiday at sea: pounds on your bill, Sunday roasts and afternoon tea. Princess feels more international and a little more polished. Many guests like the OceanMedallion, which lets you order drinks to wherever you are sitting and opens your cabin door.
Dress code
Neither line is stuffy. P&O’s usual evening code is Evening Casual, with some Black Tie nights depending on the length of the cruise. On Arcadia and Aurora, people tend to dress up more. Princess uses Smart Casual most evenings and holds one or two “Dress to Impress” formal nights on a typical 7 to 14 night cruise, where a dark suit or cocktail dress is fine. On both lines the buffet and casual venues stay relaxed every evening.
Cruising with children
P&O’s family ships (Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Azura and Ventura) have The Reef kids’ clubs. The school-holiday dates suit UK families, and sailing from Southampton means no flights with young children. From December 2026, P&O is also opening some peak Arcadia and Aurora sailings to families. Those ships have no kids’ club, so the bigger ships remain the better choice for most families.
Princess has Camp Discovery clubs, linked to Discovery and Animal Planet, on most of its ships. They are good, but Princess sailings from Southampton usually have fewer children on board than a P&O summer cruise. Some families like that, while others want more company for their children.
Price: which is cheaper?
P&O usually has the lower headline fare for ex-Southampton cruises, especially on shorter breaks and off-season sailings. Because tips are included and you pay in pounds, the final bill is easier to predict. Princess fares can look similar at first, but gratuities, a dollar onboard account and package costs often push the total higher. In return, many guests feel the food and service are better.
For a fair comparison, price the same week, the same cabin type and the extras you would really buy. Then look at current offers, which can move the numbers a lot. Our roundup of cruise deals for 2027 is a good place to start.
P&O or Princess: who each line suits
Choose P&O Cruises if you want to sail from Southampton at any time of year, prefer a British atmosphere and pound-sterling pricing, are travelling with children in the school holidays, are a solo traveller looking for single cabins, or want an adults-focused ship like Aurora.
Choose Princess Cruises if food is your priority, you like a more international crowd, you want to try the new Sun Princess or Star Princess, or you are planning Alaska, Asia or a long voyage.
Either works well for a 7 to 14 night Norway or Mediterranean cruise from Southampton in summer. Compare the total price with packages and tips included.
Overall, neither line is simply better. P&O is the easy, good-value choice for UK holidays. Princess is the more international choice and usually wins on food.
Princess usually rates higher for food and has a more international feel. P&O is often better value for UK cruisers because tips are included, you pay in pounds and it sails from Southampton all year. Which is better depends on what matters most to you.
Are P&O and Princess the same company?
Both are owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, and some ships share a design, but they are run as separate brands with different markets, menus and onboard styles.
What is the best P&O cruise ship?
For the most choice, Arvia and Iona are the newest and biggest. For a quieter, adults-focused cruise, Aurora and Arcadia are popular. Britannia suits people who want something in between.
Does Princess Cruises sail from Southampton?
Yes, seasonally. In 2027, Sky Princess and Majestic Princess offer 45 round trips from Southampton between roughly March and October, up from 32 in 2026.
How many ships does Princess Cruises have?
Princess has 17 ships as of October 2026, including the Sphere-class Sun Princess (2024) and Star Princess (2025). P&O has seven.
Unless you book the very top all-inclusive holidays, there are always a lot optional extras that you might want or need to pay for.
And cruises are no different in this case. Your cruise fare covers a lot of things, but it doesn’t cover everything.
While it’s possible to cruise without paying anything extra, most people won’t, so budgeting for these extras is a good idea.
But what are the most overpriced extras? Where do you need to brace yourself for bad value before you sail?
I asked my Facebook audience what they thought the most overpriced extras for cruises were, and here’s the list in full:
1. WiFi
By some distance, WiFi was the cruise extra that was mentioned the most by past cruisers, and I’m not really surprised.
That’s because the WiFi on cruise ships can be very expensive compared to what you’re used to paying on land, but it’s nowhere near as good either.
WiFi packages vary by cruise line, but most will make you pay for a package lasting the duration of your cruise, meaning you’re typically locked into paying for it regardless of the quality of the service.
And you can expect to pay as much as £25 per day, sometimes just for one device as well. Cruise lines sometimes have plans that fit families or work for multiple devices but they still aren’t really great value.
