Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean — from the Icon of the Seas and Unlimited Dining to The Key program, Crown and Anchor loyalty, and booking with Pavlus Travel.
Royal Caribbean International is one of the world’s most recognized cruise brands, sailing since 1969 and now operating 28 ships ranging from large resort ships to the absolute largest vessels afloat. The line is owned by Royal Caribbean Group, which also owns Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.
Royal Caribbean is best for:
All three are mainstream lines at similar price points, but they differ meaningfully:
For families and guests who want the biggest ships with the most to do, Royal Caribbean is typically the strongest choice.
Icon of the Seas, launched in January 2024, is the world’s largest cruise ship, carrying approximately 5,610 guests. Key features include:
Royal Caribbean operates several ship classes ranging from large to record-breaking:
Royal Caribbean is one of the top family cruise lines in the world. Key family highlights:
Royal Caribbean deposits are typically $100–$500 per person depending on sailing length and cabin category. Key details:
For Royal Caribbean, earlier booking generally provides better stateroom selection, especially for:
Royal Caribbean’s Best Price Guarantee allows you to reprice to a lower publicly available rate if prices drop before final payment — so there is little risk to booking early.
Yes — Royal Caribbean’s Best Price Guarantee allows guests to request a fare adjustment if the same category stateroom on the same sailing drops in price before final payment. The adjustment is typically applied as onboard credit or a rate reduction. Pavlus advisors actively monitor fares on their clients’ bookings and will flag repricing opportunities proactively.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Royal Caribbean sells its own “Royal Caribbean Travel Protection” plan, but independent policies from providers like Travel Guard, Allianz, or TravelSafe often offer broader coverage at competitive prices. Key considerations:
Your Pavlus advisor can walk you through insurance options at the time of booking.
The base fare includes a substantial amount — most guests are pleasantly surprised by how much is covered:
Royal Caribbean charges a daily gratuity (called a “service charge”) of approximately $18–$23 per person per day, automatically added to your onboard account. Suite guests pay a higher rate. Gratuities can be pre-paid at the time of booking, which many guests prefer for easier budgeting. If you purchase a beverage package, an 18% gratuity is added to the package price at purchase.
Royal Caribbean offers Voom, its high-speed satellite internet service. Plans are sold by the device and per day, or as a voyage-long package. Voom is among the faster options in mainstream cruising and is sufficient for streaming, video calls, and remote work. Prices are lower when purchased before sailing online. The Key program and some fare bundles include Voom.
Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package allows guests to dine in participating specialty restaurants as many times as they wish for a flat per-person fee, purchased in advance. Participating venues typically include:
Royal Caribbean offers two Main Dining Room options:
Both options have the same menu and quality. Book your preferred option when making your reservation — My Time Dining books up, especially at prime 6:00–7:00pm slots.
Yes — Royal Caribbean accommodates a wide range of dietary needs with advance notice. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available on the main dining room menu. Gluten-free, kosher, and halal meals can be arranged through the special dietary request process before sailing. Guests with severe allergies should contact Royal Caribbean’s Access Desk to confirm arrangements. Specialty restaurants can also accommodate most dietary requirements with advance notice to the venue.
Room service is available 24 hours on most Royal Caribbean ships. A continental breakfast is complimentary; other items carry a per-item delivery fee (typically $7.95). The Star Class suite category includes complimentary 24-hour room service with a full menu. Suite guests in Royal Suite Class also have expanded room service options through their Royal Genie.
The Key is Royal Caribbean’s premium add-on program (priced per person per day, typically $20–$35/day) that provides:
Royal Caribbean’s entertainment is among the best in mainstream cruising:
Shows are included in your fare. Reserve seats in advance through the Royal Caribbean app — popular shows fill quickly.
