Royal Caribbean is among the top cruise lines in the world (perhaps the most famous of all) and is loved by millions of passengers.
However, over the years, some perks and services have been swept softly under the rug.
If you’re a frequent Royal Caribbean traveler, you must’ve already noticed a few of these changes. But even if you haven’t cruised with them in recent years, it’s worth being aware of these changes.
From housekeeping systems to dining options, some of them make sense to me, while others leave me puzzled, and I think it’s the same for other loyal passengers as well.
In this article, we will see eight things Royal Caribbean has quietly taken away. Let’s see if you’ve noticed!
1. Complimentary Room Service
What once was a major perk of cruising with Royal Caribbean, free food delivery service, is now a paid option.
Now, most room service orders come with a flat service fee of $7.95 per order plus an 18% gratuity (regardless of how much you order).
The only exception is the complimentary continental breakfast, which remains free for guests.
This still allows for some convenience in the lazy mornings. However, the additional charges for other meals and snacks have disappointed many loyal cruisers.
So, instead of enjoying late-night snacks or meals at no extra cost, guests are encouraged to consider dining in the main restaurants or buffets.
2. Unlimited Lobster Tails on Formal Nights
Lobster on the formal night used to be one of the most anticipated events on Royal Caribbean cruises.
It was a very luxurious perk, and years ago, you could indulge in an unlimited number of lobster tails at no additional cost.
Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean has scaled back this offering. While lobster is still available during formal nights on select itineraries, it’s now limited to a single portion per guest. That said, a second entrée is still a free-of-charge option.
As for those wanting additional servings of lobster, an extra fee applies (usually $16.99 plus an 18% gratuity for each one).
Am I surprised? Not much; in this case, I think it’s an understandable choice, considering the cost of lobsters.
3. Daily Housekeeping
Daily housekeeping has always been a huge part of the Royal Caribbean experience. Normally, the cruise line used to offer this service twice a day.
They would make sure your room was tidied up and refreshed once in the morning and once more in the evening.
Sadly, the policy has recently moved toward reducing this service to once a day on many ships.
I have seen complaints from several passengers on social media, but I believe it’s a change that does not impact the quality of the cruise.
It’s interesting to note that suites still benefit from the twice-a-day housekeeping service, plus some other remarkable benefits.
4. Free Midnight Buffets
The midnight buffet was a signature feature of Royal Caribbean, it offered cruisers a late-night feast. It was a wonderful experience, with beautifully presented dishes and extravagant displays of finger food.
Sad to say, this beloved tradition has been phased out too. Today, you can still find late-night snacks at cafés, but the grand buffet event is no longer part of the journey.
In this case, I am sorry that it’s gone. I think it was a really nice thing and it could have stayed even just for a single night.
Cruise lines tend to say that it’s to reduce food waste, but as you can imagine, it is also to reduce expenses.
5. Loyalty Program Benefits
If you’ve traveled with Royal Caribbean, you probably know the Crown and Anchor Society, their popular loyalty program.
It offers perks like discounts, priority services, small gifts, and exclusive experiences. However, over time, some of these benefits were reduced or taken away.
For example, free internet was replaced with just a smaller discount if you buy one of the internet packages.
Discounts on onboard shopping and dining have also seen a huge decline. Nowadays, Gold, Platinum, and Emerald members receive a 10% discount only on purchases of $25 or more.
6. Signature Entertainment Shows
Royal Caribbean ships really offered world-class entertainment through their cruises.
You could have experienced Broadway-style productions and jaw-dropping shows. In recent years, some of these signature performances have been reduced or removed entirely on certain sailings.
One of the most notable changes is the termination of all DreamWorks-related programming. Back in the day, guests could enjoy meet-and-greets with characters like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar’s Alex the Lion.
Themed parades and character breakfasts made the cruise especially magical for families. However, in 2019, Royal Caribbean ended this partnership.
Just let me add that, despite this change, all cruise ships still offer fantastic in-house entertainment options (and in my opinion, Royal Caribbean offers the best shows at sea of all the cruise lines.).
7. Free Specialty Dining
Over the long years of operation, Royal Caribbean made many changes to the dining options available to passengers.
They removed some specialty corners from buffets and phased out a couple of restaurants here and there.
For instance, the “Jade” section in the Windjammer buffet (which offered Asian-inspired dishes and unlimited sushi rolls) is no longer available. Instead, there’s now an onboard specialty sushi restaurant, and it’s not free of charge.
Is it worth paying for them? It depends; if you have any doubts, I suggest you take a look at the article on things you should never buy on a cruise and things that are instead worth spending your money on.
BONUS POINT: In-Person Muster Drills
Before 2021, all Royal Caribbean ships had an in-person muster drill.
If you’ve never been on a cruise, it’s where passengers gather at their assigned stations to review safety procedures as a group.
Although a longstanding tradition, and actually a necessary one, it usually felt inconvenient and crowded.
As a modern approach, Royal Caribbean cruise ships have switched to what’s known as “e-muster drills.” Now, as a guest, you can complete the safety briefing individually through your room’s TV or mobile device and then check in at your assigned muster station.
Probably, this might be the only change that no one is disappointed to hear about.
I know they may seem expensive, but I have them, and I assure you they are fantastic. They are essential if you love traveling!
