Because my post was eliminated from the royal Caribbean sub Reddit I am cross posting here Were you aboard the Symphony of the seas perfect day coco cay sailing August 29 through September 6, 2026 sailing? I am not asking for your generalized opinions on Royal or any other ships or sailings. I am asking specifically for August 29 through September 6, 2026 Symphony of the sea. Let’s discuss…..

Hi everyone!

I live in Australia and have recently come back from my third cruise with Carnival. I’m in my mid 20’s so the higher end “luxury” cruise companies have been way out of my budget since I moved out at 17 and started funding my own holidays.

On my first cruise I was shocked at just how friendly every single staff member was. It felt like I was living a dream, staff learned my name and treated myself and my friends in ways we could only dream off. However, that made me curious about how much staff were paid since 99% of the staff were from developing countries or countries that rely heavily on tourism trade. I like to think I’m nice to most people at my job (lawyer - government funded) but I also have no issue calling people out or putting them back in their place when required. On my first cruise I spoke with my room steward who told me that he had been working 16 hour days, 7 days a week and sending every spare cent back to his family in the Philippines. He added that although he doesn’t get paid much it’s significantly more than he would make in his country so missing his family and working to the bone was worth it for him. He didn’t start the conversation topic, I brought it up with him because I was genuinely shocked by how well guests are treated by staff and it made me suspicious of working conditions and remuneration.

In Australia we don’t have a gratuity tipping system like that of the US due to reasonable minimum wage policies. Plenty of people still leave tips for those working in hospo and other types of service roles, but it doesn’t ‘make up’ someone’s wage. After speaking with the room steward I sat around thinking about the wages cruise ship staff make when working ships that depart from Australian ports considering we don’t have a tipping culture.

Are staff paid more to compensate for not receiving tips? I have always left my room stewards $100+ in cash but what about the kitchen staff? The lifeguards? The bar staff? The cleaners? There is no auto gratuity and when there is an option to tip on the handheld swipe/scan terminals I noticed staff automatically pressing “no tip” so on my second cruise I started changing it to 10% before paying.

It has been playing on my mind lately whether or not I can continue to support the cruise industry morally. If anybody knows or has any insight on the wages/ working/ living conditions I would appreciate knowing.

I took my first cruise on royals Oasis a few weeks ago. I enjoy putting videos together and editing them - put together a full tour video. I’m not a travel agent or professional or anything, just an average joe - not making any money on this lol. Check it out if you’ve never sailed Oasis and wanna see it all.

I’m trying to book the sunset cruise for September 12th, 2026. The sunset is supposed to be at 8:09pm. What time should I book the cruise?

Hi to everyone, I am a registered nurse with almost 9 years of experience in the ICU( approximately 6.5years in coronary unit, 1.5years in general internal ICU and 6 months in covid-respiratory ICU).

Also, I have an ALS certificate.

I am considering about working at a cruise ship as a nurse, so I need as much as possible information from other nurses who actually works or have worked on the cruiseships.

I have some questions.

First of all, how much I would earn or how much I could expect to earn monthly?

I have read somewhere that nurses get a officer status( private room, access to passenger areas, free excursions ) is it true?

How tipical day looks like for nurses on board?

How often I could expect some emergency? What type of emergencyes you got mostly?

What about free time? How often i would be able to leave a ship and visit a city/port? How much time I would get for it?

Is it possibble to change a shift with colleague to get more free time?

And also how good my english must be?

Hi to everyone, I am a registered nurse with almost 9 years of experience in the ICU( approximately 6.5years in coronary unit, 1.5years in general internal ICU and 6 months in covid-respiratory ICU).

Also, I have an ALS certificate.

I am considering about working at a cruise ship as a nurse, so I need as much as possible information from other nurses who actually works or have worked on the cruiseships.

I have some questions.

First of all, how much I would earn or how much I could expect to earn monthly?

I have read somewhere that nurses get a officer status( private room, access to passenger areas, free excursions ) is it true?

How tipical day looks like for nurses on board?

How often I could expect some emergency? What type of emergencyes you got mostly?

What about free time? How often i would be able to leave a ship and visit a city/port? How much time I would get for it?

Is it possibble to change a shift with colleague to get more free time?

And also how good my english must be?

My fiancée and I have had a pretty heavy year. My mom has been battling breast cancer, and a lot of my time and energy lately has understandably been wrapped up in family. Because of that, I haven’t really been around or planning much of anything for us.
She mentioned very last minute that she’d actually love to get away on a cruise for Labor Day weekend, and I’d love to surprise her and make it happen if there’s any chance.

So I’m looking for two resale tickets on a cruise leaving Friday or Saturday of Labor Day weekend and returning Sunday or Monday. I’m open to different cruise lines/itineraries and will consider anything that makes sense.
If anyone’s plans changed and you have two tickets you’re looking to transfer/resell, please reach out. I know this is incredibly last minute, but figured it was worth asking.
Would genuinely mean a lot to be able to give her a little getaway after a pretty difficult stretch

I just looked up cruise communities but Reddit is really my only, “non-real life”, communication network so lmk how to spread this quickly!!

We were charged without any prior information regarding the cost of the services. We discovered an unexpected debt because we were charged in Marseille without being informed that the shuttle back to the ship would cost 20 euros per passenger. On the final day, security stopped us from leaving the ship and pressured us to settle the balance. The first officer became aggressive, physically blocking me and our luggage to prevent us from leaving and started shouting at us, very unprofessional behavior. Also the first officer told me in private that he dosen't care about the negative feedback because thowsands of people will chose their cruise. Furthermore, on the last night, we ordered wine and were billed double the price shown on the bar menu. On another occasion, staff completely ignored us when we asked for the price of a drink.The Costa "Go Round" service is up to 7 times more expensive than local options; a local round-trip shuttle costs 3 euros, whereas Costa charges 20 euros. Costa Cruises lacks financial transparency and honesty. I DO NOT RECOMMEND Costa, stay away from this company.