Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

Matt on MSC's new beach club announcement

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

MSC Cruises announced they're building a beach club in The Bahamas, and Matt shares his reaction to the announcement.Share with me your thoughts, ques...

This cruise myth is totally wrong (because I tried it)

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One of the often repeated cruise myths is you can't be immersed in a city when visiting on a cruise ship, but Matt thinks it's an overblown concern.Sh...

They Built a Treehouse on a Cruise Ship. Now Let’s Take It Further

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The new Ultimate Family Treehouse is amazing (and expensive), but what if they expanded this idea to other staterooms?Share with me your thoughts, que...

I don't understand why Royal Caribbean still does this

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean does many things well, but their scheduling of port times sometimes is very frustrating.Share with me your thoughts, questions and com...

How to not be "that guy" in the Main Dining Room

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There are certain unwritten rules you should know about before you eat in Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room.Share with me your thoughts, questions an...

Matt's thoughts on Royal Caribbean removing soda cups from drink packages

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean announced it will remove the souvenir Coca-Cola Freestyle Cups and access to the Freestyle machines for those that booked a Deluxe or ...

Has Royal Caribbean gone too far with their casino change?

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Radiance of the Seas has a new non-smoking casino, and it's an escalation in a growing trend.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via.....

NCL has a new CEO and it's not we expected

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There's a big shakeup happening at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and it's surprising, to say the least.Share with me your thoughts, questions and com...

Is an old cruise ship going to be disappointing?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One of the top questions I get is if an old ship will be disappointing, and the answer is no....and yes.Share with me your thoughts, questions and com...

Discovery Class Is Official… and That’s About All We Know

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean finally confirmed the Discovery Class, but it leaves more questions than answers.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments v...

The annoying things people do on cruises

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Among the cruise ship etiquette topics, a few really bother Matt more than the rest Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twi...

Points Choice Is Here. I Have Thoughts.

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Now that we have all the details regarding Points Choice and how it will work, Matt shares what he thinks of the new program and what stands out about...

Is Royal Caribbean working on two new ship classes?

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new rumor claims Royal Caribbean will soon announce the Discovery Class ships will be built at a shipyard in France, which means there are potential...

I Don’t Understand Why Cruisers Worry About These Things

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While there are things cruisers should think about, some concerns just aren't worth worrying about.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments...

Gone But Not Forgotten: Royal Caribbean features Matt misses the most

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

  Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter: @therclblog Facebook: /royalcaribbeanblog YouTube: r...

What wishes would we make for Royal Caribbean in the new year?

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Billy joins Matt to share the wishes they have that Royal Caribbean would make in the coming year.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments ...

Matt on the 2025 Cruise Critic Awards

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cruise Critic announced the award winners for its 2025 Best In Cruise Awards, but did they hit the mark with the winners that were selected?Share with...

Things Matt has been the kiss of death for on Royal Caribbean

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some things Royal Caribbean developed seemed so cool, but inevitably they didn't succeed and they just so happened to be things Matt loved.Share with ...

Sneaky things & slip-ups Matt saw on his cruise

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mistakes Matt saw other cruisers make while I was on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas this past week.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comm...

The Architects Who Helped Design Royal Caribbean as We Know It

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week I have three members of Wilson Butler Architects, who have spent almost 30 years helping design Royal Caribbean cruise ships and they shared...

3 Things on Royal Caribbean Matt Always Rants About

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Of all the opinions about cruising, there are 3 opinions Matt can't help but rant about every single time.Share with me your thoughts, questions and c...

Surprises from newly announced 2027-2028 cruises

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean has released all new sailings for 2027-2028, including Icon of the Seas sailing from Texas. Matt shares the big surprises and what sta...

New loyalty points and beach club: What it really means for cruisers

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why Royal Caribbean’s latest announcements feel like an early gift to loyal fans.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter:&...

Matt on Royal Caribbean prices higher than last year

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean talked about higher prices for a cruise this year versus last year, and Matt breaks down what executives said about cruise prices and ...

After 100 cruises, has Matt learned anything?

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is about to take this 100th cruise with Royal Caribbean, so what's the most important thing he's learned after taking all of those cruises?Share ...

Matt reviews Oasis of the Seas

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While onboard Oasis of the Seas, Matt and Beci Mahnken talk about what it's like on Oasis of the Seas when comparing it to newer ships.Share with me y...

Cruising today vs 30 years ago

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has going on a cruise gotten better than it was 30 years ago? Chris Gray Faust from Cruise Critic joins Matt this week to compare how going on a cruis...

5 Royal Caribbean rumors from the President's Cruise

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is headed to the rumor mill this week to share five juicy rumors of things that could be coming to Royal Caribbean.  These are interesting c...

The Curious Case of Labadee

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean canceled another six months of visits to Labadee, so what should they do with it?Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments v...

When will Discovery Class get announced?

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Once again, Royal Caribbean executives talked about the Discovery Class. So when the heck is it going to be actually announced?Share with me your thou...

The best cruise ship private island is....