Especially when you consider that you can get good-quality broadband on land for £25 for an entire month.
Which is why paying up to £175 for a week of slow, inconsistent WiFi access upsets many people.
Of course, WiFi via satellite is usually more expensive regardless of where you are in the world. And it’s not like cruise ships can drag internet cables around as they sail, like some sort of digital leash.
So there is some justification for higher prices, though they can still leave a sour taste in guests’ mouths.
The best solution is to just not pay for it – try to take a tech break and just enjoy the cruise if you can.
But that’s not always possible. I’m lucky that I take a lot of cruises, but I often have to work during them, even if it’s just an hour a day or so.
Taking advantage of free WiFi in port is one alternative but that depends on you being in port, and not having other plans for the day. A lot of people have to be online and so are forced to pay the high prices, and hope they get a decent speed.
WiFi is improving on cruise ships as more install Starlink satellite internet. This is more consistent with its speeds, and while it’s never going to feel like a fibre connection at home, it’s still perfectly usable most of the time.
But people are still frustrated by the high costs, especially when they have to pay for their entire cruise.
My advice is to only pay for the WiFi if you absolutely need it and you can’t manage with the free WiFi in port.
But if you need it, or you just want it and wouldn’t enjoy the cruise without keeping tabs on socials, then make sure you book it before you sail.
Packages are cheaper when pre-booked so you might as well budget for it early and book it before you board.
Drinks packages are a hot topic when it comes to overpriced cruise extras, and honestly, I can see why so many people brought them up.
On paper, they sound like a great deal – unlimited drinks for a set daily price. But in reality, the cost can be eye-watering.
Depending on the cruise line, a drinks package can set you back anywhere from £25 to well over £100 per person, per day if you want alcohol included.
And here’s the kicker: most lines insist that every adult in the same cabin also buys a package, even if one of you isn’t much of a drinker.
So unless you plan to drink your body weight in cocktails, soft drinks, and speciality coffees every single day, it’s really hard to get your money’s worth.
And that’s before you discover the fine print – many premium drinks aren’t even included in the package, or you’ll have to pay a supplement for them.
I like a beer or cocktail (or five) on a cruise, but I don’t love feeling like I need to drink more just to justify the cost. It takes the fun out of things, doesn’t it?
When there’s a great deal then I’ll absolutely pay for the drinks package to avoid having to think about costs, otherwise I’ll just pay for drinks individually.
Drinks packages can make sense for some people.
If you love having lots of choice without worrying about the bill at the end, or if you’re someone who enjoys sipping on everything from cappuccinos in the morning to wine at dinner, then it might work for you.
Families with older teens who like soft drinks might also find value in a non-alcoholic package.
But always check whether the maths adds up, especially when you factor in port days, where you’re likely drinking off the ship anyway.
My drinks package calculator does all the maths for you. Just enter the drinks you plan to have and it will tell you if the package is worth it on your particular cruise.
And if you do decide to go for it, book it before you sail – just like with WiFi, it’s often cheaper to pre-purchase packages online than to buy them once you’re onboard.
But don’t feel pressured. Plenty of people happily cruise without a drinks package and don’t miss it one bit. You’re not missing out just because you skip the unlimited margaritas.
Spa treatments are one of those cruise luxuries that sound so enticing – a massage overlooking the ocean, a relaxing facial while the ship glides through the water.
But the prices can be staggering, and the general consensus is that they’ve skyrocketed in more recent years.
Treatments onboard are often double or even triple what you’d have paid a few years ago on a cruise, or what you’d pay for something similar at home. It’s very rare that you’ll find a massage for under $150.
It’s not just the treatments themselves, either. Many cruisers report feeling pressured into buying expensive skincare products after their spa session, which adds even more to the final bill.
If you’re set on treating yourself, look out for discounts on port days when the spa tends to be quieter.
On a Costa cruise, I once bought a day pass to the spa on a sea day, only to find that it was so busy that the steam room and sauna was completely full and there were no beds to lay on either. I just stood there feeling silly for wasting my money!
You may choose to save your money and enjoy the hot tubs and relaxation areas that are already included in your fare.
