The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa officially opened this week, boasting the highest count of overwater bungalows for any resort on the French Polynesian island. The resort, formerly a Le Meridien property, underwent an extensive renovation before becoming Westin-affiliated.
The new Westin includes 128 overwater bungalows, many of which include a private plunge pool. All have views of either the property’s lagoon, island or Bora Bora’s towering Mount Otemanu. The resort also features 14 family-friendly bungalows overlooking the lagoon.
“We are excited to unveil this property as the first resort to open in Bora Bora since 2017, bringing the dream of Bora Bora alive like never before,” César Marques, general manager of The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, said in a statement. “The Westin Bora Bora blends the serene landscape of the island with top-tier accommodations, breathtaking ocean views, and a wide array of on- and off-property experiences, ensuring an unforgettable stay for every guest.”
THE WESTIN BORA BORA RESORT & SPA
On the amenity front, The Westin Bora Bora includes an infinity pool at the center of the resort with six cabanas, a swim-up pool bar, a private lagoon, locally inspired wellness offerings and six dining options leaning into French Polynesian fare. Those looking to unwind can check out the Heavenly Spa for a treatment or keep up with their fitness regimen at the Westin Workout Fitness studio.
THE WESTIN BORA BORA RESORT & SPA
Of course, guests can end the day by sinking into a decadent Westin Heavenly Bed.
Rates at the new Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa start at $1,000 per night. Points availability appears extremely limited at the moment, but some award night redemptions next year dip as low as 74,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Ah, scenic Juneau, Alaska — where the allure of lush forests, cascading waterfalls and majestic glaciers draws as many as 16,000 cruise passengers a day. The downside? The constant influx of visitors is putting a strain on local infrastructure.
Royal Caribbean Group — which operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises — has partnered with Alaska Native corporation Goldbelt, Inc., to eliminate the problem of slow, unreliable Wi-Fi in port by bringing Starlink to several public areas and Juneau businesses.
Serenade of the Seas in Juneau, Alaska. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
You might think connectivity isn’t a big concern for people visiting the 49th state’s remote, nature-forward capital, which can only be reached by air or sea, but it turns out that isn’t the case. When the port is at maximum capacity, up to six ships can call there in a single day. With that many people in town, public Wi-Fi offered by local businesses is often difficult and frustrating to use for both visitors and locals.
“The number one complaint from this summer was a slow-down of internet speed during busy days downtown,” McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “We are excited to collaborate with Royal Caribbean Group to explore a solution and add satellite internet capacity to town. This project will help locals and visitors have a better internet experience every day of the week.”
Installation began the week of Aug. 26 at the Goldbelt Tram Lower Terminal and will continue north on Franklin Street. The pilot program’s full range will be activated in the coming weeks. As each new hub becomes available, passengers, other visitors and locals will be able to connect for free and stay connected via one seamless network as they move about Juneau’s downtown.
Royal Caribbean isn’t new to Starlink, which was developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. In 2022, the Royal Caribbean family of brands was the first to commit to adding Starlink to its ships for faster connections at sea that allow everything from surfing the internet and checking email to video calling and streaming.
Cruise terminals where Royal Caribbean home ports its ships also provide connectivity for passengers, but this is the first time a cruise line has outfitted a large part of a downtown port area ashore with Wi-Fi.
“We are constantly striving to find innovative solutions to support our communities and enhance the travel experience for residents and cruise guests alike,” Preston Carnahan, associate vice president of West Coast destinations for Royal Caribbean Group, said. “Our new pilot program aims to alleviate internet congestion and provide additional bandwidth for locals while providing internet connectivity for our guests from ship to shore.”
The line’s statement also stresses the need for user feedback to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and determine whether similar initiatives will be rolled out in other ports.
For years, Juneau’s borough officials have heard complaints that the influx of cruise passengers detracts from everyone’s enjoyment of the city. On June 3, several major cruise lines — including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and others that are members of the Cruise Lines International Association — agreed to limit the total number of ships per day to five and the total number of passengers to 16,000 Sunday through Friday and 12,000 on Saturdays.
Want to learn more about Alaska cruises? Check out our other articles below.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
The U.S. is currently in the throes of what may be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record.
Between Aug. 29 and Sept. 4, the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 17 million passengers. With so many moving parts and such high footfall — as much as we hate to tempt fate — the chances of delays and cancellations can be significantly more likely.
If you find yourself caught up in a lengthy wait for your flight, there are some things you need to know about flight delays before you head off to the airport lounge to drink away your sorrows. Sometimes, you may even be entitled to financial compensation for your inconvenience.
Here’s what you should do if your flight’s been delayed.
Check with the gate agent
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It’s easy to catastrophize when your flight is delayed — especially if you think you might be in for a long wait before things get back on track.
Don’t skip off to the airport lounge at the first opportunity, though. It might not always seem like it, but when a flight is knocked off schedule, airlines are usually working pretty hard to get things back on track and avoid further fallout. As such, the specific timings of your delay can change at very short notice.
Before heading off to entertain yourself and settle in for the wait, take a moment to chat with the gate agents. Ask about the new flight time or when they expect to have another update. They typically know what you should expect and can indicate whether you have time for a nap or should sit tight.
Don’t rely solely on the airport departure and arrival boards, as they are sometimes not updated. Although they’re usually accurate, you’ll get the most up-to-date flight departure information through the airline’s app.
Having multiple sources of information is better than relying on just one source.
Know your credit card’s delay and cancellation policy
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Here at TPG, we talk a lot about how to make your travel rewards credit cards work for you. Those credit card perks aren’t just limited to earning airline elite status or getting access to the best lounge for planespotting.
One underrated credit card benefit that can come to the rescue when things go wrong is trip delay coverage.
Trip delay protection ensures that you won’t be responsible for additional (reasonable) expenses following a lengthy trip delay due to weather, operational problems, strikes or other unplanned events. You will likely need to pay for the expenses upfront, but you may be eligible for reimbursement by your card issuer after the fact.
Credit cards with trip delay protection include:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Covers delays of more than six hours or overnight, with a maximum coverage amount of $500. (It has a $550 annual fee.)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Covers delays of more than 12 hours or overnight, with a maximum coverage amount of $500. (It has a $95 annual fee.)
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
If you decide not to fly on your originally scheduled flight due to significant delays and cancellations, you should get your money or points back. Airlines will generally try and push a flight credit voucher on you, but you don’t have to settle for it; you are entitled to a cash refund if you want it.
You may have an option to cancel and get a refund available through your airline’s website or app. However, airlines don’t always make it simple to ask for a refund; you may end up having to call the customer service line.
