Royal Caribbean has debuted many high-energy activities at sea, but keep in mind that there are 25 ships in fleet. While they all now have rock climbing walls on board, not all the ships have things like, say, a surfing simulator or an ice skating rink. Make sure you do a little research on what’s offered so you’re not surprised (or let down) when you arrive.

Here's some info that will help you choose: The fleet is divided into seven classes, a group of ships with similar design and activities. If your heart is set on the new, crazy activities the line is known for — think skydiving simulator and robot bartenders — book a mega ship from the Quantum Class. Or, if you know you want to zip line on board, choose the Oasis Class. And if you want a more low-key experience (say 2,000 people on board rather than 6,000), book a mid-sized ship from the older Sovereign or Voyager classes.

Smart cruisers know that you should never wait until you are on board to make reservations. Royal Caribbean allows you to book specialty restaurants, spa times, and shore excursions online as far out as 180 days before your cruise. Prime seatings at specialty restaurants such as Wonderland and Jamie’s Italian go fast, so you’ll definitely want to snag a table as soon as you can. While you're at it, arrange for a massage during a sea day (the first to book up) and start planning out your shore excursions. In addition to making sure you get your first picks, you’ll get to relax on board instead of rushing around making reservations.

If you are doing a Caribbean sailing that includes the line's private island, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can stroll right onto the beach and get a private cabana. You can (and should) reserve one in advance online, the earlier the better. If you are staying in a suite, you'll have access to the 20 thatched-roof bungalows at Barefoot Beach (four are over water), while all other cruisers can book one of the cabanas on Nellie's Beach. No matter which one you snag, you'll have an invite to a separate buffet lunch that's an upgrade over the general one offered to all passengers. If you miss out on an advance reservation, check in at the shore excursions desk once you are on board and add your name to the waiting list.

Not all cruise lines offer online check-in before embarkation day, so trust us, you want to take advantage of this one — it’ll save you so much time filling out the paperwork at the pier. You’ll just need to make sure you show up ready with your ID, signed Set Sail pass, and registered credit card when you get there. If you are cruising on Harmony of the Seas or Anthem of the Seas, you can do even more from home, including uploading a photo instead of having one taken at the port and signing waivers in advance for activities like the surfing and skydiving simulators.

Since you’re sailing with thousands of other passengers and there are some pretty cool free activities to try, lines can be inevitable. But there are some ways to avoid long waits at top attractions, and it's all about timing. If you want to hang ten on the surfing simulator or plunge down the 10-story slide, The Ultimate Abyss, for example, you’ll want to head there on embarkation day while others are still settling in. You'll also find that prime meal times will be quieter. Another option: port days, when most people will be off the ship exploring in town. 

Royal Caribbean has Zoom, the fastest, most reliable internet at sea on all of the ships. You can choose between two packages, which start at $12.99 per device, per day (or less if you are connecting five or more devices). The basic package allows you to access the Internet and social media, while the upgraded package is strong enough to stream videos, so you can watch Netflix just like you do at home. So there is no fear of missing important emails while you are away. Just don't tell your boss.