all access ship tour royal caribbean reviews

• Royal Caribbean International

All Access tour

By conniehar , December 9, 2022 in Royal Caribbean International

Recommended Posts

Feedback on the All Access tour?  We will be on the Symphony of the Seas in February.  A buddy of ours took the tour on a Princess cruise and said they got all sorts of gifts from each area they visited.   Wondering if this tour is similar. I assume you sign up when you board the ship as I don't see it offered in our trip planner on the app. Thanks!

Link to comment

Share on other sites, atseamylife.

Some friends did it on Wonder during our Thanksgiving cruise.  No SWAG, but they did find it very interesting.  I wish we had done it but it was all sold out.  We had it RSVP on the Navigator in July, but at the last minute they canceled it.  

2 hours ago, conniehar said: I assume you sign up when you board the ship as I don't see it offered in our trip planner on the app.

Keep checking the planner - if never offered there, it may not be on the ship either.

We are doing it on Brilliance, it comes with brunch and sparkling wine.  Very

excited to try this.

I saw it on our sailing on the symphony for christmas and wanted to do it but that $158 a person price I thought was a bit much, so we decided to save money for more drinking 🙂   by the way that price did not include brunch, wine, or swag. It was just the guided tour around the ship, seeing how things are done and then a few mins on the bridge.

I have done the all access tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. I know it was pre-covid, so we got to see a lot. I especially enjoyed seeing the crew area and the storage rooms, freezers, and coolers. Also loved seeing the galley, especially the bakery area. It is just mind boggling! I'm pretty sure we did it on Allure.

Engineering, Bridge and entertainment areas were also fascinating.

Oceansaway17

On 12/9/2022 at 10:33 AM, conniehar said: Feedback on the All Access tour?  We will be on the Symphony of the Seas in February.  A buddy of ours took the tour on a Princess cruise and said they got all sorts of gifts from each area they visited.   Wondering if this tour is similar. I assume you sign up when you board the ship as I don't see it offered in our trip planner on the app. Thanks!

Go to shore excursion desk on first day.

I did Oasis on Oct and Ovation in 2019.

Both were great and only difference was on Ovation we got to see the recycle burn area and Oasis we saw a lot of behind scenes of theatre and all the Cats costumes.

may not get gifts but get to ask a lots of questions in any area. Officers on bridge are friendly as well as kitchen staff.

They explain the various colored clips on neck scarves for chefs and their ranking.

My January Jewel cruise has only shore excursions on the three port days - nothing at all for the four sea days.  I hope they start putting the sea day activities up soon.

We did it on the Anthem a few years ago. It was $99 a person but we thought it would be super cool on that ship. It was just “eh”. Once you’ve see a huge galley and laundry room on one ship, they all look a like.  They did give us a mimosa and a chocolate chip cookie though.  

We’re sailing the Symphony next month and will also put the $158 toward drinking 🙂

18 hours ago, crooooze said: We did it on the Anthem a few years ago. It was $99 a person but we thought it would be super cool on that ship. It was just “eh”. Once you’ve see a huge galley and laundry room on one ship, they all look a like.  They did give us a mimosa and a chocolate chip cookie though.   We’re sailing the Symphony next month and will also put the $158 toward drinking 🙂

It sounds kind of cool to do once, but even $99 for a tour around the ship sounds ridiculously overpriced.

Things have changed over the years, but I took an "all access tour' on the Island Princes back in 2012. I know a different cruise line. Anyway, I think it was $149 and was about two hours long. We did engineering, laundry, main kitchen, maintenance and the bridge. We had pictures taken with the captain and they pointed out a pod of dolphins that were alongside us.

At the end of the day when we got back to our cabin there was some neat stuff left on the bed. A very plush bathrobe (my wife loved), a chef's jacket, a letter showing I had taken the tour and a couple of pictures that were taken on the bridge with the captain. The problem was trying to pack the bathrobe and jacket in our already full luggage and keep it under weight limits.

I haven't taken one since but might do it again on a future cruise.

Jingerwoppy

Just on the Allure and I believe it was $200 per person.

30 minutes ago, Jingerwoppy said: Just on the Allure and I believe it was $200 per person.

thats crazy expensive. do you get anything for that price like pictures or swag? without anything extra like that it seems like it is not worth it

We did this on Symphony in Summer 2018, and it was $119 pp. At that price, I think it's worth it to do once. Especially on an Oasis class ship or a newer ship (not just size-wise, but also technology). The only "swag" we got was the "All Access" pass, which doubles as a luggage tag and fairly nice All-Access lanyard. There was some food/drink in the dining room after the kitchen portion, but I don't recall the specifics.

In December 2019, we did Symphony again, and it was again $119, and we sent my In-Laws on it. We did not so it again.

With inflation, I could see $129, maybe $139 (pushing it) but at $159 or $200, I really can't say that it would be worth it at those prices.

On 12/9/2022 at 1:41 PM, kelbell said: We are doing it on Brilliance, it comes with brunch and sparkling wine.  Very excited to try this.

If you mean the Sip Tour Brunch that is only a tour of the galley not the all access tour.

On 12/11/2022 at 8:35 PM, shof515 said: thats crazy expensive. do you get anything for that price like pictures or swag? without anything extra like that it seems like it is not worth it

I think they make you Captain the ship overnight......

Did the All-Access our on Voyager back in October.  it was interesting, but not worth $99pp (maybe $50pp).  No gifts or anything, just the tour.  It was interesting and I learned a lot.  Years ago I did a galley tour and I thought that was better (it included a good meal), but I don't think that tour has returned since COVID.  

On 12/12/2022 at 10:21 AM, clochette said: If you mean the Sip Tour Brunch that is only a tour of the galley not the all access tour.

Yes my mistake it is only a galley tour. I hope it's still interesting.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Friday at 07:21 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 03:17 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:15 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:00 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 10:41 AM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

All Access Ship Tour – Behind The Scenes Of A Cruise Ship

The All Access Ship Tour is a cruise ship tour that Royal Caribbean offers.  Virtually unheard of and unadvertised, most do not know this is an option! If you are naturally curious like me, you probably want to explore restricted areas. Here’s your chance. Explore the behind-the-scenes operations of cruise ships and discover how it all works.

Learn how the food is prepared and where the ingredients are stored.  Travel through the underbelly of the cruise and see the crew corridors, the Engine Control Room, the Bridge, the ship’s navigational center, and even behind the theater curtain!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our  disclosure and privacy policy  for more information.

I knew that these tours existed; I’ve cruised many times. However, I did not know the names or how to book, and I never really researched it until now! I recently cruised on Oasis of the Seas , where I first heard about this from another guest. Sadly, the tour was unavailable for us because cruising had just started post- COVID . Naturally, when I booked Wonder of the Seas to Bermuda , it was the first activity I booked.

FYI – The All Access Ship Tour is considered an “Excursion” and the listing lacks a full description of what it is.

All Access Ship Tour Includes:

• Main Dining Room
• Main Galley
• Provision Area

Environmental Services

• Engine Control Room
• Laundry Facilities
• Crew Corridor is I-95 – the long corridor in the crew’s area, named after the longest highway on the U.S. east coast.

This type of tour may not be available on cruises and is not always available on Royal Caribbean Cruises – it depends on the route and number of nights. Most cruise lines offer a similar type of tour, but they are all called something different.

The “All Access Ship Tour” of the Wonder Of The Seas is almost three and a half hours long. The experience was great, and we could see many areas of the ship that are usually off-limits to cruise ship passengers.

The galley is a kitchen on these impressive resort-like cruise liners. It’s more like a football field of kitchens! This will be your first stop on the All Access Ship Tour.

