Royal Caribbean has released version 1.6.2 of its new official Royal Caribbean International app, which locks down the app to select ships, introduces a login feature, and opens the app up a bit more to two ships.

With the 1.6.2 release, guests on Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas have access to improved guest accounts, and can make reservations for specialty dining restaurants.

Guests on Symphony of the Seas may now take advantage of the app’s online check-in functionality.

The app is now available on Allure of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas. 

The app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas is undergoing repairs to its propulsion system, which was damaged last summer. 

Royal Caribbean Chief Meterologist James Van Fleet has been sharing photos from the dockyard in the Bahamas of the work being done to Allure.

Allure of the Seas is in dry dock this week to complete the repairs.

Royal Caribbean announced it has changed the scheduled itinerary for Allure of the Seas due to the recently developed Category 2 hurricane.

Hurricane Irma is expected to begin a northwest turn just before Saint Maarten on Wednesday, according to Royal Caribbean Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet.

For those on #AllureoftheSeas leaving 9.3: due to #HurricaneIrma, the E.Carib itinerary is now W.Carib. Updates on https://t.co/ANopt1JnOy

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) September 1, 2017

Given the storm's location and for the comfort and safety of our guests and crew, Royal Caribbean felt it necessary to alter the currently scheduled Eastern Caribbean itinerary for Allure of the Seas September 3 to a Western Caribbean itinerary. The new itinerary is outlined below.

Pre-booked shore excursions for our previous ports of call will be cancelled and refunded to the guest’s original form of payment while onboard. Guests will also have the ability to book shore excursions for our new ports of call at the Shore Excursions desk onboard Allure of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean noted they do not expect to make any further itinerary changes, but it may happen depending on the path of the storm.

James Van Fleet will continue to offer more frequent updates on his twitter account.

Following a slew of itinerary updates for upcoming Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has scheduled the ship to enter a dry dock in January 2018 to fix the issue(s) slowing the ship.

Royal Caribbean confirmed on Twitter that Allure of the Seas will enter dry dock on January 21, 2018.

Hi, Michael. Yes, Allure will enter dry dock on January 21, 2018. -Vero

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) August 18, 2017

All this week, many guests have received email notifications from Royal Caribbean alerting them to a "speed restriction" that forced the cruise line to change scheduled port stops.

Royal Caribbean has not indicated the nature of the issue exactly. 

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Brian Davis shared the Captain of Allure of the Seas indicated a few weeks ago that there was damage to one of the three propellers.

Guests with sailings booked on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas are receiving emails from the cruise line that their itinerary has changed due to a speed restriction.

Emails similar to this one that Royal Caribbean Blog reader scottvfl shared, were sent to guests informing them of the itinerary change.

Royal Caribbean has not indicated the nature of the issue exactly.  Based on emails sent to guests, it appears the changes mostly affect Eastern Caribbean itineraries, with St. Thomas often being replaced with San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Propulsion problems are not uncommon among cruise ships, resulting in slower speeds until the issue can be addressed in port. Anthem of the Seas had a similar issue in March 2017, Liberty of the Seas in 2015, Freedom of the Seas in 2014, and even Allure of the Seas back in 2013.

There is no indication yet as to how soon the issue will be resolved.

Royal Caribbean has designed Allure of the Seas with the word, "fun" in mind.  In short, there is a ton of activities and things to do on Allure of the Seas. From the spectacle of the AquaTheater shows to the challenge of the mini golf course, you will find no shortage of things to each day of the cruise.

We combed the list of things to do on Allure of the Seas, and came up with our list of nine cannot miss favorite things to try on Allure of the Seas.

Zip lining at sea

Allure of the Seas features its own zip line that is 9 decks above the Boardwalk neighborhood of the ship, and stretches 82 feet from start to finish.  Going for a ride on the zip line means not only a terrific vantage point all around you, but a great family-friendly thrill experience.

Passengers must be at least 52" tall to participate and weigh a maximum of 275 pound, also must at least weigh 75 pounds.

Guacamole from Sabor

The Sabor restaurant on Allure of the Seas serves up a lot of tasty Mexican cuisine, but at the top of the list has to be a bowl of custom ordered and freshly made guacamole.

