A weekend cruise sounds like the perfect Royal Caribbean cruise because you can getaway for just a few nights and not need a lot of time off from work.

There are pros and cons to taking a short cruise over the weekend, but it's often the way a lot of people try a cruise for the very first time.

Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise. Knowing which departure ports offer weekend cruises, which destinations you can visit, and how much to budget for will help determine which weekend cruise will be best for your mini-getaway.

Best ship for a weekend cruise

While all Royal Caribbean ships may offer a 3-night cruise here and there, there are several ships that almost exclusively run on the same schedule every week. These ships tend to offer 3-night cruises from Friday afternoon to Monday morning and 4-night cruises from Monday afternoon to Friday morning.

While most ships running weekend cruises are not the newest and largest in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the majority of these ships have recently been amplified in the cruise line’s Royal Amplified program. Amplifications bring an impressive upgrade to Royal Caribbean ships, adding new onboard activities, stateroom options, and dining/lounge venues.

Utopia of the Seas is the hottest new cruise ship on the market, and is designed to be the ultimate weekend cruise ship, especially if you're new to cruising.  

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Utopia offers 3-night weekend cruises from Friday to Monday that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

The new ship has 21 restaurants, five pools, two casinos and an ice skating rink.

Allure of the Seas also offers weekend cruises from her homeport of Miami, Florida. She departs on Friday afternoons and visits both Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning back to Florida on Monday morning.

Allure of the Seas makes a great weekend cruise option for those who love having a nearly endless amount of activities to choose from onboard, from zip lining to AquaTheater shows.

Voyager of the Seas offers longer weekend cruises from Port Canaveral. She has 4- and 5-night cruises in 2024 and 2025, and they go to Cozumel, Mexico or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in addition to The Bahamas.

Voyager is a mid-sized ship and the original Voyager Class cruise ship. She has a lot to do, and her prices tend to be very competitive.  She doesn't sail the Friday to Monday weekend cruises, however.

Freedom of the Seas, a Freedom Class ship, offers seasonal 3-night weekend cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale, visiting both CocoCay and Nassau. 

Freedom of the Seas was amplified in February 2020 and received a major upgrade, with additions including the Perfect Storm waterslides, a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, and the new Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen restaurant.

Independence of the Seas is the weekend getaway ship of choice for those who prefer to depart from Miami, Florida. She is a Freedom Class cruise ship offering 3-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. Passengers on Independence of the Seas can enjoy an escape room, water slides, and the Izumi hibachi restaurant.

Navigator of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship, is the only Royal Caribbean cruise ship permanently homeported at the Port of Los Angeles. She offers 3-night weekend cruises to Ensenada, Mexico. Navigator of the Seas was amplified in 2019 with a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, new tropical-themed bars like the Bamboo Room, an escape room, and more.

Weekend cruise itineraries

Royal Caribbean offers cruises as long as 19+ nights and as short as 2 nights to destinations all over the world. Regardless of whether you book the longest cruise, a transpacific sailing visiting French Polynesia and New Zealand, or the shortest cruise to the Bahamas, you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable cruise vacation.

How long are weekend cruises?

Most weekend cruises tend to be 3-nights, leaving port on Friday afternoon and returning early Monday morning. A 3-night cruise gives the perfect length for a true “weekend getaway,” allowing you to forget all the stress brought on by work or school and truly escape.

Occasionally you may find 2-night cruises over the weekend, which leave Friday afternoon and return Sunday morning, although these are much less common.

Weekend cruise departure ports

Most of Royal Caribbean’s regularly scheduled weekend cruises leave from the ports of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, or Los Angeles.

Due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (otherwise known as the Jones Act), all foreign-flagged ships departing from the United States must include an itinerary stop in a country other than the United States.

Weekend cruises from New York, Boston or Baltimore don't exist because of the time required to reach a foreign port due to distance.

On some occasions you may find weekend cruises leaving from other ports around the world, such as Southampton, England and Haifa, Israel, although these tend to be more of a one-time cruise than a weekly itinerary choice.

Where can I visit on a weekend cruise?

Weekend cruises are fairly limited in the destinations they can visit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience an amazing day in port on a 3-night getaway.

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau is the capital of New Providence Island and is one of the most commonly visited ports on any Royal Caribbean cruise. The city is filled with fun activities, from waterparks to historical sites and enjoying day passes at all-inclusive resorts.

While it’s possible to disembark the ship in Nassau and simply walk around, we highly recommend planning what you would like to do in Nassau in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on the island’s best offerings and beaches.

Read more: Best things to do in Nassau on a cruise

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private destination in the Bahamas and is a favorite port among cruise fans. The island offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking to spend the day relaxing at Chill Beach, join the party at the swim-up bar, reserve a private, floating cabana, or slide down the tallest waterslide in North America.

While it’s not necessary to have a plan for your day at CocoCay, it’s a good idea to be familiar with what is offered on the island to ensure you can book any excursions or addons in advance.

Ensenada, Mexico

Ensenada is a port city on Mexico’s Pacific coast in the state of Baja California. If you’ve taken a cruise to other Mexican ports like Cozumel and Costa Maya, you’ll be surprised at how different the geography and coastline of Ensenada is compared to the Caribbean.

Whereas the Yucatan peninsula offers dense jungles, Mayan ruins, and calm beaches, Ensenada has a dry climate. A day in Ensenada is best spent enjoying Baja California’s nature, whether exploring the Calafia Valley Wine Country, riding an ATV on the coast, or hiking through El Salto Canyon.

Read more:  A day in Ensenada, Mexico while cruising on Navigator of the Seas

Other destinations

Royal Caribbean occasionally offers short cruises to more exotic destinations. Currently there are cruises to Cyprus, Le Havre (Paris), and Naples, Italy available to book! The vast majority of weekend cruises, however, tend to visit the same ports due to their proximity to the United States.

Will there be a sea day?

The majority of weekend cruises departing from Florida do not have a sea day, although you may occasionally run into an itinerary with one day at sea. Weekend cruises tend to be port-intensive, meaning they stop in a new port each day.

The exception is with cruises departing from the Port of Los Angeles on Navigator of the Seas. Weekend cruises on Navigator of the Seas have a full day at sea prior to a port day in Ensenada, Mexico. A sea day is perfect for trying the newly amplified ship’s upgraded features, including the longest waterslide at sea and The Lime & Coconut Bar.

If your weekend cruise itinerary does not include a sea day, that does not mean you have to disembark the ship in each port you visit. Many passengers opt to spend one of the port days onboard instead of in port so they can make the most of the cruise ship’s activities, dining, and amenities.

Which cruise ship should I pick for a weekend cruise?

Most of Royal Caribbean’s ships offering weekend cruises are extremely similar to each other, but Utopia of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are the notable favorites.

Being among the biggest cruise ships in the world, Utopia and Allure offer the most to do onboard and the most choices in entertainment, dining, and activities.

The Voyager and Freedom Class cruise ships are almost identical in layout and onboard features. While some dining venues, bars, and water slides may differ, passengers should expect a relatively similar experience no matter which Voyager or Freedom Class ship they choose. The primary benefit of these ships over the Oasis Class ships is price, as they are likely going to be noticeably cheaper.

There are a few differences between them that should be noted, though:

• Utopia of the Seas is the perfect ship if you want the very best ship, and don't mind paying more than other weekend cruise options
• Allure of the Seas does not yet have as many upgrades as Utopia of the Seas. However, prices on Allure tend to be quite competitive
• Navigator of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas offer different style waterslides than the other ships
• There is an escape room available on Freedom, Independence and Navigator of the Seas
• Freedom Class ships are longer than Voyager Class ships, giving more space for a Splashaway Bay area for kids on the pool deck and more venues and stores inside the ship
• Utopia of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas offer the revamped Adventure Ocean kids programming, which offers kids more flexibility in activities rather than a rigid activity schedule

Should I pick Utopia of the Seas?

Utopia of the Seas stands apart from any other cruise ship offering weekend cruises because she's brand new and offers so much more to do onboard.

Royal Caribbean thinks Utopia is the top choice for anyone that wants to do a weekend cruise, especially first-time cruisers.  Utopia has the best in class offerings, which means her pools, activities, shows, and cabins are arguably superior to any other Oasis Class ship.

A 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas will almost certainly be the type of sailing where the ship is considered the destination. Whether dining outdoors in Central Park, watching impressive acrobatics and diving in the AquaTheater, or zip lining over the Boardwalk, it’s unlikely a weekend will be enough time to explore the entire ship!

One important distinction to note before booking a weekend cruise on Allure of the Seas is that she has a few differences compared to other Oasis Class cruise ships. While she was scheduled to be amplified in 2020, her amplification has been postponed. Therefore she does not have many features you will find on other ships offering weekend cruises, including water slides, an upgraded pool deck, and new restaurants and bars.

Weekend cruise cost

Weekend cruises offer a great value for a short getaway, as food, lodging, entertainment, and onboard activities are included in your cruise fare. When comparing the price of a hotel, dining at restaurants, and purchasing tickets to entertainment on land, a cruise tends to come at a much lower cost.

In general, a weekend cruise in the cheapest stateroom category (interior) will cost between $700 and $1000 total for 2 adults. The cost of a balcony stateroom will be slightly higher, usually falling somewhere between $1000 and $1450.

Weekend cruises can differ in price depending on the following factors:

• How far in advance you book the cruise
• What time of year you plan to cruise
• Which stateroom you select
• Whether you purchase cruise addons or shore excursions

Generally speaking, the further in advance you book a cruise, the cheaper your price will be. Booking a year in advance can usually net a better price than waiting until just a few weeks or months until the cruise.

This is not always the case, however, as there may sometimes be last-minute weekend cruise deals available. Last-minute deals should not be relied upon, though, and the last thing you want to happen is have a weekend cruise sell out before you can book it!

The time of year you sail can be one of the biggest factors in determining how much a weekend cruise will cost. Summer months and holidays can bring the highest prices due to demand, whereas the months of January, February, September (excluding Labor Day weekend), October, and November (excluding Thanksgiving) tend to be cheaper.

The category of stateroom you select can also make a big difference on the overall cost of a weekend cruise. Interior staterooms will almost always be the cheapest stateroom category available.

Interior rooms can actually make a fantastic stateroom choice for a weekend cruise. Not only will you save money, but with such a short cruise, it’s unlikely you will be spending much time at all in your stateroom anyway. There is so much to do onboard a Royal Caribbean weekend cruise that you might only be in your room to shower and sleep!

Cost of cruise addons and excursions

One of the biggest benefits to booking a weekend cruise is that booking a dining or beverage package comes with less of a “sticker shock” than on a longer sailing.

If a beverage package is priced at $75/day on a 7-night cruise, your total cost will be over $500 plus gratuities! If that same price is offered on a 3-night cruise, you’ll only be shelling out around $225 plus gratuities.

This can make purchasing a beverage package much more enticing. Plus, it’s unlikely you will get bored or tired of drinking on a short cruise. It’s common for many passengers to order fewer drinks as the days go on during a longer cruise, thus not getting the full value of their drink package. 3-nights is a more reasonable amount of time to enjoy unlimited tropical cocktails, beer, wine, coffee drinks, and fresh juices without feeling like you’ve been drinking too much!

Another great thing about the majority of Royal Caribbean’s weekend cruises is that they include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s extremely easy to spend an entire day at CocoCay without spending anything extra, as food, beaches, pools, hammocks, and more are included in your cruise fare. Drink packages work on the island, too, meaning you won’t have to budget anything extra for drinks.

Pros and cons of weekend cruises

Pro: Relaxing getaway

A weekend cruise can offer a much-needed getaway for many passengers. Being able to leave any stress at home and visit multiple tropical destinations in a short amount of time is simply a wonderful way to spend a weekend.

Cruises tend to be much more relaxing than other weekend getaways as well. There’s no need to worry about constantly driving from place to place, paying high prices for food at every meal, and finding activities that are fun for both kids and adults. A cruise offers everything you need in one package.

Plus, many of the same benefits that you will receive from a longer cruise (excitement of going somewhere new, feeling pampered, etc.) you will also receive on a short sailing.

Pro: Less vacation time needed

A great benefit of a weekend cruise is that far less vacation time is needed compared to a 7-night cruise, especially if you live close to the departure port. By departing on Friday afternoon and returning Monday morning, it’s possible to take just one or two days off of work.