And be prepared to stand your ground when they try to upsell products to you. Because they will, and they can be pushy. A firm no should be enough and if they continue to ask, feel free to let Guest Services know.
4. Photos
Cruise ship photographers are everywhere – snapping your formal night outfits, capturing your family as you board, and even lurking at dinner tables on some occasions.
While the photos are often lovely, the price tag can be shocking. Expect to pay upwards of £25 per photo, with bundles costing even more. P&O charges £250 if you want access to digital versions of all photos taken of you, for example.
Many cruisers feel that these prices are hard to justify, especially when most of us now carry a smartphone capable of taking great pictures.
While it’s tempting to buy a few as keepsakes, the cost adds up quickly.
If you do want professional photos, try to narrow it down to your absolute favourites, or wait until the end of the cruise when there are sometimes bundle deals available.
I love how they do photos on a Disney cruise. When you get your photo taken with the characters, there’ll be two photographers – one with the big camera, and one who will use your own phone or camera to take the picture for you for free.
5. Shore excursions
Shore excursions booked through the cruise line are convenient, but they often come with a hefty markup.
It’s not unusual to see prices of £60–£120 per person for tours that might cost half as much if booked independently.
For many, the high prices are simply not worth it, especially when local tour operators offer similar (or even better) experiences at a fraction of the cost.
That said, booking through the cruise line does give peace of mind, as they guarantee the ship won’t leave without you if the tour runs late.
A good compromise is to research your ports in advance. You might find that you can explore independently or book a reputable local guide for much less.
For cruisers who prefer to stick with the ship’s excursions, keep an eye out for discounts when booking multiple tours in advance.
Speciality dining offers a chance to enjoy something a little different from the main dining rooms or buffet, but it often comes at a steep price.
While the food can be excellent, the cost of £30-100 per person for a meal that isn’t significantly better than what’s included in your fare can leave many feeling underwhelmed.
For some, it’s worth it to celebrate a special occasion or try a particular type of cuisine, but for most cruisers, the included dining options are more than good enough.
If you’re tempted, look out for pre-cruise deals or discounted offers once onboard. Sometimes you can book a package that includes speciality dining meals.
Otherwise, just make sure you’ve checked prices in advance where possible, so that if you’ve got a restaurant that you’re dead-set on enjoying, you can budget for it.
7. Private lounges & VIP areas
Private lounges and VIP areas that feature cabanas, exclusive bars or reserved sun loungers are becoming increasingly popular on some cruise lines – but they’re also dividing opinions.
Prices can vary anywhere between £25 and £100 per person per day, depending on the ship and package.
While some appreciate the exclusivity and guaranteed space, others feel these areas go against the inclusive nature of cruising.
If you’re someone who values peace and quiet, it might be worth splurging for a day, but for most, there are plenty of free spaces to relax without the extra cost.
The price of drinks onboard a cruise will vary greatly depending on who you’re cruising with, and while some are comparable to typical pub/bar prices at home, sometimes you’ll be paying a premium.
Honestly, bottled water seems to be the most egregious issue, sometimes costing as much as £4 for a bottle. If you like bottled water then that can quickly add up, especially on longer cruises.
Consider bringing as many drinks onto the ship as you’re allowed. Again, this varies by cruise line but will help mitigate the costs.
And a reusable water bottle is another great money-saver. You can either use the water fountains in public areas or just use the taps – the tap water on cruise ships is safe to drink (though not always the most pleasant).
As for alcoholic drinks, the same tips on bringing the maximum onboard that you’re permitted applies. And then if you plan on drinking a lot, maybe a package would actually be good value for you.
There’s something about being on holiday that can put you in the mood to splurge, and cruise ships are very good at encouraging that mindset.
With glittering displays of jewellery, shiny watches, and dramatic art auctions, it’s easy to be swept up in the excitement of treating yourself to something special.
But here’s the reality: many of those purchases, whether it’s a diamond necklace or a new timepiece, could be found for much less back home.
Cruise lines often market these items as duty-free bargains or “exclusive to the ship,” but a quick search online or at your local retailer might reveal that the so-called deals aren’t quite what they seem.
Art auctions, in particular, can catch people off guard. The pieces may look beautiful under the spotlights, and the auctions are presented as unique opportunities, but it’s worth doing your homework before bidding.
Many cruisers report finding the same or similar works available for a fraction of the price elsewhere.
