It’s simple to stay to the established order when cruising, however this yr, I made it a aim to step outdoors my consolation zone. After taking 4 Royal Caribbean cruises in 2025, I attempted a handful of latest actions and shore excursions that took me without warning.
As a substitute of claiming “I’ll strive that exercise sometime,” I made probably the most of my cruises and skilled all that the ships (and ports of name) needed to supply.
Within the course of, I found some new must-dos… and a few issues I in all probability wouldn’t do once more.
Whether or not using down waterslides on the world’s greatest cruise ship or making an attempt out a strolling tour, these are the eight new issues I attempted this yr. One even turned my new favourite factor to do onboard.
First, I dared the Class 6 Waterpark
Cruisers rave in regards to the Class 6 Waterpark on Icon Class ships, however I ran out of time to strive it on my Icon of the Seas cruise final yr. So, I gave it a strive on this yr’s Star of the Seas cruise. I questioned if it will reside as much as the hype.
Prior to now, I attempted the Excellent Storm waterslides on ships like Freedom of the Seas, however they weren’t as thrilling as I anticipated. At one level, the water moved so slowly that I even needed to push myself down the slide!
Learn extra: Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas: Which ship must you select?
Happily, the Class 6 Waterpark was every little thing I hoped it will be. I notably cherished the raft slides, which deliver visitors up, down, and round loopy twists and turns—and even over the facet of the ship!
Unsurprisingly, the waterpark will get crowded through the day, and particularly on sea days. I waited till time for supper to strive the slides, and contours have been minimal. In the event you’re hoping to keep away from crowds on the waterpark, attempt to go to outdoors of peak instances.
I attended onboard lectures on my Alaska cruise
Alaska is one among my favourite cruising locations, and I spent every week aboard Anthem of the Seas this summer season for a visit to the Final Frontier.
Whereas onboard, I spent most of my time having fun with Alaska’s beautiful surroundings from the out of doors decks. Occasionally, although, I attended actions across the ship, making an attempt every little thing from trivia to craft courses, archery, and karaoke.
Learn extra: I did these 5 small issues earlier than my Alaska cruise that made an enormous distinction
My favourite actions to attend, nevertheless, have been the onboard lectures. Royal Caribbean companions with Voyij, an Alaska market, to deliver native Alaskans onboard the fleet’s ships. These locals give lectures to visitors about life in Alaska, sharing what it’s wish to reside in distant mountain cities.
A Haines-based artist was onboard my ship, and he or she gave a number of lectures about life in her small city of two,000 residents close to Skagway. I cherished attending these lectures throughout my cruise, because it gave me a greater perception into my ship’s vacation spot.
I booked an “On Your Personal” shore tour within the Mediterranean
Once I set sail on the amplified Attract of the Seas from Barcelona this spring, I knew I needed to ebook an tour throughout our go to to Marseille.
As a result of I had been to the port twice earlier than, I needed to discover someplace totally different from Marseille’s metropolis middle. After searching excursions on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner, I got here throughout one which intrigued me greater than the remaining: an “On Your Personal” tour to Aix en Provence.
This tour, as marketed, would enable me to discover the charming French metropolis “by myself” as an alternative of with a information. The tour included roundtrip bus transport to Aix en Provence, and we acquired round 4 hours of free time upon arrival.
For $52.99, I discovered the value affordable for the comfort. I most popular the flexibleness of exploring by myself versus following a inflexible schedule on a guided tour.
I’d ebook this kind of tour once more, particularly if I need to expertise a metropolis farther from the cruise port.
I attempted Baggage Valet for the primary time on disembarkation day
Somewhat-known disembarkation day hack on Royal Caribbean is to enroll in Baggage Valet.
With this service, you place your baggage outdoors your cabin door on the final night of your cruise, and also you don’t see it once more till you arrive at your own home airport. The baggage is transported out of your ship to the airport and straight onto your flight.
Baggage Valet is just supplied at choose ports, and I used the service on my Alaska cruise from Seattle. Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport presents the service freed from cost except for any relevant baggage charges out of your airline.
Learn extra: Baggage Valet evaluate on Royal Caribbean
It was extraordinarily handy. I disembarked my ship with out worrying about choosing up my baggage, and I bypassed the entire baggage strains on the airport.
I’d undoubtedly use this service once more, because it made my disembarkation day completely stress-free.
I attempted sharing a cabin with my mother and father, and it wasn’t as dangerous as I anticipated
I really like cruising with family and friends world wide, however sharing a cabin with each of my mother and father wasn’t initially on my 2025 to-do listing.
Final yr, I deliberate a summer season getaway to Greece with my mother on Explorer of the Seas, however my dad determined to affix the journey just some months earlier than our Might departure. At that time, most staterooms had offered out, so we added him as a 3rd visitor to our tiny inside cabin.
Learn extra: What it was actually like sharing a 150-square-foot cruise cabin with my mother and father
I initially thought sharing a room would really feel too cramped, but it surely wasn’t as dangerous as I believed it will be. Throughout our week onboard, the three of us spent little time in our room, as there was a lot to expertise each on the ship and in our 4 ports of name.
My one gripe with sharing the room was sleeping in an uncomfortable pullman mattress, however I’d nonetheless share a cabin once more if mandatory.
I booked a historic strolling tour in port
On my Greek Isles cruise, I booked a historic strolling tour in Cut up, Croatia. It’s now one among my most popular methods to discover a brand new port.
You’ll find strolling excursions via Royal Caribbean, however I booked my tour via GetYourGuide. The 90-minute tour was lower than $20 per individual, and it supplied a handy technique to study in regards to the port’s historical past.
What I preferred in regards to the strolling tour was that it solely took up a small portion of my day. Following the tour, I used to be capable of discover Cut up by myself for a number of hours.
Excursions via Royal Caribbean might be handy, however they’re typically dearer than excursions via unbiased suppliers. I’ll proceed to ebook strolling excursions on cruises world wide, as they provide a terrific worth and perception into native historical past and tradition.
I attended the Love & Marriage Recreation Present, but it surely wasn’t my favourite exercise
The Love & Marriage Recreation Present is a staple exercise on each Royal Caribbean ship, however I by no means received round to attending it till this yr.
The well-known sport present brings three married {couples} onstage to ask them lighthearted (and private) questions on their life collectively. Though the sport present is technically family-friendly, the solutions are identified to get a bit spicy, to say the least.
I watched the present on Anthem of the Seas, and whereas it was entertaining, I noticed that I favor sport exhibits with extra direct viewers participation. The Quest, for example, brings all visitors into the competitors.
After studying far an excessive amount of about my fellow passengers through the present, I don’t assume I must attend it once more on future cruises.
Lastly, I watched sundown from The Hideaway on Star of the Seas, and it’s my new favourite factor to do onboard
Of all the brand new issues I attempted on Royal Caribbean in 2025, swimming in The Hideaway’s infinity pool was my favourite.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships function The Hideaway, an adults-only pool space within the aft of the ship. The neighborhood contains a bar, scorching tubs, and a picture-perfect infinity pool with unbeatable views of the ocean.
I couldn’t wait to swim on this pool for the primary time throughout my Star of the Seas cruise. It was too beautiful to cross up.
I headed to the pool round sundown on the final night of my cruise, when most passengers had already left to prepare for dinner. With few visitors round me, I loved a magical sundown over the ocean. It was one of the simplest ways I might consider to finish a memorable trip.
On future Icon Class cruises, I’ll be sure you go to The Hideaway for beautiful sundown views, whether or not I’m taking a dip within the pool or sipping a fruity drink from the bar with reside DJ tunes.
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