Setting Sail on Adventure: Royal Caribbean Holiday Cruise from Tampa
Irasshaimase – welcome! 🎉 At Pure Life Podcast, we believe holidays are meant for joy, family, and adventure—not for spending hours in the kitchen or stressing over logistics. That’s why we chose to celebrate New Year’s aboard the Enchantment of the Seas for a 7-night Royal Caribbean holiday cruise from Tampa.
This itinerary was the perfect mix of convenience and discovery: sailing straight out of Florida, unpacking once, and waking up to new destinations like Cozumel, Belize, Roatán, and Costa Maya. Along the way we enjoyed suite perks, onboard fun, spa relaxation, and plenty of family time.
In this review, we’ll share everything you need to know if you’re considering a Royal Caribbean holiday cruise from Tampa—tips on cabins for families of five, how to book the right room, what to expect onboard, shore excursion highlights, and practical advice for first-time cruisers. Ready to set sail? Let’s dive in! 🌊✨
Table of Contents
✨ Benefits of a Royal Caribbean Holida Cruise from Tampa
Cruises work for families year-round, but they’re especially appealing during the holidays. Here’s why you may like it:
- 🧳 Unpack once → no moving hotels; your floating resort goes with you.
- 🌎 Multiple destinations in one trip → our 7-night route visited Cozumel, Belize City, Roatán, and Costa Maya.
- 🎉 Entertainment built in → holiday dinners, live shows, casinos, gyms, kids’ clubs, and themed parties.
- 🍽️ Meals included → from buffets to formal dining to specialty restaurants.
- 🧖 Spa access → massages, facials, and relaxation areas for parents needing downtime.
- 🌀 Travel tip: if you’re planning a Caribbean cruise, remember that hurricane season runs June–November.
🛳️ Enchantment of the Seas – Our Home Away from Home
Every cruiser has a different vision of the perfect vacation. For some, the ship is the destination — packed with activities, Broadway-style shows, and non-stop onboard entertainment. For others, the real adventure begins when the ship docks. At Pure Life Podcast, the ports of call are always our top priority when choosing a cruise, because exploring new places and immersing ourselves in local culture is what makes the experience unforgettable.
That’s exactly why we chose the Enchantment of the Seas for our Royal Caribbean Holiday Cruise from Tampa. As one of the cruise line’s smaller ships, it offered an itinerary that included Belize and Roatán, Honduras — two vibrant Western Caribbean destinations known for their natural beauty, rich culture, and world-class snorkeling and diving. If your goal is to maximize time ashore and discover unique ports, a ship like this is a fantastic option. But if your dream vacation centers around non-stop onboard action and resort-style amenities, one of Royal Caribbean’s larger mega ships might be a better match.
👨👩👧👦 Royal Caribbean Holiday Cruise from Tampa: Important Note for Families of 5
If you’re traveling as a family of five and you want to all fit in one room, you’ll need to call the cruise line directly to book a family suite. Online booking systems usually only allow up to four passengers per cabin.
We’ve tried different setups over the years, and each has pros and cons:
- Two connecting rooms → more space, but no shared suite perks.
- One inside cabin + one balcony across → budget-friendly, but split sleeping arrangements.
- Two-bedroom or presidential suites → all together, with maximum perks, but higher price.
👉 For this holiday cruise, we chose a two-bedroom suite, which gave us space, suite perks, and the ability to stay together.
💡Book early. Holiday cruises and spring break sailings sell out quickly, especially family suites. If you want everyone in one cabin and specific perks (like spa access, concierge service, or lounge benefits), lock it in early.
Another tip: consider higher-deck cabins for quicker access to restaurants, pools, and other amenities.
📞 Note on 5-Person Cabins
With Royal Caribbean, if you want all 5 travelers in one room, you must call Royal Caribbean directly. Their website won’t let you book more than four in a single stateroom—even if the cabin is designed for 5 people or more. Royal Caribbean customer service reps will help you find the right family or spacious suite, or link reservations under the same room.
Other cruise lines handle this differently:
- Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney, and Carnival often show 5-person family cabins directly online.
- Availability is limited across all cruise lines, so regardless of the company, book early and confirm occupancy rules before you pay.
👉 Bottom line: for Royal Caribbean, always call if you’re booking for 5 or more. For other cruise lines, check their process carefully.
🌅 Room Categories: Which One Fits You Best?
💤 Inside cabins – best if you’re budget-focused and mainly sleep in your room.
🌊 Oceanview rooms – affordable with natural light.
🌅 Balcony rooms – great if you enjoy private lounging, coffee with a view, or in-room dining.
✨ Suites – perfect if you value:
- Extra space for families and groups.
- Priority check-in and check-out (stress-free embarkation/disembarkation).
- Dedicated breakfast restaurant on departure day (a calmer final morning).
- Spa access and lounge perks for relaxation.
- Concierge support for bookings and questions.
🏝️ Ports of Call: Our 7-Night Royal Caribbean Holiday Cruise from Tampa Itinerary
Sailing from Tampa with Royal Caribbean, our route included:
- Cozumel, Mexico 🇲🇽
- 🐠 Snorkeling & diving at reefs.
- 🍫 Chocolate-making tours.
👉 Book Cozumel excursions here
- Belize City, Belize 🇧🇿
- 🐟 Barrier Reef snorkeling and diving.
- 🏛️ Explore Mayan ruins.