If you’re flying within the European Union, flying from the EU to a non-EU country on any airline, or flying into the EU from a non-EU country on an EU airline, your travel falls under the EU261 regulation. This regulation covers compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or long flight delays.
If you arrive at your final destination with a delay of more than three hours, you are entitled rto compensation (unless the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances, like terrorism).
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here
Royal Caribbean has no shortage of food on its ships. However, the next time you’re on a cruise and hankering for lasagna, chicken parmigiana or soup that will make you feel like your nonna is sailing with you, check out specialty restaurant Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.
When you’re there, you’re never far from a great bottle of wine, and everything from the penne to the steak will have you yelling, “Mangia!”
Chefs prepare dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Here’s everything you need to know about the restaurant, its menu, how much you’ll pay to dine and which ships have it on board.
Note: Menus and pricing were accurate at the time of publication, but they’re subject to change without notice.
What is Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen?
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is not the same as Giovanni’s Table. Although both are extra-fee Italian eateries on select ships, Giovanni’s Table serves a family-style menu meant for sharing. On select ships, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen also houses the onboard wine bar.
An aerial view of Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
The atmosphere is upscale but with a casual dress code, so it’s great for a family gathering, a special occasion or just because — without making you feel like you have to dress to the nines.
The kitchen is open every night for dinner and for lunch on sea days. Reservations aren’t required, but they’re recommended.
The view of the Boardwalk neighborhood from alfresco seating at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
A special nod goes out to the location on Utopia of the Seas. Not only is the wine bar housed inside the restaurant on that vessel, but the venue’s two-story setup also offers fabulous views over the ship’s Boardwalk neighborhood, which is particularly stunning after dark.
On some ships, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is positioned right next door to the wine bar, while other ships have combined the two into one outpost.
Giovanni’s menu
The menu at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
The only difference between the lunch and dinner menus is that Giovanni’s popular osso buco and filet mignon selections are only available during dinner hours. (Click here for a PDF of the menu, as well as a kids menu.)
This giant meatball is on the menu at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Every meal starts with garlic knots, which are absolutely delicious. From there, guests choose from a selection of starters that include an assorted platter of meats and cheeses, Italian sausage soup, salami and mozzarella stromboli, and calamari with polenta. My favorite starter, though, is the gigantic meatball, which comes with marinara sauce and a side of crispy breadsticks. There are also house, Caesar and truffle caprese salads available in this section.
The meats and cheeses appetizer on the menu at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen on Royal Caribbean ships. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Mains follow; the options all sound so tasty that you shouldn’t be surprised if you have trouble deciding what to order. Choose from chicken parmigiana, fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, linguine with clams or shrimp, salmon with penne, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti pomodoro and grilled filet mignon. Items designated as “Nonna’s favorites” are marked with hearts and feature osso buco, lasagna and steak muffuletta. I ordered the fettuccine without chicken, and it was fantastic.
Diners who are in the mood for a slice of pizza can opt for a whole pie as their entree. Pick from standards like Margherita, pepperoni and meat lovers, or go with something a bit more daring like mushroom, truffle and egg, or prosciutto. Giovanni’s pizza is phenomenal. However, keep in mind how much you’re paying to dine there, and decide whether you’d rather get your cheesy fix for free at the ship’s Sorrento’s location instead.
A salmon and penne dish from Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
If you still have room for dessert — and, believe me, that’s a big “if” — you can’t go wrong with the ricotta cream-filled cannoli, pistachio panna cotta with raspberries or chocolate ravioli (fried pasta dough with Nutella filling and chocolate sauce).
The dessert menu from Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen also has a menu for children ages 3 to 12. Most of the items are simply kid-size portions from the adult menu. They include the giant meatball, Margherita pizza and chicken parmigiana, as well as spaghetti Bolognese. For dessert, they can choose from tiramisu, Nutella and banana stromboli, and fresh fruit.
Although several vegetarian-friendly items are on the menu, vegans will likely struggle. If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to speak with Royal Caribbean ahead of time about your dining plans.
What does Giovanni’s cost?
The Wine Bar at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Lunch at Giovanni’s is $25 per person, and dinner will set you back $55 per person. For children who order off the kids menu during either meal, the price is $15. Children 3 and younger eat free.
The food at Giovanni’s is consistently excellent and, in my opinion, well worth the added fee to dine here.
Alcohol and most other drinks cost extra unless you have a beverage package that covers them.
Which Royal Caribbean ships have Giovanni’s?
A lounge seating area in the Wine Bar at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Passengers on the following Royal Caribbean ships can enjoy Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
One of the biggest misconceptions for people new to the loyalty world is that the only way to earn points and miles is by flying an airline regularly or carrying an airline credit card. But did you know you can earn points or miles for future travel from the comfort of your living room by adding one simple step to your online shopping routine?
This simple step is to visit an online shopping portal and click through to your merchant instead of going directly to your merchant’s website. Most major airlines offer a shopping portal. But in this guide, I’ll discuss how you can earn points on online purchases with the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Shopping portal.
What is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal?
If you already have a Southwest Rapids Rewards account, you only need to sign in to the portal with the same username and password you use when booking flights. Then, you can use the search box to find your favorite stores or products. You can also compare prices and earning rates. Remember to look for stores offering higher-than-usual earning rates, featured deals or special offers.
After you’ve selected your merchant, click on the store, product or offer, and the portal will redirect you to the store’s website. The store will alert the portal when you’ve made a purchase, and it will add points to your Southwest account. You’ll receive an email to confirm when your points have been posted, which can take up to 15 days.
Earning rates through the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal
You’ll find hundreds of stores in the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal. Earning rates for each merchant change frequently, but you’ll usually see earning rates that range from 1 point per dollar to 20 points per dollar. Some merchants offer fixed points per eligible purchase, such as this 1,200-point offer for your first month of a paid TrustedHousesitters subscription.
SOUTHWEST.COM
Consider clicking the heart next to some of your favorite merchants. Once you do so, Southwest will email you when your favorite merchants offer higher-than-usual earning rates.
SOUTHWEST.COM
You can also search for a specific item or brand by clicking “Find a store or product” at the top of the page and typing in your request. Results should load as you type, so click on the most appealing result. For example, if I were in the market for a new Keurig, I could enter “Keurig.”
SOUTHWEST.COM
I could shop through keurig.com, which currently offers 2 points per dollar. But, if Black Rifle Coffee Company offered the type of Keurig I wanted, I could earn 3 points per dollar on my purchase.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal calculates earnings based on the net amount of your eligible purchases. As such, you won’t earn points on taxes, special handling charges, returns, freight costs, shipping costs or unshipped products.