The handmade guacamole put Sabor on the map when the first Sabor restaurant debuted on Navigator of the Seas in 2014. Since then, legions of Sabor fans have made reservations at Sabor specifically to enjoy this heavenly dish.

See Mamma Mia! Broadway musical

One of the most successful and beloved Broadway musicals, Mamma Mia!, is available for guests to see onboard Allure of the Seas.  Did we mention there is no additional cost to see the show?

Mamma Mia! features the songs of 70's band ABBA, and is featured on every Allure of the Seas sailing.  Mamma Mia! is the story of a girl getting married and wanting to meet her estranged father. Mamma Mia! played on Broadway for over 10 years.

Guests can pre-book reservations online prior to their cruise, or get tickets once onboard.  Ideally, try to get tickets before your cruise to ensure a smooth and effortless show experience onboard.

Hear the singer in the English Pub

Almost every evening, the English pub on Allure of the Seas is home to a talented singer who plays the kind of bar songs we have all come to enjoy over the years.

Located in the Royal Promenade, you should make an effort to stop by at least one evening to take in a set and sing along to songs you probably know the words to, while enjoying a beer or cocktail.  In fact, the pub is where you will find the widest selection of beers and liquors to choose from.

See the Aquatheater Show

OceanAria is the breathtaking show performed in the AquaTheater on Allure of the Seas and it is a must-see while onboard.

Embark on a mystical adventure under the sea as the ancient underwater civilization of Oceanaria comes to life at the AquaTheater in this original Royal Caribbean production. Aerialists and acrobats spring into action with fountains dipping and playing along to a mesmerizing soundtrack.

Be sure to avoid the first three rows of the theater if you do not want to get wet.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour

Royal Caribbean offers an all access tour for guests to join, where they can peek behind the proverbial curtain and see how a ship as massive and impressive as Allure of the Seas functions.

Guests are escorted through a number of critical areas of the ship, including the galley, bridge and engine room.  It is a fun way to take a glimpse of what it takes to keep Allure of the Seas functioning, and even get those nagging questions you have always wondered about finally answered.

The All Access Tour is available to purchase through the Cruise Planner prior to the cruise.

Be sure to also look out for a complimentary tour of Central Park. The tour offers an interesting look at what it takes to have keep all of those plants and trees be so beautiful. The exact day and time will be listed in the Cruise Compass, onboard Allure of the Seas.

Enjoy a drink on the Rising Tide bar

There is something undeniably cool about a bar that moves between decks, and Allure of the Seas has a bar that does just that.

The Rising Tide Bar continuously moves between the Royal Promenade and Central Park, offering some great views while you enjoy your favorite cocktail. There's just something very cool about being on a bar that moves through the air and with a drink in hand, it's a great place to watch all those people that are watching you.

Have a Kummelweck sandwich

There is a lot of great food on Allure of the Seas, but a hidden gem has to be the roast beef sandwiches from Park Cafe.

These sandwiches are just amazing and no trip to Central Park is complete without one of these tasty (and complimentary) treats.

Go for a ride on the carousel

No cruise aboard Allure of the Seas is complete without a ride (or three) on the Carousel.  Regardless of age, guests of all ages can enjoy the classic nature of this attraction.

Located in the Boardwalk neighborhood, you will find a full-sized, traditional hand-crafted carousel that was specially designed for Royal Caribbean.

Be sure to bring your camera, because there are bound to be terrific photo opportunities and ride during the evening and day to get completely different experiences. Also, check out the carousel at night because like the fairs of the past, nighttime is when these rides really shine when they are all lit up.

Your thoughts

Have you been on Allure of the Seas?  What do you think is something that everyone should try onboard? Share your thoughts in the comments for the blog post!

Browsing the iTunes App Store has revealed a new smartphone app that is only supported currently on Allure of the Seas.

The Royal Caribbean app was released on August 10, 2017 and might be part of the highly anticipated new smartphone app promised as part of a new digital strategy refresh.

The app description describes the new app as a new, official app for the cruise line, "The new, official Royal Caribbean mobile app gives our guests all the information they need to make the most of their cruises. We’re introducing it on Allure of the Seas®, and as we test and adjust this new app, we’ll gradually roll it out across our entire fleet."

