Royal Caribbean Cruise Line- Our Favorite
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Our family discovered cruising in 2022 just as the pandemic had ended. We were so excited to get back out there traveling and enjoying family relaxation at the next level. Our family is a Disney family and love the theme parks- but lets be honest, Disney is not overly relaxing. We have been a number of times (and will continue to go) but we were ready to try something new, just as fun but more opportunities for mom and dad to relax.
Ship Sizes
Royal Caribbean has a fleet of 29 ships with more being built right now. Their ships come in all sorts of sizes. The smallest is Grandeur of the Seas with a total guest capacity of 2,446. Our family has never sailed on Grandeur but we have been docked beside her while on Oasis of the Seas and there was quite the size difference. The current largest Royal Caribbean ship is Icon of the Seas with a total guest capacity of 7600!! That is quite the difference.
There are 11 ship classes in total in the fleet with various size ranges. This is great for those passengers that aren’t sure they want all the hustle and bustle of a ship as big as Icon but maybe not quite as small as Grandeur.
Private Islands
A lot of major cruise lines have their own private destinations which has become a game changer for those looking for a beautiful day in the Caribbean. Royal Caribbean’s private island Coco Cay is probably my family’s most favorite place on earth. It is gorgeous and has so many amenities. There are multiple beaches on the island as well as areas for adults only.
Our kids love spending time by the ocean and snorkeling and then running into the large fresh water pool that the island has as well. Be sure to grab your easy pack floaties for lounging in the ocean https://amzn.to/4thbdhm.
Coco Cay has their own large waterpark you can purchase day passes to with many different sizes of slides. We personally never done this before as our family has a lot of fun with the free experiences on the island. A small included waterpark for kids on the island called Splash Away Bay and our kids have a great time there.
One of the highlights for us on the island is the food. Every time we dock at the island the food does not disappoint. From the funnel cakes, to burgers, salads, tacos and of course the ice cream no one will go hungry. We have never purchased a beverage package on Royal Caribbean. The complimentary juices are enough- and there are juice machines on the island too to keep everyone hydrated.
Royal Caribbean also has a private destination at Labadee, Haiti, which we have not yet been to and is also creating a type of resort for a day experiences in Cozumel and Nassau both of which will be at an additional cost.
Stateroom Choices
For our family we love the different options of staterooms that Royal provides. There is literally something for every budget, from the least expensive interior rooms to flashy suites. For rooms with a balcony there are so many to choose from, ocean, boardwalk, central park (depending on the size of your ship). You can always be in the action if that is what you are looking for.
For the most part no matter where your room is, elevator access is not too far. We do consider this if we are selecting our room at the time of the booking. Booking a guaranteed stateroom is a gamble but we have chosen this option to save money.
We have stayed in interior rooms, ocean view and ocean view balcony. All of the experiences were great. When you are traveling with a family it is tight but the space has never been an issue for us because we are aware of it.
Restaurants
For our family of 6 so vacationing is expensive and we look to save money wherever we can. We believe in saving money without sacrificing the enjoyment of our vacation. We don’t eat at restaurants that are not included in the cruise fare so I cannot comment on those.
Royal Caribbean has many included options depending on the size of your ship and in my opinion it is more than enough. Our kids love buffets so we eat a lot of meals at the Windjammer. We have never had a poor meal there, everything is always delicious. Though it can get very busy in my opinion it is expected when on a cruise ship with thousands of guests.
The Main Dining room is beautiful. Our kids love enjoying the atmosphere and the decor of the dining room. The meal options have always been a hit with our family. The servers will bring items not on the menu which was great for our daughter that only wanted rice and corn at dinner. The portion sizes are smaller but you can order as many as you want so you will not go hungry.
PIZZA!!! I don’t know how much pizza we eat on cruises, but it is a lot! Sorrento’s is a family favorite for us, whether it is an afternoon snack or a late night bite Sorrento’s does not disappoint.
The Promenade Cafe has great options for fresh fruit and baked goods which make a good bedtime snack, we ate from here multiple times a day.
Most ships also have a restaurant on the pool deck, we have seen a Fish and Chips place as well as a Mexican food option. Both of which are also included and are great for lunch without having to leave the pool deck.
There are other great paid options but we like to stick to what is included and so far we have not gone hungry!
Family Fun
We have gone on a few cruises just my husband and I but the majority of our trips are with the family. There is never a dull moment in all the excitement. Royal Caribbean does not disappoint for us. Between the pools and waterslides on the pool deck to the mini golf, rock climbing and zip lining our days are full of adventure.
The larger ships have a boardwalk with a carousel, the kids just love this and ride it many times a day. Walking through central park hunting and hiding ducks is a family favorite. It is so cool having the beauty of the park on board the ship.
Our kids have all enjoyed the Kids Clubs. They usually attend in the evening hours but some days will spend hours enjoying the kids club.
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If you are thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean Cruise I hope you enjoy it as much as our family does. Check out more family travel ideas at Home – Together We Can Travel.
