Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

An inside look at creating Perfect Day at CocoCay

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean has once again changed the landscape of what a cruise vacation can offer with its $250 million transformation of Perfect Day at CocoCa...

Freedom of the Seas listener cruise review

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A cruise to the Southern Caribbean offers a getaway to some of the most beautiful islands in all the of the Caribbean, and luckily, Royal Caribbean ha...

Perfect Day at CocoCay review

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After months and months of anticipation, Matt finally had the chance to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and check out many of the new activities and offe...

Harmony of the Seas Cruise Review

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I’m back from a 3-night sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and having returned from this weekend jaunt on my favorite ship, I wanted...

Chat with Matt

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In celebration of reaching 300 episodes on this podcast, this week we are flipping the tables and I get to be interviewed to talk about myself and how...

Why you should ignore cruise reviews

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean cruise but you have run across negative online reviews about a particular ship? Are you having second thoughts a...

Listener Emails

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is all about answering your cruise questions, as Matt digs into the inbox to answer cruise questions about all aspects of a cruise vacati...

What you need to know about suites on Royal Caribbean

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought about making the jump up to a suite stateroom for your next Royal Caribbean cruise? Suites do come with a higher price tag, but ...

Allure of the Seas listener cruise review

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s cruise review time, as we have one of our podcast listeners joining me this week to review her recent sailing on Allure of the Seas.  This...

Planning a cruise with friends and family

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps you’re going through some great family vacation ideas and the notion of bringing your family, friends, or both on a cruise so everyone can e...

Mariner of the Seas group cruise review

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve always said that cruising with friends is the best kind of Royal Caribbean cruise, and this week I think we have a podcast episode to prove it....

Top 5 cruise tips for all cruisers

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

First time cruisers are always wondering what pitfalls they can avoid and what “secrets” they should be aware of to enhance their first cruise. Af...

Mariner of the Seas Cruise Preview

13 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you have ever gone on a cruise and thought at the end of the cruise, “I really wish I didn’t have to get off the ship” then my next Royal Car...

Navigator of the Seas recap and review

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

New water slides, dining venues, a redesigned pool deck, blow dry bar are just a few of the major changes Royal Caribbean recently completed to Naviga...

Listener emails

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week's podcast episode is all about you, as Matt is dedicating this episode to answering your cruise questions! Share with me your thou...

Brilliance of the Seas 2019 cruise review

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from his first Royal Caribbean cruise of 2019 and this week he is sharing what he did onboard and reviewed a number of experience from hi...

What to do a week before your cruise

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When your cruise countdown hits single digits, here is what you ought to be doing in those last few days before you get onboard.Share with me your tho...

Top things you can only do on a smaller ship

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

These days so much of the attention in the cruise world is aimed at the latest, and biggest, cruise ships in the world. Big cruise ships certainly off...

Independence of the Seas guest cruise review

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We love to share others cruising experiences on the podcast and this week we head over to the newly refurbished Independence of the Seas and a cruise ...

Australia cruises

23 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Australia is regularly voted one of the world's top cruise destinations and if you have ever seen photos of the country, you would quickly understand ...

Cuba immersion cruise review

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The allure of visiting Cuba for so many has resulted in Royal Caribbean offering even more sailings to the island, along with expanded itineraries. Th...

Reasons people avoid going on a cruise (and why they are wrong)

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Many first time cruisers have concerns about what a Royal Caribbean cruise is all about, and what it entails.  In fact, some even will avoid goin...

How to cruise on a tight budget

02 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It goes without saying that if you are listening to a podcast about Royal Caribbean cruises, you probably are very interested in going on a cruise. As...

Favorite cruise memories of 2018

26 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With 2018 coming to a close, I can’t help but look back on my busiest and most exciting year of cruising on Royal Caribbean yet.  Across eight ...

Three Wishes

19 Dec 2018

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...

Cruise Critic awards review

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As Royal Caribbean fans, it does not take much for us to start talking up our favorite cruise line and sharing what we love about cruising.  From...

