The first evening of our Western Caribbean crusie (4/17) is my friend's birthday. How do I request a surprise cake and is there a charge? There are four in our party. Many thanks.
If you booked through a Travel Agent she can request it for you. If you booked through another source then you could wait until you get on the ship and talk to the Maitre'd. The last I knew RCI was charging $7.95 for a cake. However, if you didn't want to pay for a cake, they would put a candle in whatever dessert you ordered that night and sing to you.
You can pre-order a cake directly through Royal Caribbean's Website for $7.95. You can arrange to have it in dining room or sent to the stateroom. They also have other cute gift ideas, such as decorations for the stateroom door and other "gifts" that can be delivered to the room. Go to the "before you board" section of their website for all the information.