Are you planning a Royal Caribbean cruise? Whether you are a first-time cruiser or a seasoned cruiser, plenty of easy mistakes can make your trip more stressful and more expensive than it needs to be.
With so much to do, eat, and experience onboard, it’s easy to overlook things like booking the right ship, planning your first day, or making the most of included activities. However, as someone who has sailed with Royal Caribbean many times, I know first-hand the common cruise mistakes and how you can avoid them.
By avoiding these common cruise mistakes, you’ll be able to save money, skip the headaches, and have the best vacation possible. With that said, here are the 15 biggest Royal Caribbean cruise mistakes.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Mistakes to Avoid
1. Choosing the Wrong Cruise Ship
Choosing the wrong Royal Caribbean cruise ship can make or break your cruise vacation.
If you’re after nonstop thrills, go for Oasis-class ships like Wonder of the Seas or Symphony of the Seas, packed with zip lines, water slides, and a full-blown Central Park at sea.
For the biggest, most over-the-top experience, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas offers eight unique neighborhoods. One of the neighborhoods, Thrill Island, features a Category 6 waterpark (the largest water park at sea).
If you prefer cutting-edge tech but a slightly smaller crowd, Quantum-class ships like Odyssey of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas feature indoor skydiving and the North Star observation pod.
For a quieter, more classic cruise, Radiance-class ships like Serenade of the Seas or Brilliance of the Seas have a more relaxed atmosphere while still having great activities and impressive entertainment.
Booking the wrong cruise ship can leave you overwhelmed or underwhelmed, so research before you sail!
2. Not Purchasing Your Packages in Advance
One of the easiest ways to overpay on a Royal Caribbean cruise is by waiting until you’re onboard to book your dining, Wi-Fi, or drink packages.
Prices for these add-ons are almost always higher once you board, sometimes by 30% or more. The Unlimited Dining Package, which gives you access to specialty restaurants, is much cheaper when booked ahead.
The same goes for the Deluxe Beverage Package, covering cocktails, wine, specialty coffees, and bottled water. Although prices can fluctuate, pre-cruise sales often offer the best deals.
Even the VOOM Wi-Fi package is marked up onboard compared to pre-cruise pricing.
Royal Caribbean frequently runs promotions on these packages before sailing. If you wait until embarkation day, you’ll pay full price for the same perks.
3. Choosing the Wrong Itinerary
Picking the wrong itinerary can completely change the vibe of your cruise. Shorter three and 4-night sailings, especially on ships like Freedom of the Seas or Utopia of the Seas, tend to be fast-paced and party-heavy cruises. Shorter Royal Caribbean cruises are often packed with first-time cruisers and groups looking for a quick getaway.
If you want a more balanced mix of activities, relaxation, and entertainment, consider booking a 7-night cruise. Cruise itineraries to the Caribbean, Alaska, or Mediterranean offer a classic cruise experience with sea days, exciting ports, and a mix of families, couples, and seasoned cruisers.
If you’re looking for a more laid-back and immersive cruise itinerary, 10+ night sailings may be for you. Longer cruise itineraries tend to attract an older crowd and emphasize relaxation, enrichment, and extended time in unique destinations.
Booking the wrong itinerary could mean ending up on a wild party cruise when you wanted a relaxing escape or getting a long, slow-paced sailing when you were looking for action-packed fun.
Before booking, consider the length, destination, and typical crowd to ensure the cruise experience matches your expectations.
4. Not Taking Advantage of Royal Caribbeans Best Price Guarantee Program
One of the biggest mistakes cruisers make when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise is assuming the price they pay at checkout is final. In reality, fares fluctuate, and Royal Caribbean’s Best Price Guarantee Program allows cruise passengers to take advantage of these changes.
If you find a lower price within 48 hours of booking your cruise, you can request a rate adjustment. Royal Caribbean may offer an onboard credit, refund, or even a cruise cabin upgrade.
To make the most of this policy, smart cruisers should track price changes regularly and be ready to submit a claim as soon as they spot a better offer. Failing to do so could mean leaving money or a better cabin on the table!
5. Arriving Late to Shows
With thousands of passengers onboard, Royal Caribbean’s shows fill up fast, and arriving late could mean missing out entirely. Whether it’s a Broadway-style production, an AquaTheater stunt show, or an ice-skating performance, these are some of the biggest highlights of the cruise.
Seating is first come, first serve for most shows, and if you don’t arrive early, you might end up standing in the back or, even worse, locked out when the theater reaches capacity!
To get the best seats and avoid disappointment, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early, especially for popular evening performances.
6.. Only Eating in the Buffet
Only eating at Windjammer Buffet is a big mistake on a Royal Caribbean cruise. While the buffet offers a variety of food options, it’s just one of many included dining venues available.
The Main Dining Room serves multi-course meals with a rotating menu, offering a more elevated dining experience at no extra cost. There are also great casual dining venues like El Loco Fresh, which serves fresh Mexican fare, and Park Café, which is known for its legendary sandwiches.
Café Promenade is perfect for quick bites, and Sorrento’s Pizza serves delicious pizza until 3:00 am.
Sticking to Windjammer means missing out on many other dining experiences, so be sure to explore all the complimentary dining options onboard.
7. Not Taking Advantage of All the Included Activities
With so many included activities on a Royal Caribbean cruise, not taking advantage of them is a missed opportunity. From rock climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, and zip lines to surf simulators, mini-golf, and trivia games, there’s always something to do that doesn’t cost extra.
With so much happening onboard, it’s easy to get caught up just lounging by the pool and miss out on the best activities. Look at the Cruise Compass or the Royal Caribbean app to see what’s happening each day and make a loose plan.