If you have few vacation hours or you’re saving them for a longer trip, a 3-night cruise offers the chance to have a mini-vacation without sacrificing your precious PTO time.

Pro: Ability to splurge

A shorter cruise can be a great time to splurge on things like drink packages, shore excursions, and specialty dining. Knowing you don’t have to budget for a full week’s vacation might make you more willing to pay for a few extras to enhance the cruise experience.

Spending $100 for a shore excursion in Nassau may not seem as bad when you don’t have 3 or 4 other ports to visit. Likewise, booking a specialty dinner at Chops, Izumi Hibachi, or Jamie’s Italian can be a nice way to “splurge” while still having a fantastic weekend getaway.

Con: higher cost per day

A major drawback to a weekend cruise is that the cost per day of a 3-night cruise is often more expensive than the cost per day of a longer cruise. To put this into perspective, I checked the prices of two cruises: a 3-night cruise on Freedom of the Seas and a 7-night cruise on Harmony of the Seas. Both sailings take place in September, just after the summer cruise season is over.

On the 3-night sailing on Freedom of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1068. This makes the cost per day $356 per room, or $178 per person.

On the 7-night sailing on Harmony of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1,960 total. This makes the cost per day $280 per room, or $140 per person.

While the cost per day ($178 versus $140) may not seem too drastic, it becomes much different once the cost of airfare and a pre-cruise hotel stay are added to the total cruise cost.

Let’s say you pay $300 roundtrip (per person) in airfare and $250 for a hotel the night before your cruise. This adds $850 to your total cruise cost.

The 3-night cruise now costs $1918, making the cost per day around $639 per room, or $319 per person. The 7-night cruise, on the other hand, now costs $2,810, making the cost per day $401 per room, or around $200 per person.

Con: It’s over before you know it

Booking a 3-night cruise sounds like a perfect idea… until it’s over! Weekend cruises go by very quickly, and they seem to be over just as you are getting acquainted with the ship and settling into “vacation mode”.

While a short cruise is still better than no cruise at all, you’ll likely wish you had at least one or two more days onboard.

Read more: Is it worth it to book a 3-night cruise?

Pro and Con: Party atmosphere

Weekend cruises tend to come with a bigger party atmosphere when compared to longer sailings. Bachelor parties, wedding guests, and friend groups are common on shorter cruises… and they come onboard to party!

Whether this is a pro or con ultimately depends on your preferences. It does lead to an extremely lively atmosphere onboard, but if you’re looking for a quiet sailing, a weekend cruise may not be the best choice for you.

Have you ever been on a weekend cruise? What tips and tricks do you have for others planning 3-night Royal Caribbean cruises? Let us know in the comments!

After you book an Alaska cruise, your next question might be which shore excursions are the best to book.

Alaska is known for its natural wonders, and many people want to maximize their time in Alaska by going on the best tours that allow them to see the major highlights. Whale watching, dog sleds, glacier viewings, historical tours, and many more are the most requested excursions cruisers want.

Our team has been on various Alaska cruises over the years, and we've experienced many different tours. Plus, our readers have shared their own recommendations for the best options.

Note: We make no guarantees about any of these tours. It's a list to consider based on feedback and our experiences. Book these tours at your own risk.

Here's our list of recommended cruise ship excursions to help make your search easier.

Juneau shore excursions & tours

Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Watching Combo Tour: You'll get to see the two best things in Juneau: whales and glaciers. Website

Mt. Roberts Tramway: If the weather is clear, you can easily take the Mt. Roberts Tramway to the summit and enjoy spectacular views below. This is not a full-day tour, so you could combine this with another tour.  Website

Whale watching with Jayleen's Alaska: Many cruisers recommended this tour company, and it has received high accolades, including being named the #1 Water Tour in Juneau, Alaska. Website

What watching with Alaska Tales Juneau: Another highly rated whale watching tour, where you can not only view whales, but they offer a money-back guarantee if you don't see any. Website

Whale watching with Harv & Marv: Another often recommended whale watching tour. They also offer lighthouse tours. Website

Jeep tour: Take a self-guided tour of Juneau in your own Jeep Wrangler. There's a GPS and narration provided to allow you to move as fast or slow as you want. Website

Sled Dog Discovery: Dog sledding is a great family-friendly tour that combines history and the opportunity to meet the dogs. Website

Glacier and Guided Walk: If you're feeling adventurous, try a helicopter tour that brings you to Mendenhall Glacier. Website

Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter & Dog Sledding: Take a helicopter flightseeing tour with dogsledding and land on the lower level of the Herbert Glacier. Website

Read more: Top 10 things to do in Juneau, Alaska

Ketchikan shore excursions & tours

Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour: See this glacier-carved wilderness from the air. It's everything Alaska is known for in one. Website

Ketchikan All In One: Small group tours that offer wildlife viewing, salmon fishing, and learning about the indigenous heritage of the area. Website

Kayak Eco-Tour: Kayaking is a fun way to get close up to many of the natural wonders, and it's easy to pick up (even if you've never done it before). Website

Combo helicopter tour: See the best views of the mountains and valleys surrounding Ketchikan Lakes and Mahoney Falls. Website

Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show: An entertaining spectacle of lumberjacks showing off their skills of carving wood using chainsaws, tree-climbing gaffs, and six-foot saws. Website

Totem Bight and Rain Forest Tour: Learn about the native history of Ketchikan while exploring a rainforest. Website

Fishing expedition: If you want to try to catch halibut, salmon, and more, a deep sea fishing expedition might be what you want. Website

Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour: Educational & interactive Alaskan fishing tour meant to evoke the same style of fishing as seen in Deadliest Catch. Website

Skagway shore excursions & tours

White Pass Scenic Railway: By far the most popular excursion in Skagway, see beautiful views from the comfort of the train. Website

Skagway Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Adventure: Go on wheeled dogsleds that are pulled by a team of sled dogs, and then meet puppies after. Website

Ghosts and Goodtime Girls walking tour: Storytellers take you around town to share what it was like for the women of the Klondike Gold Rush. Website

E-Bike rental: Get around Skagway on your own with an e-bike. Website

Jeep tour: Explore Skagway and the nearby Yukon Territory in a Jeep rental, which includes, maps, mile-by-mile guide as well as an interactive tour guide. Website

White Pass Train & Bike Tour: Take the White Pass train up, and then bike back down. Website

Sitka shore excursions & tours

Whale watching with Captain Gary: Many people swear by Gary, who is from Sitka and knows the area well. Website

Fortress of the Bear: Animal rescue center, that includes bears. Many tours include a stop here, but you can do it yourself if you prefer. Website

Alaska Raptor Center: A medical treatment center for eagles and any injured wild birds. Website

Small group wildlife and scenic boat tours: Offers the chance of viewing seals, sea lions, sea otters, whales, porpoises, and Sitka black tail deer. Website

Wildlife Quest & Fin Island Lodge: Boat tour to see wildlife, including sea otters, whales, and coastal brown bears. Lunch at Fin Island. Website

Totem Trail & Sitka Historic Park: The Totem pole park offers a hike through the rainforest. Website

Haines shore excursions & tours

Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing: Opportunity to see a turquoise lake surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, a salmon-filled river flowing into the sea, and important Tlingit cultural sights. Website

Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve: Run by the State of Alaska, has around 100 bald eagles you can see at once. Website

Kroschel Films Wildlife Center: Photo opportunities and close encounters with lynx, wolves, wolverines, caribou, foxes, and much more. Website

Icy Strait Point shore excursions & tours

Icy Strait Point ZipRider: Go across six 5,330’ ziplines that will let you soar 300 feet above the rainforest below. Website

Whale watching with Glacier Wind Charters: See humpback whales, along with other wildlife. Website

Whale watching with Icy Strait Whale Adventures has a custom-built whale-watching vessel that has large windows that allow unrestricted viewing while getting up close and personal to whales. Website

Whale watching with Hoonah Travel Adventures offers an intimate small boat experience to their customers that have large viewing decks and oversized sliding windows. Website

Fishing charter: Offers group and private fishing trips. Website

Tree Top Adventure Park & Ropes Course: Self-guided courses with varying difficulty levels that allows you to advance through the obstacles at your own pace. Website

Why aren't there Royal Caribbean shore excursions on the list of recommended tours?

There are two reasons we did not include shore excursions sold by Royal Caribbean on this list.

First, it's difficult to ascertain if a specific tour sold by one ship on a particular sailing is the exact same tour as another sold on a different sailing and/or ship. Truthfully, it just wasn't practical to come up with a list given the generic names Royal Caribbean gives to their tour names and verify it's the same tour for anyone else booking it.

To be clear, there's nothing wrong with Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and I've often booked them myself. It was just easier to come up with a list of third-party vendors.

In addition, Royal Caribbean's tours are operated by third parties that the cruise line vets. The cruise line acts as a "middle man" in organizing it, so one way or another, you're going to end up with a third-party tour.  

In many cases, if you do a Google search for the Royal Caribbean Alaska shore excursion the exact tour appears from the vendor.

Granted, booking with Royal Caribbean does include certain benefits, such as ensuring the ship will wait for you if your tour is late getting back. 

How to book Alaska cruise excursions

When it comes to booking an excursion for an Alaska cruise, you have two main options: book through Royal Caribbean directly or with an outside provider.

Booking through Royal Caribbean

Booking directly through Royal Caribbean tends to be more expensive, but is a safe option in terms of reliability and cancellation policies. Royal Caribbean vets tour operators thoroughly before offering an excursion to guarantee you’ll have the safest, most authentic experience possible.

On the chance a Royal Caribbean excursion runs late, the cruise ship will wait for the tour group before leaving port. If for some reason the ship is unable to wait, Royal Caribbean will make arrangements and cover the cost of the tour group's return to the ship.

Read more: Is it better to book excursions through the cruise ship?

Booking through Royal Caribbean directly also tends to be convenient, as all excursions are listed directly on the Cruise Planner site. You won’t have to browse the internet and read reviews from independent companies prior to booking an excursion. Plus, if you have onboard credit, you can put that toward an amazing excursion!

Booking through an independent provider

While there are several pros to booking an Alaska cruise excursion through Royal Caribbean directly, booking through an independent tour operator can provide a wider range of excursion options, lower prices, and smaller groups.

Read more: Top ways to avoid crowds on an Alaska cruise

Simply put, there are many more shore excursions available in Alaska than the limited supply offered by Royal Caribbean. A quick search on Tripadvisor or Viator for Alaska cruise excursions will result in far more choices than what may be offered on your cruise.

Royal Caribbean excursions tend to be priced higher than independent excursions because the cruise line receives a cut of the excursion cost from the tour operator. Booking on your own eliminates the middleman, often leading to more affordable prices.

While the cruise ship will not wait for you if you’re running late on an excursion through an independent provider, this is a rare scenario as reputable tour providers have years of experience getting tour groups back to the ship on time. In addition, tour operators may offer similar cancellation policies to Royal Caribbean on the chance your cruise itinerary changes.

Read more: 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

How much do shore excursions cost in Alaska?

While it’s possible to find great deals on cruise fares to Alaska, shore excursions can often be more expensive than what you are used to on a Caribbean cruise. Knowing how much you’re willing to spend on Alaska cruise excursions can better help you budget your vacation while still having an incredible cruise experience.

Shore excursions can run anywhere from $50 to well over $500. To give an example of how varied prices can be, here are a few sample prices you may see for Royal Caribbean excursions:

Juneau

• Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest ($158.99/adult, $110.99/child)
• Helicopter Glacier Walkabout ($406.99)
• Mendenhall Glacier River Rafting ($141.99)
• Mount Roberts Tramway ($59.99)

Skagway

• Klondike Bicycle Tour ($115.75)
• Ghost and Goodtime Girls Walking Tour ($45.99)
• White Pass Scenic Railway ($140.99/adult, $74.99/child)
• Glacier Discovery by Helicopter ($379.00)

Sitka

• Taste of Sitka ($78.99/adult, $62.99/child)
• Siginaka Islands Cruise & Kayak Adventure ($163.99/adult, $125.99/child)
• Tongass Forest Nature Hike ($84.99/adult, $60.99/child)
• Native Cultural and Historical Tour ($55.99/adult, $42.99/child)

Prices of shore excursions through independent providers are often cheaper than Royal Caribbean’s pricing, so be sure to look outside of Royal Caribbean for better deals.

Do I need a shore excursion on an Alaska cruise?