I’ve always been fascinated by how cruise ships handle food – especially food on board. The feat is almost astounding in light of the daily meals they prepare on a boat with over 3,000 guests and over 1,000 crew members. Chefs and kitchen staff on cruise ships deserve a lot of respect, no doubt about it.

You get to see where and how all the dishes are made. A senior kitchen staff member will explain how his kitchens stay efficient, safe, and clean.

The staffing efficiency is unparalleled in a kitchen. They are just as well-oiled a machine as the engine! All I can say is wow! It takes some coordination and then some. You could get lost in here, never mind carrying out multiple orders.

Food Storage

The Wonder of the Seas storage section stores all that food for the voyage. The refrigerated section alone is the size of a New York apartment!  The ship’s crew keeps everything fresh and ready for consumption here.

Crew Corridor – The I-95

This is another place where you could easily get lost. There are many doors, staircases, and crew members maneuvering behind the scenes of a cruise ship. You cannot photograph the crew areas or the confidential information on the walls. Once you start walking the I-95, you can not take photographs.

Cruises get a terrible rap for omissions and other environmental concerns. I was impressed with how Royal Caribbean approaches recycling. Everything from broken plates to cans is recycled, and it’s all compressed on the ship. The incinerators burn non-recyclables, and they are huge.

The ship’s environmental services officer knows more about maintaining and minimizing the ecological impact than most.  Our guide explained all the systems and protocols to ensure the ship maintains a low environmental impact. In addition to “scrubbers” that remove pollution from the smokestacks, the boat also uses recycled water and other materials, so it’s good to know it doesn’t harm the oceans.

Where Does the Poo Go?

I know you want to know. Everyone is curious! It gets explained before you can even ask.

The water is run through multiple filtration systems before it is returned to the ocean. This is the short answer to what happens to the poo flushed down the toilet.

The Engine Control Room

This is where any cruise fanatic, engineer, or person interested in nautical technology will have an orgasm. It’s also where most of the questions get asked. 

Prepare for a body scan to enter here. The security officers do not play. Not only will they scan you, but they will be inside with you, watching your every move.

Often called the “brain” of the ship – the engine control room where all systems are monitored. And, in the control room, they can override everything on the entire ship. A large cruise ship like the Wonder of the Seas relies on its engine control room as a nerve center. These include engine and propulsion systems, cooling systems, and environmental controls.

Ready for some more poo? Guess what? The engineers can see when we are using the bathroom! They cannot see you “using” it; they see the influx in the water flow. And, yes – this came up in the engine room.

The crew actively monitors every critical system aboard the ship. This room is continuously operated by someone who ensures the boat runs smoothly. In the middle of the room is a large table showing a schematic of the ship’s decks.

Most guests don’t get to see all the decks of a boat or behind the scenes of a cruise ship. I found it interesting to see this highly guarded zone below the water level.

The Laundromat

I don’t think the laundromat fits the bill. It is a laundromat but – holly molly. There are industrial bus -sized machines in here that press bedding! I can’t even begin to phantom the technology used to bring this together. Thinking about it makes my head hurt. Here is like being in the heart of the boat and you know you are behind the scenes of a cruise ship.

Ironically, as impressed as I was, Wonder of The Seas still uses what’s considered a manual system that requires lots of humans. We were told that the newer ships have automated assembly line machines.

This was a new addition to the tour, and there was some confusion with the timing. We got there as the show was closing. It was interesting to see behind the curtain, but I’ve been behind the curtain of much larger productions, so this part of the tour was not as fascinating. I didn’t take any photographs on this part of the tour. 

I can’t lie; I’ve always wanted to go on The Bridge of a cruise ship. Something about uniforms (especially American uniforms) has always captured my attention. Ok, fine, I’ve always been attracted to American men in uniform! An Officer and A Gentleman, anyone?

You’ll get to meet the captain; if you are lucky, you’ll chat with him. At a minimum, his team will pose for you.

While I got to see The Bridge, it was not as artsy-farty as I expected. It’s decadent and plush but a bit boring. Maybe the décor was not my style. I’m not sure, but other than the views of the ship (not the men), this was not my favorite part of the tour.

And, even if the captain was smoking hot. It would not have mattered. See the section below on what you need to wear. I looked like a right plank (pun intended) on this tour!

Clothing Requirements

• High heels, flip-flops, and open-toed shoes are not permitted.
• Shorts and skirts are prohibited.

Well…. Here’s a problem. I only wear flip-flops, I don’t wear pants, and I do not own a pair of sneakers, nor do I own a pair of shoes that are not open-toe. A girls’ girl dress-only girl who gave up shoes years ago! I do wear leggings sometimes, but who takes leggings on a cruise?

To my horror, my choices were either not go on tour or get creative.

Here’s what creative looked like. Me in Brian’s loungers’ pants, in his boots that are at least five sizes too big. And a beautiful peacock blue dress on top of it all. Pretty confident that my makeshift outfit that met the criteria was about as safe as jumping off the Empire State building. But it was required!

Jokes aside, if you plan to take The All Access Ship Tour make sure you pack the right clothes!

What You Need to Know About The All Access Ship Tour

• To participate in this tour, guests must bring their SeaPass cards.
• Bags and purses are a no-no.
• Video cameras are not permitted; photography is still only allowed in certain areas.
• You MUST reserve this as soon as you confirm your cruise. There is only space for twelve people per tour, and the number of times is limited.
• People in wheelchairs and those with limited mobility should not select this tour.
• Everyone must wear personal protective gear if and when provided.
• You must walk, stand for extended periods, and climb numerous steps.
• Photos and videos will be restricted in some regions of the ship.
• Children must be six (6) years or older to participate in this tour.
• A parent or adult must accompany children under 18.
• Guests are required to wear KN95 face masks behind the scenes of a cruise ship.

How Much Does the All Access Ship Tour Cost?

The tour costs approximatly $150 per guest for three hours.  However, I seem to recall paying less. Regardless, it was worth it to go behind the scenes of a cruise ship.

Will You See Crew Cabins on the All Access Ship Tour?

The crew bar and crew cabins are sacred areas, so respect the crew’s privacy and peace. Don’t expect to hang out in them.

Is All Access Tour Worth It?

Yes, yes, yes! I’ve wanted to do this forever, and it exceeded my expectations.

How To Reserve the All Access Ship Tour?

You can reserve the All Access Ship Tour through Cruise Planner at the Shore Excursions desk or Guest Relations onboard the ship.

Closing Thoughts

The All Access Ship Tour was one of the highlights of our cruise. It’s not a tour I think I would do on every ship. At some point, it would become repetitive. This said, it was money very well spent, and I know I will do it on another ship!

Although cruising isn’t for everyone, it can be a great family travel option if you’ve never tried it before. Cruising is a fantastic way to enjoy well-earned time off , and there are many reasons to try it!

Looking for articles on cruising ? Start here:

• 6 Reasons To Choose An Inside Cruise Cabin
• 7 Ways To See Behind The Scenes On A Cruise Ship
• 20 Ways To Save Money On Your First Cruise
• 75 Plus Free Activities On The Oasis Of The Seas
• Oasis of The Seas – The Amplified Version
• Vacation On A Cruise – Why It’s For Everyone!

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Share with others!

Nikki Webster is a travel writer who covers how to travel while grinding a day job without breaking the bank. Nikki is always in search of off-the-beaten-track experiences and unique stays. She is particularly fond of Florida and writes extensively about the state. She flies around 60,000 miles annually and has visited 74 countries, 50 states, and six continents. You can read all about her travels at www.britonthemove.com or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Similar Posts

Key West Golf Cart Rentals: Where To Rent Them?