8. Splurging on a Cabin
Splurging on a fancy cabin isn’t necessary on a Royal Caribbean cruise because there’s so much happening onboard that you’ll barely spend time in your room. With nonstop entertainment, pools, shows, dining venues, bars, and activities like zip lines, rock climbing, mini golf, and ice-skating rinks, your cabin is mostly just a place to sleep and shower.
Unless you find an amazing deal or plan to spend a lot of time in your cruise cabin, it’s often smarter to book a cheaper interior, ocean view, or balcony cabin. Instead, spend that money on specialty dining, drink packages, spa treatments, or unforgettable shore excursions.
After all, the real magic of the cruise happens outside your cabin, not inside it!
9. Not Arriving to the Port Early on Embarkation Day
A huge mistake cruisers make is arriving late on embarkation day. While Royal Caribbean has one of the most efficient embarkation processes in the industry, with streamlined check-in and facial recognition technology at many ports, thousands of passengers are still boarding the ship.
The earlier you arrive, the faster you’ll get through security, and the sooner the fun can begin!
If you show up too late, you risk longer wait times due to last-minute crowds or even missing the ship entirely if there are unexpected delays. To make embarkation day stress-free, arrive at your embarkation port city a day in advance and plan to arrive at the cruise terminal within your assigned boarding window.
10. Doing Excursions in CocoCay
Booking excursions at Perfect Day at CocoCay is often unnecessary because the private island already offers many included activities at no extra cost. There’s plenty to do without spending a dime with beautiful beaches, a massive freshwater pool, beachside sports, and a complimentary buffet.
While CocoCay has paid experiences like the water park and overwater cabanas, it’s usually better to save money for excursions in other ports, where included activities aren’t as plentiful.
Instead, splurge on shore excursions in destinations with more unique, cultural, or adventurous experiences.
Related: 35+ Things To Do In Perfect Day at CocoCay – Complete Guide
11. Not Trying the Specialty Dining Venues
Skipping specialty dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise is a mistake, especially with many incredible restaurants. While the included dining is great, specialty venues like Chops Grille, Izumi, and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen take the dining experience to another level.
Wonderland offers imaginative, art-inspired dishes for a truly unique meal, while Hooked Seafood serves up some of the best lobster and oysters at sea!
The best way to experience these restaurants without overspending is by purchasing the Unlimited Dining Package, which lets you try multiple specialty venues for a discounted rate.
If you’re a foodie or just want to mix things up, it’s worth splurging on at least one specialty meal for a dining experience you won’t forget.
12. Not Packing the Right Attire
Not packing the right attire for a Royal Caribbean cruise can leave you unprepared and uncomfortable. With so many activities onboard and in port, you’ll want to pack multiple swimsuits so you’re not stuck putting on a damp one after a morning at the pool or a beach day in the Caribbean.
Flip-flops or water shoes are essential for walking around the pool deck or exploring beaches. At the same time, comfortable sneakers are necessary for excursions and onboard activities like the rock-climbing wall or zip line.
Royal Caribbean’s dress code varies in the evenings, so be sure to bring casual outfits for dinner. Packing at least one formal outfit for Formal Night is a good idea, where many cruisers dress up for photos and a special dining experience.
13. Only Booking the Newest Ships
Only booking the newest Royal Caribbean ships is a mistake that can cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in higher fares. While mega-ships like Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are packed with the latest features, older ships often offer a similar experience for a fraction of the price.
Many of Royal Caribbean’s refurbished ships still have waterslides, ice-skating rinks, rock-climbing walls, and FlowRider surf simulators. With all these incredible activities on older Royal Caribbean cruise ships, cruisers can have a similar experience without the premium price tag.
Instead of only focusing on the newest ships, consider booking an older ship with a great itinerary and use the money saved for shore excursions, specialty dining, or cruising more frequently.
14. Not Having a Plan for the First Day
Experienced Royal Caribbean cruisers already know where they’re going to eat lunch, which activities they want to do first, and how to make the most of their time before they even step onboard. This allows them to start enjoying the ship immediately instead of wandering around trying to figure things out.
One of the biggest mistakes new cruisers make is not researching the ship in advance. With massive ships like Wonder of the Seas or Icon of the Seas, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lost, sometimes spending hours or even days just getting your bearings.
Instead of wasting time, take a few minutes before your cruise to study the deck plans, learn about the included dining venues, and decide which activities you want to check out first. That way, when you board, you can head straight to your first adventure rather than scrambling to figure things out.
15. The Key
Royal Caribbean’s Key Program is a controversial add-on, and in my experience, it’s just not worth the price. While it promises perks like priority embarkation, reserved show seating, and a special embarkation day lunch, the reality is that most of these benefits are just not worth the cost.
Boarding is already fast and efficient, so paying extra for priority isn’t necessary. Reserved seating for shows sounds great, but arriving 15-20 minutes early gets you a good seat anyway. Plus, the meal we had on embarkation day was very underwhelming.
For the price, you’re better off putting that money toward specialty dining, a drink package, shore excursions, or even a nicer cabin.
Related: Is The Key Worth It On Royal Caribbean? My Experience (2025)
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Have you sailed with Royal Caribbean? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Ethan Schattauer, a seasoned cruiser since the age of four, has gone on over 40 cruises with his family. Drawing from his extensive travel experiences, Ethan offers a fresh and youthful perspective on the world of cruising. He also writes about cruise cuisine, onboard experiences, and practical tips, providing valuable insights for cruise travelers worldwide.