Royal Suite Class is Royal Caribbean’s suite tier system, divided into three levels:
Royal Caribbean ships feature a Vitality Spa and Fitness Center on all ships. The fitness center (weights, cardio) is complimentary. Spa services (massages, facials, treatments) are priced individually and can be reserved in advance. Most ships have a casino with slots and table games. Sky Pad (bungee trampoline on select ships) and the North Star observation capsule are typically complimentary or carry a small fee depending on the ship.
Royal Caribbean offers the following main cabin categories:
Yes — most Royal Caribbean staterooms with two beds can be configured as either a king/queen (beds pushed together) or two twin beds (separated). This is typically requested at booking. Families should look for connecting staterooms or cabins with pull-out sofas and upper Pullman bunks for additional guests. The Ultimate Family Suite on Icon of the Seas accommodates up to 8 guests with a slide, in-room theater, and multiple bedrooms.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, transformed into a full resort destination. Key features:
Both options have merit:
If you miss the all-aboard time, the ship will depart without you — this applies to everyone, including guests on independent excursions. You are responsible for catching up to the ship at the next port at your own expense. Guests on Royal Caribbean-booked shore excursions are guaranteed the ship will wait if the excursion runs late. Travel insurance with trip interruption coverage can help offset costs if you are left behind due to a legitimate delay.
Call our Royal Caribbean specialists at 800-528-9300. We’re available Monday through Friday during business hours and can typically complete a booking in a single call. Here’s what to expect:
Booking with Pavlus Travel provides several advantages over booking direct:
Yes — Pavlus Travel regularly has access to onboard credit (OBC) offers and group-rate amenities on Royal Caribbean sailings that are not available when booking directly. The specific amount varies by sailing and promotion. When you call us at 800-528-9300, our advisors will tell you exactly what is available for your specific sailing and dates — and compare it against what Royal Caribbean is offering directly to ensure you get the best deal.
In most cases, yes — Royal Caribbean allows guests to transfer a booking to a travel agency within 60 days of the original booking date, provided final payment has not been made. To transfer, contact us at 800-528-9300 with your booking number and we’ll initiate the transfer. Once moved to Pavlus, you’ll receive our full advisor support and any applicable onboard credit benefits.
No — you will pay less. Pavlus Travel provides a savings benefit on top of current Royal Caribbean promotions, in the form of a discount, cash back, or onboard credit — combineable with all current Royal Caribbean offers. Our advisors are compensated by Royal Caribbean directly through commission, so there are no booking fees to you.
Pavlus Travel has been selling Royal Caribbean cruises and is one of Royal Caribbean’s top-producing travel agencies in North America. Our advisors regularly sail Royal Caribbean ships, attend fleet introductions, and complete Royal Caribbean’s ongoing specialist certification programs. When you call, you’re speaking with someone who knows the difference between an Oasis-class and a Quantum-class ship firsthand — not a call center reading from a script.
Call us directly at 800-528-9300. As your booking agent, Pavlus acts as your advocate with Royal Caribbean. Whether it’s a pricing discrepancy, a cabin change request, a post-booking issue, or a concern that arises during your voyage, we’ll work to resolve it on your behalf. Having a dedicated advisor is particularly valuable when itinerary changes or ship swaps occur — situations where guests who booked direct are often left navigating hold queues alone.
Yes. Pavlus advisors actively monitor fares on your booking before final payment. If Royal Caribbean drops the price on your sailing or cabin category, we’ll request a fare adjustment on your behalf under Royal Caribbean’s Best Price Guarantee. We proactively look for repricing opportunities — you don’t need to track this yourself.
Having the following ready will make your booking call faster and more productive:
The right booking window depends on your itinerary and flexibility:
Crown and Anchor Society is Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program with six tiers based on cruise points (one point per night sailed; additional points for cabin category):
Points are earned at a rate of 1 point per night in a standard cabin, with multipliers for higher cabin categories: Junior Suite earns 2x, Grand Suite earns 3x, and higher suite categories earn more. Sailing on back-to-back cruises accumulates points quickly. Royal Caribbean periodically offers double-point promotions on select sailings. Your Pavlus advisor can flag sailings where point multipliers are in effect.
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