If you’re considering a big-ticket item, it’s always worth taking a moment to pause. Snap a picture, do some research, and compare prices when you’re back home.
Final word
Cruises are a fantastic way to relax, explore, and enjoy a bit of luxury, but it’s easy to get caught out by the extras.
From drinks packages to spa treatments, WiFi to shore excursions, these optional add-ons can quickly turn a reasonably priced holiday into a costly one.
The key is to know what’s worth splurging on and what you can skip or find alternatives for.
A little planning and research go a long way – whether it’s bringing your own reusable water bottle, booking excursions independently, or deciding to enjoy the included dining rather than shelling out for speciality restaurants.
Remember, cruising is about enjoying yourself, and that doesn’t have to mean spending more than you’re comfortable with. By keeping an eye on your budget and prioritising the things that matter most to you, you’ll avoid unnecessary costs and make the most of your time at sea.
Related posts
If you found this interesting, please share!
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.
Princess Cruises dining is split into four tiers. Complimentary venues (main dining rooms, the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, International Café, burgers and deck pizza) are included in your fare. Casual spots like Alfredo’s and O’Malley’s carry a small per-meal fee. Specialty restaurants such as Crown Grill and Sabatini’s have a cover charge of around $55 to $60. Experiential dinners like Chef’s Table cost more. The Princess Plus and Premier packages cover some of these charges, but not all.
Here’s how Princess Cruises dining works in 2026, which restaurants are included, what the extras cost, and how to book.
Princess Cruises Dining Options at a Glance
Princess labels every venue with one of four categories. Knowing the tier tells you straight away whether you’ll pay.
Tier
Examples
Typical cost (no package)
Princess Plus
Princess Premier
Complimentary
Main dining rooms, World Fresh Marketplace, International Café, Salty Dog Grill, afternoon tea
Prices are per person, quoted from Princess and recent guides at the time of writing. They vary by ship and itinerary, so check the Princess app before you sail.
Main Dining Room: Traditional, Reservable or Walk-In
Every Princess ship’s main dining rooms serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at no extra charge, with menus that change nightly. Since September 2024, Princess has run three dinner styles fleetwide, each in its own dining room:
Traditional: a fixed early or late seating with the same table, tablemates and waiter every night. Good if you like a routine and getting to know your waiter.
Reservable: you book a specific time for each night, either before the cruise or onboard.
Open Seating (walk-in anytime): turn up when you like, with no reservation. Guests on flexible dining can use either this room or the reservable one.
You choose Traditional or flexible dining in the Princess app before you sail. Traditional seatings are limited, so pick early if you want one. On busy sea-day evenings, the walk-in room can have a short wait, which a reservation avoids.
Guests in Reserve Collection mini-suites and suites have their own Reserve Collection Restaurant. On Sun Princess and Star Princess, Sanctuary Collection guests also have a dedicated Sanctuary Restaurant.
Included Princess Cruise Restaurants
You can eat well on a Princess cruise without paying for any upgrades. Included venues on most ships are:
World Fresh Marketplace: the buffet, with stations rather than self-serve trays on many ships, open for most of the day.
International Café: pastries, quiche, sandwiches and cakes in the Piazza, open 24 hours. Specialty coffees cost extra unless you have a drinks package.
Salty Dog Grill / Café: burgers, hot dogs and pub-style bites by the pool. Ruby Princess has a casual-tier Salty Dog Gastropub instead.
Poolside pizza: deck pizza by the slice is still included, even though sit-down Alfredo’s has moved to the casual tier.
Afternoon tea: finger sandwiches, scones and pastries most afternoons.
Room service breakfast: ordering from the door-hanger menu remains free.
Ship-specific: Sun Princess and Star Princess
The Sphere-class ships replace the traditional buffet layout with The Eatery, an all-day venue with rotating regional menus. They also have the included Americana Diner for burgers, shakes and comfort food. These ships also have the widest choice of paid restaurants in the fleet. See our first impressions of Sun Princess vs Star Princess for more on the newest ships.