In addition to the standard earning rates, shopping portals like Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping frequently run promotions to incentivize you to shop. Sometimes, these promotions are for specific merchants.
SOUTHWEST.COM
However, sometimes, the promotions are site-wide and apply to purchases you make with various merchants. Bookmark our permanent page for airline shopping portal promotions to learn about these offers as they occur throughout the year. Many of the best shopping portal promotions occur around the back-to-school season and Black Friday.
If you’re working toward earning the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, using the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal is an easy way to earn more qualifying points.
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You must earn 135,000 qualifying points or take 100 flights in a calendar year to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. But once you have the pass, you can bring a friend or family member on paid and award tickets for just the cost of taxes and fees.
Base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners, including the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal, count as Companion Pass-qualifying points. However, if a Rapid Rewards Shopping portal offer says it earns “bonus points,” these points won’t be Companion Pass-qualifying points.
Best credit cards to use with Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping
You’ll usually want to use one of the best cards for online shopping for purchases once you click through the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal. But using a Southwest credit card can make sense if you’re trying to earn the Southwest Companion Pass or earn Southwest points for an upcoming redemption.
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Whatever card you choose, check which credit card merchant offers you are eligible for if you want to maximize your purchases even further. These programs give cardholders discounts or rewards when they make purchases with specific merchants, and you can potentially stack multiple offers.
Tips for using the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal
Using the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal is relatively straightforward. But here are a few essential things to keep in mind:
Click through the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal website link and then purchase from the page that loads. Don’t navigate away and return later, as then you may not earn Southwest points on your purchase.
Ensure your web browser allows cookies. These cookies allow the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal to “track” your purchase and award points accordingly.
Only use promotions or discount codes found on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal. If you use other promotions or discounts, your purchase may become ineligible to earn points through Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping.
Read the restrictions in the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal for your specific merchant. Many merchants won’t count gift cards as eligible purchases, and some exclude certain products.
You can download the Rapid Rewards Shopping browser extension to remind you anytime you’re shopping on a website where you can earn Southwest points or get a discount. But if you prefer to compare your earning options, you should consider using a shopping portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor. Shopping portal aggregators let you quickly compare earning rates for a specific merchant across various online shopping portals.
The Rapid Rewards Shopping portal is a quick and easy way to earn Southwest Airlines points when you make online purchases with your favorite merchants. You can rack up points on your everyday spending, from clothes to shoes to electronics. Even if you only earn an extra point or 2 for every dollar you spend, these earnings can quickly add up and put you closer to your next Southwest award flight.
Delta Air Lines is making some high-profile changes to its network.
The Atlanta-based carrier filed plans this weekend to exit two noteworthy international routes. The airline will scrap service from Atlanta to Stuttgart, Germany, and from New York to Bogota, Colombia, as first seen in Cirium schedules and confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
Both cuts take effect on Oct. 26, coinciding with the official start of the airline’s winter season.
The bigger story is the cut in Stuttgart because after Delta exits the market, the German city will no longer be connected with the U.S. with nonstop flights.
Delta has been flying to Stuggart for more than two decades. This business-focused route connected Mercedes Benz’s and Porsche’s U.S. headquarters in Atlanta with their main offices in Germany. Delta suspended the route from March 2020 until March 2023 due to the pandemic, and now it’s being scrapped for good.
The airline explained the cut with the following statement: “Delta will discontinue service to and from Stuttgart on October 26, 2024, as we adapt our schedule to align with consumer demand. Delta customers will have access to and from Stuttgart through Delta partners Air France and KLM. Delta’s service at Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin will continue.”
This marks Delta’s second noteworthy cut in Germany in recent months. Last year, the airline cut flights to Dusseldorf, leaving another German city disconnected from the U.S. with a nonstop link. (German carrier Condor plans just four one-off flights from New York to Dusseldorf this September and October, Cirium schedules show.)
In addition to the long-haul adjustments, Delta will end flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Bogota, Colombia’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG) later this year. The airline says the cut is being made “as we adjust our schedule to align with consumer demand.”
Though the airline will no longer serve Bogota from New York, it will continue to offer twice-daily flights to the city from its Atlanta hub.
Travelers can also fly to Bogota via Delta’s joint venture partner, LATAM, which offers twice-daily service from Miami and daily service from Orlando to the Colombian capital.
Delta first started flying this route in December 2008, Cirium schedules show. The airline has operated the route pretty consistently since then, aside from two brief suspensions — one from 2016 to 2019 and another during the pandemic from March 2020 until December 2020.
The best time to book a cruise is when you’ve done your planning, picked a ship and found a cruise fare that fits your budget and offers good value. But that doesn’t stop vacationers from wondering if they’d find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month.
I’d love to give you a magic date to circle in red on your calendar so you’d know for sure that was the best time to book a cruise. The truth is there’s no one best day, but knowing a few things about how cruise lines price cabins and when they tend to run promotions will help you identify high-value deals. When you see one, you’ll know it’s as good a time as any to book your next cruise vacation.
What is the best day to book a cruise?
Everyone wants to know the cheapest day to book travel — as if fares drop like clockwork on Wednesday morning and rise with the sun on Thursday. It doesn’t work that way.
It used to be that lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line would offer midweek sales on select cruises every Tuesday or Wednesday. These lines still offer the occasional flash sale, but they don’t always fall on the same day of the week.
Within a given cruise sale’s promotional period, I’ve seen cabin prices fluctuate daily and I’ve seen them stay the same for a week. It all depends on how many cabins a cruise line has allocated for a specific fare class and whether those rooms happen to sell out or not.
I could tell you that it’s cheaper to book a cruise at the beginning of a sale because availability is greatest. However, if the line sees a certain cabin category on a specific ship failing to sell as expected, it could drop rates halfway into the sale period.
The exception is any highly anticipated and publicized cruise, especially if it’s a one-off voyage or a short-season sailing, like a Great Lakes cruise. The maiden voyage and early inaugural season cruises of a new Royal Caribbean or Disney Cruise Line ship will sell like hotcakes on the day bookings first open; the most beloved theme cruises also book up quickly. World cruises have sold out within hours, even with price tags of $150,000 per couple.
If you have exclusive early access to book one of these cruises, due to being a past passenger or loyalty program member, take advantage and book your vacation the day the voyage goes on sale.
If there’s no best day to book a cruise for the best deal, you might think there’s a best month. While you can find cheap cruises any month you look, I can give you some pointers about which months are most likely to feature cruise sales with value-added promotions.
