HERE’S HOW TO MAXIMIZE A WEEKEND GETAWAY CRUISE LIKE A PRO
Published on April 26, 2024
Can you remember the last time you spent your weekend doing something truly adventurous? Scrolling through your social media #wanderlust feed may feel like a break from reality, but when was the last time you actually ventured out and discovered someplace new or made a dent in your bucket list?
Still drawing a blank? It might be time to change up your routine and do something totally fresh and exciting. When it comes to earning bragging rights and shoring up vacation envy, nobody does it better than Royal Caribbean. Even if you don’t have many vacation days to spare, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to flex your own vacation hashtag on a weekend cruise aboard one of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified ships or the brand-new Oasis Class stunner, Utopia of the Seas. Whichever ship you choose to sail on, you can look forward to all kinds of game-changing onboard attractions, plus plenty of opportunities to lounge on Nassau’s postcard-perfect beaches, snorkel the colorful reefs off the coast of Grand Bahama Island, take off on a helium balloon ride or conquer the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean at our private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. Here are some pro-cruiser tips to help you make every moment of your weekend getaway count.
FIT IN MORE THRILLS WITH THESE TIME-SAVING TOOLS
Forget waiting in lines - Save time and start your vacation sooner when you check in with the Royal Caribbean International app. Make sure you check in before you get to the pier, so you can board the ship faster and start enjoying your epic weekend adventure right away.
You can also arrange most activities online ahead of your sailing using Cruise Planner. If you’re cruising to CocoCay, pre-reserve a ride to the highest vantage point in The Bahamas on Up, Up and Away helium balloon, save your spot on the adrenaline-amping Zip Line, and pre-purchase passes to Thrill Waterpark, where you’ll find 13 different waterslides, including the tallest in all of the Caribbean. And if you’re looking to unwind during your weekend vacation, you can book a spa treatment or reserve a private cabana in the island’s more laid-back zones, like Oasis Lagoon and Chill Island.
TIPS TO HELP YOU GET IN ON ALL THE AMAZING EATS ONBOARD
One of the great things about a cruise is that there are so many different dining options already included in your fare. During the day, head to spots like Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh, Dog House or Sorrento’s Pizza for fast, fresh grab-n-go fare that’s perfect for refueling in between adventures — just check out each ship’s dining options so you know what’s available ahead of your sailing. If your cruise is happening onboard the new Utopia of the Seas, you can look forward a slew of new dining concepts, including the elegant, multi-sensory concept, Royal Railway — Utopia Station and Izumi in the Park, a to-go sushi window serving up delicious sushi, hot gyozas and soft-serve bubble cones for guests on the go. Windjammer Café also offers a buffet of delicious dishes from around the world that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner — just breeze in and out any time you’re craving a meal.
And if you want to take your girls’ weekend, birthday trip, couple’s getaway or family vacation at sea to the next level, use Cruise Planner to pre-reserve seats at any specialty restaurants onboard, like Chops Grille or Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver. Even though specialty restaurants aren’t complimentary, you’ll still get to enjoy world class fare at an unbeatable value.
Whichever way you choose to dine, you have more time to enjoy all your weekend cruise has to offer, whether it’s a plunge along The Blaster, the longest stretch of slide ever suspended over water onboard Navigator of the Seas®, or a glow-in-the-dark laser tag battle onboard Allure of the Seas.
THE KEY TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY BAR ONBOARD
From tiki-inspired cocktails and kitschy-cool island vibes at The Bamboo Room, to craft brews served with a side of friendly competition at Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, there are lots of amazing bars onboard to keep you sipping all weekend long, so bring on the bar hop.
The best way to experience them all is with a Deluxe Beverage package, which gives you virtually unlimited options for cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, tea and more — all for one daily flat rate. You can reserve a Deluxe Beverage package and other beverage packages ahead of your cruise with Cruise Planner. Beverage packages are also valid on Perfect Day at CocoCay, so you can raise a Coco Loco to the best weekend ever while you’re onshore, too.
BROWSE THROUGH PLENTY OF AFFORDABLE WEEKEND GETAWAYS
Ready to book that bucket list weekend adventure? No matter what your budget or time frame, you’ll find no shortage of affordable weekend sailings to choose from all year long. Allure of the Seas offers three- and four-night getaways sailing from Port Canaveral and Miami with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, and Mariner of the Seas offers four- and five-night getaways sailing from Galveston with stops at Cozumel and Puerto Costa Maya.
Of course, the world is raving about the newest Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas. If you’re curious to experience all the hype for yourself in a long weekend, you can take advantage of three-night sailings from Orlando that call on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
