Royal Caribbean Cruises Reviews 

My girlfriend and I took a cruise on Royal carribean Odyssey of the sea out of Bayonne Nj February 7-15 2026. Was the worst cruise and experience. We have been cruiseing with Royal since 2019. Her luggage was lost on ship for two days to start. We got absolutely no help or assistance to find luggage. The room we had a balcony was filthy. We had to get our cabin attendant to clean bathroom n shower.the food in the windjammer is so bad and It is just getting worst each year. While on the ship we were so sick and tired of the excuses That we or I called Royal carribean and cancelled our 12 day carribean cruise that was booked for January 25 2027. Of course I got screwed out of the $900.00 deposit. Even though it was cancelled 11 mo the before sail date. It was well worth it as I will I NEVER ever sail with royal carribean again. They didn’t care or give a dame about anything I had to say when I called and cancelled our 1/25/2027 cruise. If I ran my business this way I would be in court every other week . Time to go back to all inclusive destinations. You get what u pay for .🙏💪🇮🇹

Utterly disgusting how they can take money from your account and not give it back, they have taken £352.53 as well as our bill amount

I have not stepped on board yet and have had the worst experience with Royal Caribbean so far. Have been on multiple cruises with other cruise lines and the shenanigans these people play are unbelievable. I paid my reservation balance 2 weeks prior to the due date. I wanted to add gratuity and pay upfront as well but couldn’t find the option anywhere online or on the app so I had to call to have it added. During the call I was told you can add it and pay anytime up to 48hrs before cruising. Tell me why my cruise was then cancelled a week later for non payment. Since they added gratuity to my reservation it cancelled my whole reservation even though the reservation amount was paid in full. I call to get the cruise reinstated… which after a 40 minute call they were able to do but my reserved dinner time could not be added as the dining team was unavailable so I was told I would get a call back later the same day to get this handled. NO CALL BACK so I had to call again and I was able to get the time added. Then I had to call back again because I realized we had also paid upfront for a WiFi package that now was $168 more than I paid. During this call the answer was to just buy it and if I see it cheaper I could call back to cancel the package to then rebuy it at the new lower price. After an hour of going back and forth on how they should honor the price I was told I needed to be called back in 24hrs because the needed to pull the phone call from when I added the gratuity to the account to make sure the representative did not tell me I had to pay the gratuity before the reservation due date or the whole reservation would cancel. 72hrs later NO CALL BACK… they tell you whatever to just get you off the phone. I had to call back to speak to another representative and explain the issues all over again… this rep though didn’t have any issue honoring the price nothing about having to listen to a call and was able to give us the wifi package at the original price paid. but where is the customer service?!? Why am I spending countless hours on the phone re-explaining the situation to get things added back on when the cruise shouldn’t have been cancelled in the 1st place. They play games with the pricing on add on items such as the WiFi package or drink package once you pay your balance. You can’t cancel at this point because you have to pay them to cancel so they know you are stuck with the reservation. Before my balance was paid the pricing was the same from the day I booked the cruise until payment was made, now everyday there’s a new “promotion” to get the most money but it’s never the same price as before you are stuck with the reservation.

Our cruise was cancelled 24hrs out from departure that we were planning for over a year, it's hard to not get mad at the cruise line for this and I'm not as they do not cancel trips easily.
What I am mad and frustrated at I still have not received 1 cent back of my promised 100% refund, some 10k as they tell me that it will be processed from the 6th Feb yes, the last day of the non-cruise, instead of the 25th Jan when it was officially cancelled.
If I did not have another cruise booked already so I can use the future cruise credits, I would not sail with Royal Caribbean again.
This is a large company holding onto millions of dollars that they owe customers for goods and services that were not supplied, earning big interest.
Pay my money back you owe me.