The best months to book a cruise are January through March, when nearly every cruise line launches some kind of wave season promotion, and November through December, when Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales often start well before Thanksgiving and end days or weeks after. You might find a cheap cruise deal or a fare packed with extras (like complimentary beverage packages, free kids fares or reduced deposits).
Are you guaranteed to find the cheapest, most freebie-laden pricing during these months? Of course not! Cruise lines sometimes inflate prices before a sale, so deals for 30% or 50% off may not be as good as you think. Or, the cruise line may offer its best fares in a one-off sale at another time of year.
Whether the winter months are the best time to book a cruise depends on which itinerary you’re hoping to book and how popular that sailing is that year. In a year when Alaska cruises are popular, the wave season promotions in January and February might not be especially good because the lines don’t need to discount to fill cabins. But if Alaska cruise bookings are soft, the wave season specials could be the best of the year as cruise lines pull out all the tricks to fill ships.
I could say that winter is the best time of year to book a cruise because that would cover the late-fall Thanksgiving week sales and wave season promotions. I can guarantee that your cruise line will offer some promotions during the winter, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best time to book.
If you want to book a solo or family cabin on a Mediterranean cruise in July, you likely want to book much earlier than January for the most availability and the best prices. As I said earlier, great sales and deals can pop up year-round, including on other holidays such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
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How far in advance should I book a cruise?
All this talk of the best time to book a cruise raises the question of how far in advance you should book. The key to the answer is recognizing that cruise lines adjust pricing as cabins sell out (or fail to do so) on any given ship and itinerary.
Cruise lines want you to book as early as possible. Not only do they get cash in hand sooner, in the form of your deposit, but they can rest easy when a ship sells out early knowing they don’t have to work to get people to come on board and spend more money.
Therefore, cruise lines often offer their best fares when bookings open to incentivize travelers to book early. Cruises open for bookings a year or more in advance. For example, as of August 2024, I can book a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line through spring or fall of 2026, depending on the ship.
Now, it might be the itinerary I’m looking at won’t be popular, and the cruise line will lower the fare closer to sailing. Or, the itinerary will sell well, and prices will only go up from the original price. I can’t know for sure, though I can guess that peak-season trips to popular destinations on a newer cruise ship are more likely to sell quickly. Christmas and New Year’s cruises, top suites and limited specialty cabins (such as solo and family cabins) also tend to sell out early.
If you ask me, the answer to “How far in advance should I book a cruise?” is as early as possible for the most popular cruises and cabin categories and at least nine months before most sailings.
Can I book a cruise at the last minute?
Yes, you can book a cruise at the last minute, but that doesn’t mean you should.
In the cruise industry, a last-minute booking is considered any cruise purchased after final payment is due, generally 60 to 90 days before sailing. That means you have to pay the entire cruise fare at the time of booking rather than paying a deposit and the rest at a later date.
The final payment date is a day of reckoning for cruise salespeople. It’s the last date that undecided travelers can cancel without penalty. Once final payment is due, the cruise line has a more accurate picture of who is likely to sail (since once you pay, you’re likely to go, barring an emergency). At that point, the line can see if the ship is comfortably full (meaning it can hold prices steady or raise them because it’s not worried about filling the ship) or is too empty (meaning it better run some promotions to get more folks in cabins).
If it’s the latter, that’s when you get last-minute deals on cruise ships with unsold cabins. However, even if that last-minute cruise is cheap, the 11th-hour airfare or precruise hotel booking could eat into your savings.
For the real procrastinators out there, the absolute last day you can book a cruise before its departure has changed over the years. Currently, a cruise line could accept a booking mere hours before sailing, as long as boarding is still open and the ship’s manifest (the list of passengers and crew members on board) has not been submitted to the authorities.
In actuality, most cruise lines will sell available cabins through the day before sailing but limit or deny same-day bookings. Depending on the line, you might only be able to book cruises within a day or two of departure directly with the cruise line’s reservations department.
Booking a cruise just days before sailing should only be attempted by travelers within an easy drive of the cruise port. You should also make sure that you have time to get any necessary documentation, as well as make related travel plans.
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How do I know if I’m getting a good deal when I book?
Regardless of when you’re booking a cruise, you’ll want to know if the fare you’re paying for your vacation at sea is a cheap deal, average or overpriced. The best way to know that is to do your research.
Tracking prices allows you to watch the rise and fall of cruise fares over time, so when the fare drops, you’ll recognize the price as a deal and be able to pounce on it. This strategy is best if you plan to book early and aren’t as concerned about the ship selling out immediately.
Don’t forget to watch for value-added promotions as well. For example, Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion currently includes six booking perks (a free beverage package, a shore excursion credit, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, extra guests and buy-one-get-one-free airfare).
If that sounds like too much math homework, I recommend that you call a travel agent. A cruise-knowledgeable travel adviser can help you plan your trip and determine if the current pricing is good or if you should hold out for a deal.
Bottom line
I’ll say it again: The best time to book a cruise is when you see a price and promotion that seems like a good value to you. If you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth on a cruise purchase, go ahead and book that dream vacation. There’s no way to be absolutely sure you’re buying when the cruise fare is the lowest possible price with the maximum number of fare inclusions.
Sometimes you might be forced to choose between the cheapest possible fare and one that offers a greater total value, given the included perks. Knowing when cruise lines will likely run promotions will help you strategize, but sales can pop up anytime — and not every promotion offers the cheapest fares.
Stop trying to game the system and focus instead on planning the perfect cruise vacation you and your loved ones will reminisce about long after you’ve forgotten how much you paid for the trip.
Dock Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas side-by-side, and you’re likely to notice a couple things. The first is that as the largest and second-largest cruise ships in the world, respectively, they’re both massive. The second is that, despite their similar size, they look a bit different.
If you’re unfamiliar with the details of the vessels, it can be overwhelming to figure out which of these two behemoths is the better fit for your next sailing.
From onboard vibe and cabin options to entertainment, here are some of the key similarities and differences in a showdown of Utopia vs. Icon of the Seas.
Size
Aft view of Icon of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Even though Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are currently the world’s two biggest cruise ships, there’s still a size difference between the two.
At 250,800 gross registered tons, 20-deck Icon of the Seas carries 5,610 people on a double-occupancy basis (when there are two people booked in each cabin) and about 7,600 passengers when every berth is filled. That’s in addition to 2,350 crew members.
While still incredibly large, the slightly smaller 18-deck, 236,473-ton Utopia of the Seas can accommodate 5,668 travelers at double occupancy and roughly 6,988 guests when it’s full. Nearly 2,300 crew members work on board.