Guide to Terminal A in PortMiami

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean’s brand new Terminal A in PortMiami is not just another cruise terminal. The so-called Crown of Miami has been engineered from top t...

Symphony of the Seas roundtable review

28 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise on Symphony of the Seas is in the books, and this week, we have a roundtable review of Symphony of the Seas that...

Listener emails

24 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're answering emails our listener's emails that have been sent in on this week's episode!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...T...

Symphony of the Seas thoughts and observations

14 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode was recorded onboard Symphony of the Seas and is a mid-cruise look at what we think of Symphony of the Seas so far.  Matt and...

Symphony of the Seas group cruise preview

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From time to time, I have the privilege of going on a Royal Caribbean cruise with friends who read, listen or watch Royal Caribbean Blog.  These ...

Izumi Japanese specialty restaurant

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever considered dining at Izumi Japanese restaurant on Royal Caribbean? This week, we have a guide to what you need to know about dining at I...

Royal Caribbean Rookie Mistakes To Avoid!

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re planning your first Royal Caribbean vacation, we think we’ve got some tips that will help you save some time and money to make the most ...

What to pack in your carry-on bag

17 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What you pack in your carry-on for the first day of your cruise can sometimes be the difference between a great start to your cruise and a not-so-grea...

Mariner of the Seas listener cruise review

10 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean has been actively working to revitalize many of its cruise ships over the last few years and each multi-million dollar project has res...

Brilliance of the Seas cruise review

03 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Some of my favorite type of cruises are the long weekend getaway sailings, because it is an inexpensive way to work in a quick cruise fix.  This ...

Shore excursions: St. Maarten

26 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Going on a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean will probably take you to the beautiful island of St. Maarten.  With St. Maarten, you get two islands ...

WiFi information, prices and how to get a discount

19 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One big push Royal Caribbean is going with these days is providing internet access while at sea. Some people find it really useful while others prefer...

Adventure of the Seas Canada & New England listener cruise review

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise to Canada and New England is a route Matt has never done, so this week, James joins Matt to talk about what it was lik...

Freedom of the Seas listener cruise review

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Freedom of the Seas recently repositioned to her new homeport of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she offers 7-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean.&nb...

First time cruise tips

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In searching for that "just right" first cruise, you've followed all the rules -- researched cruise lines, examined possible itineraries and read all ...

Royal Caribbean vs Norwegian Cruise Line

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Inevitably I get a lot of folks who are interested in taking a Royal Caribbean cruise after trying another cruise line and want to know how it compare...

Wheelchair accessibility on Royal Caribbean

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean is known for many things, including being one of the most wheelchair accessible cruises line out there.  On this week’s episode...

Mariner of the Seas listener cruise review

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean’s $120 million makeover of Mariner of the Seas is turning heads and getting more people than ever taking a weekend getaway cruise on...

Becoming a Pinnacle Club member in Crown and Anchor Society

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of your status in Royal Caribbean’s Customer Loyalty Program, it’s hard not to dream about someday reaching the uppermost level of Crow...

Booking another cruise onboard

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not hard to imagine being on a Royal Caribbean cruise and enjoying an incredible family vacation when suddenly you have the epiphany that you o...

Cruise etiquette

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We are treading into the murky waters of cruise ship etiquette this week, and talking about the do’s and don’ts of how to act on a cruise ship. We...

Majesty of the Seas cruise to Cuba review

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps no destination has gotten as much attention in the last couple of years as Cuba. With Royal Caribbean offering cruises to this once off limits...

Alaska cruise review

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back from an amazing cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and I got to share this 7-night Alaska experience with my friends from...

How to learn everything about your ship before you sail

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The internet is a wealth of information and one of the best means to research pretty much anything, including your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise. As...

Explorer of the Seas cruise preview

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It is hard to beat that feeling when you know your cruise is just days away, and this week, I’ve got that loving feeling again because my next Royal...