The app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

The current version features include

• Learn about the hundreds of activities, movies, and shows available onboard
• Explore off-ship adventures in places like the Bahamas, St. Thomas, Cozumel, and more
• Peruse complete restaurant menus and bar and lounge options
• Plan a day of indulgence with our array of Vitality Spa offerings
• Use deck plan illustrations to navigate the ship

Royal Caribbean has been hinting at a new app ever since Royal Caribbean CIO Michael Giresi mentioned it in an interview in January 2017. Since then, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain has referenced it during earnings calls with analysts, but feature sets have not been divulged.

Dubbed internally as, "Project Excalibur," this new app will offer new ways for guests to have a simpler experience onboard.

"Starting over two years ago, we have found intuitive digital applications to make the guest experience simpler and more comfortable," Fain announced during the an earnings call earlier this year. "You'll be able to open the door to your room without pulling out a card or a key, request a beverage real-time from the comfort of your lounge chair, and get recommendations for your traveling companion based on their preferences."

"We take our guest vacation time seriously, and technology is a great enabler to improve the use of that."

Royal Caribbean and Miami-Dade County broke ground on the cruise line's brand new world-class cruise terminal, Terminal A at PortMiami.

The new terminal will be the new home of the just announced Symphony of the Seas, as well as sister ship Allure of the Seas.

Terminal A will be completed in October 2018 and be LEED certified and accommodate a 1,300-foot long ship. Terminal A will not be the only addition for Royal Caribbean this year, RCL has added a 20,000-square-foot Innovation Lab to its corporate headquarters. The Innovation Lab will continue to generate the design of Royal Caribbean’s industry-leading ships.

"This is an exciting collaboration with Miami-Dade County and PortMiami to create not just another cruise terminal but an iconic state-of-the-art facility," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Terminal A reinforces our unwavering commitment to our hometown, the city where our company first started nearly 50 years ago."

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Once the new cruise terminal is completed, it is anticipated that Royal Caribbean will generate at least 1.8 million travelers at PortMiami – representing no less than 30 percent of the port’s projected passenger traffic.

Royal Caribbean first announced its intentions to build this new cruise terminal in June 2016.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, with many different categories of staterooms onboard this magnificent ship.

Today, we have a photo tour of the Category CV Central Park View Stateroom.  Somewhat similar to the Central Park Balcony staterooms, these rooms offer a view of the Central Park neighborhood, but without the balcony experience.

On Allure of the Seas, the stateroom used for this tour is stateroom 9593, which is located closer to the forward elevators on deck 9.

Walking into the room, you will immediately notice the light shining through the large window.

The layout of the room is very similar to a Promenade View stateroom, with a bay window at the end of the room.

Central Park View staterooms measure 194 square feet in size and have two twin beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, considerable closet space, a private bathroom with shower, as well as an expanded living area with desk, drawer space, vanity, and sofa. Each stateroom also has its own flat-screen television, thermostat controlled air-conditioning, internet access, direct-dial telephone, radio, mini bar, individual safe, and 24 hour room service.

The Central Park View staterooms offer a seating area to view Central Park from, which doubles as a couch.

Thanks to Dr. Kris Leppien-Christensen for providing these photos.

Royal Caribbean has introduced a new menu highlighting artisanal ingredients at 150 Central Park onboard Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

Highlights include:

• A straightforward multi-course which allows the guest to explore the restaurant on multiple visits and try something new each time.  Selections include lobster gnocchi with carrot butter sauce, herb salad or Bittersweet Chocolate Bourbon Tart with salted caramel, spiced pecans, cranberry chutney and chantilly cream.
• A world-class cheese cart, tuna tartare or an 18-ounce tenderloin prepared tableside.
• Chef Schwartz along with Michael’s Genuine sommelier Eric Larkee has crafted a dynamic wine program that makes for an upscale and intimate gastronomic experience

Set in the Central Park neighborhood, 150 Central Park has a $45 cover charge, and includes from a variety of appetizers, entrées and dessert including a tableside cheese cart. 150 Central Park is the creation of James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz.