Royal Caribbean International
Also called: RCI · RCL · RCCL
Parent company: Royal Caribbean Group
PremiumSee how Royal Caribbean International describes itself vs how we list it
What to say on a call
Best for
- 1Icon Class ships (Icon, Star, Legend of the Seas) are the largest cruise ships in the world, with a full waterpark (Category 6) and neighborhoods like the Surfside kids area and the AquaDome
- 2Crown & Anchor Society status matches one-for-one with Celebrity's Captain's Club and Silversea's Venetian Society once the member enrolls in those programs (allow up to seven days), and Points Choice lets members apply points from sailings departing on or after January 30, 2026 to the program they choose.
- 3Star Class suites come with a personal Royal Genie, plus the Deluxe Beverage Package, gratuities and VOOM internet included; Genie services cover only guests booked in the Star suite, not friends in other staterooms.
Payments & cancellations
Final payment
Per cruise line75 / 90 / 120 days by cruise length
Final payment must be received at least 75 days prior to sailing for 1-4 night cruises, 90 days prior for 5-14 night cruises, and 120 days prior for 15+ night cruises. Alternate schedule for reservations created on or after Sep 29, 2026 for Alaska, Hawaii, Transpacific, Panama Canal or Pacific Coastal sailings departing on or after Apr 11, 2028: 75 days (1-4 nights), 90 days (5-9 nights), 120 days (10+ nights).
Royal Caribbean's cancellation page moved to 5-9 / 10+ night bands for all bookings created on or after Oct 11, 2026, but its final-payment page names only the Sep 29 subset. Confirm the due date on the booking.
Deposit
Per cruise lineTiered by nights/cabin type, see rule_text
Standard cabins: $100 pp for 1-5 nights, $250 pp for 6-9 nights, $450 pp for 10-14 nights, $500 pp for 15+ nights. Bermuda sailings: $250 pp regardless of length. Suites: 10% of cruise fare or the standard deposit, whichever is higher. Reservations created on or after Sep 29, 2026 for Alaska, Hawaii, Transpacific, Panama Canal or Pacific Coastal sailings departing on or after Apr 11, 2028: $100 pp (1-5 nights), $250 pp (6-9), $450 pp (10+ nights, no $500 tier); Bermuda 5-night sailings $250 pp.
Cancellation penalties
Per cruise lineBookings from Oct 11, 2026: no charge 75+ days (1-4 nights), 90+ days (5-9 nights) or 120+ days (10+ nights) out; 100% at 30 days or less. Older bookings keep the earlier table.
Bookings created on or after Oct 11, 2026 (or on or after Sep 29, 2026 for Alaska, Hawaii, Transpacific, Panama Canal or Pacific Coastal sailings departing on or after Apr 11, 2028): 1-4 nights: no charge 75+ days out, 50% at 74-61 days, 75% at 60-31, 100% at 30 days or less. 5-9 nights: no charge 90+ days, 50% at 89-61, 75% at 60-31, 100% at 30 or less. 10+ nights (including holiday sailings and Cruisetours): no charge 120+ days, 50% at 119-61, 75% at 60-31, 100% at 30 or less. Bookings created before Oct 11, 2026: 1-4 nights as above; 5-14 nights: no charge 90+ days, 25% at 89-75, 50% at 74-61, 75% at 60-31, 100% at 30 or less; 15+ nights: no charge 120+ days, 25% at 119-75, 50% at 74-61, 75% at 60-31, 100% at 30 or less. Non-refundable deposit amounts are never refunded. Applies to US/Canada bookings.
Applies to: Bookings made in the US and Canada.
The schedule depends on when the booking was created: check the booking date.
Onboard extras & packages
Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.
- Gratuities (standard rooms)
- $18.50 USD per guest, per dayPer cruise line
- Gratuities (suites)
- $21.00 USD per guest, per dayPer cruise line
- Drink package
- Deluxe Beverage Package; price varies by sailing (not published)
- Premium drink package
- Price varies by sailing (not published)
- Soda package
- Classic Soda Package, per guest per day; price varies by sailing (not published)
- Non-alcoholic package
- Refreshment Package, per guest per day; price varies by sailing (not published)
- Wi-Fi (basic)
- VOOM internet; price varies by devices and package (not published)
- Wi-Fi (premium)
- VOOM High Speed Internet Package; price varies (not published)
- Specialty dining package
- Specialty dining packages (3 Restaurant / Unlimited Dining); price varies by ship and sailing (not published)
- Specialty dining (avg per meal)
- Specialty restaurants; price varies by venue and ship (not published)
- Fitness classes
- Paid fitness classes and Ultimate Class Pass; price varies (not published)
- Spa / thermal pass
- Thermal suite packages; price not published
- Air program
- Flights by Royal (formerly Air2Sea)Per cruise line
- Other fees & perks
- 18% gratuity added to beverages and beverage packages, specialty dining and dining packages, room service and minibar purchases; 20% on spa and salon servicesPer cruise line
Accessibility & special needs
- How to tell the cruise line
- The Guest Special Needs Form is temporarily unavailable: email the request to special_needs@rccl.com (subject 'Special Needs Request - [Reservation number] - [Ship] - [Sail date]') or call the Access Department at 866-592-7225, at booking and no later than 30 days before sailing; sign language interpreting needs 60 days' notice. Per cruise line
- Wheelchairs & scooters
- Guests can bring their own wheelchair or scooter or rent one through Scootaround or Special Needs at Sea; standard cabin doors are at least 23 inches wide, accessible cabin doors at least 32 inches, and devices must be stored and charged in the cabin. Wheelchair help is complimentary for boarding and leaving the ship only, and crew cannot lift assistive devices. Per cruise line
- Blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing
- Ships have braille/tactile signage and braille elevator buttons, and trained crew can read the Cruise Compass aloud; deaf or hard-of-hearing guests can request a stateroom alert kit, TTY, and ASL interpreters (60 days before sailing). Per cruise line
- Service animals
- Trained service dogs are welcome; tell the Access Department at booking and no later than 30 days before sailing if a relief area is needed, and the guest must get all port and destination animal documents. Emotional support animals and pets are not accepted. Per cruise line
- Medical equipment & pregnancy
- Guests who need oxygen must supply their own (all types permitted) and self-administered dialysis is welcome, with medical fridge, distilled water, and supply delivery available on 30 days' notice. Guests cannot sail if they will be more than 23 weeks pregnant at any point in the cruise. Per cruise line
Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.
Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium
Upgrade & suite ladder
entryJunior Suite (Sea tier of Royal Suite Class)
Per cruise lineSea tier (Royal Suite Class ships): dedicated check-in line, priority boarding, dinner at Coastal Kitchen based on availability
midSky Class Suites (e.g. Grand Suite, Owner's Suite)
Per cruise lineSky tier: concierge service, all-day Coastal Kitchen access, Suite Lounge, suite sun deck, VOOM internet (not for Sky/Sunset Junior Suites)
luxuryStar Class Suites
Per cruise lineRoyal Genie service, all-day Coastal Kitchen, complimentary dining at most specialty venues, Deluxe Beverage Package, gratuities and VOOM included
Loyalty program
Crown & Anchor SocietyPer cruise line
- 1Gold — 3 cruise points
- 2Platinum — 30 cruise points
- 3Emerald — 55 cruise points
- 4Diamond — 80 cruise points
- 5Diamond Plus — 175 cruise points
- 6Pinnacle Club — 700 cruise points
Guests may say
“Crown and Anchor”, “C&A”, “my Crown and Anchor number”
One-for-one Loyalty Status Match across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises (Captain's Club) and Silversea (Venetian Society). It is not automatic: a Crown & Anchor member enrolls in the other program via the Royal Caribbean or Celebrity website or app, and status can take up to seven days to appear; benefit exclusions apply. Separately, Points Choice lets members aged 18+ move points earned on a sailing to Captain's Club or Venetian Society (request up to 14 days after disembarking; sailings departing on or after January 30, 2026).
Military & veterans
Military rates are for active US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves and Canadian National Defense members, plus qualifying retirees, honorably discharged veterans (2+ years or 6 months in a war zone), and spouses of deployed or deceased members. Military ID or a DD-214 with photo ID must be shown at pier check-in, or the fare is re-priced.
It is a special rate on select sailings, not a fixed percentage discount. One stateroom per eligible person; all guests in that cabin get the rate. Terms also at https://www.royalcaribbean.com/terms-and-conditions/promotions.
How military rates work → PremiumAirport transfers
Royal Caribbean sells airport-to-pier transfers on embarkation and debarkation day only, whether guests fly on their own or with Flights by Royal; the transportation page does not say they are included. Buy through Reservations (1-800-327-6700) or as an option when booking air, ideally at least two weeks before sailing.
Which ports: Varies by port; see page.
What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.
Cruise family
Royal Caribbean Group
Loyalty between brands: Status match, tier for tier: Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Captain's Club, and Silversea Venetian Society. The source doesn't say whether Celebrity River (launching 2027) is included.
See the whole family →Good to know
Private destinations
Per cruise lineRoyal Caribbean's own destinations include Perfect Day CocoCay (Bahamas), the all-inclusive Royal Beach Club Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas) and Royal Beach Club Santorini; Royal Beach Club Lelepa (Vanuatu) opens October 2027.
Non-refundable deposit fares on every ship
Per cruise lineCheaper non-refundable deposit fares are sold fleet-wide. Before final payment, cancelling forfeits the whole deposit (other payments are refunded) and changes carry fees. Advisors must disclose NRD terms in ads and confirmations.
Moving a booking to or from an advisor
Per cruise lineAn advisor booking can move to another advisor or to Royal Caribbean direct only up to final payment, with a release letter. A direct booking can move to an advisor only within 30 days of being created, before final payment, and while it is not paid in full.
Kids' specialty dining pricing
Per cruise lineChildren 6-12 dine at specialty restaurants for $14.99, and children 5 and under eat free. Book before sailing; the kids' price is adjusted onboard.
Fitness center minimum age 16
Per cruise lineGuests must be 16 or older to use the fitness center. Fitness classes carry fees, can't be reserved before the cruise and vary by ship.
Agent insight
Best-value upgrade: Junior Suite. Star Class is the top pick for families wanting luxury on the biggest ships.
— Cruise Professional
Fleet
- Ships
- 30 ships sailing (Royal Caribbean counts 31, including Hero of the Seas, which debuts August 2027)Per cruise line
- Newest ship
- Legend of the Seas (Icon Class)Per cruise line
- Ship classes
- Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, Vision
Coming soon
All new ships- Hero of the SeasAugust 2027 · Miami, FL Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
Where they sail
Learn these regions
Last full review: 28 Sep 2026·Last updated: 7 Nov 2026
A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.
"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.
Something wrong or missing?
"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.
"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.