Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

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...

A change of heart

05 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Having a change of heart can happen anywhere, including as it pertains to taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. As we cruise, our ideas of cruising evolve ...

Harmony of the Seas cruise preview

28 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The time of year you cruise has many implications, but summer and fall tend to evoke one common theme: hurricane season. There are a lot of questions ...

Using the Cruise Planner

21 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to planning a cruise, perhaps the one resource every guest will use the most is Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site.  The Cruise ...

Cruising during hurricane season

14 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The time of year you cruise has many implications, but summer and fall tend to evoke one common theme: hurricane season. There are a lot of questions ...

Two (wrong) things

07 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been asked, “what’s your favorite part of a Royal Caribbean cruise?” Surely you went on to describe different part of the cruise e...

Best tips for first time cruisers

31 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate our 200th episode, we recorded this episode live with the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders, and shared our best tips for someone who is new ...

Harmony of the Seas review with Godmother Brittany Affolter

24 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We often feature cruise reviews from our listeners on this podcast, and this week, we are lucky enough to have a cruise review by the Godmother of Har...

Interview with Puzzle Break's Nate Martin

17 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The onboard entertainment available on Royal Caribbean ships is astounding when you consider the array of options and offerings to choose from. Recent...

Cruising to Cuba

10 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Cuba? Royal Caribbean has begun offering cruises to this once off-limits Caribbean country, and that raises a number...

Specialty dining packages

03 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The opportunity to enjoy Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants without paying a fortune sounds like it might be too good to be true, but dining pa...

Staying in a suite

26 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes you just have to indulge a little bit and reward yourself, and one of the best ways to do just that on a Royal Caribbean cruise is by stayin...

Private Journeys shore excursion

19 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wanted to try something new or different in a cruise port but struggled to find a tour that met your exact needs? Or perhaps there is sh...

Australia cruises

12 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean offers cruises around the world and one of the hottest cruise markets these days are cruises from Australia. Cruising down under has b...

5 rules for a Royal Caribbean deal

05 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to the sort of questions people typically have about a Royal Caribbean cruise, one of the biggest of them all is getting the lowest pric...

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review

29 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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

Listener Emails

22 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast was created to help plan everyone's upcoming Royal Caribbean cruises, and we are dedicating this week's episode to al...

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Preview

15 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Getting ready for your next Royal Caribbean adventure is always exciting because of all of the possibilities that lay ahead, and this week, I’ve got...

How to pack for a cruise

08 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of the Royal Caribbean ship you sail on, the ports you visit or the stateroom you reserve, there is one thing everyone has to do and that i...