It’s not necessary to book a shore excursion on an Alaska cruise. In fact, some passengers prefer to explore on their own to have maximum freedom over activities, dining, and travel pace. While excursions are an “easy” option due to the fact that all logistics are handled by the tour operator instead of yourself, they can be a bit too limiting for some travelers.

Read more: Top 50 tips for planning your Alaska cruise

Luckily, Alaska cruise ports are small and walkable, allowing visitors to experience the town’s history, culture, and nearby nature on foot. Even Juneau, the largest Alaska cruise port, still has plenty of walkable areas and ways to get around without booking an excursion, such as the Goldbelt Tramway and Mendenhall Glacier shuttle bus.

Some activities, like kayaking, whale watching, and ziplining, tend to be easier with a shore excursion than without, as all equipment, lifejackets, transportation, etc. is provided for you. Others, like hiking, visiting museums, and trying Alaska’s cuisine can easily be done without a pre-booked excursion.

What to bring on an Alaska cruise excursion

Packing for an Alaska cruise excursion is a bit more complicated than bringing a beach towel and flip flops. You’ll want to make sure you are prepared for any weather conditions you may face so you remain comfortable and warm throughout the day.

Read more: What to bring on a cruise to Alaska?

Clothing

Packing layers is key on an Alaska cruise. Depending on the month you’re cruising to Alaska, packing a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt as a base layer is essential. Even though you’ll be surrounded by glaciers, it can get relatively warm in southeast Alaska, especially in the summer months.

A waterproof jacket is another necessity, as rain is extremely common to encounter on an Alaska cruise. Instead of an umbrella, wear a waterproof jacket with a hood that you can take on and off throughout the day.

Read more: What should I pack for a cruise to Alaska?

Packing a warm layer is also important in case of chilly temperatures. Sweatshirts, sweaters, and down jackets will keep you warm on the coldest of days!

Choose your footwear carefully before an Alaska cruise excursion. If your excursion involves hiking through the rainforest, tennis shoes with non-slip soles or hiking boots will be helpful. If you’re just planning to walk around town, regular sneakers will be fine. It’s a good idea to make sure the shoes you pack for an Alaska cruise are water-resistant. Having water seep through your shoes is very uncomfortable!

Accessories

Bringing a waterproof or water-resistant daypack on an Alaska cruise is essential to ensure your electronics, identification, and any other valuables remain protected throughout the excursion.

Packing a warm hat and gloves is also recommended, particularly if you’re cruising to Alaska in the shoulder season months of May and September.

Read more: What it’s like to go on an Alaska cruise at the end of the season

Binoculars can be another great item to pack for an Alaska cruise excursion, as they give you the chance to view Alaska’s wildlife and scenery up close. Bringing binoculars will definitely come in handy if you book a wildlife excursion.

Sunscreen and sunglasses are also important to pack. While you may not associate an Alaska cruise with needing protection from the sun, it can be strong on sunny days, as sunlight shines not only from the sky but also from glaciers and snow. A travel-sized sunscreen container should be adequate for an Alaska cruise.

You may also want to consider packing snacks to bring with you on your excursion, especially if traveling with kids. Alaska shore excursions can be more active than what you’re used to, so having a bag of trail mix or granola bars on hand is helpful.

More Alaska cruise resources:

• How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary
• When is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• What is the best time of year to see wildlife in Alaska?
• When should I book my Alaska shore excursion?

Dreaming of a European cruise vacation? It doesn’t have to be as expensive as you might think.

Sailing along the French Riviera, Greek Isles, and Norwegian fjords sounds nice and all, but it’s easy to assume that even entertaining the idea could have your bank account screaming for help.

Cruises remain an affordable vacation choice for millions of passengers per year, as they offer a fantastic value for those onboard. Food, select beverages, entertainment, thrilling activities, and visits to exciting ports are all included in guests’ cruise fares. As another plus, passengers can customize their experience to fit any budget, whether they’re cruising in a basic interior room or multi-story suite.

The truth is that cruises to Europe are not necessarily budget breakers, and just like any cruise destination, there are countless ways to save money on a European itinerary.

Before putting your vacation dreams to the wayside, consider using these 9 helpful tips to save money on a European cruise. That perfect Instagram shot could become a reality, after all.

Sail during the shoulder season instead of the summer

One of the easiest ways to save money on a European cruise, by far, is to book your cruise during the shoulder season instead of during the peak summer months.

Royal Caribbean’s European cruise season runs from May to October each year, but the most popular time to book is in June, July, and August, coinciding with school holidays. Unsurprisingly, these months see the highest cruise fares, along with the highest airfare prices.

Related: The worst months to cruise to Europe

If your schedule is flexible, consider booking a European cruise in May, September, or October rather than during the summer. While this might not be possible for those traveling with kids, it will almost certainly result in significant savings.

A $1,300 flight to Athens in July might only be $800 in May. The lower price, coupled with a cheaper cruise fare, could potentially save you over a thousand dollars per person!

As another plus, you’ll usually encounter fewer crowds and more pleasant temperatures in the shoulder season, too, which could make your overall experience more enjoyable.

Choose your itinerary wisely if on a tight budget

Before booking a European cruise, take a close look at the ports you will visit. Each cruise port offers pros and cons, especially those in Europe, and it’s important to be aware of what to expect before booking one itinerary over another.

Western Mediterranean cruises tend to visit bigger cities, such as Rome, Barcelona, and Naples. Although this means you can visit some of Europe’s most famous and historical sites, it also means you'll be shelling out a pretty penny for shore excursions.

You can expect to spend around, or even over, $200 per person for an excursion to visit sites like the Colosseum and Vatican City in Rome. When traveling with a family, these costs will quickly add up.

Related: How to save money on cruise excursions

Although these destinations are undoubtedly worth a visit, consider whether you want to rush the experience on a short port day, or if you’d like to return when you can devote more time to these remarkable destinations. Plus, you will spend a fraction of the cost to visit these tourist sites on your own compared to with a cruise excursion.

Sure, you don’t need to book shore excursions at these ports, but if you’re only visiting the destination once, it would be a shame to not see the top attractions.

Therefore, instead of trying to knock off Europe’s biggest cities in a single day, why not book an itinerary that visits less busy destinations? A cruise to Split, for instance, will drop you off directly in the town center, allowing for stress-free exploration without the need to spend extra.

Similarly, cruises to Norway offer charming towns and breathtaking landscapes within a stone’s throw of your cruise ship, meaning you won’t have to spend hundreds on shore excursions to make your port day memorable.

Research cheap and free things to do in each port

On the subject of forgoing expensive excursions in favor of exploring on your own, be sure to research budget-friendly activities in your ports of call before disembarking on a port day.

All European ports offer free and low-cost things to do, from visiting immaculate cathedrals to strolling along quaint seaside promenades. Europe’s cities are far more historic than what you might be used to at home, and simply wandering the narrow streets admiring the architecture is enough to occupy many visitors!

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

One of the easiest ways to discover what to do in port is to make a simple Google search. If your cruise visits Palma de Mallorca, search “How to spend one day in Palma de Mallorca” on Google. This should populate a wide range of articles highlighting the city’s top attractions, restaurants, points of interest, and general advice for visitors.

If you would prefer an excursion, search for tours from independent providers rather than booking directly through the cruise line. Using websites like GetYourGuide or Viator will likely be cheaper than booking a similar excursion on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner, allowing you to further stretch your budget.

Take public transport to the cruise terminal over private transfers

Many cruise ports in Europe are convenient to reach by public transit, and this can be a cost-effective way to reach the cruise terminal for those on a budget.

For cruises from Southampton, for example, you can board an 80 minute train directly from London to the city, which usually costs around £20. Upon arrival at the station in Southampton, you can walk 15 minutes to the port, or hail a taxi for the short ride. Taking a taxi all the way from London can be over £120.

Related: I'm a budget cruiser. Here are 8 easy strategies I used on my recent Royal Caribbean cruise to save money

Similarly, if you're embarking in Civitavecchia, you can take the train directly from Rome to the port city in under 50 minutes, which costs about €11. Once you get to the train station, hop on the port shuttle bus for around €6. Taking a taxi from central Rome, on the other hand, will cost over €100.

Note that, when choosing how to get to the cruise port, it’s important to calculate the amount of people in your group before deciding between a private transfer and public transport. If you’re traveling with a large group, it could be more cost effective to arrange a taxi or shuttle to the port instead.

Book your flights to Europe with points

Stockpiling credit card points? Why not use them on a flight to Europe?

For savvy travelers, redeeming points from credit cards can be an easy way to save thousands on a flight to Europe.

Whether you have a popular credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or an airline-specific card, it’s easy to earn points and miles for everyday purchases throughout the year.

Depending on your origin airport, destination, and time of year you travel, you could book a round trip flight to Europe for as little as 30,000 points, although spending 50-60,000 points is more likely.

Save for a few taxes and fees on the ticket, booking your flight with points is an easy money-saving trick for a European cruise. Plus, it allows you to save your budget for other aspects of the experience, such as a pre-cruise hotel stay and shore excursions.

Forgo cruise add-ons in favor of eating and drinking in port

You might be tempted to book add-ons like specialty dining packages and drink packages for your cruise, but consider skipping these purchases when visiting Europe.

When in the Caribbean, many passengers enjoy drinking cocktail after cocktail on a sunny sea day or at one of Royal Caribbean’s private destinations. Others enjoy the elevated dining experience of specialty restaurants, allowing guests to widen their cuisine selections during the cruise.

These add-ons can surely enhance a cruise experience, but they aren’t entirely necessary when cruising to Europe. European port days are often longer than those in the Caribbean—and have fewer sea days—thus lessening the amount of time you are onboard to utilize these add-ons.

Related: Must-eat foods on a cruise to Italy

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars for use solely onboard, allocate that money toward food and drink in port. Whether tasting an authentic pasta dish in Italy, a glass of sangria in Spain, or a chocolate crepe in France, you will not only save money, but have the chance to try unique dishes and cuisines around Europe, too!

Book your cruise far in advance, or look for a last-minute deal

Most passengers will snag the lowest prices on a Royal Caribbean cruise by booking far in advance, regardless of their cruise destination.

New European itineraries are released each fall for cruises taking place two years in the future. For example, summer 2026 itineraries would be released in the fall of 2024. By staying up to date on when Royal Caribbean releases itineraries, you can not only find the widest range of cabin options, but you’re likely to see the lowest prices.

Even if your cruise fare does lower after you book, you can always reprice your cruise until the final payment date by contacting Royal Caribbean or your travel agent directly to update your booking with the lower price.

Related: Pros and Cons of booking a cruise early vs last-minute

One way to find last-minute deals is to browse Royal Caribbean’s Going, Going, Gone rates. Each Monday, the cruise line updates this webpage with a list of last-minute deals available.

The list only updates once a week, though, so if you check the list on Saturday, it could be outdated, as other customers may have already booked the last cabins available.

Sail on an older, smaller cruise ship

It’s tempting to book your next cruise on one of Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships, such as Wonder of the Seas or Icon of the Seas. If you’re cruising within Europe, however, a smaller ship might be a better choice.

Each summer, Royal Caribbean sends several of its smallest and largest vessels to Europe, from Vision Class ships like Enchantment of the Seas to massive Oasis Class ships.

Although the biggest ships offer the most variety in entertainment, cabins, restaurants, and onboard activities, the prices usually reflect these added amenities.

Related: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

Smaller ships, on the other hand, are typically priced lower, but they still offer a comfortable stay with Royal Caribbean’s signature feel. You may not find the latest and greatest activities and production shows, but even the smallest ships offer a variety of cabins, dining choices, and pools to keep cruisers satisfied.

Plus, most European cruise itineraries tend to be port-heavy, with most 7-night itineraries offering only one or two sea days. You will likely spend far less time onboard compared to, say, a Caribbean cruise, which might make splurging on a bigger ship a waste for those on a tight budget.

Finally, consider flying into a major airport and taking a regional flight to your cruise port

Shocked by airline prices to Europe in the middle of the summer? If so, consider broadening your search.

Just because your flight leaves from Rome, Athens, or Amsterdam does not mean you need to fly into those cities for your cruise. Transportation within European cities can be extremely affordable and convenient, with budget airlines and high speed trains servicing much of the continent.

If your cruise leaves from Civitavecchia, for instance, but the flight to Rome is way out of your budget, don’t be afraid to search for flights to other cities like Milan, Venice, or even somewhere as faraway as London!