Alfredo's-style pizza now sits in Princess's casual dining tier, with a small per-meal fee. Photo: Antonius Ferret on Pexels
Casual Dining on Princess: Small Fee, Big Variety
Princess created the casual tier in 2023. Venues serve a set three-course or prix fixe menu for a flat fee, quoted at about $14.99 per adult and $7.49 for children aged 3 to 11. Princess Plus includes four casual meals per guest per voyage, and Premier makes them unlimited.
Alfredo’s Pizzeria / Gigi’s Pizzeria: Neapolitan-style pizzas and pasta, walk-in.
O’Malley’s Irish Pub: fish and chips, pies and burgers.
Ocean Terrace Sushi: sushi, sashimi and starters.
Vines Wine Bar: charcuterie and tapas-style plates with wine (reservation needed).
Plank’s BBQ: Texas-style barbecue, only on Caribbean Princess and Emerald Princess.
Churrascaria Brazilian Grill: rodizio-style meats, only on Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess.
Each ship carries its own mix. Most have at least the pub, pizzeria and sushi bar.
Princess Specialty Dining and Cover Charges
Princess specialty dining costs a flat cover charge per person, reported at about $55 per adult and $27.50 per child on most ships, and $60/$30 on Sun Princess and Star Princess. Premier includes unlimited specialty dining. Plus doesn’t, so Plus guests pay the cover charge.
Restaurant
Style
Where you’ll find it
Crown Grill
Steakhouse and seafood
Most ships
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
Multi-course Italian, handmade pasta
Most ships
The Catch by Rudi
Seafood by chef Rudi Sodamin
Select ships, including Sun and Star Princess
Makoto Ocean
Edomae-style sushi by chef Makoto Okuwa
Diamond, Sapphire, Sun and Star Princess
Umai Teppanyaki
Tableside teppanyaki grill
Sun and Star Princess
Umai Hot Pot
Communal Asian hot pot
Sun and Star Princess
The Butcher’s Block by Dario
Steakhouse with butcher Dario Cecchini
Sun and Star Princess
Love by Britto
Prix fixe dinner in a Romero Britto-designed room
Sun and Star Princess
Experiential dining
These are special-occasion meals that no package covers:
Chef’s Table: a small-group, multi-course dinner hosted by the executive chef, roughly $105 to $149. Some Royal-class ships offer Chef’s Table Lumière (around $155) behind a curtain of light.
Caymus Vineyards Winemaker’s Dinner: six courses paired with Caymus wines, around $145.
360: An Extraordinary Experience: a seven-course immersive dinner on Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess, about $149.
Ultimate Balcony Dining: breakfast or a multi-course dinner served on your balcony.
Crab Shack: a pop-up serving crab legs and seafood pots on select sea days and itineraries, especially Alaska.
Experiential dinners such as Chef's Table cost extra even with Princess Premier. Photo: Pixabay on Pexels
How Princess Plus and Premier Change Your Dining
Princess revised its packages in June 2025 for new purchases. At the time of writing:
Princess Plus (about $65 per person per day, $70 on Sphere-class ships) includes four casual meals per voyage, free room service and OceanNow delivery, plus drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities.
Princess Premier (about $100 per day, $105 on Sphere-class ships) adds unlimited casual and specialty dining, a bigger drinks allowance and a shore excursion credit.
Premium desserts were removed from both packages for purchases after the June 2025 change. Guests who bought earlier keep their original perks.
Room service: breakfast from the door-hanger card is free. Other orders carry a delivery fee (introduced at $5 per order) unless you have Plus or Premier.
OceanNow: Princess’s app-based service delivers food and drinks to wherever you are onboard, using your Medallion. Non-package guests have been charged a one-time activation fee (introduced at $14.99 per cruise). Plus and Premier guests pay nothing.
Premium desserts: signature desserts in the main dining room and specialty gelato or sweets are sold à la carte. Prices are small but vary by ship.
How to Book Princess Cruises Dining Reservations
Before you sail: once your booking is confirmed, open the Princess app or Manage Booking online to choose Traditional or flexible dining and book specialty or experiential meals.
Book popular venues early: Chef’s Table, 360, Umai Teppanyaki and sea-day Crown Grill slots fill first.
Onboard: use the app or visit the restaurant during the day. Walk-ins are often possible on port days, when many guests eat ashore.
Package holders: Premier guests still need reservations for specialty restaurants, so book them like everyone else.