Key West on Wheels: Experience the Island with Golf Cart Rentals Are you ready to explore the stunning island of Key West uniquely and excitingly? Look no further than golf cart rentals. With these convenient and eco-friendly vehicles, you can easily navigate the island and immerse yourself in all that Key West has to offer….

Uluru – The Ultimate Guide To Australia’s Red Rock

Uluru Australia, previously known as “Ayers Rock,” is a gigantic red rock formation within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It’s located 450km from Alice Springs, in the middle of the Northern Australian Outback. Should Uluru be a part of your Itinerary? It depends on who you ask. My earliest visual association with Australia was Uluru. Back…

20 Plus Best Places To See Christmas Lights in Florida

The Christmas lights in Florida are more magnificent than anywhere else in the country. People from all over the world come here during the holiday season to visit. The light displays are incredible. They can be seen everywhere in the state. Some of the presentations are so big that you can’t miss them. The people…

The Ultimate New England Road Trip Itinerary

New England has some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. However, if you are planning on taking a New England road trip, you need to plan ahead. There is so much to see and do that it can be easy to burn through a 5-day New England road trip without having seen…

Family Vacation Destinations That Are Fun!

Summer will be here before you know it. Do you have all your vacation plans in place? Have you been saving and planning for a big trip? Whatever your goals, vacations should be relaxing, enjoyable, and fun! So, hold on to your hats, and let’s make memories and explore some family vacation ideas. This post…

The Native’s Guide To Blue Spring In Florida

Blue Spring in Florida, not to be confused with Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs, is the first spring I ever swam in. It’s also the first place where I saw a manatee. Blue Spring State Park will always hold a special place in my heart, as many of my summer days have been spent…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Middle East
• South East Asia
• Running Routes
• Scuba Diving
• Sports Events
• Sports Gear

Hopscotch Capitol

71 lormee bukit merah view, tanglin cookhouse.

Yellow Cab Pizza Co. Citylink

Chuan kee seafood restaurant

Tsukimi Hamburg Jurong Point

Mr DIY Plus, KL Malaysia

Genting skyavenue mall skytropolis park, genting skyworlds theme park adventures.

South Korean Seoul City Food Delights

Daiso in South Korea

Seoul Pop culture Toy collector scene

Belkin BoostCharge portable Magsafe 5k charger review

Belkin 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5 unpacked

Samsung A54 phone review

Samsung S23 Ultra review

Belkin SoundForm Rise Earbuds Review

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v13 Running Shoe Review

Standard chartered marathon 2023 race report

SCM 2023 (Standard chartered marathon) race pack collection

HOKA Clifton 9 running shoe review

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v13 Suntec pop-up event

Swim for Hope 2023 event and post review

Royal Caribbean All Access Ship Tour Review

Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas is a massive cruise ship, spanning 18 decks and capable of carrying over 5,622 crew and passengers. Do you know the ship has a continuous walkway called the interstate-95 running the whole length of the ship? The Royal Caribbean All Access Ship Tour allows you to access spots otherwise out of bounds to guests.

You have the opportunity to explore the inner workings of the ship, from the laundry room to the bridge. The tour is an excellent way to gain insight into the daily operations of a modern cruise ship and the hard work of its crew. Let’s see what on in the tour onboard the Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-ultra class Spectrum of the Seas ship.

Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the seas All Access Tour

The All-Access Ship Tour is available to guests who are 13 years or older and costs an additional fee. The tour lasts approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. It includes a dedicated guide, who will provide detailed information about each area you visit. The tour is also limited to a small group of guests, ensuring that you get an intimate and personalized experience. It is also pretty expensive, costing about S$191.29/pax (About US$140). Also I found the highlight of the tour being the ship bridge and the kitchen operations.

Ship Bridge Tour

The bridge part of the tour is one of the most eye opening, but also a disappointing part of the tour, more on that later. The Bridge Tour is undoubtedly the highlight of the All-Access Ship Tour for it’s advertised exclusiveness. Here, you can enter the head of the ship, where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how the ship is operated.

Also, the bridge is a very digital, minimal and an automated one, with almost all the ship functions being automated with minimal crewing. On our way to the bridge, we pass a couple of “VIP” rooms, the captain’s room and bridge crew quarters.

Moreover, the Spectrum of the Seas is more German than it is American, despite Royal Caribbean being a Miami based company. It was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and was delivered in April 2019 to serve the Asian regions. If you are sharp, you can catch a glance of the various ports of call the ship has made to on a section of the bridge wall.

The bridge is also an excellent vantage point for taking in the spectacular views of the ocean and coastline. The bridge balcony also has a clear plexiglass floor which aids in ship mooring too.

360 degree electric thrusters

During the Spectrum of the Seas bridge tour, you can have an insight into the ship’s various controls that are used to operate the ship. They can observe the navigation consoles using radar and GPS to chart the ship’s course, and see how the ship’s engines are controlled from the bridge.

Furthermore, you be introduced to the bridge controls on the bridge wing. The modern ship uses electric thrusters which can spin 360 degrees in any direction, powered by its diesel engines. This allows the ship to be maneuvered slowly in all directions without the need of a conventional rudder to steer.

Also, you can get up close and personal to the ship controls, observe the sophisticated navigation systems and try to decipher what you see on the screens. This includes the radar, GPS, and other navigation tools. You’ll learn about how the ship is steered and how the crew communicates with each other.

Boring Bridge crew and mystery of the missing Captain

However, on my tour, it felt that the bridge crew does not seem to give you their full attention on the tour. They are not as friendly as the crews in other parts of the tour. This is unlike other bridge tours I know off where guests were also briefed about navigation, safety protocols, alarms and communication protocols on the bridge. The bridge staff on my tour didn’t cover any of these. They were reserved on sharing anything extra other than what you can see or recognise.

The tour, led by a 2 nd officer and crew were more or less waiting for us to run out of questions so they could whisk and handover the group off to the next tour station. You neither even have the chance to sit on the captain’s seat, nor even the Captain of the ship was not even present to greet us on the tour. This is despite the tour being a per-arranged event.

What a disappointment.

I-95 mega passageway

Thankfully, not all onboard the tour is bad. The All Access Ship Tour carries on into the depths of the ship. Here, you can walk the famous I-95 corridor, named after the US interstate highway which cuts across the country. The highlight on the ships operations at lower deck 2 is the i-95 passage way. It is a continuous service walkway running front to the back of the ship, providing crew members with access to the various areas of the vessel.

It is used by crew to quickly travel to anywhere in the ship quickly and unseen by guests. Notably, this long passage way connects the various kitchen elevators, storage, engineering rooms, crew rest areas. Notably, the crew have their own rest, dining, relaxation and gym too. Along the corridor, guests can see the vast storage areas where everything from food supplies to maintenance equipment is kept.

Ship control engineering room

If the bridge is the eyes and head of the ship, the control room is the nerve center of the ship. It is run by engineers mostly behind the scenes. Moreover, the deck 2 engine control room is a small, seemingly minor room, but there is a lot going down here. The control room is one with walls filled with screens. It displays and reporting all the status and metrics of various elements and computer controlled workings on the ship. This includes engine power, thruster power, power for utilities and waste management to name afew. Here, a duty engineer works on shifts and keeps all the ship’s functions optimal. No photos are allowed inside the room.

The engineers even joke that the real control of the ship happens down here and not on the bridge. There are also live feeds of various CCTV cameras all over the ship, including those in elevators. Interestingly, CCTV footage of the casino is separate from the ship. This spot is another area besides the bridge which has a security presence during the tour.

The visit moves on to the ship’s central waste processing room. Here, all waste is sorted for recycling. With non-recyclables incinerated or packed to be off-loaded offshore. This part of the tour ends with a walk-in into a logistics and chiller room which was used to store food and mostly dairy products during my visit. Next on we went to meet up with the head chef who will take us for the next part of the tour.

Dining areas and Chef Kitchens

The kitchens is a very enjoyable part of the tour. The tour moves to the restaurants and kitchens. Here, the ship’s cheery head chef meet you and take you on a tour of the dining areas. This is done in-between mealtimes where the restaurants are empty. Our head chef hails from Indonesia who has over 20 years of cooking out in the seas.

Also, it takes a lot to serve a ship of guests. Many of the crew onboard are service staff. Almost 800 of the 1,400 total crew on board are either waitering or kitchen staff.

In addition to the sights and experiences of the tour, each station guides themselves are a highlight of the All Access Ship Tour . They are knowledgeable and friendly, offering insights and answering questions about the ship’s operation and history. They are happy to share their expertise and passion for the ship.

This adds a personal touch and an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience.

Major culinary operation

Also, remarkably, all bread, cookies and desserts are all prepared on-board. Over 20,000 meals are prepared daily with over 1,000 eggs used per day across the board. In the kitchens, you can observe the culinary team in action, as they chop, stir, and cook up a storm. The kitchen is a bustling hub of activity, with a team of over 100 chefs working hard from ingredient prep, dish washing, cooking and quality control to ensure that every guest’s culinary needs are met.

Interestingly, too all food orders and food wastage from all eateries on the ship are tracked. The data by dining group type in all eating areas are tabulated by a computerised system. This allows the head chef to optimise food distribution to popular areas and reduce wastage.

Housekeeping and laundry

Moreover, the All Access Ship Tour follows on to the lower decks to the housekeeping area. Here, the ship’s stateroom attendants work tirelessly to ensure that every guest’s room is kept clean and tidy. You can see how the attendants organize their supplies and hear about the daily challenges they face while keeping the ship spotless.

Furthermore, the tour takes a behind-the-scenes look at the ship’s laundry facilities. This is where the ship’s 2,000-plus sets of sheets, towels, and linens are washed and pressed every day. You can see the high-tech machines in action, and learn about the ship’s environmentally-friendly laundry practices. Here, housekeeping, uses very automated machines to load and wash laundry, such as table cloth and guest towels in vast giant washing machines as large and tall as a person.

Here, you can meet laundry staff hard at work on the laundry level 1 deck. During my visit, they were pressing, folding towels, bed linen and dining tablecloth for rooms and restaurants. The staff happily shared they are from regional Indonesia and Philippines.

Also, I was introduced to a cleaning counter where staff can deposit and collect their uniform for washing. The laundry here accepts all types of clothing including dry cleaning jackets. Notably, stage performance crews maintain their customers do not send them for washing here, though it is open for all crew laundry needs.

Friendly service crews

Throughout the tour, staff we chanced upon on our walkabout were very friendly, despite being in a non-service setting, greeting you with a smile. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet some of the crew out of the tour and learn about their roles and responsibilities.

Notably, typically crew on-board the ship seldom have multiple roles and are tasked for their main purpose on the ship, such as F&B, entertainment or engineering support. This is unlike cruises I been in China, such as the Yangtze cruise . There, crews have large multiple roles, such as waitering, stage performer on top of general crew work.

Also, an interesting section on the service floors is the elevator day plates. You will notice the day of the week at the floor of every elevator. These are changed everyday at midnight by hand.

My tour brings me through many tight working corridors and steep stairs, which could be a challenge for guests with mobility issues or those who have difficulty climbing stairs. Still, the tour is actually wheelchair accessible. The tour is happy to accommodate guests with special needs.

Notably, the tour did not cover a visit to the ship’s Theaters, crew and backstage areas. Bummer.

Wrapping up

All in all, the Royal Caribbean All Access Ship Tour on the Spectrum of the Seas is a mixed bag, but at least enjoyable. It was quite an eye-opener, both fascinating and educational. It offers an opportunity to get an up-close look and gain a deeper understanding of the behind-the-scenes operations and inner workings of a modern cruise ship to keep the ship running smoothly. Also if ships are your thing.

I enjoyed the kitchen, laundry facilities, housekeeping parts of the tour, and staff have a genuine desire to share their work. Though the same can’t be said for the less-impressive Bridge section of the tour.

Still I won’t recommend the Royal Caribbean All access ship tour . Also, the tour itself was also shorter than the advertised duration which starts at 9am. The 2 hour tour itself costs about S$240/pax, though you can snag a discounted rate (about S$191.29/pax) towards your cruise date. Also, considering the very steep price for what you get. It is like a $100 an hour simple walkabout. For what you are getting, I feel S$50/pax be a more indicative fair tour price.

It is something you might just do once to satisfy your curiosity, but probably not again.

The review is based on experiences as a full-paying guest and is not sponsored. Royal Caribbean also have neither editorial inputs to reviews, nor seen this review before it is released to you, my readers. Thanks for reading!

RELATED ARTICLES

Exploring penang george town, royal caribbean spectrum of the seas cruise, cruise the royal caribbean mariner of the seas, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

We Western Bukit Merah View

Imperial war museum london military learning day, j65 buffet jen hotel tanglin singapore, coco curry ichibanya, suomenlinna island, helskini, finland, adventures in the city of helsinki finland, stockholm vasa museum, chilling on the beach side city of nice france, latest articles, tonkotsu kazan volcano ramen, milipol asia-pacific 2024.

• Food Places
• Sports & Runs

Singapore Places

Welcome to ShaunChng.com! My humble little home on the internet. Showcased here are various musings and works of interests I enjoy doing. Whether it is checking out foodie places in town, fun with technology, backpacking around the world or riding myself silly on themepark coasters, join me on my adventures in documenting the world, one blog post at a time. Feel free to wander around the site. Have a thought or question? Do reach me. Your say, your stay, enjoy yourself here.

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Sailing the duck tours on the marina bay, changi jewel pokémon center store singapore, programming chatgpt prompt engineering, ikea hack utrusta vertical door hinge on besta, ouzhixiang coomodel werewolf model review.

© 1997 - 2024 Shaunchng.com

Protect Your Trip »

Royal caribbean vs. carnival: quick comparison chart.

Decide which line is best based on costs, food, onboard entertainment and other key factors.

Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line have quite a bit in common.

Trying to choose between Royal Caribbean and Carnival for your next cruise? Check out the comparison chart below, then read on for more details.

Winner: Royal Caribbean

When it comes to fleet size as well as the features available on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean has an edge over Carnival Cruise Line. That's because Royal Caribbean already has 28 ships in operation, including its incredible Oasis Class, Quantum Class and Quantum Ultra Class ships. Oasis Class vessels like Allure of the Seas , Symphony of the Seas , Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are some of the largest in the world – and Royal Caribbean Group is constantly rolling out new, even bigger cruise ships with better amenities and new features. For example, the new Icon of the Seas (scheduled to debut in 2024) plans to have the largest water park at sea, the largest swimming pool at sea, and a range of over-the-top cabins and suites for families of all sizes.

Meanwhile, Carnival currently operates 25 different vessels with a few more on the way. Newer ships like Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia aren't as large and grand as Royal Caribbean ships, nor are the brand-new vessels the company is planning for late 2023 and 2024. For example, the new Carnival Jubilee that is set to begin sailing later in 2023 will have 15 passenger decks and capacity for up to 6,631 guests, compared to 18 guest decks and 7,600 passengers on Icon of the Seas.

