Thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean cruise? Before you hit book, ensure you’ve made the right choices. One wrong click could mean you’re stuck in a noisy cabin, paying over the top for excursions, or missing out on specialty dining. What’s worse—the mistakes may not be obvious until you’re onboard. You don’t want to be that cruiser who overpays, misses perks, and scrambles for reservations they thought would be easy.
Unfortunately, many cruisers learn the hard way and make common booking blunders. That’s why I’ve sifted through countless Cruise Critic forums, Reddit threads, Facebook groups, and cruiser blogs to discover the worst mistakes when booking a Royal Caribbean Cruise.
Want to save money, avoid frustration, and enjoy a dream vacation at sea? Keep reading. I’ve collected the most common blunders seasoned cruisers warn about to avoid making them.
Choosing the Wrong Cruise Ship or Itinerary for Your Travel Style
Not all Royal Caribbean ships are created equal. Some ships promise thrills, others are floating resorts, and some have a more relaxed vibe. Book the wrong one, and your cruise could be a vacation of regrets. Oasis-class ships are built for family fun, adventure, and plenty of poolside action. Ideal if that’s what you want.
If you’re after a quieter time on a Royal Caribbean cruise. In that case, seasoned cruisers suggest booking a cruise on Freedom of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, or Explorer of the Seas. You still get the incredible Royal Caribbean experience but without noise, loud music, and screaming kids.
It’s worth considering the itinerary. Short getaway cruises lasting two to three nights tend to have more of a party atmosphere and can feel rushed. Longer cruises offer more possibilities for relaxing and immersive shore excursions.
Best advice? Choose a cruise ship and itinerary that suit your expectations, and you’ll not be disappointed.
Assuming All Royal Caribbean Ships Offer the Same Features
It’s a mistake to think that every Royal Caribbean cruise ship has water parks, robotic bartenders, and surf simulators. Some cruisers shared that they were disappointed not to find waterslides on Enchantment of the Seas or Radiance of the Seas. Of course, cruising on older ships is more affordable, but the trade-off is fewer thrills.
Always check the ship’s features. Some cruisers say deck plans saved them from disappointment. Others didn’t look and spent their cruise wondering what they missed. The big lesson? Never assume. Each ship’s design tells you exactly what kind of fun you’re signing up for.
Booking the Wrong Cabin Type
Experienced cruisers agree that cabin choice can make or break a cruise vacation. Choose the wrong one? You’ll feel it every night. Who wants to get woken up at 6 a.m. to the sound of scraping chairs overhead? Or not getting to sleep because of thumping bass beats from the nearby nightclub?
There are several ways to save money booking a cabin—but each comes with a potential compromise. For example, a guaranteed cabin type may lock in a better deal, but you may end up in a noisy part of the ship. An obstructed view balcony could mean saving money. However, some should be described as zero-view cabins.
Do you suffer from motion sickness? If so, avoid picking a cabin near the front or aft of the ship. These tend to rock and sway more than midship staterooms.
Another booking mistake is not checking for connecting doors between cabins. Some passengers don’t realize how much sound travels. Some share that they were woken every morning by their neighbor’s alarm clock. Others said that they couldn’t sleep due to snoring from the next room.
Scrutinize deck plans before locking in your cabin. Seasoned cruisers advise checking what’s above and below cabins. And remember—blank areas on deck plans could be noisy service areas.
Want to make the best cabin choices? If so, check out my article on the top cabin booking mistakes that could wreck your cruise.
Booking at the Wrong Time and Overpaying
Timing matters when booking a cruise—book too early or book too late, and you could miss out on cost-saving deals. Cruisers on Cruise Critic shared that they missed booking their trip during wave season and ended up paying premium rates for a poorer cabin choice. Wave season is January to March, when deals abound.
One seasoned traveler suggested locking in price protection at booking time. This way, you can snag lower prices if the fare drops before you sail. Some cruisers suggest booking a cruise through a travel agent—it doesn’t cost anything extra, and they can help you get better deals, onboard credit, or other discounts.
What about Black Friday sales for booking cruises? Most cruisers agree that fare prices are rarely lower, but you may find discounts on shore excursions, spa treatments, or drink packages.