Yes. The main dining rooms, World Fresh Marketplace buffet, International Café, poolside grill and pizza, afternoon tea and room service breakfast are included in your fare. Casual, specialty and experiential venues cost extra unless your package covers them.
How much is specialty dining on Princess?
The specialty dining cover charge is reported at about $55 per adult on most ships and $60 on Sun Princess and Star Princess, with lower children’s prices. Experiential dinners such as Chef’s Table cost more.
What specialty restaurants are on Royal Princess?
Royal-class ships such as Royal Princess typically have Crown Grill and Sabatini’s, with The Catch by Rudi or Chef’s Table Lumière on some sailings. Check the ship’s dining page, because venues are updated during refits.
Does Princess Plus include specialty dining?
No. Princess Plus includes four casual meals per guest per voyage. Unlimited specialty dining is part of Princess Premier.
Do you need reservations for the Princess main dining room?
Only if you choose the reservable option. Traditional diners have a fixed seating, and the Open Seating dining room takes walk-ins at any time.
It’s actually no surprise at all to see cruise lines now tapping into the gaming industry to stay ahead. But, well, this is not an entirely new idea. After all, who will not want to take advantage of an industry like gaming that, according to GlobeNewswire, has a market size of more than $221.24? And that’s not all. The institution believes the sector will continue to grow at a CAGR of about 6.5% in the next few years, which is partly because of the rise of engaging games like Aviator.
Think of a scenario where you’re lounging on a sun-drenched deck, a gentle sea breeze brushing against your face as you engage in some aviation-themes games like Aviator. Or better still, imagine participating in competitive esports tournaments with other players as you experience endless ocean stretches through the ship’s window. This is definitely something many gamers would like, and thankfully, it’s already happening.
Where have we come from?
Well, as we have already mentioned, themed cruises are not a thing of yesterday. For those who’re so much into hard rock music and partying, you must have heard about Kriss Kruise. At times, this ship would sail around the Caribbean for about seven days, with up to 2,300 fans enjoying this music genre on board. It hasn’t been different for the gaming industry.
In fact, with the continued popularity of online platforms, cruise lines now have new ways of engaging travellers. For example, we may see several adopting popular online games like Aviator to make the sailing experience even more immersive. By the way, are you actually aware that this game alone has over 12 million monthly players? This is such a huge number to ignore.
Of course, we can’t ignore the contributions of companies like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line that have dabbled in gaming events in the past. Actually, just recently, Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed a partnership with Light & Wonder that would see progressive table games come to its fleet.
According to the company’s vice president, Ian Donald, this collaboration would help them link gaming experiences across their vessels and help them provide guests with more excitement and entertainment. These sentiments agreed with Niaz Nejad, the gaming company’s managing director, who confirmed that they prioritized offering engaging gaming experiences both on land and at sea.
Another partnership of this kind happened towards the end of last year (2024) when Aristocrat Gaming collaborated with Princess Cruises. Now, for those who love thematic slot games, this is something worth your consideration. The partnership brings themed slot gaming zones, popularly known as Buffalo Zones, to the sea.
Why are gaming cruises a hit?
We have already hinted at how gaming has become popular, with titles like Aviator drawing the attention of millions of fans. In fact, this is no longer a niche hobby – it’s become a mainstream passion, and cruise lines seem to understand this quite well. Have we mentioned that Exploding Topics approximates the number of gamers worldwide to be more than 3.32 billion?
This already gives cruise lines a significant opportunity to attract new audiences to their fleet. Actually, by integrating games, they are able to cater to a demographic that’s often overlooked by traditional vacation offerings. But you can actually be sure that it’s not just about the games.
A recent Statista survey revealed that up to 82% of respondents had made new friends through gaming. Now, these cruises offer a unique opportunity to connect with new communities. Well, as much as you may be used to online interactions, these cruises offer a very rare opportunity for game interactions. Think of it this way: You are discussing a popular aviation-themed game like Aviator or teaming up for a League of Legends match over the waters. The experience must just be one of a kind.
To make matters even better, some of these cruise lines can allow you to meet your favorite streamers through their lineup of special guests. It’s like playing Call of Duty alongside Symfuhny, who’s been playing Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 since they were released. Such rare opportunities can feature exclusive content like sneak peeks at upcoming releases – a level of access that’s hard to find anywhere else.