You can travel between cities in Italy on high speed rail within just a few hours, or hop on a quick flight from a city like London to Rome instead.

If you choose this option, be sure to account for the cost of getting from one city to another to make sure you’re actually saving money. If the flight to London is $700 and the flight to Rome is $1,500, why not take the more adventurous route?

Of course, be sure to allocate enough time between flights in order to make it to your cruise embarkation city on time. You’ll also want to research transportation costs from one city to another before booking your flight to ensure it will actually result in savings.

The 2024 Alaska cruise season is quickly approaching, and we’re sharing 24 of our most helpful Alaska cruise tips that you need to follow.

Are you preparing for your Alaska cruise this summer? Whether you’re confused about what to pack or overwhelmed with the dozens of shore excursion offerings, the planning process can quickly seem more stressful than enjoyable.

Fortunately, after nearly a dozen Alaska cruises, our staff are well versed in the ins and outs of cruising to Alaska. From booking your pre-cruise hotel to utilizing Seattle’s stress-free luggage service, here are our top 24 tips for an Alaska cruise this year.

Read more: 50 Alaska cruise tips

If you haven’t booked shore excursions yet, book them ASAP

Shore excursions in Alaska result in truly exceptional memories, whether you book a whale watching tour in Icy Strait Point or a helicopter ride in Juneau.

Due to the popularity of excursions on an Alaska cruise, they can fill up quickly, so it’s important to book excursions well ahead of time. If you have not yet booked excursions for your 2024 Alaska cruise, book them as soon as possible.

The last thing you want to happen is have your dream excursion sell out, leaving you scrambling to find other plans. Plus, excursions tend to only get more expensive over time, so booking early helps you lock in a lower price.

You don’t have to book your excursions through Royal Caribbean

Speaking of excursions, it isn’t necessary to book excursions through Royal Caribbean. While booking shore excursions on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website is convenient, you might find more options (or lower prices) by booking through independent tour operators.

Search for shore excursions on websites like GetYourGuide.com and ShoreExcursionsGroup.com, and compare them to what you see on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner. If prices are lower, or if there’s availability on a tour that’s sold out on the Cruise Planner, there’s no harm in booking through a third party.

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

Of course, you’ll want to look at the terms and conditions of each tour operator before booking. Check the tour’s cancellation policies—and whether or not they provide a guaranteed arrival back to port before your ship's departure—before booking.

Research low-cost things to do in port if you’re on a budget

Even though booking shore excursions is popular on an Alaska cruise, you can still have a great time in port without an organized tour. If you’re on a budget (or would simply prefer to explore without a large group), research which activities are offered in each Alaskan town.

In Sitka, for instance, you can enjoy a leisurely walk through the Sitka National Historic Park, which comes at no extra cost and is within walking distance from the town center. Likewise, you could take a shuttle bus to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau for $45 roundtrip, which is much cheaper than excursions booked through the cruise line.

Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best free and low-cost activities to do in each Alaska cruise port, which should help give you some ideas.

If you haven’t booked travel arrangements yet, now is the time

Hopefully, if you have an Alaska cruise booked this summer, you’ve already booked your airfare to and from the cruise port. If you have not done so yet, we recommend booking flights as soon as possible.

More often than not, flight prices will increase significantly as your travel date approaches. Waiting to see if the price drops almost always results in paying more for your flight, so it’s important to get your flights booked to avoid wasting money.

Leave plenty of time to make it to the airport on disembarkation day

When scheduling your return flights, don’t book a flight too early on disembarkation day.

Although your cruise itinerary might say you arrive at 6AM on disembarkation day, this does not mean you can get off your ship at 6AM. It takes time for your ship to dock, get cleared by local authorities, and prepare for disembarkation. If all goes to plan, you could start disembarking by 7AM, but unexpected delays could cause a later disembarkation time.

Related: Guide to Seattle cruise port for Alaska cruises

Therefore, booking a flight too early in the day could cause you to miss the flight if you encounter delays. Stressing over making it to the airport in time is not worth it; instead, the general rule of thumb is to avoid booking flights before noon.

If your cruise ends in Seward, you’ll want to schedule even more time to catch your flight, as it takes several hours to get to Anchorage from Seward.

Book your pre-cruise hotel stay

Because you will arrive in your embarkation city the night before your cruise, remember to book your hotel stay sooner rather than later. When booking a hotel in Seattle or Vancouver (or Anchorage/Seward for one-way itineraries), you will want to book a hotel in a convenient location.

If your flight doesn’t arrive until 11PM the night before your cruise, it probably isn’t worth it to travel to the city center. Instead, consider a hotel near the airport so you can simply land and head straight to bed. For those arriving earlier in the day, though, it’s worth it to find a hotel downtown for easy access to tourist sites.

Figure out your transportation logistics to and from the airport, hotel, and cruise port

In addition to airfare, you’ll also want to figure out transportation logistics on land, which can vary from one embarkation city to another.

In Seattle, for instance, you’ll want to research the best way to get from the airport to your hotel, and from your hotel to the cruise port. In most instances, a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft is the most convenient option. However, your hotel may also provide a shuttle, or you could even take the light rail from the airport to downtown.

If your cruise is a one-way itinerary that starts or ends in Seward, Alaska, transportation logistics require more pre-planning. The closest major airport to Seward is Anchorage, which is over two hours away by car. Due to this, you might want to consider taking a Royal Caribbean shuttle or the train from Seward to Anchorage, which must be scheduled in advance.

Regardless of where your cruise starts and ends, it’s always better to plan transportation logistics ahead of time to avoid any surprises and confusion upon arrival.

Plan exciting activities in Seattle or Vancouver before your cruise

One of my favorite aspects of cruising to Alaska is the pre-cruise stay in Seattle or Vancouver. Not only do both of these cities offer breathtaking natural scenery, but they boast an impressive amount of things to do within the city, too.

You’d be surprised by how many activities you can fit into a pre-cruise stay in Seattle or Vancouver. Even if you arrive at 3PM the day before your cruise, you will have around twenty hours in either city before embarkation begins.

Because of this, take a look at the main attractions in your embarkation city. You might enjoy shopping at Pike’s Place Market and visiting the Space Needle in Seattle, or enjoying a relaxing stroll through Stanley Park in Vancouver.

Consider upgrading to a balcony cabin or trying RoyalUp

While a balcony is not a requirement on an Alaska cruise, there’s no denying a balcony cabin is nicer than an interior cabin on such a scenic itinerary. If you booked an interior or oceanview cabin for your 2024 Alaska cruise, consider upgrading to a balcony before your sail date.

Related: 8 reasons a balcony cabin is worth it to book on a cruise

There’s no harm in asking your travel agent to check the price of a balcony cabin. If the price to upgrade won’t break your budget, why not upgrade?

Alternatively, you can try to bid on a cabin upgrade through Royal Caribbean’s RoyalUp program, although there’s no guarantee your bid will be successful.

Start shopping for cold weather clothing now, as winter gear may be on sale

As summer approaches, many retail stores will discount winter wear like gloves, jackets, and hats. If you haven’t already bought the clothing and accessories recommended for an Alaska cruise, now is the time.

If you’re unsure what to pack for an Alaska cruise, check out our comprehensive packing list.

Shop for jackets at your local thrift shop
 

If you live in a warm climate or don’t wear winter jackets often, consider purchasing gently-used cold weather gear at a thrift shop or on eBay. There’s really no need to spend hundreds of dollars on new winter gear just for an Alaska cruise, especially if you’re traveling with children who will quickly outgrow clothing.

Browse a local outdoor consignment shop or search for used clothing on websites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay to find the best deals.

Don’t forget to pack short sleeve shirts and sunscreen

On my Alaska cruise last June, it was nearly 80 degrees on several port days—I spent the day sweating while walking around Skagway. Having packed only long sleeve shirts and pants for my Alaska cruise, I regretted not bringing more lightweight clothing.

Related: The best time to visit Alaska

Just as Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable in terms of rain and snow, you may also encounter surprisingly warm weather, particularly in the peak summer season. This is another reason why layers are so important—you never know when you’ll need that t-shirt over your winter jacket.

Buy the right footwear, and wear your new shoes before the cruise begins

When packing for an Alaska cruise, we recommend bringing a pair of sneakers that are water resistant. Unless you plan on doing some serious trekking in each port, there’s no need to bring hefty hiking boots or rain boots. A pair of sneakers made from a water-resistant material will keep your feet dry and warm under most weather conditions.

If you’re purchasing new shoes, it’s crucial to wear your shoes around the house and out on walks before the cruise to avoid painful blisters once onboard.

Order essentials ahead of time, like binoculars and motion-sickness remedies

Outside of clothing, there are other essentials you should pack for an Alaska cruise. While not required, bringing items like motion-sickness medication, binoculars, and cabin essentials like outlet adapters are helpful to have handy.

Ordering these items on Royal Caribbean Blog’s Amazon Storefront is the easiest way to shop, as you can find everything in one place. Despite Amason’s speedy delivery, we still recommend ordering these essentials well ahead of time in order to ensure you’re not scrambling to order items and pack at the last minute.

If you haven’t booked a 2024 Alaska cruise yet, you can still find a cheap last-minute deal

One of our favorite “tricks” when planning an Alaska cruise on Royal Caribbean is to take advantage of cheap last-minute sailings.

Cheap cruises are never a guarantee, but one trend we have noticed in the past few years is that Alaska cruises in the shoulder season are often heavily discounted at the last minute.

In 2022, for example, I booked the cheapest Alaska cruise I could find on Radiance of the Seas. The cruise fare was only $240 for an entire week with $293 in taxes and fees. Having booked the cruise only three months before I sailed, it offered a fantastic value.

Remember to book pre-cruise add-ons before you board

Planning to book cruise add-ons like drink and specialty dining packages? One must-do before you board an Alaska cruise in 2024 is to pre-purchase these add-ons.

While you can purchase packages once onboard, the cost may be significantly higher than what you could have booked ahead of time. Plus, because you can cancel add-ons for a full refund up to 48 hours before your sailing, you have flexibility in case you change your mind on these purchases later on.

Hone your photography skills prior to sailing

Alaska’s landscapes are spectacular, so you’ll want to brush up on your photography skills before your cruise.

Whether you’re cruising with an elaborate mirrorless camera or just your cell phone, it’s hard to take a bad photo of somewhere as beautiful as Alaska.

Nonetheless, it’s helpful to know the basic rules of photography before setting sail. Practice taking pictures at home and watch a few beginner photography tutorials on YouTube to ensure you have the skills needed to take that perfect shot.

Watch a ship tour of your cruise ship to become acquainted with the vessel

Royal Caribbean sends four cruise ships to Alaska each season, and each ship varies from one another. Although ships in the same class, such as Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, share similarities, they still offer varied dining venues, entertainment, and decor.

One of the best ways to become acquainted with Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships is to watch a full tour of the ship on YouTube. On our YouTube channel, we have full, high definition tours of each Royal Caribbean ship sailing to Alaska.

Watching a ship tour will help make your first few days onboard stress-free, as you will already have a general understanding of what is offered onboard, as well as the location of popular venues.

Reserve entertainment ahead of time, and stick to shows early in the week

If you’re cruising to Alaska on a Quantum Class cruise ship, you can book reservations for select entertainment shows prior to your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website.

When booking entertainment reservations, we recommend sticking to shows earlier in the week. If, for instance, a show is offered on the second, fifth, and last evening of the cruise, try to book the first day available.

Should your cruise encounter rough seas, an itinerary change, or another unforeseen circumstance, there’s a chance a showtime could get canceled or rescheduled. Booking reservations for earlier in the week ensures you have wiggle room in case of an unanticipated schedule change.

Maintain a positive mindset about the weather

Cruising to the Caribbean? If so, you can almost always expect warm temperatures and, aside from a chance of rain, pleasant weather conditions.

In Alaska, on the other hand, you will want to lower your expectations when it comes to weather. It’s challenging to predict whether your cruise will encounter sunny skies and 70 degrees, or seven days of straight rain. Sure, booking your cruise in June usually results in better weather compared to one in September, but weather conditions are never guaranteed.

Related: The worst months to cruise to Alaska

Instead of getting upset over a cold, rainy day in port, maintain a positive attitude. Find a cozy saloon to enjoy a warm Irish coffee, or bundle up in your rain gear and make the most of the day.

Consider booking a later dining time

Dinner in the Main Dining Room is a traditional part of any cruise experience, but think twice before selecting your dining time.

