Update 1/12/25: This post has been updated with new kosher sailing dates below!
To book a cruise or for inquiries email: info@freshkoshercruise.com
Please note: This is a sponsored post.
Experience an unforgettable Yeshiva Week celebration onboard Royal Caribbean. Get ready for an extraordinary adventure as you step aboard and indulge in a culinary journey that takes you around the globe, including delectable kosher buffets at the elegant Solarium Bistro on select sailings.
Want to learn more about the Fresh Kosher Program? JJ did a full in depth review on Instagram here!
To book a cruise or for inquiries email: info@freshkoshercruise.com
Include your desired sailing, dates, party size, and room preferences.
Western Mediterranean sailing on Aug 17th – Aug 24th 2025 on the Allure of the Seas from Barcelona, Spain:
Alaska: Quantum of the Seas: August 25th – September 1st, 2025 from Seattle:
Eastern Caribbean: Wonder of the Seas: August 17th – August 24th, 2025 from Port Canaveral, FL:
Bahamas: Symphony of the Seas: August 24th – August 31st, 2025 from New Jersey:
To book a cruise or for inquiries email: info@freshkoshercruise.com
The Fresh Kosher package costs an additional $80 per person/per day. Kids 6-12 — $40 per person/per day | Kids 5 and under — Free
Seating Time Options: 5:00 p.m, 6:30 p.m, 8:00p.m.
*Price is per person and in US dollars. Limited space available. 18% Gratuity will be added to the package.
*Guests interested in the dining package must purchase for the entire sailing; individual night bookings are not available.
NOTE: If any of the cruise dates are suspended and/or guests rebook to a new sail date, the Fresh Kosher Dining Package will not be available on any other sailing; however, the Frozen Kosher Program can be arranged with a minimum of 45 days notice for North American sailings, 90 days for European/South American sailings and 100 days for Asian and Australian sailings.
All readers are recommended to consult their own Rabbi about the kashrus of kosher cruises. These cruises include some dairy food that is not cholov yisroel.
To book a cruise or for inquiries email: info@freshkoshercruise.com
Leave a Reply
58 Comments On "[New Kosher Sailings Added, Including A Sailing From New Jersey!] Royal Caribbean’s Fresh Kosher Cruise Is Now On Sale For Summer 2025! Dates Already Selling Out!"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
Hechsher?
Rabbi Dovid Weberman from Miami.
Is the Rav Hamachshir the caterer?
Hmmmm, not sure how you break it down.
Royal Caribbean is the caterer.
Royal Caribbean hires a Kosher Caterer.
The mashgiach acts as an independent authority to ensure the caterer adheres to all kashrut requirements, therefore they can’t be the same entity.
Since it is one of the same, it defeats the whole purpose of a Mashgiach and is as if there is no Mashgiach.
Who is the kosher caterer?
FWIU RC chefs and staff create the menu and food.
Is it cholov yisroel?
Not exclusively. Some items may be but others not.
You can use Chase points to reserve the cruise through the Chase portal travel agency – cruise reservations. Need to call them.
cool!
Can you book kosherica cruises with chase points?
Don’t know but I doubt it.
Check with a Rav who has the expertise to guide you. As was clear on the Insta review there are Jewish guests of all stripes and varying degrees of kashrus observance among passengers. Kosher and non kosher can be found in very close proximity to each other, in some cases side by side and you may need to rely on the mashgiach to guide you very carefully.
This is not your standard typical kosher catered event. The kashrus of the food itself may be to an acceptable standard and there are even some cholov yisrael options, but the layout and issues involved means that you may want to run it by your rav to see how it measures up to your personal standards.
Where is it side by side?
On my sailing at least, there was a kosher dining room with a bouncer at the door only allowing in the kosher guests and staff.
Eli possibly meant in the kitchen or storage areas.
I guess I don’t know what he means by guide you.
You don’t go to the kitchen and choose items with the mashgiach showing you what’s ok or not.
You do of course rely on a mashgiach, but that’s obvious.
If you ask anyone in the kashrus industry they’ll tell you cruises are the hardest to certify and most won’t touch them. Doesn’t mean it isn’t possible, just that it can be extremely tough if not done right.
No doubt.
Pizza. Pretty scary
If it’s scary I’d suggest not going. But also, there is no mashgiach temidi at the pizza store. You are guided by signs and areas just for kosher in the small pizza shop.
Also, it’s not necessary to eat there, you get 3 meals a day besides the pizza.
Pizza ovens treif and kosher in proximity. Also the mashgiach pointing out kosher rolls of sushi that are not segregated or marked to distinguish them from the treif sushi in the same venue.