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ilana from Life Well Cruised joins Matt this week to discuss her cruise line private island rankings and why she picked CocoCay as number one.Share wi...

Matt's early thoughts on Star of the Seas

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt previewed Star of the Seas before anyone else, and shares his initial thoughts about what stood out about the ship prior to the upcoming first sa...

Matt's Hot Take on Carnival's Celebration Key

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carnival opened its new private island, Celebration Key, and here's what Matt thinks so far based on the first photos and videos that have come out.Sh...

Royal Beach Club Prices: Expensive or Justified?

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With prices out for the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Matt's been asked his thoughts on the pricing so far.Share with me your thoughts, questions ...

Can Star of the Seas top Icon?

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With Star of the Seas launching next month, one of the top questions many are asking is how can Royal Caribbean outdo itself with this new ship.Share ...

Carnival's loyalty overhaul: Smart or scary?

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carnival Cruise Line announced it was scrapping its lifetime loyalty program and switching to one that rewards the amount spent on cruises over two ye...

Can you really trust online cruise reviews?

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fake reviews have been a problem for years, but there's still a lot of value in reading the real ones. Colleen McDaniel is the Editor-in-Chief at Crui...

Going big in Cali: Vicki Freed talks west coast push

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean just deployed the biggest ship to ever sail from California, and it's just the start of their plans! Vicki Freed is Royal Caribbe...

Important Things to Know Before Visiting London Before Your Cruise

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

London is a gateway to a lot of European cruises each summer, and there's a good chance you're going to want to spend a few days before or after your ...

3 Questions About Royal Caribbean's BIG private island reveal

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean made big news last week with its Perfect Day Mexico, beach club, and Lelepa news that shared everything we can expect to do there. But...

Influencer of the Seas: How social media shape cruises

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Influencers have a tremendous impact on information shared about cruises today. What impact do they have and how does it work when they collaborate wi...

Royal Caribbean sets its sights on Disney World

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean has made it no secret they want to attract vacationers who would otherwise go to Walt Disney World and the other attractions in Orland...

NCL Aqua: The anti-big cruise ship, cruise ship?

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sheri had the chance to sail on Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, but how does it compare to Royal Caribbean?Share with me your thoughts, questions...

Did MSC create an "Icon Killer" ship?

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

MSC World America just launched, and it's clearly an attempt to get in on the mega ship craze that Icon of the Seas has reignited. What's it like and ...

The mistake I almost made on my Europe cruise

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is going to Europe this summer and not not booking a single excursion with Royal CaribbeanShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...

5 Royal Caribbean cruises you need to take

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt lists the must-do 5 Royal Caribbean cruises everyone should try at least once.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter:&...

Back on Icon

29 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt went back on Icon a year after she debuted to see if it lives up to the hypeShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter:&nb...

More short cruises on big ships has become controversial

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean released new 2026-2027 cruises, and there's more Oasis Class ships doing short cruises, but some long-time cruisers don't love it.Shar...

Legend of the Seas reveal

22 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Legend of the Seas has been announced and we have the first look at the new sailings that just dropped.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comm...

Enchantment of the Seas review

01 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Matt went on Enchantment of the Seas for the first time, and he was surprised by the ship in a few ways.Share with me your thoughts, questions and com...

Things people that don't cruise get wrong

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are some people that have never cruised before, yet they hold onto incorrect ideas of what a cruise is all about.Share with me your thoughts, qu...

3 Wishes

04 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Billy and Matt are back to make 3 wishes for Royal Caribbean in the coming year!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter:&nbs...

Star Class first timers guide

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thinking about trying Star Class? Or maybe you booked already? Here's what to expect from it!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via.....

Is a smaller ship good for a first family cruise?

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you're taking a family on their first cruise, is it a good or bad idea to take them on a small ship?Share with me your thoughts, questions and comm...

How (and why) to plan a cruise 2 years in advance

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

New 2026-2027 cruises are out, and it's a good reminder the importance of booking early. Matt explains his strategy for planning and booking cruises s...

Is a $12,000 suite crazy to book?

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt tried the $12,000 Ultimate Family Suite and it was expensive, but was it crazy to try?Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...T...

5 Cruise etiquette questions, answered

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should you tell your waiter if you won't be there tomorrow? Is a Bluetooth speaker a good idea? Do toddlers need to pay gratuities?Share with me your ...

Listener emails

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt answers as many emails as he can in this week's episodeShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFaceboo...

Hola Perfect Day Mexico!

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean announced plans for Perfect Day Mexico and it looks epic!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @ther...

Celebrity Reflection cruise review

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt went back on Celebrity to give it another try. This time, he took a 3-night cruise on Celebrity Reflection that visited Perfect Day at CocoCay.Sh...

Anthem of the Seas Europe cruise review

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from his 7-night cruise to Europe on Anthem of the Seas and has his cruise review to share.Share with me your thoughts, questions and com...

Anthem of the Seas cruise preview

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is about to head to Europe for a 7-night cruise to Spain and France, and shares how he's planned this cruise.Share with me your thoughts, questio...

Big changes to Allure of the Seas!