Read: The Largest Cruise Ships in the World

SBW-Photo | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Comparing cabins across cruise lines as a whole isn't an easy feat, mostly because companies tend to offer larger suites and cabins with a better layout on their newer ships . You'll therefore likely have a nicer cabin on one of Carnival's newest vessels compared to an older ship from Royal Caribbean, and of course the opposite is also true. Cabin sizes and layouts also vary widely across the vessels of both brands, and that's true even for basic interior, ocean view and balcony cabins.

That said, Royal Caribbean still comes out ahead in this category, since the line boasts more square footage in some of the most basic cabins as well as more over-the-top luxury accommodations, especially for families.

As an example, most inside cabins on Allure of the Seas feature 172 square feet of space, whereas Carnival Celebration's inside cabins are slightly smaller at 158 square feet. Meanwhile, the largest suites on Celebration are the Carnival Excel Presidential Suite, with 1,120 square feet of space including the balcony, and the Carnival Excel Aft Suite, which has 861 square feet of interior and balcony space. Compare those options to the Sky Loft Suites on Allure of the Seas, which feature 1,132 square feet across the room and balcony, and the spacious two-bedroom AquaTheater Suites with 1,595 square feet including the balcony.

Book a cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Winner: Tie

Food options vary widely across vessels within any cruise brand, and this is especially true with Royal Caribbean and Carnival. For example, older ships from both cruise lines offer fewer specialty dining options overall along with the main dining rooms and buffet options cruisers come to expect, whereas newer ships from both lines feature a lot more unique and innovative options.

When you view the cruise dining options from both lines, you'll quickly find that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean pull out all the stops when it comes to food. For example, Carnival ships include a range of eateries from large and expansive buffets to main dining rooms to unique offerings like Big Chicken, Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. Meanwhile, specialty dining on Carnival vessels features options like teppanyaki, Emeril's Bistros at Sea and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.

Royal Caribbean ships feature convenient buffets and main dining room experiences, as well as included options like pizza kitchens, noodle bars and casual fast food. Specialty dining on Royal Caribbean ranges from the brand's Chef's Table experience to Johnny Rockets' burgers and shakes to innovative fine dining at Wonderland.

Drink packages

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer drink packages that cruisers can purchase as part of their vacation to get a more all-inclusive feel . Then again, the value of these packages depends on how much you drink over the course of your trip. Also note that the cost of drink packages across all cruise lines can vary depending on the ship, itinerary, travel dates, length of trip and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out slightly ahead in this category because the line offers three tiers of drink packages for guests with different needs. Choose from the Classic Soda Package; the Refreshment Package, which includes soda along with coffees, juices and even milkshakes at Johnny Rockets; and the Deluxe Beverage Package, which adds in beer, cocktails and wine by the glass. Meanwhile, Carnival offers just two different drink packages: the Bottomless Bubbles package, which covers soft drinks and juice, and the Cheers! drink package, which adds in spirits and cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffee, energy drinks and more.

Read: Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line

Onboard activities

Analyzing onboard activities across cruise lines isn't always easy – you really have to break down this category by ship for a true comparison. When you do that with Carnival and Royal Caribbean, you'll find that both lines offer fun activities for all ages, from onboard water parks to hosted games, casinos and more.

That said, Royal Caribbean does take things up a notch in this category, especially on the line's newer ships. Some Royal Caribbean vessels offer escape rooms, surf simulators, zip lines, game shows and over-the-top water parks with incredible slides for thrill-seekers. For example, Freedom of the Seas boasts huge onboard waterslides, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, mini-golf and more. Don't forget about Icon of the Seas with its massive water park and pool offerings in the works. Meanwhile, standout activities on Carnival ships include Family Feud Live, onboard water parks and the thrilling SkyRide.

Compare Royal Caribbean cruises on GoToSea .

Live entertainment

The quality of cruise ship entertainment varies widely based on the quality of the talent booked for individual ships. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer their share of live music and entertainment, including performances by bands and singers, karaoke, and piano bars. Meanwhile, both lines also boast their own theaters on every vessel, which often feature Broadway-style shows, singing and dancing, comedy acts, and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out ahead in this category since its vessels feature award-winning musicals like "Hairspray," "Mamma Mia!" and "Cats." The open-air AquaTheater on Oasis Class ships also wows guests with incredible diving feats, stunts and aerial acrobatics. Some Royal Caribbean ships even have onboard ice skating performances and ice games.

Explore cruise deals on  GoToSea .

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Kids programming

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Winner: Carnival

Both cruise lines have kids clubs that cater to younger guests of all ages, with each one offering supervised care so parents can drop the kids off for some alone time or a quiet dinner on the ship. However, Carnival stands out slightly in this category due to the six different clubs offered across the fleet for children and teens between 6 months and 17 years old. Carnival also offers supervised Night Owls services for kids 11 and younger, which lets parents get out and have some late-night fun for an extra charge.

Royal Caribbean offers four kids clubs for children ages six months to 12, along with a separate club for tweens and teens . Supervised child care is available for free during the day, and you can opt for paid care after hours as well.

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Adults-only offerings

Both cruise lines offer their share of adults-only spaces and things to do, from onboard casinos to luxurious spas to bars that offer cocktails and live entertainment at all hours of the day and night. Carnival and Royal Caribbean also offer adults-only areas on some of their ships.

On Carnival, for example, cruisers will find the Serenity Adults-Only Retreat for sailors 21 and older with extra space and comfortable chairs for relaxation, along with its own bar nearby. On many Royal Caribbean vessels, on the other hand, the onboard Solarium for ages 16-plus has its own pool and extra space to find peace and quiet.

Carnival's Serenity relaxation area is included for guests. While Royal Caribbean's Solarium is typically also included, on certain sailings there is restricted access by fare class.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Shore excursions

Getty Images

Shore excursions offered by cruise lines are largely operated by third-party companies and are often the same across brands. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean boast a broad selection of excursions in destinations around the world, from snorkeling and scuba tours in the Caribbean to city tours, horseback riding, cooking classes and more.

Both cruise lines offer private and custom tours you can book through your ship as well.

Compare cruises on GoToSea .

Private island experiences

Royal Caribbean and Carnival each have their own private island in the Bahamas , which is included in most itineraries to this part of the world. These private islands provide a fun beach escape for families to enjoy, whether you want to relax in the sun or take part in some of the available activities.

Royal Caribbean's private island, called Perfect Day at CocoCay, is the more impressive option due to everything it includes: a heart-thumping water park, its own wave pool, a zip line, a hot air balloon experience and overwater bungalows you can book for the day, among other offerings. Meanwhile, Carnival's Half Moon Cay has a unique beached pirate ship to explore – but fewer amenities overall.

Note that both private islands have plenty of beach space for guests to spread out and relax, as well as restaurants and bars. You can also book excursions on both private islands, which include activities like snorkeling and water sports.

Read: The Top Cruise Line Private Islands

Comparing costs across cruise lines can be tricky since fares and available sales vary throughout the year, as well as based on the vessel booked, the cruise itinerary, the number and age of travelers, and more. To get an idea of who wins on price, we looked for two similar cruises on comparable ships from Carnival and Royal Caribbean, then priced out an option for a family of four with two children ages 8 and 10. For the purpose of this comparison, we used seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises on Carnival Celebration and Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, both of which began sailing in 2022.

The Carnival Celebration itinerary from Miami stops in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico ; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands . By comparison, the Wonder of the Seas sailing leaves from Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten ; San Juan; and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

The chart below shows the total cost (including taxes and fees) for a family of four in January 2024 in both an ocean view and a typical balcony cabin across both cruise lines. Note that, for the purpose of this comparison, we selected the least expensive room option in each category.

Read: How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered cruises and other family travel for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 30 times across most of the major cruise lines and has ventured on itineraries around the world. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate this cruise line comparison.