Didn’t go to either island as booked , we were stuck in a room with sewage smell and woke up every morning due to crew working on ship . Wouldn’t refund any money . They are a scam!!! Going to report to the federal maritime commission

Although the cruise itself was enjoyable, the guest services policies are NOT. I’ve said with 2 other lines and I’ve always had an issue with charges. However, with Royal Caribbean, if a charge is wrong, duplicated, or simply needs to be removed they DO NOT provide any receipt or proof the issue was rectified. They just say it will fall off on its own and you should just trust the process??? This is definitely a flaw in their process that needs ATTENTION!!! I’m battling a charges that should’ve “fell off” according to their reps.

Where to start. First day... I ordered an in room specialty package to help celebrate our anniversary. Arrived to find happy birthday stuff, so much for that romantic surprise. Couldn't find anywhere to sit around any of the pools including adult only area. All chairs where covered in towels. Approached a staff member that looked like management and basically told me they don't have the staff to monitor the chair hogs and so basically I either had to potentially get into a confrontation or go without a chair. We paid for the specialty dining. What a complete waste. A couple of the meals were simply ok but some of the others were disgusting. Best meal was the one meal in the main dining room. Was lied to at the customer service desk after doing one complaint after another about the aforementioned disappointments. Was told we would receive a future cruise credit that was non expiring. Well... that was a lie because they are only good for 1 year from being issued. Basically I feel like I was led to just to get rid of me. I then called after seeing that the cruise credit expired and wanted it corrected. That's when the customer service person informed me they do expire. I then complained to her about the terrible experience and she started there was nothing she could do since I accepted the credit while talking to the customer service rep on the ship. Which I then replied that I accepted a non expiring credit and that I was lied to and so no my expectations to resolve the issue was not met. They don't care. Took my money and ran. I'll most likely never sail royal caribbean again unless we are invited to join others going on a cruise but even then we would be reluctant.

Been on two cruises with them however flight was canceled due to snow event the travel insurance AON or Royal Caribbean would not pay out. They will give you the run around and avoid paying you I will never sail with these guys again.

If you enjoy the cruise experience Royal is better than Carnival. But be sure to cancel the greedy gratuity at guest svc and just tip cash so it goes to the workers and not RC. They even separated me from my family departing bc they had lost my cred card to charge the absurd mandatory gratuity. This is how you prevent return customers.

⭐ Absolutely the WORST experience with Royal Caribbean — I’m shocked this is even possible.

I booked my cruise on October 16 for a family vacation scheduled Nov 30–Dec 7. I paid $2,287 in full, the payment went through with no issues, and after about 15 days I even received my boarding ticket booklet. Everything looked perfectly smooth — we had been planning this trip for three months.

Then out of nowhere, when I logged in just to check arrival times, I see my entire reservation canceled. No call. No email. No notification at all. Just gone.

So I called Royal Caribbean and the explanation they gave me was honestly unbelievable:

“Your bank requested a cancellation and refund.”

Really? After 17 days? For a trip fully paid and confirmed?
I contacted my bank immediately — and guess what?
They never requested ANY cancellation or refund.

And this is where the situation turned from frustrating to outrageous.

I called Royal Caribbean 3–4 times, and every single time they pushed the responsibility onto my bank. At first they said refunds “take 14 days.” Well, it’s been over 30 days, and now their answer is still:

“Contact your financial institution.”

Even the supervisor couldn’t help — just repeated the same script.

And here’s the part that truly shows how little they care:
When I asked to simply rebook the same cruise, the same dates, the same ocean-view room that they canceled, they refused to honor the original price. Instead, they wanted $700 MORE for the exact same room.
So not only did they cancel my fully paid reservation without telling me, they tried to charge me extra to get it back.

This is honestly terrifying.
What if I had shown up at the port with my family — including my 2-year-old child — ready to board, only to be told my reservation was canceled behind my back? Can you imagine being stranded there, bags in hand, because of their mistake?

Royal Caribbean completely ruined what should have been a beautiful family trip — and they’re still refusing to own up to their error.