As you pointed out you can certainly eat 3 meals a day without the pizza, sushi or other issues, but the fact that these items are part of the kosher offerings is indicative of the fact that these are standards that are not normally acceptable in most kosher venues that many of us are used to, so it’s something that you may want to discuss with your rav to see if it meets the standards of kashrus you are usually comfortable with.
Cholov staam isn’t the same as trief. Those with Chumrahs should learn to differentiate the two.
Huh? Chalav Yisrael and chalav stam items were side by side in the main dining area. No treif in the main dining area. However, actual Kosher and treif options were in close proximity with regard to some of the other kosher options on board.
Could the same not also be said regarding Stam yeinam vs say, monastery-brewed wines?
What??? read before you comment.
Anyway to book with miles?
It’s a cruise so you’ll need to book with knots 🙂
Not gonna lie…I chuckled…
How can people just write and wreck another yids parnassah?
do you have any PERSONAL experience with kashrus?
reporting on questional food shouldnt be too much different than reporting on a questionable business investment
How do i see JJ’s Instagram Review, without logging in?
is it on Facebook?
Many cruise ships use steam as a source of heat so if there is a kosher and non kosher kitchen that uses the same recycled steam that can be very problematic. I am curious to know how they get around this issue.
Actually I believe cruise ships use mostly electric. Shared steam can be piped to heat soup pots and the like and that would be a kashrus issue. In industrial food production kashrus agencies often introduce a davar hapogem into the system to prevent treif bliyos from going into the kosher food via steam. It would take quite a level of sophistication for a mashgiach to do this on a cruise ship.
According to Royal Caribbean website the Jan 19 Wonder of the Seas Sailing is Eastern Caribbean not Western.
VISITING:Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida – Philipsburg, St. Maarten – Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas -Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas – Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida
Just asking,
Just asking, the tznius standard on this Miami area cruises is it ok? Special for Yeahiva students?
The entire boat are not yeshiva people — this is a food add/program to what is a regular cruise
What is yeshiva week?
It is the week NY Yeshivas get off for school. Northern schools give kids another week in January/February.
Unfortunately, it often times is also a week when people travelling to destinations on Yeshiva week think they own the place they are visiting and the behavior leaves a lot to be desired
I guess it should be called off-yeshiva week
😉
Will there be separate swimming?
No.
Will pool be able to be used as mikvah?
People seem confused. This is not a yeshiva cruise. It is a yeshiva WEEK cruise. There will be hundreds of skimpily dressed guests all over the ship as well as at the port stops, just like every other cruise.
There will be a group of kosher passengers aboard the cruise ship with kosher eating options. Some segregated kosher eating areas, and some kosher and non kosher areas such as sushi options with kosher items pointed out.
Some parts of the cruise ship are better than others but there is nothing different about the yeshiva week cruise than any other cruise tznius wise; if you are the makpid type on shemiras einayim this is not for you. The only way not so see anything untzniyus the entire cruise would pretty much be to stay in your cabin.
If you are the type that does go to more open destinations this cruise will provide you with kosher options while you are onboard. Hope this clarifies things.
Maybe a Cruise to Alaska would be a better option tznius wise.
Dan/JJ when are you guys doing another kosher cruise. where everything is kosher not just the food
Why is this different then just booking RC directly and taking advantage of thier kosher options directly offered on all thier crusies? What am I missing
Let round it off as follows:
Is there a minyan 3 times a day?
Ir there a Sefer Torah on board?
Is there a daf yomi and or a Amud yomi shiur?
Is there a Bais medias full of seforim?
How about hooking up remotely to Torah sites?
If you even think of answering these questions , these cruises are not for you, regardless of kashrut standards.
(FYI: wi-fi is a major issue (financially as well) on all cruises.)
Is their filtered WiFi?
There was no wifi on cruises at all when I used to sail in the 90’s, and 2000’s. Filtered? That’s a ridiculous question, as it’s like asking if the Marriott Orlando has kosher wifi. If one can’t control themselves, they kosher internet won’t help their addictions.
Just remember this is not specially Jewish passengers so the WiFi is not filtered and the people are probably not dressed tznius
JJ’s review states that this program is actually run directly by RC. Is there a link to a website where I can get more info on cabin types, pricing, etc? Is the pricing the same as booking directly through RC, just with the extra kosher fee added on?
You can find everything direct.
Advantage of using this travel agent is you get some free drinks and he’ll make the process much easier for you.
Prices are the same otherwise.
Is there a phone number for this agent?
@JJ Is the food a good reliable hechsher?
That’s up to you and your rav to decide.
All the halacha questions…
It’s like a hotel in Switzerland or somewhere else where there is a kosher and non kosher kitchen/dining room, there is a Beth midrash and a casino, a pool mixed most of the day and separate hours for heimishe guests…
but on a ship – in the middle of the ocean
This comments section has been the most entertaining thing on dansdeals the whole year