Although Icon of the Seas has two more decks than Utopia, it carries fewer people than Utopia does at double occupancy but more when it’s full. That’s because Royal Caribbean specifically designed Icon of the Seas for families, assuming that parents would share cabins with their children.
In the line’s 2024 second-quarter earnings call, Royal Caribbean executives said the ship has been operating with a 132% load factor, meaning it routinely sails with more than two people — sometimes three, four or even five — per cabin.
Layout
The carousel on the Boardwalk on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
To understand the layout of Utopia of the Seas vs. Icon, you’ll first need to know about Royal Caribbean’s neighborhood concept. Each distinct area of the ship groups popular themed offerings together in a layout that helps to control passenger flow.
The original vessels in the Oasis Class, to which Utopia of the Seas belongs, had seven neighborhoods, which have carried through to Utopia.
The seven neighborhoods are:
Central Park: An outdoor promenade with shops, bars and restaurants that’s also home to more than 10,000 live plants — with a resident gardener — and inward-facing balcony cabins that overlook the space
The Boardwalk: A boardwalk-style open-air space with a hot dog stand, a candy and ice cream shop, arcade games, a carousel, inward-facing balcony cabins and the innovative wake-facing AquaTheater, which features high-diving shows
The Royal Promenade: An indoor social hub with a mall-like vibe where passengers will find a pub, a karaoke lounge, two cafes (including a Starbucks), retail outlets and guest services. Inward-facing cabins with windows overlook this neighborhood, and occasional parades and parties take place here.
Pool and Sports Zone: The place for active outdoor pursuits and watery fun, incorporating surf simulators, rock climbing walls, miniature golf, a sports court, a zip line, bars, the entrance to the Ultimate Abyss dry slide (which drops 10 decks to The Boardwalk), teen clubs, an arcade, grab-and-go casual dining, four pools and several hot tubs, as well as kids water play areas and waterslides
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center: The place for all things related to health, wellness, fitness and pampering, featuring free-to-use exercise equipment, for-fee fitness classes and personal training, a sizable jogging track, Ping-Pong tables, and spa and salon services like massages, manicures, pedicures and hairstyling
Entertainment Place: A tucked-away cluster of indoor entertainment venues like casinos, a comedy club, a nightclub, the ship’s main theater, an art gallery, and Studio B — a multipurpose space that houses ice skating, laser tag and theme parties
Youth Zone: The location for Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s kids club, which encompasses activity and learning rooms and separate spaces for babies and toddlers, kids and tweens; also where passengers will find the escape room (on ships that have one)
As Royal Caribbean has evolved its ships over time, new neighborhoods have been added. In addition to the ones above, Utopia of the Seas has an eighth zone — the Suite Neighborhood. It affords access to a private sun deck with hot tubs, a dedicated lounge, a sit-down restaurant and 24-hour concierge service for passengers booked in the vessel’s most expensive accommodations.
With the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, of which Icon of the Seas is a part, a few of the key areas have been removed, relocated and reimagined, making Icon feel a bit more segmented than Utopia of the Seas.
Like Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas has eight neighborhoods, but only three of them — Central Park, the Royal Promenade and the Suite Neighborhood — are the same as the ones you’ll find on Utopia.
Note: Although Icon of the Seas doesn’t have the Youth Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center and Entertainment Place neighborhoods, the ship still offers the Adventure Ocean kids club, onboard spa and fitness facilities and a cluster of similar entertainment venues.
Surfside. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
Brand-new neighborhoods on Icon include:
Surfside: A dedicated space for families with young children, offering family-friendly eateries and a bar with mocktails, a candy shop, an arcade, a carousel, a playground, kids splash areas and a wake-facing infinity pool; replaces The Boardwalk
AquaDome: A giant dome-like glass and steel structure with 220-degree ocean views that houses a now-indoor AquaTheater for high-diving and acrobatic shows and the AquaDome Market, Royal Caribbean’s first food hall, as well as bars and a Royal Caribbean gift shop
Chill Island: Replaces the “pool” portion of the Pool and Sports Zone found on Oasis Class vessels; offers four pools — including one with a swim-up bar — sun loungers, hot tubs and cabanas for rent
Thrill Island: Replaces the “sports” portion of the Pool and Sports Zone; features staples like the rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf course and sports court. It also has a ropes course-style attraction and the largest water park at sea, which incorporates multiple waterslides.
The Hideaway: An adults-only area just below Thrill Island; provides a suspended infinity pool, loungers, hot tubs, a Champagne bar and a party atmosphere
The Royal Promenade has also had a bit of a facelift on Icon of the Seas. Deck 6, which used to overlook the space, now wraps completely around instead of only partially, and a giant three-deck light-up sphere called The Pearl has been added as part art installation and part structural support. It also provides a way for passengers to move between the two decks of the Royal Promenade. Walls of windows on either side bring lots of light into the space.
The Royal Promenade’s lower deck no longer has the hydraulic “levitating” Rising Tide Bar, which has been removed, along with Cafe Promenade. Instead, the usual standalone Starbucks kiosk has moved into a more permanent venue, and the Pearl Cafe has been added one deck above.
You can find more information about changes to Central Park and the Suite Neighborhood in the “Dining” and “Cabins” sections below, respectively.
Theming
A balloon drop in the Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Although both ships do a great job of catering to all types of passengers, Icon of the Seas was designed specifically to appeal more heavily to families with the addition of the Surfside neighborhood, as well as a slew of cabins designed to sleep more than two people.
Meanwhile, because Utopia of the Seas is the first brand-new ship to exclusively sail short three- and four-night voyages, Royal Caribbean bills the vessel as the “World’s Biggest Weekend.” It’s perfect for quick getaways, a fact that the line’s executives say lends the ship a more party-hearty — but not uncouth — atmosphere.
If you’re traveling with your children on Utopia, you’ll still find plenty for them to do at the ship’s water play areas and Adventure Ocean kids club, but you’ll also find more live music than ever before. There’s a heavy emphasis on parties, too, including one with a frat party theme and another — a pool party — with music, giveaways and guns that shoot Champagne.
Cabins
Ultimate Family Townhouse. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
Both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas have standard inside cabins, ocean-view options with windows, rooms with balconies and a variety of suites, including huge ones for families with amenities that are every kid’s dream.
Icon debuted with 14 new cabin and suite types to choose from out of 28 total accommodation types. Many are family-friendly rooms that sleep four passengers; some can accommodate six or eight. In total, 313 cabins and suites are listed specifically as family-focused accommodations, but most standard rooms can sleep more than two people.
Of particular note on Icon of the Seas are new Panoramic Suites, which exist in part of the AquaDome. They offer natural light through part of the structure, which serves as a floor-to-ceiling window in each cabin.