You might also be interested in:

• Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Cruise
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans
• The Top Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
• How to Find Last-Minute Cruise Deals
• The Top Kids Sail Free Cruises

Tags: Travel , Cruises

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

Flight canceled or delayed what to do.

Amanda Norcross April 26, 2024

The Best Beach Hats

Megan Johnson and Sharael Kolberg April 26, 2024

The Best Florence Tours

John Rodwan April 25, 2024

The 9 Best Louisiana Swamp Tours of 2024

John Rodwan April 24, 2024

How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Gwen Pratesi April 24, 2024

The Best Whale Watching in Cape Cod

Lyn Mettler April 24, 2024

Best Whale Watching Tours in Maine

Marisa Méndez April 23, 2024

The Best Wineries in Napa Valley

April 23, 2024

The Best East Coast Beaches

April 19, 2024

The Best Carry-on Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 17, 2024

I stayed in a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's 2 newest and largest cruise ships. One was clearly better — and $900 cheaper.

• Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are Royal Caribbean's newest and largest cruise ships.
• I stayed in both of their balcony staterooms — a $130-per-person-per-day difference.
• Icon's pricier cabin looked more modern but lacked the functionality and comfort of Wonder's.

Do you know what $900 could buy you? More than three years of Netflix's premium plan, a new Gucci purse, or 2,059 spicy chicken McNuggets.

Or, in the case of Royal Caribbean's two largest and newest cruise ships , the cash could mean the difference between a cheap but functional balcony cabin and, ironically, a more expensive but less comfortable one.

Staterooms with balconies are the most popular cruise cabin category. After all, if you're going on a vacation at sea, wouldn't you want to be able to feel its breeze from your room?

But not all cabins with private outdoor spaces are created equal, even on two new mega-ships owned by the same cruise line.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in 2022 and its larger successor, Icon of the Seas, in January.

Royal Caribbean assigned me an ocean-view balcony cabin for both complimentary sailings, the longest of which was three nights on Icon.

Both ships are operating seven-night cruises around the Caribbean in 2024.

About 66% of Wonder's cabins fall under the 'balcony' category. On Icon, they make up half of the staterooms.

Wonder of the Seas' balcony cabins start shy of $1,110 per person in 2024.

Even with nearly identical itineraries, the ones on Icon are, at their cheapest, a little more than $2,000 per person this year — or double that for the a New Year's cruise.

Wonder and Icon are the most boisterous, flamboyant, and overwhelming vessels I've ever boarded.

The pool decks were intensely colorful, the crowds were inescapable, and the long lists of activities and dining options were paralyzing.

So imagine my surprise when I unlocked my doors to find surprisingly bland rooms.

The neutral tans, blues, and whites did not scream "we belong on the world's biggest and most colorful cruise ships."

The vessels have an almost two-year age difference, as evidenced by some of their decor (mainly Icon's recessed mood lights and the more chic, darker wood tones).

But besides the light fixtures, rugs, and — frankly negligible — wall art and pillows, both cabins were fairly underwhelming compared to everything outside their front doors .

Aesthetics aside, let’s talk functionality.

Both had furnished 50-square-foot balconies.

Regarding the interior space, my 204-square-foot cabin on Icon of the Seas was 22 square feet larger than mine on Wonder.

In retrospect, I would've thought Icon's was smaller. More on that in a bit.

Both king-sized beds faced a television and some wall storage.

And both were flanked by light fixtures with built-in USB outlets, as is expected on most modern cruise ships.

The cruise line says the ships' balcony cabins use two twin mattresses that have been "converted" to make a king bed. It's a common practice I've never had an issue with — until Icon.

On Wonder, the plush pillows enveloped me the moment I laid down. I slept great. No complaints.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the new ship.

I (my back pain) could feel the hard ridge where the two mattresses met, making for a pretty miserable and uncomfortable sleep.

So much for starfishing — I kept to one side of the bed to avoid rolling over the bony bump.

For the most part, the living “rooms” were the same.

Both had the same furniture I see on almost every mass-market ship: a couch that could convert into a bed and a desk that extended into a dresser.

But storage, a high priority for cruisers, was organized differently.

Two thin wardrobes with drawers, hangars, and shelves surrounded either side of my bed on Wonder .

Icon, on the other hand, had one large wardrobe next to the living room.

Unfortunately, it had noticeably less shelving. And the metal bins let out ear-piercing screeches at every move — a lazy and annoying detail that the designers could've easily fixed with cheap felt pads.

So far, the differences have been small. But not for long.

I had two gripes with my Wonder bathroom: the lack of hair conditioner and the ill-positioned faucet that flooded the counter whenever I washed my hands.

I had the same issues on Icon. But that was the least of my concerns.

My bathroom on the older ship was well-sized for 1 person, but maybe too small for 2.

On Icon — the world's largest cruise ship — my bathroom was too compact for even one body.

Michael Bayley, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told reporters in January that 80% of Icon's 2,805 cabins were designed for families, a sharp increase from previous vessels like Wonder.

I'm not sure a family of four could coexist in Icon's balcony cabin — solely because of the bathroom size. There's no way two people could fit in there simultaneously. A fight over who gets priority access to the toilet could ruin a peaceful family vacation! (Which is to say, I'm glad I was traveling alone.)

With the bathroom door closed, I accidentally elbowed the walls more times than I could count.

The spare towels had to be stored on a shelf inside the shower. Because the counter was so small, I had to keep most of my toiletries and products on the shelves or in the drawer.

Surprisingly, that's where Icon excelled. Its bathroom had more storage options than its older counterpart, which didn't even have a drawer.

However, the older ship's shower had a clothesline perfect for drying swimwear. It's a small but crucial amenity, especially on a vessel with so many pools and waterslides.

Unfortunately, both were stocked with two-in-one body wash and shampoo — and no hair conditioner

Let’s go through our checklist.

My balcony cabin on Wonder looked less modern than its successor (the TV on Icon had Chromecast, after all).

But it was significantly more functional and comfortable. The bed was incomparably more pleasant, the closets had more defined storage components, and the bathroom was considerably larger, even if it lacked additional shelving and drawers.

The question is: Which one is more worth its price?

Icon's cheapest balcony cabins are currently $900 more than the most affordable ones on Wonder — an almost $130 per person and day difference.

Based on the quality of the staterooms alone, if you prioritize functionality, comfort, and affordability over modern decor, consider saving money and going with the two-year-old ship .

But let’s not forget that cruise fares include unlimited food, on board activities, and nighttime entertainment.

Both ships have a fairly similar list of amenities. But only the newer one has a waterpark , an adult-only infinity pool club, and a swim-up bar, to name a few unique amenities.

So yes, Icon's balcony cabins are more costly. But the staggering price difference — and tiny bathroom — could be worth it if you think the its surplus of additional amenities is worth paying for.

• Main content

• Royal Caribbean International

All Access Ship Tour

By Sweetiepie3 , September 5, 2021 in Royal Caribbean International

Recommended Posts

Sweetiepie3

We purchased the all access ship tour for our Liberty of the Seas cruise in November. Has anyone been on this tour on one of the ships currently sailing since the re-start? If so, was it worth it? TIA!

Link to comment

Share on other sites, brevardcruiser.

Definitely worth it.  My son who was 9 at time and I did on oasis.   We both loved it.  Yes a bit pricey but loved it

not since COVID , but did tour on Freedom a couple of years ago , was wicked interesting , ton of free goodies ( robe , picture frame , stationary , etc ) 

I booked this tour for my cruise last week on Anthem of the Seas. They sent me an email saying that it wouldn't be running due to Covid and that it was listed in error so got money back. Should hopefully be on by November though. Many things such as the Key etc were not available last week. However they are listed for my April 2022 cruise.

bobmacliberty

Did it pre-Covid on Serenade so I can't comment on how it's different now.  I'd guess that masks would be required everywhere since you'll be near crew that aren't as often exposed to guests and maybe things would be a little different in the galley somehow?? This is all pure guesswork.  Thought it was definitely worth doing once, but probably won't do it again.  

