Bucket List Vacations You Can Take On A Cruise
Make Your Vacations Bigger, Brighter and Bolder With Royal Caribbean
By Aleisha White | Published on September 4, 2025
Life's best moments don't happen halfway. They show up when you stop “experiencing” and begin feasting on experience itself — when you live your life through widened eyes and logic takes the backseat.
Life's best moments arrive when you start saying “yes” to yourself. You become struck with the courage to explore places you've always wanted to know in ways you never thought possible. They come when you paint with brighter colors, start taking the long way home and choose to live bigger — because if not now, then when?
If you're waiting for the sign to take a shot on your bucket list vacations and an even bigger shot on creating something beyond the imaginable, this is it. Learn how to raise your intentions to the stars and become larger-than-life with the best cruise experiences. Why settle for a getaway when you could claim your arrival?
How To Take Your Vacations On, Not Off
Defining family vacations are the ones where you go all-in. They're for full-blown cannonballing into life: submerge, satiate and move on to the next adventure. So, are cruises worth it? They are if you're traveling with Royal Caribbean. Every moment is a chance to dive, taste, laugh and live louder.
Rumble and tumble as you race your family down the waterslides at the largest waterpark at sea, or zip line through the air as you sail between ports. When you're ready for a break, unwind by the largest sparkling pool on the ocean and test out every sundeck in sight. The momentum continues as you lose yourself day after day in buzzing casinos, breathtaking entertainment, spirited nightlife and exquisite dining, knowing every whim, grin and spin is taken care of.
Imagine creating fresh, growth-fueled experiences with your family, set against a backdrop of destinations you've always dreamed of exploring. Royal Caribbean is the behind-the-scenes dream-weaver, pushing curiosity to its limits and fueling your family memories. With enough variety, volumes and award-winning kids' programs on board, everyone from wee tots to grandparents will discover their zone.
The only question is: What are your bucket list vacations?
/overview/historical-perast-popular-resort-town-kotor-bay-adriatic-sea-montenegro.jpg?$440x248$ "Historical Perast, a popular resort town in Kotor bay on Adriatic sea, Montenegro")
Royal Caribbean Cruising: Where The Journey Is A Destination In Itself
The only scenario that’s better than arriving at your bucket list destination is when the journey is so good, you can’t wait to get back on board at the end of the day. On any ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, expect more fun, sun and seaside surprises than you could possibly prepare for. Here’s just a taste of what you’ll find along the way.
Star of the Seas
On board Star of the Seas®, take your pool seven ways — or with a twist. As an Icon Class ship, it’s fitted with seven pools, six record-breaking waterslides and even more whirlpools to keep family time action-packed and brimming with laughs.
When you’re ready to unwind, head to Vitality℠ Spa for a rejuvenating treatment or one of many uniquely themed neighborhoods around the ship — that is, if you’ve already had your sun fix for the day. Nosh on fresh Japanese cuisine at specialty dining sites like Izumi in the Park℠, or enjoy rotating international menus at one of the 17 complimentary restaurants on board.
After dark, turn to the reimagined Royal Promenade, where every night is a whirl of buzzing bars, comedy clubs, lounges and live music venues to let loose before the evening’s entertainment. By night, AquaDome℠ lights up with waterfalls and daring aerials, while Absolute Zero℠ spills superhuman stunts over ice.
Wonder of the Seas
When it debuted in 2022, this Oasis Class cruise ship was the world’s biggest. Wonder of the Seas® features eight distinct worlds spread across 18 decks, with more than 20,000 live plants thriving in the oasis-like Central Park.
Mornings can be serene in the Solarium or energetic, with a few laps around the jogging track. Afternoons are for darting on the zip line or carving waves on the FlowRider® surf simulator. Yet, sundown is when the show really begins: Sip on cocktails against the horizon at Vue Bar, bite into avant-garde dining at Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine or go high-tech with robot bartenders crafting late-night drinks at Bionic Bar®.
If you miraculously manage to get your fill of sea, sun and salty air, there are plenty of indoor amenities to keep the party flowing indoors. Glide on ice at the ice skating rink, catch a new show every night at the Royal Theatre or take a spin at Casino Royale after dark.
Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas® lives up to its name, resembling more of a floating city-come-playground than an actual ship. An Oasis Class cruise ship, and slightly larger than Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas offers new suite categories and premium staterooms to accommodate families and larger groups comfortably.