If this is how they treat fully paid, confirmed reservations… I will NEVER trust Royal Caribbean again.

I am writing this to share a difficult realization following the cancellation of my March 16, 2026, Celebrity Millennium sailing. After 15 years of loyalty to the Royal Caribbean Group, the handling of this situation has fundamentally changed how I view your brands.
My frustration is centered on a total lack of transparency and a series of broken promises. Being told my reservation was canceled for "inventory issues" is a vague explanation that provides no real understanding of why my booking was selected for removal. This lack of honesty makes it impossible to feel confident that if I book with you again, the same thing won't happen.
Furthermore, I feel a deep sense of betrayal regarding the travel reimbursement. During my initial calls, I was told repeatedly that any non-refundable travel expenses would be reimbursed as part of the compensation package. It was only after I spent weeks chasing management and submitting documentation that the goalposts were moved. To be told that Celebrity only covers "cancellation fees" and not the actual out-of-pocket cost of the flights feels like a deliberate reneging on a promise. If this had been communicated clearly from the start, it would have been one thing, but to label it a "miscommunication" after the fact is unacceptable.
For over a decade, I have been a vocal advocate for your cruise lines. However, after being treated as a transaction and subjected to inconsistent management, that trust has been eroded. While I am not ending my relationship with Royal Caribbean Group entirely, you are no longer my exclusive choice for vacations.
This experience has prompted me to actively explore other cruise lines for our future travel. I no longer feel the same confidence in recommending your brands to friends and family, as I can no longer guarantee they will be told the truth or that the company will stand by its word.

Company's website is very poorly designed. Needs updating, more options to choose from and easier navigation for online users.

They had HORRIBLE customer service! We had to be on the ship the WHOLE time due to their changing the place we wanted to go and making us go to NASSAU. It was the WORST cruise EVER! They got my account mixed up and it took 4 MONTHS for them to help fix it. I will NEVER cruise them again!!!

Nickle and dime you to death, horrible wait times for a drink at casino, excursion cancelation policy is trash, just stay away from this cruise line had way better experience on carnival and carnival being way more affordable, usually more you pay better experience and amenities you get while amenities you get are more due to their larger ships everything else goes down the tube they had only one complimentary restaurant open 24/7 which i find disgusting for the price you pay.

DO NOT BOOK WITH THEM. Significantly changed our itinerary months before departure, refusing to give a refund or correspond over email.

Please beware of the RC discounts...they are not as they appear....They advertise but discreetly the price mounts up...Several discounts I complained about...to which RC will always have an explanation to justify why it doesnt apply🙄!!...So then why advertise...Just be honest about the Price at the offset!!...
Our onboard credit was also reduced...God knows...something to do with changing rooms!!...
We also lost a destination, no reduction, and still charged the same price?? We sailed over New year and they knew from August, Haiti was not an option, but did not replace with an alternative port.
Cruises are far too full, at no time could you find sun beds anywhere on deck, or in the solarium.
Staff are lovely...but we had a member of staff in the main dining room tell us staff do not get sick leave or sick pay...and from the overall impression the staff are not overly appreciated in their roles...
tbh best part is balcony room and views of sea at night... not sure about the raving reviews you read 🤷...
Shows are fantastic...highly professional...great to watch!!...People around the world so friendly 😊!!...
Was it worth best part of £6-7k just for RC...certainly not for 7 days...maybe a 2 week cruise!!...
RC is raking it in...
But we did have a Good time, and memories.. Maybe because we spent time several days in orlando 1st, then used Brightline train to miami.
Getting to miami cruise port is a nightmare in traffic, allow at least 1hr 30 mins!!.....
I understand any other port in usa is better fld & orlando..
We also saw a women walking bare foot outside the Brightline train station, which I believe the area is extremely deprived...ironic these megacruise ship dock in such a deprived area.
There are no cash machines to use when you get the RC port..so bring dollars to tip porters, as we didnt have any!!
Issue with RC is they do not hold themselves accountable when they mess up..and refuse to acknowledge customer dissatisfaction because they are making money big bucks from loyal and wealthy customers!!