What can we expect in the future?
Seeing many industries tapping into the growing popularity of gaming should not surprise you at all. With almost 40% of the world’s population in this industry, you’d definitely want to provide experiences that align with its fans. Plus, don’t forget that more people may actually join the sector, given its continued innovation. For instance, who ever thought that integrating aviation themes through games like Aviator would ever be possible? However, that is already happening and could encourage the sector’s growth even further.
Therefore, it follows that as the gaming industry evolves, cruise lines will also follow suit by adopting high-speed internet and advanced gaming setups to offer more engaging experiences. And, of course, we can’t fail to mention the aspect of inclusiveness, where cruises will be able to cater to diverse audiences, from families to solo cruises.
As you can actually see, gaming-themed cruises offer an unprecedented level of immersion. After all, where else can you enjoy a sunset over the ocean while your team secures a victory in Apex Legends? By bringing gamers together in such a unique setting, these cruises create memories that last long after the ship docks.
Wondering what happens when someone jumps off a cruise ship? Well, you’ll be glad to know that, fortunately, this isn’t very common!
It’s almost impossible to simply ‘fall’ from a cruise ship as the railings are quite high. Most of the time, people who go overboard either intentionally jumped or were doing something irresponsible, like climbing over a balcony.
So what happens when someone jumps off a cruise ship? Let’s find out…
Jumping off a cruise ship on purpose – here’s what happens
If a passenger jumps off of a cruise ship, the ship will stop as soon as it’s alerted and make a turn to begin searching for them in the water. This can take several hours and often requires the help of passengers looking from their balconies as well as nearby cruise ships and vessels.
The crew will plot their location at the time of the fall and navigate back to the place it’s believed that the passenger has gone overboard.
Cruise ships are fitted with CCTV cameras which can help, but these aren’t continually monitored. Specialist sensors are also becoming more popular. Many cruise ships are fitted with V-MOB sensors which will automatically alert the crew at the bridge of any ‘man overboard’ incident.
If you see someone jump or fall overboard, you should immediately throw a life ring toward them. Even if they cannot reach it, it will help to mark the spot where they fell.
In the video below, Emma Cruises explains in detail the procedure that happens when someone goes overboard. She includes her own first-hand experience of the procedure when someone went overboard on her Norwegian Cruise Line sailing.
Why people jump from cruise ships
An average of 25 people each year jump from cruise ships, for multiple reasons. These could include:
Committing suicide
Foolish pranks
Alcohol and/or drug-related incidents
Climbing on balconies or railings
An attempt to rescue someone who has fallen
In 2024, 19 people fell overboard out of 36 million passengers who cruised that year. This gives you a 1 in 1.9 million chance of ever falling overboard when cruising. Those who do fall, are usually intentionally jumping or are falling as a result of reckless behaviour.
Recent ship jumping incidents
There were several incidents of someone going overboard in 2024, but it’s not clear in each whether they were purposefully jumping or if they fell after acting in a dangerous manner.
In early 2024 there were a couple of incidents of people jumping from a cruise ship. It’s not super-common but it does happen.
Going a little further back, in June 2023, a woman went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, reportedly after climbing a railing to sit on it for a photo.
Thankfully, because it was daytime and there were people who witnessed the incident, the ship was able to turn around and locate her. She was rescued from the water by the ship’s pilot boat, and brought back onboard.
Survival rates for jumping from a cruise ship
The survival rate after jumping off a cruise ship varies but is low – certainly no better than around 25%. Many things can influence this rate including the speed of the ship, the location, the time of day and the season.
A case of someone surviving their ordeal is taken from 2015 when a 22-year-old man fell overboard off the coast of Mexico. He was rescued by a Disney cruise ship after passengers spotted him in the water.
The man had been in the water for about five hours after falling from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas early in the morning. After the rescue, the man was taken to a local hospital and was in good condition before flying back to the U.S.
And more recently, in February 2024, a passenger fell overboard from MSC Bellissima in Japan, but was rescued alive from the waters and survived.
Despite these stories, those who survive are incredibly lucky to have been rescued and made it to shore unscathed. Commenting on the impact falls from a cruise ship can have on a person, Cozumel Port Captain Alfonso Rodríguez said: “Most people that experience that kind of fall break their neck. It’s like hitting concrete.”