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt breaks down what changes are coming to Allure of the SeasShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFaceb...

RCB Team reviews their recent cruises

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt sits down with two Royal Caribbean Blog writers to talk about their most recent cruises, and what it's like to work on a cruise ship.Share with m...

Utopia of the Seas cruise review

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After more than a week on Utopia of the Seas, Matt is back from Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship!Share with me your thoughts, questions and commen...

Icon of the Seas cruise review

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Recorded on the Icon of the Seas group cruise, Matt reviews how Icon of the Seas holds up months after her debutShare with me your thoughts, questions...

Listener emails

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to answer listener emails on this week's episode!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFacebook...

Liberty of the Seas Bermuda cruise review

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from a 5-night Bermuda cruise on Liberty of the Seas from Cape Liberty, NJ and shares what he did and how his cruise experience was.Share...

Freedom of the Seas cruise review

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt shares how his 4-night Freedom of the Seas cruise went, and what he did differently on this sailing.Share with me your thoughts, questions and co...

Royal Railway Preview

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I got a chance to preview the new Royal Railway Utopia Station restaurant coming to Utopia of the Seas and wanted to share with you my early thoughts!...

Calista tries Icon

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Calista is back from her first sailing on Icon of the Seas and gives her review of this brand new ship.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comm...

How to plan a European cruise for the first time

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emma joins me on this week's episode to talk about how to approach planning your very first European cruiseCheck out Emma's YouTube channel for more h...

Royal Beach Club Preview

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean has plans for two Royal Beach Clubs (Nassau and Cozumel). What are they and what can you expect?Share with me your thoughts, questions...

Is a "free" cruise from Casino Royale the best value right now?

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt explains how to get free cruises from gambling on a Royal Caribbean cruises, and what risks and benefits you can expect to see if it's a good dec...

Listener emails

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode answers as many emails Matt can squeeze in!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFace...

Mistakes I saw on my spring break cruise

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A list of 6 mistakes I saw other cruisers making during my recent cruise on Wonder of the SeasShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via....

Spring break cruise review

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from Wonder of the Seas for Spring Break.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFacebook:&nbs...

How to plan your day at CocoCay

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How I approach planning a day at Perfect Day at CocoCayShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFacebook:&nb...

Allure of the Seas cruise review

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt reviews his 3-night sailing on Allure of the SeasShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFacebook:&nbs...

Icon of the Seas cruise review

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from the first inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas and shares his thoughts from trying out this brand new cruise ship.Share with me you...

Icon of the Seas cruise preview

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is going on the maiden voyage of Icon of the Seas and previews his cruise on this week's episode.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comme...

7-hours on Icon of the Seas

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from a brief preview of Icon of the Seas and what stands out about the ship and his initial thoughts.Share with me your thoughts, questio...

Three wishes

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the New Year right around the corner, it makes sense to take some time this week and wish for the sort of changes to Royal Caribbean we want to s...

Listener emails

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're back again with more listener emails! Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter: @therclblog Facebook:&...

Listener emails

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's all listener emails on this week's episode! Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter: @therclblog Faceb...

Celebrity Ascent review

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt and Don sailed on Celebrity Ascent and shared what made this ship different Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... T...

3-night Allure of the Seas cruise review

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is a 3-night cruise on an Oasis Class ship a good idea? I wanted to see what it was like with this new offering. Share with me your thoughts, quest...

Canada/New England cruise review

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from his first cruise to Canada and New England, and shares what he thought of this cruise in this week's episode! Share with me your ...

Canada/New England group cruise preview

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is taking his first Canada and New England cruise next week and shares a preview of what he has planned. Share with me your thoughts, question...

Ovation of the Seas cruise review

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Domanic & Casey share their review of their first Alaska cruise Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter: ...

Should you book a maiden cruise?

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are 2 new Royal Caribbean ships coming out in 2024, but is it a good idea to book an inaugural voyage or wait until later to try out the new shi...

Hideaway Beach

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt shares his thoughts on Royal Caribbean's Hideaway Beach adults-only area reveal. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... ...

Independence of the Seas cruise review

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from a quick 3-night cruise on Independence of the Seas and the first day was a lot different than most of his cruises. Share with me ...

Listener emails

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's podcast episode is all about answering your emails! Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter: @the...

How to pick a travel insurance plan

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Not all travel insurance plans are the same, so this week we have an interview with Stan from TravelInsurance.com to get a sense of how to pick a trav...

What to know before you book

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before you book any cruise, I think this is the important things to know and do (especially if you're new  to cruising) Share with me your tho...

First time trying Royal Caribbean

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Craig has never cruised Royal Caribbean, but gave it a try after sailing other lines. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... ...

How to make disembarkation easier

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Matt reacts to a RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader that shared advice on how to have a better disembarkation process. Share with me your thoughts, question...

When to book cruise add-ons

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone wants to save money, so when is the best time to buy popular add-ons for your Royal Caribbean cruise? Share with me your thoughts, questio...

Top questions about saving money on a cruise

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I'm answering the most common questions about how to save money on a cruise on this week's episode! Share with me your thoughts, questions and comm...