If you’ve opted for Traditional Dining in the Main Dining Room, you will be assigned the same table and dining time for each evening of the cruise. Those who eat dinner early at home might opt for the earliest time slot, around 5 or 5:30PM, but we recommend considering a later dining time instead.

Related: How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works and what to expect

As your ship sails away from each port of call in Alaska, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Inside Passage, and you won’t want to miss sailaway each evening. However, sailaway times often overlap with the early dining time, meaning you’ll miss these scenic sailings if you're in the Main Dining Room.

To ensure you don’t miss out, consider booking a later dinner time, or simply eat dinner elsewhere on the nights the sailaway overlaps with your dining time. The Windjammer buffet can be an excellent place to enjoy dinner in Alaska, as the buffet has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the venue, in addition to outdoor seating on select ships.

Use Seattle airport’s port valet service when disembarking in Seattle

One of my favorite Alaska cruise “hacks” is to utilize Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s luggage valet service.

Dreading transporting your luggage from the cruise terminal to the airport check-in desk? If your Alaska cruise ends in Seattle, you may be in luck. Royal Caribbean and the Port of Seattle offer a luggage valet service, which allows you to bypass standard airport check-in.

Instead of transporting your luggage to the airport yourself, bags are collected outside your stateroom door in the evening prior to disembarkation. The bags are then delivered and checked onto your flight on disembarkation morning, meaning you won’t see your bags again until you arrive at your home airport.

Although the service comes with a small fee in addition to any airline baggage fees, it offers unparalleled convenience for travelers.

Disembark your ship early on each port day to avoid crowds

As Alaska cruises have grown in popularity, the crowds have grown as well. It’s not uncommon for there to be three, four, or even five cruise ships docked in Alaska's ports at once.

No one enjoys navigating crowds, but it’s almost inevitable when cruising to Alaska. If you want to avoid the highest crowds, we recommend disembarking your ship early on each port day.

Related: Top ways to avoid crowds on an Alaska cruise

On most itineraries, you will arrive in port in the morning. While it could be tempting to sleep in, we advise starting your port day earlier rather than later. Crowds only increase throughout the morning and early afternoon, so if you want the best chance of exploring port without thousands of other passengers, your best bet is to disembark as soon as the gangway goes down.

Read as much Alaska cruise advice as you can before your cruise begins

If you made it to the end of this article, chances are you’re already following our final tip on this list, and that is to read as many tips as you can about Alaska cruises before you set sail.

It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared, so there’s no harm in reading articles and watching YouTube videos to help you prepare for your Alaska cruise.

Doing research will help you pack correctly, plan your travel logistics without any issues, and book that once-in-a-lifetime excursion you’ve dreamed about for years.

In search of even more content to prepare for your upcoming cruise? Check out more of our Alaska cruise tips and advice:

• Alaska cruise whale watching guide & tips
• Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska
• Tips for taking an Alaska cruise on a budget

Planning a European cruise? There are a few months you might want to avoid booking your dream vacation.

Cruises within Europe offer a contrasting experience compared to those in the Caribbean. Whereas cruising to The Bahamas might involve spending your days lounging in a pool chair, European cruises are all about sightseeing.

From exploring ancient castles in Portugal to touring Viking museums in Norway, there are countless ways to immerse yourself in Europe’s history and nature on a cruise. Not only that, but European cruise itineraries are diverse, too. You can travel anywhere from the British Isles to Canary Islands, and even venture to the crossroads of Europe and Asia in Istanbul.

When planning such a monumental vacation, it’s important to know what to expect, and to plan your trip during the most ideal time to visit. Royal Caribbean’s European cruise season runs from April to October, and each month brings pros and cons.

While there’s not necessarily a “right” or “wrong” time to cruise to Europe, there are a few factors to consider when picking the best time to cruise.

Here are the worst months to cruise to Europe, based on the weather, crowding, and cruise destination.

If you’re cruising to southern Europe, the worst months to visit are July and August

During the initial planning stages of a European cruise, you might assume the peak of summer is the best time to book a sailing. After all, you’re dreaming of sipping wine in a sunny Italian piazza, not bundling up in a parka in Greenland.

And while summer can be a great time to visit Europe, it can also be extremely hot and crowded. For those booking cruises in southern Europe—Mediterranean and Adriatic itineraries—summer heat waves are a major concern.

It’s not uncommon to see temperatures in the high 80s and even low 90s in cities like Palermo and Valencia during the months of July and August. Although these temperatures may be tolerable on a beach vacation, they are anything but ideal when sightseeing in European cities.

Roaming the ancient streets of Pompeii or touring the Acropolis in August’s blazing heat is enough to exhaust any cruiser. If you must cruise to Europe in the peak of summer, take caution when booking shore excursions.

If drastic temperatures are forecasted, consider booking excursions on the water rather than in the city, such as a catamaran tour around Santorini or beach day in Positano.

Related: 30 Best European cruise tips

Additionally, consider bringing extra clothes to change into when visiting cathedrals. Although it’s required to cover your shoulders and knees in the Sistine Chapel, you don’t need to cover up all day—if you do, you could potentially overheat.

Instead, pack a scarf and a lightweight skirt or pair of pants in your day bag that you can quickly put over your clothes before entering religious sites.

Not only are temperatures high in the summer, but crowds are at their peak, too

A European summer is a dream for many cruisers. After all, nothing screams relaxation quite like sipping a rosé along the French Riviera. And while summertime in Europe is undoubtedly dreamy, it comes with one major downside: massive crowds.

Whether in Santorini or Tenerife, you’re almost guaranteed to face large crowds in the summer. Not only will your cruise likely be fully booked, but shore excursions will book up quickly and you’ll be navigating your way around thousands of other visitors in each port of call.

August in particular can be an exceptionally busy time in Europe, as Europeans traditionally plan several weeks of vacation during the month. In August, you should plan to encounter even higher crowds than earlier in the summer, particularly in southern Europe.

Related: How to beat the crowds on your cruise ship

Truthfully, though, there’s a good chance you will not notice a difference between July and August crowds. Crowds are high in Europe throughout the peak season, and while there may be more crowds in August, it’s going to feel crowded during any summer month.

No one likes dealing with crowds, but they are inevitable when cruising to Europe in the summer. While they certainly aren’t bad enough to cancel your plans, you shouldn’t expect quiet, calm sightseeing days in port either.

Another con of cruising in July and August are the higher costs

The last major downside of cruising to Europe in July and August are the higher costs. Due to the school calendar, most families plan European cruises in late June, July, and early August. Therefore, it’s no surprise that these months see the most demand, which results in higher prices.

Let’s look at a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Allure of the Seas. You can expect to pay $400-500 more for a balcony cabin when cruising in July versus September. If your schedule is flexible, why not wait until September to cruise?

Related: How much does a European cruise cost?

Not only will there be fewer crowds, but you can put those savings toward a shore excursion or cruise add-ons like drink and dining packages.

Aside from the cost of your cruise fare, airfare prices peak in the summer. A roundtrip flight to Rome, for instance, might cost $900 in May, but could skyrocket to $1,500 in July. When traveling with a large group, these extra costs will easily add up.

The best months to cruise the Mediterranean and Adriatic are May, early June, and September

Knowing the drawbacks of cruising southern Europe in the peak summer season, what are the best months to cruise?

Generally speaking, the most favorable months for a cruise to the Mediterranean and Adriatic are May, early June, and September. During these months, you will find lower prices, more comfortable temperatures, and fewer crowds.

Related: Ultimate Greek Isles cruise guide

Because the school year is still in session in most of Europe and North America, you will see fewer families onboard, and the lack of demand leads to lower cruise fares. Plus, you’re less likely to spend your port days sweaty and miserable, as temperatures will generally be more mild (although that’s never guaranteed!).

While crowds will start to increase in June, sticking to the first half of the month is recommended, as crowds will not yet have hit their peak.

If you’re cruising in northern Europe, however, avoid sailings in early spring and late fall

Europe is a diverse continent, and the best time to cruise one region may be the worst for another. While some cruisers may book a sunny getaway to the Greek Isles, others are more interested in visiting ports like Amsterdam and Dublin.

Although sticking to the spring and fall is preferable for cruises to southern Europe, it should be avoided when visiting northern European countries. Simply put, the weather in these regions is more unpredictable, and the shoulder season can come with less-than-ideal conditions.

While that Norway itinerary in May might be the cheapest option, waiting until June, July, or August might bring sunnier skies and warmer temperatures. Unfortunately, this means spending more on your cruise fare and airfare, but it’s almost always worth the trade-off.

Should you cruise to Europe in October?

Royal Caribbean’s European cruise season usually ends in October, and like any month, October comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

One plus of sailing in October is the weather. Unlike the scorching 90 degree days of August, you’ll find the weather more pleasant in the fall. Temperatures in Mykonos, as an example, are around 70 degrees in October compared to the mid-80s in August.

In addition, there will be fewer crowds in October compared to during the summer. Once the school year is back in session, European tourist attractions become quieter, making sightseeing days a little bit less hectic for visitors.

Related: What is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?

As far as drawbacks, though, you will find fewer itineraries offered in October. During this month, Royal Caribbean begins to send its ships back to North America for the winter Caribbean season. By the end of the month, only a few ships remain in Europe, and almost all itineraries visit southern European destinations, where the weather is still comfortable in October.

Even with these drawbacks, October can be a fantastic time to cruise to southern Europe for those who want lower fares and fewer crowds.

Cruising is all about having the right mindset. With the right expectations, there’s no “best” or “worst” month to cruise to Europe

While there’s no denying that some months offer nicer weather conditions and crowd control than others, no time of year is completely perfect. Sure, May might offer excellent conditions for traveling to Sicily, but the same cannot be said about cruising to Iceland.

Even if you sail during the “worst” month to cruise to Europe, you will still, more than likely, have a wonderful cruise experience. For most cruisers, the highs of cruising to Europe far outweigh the lows.

Visiting 2000-year old archeological sites, tasting local delicacies, and being awestruck by breathtaking fjords can be worth the high temperatures and crowds.

If you board a European cruise expecting tranquil days in port and no lines at tourist sites, you’re going to be disappointed.

If you go in with an optimistic mindset, on the other hand, any month will provide a remarkable cruise vacation.

Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations, but what are the worst months to book a cruise to the state?

From picturesque glaciers to charming small towns, cruising to Alaska is a dream for many. Over 1.5 million tourists visit the state by cruise ship each year, so each month of the short cruise season sees an impressive amount of visitors.

Even so, not every month will offer the same Alaska cruise experience. Some months, such as June, offer the most daylight hours and increased crowds, whereas September brings more days of rain but fewer passengers in each port.

If you’re planning a cruise to Alaska, it’s important to know the worst months to visit the state so you can plan the right itinerary for your travel needs. Keep in mind, though, that the “worst” month to visit Alaska can differ from person to person.

Some cruisers may love the lower prices during months with the worst weather whereas others will be happy to pay a premium for a higher chance of sunshine.

The worst months to cruise to Alaska for weather are April, early May, September, and October

Theoretically, the worst months to cruise to Alaska would be during the state’s long, cold, and dark winter. Cruises, however, are not offered during this time. Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruise season runs roughly from early May to late September each year—some cruise lines may offer itineraries in April and October.

April marks the start of the Alaska cruise season for select cruise lines, and it’s among the driest months in southeast Alaska. Temperatures, however, are quite chilly, with highs around 48 degrees.

Related: Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise guide

As spring continues, you’ll find warmer temperatures in May, but the weather can still be unpredictable. Whereas you may encounter sunny skies and comfortable temperatures one week, the following week could be full of rainy days. Nonetheless, late May can be a great month to cruise the state, as there are not as many crowds since the school year is still in session. Additionally, daylight hours are among the season’s longest.

Like May, cruising to Alaska in September is great for avoiding crowds, but the weather may not be in your favor. The month sees some of the highest precipitation all year, although there’s a higher chance of nicer weather during the first half of the month.

October is perhaps the worst month to cruise to Alaska. Not only is October the rainiest month, but days are far shorter than during the summer, and the average high is under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, this makes cruising to Alaska during October unpredictable, leading to an increased chance of itinerary changes and excursion cancellations.

The cheapest months to cruise to Alaska are the months with the worst weather

It’s no surprise that the worst months to cruise to Alaska are also the cheapest. Depending on the ship and itinerary, it’s possible to save thousands of dollars on an Alaska cruise by sailing in the shoulder season.

