I packed for a weeklong cruise with just a carry-on and a backpack. Here are 10 items I'm glad I brought and 9 things I wish I had with me.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
The author packed for a weeklong cruise onboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.
The author packed for a weeklong cruise on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Carnival is taking on Royal Caribbean with its own $600 million private resort — see Celebration Key's planned features

Tech Insider : Travel
rendering of Celebration Key with cabanas, pools, buildings
Carnival says its private Celebration Key destination will have a family-friendly section with amenities like two waterslides, a water playground, and rentable cabanas.

Carnival Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have serious sustainable-food-supply-chain goals — here's how they compare

Tech Insider
cook preparing food on trays on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas cruise ship can accommodate 9,950 people. Feeding everyone is no easy feat.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I stayed in a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's 2 newest and largest cruise ships. One was clearly better — and $900 cheaper.

Tech Insider : Travel
composite of cruise cabin on Wonder (left) and Icon (right)
My balcony cabin on Wonder of the Seas (left) and Icon of the Seas (right) have a $130-per-person-per-day difference in 2024. The cheaper one was my favorite.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I work from a cruise ship for 3 months a year. Here's how I stay productive at sea.

Tech Insider
a man takes a selfie on a cruise ship
Walter Biscardi on the Oceania Sirena in December 2023.

Walter Biscardi

I went on 2 of Royal Caribbean's largest and newest cruise ships. I enjoyed them, but they're not for everyone.

Tech Insider : Travel
Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay
Royal Caribbean operates the two largest cruise ships in the world, Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas. These ships are jam-packed with amenities, but they're not for everyone.

Pieter De Boer

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.

Tech Insider : Travel
Icon of the Seas docked at port
My eight favorite amenities on the new world's largest cruise ship are, for the most part, ones I've yet to see on other ships.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Royal Caribbean's newest ship is also its priciest. Here's what it's like spending as little as possible, with no lobster or other upgrades.

Tech Insider : Travel
Icon of the Seas at Perfect Day at CocoCay
It's possible to avoid paying for any of Icon of the Seas' upcharged amenities — but be prepared to stay sober and repeat meals.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Ultrawealthy cruising: See inside Royal Caribbean's most extravagant upgrades and a $100,000-a-week cabin on its Icon of the Seas

Tech Insider : Travel
Icon of the Seas' outdoor decks
Affluent travelers could have a pretty cushy vacation on Royal Caribbean's giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship.

Brittany Chang/Business Insider

I sailed on the world's 2 largest cruise ships. The older one was just as good — and $1,000 cheaper.

Tech Insider : Travel
Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay
Royal Caribbean' operates the two world's largest cruise ships, Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas. Here's how the two compare.

Pieter De Boer

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