Representing a change to the Suite Neighborhood, new Icon Loft Suites are two-deck-high accommodations, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large balcony with a private dining area and floor-to-ceiling windows.
And, finally, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is the pinnacle of accommodations onboard. The three-deck-high suite is an evolution of the Ultimate Family Suite that wowed guests on Oasis Class ships. In addition to kid and adult sleeping areas, this 1,772-square-foot top-level suite features an in-suite slide, a movie-viewing room, a karaoke machine and spacious indoor and outdoor living spaces.
The only major cabin addition on Utopia of the Seas is a group of Solarium Suites. These bright, airy and spacious digs were added above The Solarium, the ship’s tranquil adults-only space.
Dining experiences
Tickets for Royal Railway – Utopia Station. MEGAN DUBOIS/THE POINTS GUY
All of your favorite Royal Caribbean dining staples — including Chops Grille steakhouse, Izumi sushi, Giovanni’s Italian, Sorrento’s pizza, Playmakers sports bar, Park Cafe, El Loco Fresh Mexican and the Windjammer buffet — have reprised their roles on both Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.
But it’s the new additions that truly stand out on both of these ships.
On Utopia of the Seas, cruisers can enjoy grab-and-go items from the Spare Tire food truck or immerse themselves in for-fee train-themed dinner theater at Royal Railway: Utopia Station. Additional extra-cost options run the gamut from affordable shaved ice to ultrahigh-end Japanese food at Omakase, an eight-course experience that’s limited to just six people at a cost of $130 per person.
If you’re searching for an exclusive dining option on Icon of the Seas, check out the Empire Supper Club, which mixes an eight-course dinner with music for a cost of $200 per person. A major new addition to the Central Park neighborhood, the restaurant seats only 38 people, and it has an art deco theme that’s also a nod to New York.
Or, if you’re celebrating a milestone, you can rent your very own space at Celebration Table. It costs a flat fee of $999 for up to 14 people, and it’s the same price regardless of how many of the seats you fill. It’s located in the ship’s Hooked Seafood restaurant, but you can choose the cuisine you’d like the chef to prepare. The list includes American, Italian, Asian and seafood.
New family-friendly options abound, including Pier 7, a specialty restaurant with a California theme. It’s free for kids and a la carte for adults, and the menu serves items like Baja fish tacos, Korean fried chicken and warm toffee chocolate cake.
The new AquaDome Market is Royal Caribbean’s first food hall experience and offers a variety of cuisines like Mediterranean, Asian, mac ‘n’ cheese, salads, sandwiches and desserts free of charge. Or check out the Pearl Cafe for complimentary small bites and coffee drinks.
Entertainment
Ice skaters dressed as molecules during the “Starburst” ice show. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
Both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas present a variety of theater shows, comedy, high-diving acts, Royal Promenade parades and themed parties, as well as a ton of live music and daily activities to keep passengers busy.
As for what’s different, the AquaTheater on Icon of the Seas has moved from The Boardwalk neighborhood — Deck 6, aft, on Oasis Class ships like Utopia — to the new AquaDome, which is indoors instead of open-air. Performances on both ships involve synchronized swimming, dancing, high-diving, acrobatics and more. Utopia’s show, dubbed “Aqua80,” incorporates songs from the ‘80s but with a modern twist, and “Aqua Action!,” performed on Icon, has a movie theme.
Similarly, both vessels have their own ice rinks with specially developed ice-skating performances. On Icon of the Seas, the Absolute Zero ice rink, found on Deck 5 in the Royal Promenade, replaces Studio B, which is on Deck 4 on Utopia of the Seas. The new and improved version on Icon is round instead of rectangular, and the shows also differ in theme.
On Icon, “Starburst” is themed around the elements (carbon, helium, etc.). Group, solo and pairs skating numbers are combined with next-level juggling by a character dubbed “The Starman.” On Utopia, “Youtopia” presents a blend of contemporary and retro music, gorgeous costumes (some that look like candy) and nearly flawless execution.
In the main theater, passengers can expect to find “All In” on Utopia. The show celebrates some of history’s most iconic parties and music festivals like Studio 54 and Burning Man. However, if Broadway-style shows are what you seek, Icon of the Seas might be more your speed; the ship features performances of “The Wizard of Oz” on board.
As mentioned, Utopia of the Seas is focused more on parties than any other Royal Caribbean ship. Onboard soirees include Senses, a pool deck party where cruisers will find house music and sunset scenes on the giant outdoor movie screen; ReZolution, where passengers wear white and become living art through a series of high-tech projections; and Plunge, a daytime pool party
And, finally, what would any Royal Caribbean cruise be without a Royal Promenade parade? On Utopia, you can join in “The Effectors Homecoming Parade.” It’s a departure from the full show “The Effectors” performed in the Royal Theater on Icon of the Seas. The homecoming parade on Utopia picks up the storyline at the end of the theater production when (spoiler alert) the band of superheroes — Captain Viz, Lume, Pixel and Reverb — defeat their archnemesis, Crash, and his sidekick, Burn.
Itineraries and pricing
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
One of the biggest areas in which the ships differ is itinerary. While Utopia of the Seas focuses strictly on three- and four-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral near Orlando, Icon of the Seas runs weeklong voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami.
Both ships include calls on Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line’s private island, on most of their routes. Utopia visits mainly Nassau in the Bahamas, Perfect Day and Cozumel in Mexico with little deviation.
Due to its longer schedules, Icon offers a wider variety of port calls, including stops at St. Kitts and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten, the Dutch side of St. Martin; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico; plus Labadee, Haiti, another of Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, depending on the itinerary.
In terms of pricing, because Icon of the Seas offers seven-night cruises while Utopia’s are only three and four nights, the former will cost more overall to book.
When I compared per-night pricing just before publication, the least expensive Icon of the Seas sailing I could find was $1,186 per person for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing in January 2025. That works out to $169 per person, per night, for an inside cabin — not a bad price, considering Icon of the Seas is the industry’s largest (and also one of its newest) vessels.
Comparatively, the least expensive Utopia of the Seas voyage I located for the same time period was $593 per person for a four-night Bahamas and Perfect Day sailing. That’s $148 per person, per night — slightly less than Icon of the Seas’ cheapest nightly rate.
Rates will vary by sailing date, destination and cabin type, but due to demand, both ships are on the higher end of Royal Caribbean’s pricing. You should expect to pay a premium for cabins on both Icon and Utopia.