Booking Flights Too Tight (or Too Late)
It’s a risky move to fly to the embarkation city close to departure time. Flight delays, strikes, severe weather, bad traffic—the number of things that could cause you to miss your cruise are countless. Booking same-day flights might save money, but the stress isn’t worth it. One bad connection, and it’s a “bon voyage” without you onboard.
Ask any seasoned cruiser and they’ll tell you this: “Fly in at least a day early.” Not only do you have time to relax and get to the port the next day, but you can start your vacation early. Why not take some time to explore the port city? That way, you can extend your vacation.
Ignoring Royal Caribbean’s Air2Sea Program
Royal Caribbean makes it a breeze for passengers to get to the cruise ship on time through their Air2Sea flight booking program. They offer competitive fares on major airlines, arrival at the ship, and will even get you to the next port in case of severe delays. It’s all about flexibility and arrival protection. Of course, booking flights on your own can seem cheaper—but is the risk worth it?
Many cruisers on forums share how Air2Sea rebooked them quickly when flights were canceled. I also read comments about some who made the mistake of booking their own flights. They talk about panicking at the airport or getting stressed because of traffic delays between the airport and the cruise terminal.
Remember: Peace of mind and convenience count. Check airfares with Air2Sea, and you might be surprised how competitive they are.
Not Pre-Booking My Time Dining
Royal Caribbean’s My Time Dining adds excellent flexibility to meal times in the Main Dining Room. This option allows guests to choose when they dine in the ship’s main dining room each evening rather than sticking to a fixed schedule.
But don’t make the common blunder of forgetting to pre-book times. Cruisers who forget risk waiting a long time to get seated. And leaving reservations too late may mean you cannot at all.
Royal Caribbean’s website states: “We strongly recommend reserving your dining times prior to sailing as dining times may fill up.” You can still make reservations on board but only based on availability.
Some cruisers recommend booking different times for each night and adjusting if needed onboard. It’s much better than standing in line, stomach growling, wishing you’d clicked that extra button.
Assuming Specialty Dining Access is Unlimited When Booking a Suite
Booking a suite with Royal Caribbean, you’d assume you’ve unlocked unlimited everything. That’s why some cruisers paying top dollar end up disappointed to learn after booking that it doesn’t apply to specialty dining. Of course, Star Class comes with unlimited dining. But the Sky and Sea Class tiers don’t include complimentary specialty dining.
Dining perks you can enjoy when booking a Royal Suite Sky Class room include dining at the Coastal Kitchen, priority dining reservations, and access to the suite lounge for complimentary snacks each evening.
Always check what’s included in your suite tier and book prime spots early to avoid disappointment. Just having a suite won’t magically open doors.
Skipping Show, Dining, and Excursion Reservations at Booking
Don’t fall into the common trap of leaving until you’re onboard to make entertainment and dining reservations. Royal Caribbean has some of the best shows at sea—think full Broadway productions—and seats fill fast. Forums are full of comments about disappointed guests missing a popular show because they didn’t book.
The best advice is to make reservations as soon as they open in the Cruise Planner app. Royal Caribbean’s Broadway shows, AquaTheater performances, comedy shows, and specialty dining spots get booked out early. A little planning can save a ton of frustration later.
Remember that popular spots on popular shore excursions fill up fast and waiting until you’re onboard may mean missing out or paying over the odds. Of course, you can save money on excursions by booking them independently—just give yourself enough time to make it back to the cruise ship before all aboard time.
Forgetting to Purchase Beverage and VOOM WiFi Packages Early
It’s standard across cruise lines that most packages are cheaper before you sail. If you plan poorly and wait until you’re onboard, you’re just throwing money away. It’s a common regret among cruisers who think they’ll decide later, forget, and then end up paying marked-up onboard prices.
Keep an eye on your Cruise Planner app because Royal Caribbean runs frequent pre-cruise sales, and you can snag great deals. Don’t worry about further price drops. Seasoned cruisers share on Cruise Critic that you can cancel the package and buy it again at a cheaper price.
It’s quick and easy and better than getting ripped off on board with extortionate prices.
