Heading on your first Royal Caribbean cruise this April? Avoid the most common rookie mistakes with this complete guide — from pre-booking dining to what Reddit veterans wish they’d known before boarding.
A traveler on Reddit’s r/royalcaribbean posted a simple question a few weeks before their April sailing: “I’ve never cruised before — what do I actually need to know?” The thread exploded with responses. Hundreds of experienced Royal Caribbean passengers piled in with everything from dining strategies to gratuity surprises to the one thing almost every first-timer regrets not bringing. This article is the distilled version of that collective wisdom.
The Biggest Mistake First-Timers Make Before They Even Board
Booking the cruise is the easy part. The mistake most first-timers make is doing nothing between booking and embarkation day. Royal Caribbean has an app and a pre-cruise planning portal, and if you ignore them, you’ll spend your first sea day standing in lines while more experienced passengers are already eating, drinking, and watching the wake disappear behind the ship.
The most critical pre-boarding task: reserve your specialty dining as early as possible. Royal Caribbean opens reservations 90 days before sailing for suite guests and Crown & Anchor loyalty members, and the top restaurants — Chops Grille, Wonderland, Giovanni’s — fill up fast. For first-timers without status, book the moment your window opens. Going in cold and hoping for walk-in availability in April (a busy travel month) will leave you disappointed.
Also book any onboard experiences that have time slots: the spa, the FlowRider, escape rooms, and premium shows. These are not unlimited-availability amenities. They sell out. Booking in advance is always cheaper than buying onboard.
Understanding What’s Actually Included
First-timers are often surprised to discover that the cruise fare covers less than they expected. The main dining room, buffet (Windjammer), entertainment, and most ship amenities are included. What’s not: specialty restaurants, most beverages (alcohol and specialty coffees), internet, shore excursions booked through the ship, gratuities, and anything sold in onboard shops.
Gratuities are the item that generates the most Reddit complaints. On Royal Caribbean, the standard daily gratuity is automatically added to your account — currently around $18–$20 per person per day on most ships. On a 7-night sailing, that’s $126–$140 per person. It’s not optional in the traditional sense (you can technically remove it, but it’s strongly discouraged and ethically complicated). Budget for it upfront so it doesn’t come as a shock on your final bill.
The beverage package question comes up in every first-timer thread. The Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package runs roughly $90–$110 per person per day. It makes financial sense if you’re drinking four or more cocktails, glasses of wine, or specialty coffees per day. If you’re a light drinker, it doesn’t. Run your own numbers honestly.
Choosing Your Cabin: What Reddit Actually Says
Interior cabins are the value play. First-timers often assume they need a balcony, but experienced cruisers on Reddit frequently point out that on an active cruise — where you’re at the pool, at dinner, at shows, on shore excursions — the cabin is mostly for sleeping. An interior cabin on a midship deck will cost significantly less and serves that function perfectly.
If you do want a balcony, pick your deck carefully. Lower decks on larger Royal Caribbean ships have obstructed views from lifeboats. Deck 6 and below on ships like Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas can have significant obstructions. Ask your travel agent or check deck plans before booking.
Midship, mid-deck cabins minimize motion for anyone concerned about seasickness. The ship’s movement is felt most in the bow (front) and on higher decks. If you’re unsure how you handle motion, book midship.
Shore Days: What First-Timers Get Wrong
The ship’s organized excursions are convenient and guaranteed to return you before the ship departs. They’re also, almost universally, marked up significantly compared to booking independently. Reddit’s standard advice: book ship excursions only for tendered ports (where you take a small boat from ship to shore) or for excursions in destinations with safety concerns. In most Caribbean ports, independent operators offer the same snorkeling, beach, and city tours for half the price.
If you do go independent, know your ship’s “all aboard” time and give yourself a one-hour buffer. Missing the ship is not covered by “the tour ran late.” The ship will leave.
Traveler’s Checklist: First Royal Caribbean Cruise in April 2026
- Download the Royal Caribbean app and complete online check-in before embarkation day
- Reserve specialty dining the moment your booking window opens
- Budget $18–$20 per person per day for gratuities
- Book midship, mid-deck for smoothest ride if you’re seasickness-prone
- Consider the beverage package only if you’re a consistent drinker
- Bring a power strip (non-surge) — cabins have very few outlets
- Pack a refillable water bottle; tap water on the ship is safe to drink
- Leave one bag accessible for embarkation day — checked luggage may not reach your cabin until late afternoon
- Research independent shore excursion operators before departure
- Set a daily onboard spending alert through the app to avoid bill shock
A Royal Caribbean cruise in April — whether it’s a Caribbean sailing or a Bermuda run — is one of the most enjoyable ways to travel. The ships are extraordinary. The food is plentiful. The entertainment genuinely competes with what you’d see on land. Going in informed is the difference between a vacation you rave about and one you merely survived.