Bottom line
Icon of the Seas. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
When it comes to Utopia of the Seas vs. Icon of the Seas, they’re both large ships that have plenty on board for passengers of all ages to do, see, eat and drink. Both have excellent kids clubs, phenomenal entertainment, a plethora of bars and restaurants and a wide selection of cabin types.
If you’re looking for a short cruise, a weekend getaway or a sailing that will cost you less overall, or if you want more of a party atmosphere, Utopia of the Seas should be your pick. Of the two, it’s also the best ship if you’re a fan of the original Oasis Class neighborhoods.
However, prospective Royal Caribbean cruisers will likely feel more at home on Icon of the Seas if they’re cruising with young children and want a dedicated family space, have a larger budget or want a weeklong voyage, or prefer to sail on the absolute largest cruise ship afloat.
Taiwan-based airline EVA Air is back with a “sweet and joyful” tradition — and one of the more interesting inflight experiences you’ll ever see.
The carrier this week debuted its latest aircraft adorned in Hello Kitty livery. The decked-out Boeing 777-300ER touched down Wednesday night at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), and it will be making three weekly appearances at the hub going forward.
This freshly painted 777 is EVA’s fourth Hello Kitty-themed aircraft, and this one is nicknamed the “Besties Jet.” Like prior generations of the cartoon-centric plane, this wide-body features several famous Sanrio characters, from Hello Kitty herself to My Melody and Kuromi.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Unlike some of the other eccentric liveries you’ll see on the exteriors of commercial planes, the Hello Kitty theme runs much deeper than a paint job. It shows up in almost every aspect of the inflight service.
Hello Kitty jet’s O’Hare arrival
Fittingly, the jet arrived to significant fanfare in Chicago on Wednesday night. It started with a water salute as the aircraft pulled up to the gate, and there were excited gasps from travelers and fans as they got their first glimpse of the jet.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
But that was only the beginning of the party.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Inside O’Hare’s Terminal 5, shades of pink, bright lights, music and food made the occasion unmistakable.
This was not your average inaugural flight gateside party.
EVA Air, known for its high-end inflight meal service, offered passengers a taste of its culinary team’s skills with a mouthwatering array of hors d’oeuvres.
EVA’s catering team offered dishes like savory scallops with celeriac mousseline, purple cauliflower with romesco sauce, bresaola and asparagus with creme fraiche, and savory lobster with leek mousseline. Not to mention, there was a scrumptious array of elaborate desserts.
What to expect on EVA Air’s Hello Kitty flight
Then there was the Hello Kitty stuff … lots of it.
The carrier showed off the complimentary and duty-free items available on these themed flights, including Hello Kitty headrest covers and slippers for passengers in each cabin. (The black ones are for business class.)
Custom-designed place settings are used for the meal service, and special Hello Kitty boxes are even available for the children’s meals. During gateside remarks, EVA President Clay Sun — who traveled to Chicago for the event — said those are a particular favorite.
“I think over the years, passengers enjoy riding on EVA’s Hello Kitty jet very much. They have been captivated by the design and onboard amenities — especially the charming children’s meals,” Sun said.
He let the audience in on an “internal secret.”
“Some of the adults, when they make a booking, they say, ‘Oh, I want the child’s meal,’” Sun said. “They say, ‘Well, because it’s very, very cute.’”
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
3 weekly flights from Chicago
EVA’s first Besties Jet flight from Chicago took off from O’Hare at just after midnight Thursday.
The 777 will fly the Chicago-to-Taipei route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for the duration of the airline’s summer schedule. It will shift to Monday, Wednesday and Friday operations during the winter months.
The airline said that on days when EVA flies a more traditional-looking jet to Chicago, passengers from O’Hare will still get the full complement of onboard amenities.
EVA AIR
Can you use points to book the EVA Air Hello Kitty plane?
If you’re hoping to book a seat on the EVA Air Hello Kitty jet, using points is a great way to save money.
To do this, one option is to transfer flexible credit card rewards to the EVA Air Infinity MileageLands program. You can transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points to the program at a 1:1 ratio. You can also transfer Capital One miles to EVA, but at a reduced 4:3 ratio.
Find Star Alliance award space
There’s another option if you’re not a Capital One or Citi ThankYou member: Find award space on one of EVA’s partners in the global Star Alliance. It includes a host of carriers, from United Airlines and Air Canada in North America to other popular airline programs like Avianca LifeMiles and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
EVA AIR
With just a quick search, I found economy-class redemptions on the EVA Hello Kitty flight through Air Canada Aeroplan starting as low as 50,000 points, one-way.
AIR CANADA
I also found one-way economy redemptions starting at just 47,000 miles through Avianca LifeMiles.
Plus, right now, there are some lucrative credit card welcome offers that could help give you a leg up with your redemption, including Chase’s Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Between now and Sept. 5, new cardholders can earn up to 120,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
EVA Air’s 777 is laid out in a three-cabin configuration featuring lie-flat business-class pods, premium economy recliners and well over 200 seats in the main cabin.
Existing variations of the Hello Kitty-themed aircraft include the “Bad Badtz-Maru Travel Fun” aircraft flying on EVA’s route from Taipei to Clark in the Philippines. Its “Celebration Flight” and “Joyful Dream” aircraft alternate service on the Bali and Cebu, Philippines, routes.
Want to double-check that you’re actually booking a flight on the Hello Kitty plane? The airline offers more details on that on this page.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Wherever the Hello Kitty aircraft flies, it draws global interest from fans and travelers, Andrew Su, executive vice president of EVA Air and head of the carrier’s North America operations, said.
“It is very successful to draw attention from the public,” Su told TPG. “There’s a lot of people, especially parents with their children, they try to find the Kitty jet, traveling especially in summer, in the winter, and are so excited to get on the aircraft.”
Can cool and conglomerate coexist — let alone thrive — when it comes to edgy lifestyle brands and multibillion-dollar hotel parent companies?
Hyatt and Standard International will be the latest test over whether lifestyle hotels can flourish post-acquisition, following Hyatt’s earlier takeovers of Dream Hotel Group and Two Roads Hospitality (which delivered the company brands like Thompson Hotels and Alila).
Competitors like Hilton acquired lifestyle hotel brands Graduate and NoMad in the last year, Accor took a majority stake in lifestyle hotel group Ennismore (owner of The Hoxton) in 2021, while IHG Hotels & Resorts made a splash in 2015 when it acquired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants — seen as the originator of the boutique-turned-lifestyle hotel concept.
Lifestyle brands are a lot like celebrities: Their star power can grow brighter just as fast as they fade out. But whereas brands like W and Kimpton may have hit a few stumbles here and there in terms of maintaining their star wattage, Standard continues to high kick and grab headlines 25 years after first opening in West Hollywood.
