Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know
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Many vacation goers who spend time exploring the Caribbean islands choose to do so by cruise ship. A cruise can be a stress-free way to soak up the sun and sand at incredible tropical destinations. You can book tours directly through the cruise line or through outside providers, with the latter often offering a lower price. Before booking a shore excursion through an outside company, though, be sure to review the pros and cons of not booking through the cruise line. You can have gratuities pre-paid, where Royal Caribbean charges you the full amount up front with your cruise fare and then there's nothing more to pay once onboard. Whether you’re purchasing treats or visiting multiple times, you’ll need to pay separately.
I Just Took a 3-Night Royal Caribbean Cruise -- Here's What I Loved, and What I Didn't - The Motley Fool
I Just Took a 3-Night Royal Caribbean Cruise -- Here's What I Loved, and What I Didn't.
Posted: Sun, 14 Apr 2024 14:30:10 GMT [source]
Are there water fountains onboard?
If you pay off your cruise early, you can get your money back (except for certain discounted fares and nonrefundable deposits) should you cancel before the final payment deadline. However, it can be a hassle to go through the refund process and wait for the cruise line to return your funds. For example, Carnival Cruise Line uses EasyPay to allow interest-free autopayments to be charged to you at regular intervals in order to pay off your cruise before you set sail.
Water Package
However, the top suites on its vessels offer an experience keeping with what you'll find on some of the world's top luxury ships. Inside cabins on Symphony of the Seas measure just 149 square feet, quite a bit less than the typical ocean-view cabin on the vessel (those range from 179 to 272 square feet). The typical balcony cabin on Symphony of the Seas is 182 square feet, not including a 50-square-foot balcony.
Bottom line: Is a drink package on Royal Caribbean right for you?
There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings. Whether you want Royal Caribbean alcohol prices or Royal Caribbean drink prices, here is your complete list to know how much they will cost before they get onboard. Look at what Royal Caribbean beverage packages cost and what you’d likely get onboard, then do the math. There are other ways to save money on Royal Caribbean drinks prices, but you do these at your own risk and I certainly would not condone it. For me, it’s a tougher decision on whether to buy a drinks package or not.
Can I use my drink package to order bottled water?
The "magic" cup gets you all the refills you want 24 hours a day, with your pick of sodas with add-in flavorings. (Orange Coke is my fave.) Freestyle machines are available on 18 ships in the fleet. The backstory here is that Royal Caribbean ships are designed to appeal to a wide demographic, including travelers with varying budgets. Royal Caribbean is known for packing its ships full of onboard thrills. Depending on which class you sail on, you'll find anything from ice skating rinks to skydiving simulators, bumper cars, zip lines, water slides, and more.
Ocean-view cabins on Royal Caribbean ships
It is worth noting the drink prices across Royal Caribbean's fleet do vary to some degree. Specifically, drink prices on Oasis or Quantum Class ships are usually a bit more expensive (50 cents to one dollar more) than on other ships in the fleet. With the 18% gratuity, this makes the actual cost range from $11.79 to $47.19.
How to save money on the cost of a Caribbean cruise
As is typical for cruise lines, Royal Caribbean charges on a per-person basis, not per room, and it prices most cabins based on two people occupying a room. It does offer a small number of cabins on some ships that are priced based on single occupancy for solo travelers. Royal Caribbean allows you to bring two bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin onto ships at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.
What’s included in your base cruise fare?
On some vessels, such as the Quantum Class ships, you'll find a dedicated space with games and a widescreen TV called The Living Room where teens can hang out, plus a teens-only disco called Fuel. The Quantum Class ships also have an indoor fun zone known as The SeaPlex that includes a bumper car pavilion. When the bumper cars aren't in use, the space transforms into a roller rink, which is also used as a "circus school" with lessons on a flying trapeze. Every Royal Caribbean ship has a casino, and on the line's bigger vessels, these are big operations. The Casino Royale on Oasis of the Seas sprawls with 450 slot machines, 27 table games (including blackjack, roulette and craps) and a poker room, plus its very own bar.
However, they offer a nursery for children aged six months to 36 months, where trained professionals ensure their care and safety. The nursery service comes with its own set of fees, which differ based on the time of day. Beyond the included meals, Royal Caribbean boasts a diverse roster of specialty restaurants, each with its unique pricing structure, either via a cover charge or à la carte. Room service offers complimentary continental breakfast options, but a $7.95 cover charge applies to all other orders. However, for those interested in a more diverse culinary experience, Royal Caribbean does offer specialty restaurants that come at an extra cost. These range from steakhouses and Italian restaurants to Japanese teppanyaki and sushi spots.
Royal Caribbean drink packages allow you to drink what you want and when you want without feeling like you are being nickeled and dimed. The all-inclusive, extra-fee beverage plans aren't necessarily for everyone, but they are a nice way to enhance your cruise and take some of the stress out of in-the-moment vacation decisions. Smaller suites on Royal Caribbean ships include Grand Loft Suites, which can measure around 700 to 850 square feet. That's much smaller than the Royal Loft Suites but about four times the size of a standard balcony cabin.
If you're likely to drink four or five cocktails most days, plus specialty coffee, waters for excursions, soda and a glass of wine at dinner, your total, if purchased individually would easily exceed $80 per day. Unless your sailing has a higher-than-average price for the package, go for it. You will notice that the Deluxe Beverage Package price range listed above is a bit wider than what is posted on Royal Caribbean's site.
I've been known to take a couple of 16-ounce bottles of soda on board with me, but carrying on much more than that is a big hassle. It's also great for older kids and teens who might be roaming the ship with friends. The package also allows you to have plenty of water on hand in your cabin or to take on excursions. Yes, Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring a limited amount of bottled water onboard for personal consumption. Royal Caribbean is known for having some of the cruise world's most spectacular suites, including (on some ships) suites that sprawl over two decks.
Figuring out what your cruise ship includes is one of the most common (and important!) questions when booking a vacation. If you know you want to eat at a few extra-charge restaurants during your voyage, you can buy one of several dining packages that offer meals at a discount. Deposit amounts vary by sailing and the number of people in each cabin for Royal Caribbean bookings. For Alaska, Bermuda, Caribbean, Canada/New England, Europe, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and long Hawaii voyages, final payment must be made no fewer than 75 days prior to sailing.
The water throughout the ships is not only drinkable but also better than what's available in many cities. The Royal Loft Suites on Oasis-class ships measure nearly 1,800 square feet and feature two bedrooms, a large living room with a soaring ceiling and a dining area. The Royal Loft Suites on Quantum-class vessels are nearly 1,640 square feet and also sprawl over two decks. They also have a much higher price tag than the typical Royal Caribbean cabin.
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