Royal Caribbean issued me a credit for a cruise I had to cancel. I was told originally that they would refund the money I had paid toward the cruise but that was a lie. Weeks went by and no refund. Finally about 4 weeks later I was issued a refund without my $500 deposit that Royal Caribbean was keeping. I argued until finally they issued a credit. A credit that I have not been able to apply on any cruise. Now its a year later and they will not extend the expiration date that I will lose my deposit. They have given me the run around for almost a year and just want to keep my $500 deposit. Shame on you! I will never travel on Royal Caribbean. Beware! Liars and thieves! I have been on the phone with them for hours and hours. Such a waste of time!

I honestly want to give less than a star. Because I'm highly dissatisfied. This is my first time ever cruising with Royal. I was really excited to book this cruise, having heard that it is one of the better cruise lines. However, upon booking my cruise and making my payments, they changed the entire itinerary of the trip, removing two islands, I specifically wanted to go to without compensation. To change or cancel the cruise, I would have to pay an additional amount. I was told that they have the right to change the itinerary at any point in time. I am highly dissatisfied, I will never cruise with Royal again. I was going to spend a thousand dollars on excursions with them, which I won't be doing.

DO NOT RECOMMEND ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Let me be clear before the defenders pile on. I understand medical emergencies happen and the guest’s health should always come first. That is not the issue.

The issue is Royal Caribbean’s complete lack of contingency planning and accountability.

Because of a medical emergency, our ship turned around, returned to Miami, and sat docked for roughly 8 hours, impacting more than 4,000 passengers. After that, Royal Caribbean downgraded our itinerary by canceling Grand Cayman, the primary reason majority of us booked this cruise, and replaced it with Freeport, Bahamas, after we had already been to Nassau earlier in the trip.

If the situation allowed for an 8 hour return to Miami, it is fair to ask why no alternative medical evacuation options were pursued earlier, or why the entire ship had to absorb the consequences of poor decision-making. Helicopters, intercept vessels, coordination with authorities, something. Royal Caribbean is a multibillion dollar company, not a mom and pop cruise line.

What really sealed this as unacceptable was the response afterward. No ownership. No meaningful compensation. Just a canned “sorry, this is out of our control.” That excuse doesn’t fly when customers paid for a specific itinerary and that itinerary was materially changed.

Emergencies are unpredictable. Planning for them is literally Royal Caribbean’s job.

This was my first and last Royal Caribbean cruise.

If Grand Cayman matters to you, or if you expect transparency and accountability when things go wrong, think twice before booking with Royal Caribbean.

I've been on more than 20 cruises in my life. I'd say about 3/4 of them were with Carnival. Carnival is usually a little cheaper, but Royal Caribbean has some incredible giant ships that are different than Carnival. I can tell you one thing about Royal Caribbean, if you get sick on their cruise and it's due to their food, they'll give you one free trip to the clinic with some medication. If you need any more medical assistance after that during your cruise, they will charge you a fortune. They did that to my girlfriend who got food poisoning from a sunny side egg in the morning. Of course they didn't want to admit that it was from their food, but it happened about three hours after she ate and she did not eat anything anywhere else when the symptoms started. She had to get intravenous antibiotics every six hours for three days. They wound up charging my account over $2200 for this service. The doctor in the clinic said my girlfriend would've died if they didn't give her this intravenous antibiotic. One of the nurses felt bad and she went against the regulations and removed about $1000 in charges, but left a balance of about 1200.
My girlfriend's Humana insurance would not pay the claim because they claimed it was not a hospital emergency room. When you are in the middle of the ocean, that is an emergency room by all means.
My girlfriend had to sue her Humana and they wound up paying the claim to settle it. But I thought Royal Caribbean was really bad not paying that medical service considering the doctor knew it was their food that did it.