Hyatt’s upcoming Standard acquisition includes The Standard, The StandardX, Bunkhouse Hotels, The Peri Hotel and The Manner brands, which have a global presence (some more than others). While you’ll be waiting a bit for these brands to integrate into the World of Hyatt network, here’s what you need to know about each of the upcoming brands entering the Hyatt ecosystem.
The Standard
The Standard Hua Hin in Thailand. THE STANDARD/FACEBOOK
It’s probably insulting to consider Standard International’s cooler-than-cool namesake brand the “grand dame” of the whole enterprise. Everyone from Madonna to Billie Eilish continues to show up to perform or just hang out in the brand’s The Standard, High Line, location in Manhattan — so this isn’t exactly like any of its soon-to-be-siblings in the Hyatt orbit elsewhere in New York City. The Standard is the pinnacle of the lifestyle hotel orbit, as its bars like Le Bain and restaurants like The Standard Grill are buzzed about just as much, if not more so, than the guest rooms upstairs.
But this is a lifestyle hotel concept that extends beyond its High Line and East Village branches in New York City. While the original West Hollywood location is no longer, there are currently eight options to check in at a Standard around the world. The brand’s colorful aesthetic wins over global jet setters, from London and Miami to Bangkok. Additional Standard hotels are in the works for cities like Singapore, Lisbon and Dublin.
Each Standard property comes with a hefty bar and restaurant line-up that each seems to have a simple requirement: Be the hottest ticket in town. Rooms and suites are unpretentious, albeit on the more luxurious end of the lifestyle hotel spectrum. Standard staff are also part of the draw — acting like your new best friend in an exotic locale. If you ask me, Hyatt’s finally hitting the mark in its wave of lifestyle hotel brand acquisitions with The Standard brand alone, as these hotels are significantly better maintained than some of the older Dream Hotels I’ve frequented.
The Standard High Line is known for its NYC views. STANDARD HIGH LINE
The StandardX
One of Standard’s newest offerings is The StandardX, a “rebellious younger sibling” that acts to The Standard what Tommie is to Thompson Hotels. This more affordable brand debuted in Melbourne, Australia, this year and has global growth ambitions for distinct, cultural neighborhoods around the world.
“[The StandardX hotels] will be in neighborhoods that we think fit this new brand,” Standard International CEO Amber Asher said in an interview with TPG earlier this year. “We’re not creating the brand just to grow it. We’re creating the brand for the opportunity to be in a neighborhood and to explore things in a different way.”
The rooftop at the StandardX, Melbourne. STANDARD INTERNATIONAL
While StandardX has a similar vibe as its older sibling, guests should expect a more streamlined experience at a more affordable nightly rate. Therefore, expect cozier rooms — albeit roomier than what you’d find at competitors like Marriott’s Moxy or Ennismore’s The Hoxton — and bars and restaurants that blend in with the surrounding neighborhood. Introductory rates at The StandardX in Melbourne started at $168 per night.
Ahead of the StandardX brand launch, Asher specifically pointed to areas like Brooklyn, East Austin in Texas, Shoreditch in London as strong fits for The StandardX. The official next property — The StandardX, Bangkok Phra Arthit — is slated for Bangkok’s old town neighborhood. Cities that might not be able to handle The Standard’s nightly rates could also be good contenders for The StandardX.
A room inside the StandardX, Melbourne. STANDARD HOTELS
The Peri Hotel
Standard International fans in Asia have an “approachable and family-friendly style” brand just for them with The Peri Hotel, which currently operates in two locations in Thailand. The brand is leisure-oriented for the time being with its locations in the beach destination of Hua Hin and near Khao Yai National Park. But the first urban Peri is slated to open soon in Bangkok, per the Standard International website.
Guests can expect simple, clean, colorful designs in guest rooms. Amenities include specialty bars and restaurants that reflect the local surroundings (surf lodge vibes in Hua Hin compared to a mountain lodge aesthetic in Khao Yai).
To price shop: Entry-level nightly rates at the Peri Hotel in Hua Hin averaged around $64 next month, while those at the Standard, Hua Hin (one of the most affordable in The Standard network), started at $94.
Bunkhouse Hotels
The dining room at Ocho, within San Antonio’s Hotel Havana. BUNKHOUSE/FACEBOOK
One of the more surprising growth drivers at Standard International is from a brand you might not be familiar with. Bunkhouse Hotels is the company’s platform of smaller hotels in states like Texas, California and Kentucky as well as Mexico. These smaller lifestyle hotels range from motel conversions to trendy boutique hotels in markets that maybe can’t quite handle a full-scale Standard — but still like to party.
“There are these amazing cultural elements to a lot of little cities that perhaps are not those gateway markets,” Asher told me in an interview last summer. “A lot of the creative classes moved into those cities where life can be a little bit less high stress, so it’s a huge opportunity.”
“I think one of the biggest white spaces is and continues to be operating smaller hotels because there are so many independently owned hotels, whether it’s family-owned hotels in Asia or anywhere in the U.S.,” Asher said.
The Manner
Not yet open but still generating plenty of buzz is The Manner, an upcoming luxury concept Standard is opening in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. Details are light at the moment, but the company development website notes the brand ethos “embodies the generosity, discretion and effortlessness of staying with friends in New York’s most stylish neighborhood” — that is, staying with a friend with a knack for chic design.
A Women’s Wear Daily feature on the soon-to-open hotel notes The Manner is meant to be the grown-up sibling to The Standard, so expect a more refined vibe with greater attention to detail and service. The property will feature guests-only spaces for cocktails and rooftop coffee but also feature restaurants open to the public.
How this all plays into Hyatt and beyond
There is an industry sentiment these days that smaller, buzzworthy hotel brands like Standard International all feel a sense of inevitability in terms of getting swallowed up by bigger conglomerates like Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott. But what happens after the dust settles is still a tad murky.
Industry cynics will say these big conglomerates are where cool goes to die. However, newly acquired lifestyle brands are increasingly being given autonomy, as some of these hotel parent companies appear to recognize they need a different creative approach to maintain brand appeal.
Standard has more brands to absorb than some of the other lifestyle players, so it will be interesting to see if Hyatt maintains all of these or if some get swallowed up by soft brands like JdV by Hyatt and the Unbound Collection.
In the meantime, it will be intriguing to see what happens over the next few years outside the walls of the major hotel groups.
Is everyone just waiting to get gobbled up and tap into major loyalty networks? Or, perhaps a next generation of Ian Schrager and Bill Kimpton-esque hoteliers emerge to seize an opportunity to fill in the void.