Sea survival expert, Mike Tipton, a professor from the University of Portsmouth and co-author of Essentials of Sea Survival, calculates most cruise ship falls sadly result in death.
He advises that, if you survive the initial fall, “the best thing you can do in the first few minutes of immersion is try to rest, relax, float,” he says, suggesting that restricting movement and conserving energy is the best strategy to increase your survival odds.
Factors affecting the survival rate of jumping from a cruise ship
Survival rates of jumping from a cruise ship can be impacted by a number of things:
Whether the passenger was injured upon impact
Which deck the passenger fell from
The location of the ship
The speed of the ship
The time of day
The temperature of the water
The height of the waves
The time it takes to raise the alarm
Whether the passenger can swim
Whether the passenger is intoxicated
If a person jumps off the top deck of a cruise ship into freezing cold and rough seas in the dead of night, the chance of them being found is very slim. But for someone jumping off a lower deck into warm, flat water with witnesses, the chance of being rescued is much higher.
It can take a cruise ship a long time to slow down, sometimes up to a mile in distance. During this time the passenger can suffer terrible consequences, that’s if they have even survived the fall in the first place.
A person who has jumped from a cruise ship could hit something during the fall, or the impact of the water itself could result in a quick death. There’s also a risk of getting pulled under the ship into its propellors, hypothermia due to the shock of cold water and drowning due to large waves.
The height of the ship itself can be a factor in the cause of death. Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, measures a staggering 20 decks high. Jumping from extreme heights has an incredible impact, with enormous forces putting stress on your body including torn muscles, ruptured eardrums and even death on impact.
If no one is around when the passenger goes overboard, then the disappearance may not be noticed or reported for several hours. Normal procedures allow for ships to track their location once notified so they can return to the spot where the passenger fell.
However, if hours have passed since, there’s no way to tell where this location could be. The sooner the crew are told, the better the chances are of someone being found.
Going overboard at night also has its issues as visibility is limited and the temperatures at sea drop. While flares and spotlights can be used in these circumstances, it’s often more difficult to locate someone in the water in the dark.
The seasons and weather such as rough seas, thunderstorms, rain, and fog, also hinder the chances of locating missing passengers.
So, will you die if you fall off a cruise ship, or jump off cruise ship balconies intentionally? There’s a high risk – which is why you need to be sensible.
Legal issues around jumping from a cruise ship
While there are no laws as such to make it illegal to jump from a cruise ship, those who survive often face legal action for their reckless behaviour and, depending on the circumstances, may be banned from cruising ever again.
Chris Gray Faust, senior editor at CruiseCritic.com is quoted in a CNTraveler article as emphasising “cruise lines want passengers to be safe, and they focus a great deal on helping to ensure that.”
He goes on to say that “it’s worth keeping in mind that the incidence of passengers falling overboard is incredibly low […] Travellers should always be sure to stay alert, be cautious, and follow safety precautions, as they would on any vacation – whether at sea or on land.”
The guy who jumped off a cruise ship for Instagram fame
A few years ago, there were a lot of ‘man jumps off cruise ship’ headlines as 27-year-old Nick Naydev jumped 100 feet from Symphony of the Seas into shark-infested waters while the ship was docked in Nassau, Bahamas.
You can see the jump, and Nick’s comments on his stunt, in this video…
Speaking in 2019, Nick recalls, “I remember hitting the water, the impact was pretty big cause it was pretty high up and it impacted my tailbone and my neck pretty hard. Luckily it wasn’t anything serious. The previous night we were drinking quite a bit, so I was still feeling the effects of the alcohol […] I hope I don’t inspire anybody to do this because it is very dangerous, and I hope they don’t think this is a joke.”
As a result of the incident, Nick and his fellow passengers were banned from cruising with Royal Caribbean for life and the cruise line contacted local authorities to remove the group from the ship immediately after the incident.
The bottom line
A small number of people do jump from cruise ships each year. But, in the cases where this happens, procedures and policies are in place to try to retrieve the passenger who went overboard. Sadly, these rescue missions fail more often than they succeed.
Jumping off a cruise ship is always a bad idea. If you do survive the fall, you’re likely to face serious injuries, legal consequences and a lifetime ban from cruising.
Related posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
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.