Let’s compare the price of a 7-night Alaska cruise on Quantum of the Seas, for instance. After price checking on Royal Caribbean’s website, we found the following prices for the total cruise fare for two adults in an interior cabin, including taxes and fees:

• July 22 sailing: $3,098
• September 9 sailing: $1,600

Related: How much does an Alaska cruise cost?

While you won’t always see such a drastic price difference between the peak season and shoulder season, prices are almost always cheaper during the “worst” months to cruise to Alaska. For those traveling on a budget, it may be worth it to cruise to Alaska during April, May, September, or October.

The best months to cruise to Alaska are June, July, and August

The peak summer season offers ideal conditions for visiting Alaska—June, July, and August are the best months to take an Alaska cruise. During the summer you can enjoy long daylight hours, ample wildlife viewing opportunities, and a higher chance of sunny weather.

June sees little precipitation compared to later in the season, offering ideal conditions for exploring the state’s natural wonders, whether hiking on a glacier, whale watching, or kayaking through pristine mountain lakes. Additionally, summer solstice means the sun may not set until as late as 10 PM, providing more time to watch Alaska’s scenery from the ship.

Related: 50 best first time Alaska cruise tips for a perfect vacation

Weather remains pleasant in July and August, with highs in the low to mid 60s. Wildlife viewing opportunities are in abundance during this time of year as well. Passengers will have a greater chance to spot whales and bears in the summer than the shoulder season, which is a highlight for many cruising to Alaska.

One downside of booking a cruise during the “best” months to visit Alaska, though, are the increased crowds. Not only are ships likely to be fully booked during the summer, but there will be more ships in port, too.

The busiest Alaska cruise ports, such as Juneau, may see up to seven cruise ships in a single day! This makes the most popular attractions significantly more crowded than during the shoulder season.

Even so, most passengers find the increased crowds to be an easy trade off for the long hours of sunshine and more predictable weather during Alaska’s summer.

Even if you pick a “bad month” to cruise to Alaska, you can still have an unforgettable cruise experience

Alaska is one of the world’s most breathtaking destinations, and you’re guaranteed to be awestruck by the state whether cruising in chilly April or sunny July. Even if you sail to Alaska during one of the “worst” months to visit the state, you can still have a remarkable cruise experience with the right mindset.

Expecting sunny skies and long hours of daylight on a cruise in late September is not realistic. Likewise, hoping for perfect weather in Alaska’s early season may leave you disappointed. Having the right mindset is crucial when visiting Alaska during these months.

It’s raining on the day of your much-anticipated excursion in Skagway? Just go with the flow. The winds are too strong to ride a helicopter to Mendenhall Glacier? Don’t let it ruin your day—find something else fun to do instead.

Having a back-up plan (and wearing the right outdoor gear) can help you navigate any unexpected scenarios that may occur.

Plus, there’s no guarantee you’ll encounter bad weather on an Alaska cruise, regardless of the month. It’s possible to enjoy a week of sunny skies on a cheap cruise in September and cold, rainy weather during the middle of summer!

Related: Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing

Lastly, there are a few benefits to cruising to Alaska during the shoulder season. Fewer ships sail to Alaska in April, May, September, and October, resulting in fewer passengers in port. In addition, spring offers the chance to spot wildlife like grey whales and orcas, while fall brings an increased chance of seeing the northern lights.

Like any cruise, an Alaska cruise is all about what you make of it. Maintaining a positive attitude while exploring the Last Frontier will help you make the most of your experience.

Regardless of when you book an Alaska cruise, you should book travel insurance

Travel insurance is an important purchase on any cruise vacation. All passengers cruising to Alaska, no matter the month, should purchase a travel insurance policy before sailing.

No one wants to encounter a medical emergency or travel mishap on a cruise vacation, but it’s always a possibility. Not only does travel insurance cover scenarios like lost baggage and canceled flights, but it also covers things like medical care onboard and emergency evacuation.

You could miss your connecting flight to Seattle, sprain your ankle while walking in Ketchikan, or lose your baggage on your return trip home. While everyone wants their vacation to go smoothly, it’s always better to be prepared with travel insurance.

For more information on purchasing travel insurance for your Alaska cruise, regardless of the month you’re visiting, check out the following guides:

• Travel insurance for a cruise: Why you need it for a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

The two newest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet are Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Both ships make an excellent vacation choice, but how do they compare to one another?

The most obvious difference between these two ships is that they belong to two different ship classes. All Royal Caribbean cruise ships belong to one of seven classes of ships, each of which has a varied layout and diverse onboard offerings.

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class, whereas Wonder of the Seas is the sixth Oasis Class ship. While the two ships share many similarities, including water slides, an ice-skating rink, and modern accommodations, there are quite a few ways in which the vessels differ from one another.

Let’s take a look at Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas to see how these ships compare.

Ship Size

Icon of the Seas is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. She took the record away from Wonder of the Seas, who had held the title for around two years. Icon of the Seas is not drastically larger than Oasis Class ships, but the extra space onboard provides even more room for activities and amenities.

Here’s how these two vessels size up:

Dining & Bars

Food is an integral part to any cruise vacation, and rest assured, you won’t go hungry on either vessel. Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas have over a dozen dining venues—both complimentary and specialty.

While the two ships share several restaurants, including the Main Dining Room and Sorrento’s Pizza, they each offer different options, too.

Here are the restaurants found on Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas:

Many of the dining venues found on both ships are tried and true favorites, such as Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. Others, however, offer unique dining experiences, like the whimsical-themed Wonderland on Wonder of the Seas or food hall concept at Icon's AquaDome Market.

Icon of the Seas saw the addition of over a dozen new dining venues, including Celebration Table, a private dining experience available to book for special occasions with friends and family.

Related: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Needless to say, whether or not you plan to dine at only complimentary restaurants or splurge on specialty dining, you’ll find more than enough food to try on either ship.

Additionally, Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas have no shortage of bars and lounges. From sipping a cocktail on the pool deck to enjoying a glass of wine before a show, it’s convenient to find a drink anywhere onboard.

Here are the bar and lounge venues found on Icon and Wonder of the Seas:

Pool Deck

The upper decks of both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are filled with pool spaces and onboard thrills, along with a selection of dining and bar venues. You can’t go wrong with spending a day on the pool deck on either ship, but there are a few differences between the two to be aware of.

First, Icon of the Seas’ pool deck is three decks high, and it features four pools, including the largest pool at sea, the Royal Bay pool, along with Swim & Tonic, the first swim-up bar at sea. In addition, there are two infinity pools—Cloud 17 and The Cove pool—which provide unmatched views of the ocean.

Wonder of the Seas has three main pools along with Splashaway Bay, an aqua park for kids, but you will not find infinity pools or a swim-up bar on the ship.

Related: 6 things to know before you book Wonder of the Seas

One of the major differences between Icon and Wonder is the adults-only pool area. On Wonder of the Seas is a traditional adults-only Solarium, which is fully enclosed, climate-controlled, and located in the front of the ship.

Icon of the Seas does not have a Solarium. Instead, you’ll find The Hideaway, an adults-only pool neighborhood inspired by Las Vegas pool parties.

While the area is fully outdoors and lacks shade, it is, undoubtedly, a trendy spot to hangout.

As far as activities, both ships have water slides, a sports court, and mini golf course on the upper decks. Wonder of the Seas, however, only has three water slides, whereas Icon of the Seas has six slides at the Category 6 Waterpark, which is complimentary to all guests.

Icon of the Seas also features Crown’s Edge, an obstacle course and zip line attraction, whereas Wonder of the Seas has the Ultimate Abyss, a dry-slide reaching speeds of nine miles per hour.

Regardless of which ship you choose, either will provide ample opportunities to enjoy some time in the sun.

Central Park

One of the most popular neighborhoods on Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas is Central Park, an open-air park in the middle of the vessels. With lush greenery, shops, restaurants, and bars, it’s no surprise this area is a hit with guests onboard.

However, there are a few key differences between Central Park on the two ships.

Both ships have several specialty restaurants within the park, with Wonder of the Seas offering steaks at Chops Grille, upscale cuisine at 150 Central Park, and Italian delights at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Icon of the Seas also has Chops Grille in Central Park, but Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is found in the Royal Promenade instead. In its place is Izumi in the Park, the first-ever Izumi Sushi and Hibachi location in Central Park.

Not only does Izumi in the Park feature indoor seating for both sushi and teppanyaki, but the restaurant also offers a walk-up window where guests can purchase grab-and-go sushi, gyoza, and other Japanese favorites.

Related: Izumi in the Park review on Icon of the Seas

And while guests won’t find the fan-favorite 150 Central Park on Icon of the Seas, they can enjoy an 8-course meal at the nearby Empire Supper Club instead, which includes live jazz music.

In terms of bars, guests will love the new Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues venue on Icon of the Seas, which offers live soul and jazz tunes each evening in a classy setting. Wonder of the Seas does not have a jazz bar; instead, guests will find Giovanni’s Wine Bar in its place. While this bar does not feature live music, musicians may occasionally perform in the park during the evening.

Trellis Bar, another bar within the park, also differs between the two ships. The bar has far more seating on Icon of the Seas compared to Wonder of the Seas, and it also has its own food menu, although these dishes come with an extra cost.

Despite these differences, the overall ambiance of Central Park on either ship remains similar. The park provides a quiet escape away from the hustle and bustle elsewhere onboard, whether you're enjoying a relaxed lunch at Park Cafe or simply taking a stroll through the trees.

Surfside vs The Boardwalk

In addition to Central Park, you’ll find another open-air neighborhood at the aft of both Icon and Wonder of the Seas. This area is referred to as the Surfside neighborhood on Icon of the Seas and The Boardwalk on Wonder of the Seas.

While these neighborhoods may look similar at first glance, they could not be more different from one another. Both neighborhoods are family-focused, but Icon of the Seas takes this focus up a notch.

On Wonder of the Seas, The Boardwalk caters to all ages. Sure, kids will love the neighborhood’s carousel, arcade, rock climbing wall, Johnny Rockets location, and candy store, but adults will appreciate Playmakers Sports Bar and the AquaTheater entertainment venue.

On Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean wanted to make Surfside the ultimate destination for families, rather than just a place for families to stop by throughout the day.

Related: Icon of the Seas Surfside neighborhood: What to expect

New kid-friendly complimentary dining venues were added—Surfside Eatery and Surfside Bites—along with the new specialty restaurant Pier 7, where kids under 12 eat for free. Additionally, the neighborhood features Splashaway Bay and an aft-facing infinity pool, along with The Lemon Post, a new bar with mommy-and-me cocktails and mocktails.

Not only that, but Surfside is located just above Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kids programming center, which helps keep most family-focused areas in one place.

Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is the hub of any Royal Caribbean ship. It has dozens of areas to explore, from restaurants to retail stores, lounges, and cafes. It’s an area most guests frequent every day of the cruise. While Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas both have a Royal Promenade, there are a few differences between the two.

Icon’s Royal Promenade is more expansive than Wonder’s, as it fully wraps around two decks. On Wonder of the Seas, guests can only walk the entire length of the promenade on one deck. This leads to more congestion as passengers go from Point A to Point B onboard.

Another difference is The Pearl. It’s hard to miss the massive, shining structure—known as The Pearl—upon boarding Icon of the Seas. The Pearl is at the forefront of the ship’s Royal Promenade, functioning not only as a structural component of the ship, but also to provide that "WOW!" factor.

Near The Pearl is Pearl Café, Icon’s coffee shop, which is a major upgrade from Cafe Promenade found on Wonder of the Seas. Pearl Café features a greater variety of snack options compared to the latter, and it also offers specialty coffee beverages and beautiful ocean views from the cafe’s 36-foot high windows.

Related: 8 things I love about Icon of the Seas (and 3 I didn't)

Both Royal Promenades feature popular bars including an English-style pub, Boleros Latin bar, and karaoke venue. Icon of the Seas has even more bars, though, including the new Dueling Pianos Bar, where guests can watch live pianists, and the 1400 Lobby Bar.

Ocean views are more accessible in Icon of the Seas’ Royal Promenade as well. The neighborhood has a large amount of windows, whereas there are no ocean views from the area on Wonder.

Either ship’s Royal Promenade is sure to be a dynamic place to spend your evenings while cruising, whether you’re listening to live acoustic music at the pub, shopping for a new souvenir, or people-watching from one of the Promenade’s many seating areas.