Sunshine3601

I recall reading on some of the live reviews done this summer they were not allowing the All Access Tours to happen due to covid.    I could be wrong and/or that could change by November. 

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said: I recall reading on some of the live reviews done this summer they were not allowing the All Access Tours to happen due to covid.    I could be wrong and/or that could change by November. 

Yeah, they are suspended currently.

• 2 weeks later...

if they know they are suspended why are they selling them. i'm just 3 weeks out and it's still listed, it sounds like an accounting PITA to book these knowing they have to refund them. or do they need the funds for those few weeks?

I did the Liberty tour before Covid. Was interesting but not anything I would need to do again. Will maybe do one of the bigger ships one day.

• 1 month later...

DonnaMarieNJ

I know this is an old topic, but does the All Access tour get discounted if you are Diamond?

8 minutes ago, DonnaMarieNJ said: I know this is an old topic, but does the All Access tour get discounted if you are Diamond?

I don't think there are any C&A discounts on that tour.

1 hour ago, DonnaMarieNJ said: I know this is an old topic, but does the All Access tour get discounted if you are Diamond?

I don't know about C&A status but if you're interested in doing it keep checking the cruise planner as the tour is often discounted by a small amount during sales. During the most recent sale, I got it for Odyssey for next May at $95 whereas the regular cruise planner price has been swinging back and forth between 99 and 119.

I remember doing a free one on Explorer that was advertised on the compass and was open to all passengers  (obviously limited places but no other restrictions and no charge). I remember seeing the backstage area of the theatre and we got to visit the bridge too. Of course this was waaaaay back in day, would have been either 2002 or 2005. Pretty sure we didn't get to go in the galley but my recollection of it is a bit fuzzy now.

It's not something I would normally put my hand in my pocket for but I was enticed by the fact that Odyssey is new and high-tech. 

AustinCruise

I doubt any of this will be run with covid, but if you’re a suite guest, ask the concierge if they have any tour opportunities. 

Thank you everyone

On 10/27/2021 at 1:26 PM, FionaMG said:   I don't know about C&A status but if you're interested in doing it keep checking the cruise planner as the tour is often discounted by a small amount during sales. During the most recent sale, I got it for Odyssey for next May at $95 whereas the regular cruise planner price has been swinging back and forth between 99 and 119.

I just booked the access tour for our 11/19/2021 seven day from LA to Mexico on the Navigator for $74.99 each. Hope it's a go!

• 9 months later...

On 10/28/2021 at 7:45 PM, Wink87 said: I just booked the access tour for our 11/19/2021 seven day from LA to Mexico on the Navigator for $74.99 each. Hope it's a go!

@Wink87 I know this is an old post, but did you go on this tour?

2 hours ago, BazingAu said: @Wink87 I know this is an old post, but did you go on this tour?

Unfortunately, no. It was cancelled due to "covid concerns."  I hear it's an eye opening experience and if it is offered on our 2 cruises this year, I will certainly sign up.

Kellie in Texas

I've been checking and just today the All Access Tour showed up for our Adventure 12/31/2022 cruise out of Galveston. I booked it pronto. We had this tour booked on Serenade for June 2020 but of course that cruise never happened; once it was rescheduled for this past June, they weren't doing these tours yet. It was 10% off in the cruise planner but still $133 per person, but it's two hours long and should be very interesting. 

cruisegirl1

The tour is listed on two upcoming Harmony September cruises. It is  in the low $100 range.  

The complimentary bridge, backstage and galley tour offered to suite guests, pinnacle and upper end D+ have not returned.  

Try to watch “the secret life of the cruise“ on prime TV. It shows all of those areas and is quite well done

Booked it two weeks ago when it showed up for our next cruise on Voyager - $97pp.  It sold out quickly.

Its listed in the planner for my Symphony cruise in December for $179, lol. I thought $158 during the Labor Day "sale" was a bit pricey. OMG! 

Pretty sure when we did it on Symphony Summer 2018 it was $109 or $119.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Friday at 07:21 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 03:17 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:15 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:00 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 10:41 AM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Royal Caribbean Lifts Profit View Again on Cruise Boom, Higher Prices

FILE PHOTO: Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, is docked at Costa Maya Cruise Port, in the village town of Mahahual, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, February 6, 2024. REUTERS/Paola Chiomante/File Photo

By Juveria Tabassum and Doyinsola Oladipo

(Reuters) -Royal Caribbean Group on Thursday raised its annual profit forecast for a second time, after record bookings during the first quarter and higher ticket pricing boosted its results, sending its shares 4% higher premarket.

Soaring demand for vacations at sea has given cruise operators ample room to raise ticket prices as the industry looks to close the pricing gap between more expensive land-based holidays and give their profits a lift.

Royal Caribbean also beat expectations for quarterly profit and revenue, with half of its yield growth coming from higher ticket pricing.

"Our existing fleet along with our new ships continue to perform exceptionally well, highlighted by the market response to the launch of Icon of the Seas," said CEO Jason Liberty.

The company now expects annual adjusted profit between $10.70 and $10.90 per share, compared with its earlier forecast of $9.90 to $10.10.

The Celebrity Cruises operator carried 2.05 million passengers in the quarter, nearly 14% higher year-over-year. It also reported record demand during the "wave season" - a period marked by special cruise deals and discounts for the year.

That helped its quarterly revenue of $3.73 billion surpass expectations of $3.69 billion, according to LSEG data.

Higher ticket prices have helped shield the company from slightly steeper net cruise costs expected this year due to increased dry dock days, as well as an impact from canceled voyages to the Red Sea amid tensions in the region.

The company expects net cruise costs excluding fuel to increase about 5.5% for the year, up from its earlier forecast for a rise between 3.75% to 4.25%.

Royal Caribbean's adjusted earnings per share of $1.77 beat market expectations of $1.33.

"I remember owning the stock in 2022 and every client was giving me grief about it," said Peter Ahluwalia, manager at Belinvest Global Equity Fund that holds Royal Caribbean stocks and chief investment officer at Swiss Partners Group. "We're turning almost 45% return on equity at the moment, which is quite incredible."

Shares of the company have risen 126% to about $137 in the past year.

(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Devika Syamnath)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

Tags: United States

The Best Financial Tools for You

Credit Cards

Personal Loans

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to get investing advice, rankings and stock market news.

See a newsletter example .

You May Also Like

Pros and cons of fee-only advisors.

Kate Stalter April 29, 2024

Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy for Income

Wayne Duggan April 29, 2024

10 Best Low-Cost Index Funds to Buy

Tony Dong April 29, 2024

5 Sectors Where Inflation Is Highest

10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2024

Wayne Duggan April 26, 2024

7 High-Risk, High-Reward Stocks to Buy

Jeff Reeves April 26, 2024

5 Best Gold ETFs for 2024

Coryanne Hicks April 26, 2024

Green Hydrogen Stocks and ETFs

Matt Whittaker April 26, 2024

Best Tax-Free Muni Bond Funds

Tony Dong April 25, 2024

Bitcoin Runes 101: Bitcoin Meme Coins

Wayne Duggan April 25, 2024

7 Best High-Dividend ETFs to Buy Now

Glenn Fydenkevez April 25, 2024

What to Know About Sweep Accounts

Brian O'Connell April 24, 2024

Best Charles Schwab Mutual Funds

Tony Dong April 24, 2024

6 Best Airline Stocks to Buy

Coryanne Hicks April 24, 2024

7 Best Long-Term ETFs to Buy and Hold

Jeff Reeves April 24, 2024

7 Best Electric Vehicle ETFs to Buy

Tony Dong April 23, 2024

Best Beginner Investing Books

Julie Pinkerton April 23, 2024

Are There Any Tax-Free Investments?

