Royal Caribbean

Today's newest cruise ships offer the most onboard dining options and activities, such as innovative restaurants like Royal Caribbean's Utopia Station: Royal Railway and Carnival's BOLT rollercoaster. However, just because one cruise ship is newer than another doesn't make it better.

Having sailed primarily on Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Freedom Class, I wondered why many cruisers remained loyal to the dated Vision Class ships, which launched over 20 years ago. 

There are countless activities to try on a cruise ship, from ice-skating to surfing simulators, but perhaps no activity is as controversial as the onboard art auction.

Most mass-market cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line, offer art auctions on any given sailing. These auctions are held by Park West Gallery, a commercial art gallery claiming to be the world’s largest art dealer. The gallery partners with cruise lines, working with over 90 ships around the world.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival are two of the most popular cruise lines in operation with, collectively, over 50 ships at sea. Though I've been sailing with Royal Caribbean since I was 10, I recently began my journey with Carnival to explore why the "FUN" ship brand attracts millions of passengers annually.

Both lines offer unique experiences and cater to different styles of cruising. Royal Caribbean, for example, is known for its innovative and jam-packed ships. 

While cruises can be an affordable way to travel, you don't want to make costly mistakes that could put you over budget. Several common pitfalls can quickly add up, from hidden fees to overlooked expenses. 

It's usually easy to budget for certain extras, such as specialty dining, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and alcoholic beverages. However, one Royal Caribbean cruiser was hit with an unexpected bill after they forgot to put their phone on airplane mode while on a cruise. 

Regardless of where you are in planning for your Royal Caribbean cruise, one thing you should know is that the cruise line does not include alcoholic beverages in its cruise fare. As a result, one of the most popular add-ons is a drink package.

Please keep in mind that certain beverages, such as tea, water, and coffee are automatically included in your fare. However, you should expect to pay extra for alcoholic and select non-alcoholic beverages, either separately throughout your sailing or pay for an unlimited drink package.

With Royal Caribbean's singular alcoholic drink package costing anywhere from $65 to $110 per day, some cruisers like to cheat the system to save money. However, the popular cruise line's new beverage policy aims to prevent guests from sharing drinks with passengers. 

However, sharing drinks with other passengers is against the Deluxe Beverage Package's rules. The same rules apply to free casino drinks, which were sometimes shared with non-gamblers. 

Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor loyalty program rewards cruises for staying "Loyal to Royal." The more you cruise with Royal Caribbean, the more perks you will unlock through their rewards program. 

A passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship posted a video of her scary allergic reaction, but said she didn't pay for medicine because the price was too high.

She decided to post a video on TikTok to share how much her swollen face and tell her story.

"So, I've been on the boat for ... not even the full 24 hours and my face is swollen," she said in the video as she remove her sunglasses to reveal the swelling in her face.

A Royal Caribbean passenger has died after being detained by cruise ship security following a violent tantrum. 

Laura Eimiller, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Los Angeles field office, confirmed that the FBI is investigating the incident that occurred onboard Navigator of the Seas, as reported by USA Today. She did not share specifics about how the investigation will be conducted.