Awaken your devil-may-care streak with a whirl in the Ultimate Abyss℠, a dry slide spanning over 10 stories — and the largest slide at sea — or take a daring zip over the boardwalk. When it’s time to recharge, head to the sundeck or poolside, lounge back in the Solarium or take up a yoga class at the Vitality℠ at Sea Fitness Center.
Each night, you have a choice between catching live music or becoming the star of the show at karaoke. That is, of course, unless you prefer a streak of pizzazz. The Utopia of the Seas AquaTheatre is not only the deepest pool at sea, but it’s also flanked by two 30-foot platforms that performers leap from in mesmerizing dives.
When you’re feeling hungry, try Giovanni’s℠ Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar with a brand new terrace overlooking the boardwalk. Or, head to the Royal Railway℠ — Utopia Station℠, a dining experience unique to Utopia of the Seas, featuring an immersive international dinner setting unlike any other.
Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas® serves up the full spectrum of thrills and chills for the entire family. If any of the six record-breaking slides at the Category 6 Waterpark — the largest waterpark at sea — left your adventurous soul craving more, test your thrill capacity on the rope course and the Crown's Edge℠ skywalk, waves roaring below. Bring the kids and let your inner child or your actual child take the lead.
By day, the decks buzz with activity at Swim & Tonic℠, the ocean’s largest swim-up bar, while quieter wanderers slip into champagne moments at Bubbles℠. When it’s time to step away from the crowds, the Groove Suite sundeck in the Suite neighborhood provides a high-end retreat with private pools and an endless flow of Mediterranean delicacies. Or, if you fancy gourmet dining, head to Chops Grille℠ for steak charred to perfection and a long list of fine international wines.
You’re never short of family bonding moments and friendly competition with an onboard mini golf course, rock climbing walls and a Royal escape room to test out your (or the little ones’) problem-solving skills. By the way — don’t forget to stop and say hi to Rover, the Chief Dog Officer and the cutest crew member on board.
Bucket List Vacations To Go All-In On Adventure
Bucket list trips are like the sparkly ornaments on a Christmas tree: accumulated treasures that represent the time, memories and growth we've shared with friends and family. Set the bar high and find the best place to show up big with these exciting vacation ideas.
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Vacation in the Picture-Perfect Caribbean
Cruise your way to the Royal Caribbean private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, where you can soak up a week's worth of vitamin D, lounging on white sand beaches, floating in a hot air balloon or racing the kids down the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean. Roaming through the Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá, followed by a frozen margarita under the Mexican sun, or drifting over the Great Blue Hole in Belize, are perfect ways to rack up experiences and smiles on your bucket list vacation.
Journey Through Europe’s Natural and Historic Marvels
Get lost in a soft brick maze of cobalt and white-washed terraces spilling down Santorini’s volcanic cliffs or linger beneath Norway’s northern lights, cocooned in the warmth of your private balcony Jacuzzi. When you’re cruising European coastlines, it’s not just the waypoints but the final destination and the journey there that present endless new worlds of discovery at your feet.
Sail Between Ice Giants in Alaska
Edge your way between frozen lands in the last frontier with new geometric icescapes to wake up to every day. Alaska is the ultimate spot to spend a day with majestic whales and other marine life. Paddling through the waves in a small sea kayak amid ice giants like the Hubbard Glacier or zipping through the sky in a helicopter to visit inland ice fields are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to gain perspective and absorb the magnitude of our planet’s beauty with family and friends. All the more when you can wind down with a steaming hot tub and a deep tissue massage once you arrive back on board.
Planning A Larger-Than-Life Vacation
When you're ready to plan your bucket list trip, there are two rules of the game:
- 1. Go all in: These experiences are about relentlessly pursuing the vacation of your dreams and committing to creating experiences that are bigger, brighter and bolder than ever.
- 2. Go all in one: Cruising brings your entertainment, accommodation, travel, bucket list destination, thrills and chills in one place. Everything is ready, waiting for you to say "yes."
Planning a cruise is as simple as picking your destinations, booking and showing up. From icy locations fringing the map in North America to an ultra-relaxed blue lagoon backdrop in The Bahamas, cruising connects the dots so that you can explore without limits. Floating all-ages theme-parks-come-wellness-retreats make it easy to travel full throttle. Immerse yourself in both the brightest, boldest locations on your travel bucket list, as well as the precious in-between moments with family and friends.
Travel Big: It's About Time
Pull together your family vacation ideas and turn them into an ornamental reality with Royal Caribbean. The best cruise experiences set the stage for boundless exploration and unapologetic fun — with your cruise ship a destination in itself. They're a space for you to connect with the world, reconnect with yourself and strengthen bonds within your crew.
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