Entertainment

Even though all Royal Caribbean ships offer impressive entertainment options, production shows on the fleet’s newest ships go above and beyond the rest. Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas offer spectacular entertainment choices—here are the differences to note.

Perhaps the most major entertainment difference between the two ships is the AquaTheater. Oasis Class ships, including Wonder of the Seas, are known for their outdoor AquaTheater, where guests can witness unique performances combining high diving, synchronized swimming, and acrobats paired with high-energy music.

On Icon of the Seas, the AquaTheater was moved indoors to the AquaDome, a multi-deck high dome placed atop the vessel. The AquaDome is also home to The Overlook, an indoor lounge with breathtaking ocean views, along with several dining venues and bars. At the forefront of the neighborhood, though, is the performance venue.

Both ships also have an ice-skating rink, with Absolute Zero found on Icon of the Seas and Studio B on Wonder of the Seas. Guests can enjoy performances from professional figure skaters on either ship, although the circular rink on Icon of the Seas is larger than the rectangular rink on Wonder of the Seas.

Another major difference is in the Royal Theater, as Icon of the Seas features a 90-minute Broadway production, The Wizard of Oz, while Wonder of the Seas does not. In lieu of a Broadway show, passengers on Wonder of the Seas can enjoy The Effectors II, a Royal Caribbean original production, along with Voices, an a capella group.

Aside from signature production shows, each ship boasts a wide array of other entertainment options, including comedy shows, game shows, and live bands.

These are the signature production shows on Wonder and Icon of the Seas:

Cabins

There are 28 categories of cabins to book on Icon of the Seas, ranging from the most basic interior cabin to lavish suites.

All things considered, the standard cabins on Icon of the Seas are similar to those on Wonder of the Seas. Every cabin includes a king-sized bed, private bathroom, chair or couch, desk/vanity, television, and storage space in closets and drawers.

Nonetheless, there are a few differences to note between the two ships.

First, Icon of the Seas has more cabins that can accommodate more than two guests. 82% of cabins on Icon of the Seas can accommodate three or more guests, which is ideal for such a family-focused ship.

This is why, while Wonder of the Seas technically has more cabins onboard, Icon of the Seas can accommodate more passengers at full capacity.

Secondly, there are more sub-categories of rooms within each category. Not only can you book an interior cabin on Icon, for instance, but you can book a Spacious Interior cabin, too, which offers a slightly different layout with additional storage space.

Likewise, infinite balcony cabins launched on the ship, which differ from a traditional balcony in that the balcony is part of your overall living space instead of a separate outdoor area. The goal of these balconies is to provide additional living space to guests while still having access to a private outdoor veranda.

For a deeper look into cabins onboard, check out the following cabin tours:

• Room tour: Icon of the Seas balcony cabin
• Room tour: Icon of the Seas Central Park infinite balcony cabin
• Room tour: Wonder of the Seas interior cabin

As another plus, Royal Caribbean introduced destination elevators with Icon of the Seas. These “smart” elevators get passengers to their destination more quickly. To use the elevators, guests press a button indicating the deck of their destination while they are still in the elevator lobby.

Passengers are then assigned an elevator with other passengers traveling to that deck, which is much more efficient than having several elevators stop at every floor.

Suite Experience

Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are wonderful ship options for those booking a suite on Royal Caribbean. Not only does each vessel boast an array of suite categories, but both ships have a dedicated Suite Neighborhood exclusive to suite guests.

Everything from basic Junior Suites to multi-story, luxurious cabins are found on either ship. In total, there are 174 suites on Wonder of the Seas and 179 suites on Icon of the Seas. Icon of the Seas features more suite categories than Wonder, which include suites such as the Sunset Junior Suite and Icon Loft Suite.

Related: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

The suite neighborhood on either ship has a pool, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and Suite Lounge. Guests should note that Wonder of the Seas has a much larger Suite Lounge, though, and that Icon of the Seas has The Grove, a Mediterranean grab-and-go dining venue that is not found on Wonder.

Suite guests on both ships will enjoy the amenities of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, which is broken into three tiers: Sea, Sky, and Star Class. Each tier comes with its own host of benefits, with the most exclusive Star Class offering benefits such as complimentary specialty dining and the services of a Royal Genie.

Bottom Line

Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are, without a doubt, the cream of the crop in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Either vessel provides the best of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer, including the newest restaurants, most modern staterooms, and state-of-the-art entertainment.

There is no wrong choice when deciding between the two ships for your cruise vacation; it all comes down to preference. Comparing the two ships’ entertainment offerings, dining venues, cabin categories, and, of course, price, will help you decide which to pick for your vacation.

It also helps to watch a ship tour of each vessel, which are found on our YouTube channel:

• Wonder of the Seas Full Cruise Ship Tour
• Icon of the Seas Full Cruise Ship Tour

I tried Royal Caribbean’s latest thrilling attraction at sea, and while it had my adrenaline pumping, I’m not convinced it is worth the cost.

With the launch of Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas, came the launch of a brand new attraction for the cruise line: Crown’s Edge.

Marketed as a mix between an obstacle course and ropes course, participants of Crown’s Edge navigate a series of suspended platforms that hang off the ship of the cruise ship. At the end of the course, the platform below their feet drops, sending guests flying on a zip line over the ocean and back to the ship.

From the moment I heard about Crown’s Edge, it piqued my interest, although I felt hesitant to book the experience. At the time, the cost of Crown’s Edge was $90 per person, but aside from the cost, I have to admit I was scared.

Just thinking of hanging over the side of the ship with nothing but the ocean below was enough to make my palms sweat… would I really be able to complete the course if I tried it?

But what’s life without a challenge? Feeling courageous once I got onboard, I booked Crown’s Edge on a whim, despite my hesitations.

Here’s what Royal Caribbean’s newest—and most frightening—activity is like, and whether or not it is worth the price.

I was nervous when I showed up to my booking, although the activity appeared much shorter than I imagined

“Why am I doing this?!”

As fellow staff member Angie and I left the safety and comfort of our Icon of the Seas cabin to head to Crown’s Edge, I couldn’t help but ask myself what I had gotten myself into.

Not only did I book a time slot for Crown’s Edge, but the only time available was at 7:30 PM, which meant I would be walking over the side of the ship in the dark. Could there be anything scarier? I wasn’t really sure.

Upon arrival at the check-in desk for Crown’s Edge, I was brought into a small room with other participants. Here we changed into the “uniform” for Crown’s Edge—a long-sleeve bodysuit and hard hat. Closed toed shoes are required for the activity, so make sure to wear these as well.

Related: Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship: Review, Photos

We were also required to watch a brief safety video, and then it was time to put my skills to the test.

If anything helped calm my nerves, it was the length of the Crown’s Edge experience. Despite researching Crown’s Edge prior to my cruise, it didn’t hit me how short the ride was until I got onboard and saw it for myself.

I have to admit I expected a ropes course to be longer than just a few steps off the side of the ship, but I was grateful for the shorter length when it came time to put on my harness and start the course.

The beginning of Crown’s Edge was an easy warmup for the more terrifying sections later on

I first walked across a short overhung bridge, which was not all that scary, despite the large gaps between pieces of the bridge. In fact, the left side of the bridge does not have any gaps on the bridge, making this section of Crown’s Edge an easy start to the attraction.

Once across the bridge, I stepped onto the first of five oval platforms, which are suspended approximately fifteen feet above the ship’s deck.

Again, I did not find this section of Crown’s Edge particularly frightening, even if a large step was necessary to make it from one platform to another. I was comforted by the fact that I was not yet hanging off the side of the ship.

Next up was the more nerve-racking part of Crown’s Edge, and my fear quickly took over

After successfully walking across all five oval platforms, I reached what I found to be the scariest part of Crown’s Edge: the x-shaped platforms, which are suspended over the ocean.

There are four of these x-shaped platforms on the course, which take you from walking above the ship to walking off the edge of Icon of the Seas. I found this section challenging, both physically and mentally, as it not only required more careful footwork, but walking off the edge of a cruise ship is pretty terrifying, to say the least.

I couldn’t decide whether trying Crown’s Edge at night was a better choice than during the day. Perhaps it was easier to block out the fact that I was standing over the open ocean at night, but it was hard to not be afraid of the dark abyss below.

Nonetheless, I took a deep breath and made it across.

I had one more hurdle on Crown’s Edge: the drop

The final part of Crown’s Edge involves walking onto a platform and waiting for the platform to drop beneath your feet, leaving you dangling over the ocean by your harness After the drop, you will ride a zip line back to the starting point.

Allowing yourself to step onto a platform that will drop and leave you hanging over the ocean requires a great deal of trust in both the ride’s engineering and safety harnesses, but I felt fairly confident I would not fall into the ocean below.

As I stood on the platform waiting to drop, I was surprisingly not as panicked as I thought I would be. I had, after all, gotten myself into this situation, and the sooner the platform dropped, the sooner I could get back to the safety of the ship.

What I didn’t expect was that the crew members would surprise participants with when the platform would drop. During one ride, I witnessed a crew member trick the participant by saying he had to come over to her and fix her harness. As he began walking over, though, he pressed the button to drop the platform, sending her into a terrifying flight back to the ship!

Fortunately, there were no tricks played on my turn, and I courageously dropped off the platform and rode back to the ship.

Crown’s Edge was certainly thrilling, but for such a short ride, it comes with a hefty price

When Royal Caribbean first announced that Crown’s Edge was available to book on the Cruise Planner site, they were charging $90 for the activity. Since then, it appears Royal Caribbean has lowered the price of Crown’s Edge on certain sailings, with some guests reporting pricing closer to $50 instead.

After trying Crown’s Edge myself, I would not pay $90 for the experience, but I could see paying $50. Personally, I would say the experience is worth about $30, but I don’t think the cruise line will have any trouble selling it at a higher price.

Don’t get me wrong, it was one of the most thrilling experiences I’ve had at sea, but it is simply way too short to justify the original price tag of $90. Honestly, I found the thrill of Crown’s Edge quite similar to the zip line on Oasis Class ships, which is included in guests’ cruise fares.

This isn’t the first activity to come with an extra charge on Royal Caribbean, however, but most other extra-cost activities provide a more lengthy experience.

Related: Top 30 extra cruise costs that are not included

The cruise line’s escape rooms, for example, cost $40 per person, but the activity lasts an hour. Likewise, booking The North Star observation pod on a sea day will run guests around $30 for a 15-minute ride, although it’s free on port days.

And even though RipCord by iFLY, Royal Caribbean’s indoor skydiving simulator, costs $50 for a 2-minute flying experience, a complimentary 1-minute ride is also offered onboard for those who do not want to pay extra.

There is no complimentary offering of Crown’s Edge, and, if excluding the prep time for the activity, you’re looking at spending around $1 per second of the ride.

If you simply can’t sail on Icon of the Seas without trying an activity as unique as Crown’s Edge, I would recommend giving it a try. That being said, you shouldn’t feel like you are missing out on anything by skipping it.

Am I glad I tried Crown’s Edge? Sure, and I think the demand is there for the attraction to be successful. Nonetheless, it was definitely a “one and done” experience for me, as there are more than enough other thrilling activities onboard Icon of the Seas to try that do not cost anything extra.

No matter how much research you do beforehand, there will always be a few surprises once you board a cruise ship, and this was certainly the case on my recent Icon of the Seas cruise.

Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest cruise ship was at the forefront of the cruise line’s marketing ever since its official announcement in fall 2022. After over a year of writing about the new vessel, I assumed I would not have any surprises once onboard. After all, what could surprise me when I, presumably, already knew everything about the ship?

Needless to say, despite my thorough research, I still found myself encountering surprises once onboard Icon of the Seas. Most of these surprises were positive, like the variety of global cuisine available to try throughout the ship, but others were negative, such as the curious choice of color scheme in my cabin.

Here are the 5 things that surprised me on Icon of the Seas.

I thought the ship would feel huge, so I was surprised that it felt somewhat similar to the size of an Oasis Class ship

As the new biggest cruise ship in the world, I expected Icon of the Seas to feel drastically bigger than older Royal Caribbean ships.

Most of Icon of the Seas’ marketing revolved around the ship being the world’s biggest, and offering the ultimate vacation experience for families. This marketing led myself, and many other cruise fans, to picture the ship to be significantly larger than other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Related: See how Royal Caribbean ships stack up by size (2024)

Yet when I saw a picture of Icon of the Seas docked next to Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship, at Perfect Day at CocoCay, I realized the two ships weren’t drastically different in size. And when I got onboard myself a few days later, I felt much less overwhelmed with the ship’s size than I initially thought I would be.

