Travel trends, week 42: Royal Caribbean groups, first cruise and adults-only resorts

Why is there no wiggle room on price for a big Royal Caribbean group?

New this week

A family organizing a sailing for about fifty people is finding that the balcony price for a summer departure feels high, and that calling the cruise line directly didn’t loosen anything. It’s their first trip this big, so they can’t tell what’s normal.

Here’s my take. Summer is peak demand, so firm pricing on family-sized cabins isn’t unusual. The better questions are about what you get for the money: cabin category, where everyone sits on the ship, and what perks come with a group. I’d also ask whether a different week or ship changes things. If you’re curious how we run a group sailing from start to finish, here’s our spring break 2027 group page.

Next step: Tell me about your group and I’ll look at options

How do I plan port days on my first cruise without overdoing it?

New this week

First-timers are asking how much to plan for port days: whether to book excursions or just go with the flow, what to do when a stop is only a few hours, and how to choose a line when the budget, group and wish list are all different.

My advice is to pick one or two stops you care about and plan those, then leave the rest loose. A short port call changes what’s realistic, so check the all-aboard time before you fall in love with a tour. A beach day is a perfectly good plan. For choosing the line itself, here’s how I walk first-time clients through it.

Next step: Take the Cruise Match quiz to find your line

How do I choose an adults-only all-inclusive that’s actually relaxing?

New this week

Couples are sorting through a pile of adults-only all-inclusive options for honeymoons, milestone birthdays and long weekends, and the reviews contradict each other. Most want clean, updated rooms, a good beach, food that’s actually good, and a little nightlife, often on a tighter budget than the resorts assume.

Decide first whether you want quiet or lively, because that sorts the list faster than any rating. Then look hard at room category, since a private, comfortable room is where a relaxed trip is won or lost. Food also varies a lot between resorts, so I read recent first-hand reviews before I trust a brand name. My adults-only all-inclusive guide is where I’d start.

Next step: See how I plan honeymoons and couples trips

What’s a good family cruise if the kids love big water slides?

New this week

Parents who’ve sailed Royal Caribbean and loved the slides, climbing walls and pools want to know what comes closest on another line. Others are trying to fit teens, little ones and grandparents onto one sailing, or picking a ship that departs from somewhere easy to reach.

I’d start with what your kids actually spend the day doing, then match ships to that. Several lines have real water parks now, and MSC World America is one I’d look at for a family that wants a big one, so here’s the sailing we have open. A larger family with mixed ages does best on a ship that gives everyone a place to go.

Next step: Match your family to a ship with Cruise Match

Is Norwegian a good fit if I’ve mostly sailed other lines?

New this week

First sailings on Norwegian are on a lot of minds, whether it’s a Haven anniversary, a honeymoon or a quick decision during a sale. A few people are also untangling account mix-ups after booking.

My experience is that Norwegian’s relaxed dining and big choice of restaurants suit people who dislike set schedules, and that’s worth weighing against what you liked elsewhere. Don’t let a sale clock rush a ship you haven’t researched. Make sure the loyalty number on your booking matches the one you’ll use, because fixing that later can be a headache. My first impressions of Norwegian Luna give a feel for the line.

Next step: Ask me to compare Norwegian options for you

How far ahead should I plan a bachelor or bachelorette trip?

New this week

Whoever ends up organizing these trips is usually doing it alone, for nine guys or a dozen friends, and wondering how early to start. Many are choosing between Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Punta Cana on a per-person budget that has to stretch.

Earlier than feels necessary, in my experience. Get a firm headcount, agree on a rough budget in writing, and pick one person to hold the list so details don’t scatter in a group chat. Then choose a resort that matches how the group actually spends a day. Our all-inclusive resort partners are a good place to see options.

Next step: Send me your headcount and ideal dates

Can only one person in the cabin buy a drink package?

New this week

Travelers keep asking about drink packages when one person drinks and the other doesn’t, or when someone mostly wants soda, coffee or mocktails. A few were also tripped up by a discount that sounded bigger than the final price per person.

Whether everyone in a cabin has to buy the same package depends on the line and can change, so confirm before you count on it. Judge any offer by the price per person, not the headline discount. A coffee card or soda deal often fits a light drinker better than a full package. I walk through where extras add up in my real-cost breakdown.

Next step: Ask me to run the numbers on your sailing

Is that cruise check-in email real, and why did my boarding time shift?

New this week

Pre-cruise check-in is causing headaches: spammy emails asking for card details on a fully paid trip, security photos that get flagged, flight fields that can’t find an airline, and boarding times that shift on linked cabins.

Don’t enter card details from an email you didn’t expect. Open the cruise line’s own app or site and see whether check-in shows complete. Boarding windows can move, so if linked cabins end up with different times, call the line and ask which one to follow. If something just won’t save, call rather than guess, and I’m happy to make that call with you. My first-time cruise guide covers more of this.

Next step: Message me if something looks off before sailing

Will the food at a family all-inclusive in Mexico be any good?

New this week

Families with toddlers, young kids and sometimes grandparents are choosing between Mexico resorts and keep landing on the same worry: the food. They also want a real beach, a water feature for the little ones, and rooms that feel updated, while reviews contradict each other.

I’d trust recent, specific details over star ratings, and I’d ask what the buffet and restaurants are like at odd hours, since small kids don’t eat on a schedule. All-inclusive doesn’t mean everything is included, so know what’s extra before you compare. My breakdown of what all-inclusive really includes is worth a read first.

Next step: Share your family’s ages and I’ll narrow it down

Is a Carnival sailing to Mexico from the West Coast a good first cruise?

New this week

West Coast sailors are weighing Mexico runs out of Long Beach and San Pedro, asking about rough seas, whether Cabo or Catalina is the better stop, and how to pick a cabin that’s quiet and easy on motion sickness. Some are also planning a first cruise with a parent.

I can’t promise calm water on any sailing, but a cabin low and toward the middle moves least, so start there. Choose ports by how much walking everyone can handle, and keep plans simple for older relatives. Give yourself extra time getting to any busy port on embarkation day. My list of common first-time mistakes is worth a read too.

Next step: Tell me your sailing and I’ll suggest cabin spots