👉 See Belize tours & activities here
- Roatán, Honduras 🇭🇳
- 🌴 Relax at West Bay Beach.
- 🌳 Zip-lining through jungle canopies.
👉 Check out Roatán excursions here
- Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico 🇲🇽
- 🏖️ All-inclusive beach clubs.
- 🐬 Dolphin encounters.
👉 Find Costa Maya tours
🔎 How to Find the Right Cruise
When planning, you can search for cruises in several ways:
- 📅 By date – pick your available time frame.
- ⚓ By port – many families choose based on convenience (like Tampa for drive-ins).
- 🌍 By destination – Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, etc.
- ⏳ By number of nights – quick 3–4 day escapes or weeklong plus adventures.
- 👨👩👧👦 By number of guests – important if you’re a family of five or more.
- 🚢 By ship – some start with a specific ship (like Wonder of the Seas) and see its itineraries.
👉 We usually search by a combo of dates, destinations, and number of nights, then see which ships fit those filters. This approach helps us prioritize ports we haven’t explored yet.
Find your dream cruise here!
🚢 Cruise Lines by Ship Size
Different travelers prefer different cruise experiences. Here’s a quick guide to cruise lines by size category:
🏰 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines
- Royal Caribbean International
- Celebrity Cruises
- Princess Cruises
🎡 Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines
- Disney Cruise Line
- Holland America Line
- Celebrity Cruises
- MSC Cruises
🌎 Mid-Size Ship Cruise Lines
- Viking Ocean Cruises
- Explora Journeys
- Oceania Cruises
⛵ Small-Ship Cruise Lines
- Viking (small-ship category)
- Windstar Cruises
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
👉Tips: think about whether you want nonstop onboard entertainment, a balance of activities and intimacy, or luxury small-ship experiences. Each category offers something different. Book your cruise here.
👍 Pros & 👎 Cons of Cruise Vacations
Pros
- All-in-one vacation: food, lodging, entertainment.
- Family-friendly with options for all ages.
- Explore several destinations in one trip.
- Tampa is an easy homeport: smooth parking and check-in/out (suites = expedited service).
Cons
- Standard cabins can feel small.
- On a 7-night cruise, expect two formal nights → pack accordingly.
- Smaller ships don’t have the mega activities of larger ones.
- Seas in winter can vary (we had calm waters, but the week before was rough).
🏋️ Activities Onboard
Things you may enjoy while sailing:
- Gym workouts on sea days.
- Lounges to relax after excursions.
- Casino & live shows in the evenings.
- Room service breakfasts on balconies.
- Spa treatments for downtime.
📶 Wi-Fi tip: internet is not included by default. Some mega ships bundle Wi-Fi into higher categories, but generally, you’ll need to purchase a package if you wish to stay on-line during ship time.
💡 Tips for First-Time Cruisers
- ☎️ Call if you’re a family of 5 — Royal Caribbean’s online booking site won’t show family suites.
- 👔 Pack for two formal nights on a 7-night cruise.
- 🌅 Balconies or suites give you space and private downtime if you plan to spend a good portion of your time on board in your stateroom.
- 🚢 Pick your ship by destinations first, then match your preferences for ship size.
- 💊 Bring motion sickness remedies as backup – Dramamine seems to work well for our sensitive travelers.
👤 Traveler Types – Which One Are You?
- The Explorer → prioritizes new destinations. Best fit: smaller-ship itineraries.
- The Entertainment Lover → wants Broadway-style shows and mega activities. Best fit: large/mega ships.
- The Relaxer → values spa time, balconies, and quiet. Best fit: suites.
- The Budget Traveler → wants the lowest-cost way to cruise. Best fit: inside cabins.
❓Royal Caribbean Holiday Cruise from Tampa: FAQ
Q: Is Tampa a good cruise port?
Yes. Parking is simple, check-in and check-out are smooth, and Royal Caribbean suite guests get expedited service.
Q: Do you need a passport?
Yes, for Belize and Honduras.
Q: Is Wi-Fi included?
No. It’s usually an extra cost with RC. On some mega ships, certain Royal Caribbean room categories bundle Wi-Fi.
Q: Are suites worth it?
If you want more space, spa perks, concierge service, and priority boarding, yes. If you’re active and mostly outside the cabin, a balcony or oceanview room may be better.
Explore your cruise options here!
🌺 Royal Caribbean Holiday Cruise from Tampa: Closing Thoughts
That wraps up our family review of a 7-night Royal Caribbean holiday cruise from Tampa to the Western Caribbean aboard Enchantment of the Seas. From smooth sailing out of Tampa to island-hopping in Cozumel, Belize, Roatán, and Costa Maya, this itinerary is a stress-free way to celebrate the holidays while making memories that last long after you’re back on land.
Every family’s priorities are different—whether it’s suite perks, nonstop entertainment, or simply escaping winter weather—and the beauty of cruising is that there’s a ship and itinerary for everyone.
Irasshaimase in, mata ne out! 💕 Thanks for joining us on this journey, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for more family travel stories, tips, and inspiration on Pure Life Podcast. Until next time, happy travels and smooth sailing! ⚓✨
Be sure to check out our Destinations page for more content and travel ideas.
Related content: Western Caribbean Holiday Cruise from Tampa Guide + Insider Tips (podcast), and ABC Islands Cruise on Royal Caribbean (podcast)
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