Icon of the Seas does not feel small by any means, and it does feel larger than Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, but not by much. The ship never felt unmanageable, and there appeared to be more than enough distinct areas around the vessel that no particular venue ever felt too crowded.

The impressive passenger flow of the vessel from neighborhood to neighborhood and new destination elevators made getting around the ship a breeze. While I can understand some cruisers being put off by the size of Icon of the Seas, it really doesn’t feel that much different from ships like Wonder of the Seas when you’re onboard.

I was surprised by the light-colored furniture in my cabin, and I’m not sure this will hold up well over time

Although I enjoyed my comfortable balcony cabin on Icon of the Seas, I found the choice of furnishings to be… risky, to say the least.

If you’ve sailed on older cruise ships before, you’ve likely seen wear and tear on the furniture in your cruise cabin. While Royal Caribbean keeps their cabins in relatively good condition—even on the oldest ships—you may occasionally notice stains on couches, chairs, and other soft surfaces in the room.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Stains are best concealed on dark-colored furniture, so I was surprised by the light tan couch in my Icon of the Seas cabin. All it takes is one spill or mishap to stain these furnishings, instantly lowering the cabin’s condition.

At the risk of embarrassing myself, I’ll admit I accidentally spilled a small amount of chocolate mousse I brought back from Pearl Cafe on the carpet in my cabin. I panicked when I saw the splatters of brown stain all over the floor, and it took a lot of stressful scrubbing to remove the stain.

While I (fortunately) got the stain out, I can’t imagine what this carpet and furniture will look like in a few years. I generally prefer the look of lighter-colored wood and decor, but it’s probably not the smartest option for a cruise ship cabin.

I was surprised and pleased by the new global cuisine options onboard, a huge improvement from older ships

Royal Caribbean has upped its game with international cuisine options on Icon of the Seas, and I was happy to see it.

Whenever I read my coworkers’ articles about Virgin Voyages’ Korean BBQ restaurant or Norwegian Cruise Line's food hall on our sister site Cruise.Blog, I felt a sting of jealousy about these diverse dining options.

Because I usually sail on Royal Caribbean, I find myself dining at the same types of restaurants over and over again, whether Italian, Japanese, or a standard American steakhouse.

Therefore, I was surprised to see the variety of dining venues that launched on Icon of the Seas. Most notably, the new AquaDome Market is home to five varied food stalls, which offer everything from Mediterranean wraps to Chinese noodle bowls and Nutella crepes.

Related: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

Outside of the AquaDome market were Baja fish tacos at Pier 7, curry chicken sandwiches at Pearl Cafe, and expanded to-go items at Izumi in the Park. Old favorites are found onboard, too, from the all-you-can-eat Mexican food at El Loco Fresh to hand-tossed pizzas at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Whether a complimentary falafel and hummus pita for lunch or extra-cost Korean bibimbap bowl for dinner, I appreciated just how many options were available on Icon of the Seas. I’m still holding out for a Thai restaurant on Royal Caribbean (I can dream, right?), but the new options available easily satisfied my culinary cravings.

I was surprised Royal Caribbean didn't put The Mason Jar on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas has a whopping 20+ dining venues onboard, but one restaurant I’m surprised didn’t make the cut is The Mason Jar.

The Mason Jar is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer specialty dining venues that first launched in 2022 on Wonder of the Seas. The restaurant serves dishes from around the American South, with brunch and dinner options including crab beignets, chicken and waffles, and the classic po’boy.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

Adjacent to the restaurant is The Mason Jar Bar, which offers southern-inspired cocktails and a live band.

Currently, Wonder of the Seas is the only ship in the fleet to feature the venue. Given its popularity on that ship, I initially assumed Royal Caribbean would add it to Icon of the Seas as well.

I could easily see The Mason Jar replacing a venue like Hooked Seafood, which is found in the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood. At the same time, though, perhaps adding more live music to the ship was not necessary, given the amount of new venues like Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues and Dueling Pianos.

Nonetheless, I’m still thinking about the restaurant’s decadent red velvet pancakes I ate two years ago, and I wish this venue could have been onboard Icon of the Seas.

I was surprised by the amount of new bars and cocktails available, and the live music was spectacular

Because Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class, I expected there to be a few new bars and lounges onboard, but I was surprised by the amount of new venues that launched on the vessel.

1400 Lobby Bar was one of my favorites on the ship, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant decor, and outdoor seating. The bar’s central location in the Royal Promenade makes it a convenient hangout space, and the lack of live music at the bar means you can better hold a conversation with your travel party.

One of the bar’s signature cocktails, The Fourteen Hundred, combines Casamigos Blanco tequila, Italicus liqueur, pearl shimmer syrup, and lemon sour, and it’s topped with a citrus bubble that pops when you take your first sip.

Related: I tried the new cocktails on Icon of the Seas

Additionally, two intriguing music venues launched on the vessel: Dueling Pianos in the Royal Promenade and Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues in Central Park. Not only do these venues provide stellar musical performances, but they also come with a host of new cocktails.

Guests can listen to live jazz music while sipping on a B-Flat Negroni, which combines Hendrick’s gin, Suze liqueur, and dry vermouth. Or, for those cheering on the pianists at Dueling Pianos, they can try the signature cocktail, Snap, Crackle, Pop! This sweet beverage combines gin with lime juice, simple syrup, grenadine, and pineapple juice with a bag of Pop Rocks, making the drink literally “pop” in your mouth!

I found the new bar concepts to be a nice change of pace for Royal Caribbean, and I especially appreciated having more innovative bar concepts on the Royal Promenade. On Oasis Class ships, for instance, the robotic Bionic Bar takes up a large space in the Promenade.

While watching robotic bartenders craft a drink is interesting the first time you try it, I have never found this venue appealing for a regular hangout space. Somewhere like Dueling Pianos or the 1400 Lobby Bar, on the other hand, makes for a much more aesthetic and entertaining space.

Have you sailed on Icon of the Seas? If so, what surprised you about your time onboard? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

One of Royal Caribbean’s most popular cruise embarkation ports in Europe is Ravenna, Italy, and if you’re cruising from the port this summer, here’s how to get there.

In 2021, the city of Venice, Italy banned large cruise ships from entering the Venetian lagoon. This ban came with major implications for the cruise industry, which frequently offered cruises departing from the city to visit ports in the Adriatic Sea and Greek Isles.

Instead of stopping cruises in this region altogether, Royal Caribbean began offering itineraries departing from Ravenna, Italy instead of Venice. Yet while itineraries may still call Ravenna the “Venice” cruise port, the reality is that Venice is located roughly 90 miles away from Ravenna.

The majority of passengers cruising from Ravenna fly into either Venice or Bologna, Italy, and it can be challenging to figure out how to get to the cruise port from these cities.

Related: 30 best European cruise tips

In this guide, we’ve compiled the most up-to-date information on how to get to and from the Ravenna cruise port so you can start your European cruise vacation without any stressful setbacks.

Option #1: Royal Caribbean shuttles from Venice to Ravenna cruise port (and vice versa)

From Venice to Ravenna cruise port (embarkation day)

The easiest way to reach Ravenna’s cruise port from Venice is by booking a Royal Caribbean shuttle.

Royal Caribbean offers a shuttle service from two locations in Venice. The first is from Marco Polo Airport, and this is the best option for those flying to Venice on the day their cruise begins. As of 2023, the shuttle cost $45 per person.

Note that it takes around 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Ravenna from Venice, so if you are flying to Venice on the same day as your cruise, it’s crucial that your flight arrives before 11 AM. To avoid the risk of missing your ship, it’s recommended that you arrive as early as possible on embarkation morning.

Alternatively, the safer option is to arrive at least a day before your cruise begins.

The second location to catch a shuttle from Venice to Ravenna is from Tronchetto, a parking and bus station in the historical city center of Venice. This option is ideal for those who are spending time in Venice prior to their cruise. As of 2023, this shuttle cost $58 per person.

The shuttle location in Tronchetto is a twenty minute walk from Piazzale Roma in Venice, or you can take a people mover for €1.50 per person.

Shuttles must be booked by calling Royal Caribbean or your travel agent, upon which you can find the most up-to-date schedules for the shuttle buses.

From Ravenna cruise port to Venice (disembarkation day)

Royal Caribbean offers a shuttle service from the pier in Ravenna to Venice's Marco Polo Airport on disembarkation morning, but only for flights departing after 11:45 AM.

As of 2023, this shuttle was priced at $45 per person, and it takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Venice’s Marco Polo Airport on the shuttle.

If you are not headed directly to the Venice airport from Ravenna, there is also the option to be dropped off in Tronchetto instead. As of 2023, this shuttle service cost $58 per person, and is a convenient option for those spending time in Venice after their cruise.

Option #2: Take the train from Venice to Ravenna (and vice versa)

From Venice to Ravenna cruise port (embarkation day)

In addition to a shuttle bus, another way to get from Venice to the Ravenna cruise port is by train. Taking the train from Venice’s Santa Lucia station to Ravenna’s train station takes a little over three hours and comes with an overall cost of around $40.

The train from Venice to Ravenna is not direct, and it requires a change in either Bologna or Ferrara, Italy. Although having to change trains might seem stressful, you will find train stations easy to navigate and with plenty of signage.

Because the train is not direct, you will not find “Ravenna” listed on the train platform in the Venice train station. Instead, look at your ticket for the correct train number. If you have to make a change in Bologna, you will first board a train to Bologna, not to Ravenna.

Train tickets can be purchased online through Trainline or on the Trainline app. Alternatively, you can book tickets upon arrival to the station, but it’s recommended to book in advance.

Once you arrive at Ravenna’s train station, you can reach the port either by booking a Royal Caribbean shuttle bus or by taxi. The taxi ride should cost around €25 from the train station to the port.

If you would prefer to book a Royal Caribbean shuttle bus from Ravenna’s train station to the cruise port, contact Royal Caribbean or your travel agent for more information.

From Ravenna cruise port to Venice (disembarkation day)

Royal Caribbean offers shuttle buses from the Ravenna cruise port to Ravenna’s train station on disembarkation morning. It takes twenty minutes to reach the train station, from where you can hop on a train to anywhere in Italy.

These shuttle buses cost $10 per passenger and can be booked at Guest Services once onboard your ship.

Like en route to Ravenna, you will need to make a change in Bologna or Ferrara, Italy to get to Venice. Most transfer times in this direction are around a half hour, which gives plenty of time to make the connection.

Taking the train to Santa Lucia station in Venice drops you off directly in the historic center of the city. Therefore, this option is convenient if you plan on spending time in Venice after the cruise. If you’re simply heading to the airport, one of Royal Caribbean’s shuttles is a better option.

Staying in Ravenna before or after the cruise

One benefit of taking the train as opposed to a shuttle bus is that you have the schedule flexibility to spend time sightseeing in Ravenna. As a small Italian city, Ravenna offers a quaint, walkable city center and is famous for its elaborate mosaics and Byzantine architecture along with its fresh cuisine from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region.

For those interested in exploring a more local side of Italy before or after their cruise, Ravenna is worth a short stay.

Option #3: fly into Bologna instead of Venice

Even though Royal Caribbean refers to Ravenna as the Venice cruise port, there are other major Italian cities within a similar distance to Ravenna, such as Bologna and Florence.

Arguably, in fact, it’s more convenient to fly into and out of Bologna when cruising from Ravenna as opposed to Venice. The city is located just an hour's drive or direct train journey from Ravenna, making it much easier to reach the cruise port compared to flying into Venice.

The downside with flying into and out of Bologna is that there are no direct flights from the city to the United States, so a connection will be necessary. Venice, on the other hand, offers direct flights to several cities on the east coast along with Chicago.

To get between Bologna and Ravenna’s cruise port, you can book a shuttle through Royal Caribbean or take the train. As of 2023, Royal Caribbean’s shuttle to Bologna’s airport cost $40 per person, and was only available for flights departing after 10:50 AM.

A shuttle was also offered from the cruise port to Bologna’s train station for $30 per person, which is helpful for those taking a train from Bologna to elsewhere in Italy.

Finally, another way to get to Bologna is by taking the $10 shuttle bus from the cruise port to Ravenna’s train station followed by an hour train from Ravenna to Bologna, which costs around $10.