Analyzing the Perfect Day at CocoCay offerings

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean recently unveiled all the details and pricing for what we can expect to find at Perfect Day at CocoCay.  The massive upgrade to R...

Should I upgrade? (Take two)

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

At some point in planning a Royal Caribbean cruise, you may reach a proverbial crossroad where which stateroom to book becomes a more complex decision...

Listener Emails

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I’ll open up the inbox this week and answer more of your questions, including: Vision of the Seas, Crown and Anchor Society, future Royal Caribbean ...

Crown and Anchor Society Overview

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling like your hard earned money is being spent on a vacation where you get the sense that you are welcomed is what every customer expects, especia...

Cruising solo on Royal Caribbean

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We often talk about Royal Caribbean cruises in the scope of a fantastic family vacation, but going on a Royal Caribbean cruise is just as enjoyable (i...

Royal Caribbean wedding review

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever dreamed of getting married on a Royal Caribbean cruise? After all, combining the memories of a wedding with the backdrop of a Royal Cari...

What you need to know about taking a cruise to Europe

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean sails 25 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations around the world. Often, we focus on cruising ...

Staying onboard a Royal Caribbean ship while in port

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If there is one thing Royal Caribbean is best known for, it may be the incredible cruise ships it designs. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, th...

Symphony of the Seas guest cruise review

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Believe it or not, Royal Caribbean’s fourth Oasis class ship, Symphony of the Seas, is here and already there is a ton of excitement for the latest ...

Airfare tricks and strategies

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Before you book that dream Royal Caribbean cruise, you might want to look into the airfare for how to get to the cruise ship and back.  This week...

Royal Caribbean versus Disney Cruise Line

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's natural to compare cruise lines to Royal Caribbean, especially when trying Royal Caribbean for the first time after cruising on another line.&nbs...

Rhapsody of the Seas cruise review

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Few things seem to go by as quickly as Royal Caribbean cruises, including my recent cruise aboard Rhapsody of the Seas. We had a fantastic time on Rha...

Perfect Day at CocoCay reactions

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean made big headlines last week with the announcement of a massive makeover for CocoCay.  On this week's podcast episode, Matt talks...

Rhapsody of the Seas cruise preview

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is previewing his upcoming Rhapsody of the Seas cruise on this week's podcast, in which he talks about why he chose to cruise on Rhapsody, what h...

Drink Package 101

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s episode is all about the basics of Royal Caribbean’s unlimited drink packages. What are the packages, how do they work, and are they w...

Top 5: Sail away spots on a Royal Caribbean cruise

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There is plenty of good reasons to celebrate the start of any cruise. The first day of a Royal Caribbean cruise is filled with excitement, activities,...

Listener Emails

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I am going to open up the Royal Caribbean Blog Podacast mail bag and answer more of your questions, comments, and reviews. We will be talking about to...

New Years Eve on Liberty of the Seas

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought of taking a Royal Caribbean cruise over a holiday like New Years Eve? Each year, Royal Caribbean offers some fun cruises over Ne...

Scuba diving on Royal Caribbean

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You can try so many new things on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Perhaps it is sampling a food, learning to dance, exploring ancient ruins or even learning...

Brilliance of the Seas cruise review

31 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you thought about taking a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas? On this week's podcast episode, Matt shares a review of his recent...

Brilliance of the Seas & Navigator of the Seas Cruise Preview

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Getting excited for your Royal Caribbean cruise, especially when it is right about the corner comes naturally. So when a friend and myself both have a...

Casino on Royal Caribbean

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling lucky? If you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Casino Royale is the spot for you to try your luck at a variety of games. But what does the cas...

How to check for price drops on your Royal Caribbean cruise

10 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone is always looking to get a great deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise, so what happens when there is a price drop? How do you know about a price ...

Packing for an Alaska cruise

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Alaska cruises aren’t anything like Caribbean cruises when it comes to what to wear. With that, figuring out what to pack for your cruise will likel...

Voyager and Freedom class ships

27 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When you consider the many classes of Royal Caribbean ships, the Voyager and Freedom class ships stand out as great options for any cruise vacation. T...

Three wishes

20 Dec 2017

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...

The Solarium

13 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For many cruisers, the opportunity to go somewhere for adults only is a welcome sight. Royal Caribbean’s Solarium is one such area, which offers a k...

Choosing between inside and balcony staterooms

06 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Every single person taking a Royal Caribbean cruise has to answer this simple question: inside or balcony room? It is a debate every cruiser has, and ...

Independence of the Seas cruise review

29 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from his 4-night Independence of the Seas cruise, and is sharing his thoughts and experiences from his recent Royal Caribbean cruise.&nbs...

Honeymoons on Royal Caribbean

22 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Many newlyweds look to take a cruise as the perfect way to top off their nuptuals.  When it comes to taking a Royal Caribbean cruise for a honeym...

A look at Royal Caribbean's tech announcement

15 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean unveiled some of the impressive work they are doing towards radically improving the onboard guest experience with an array of tech adv...

Cruising from Port Everglades

08 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most popular cruise ports to take a Royal Caribbean cruise from is Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Port Everglades is home to...

All about Royal Caribbean sales

01 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you price out a Royal Caribbean cruise long enough, you will inevitably hear words like “BOGO”, “WOW”, “Black Friday”, and more. These ...

Reviewing Symphony of the Seas announcement

25 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean recently announcement of the the activities, entertainment, and dining coming to Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas was full of ...

Top 5: Harmony of the Seas redux

18 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Following our latest sailing on Harmony of the Seas, Matt and Billy discuss their top picks from Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Harmony of the ...

Discussing the drink package rule change

11 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean changes its rules and policies from time to time, and recently made a change to its unlimited alcohol package rules that necessitates ...

Cruise firsts

04 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it's your first or fiftieth Royal Caribbean cruise, there is always something new to try.  It may not be new to Royal Caribbean, but tryi...

Harmony of the Seas Group Cruise Review

27 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back from an amazing cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and I got to share this 7-night Western Caribbean experience with my fr...

What to wear on a Royal Caribbean cruise

20 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Few topics create as much confusion or contention among cruisers as what to wear on your Royal Caribbean cruise. What to pack and what to wear when ha...

Harmony of the Seas Group Cruise Preview

13 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It is hard to beat that feeling when you know your cruise is just days away, and this week, I’ve got that loving feeling again because my next Royal...

Going from curb to ship

06 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Embarkation day is a very exciting day for any cruiser, and being prepared for what to expect when it is time to get onboard makes for a smooth experi...

First timers try Oasis of the Seas

30 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you have taken a few Royal Caribbean cruises, you have probably found yourself in the situation of trying to convince friends and family to take a ...

Cruise industry pricing

23 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Much has changed in the cruise industry over the past number of years, including how Royal Caribbean prices its cruises. The dynamic of how cruise lin...

Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise

16 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Food, glorious food! This week’s podcast episode is dedicated to discussing the ins and outs of food available on your Royal Caribbean cruise. From ...

Should I upgrade?

09 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered if paying a little bit (or a lot) more for a bigger, larger stateroom made good financial sense?  On this week's episode, ...

Using credit cards to save on a cruise vacation

02 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

There are lots of ways to make a Royal Caribbean cruise more affordable, including leveraging credit card reward programs.  When used responsibly...

Visiting St. John

26 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Every port Royal Caribbean cruise ships visit offer so much to see and do, and in St. Thomas, guests have the option and opportunity to check out a tr...

Last minute Royal Caribbean cruises

19 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

While we often advocate the benefits of planning your cruise months and years in advance, sometimes you just have to get away, and take advantage of a...

Harmony of the Seas cruise review

12 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I just wrapped up a wonderful 7-night adventure on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and this week, I am sharing with you my thoughts and review...