Skipping Booking in Advance Escape Room & Specialty Activities
Royal Caribbean mega-ships have some of the most immersive onboard activities, and on busy cruises, they get booked up fast. Escape rooms are one of the most popular onboard activities. But fencing lessons, archery, laser tag, and rock climbing are also popular. Many regret thinking that they’ll book it on board, only to discover it was too late.
If you see something that catches your eye in the Cruise Planner, grab it early. You can always cancel later. Wait too long, and you’ll be stuck watching others post about the fun you missed.
Assuming Perfect Day at CocoCay is Completely Free
Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay is like stepping onto a tranquil paradise island. While many amenities are complimentary, the best experiences have hefty price tags. As usual, the best policy is to lock in the cheapest deals on the Cruise Planner. If the price drops? No worries. You can cancel and rebook at the lower price.
Thinking you can just show up at Thrill Waterpark or the zip line is a common rookie mistake. One cruiser decided at the last minute to join their friend at the waterpark and bought a pass onboard. They ended up paying double the pre-cruise booking price. Big mistake!
Wasting Money on ‘The Key’ Without Knowing the Perks
Royal Caribbean’s “The Key” program is an optional paid program designed to provide exclusive benefits and VIP-style perks to enhance your cruise experience, but it can be an expensive mistake if you don’t utilize all the perks.
First, the program is available to all guests, but may vary by region. During the cruise, “key” holders enjoy exclusive priority boarding and departure, a welcome lunch, dedicated seating in entertainment venues, and VOOM high-speed internet.
Reviews on Reddit and Cruise Critic are mixed about the value of “The Key.” Some cruisers loved skipping lines and being first off the ship at tender ports. However, other passengers said they didn’t really use its perks.
With it costing over $40 per day per person, it makes sense to weigh the perks, costs, and your needs.
Misunderstanding Royal Up Bidding System
RoyalUp seems like an excellent idea—bid for a cabin upgrade and hope to snag a bargain. However, plenty of cruisers share negative experiences about the cabin they ended up with. They either overpaid, got a worse cabin location, or had to pay extra fees.
One shared that they got upgraded from an inside cabin to a balcony cabin. That sounded great until they realized it was directly under the pool deck. Another said how they lost the perks associated with their original cabin. A cruiser on Harmony of the Seas told how they ended up paying more than the regular cruise fare.
Remember: bidding on a cabin upgrade is a gamble—sometimes it pays off, other times it doesn’t
Forgetting to Check What Exactly the Travel Insurance Includes
Most travel insurance policies cover medical expenses in case something unexpected happens before or during your cruise. However, it may not cover every aspect of your cruise vacation.
For example, what happens if you miss the ship’s departure in a foreign port? What about baggage delays—will your luggage be flown to your next port of call? What happens if the itinerary changes? Also, many travel insurers don’t cover high-risk activities like rock climbing, scuba diving, or ziplining.
Always read the fine print and take out additional insurance if necessary. If you assume you’re covered and aren’t, the financial hit can ruin more than just your cruise.
Not Using Crown & Anchor Perks for Maximum Savings
Loyalty program with Royal Caribbean pays—but only if you use it. I’ve read posts from cruisers sitting on Diamond or Platinum status, missing out on free drinks, WiFi discounts, and priority boarding. Some didn’t even realize they could combine perks with other deals. That’s money left on the table.
Crown & Anchor perks include discounted balcony upgrades, exclusive offers, and special onboard events. Check your membership benefits before you book and again before sailing. Some cruisers shared they’ve saved hundreds just by asking.
Don’t let your loyalty perks gather dust—use them smartly for more savings and extra treats onboard.
Failing to Use the Royal Caribbean App for Better Booking Management
The Royal App is a useful tool for managing all aspects of booking a cruise. So, don’t make the mistake of forgetting to use it to check in online, monitor it for discounts, make My Time Dining reservations, and monitor onboard spending.
Happy Sailing with Royal Caribbean
Make the most of your Royal Caribbean cruise by avoiding common booking mistakes. With a bit of planning, it’s easy to dodge pitfalls that trip up on many first-time cruise passengers. Wishing you smooth seas, great memories, and a perfect adventure ahead!
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