Marguerita Cheng April 23, 2024

8 Best Defense Stocks to Buy Now

Wayne Duggan April 22, 2024

7 Best Energy ETFs to Buy Now

Tony Dong April 22, 2024

Previewing: Promo Dashboard Campaigns

• Find a Cruise​ Cruise Deals Cruise Ships​ Destinations​ Manage My Cruise​ FAQ Weekend Cruises Crown & Anchor Society​ Royal Caribbean Blog Perfect Day Island Collection Royal Caribbean Group
• Back to Main Menu
• Search Cruises " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-1-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/aus/en/cruises/" target="_self"> Search Cruises
• Cruise Deals
• Short Cruises
• Last Minute Cruises
• Family Cruises​
• First Time Cruisers
• 2024-2026 Cruises
• Cruising Guides
• All Cruise Ships " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-3-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/aus/en/cruise-ships" target="_self"> All Cruise Ships
• Deck Plans​
• Cruise Dining ​
• Onboard Activities
• Cruise Rooms
• The Cruise Experience​
• All Cruise Destinations " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-4-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/aus/en/cruise-destinations" target="_self"> All Cruise Destinations
• Cruise Ports​
• Shore Excursions​
• Perfect Day Island Collection
• South Pacific Cruises​
• New Zealand Cruises​
• Australia Cruises​
• Vanuatu & Fiji Cruises​
• Mediterranean Cruises​
• Transpacific Cruises​
• Cruise Planner
• Book a Hotel
• Check-In for My Cruise
• Make a Payment
• Redeem Cruise Credit
• Update Guest Information
• Beverage Packages​
• Dining Packages​
• My Account​
• All FAQs " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-6-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/aus/en/faq" target="_self"> All FAQs
• Boarding Requirements
• Travel Documents
• Check In & Boarding
• Future Cruise Credit
• Transportation
• Beverage Packages
• Crown & Anchor Society
• Royal Caribbean
• Celebrity Cruises

All Access Tour

{{dresscode }}

Restrictions

{{experience.ageRestriction}}

{{experience.heightRestriction}}

{{experience.weightRestriction}}

{{experience.ageRange}}

How to reserve

{{experience.howToReserve}}

How to purchase

{{experience.howToPurchase}}

{{info.title}}

{{info.body}}

My Personas

Code: ∅.

More From Forbes

How to see the best of northern europe on a scandinavian cruise.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Cruise ship passengers enjoy the view of Sweden’s Stockholm archipelago from the Royal Caribbean ... [+] ship ‘Serenade of the Seas.’

If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the culture of the Vikings or explore what makes people in the Nordic region the so-called happiest on earth, you could do a lot worse than book a Scandinavian cruise.

Scandinavia—and Norway in particular—is an expensive place to travel around, so a cruise can make financial sense for those seeking an introduction to the region. For one price, you get your travel, accommodation, meals, and entertainment covered.

Such a trip offers the opportunity to sample various Scandinavian travel highlights , whether you prefer the Scandinavian capitals, the stunning Norwegian fjords, or soaking up the atmosphere of beautiful islands and historic ports in the Baltic Sea.

Popular Scandinavian Cruise Itineraries

Many different types of itinerary can be advertised as Scandinavian cruises. Typically, they focus on the Nordic capital cities. Some may also include the highlights of the Baltic Sea region, including the Baltic countries and ports in the north of Germany and Poland.

With popular Norwegian fjords cruises together with midnight sun and northern lights tours to the north of Norway also available, there is a lot of diversity in Scandinavian cruises.

Scandinavian Capitals : Cruise itineraries starting in the U.K. or Germany and calling in at two or even all three of Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen have long been popular.

WhatsApp Brand New iPhone Feature Just Launched That’s Much Easier To Use

Earth s new second moon is as big as the statue of liberty and scientists just found its origin, new apple id password reset issue hitting iphone ipad and macbook users.

The Nyhavn district of Copenhagen, Denmark, is a popular destination for cruise ship passengers ... [+] visiting Scandinavia.

Helsinki is often included on such itineraries. If you want to explore modern Scandinavia while gaining access to some of the region’s best museums, such an itinerary is a perfect choice.

Such itineraries tend to be shorter, and are a great introduction to both cruising and Scandinavia, with limited sea days and plenty to see and do while in port.

Baltic Sea : Longer Scandinavian itineraries often include stops at Baltic Sea islands and ports. The beautiful Estonian capital city, Tallinn, or the Latvian capital, Riga, are particular highlights, as are ports on the northern coastline of Germany and Poland.

For those interested in Viking history, look out for smaller ship itineraries featuring Visby on the wonderful island of Gotland .

One such trip is this 12-night itinerary from Celebrity Cruises, which includes a visit to both Visby and Tallinn. Other highlights include a visit to Stockholm and Copenhagen, including an overnight stop in the latter.

The old city walls of Visby on Gotland island, a popular cruise port.

Norwegian Fjords : By far the most variety can be found in the Norwegian fjords region , with almost all major cruise lines operating at least some itineraries here. Although port calls in Flåm and Geiranger will soon be severely limited, many alternative ports will still be able to welcome some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

Whether you prefer the action-packed ships of Royal Caribbean or MSC, or the smaller ships that can sail along narrower fjords, there will be a Norwegian fjords itinerary for you.

Following the recent rise in popularity of the region as a cruising destination, the fjords season has extended, with trips available as early as April and as late as September.

British line P&O Cruises operates its relatively new megaship Iona in the fjords region for much of that period, with regular departures from Southampton on a popular 7-day itinerary.

Midnight Sun : Although all summer cruises in the region will experience long summer days, specific midnight sun itineraries set sail for the far north of Norway to let guests experience the thrill of being outside with the sun in the sky at midnight. Many of these trips visit Honningsvåg, which allows guests to travel by bus to the North Cape.

Northern Lights : In recent years, Scandinavia—or more specifically Norway—has become a year-round cruising destination thanks to the growth in popularity of northern lights cruises .

Aurora borealis in the sky seen from a cruise ship in Arctic Norway.

These itineraries can be found heading north of the Arctic Circle between October and early April.

Planning Tips For Scandinavian Cruises

Cruising in Northern Europe offers a fantastic variety of excursions and experiences, from historical city tours to adrenaline-filled outdoor adventures.

The region’s love of the outdoors lifestyle means active experiences are easy to find, both through cruise line excursions and independent operators.

The high levels of English comprehension across the region means booking your own activities and exploring ports independently is much easier than in many other parts of the world. Even so, look for independent tours that take place earlier in the day to reduce any time-related risk.

No matter when you visit Scandinavia, pack for all weathers. The height of summer can be marred by heavy rainfall, while it’s possible to get sunburnt in the snow-covered conditions of February and March.

Pack a versatile wardrobe. Layered clothing accommodates the region's variable weather, while specialized gear might be necessary for specific excursions.

Cruising And Sustainability

Prospective travelers should be aware of environmental concerns associated with cruising in this pristine region. The industry is moving towards sustainability, with initiatives to introduce zero-emission vessels in sensitive areas, particularly the UNESCO-listed Norwegian fjords .

Some local initiatives protesting against cruise travel have also gathered momentum, so cruisers should be aware of these issues before setting foot ashore.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions