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New Brightline station will be added near Port Canaveral

In:
12 Mar 2024

Those cruising out of Port Canaveral will soon be able to rely on another form of transportation, as Brightline announced that they're planning on opening a new station in Cocoa Beach. Last week, the Cocoa City Council voted to designate $5 million for the new station.

Train

Brightline recently opened up a new station at the Orlando International Airport (MCO), making it easier for those commuting from Central to South Florida for sailings from Fort Lauderdale and Miami. It was a wise move, as MCO is the busiest airport in Florida, seeing around 44 million passengers annually. 

Despite the influx of passengers, Brightline doesn't have a station in Brevard County. Those heading from Orlando to Port Canaveral have to rely on other forms of transportation, such as rental cars, rideshares, or shuttles. 

Brightline began operations in 2018 with stops in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Now, however, they've expanded to Boca Raton, Aventura, and, of course, Orlando, covering 235 miles. 

Premium Lounge

At the time of writing, there's no timeline as to when the Cocoa Beach station could open. However, according to City of Cocoa Mayor Michel C. Blake, the City of Cocoa has met with company executives and is ready to move forward with negotiations for a station located near State Road 528 and US 1. 

The drive from Orlando International Airport to Cocoa Beach takes about an hour. While not long, a new Brightline station will allow those embarking on a cruise from Port Canaveral to choose another transportation option. 

Brightline Director of Public Affairs Katie Mitzner said, “Brightline is ready to begin the formal process with Space Coast stakeholders to fulfill our vision for a Brevard County station. We agree the time is now to finalize a plan.”

Read more: I took the Brightline train from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale for my cruise. Here's what it was like

Brightline has seen an increase in ridership of over 100% this year

Brightline-Miami

Additionally, they estimate that they'll see around 4.3 million passengers annually between South Florida and Orlando by 2025. 

A stop in Cocoa Beach makes sense, especially considering this is the area in which the trains slow down to transition from the East/West track to the North/South track. 

The maximum speed for Brightline trains from Orlando International Airport to Cocoa is 125mph. Between Cocoa and West Balm Beach, the speed maxes out around 110mph, while the train substantially decreases to around 79mph between West Palm Beach and Miami. 

Brightline is also building a new station in Stuart 

Brightline train car

In March, Brightline announced that Martin Country, specifically the City of Stuart, would be the site for their next station. 

The company reviewed five proposals from both private and public landowners along the Brightline/Florida East Coast Railway corridor. They, however, ultimately decided on Stuart due to its location, as well as the physical characteristics of the site.

The new station is estimated to cost around $60 million and will open in early 2028. 

Ships sailing from Port Canaveral

Royal Caribbean, along with numerous other cruise lines, sail from Port Canaveral. A total of 8 Royal ships will sail from Port Canaveral between now and April 2026. 

In July, Royal's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, will begin offering 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas. While not the largest ship in the world, guests can find various offerings unavailable on other Oasis Class ships, including the Royal Railway - Utopia Station specialty restaurant and Pesky Parrott bar. 

Additionally, upon Star of the Seas' debut in August 2025, the brand-new ship will sail from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Other ships include Adventure, Explorer, Allure, Mariner, Voyager, and Wonder of the Seas. Sailings range in duration from 3-night Bahamas cruises to 13-night Transatlantic voyages. 

Royal Caribbean news: New cruise ship construction milestone, deployment schedule updated & more

In:
21 Dec 2023

Construction of the second Icon Class ship is underway! On December 15, the keel laying ceremony for Star of the Seas took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. 

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"Star of the Seas is very important for both the shipyard and the partner network: the 13,000 man-years spent on building the ship create employment and business in Varsinais-Suomi and, with the supply chains, significantly wider as well," said CEO Tim Meyer.

"Once the ship is complete, it will strengthen a completely new kind of cruise experience with the standards set by its sister ship Icon." 

star-coin-ceremony

When a ship's kneel is placed into the dry dock during construction, coins are placed beneath it as a symbol of good fortune. 

Just like Icon, Star of the Seas, too, had coins left underneath the steel block of the ship's hull by the ship's customer and builder's representatives. 

The steel block was lowered by a crane to the bottom of the construction pool, which signified the start of the hull's construction. 

star-construction

Despite this milestone, Star of the Seas won't be ready to sail the seas until August 2025. When she enters service, she'll sail from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

Thankfully, bookings are open. However, Royal Caribbean has not announced any details of how Star of the Seas will be different from Icon. 

There's some more Royal Caribbean news that you should be aware of, especially if you're looking forward to the 2025-2026 deployments or have a holiday cruise booked onboard Oasis of the Seas in December 2023. 

2025-2026 deployments changed

2025-2026-deployment

Royal Caribbean updated some of their 2025 and 2026 deployment schedules.

While cruises to the Northeast taking place between April 2025 and April 2026 will still be released for booking the week of February 12, 2024, the deployment of short Caribbean cruises and those departing from Los Angeles have been delayed. Short cruises are those that are 3, 4, and 5 nights long. 

Rather than being released at the same time as Northeast cruises, these sailings will now come out the week of February 19, 2024. 

Bahamas water as seem from Royal Caribbean cruise ship

There is some good news, though. Long Caribbean cruises (i.e., those over 7 nights) will be released one week earlier than planned, or the week of February 12, 2024. 

The deployment schedule for the remainder of cruises departing April 2025 through October 2026 has yet to be announced. 

While booking a cruise in March 2026 may seem like a long way away, by booking this far in advance, you can take advantage of the lowest rates, which are typically found as soon as cruises are opened for booking. 

St Kitts

Plus, you'll be able to frequently reprice your cruise through the final payment date. 

Guests sailing onboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas this holiday season will be able to visit the cruise line's first-ever holiday pop-up market

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Found on Deck 8, the Oasis Holiday Marketplace, which was inspired by Europe's popular holiday markets, will run through January 7 and offer a selection of different Christmas ornaments, holiday appeal, and home décor. 

It's a great place to visit before dinner at Chops Grille or after enjoying a cocktail at the Trellis Bars. 

Plus, Santa Claus himself flew in straight from the North Pole for this special occasion! He'll be available to take photos with children, as well as encourage them to write letters to him at the North Pole. 

oasis-market-2

This special pop-up is in addition to the holiday décor found throughout the ship. 

“The Oasis Holiday Marketplace is a terrific example of Starboard's passion for ‘retailtainment’, offering families onboard engaging shopping experiences during magical holiday sailings,” says Claudia King-McWilliams, VP General Manager of Royal Caribbean.  

Oasis of the Seas' holiday sailings

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Oasis of the Seas, the namesake ship of the record-breaking Oasis Class, is one of the largest cruise ships at sea.

Measuring over 226,000 gross registered tons and 1,187 feet long, there are tons of family-friendly activities onboard, making a holiday cruise on Oasis of the Seas the perfect way to celebrate and spend some quality time with loved ones. 

On December 22, Oasis of the Seas will depart from Miami, Florida on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise to Falmouth, Jamaica; Labadee, Haiti; Nassau, Bahamas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Oasis of the Seas turning basin

The Christmas cruise will be followed by a 9-night New Year's cruise to the Southern Caribbean, with stops at CocoCay; Willemstad, Curaçao; Oranjestad, Aruba; and Falmouth, Jamaica. 

Read moreHow Royal Caribbean celebrates Christmas and New Years holidays on its cruise ships

What's Starboard Cruise Services?

Celebrity shopping

Starboard Cruise Services is the world's leading luxury vacation retailer at sea that has been in operation for 65 years.

In addition to "first at sea" brands, they're also responsible for customized cruise line merchandise and destination-inspired goods. They partner with several other mainstream cruise lines, too, including Virgin Voyages, Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line. 

For instance, they have a line of "Texas-inspired" merchandise onboard Carnival Jubilee, Carnival's newest Excel Class ship sailing out of Galveston, Texas. The three different collections include Carnival Saloon, Inaugural Americana, and the Heroes Collection.

jubilee-sea-trials-meyer-werft

The first, Carnival Saloon, will feature denim and Western-inspired fashion (i.e., cowboy boots, fringed t-shirts, and more). 

Starboard Cruise Services employs a team of over 300 shoreside and 1,800 shipboard employees, with over 62 different nationalities represented. 

Royal Caribbean cancels excursions to Blue Lagoon Island following deadly incident

In:
17 Nov 2023

Royal Caribbean has suspended all excursions to Nassau’s Blue Lagoon Island following a deadly boating incident in the Bahamas. The cruise line announced that it has suspended all excursions to Blue Lagoon Island through November 23, 2023. 

The cruise line offers a variety of excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, including snorkeling, beach breaks and encounters with dolphins. 

On November 14, 2023, a ferry boat filled with Royal Caribbean cruise passengers heading to the popular shore excursion in Nassau experienced rough seas and began to take on water. The double-decker boat slowly capsized, sending distressed passengers into the turquoise sea.

Unfortunately, the incident at Blue Lagoon Island turned fatal with one passenger, a 75-year-old American woman, passing away.

Royal Caribbean confirmed that the incident occurred during a shore excursion. Independence of the Seas was the only Royal Caribbean ship docked in Nassau on the day of the incident. 

In a notification from Royal Caribbean to guests who pre-booked excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, the cruise line said, “ We are currently working with local authorities to evaluate the boating incident that took place during a shore excursion. In light of the incident, we have decided to cancel all Blue Lagoon tours through November 23, 2023”

Guests booked on Blue Lagoon Island excursions through Royal Caribbean will receive a full refund for canceled excursions. There are no other excursions in Nassau currently impacted by the incident. In the communication to guests, Royal Caribbean reassures customers that safety is the top priority for the cruise line and apologized for any inconveniences caused. 

It’s unclear at this time whether further excursions to Blue Island Lagoon will be suspended. Presumably, the investigation could result in more Royal Caribbean excursions In Nassau to be canceled pending the results of the investigation. 

Many cruise ship passengers choose to travel to Blue Lagoon Island during visits to the port. The beautiful island is located about three miles northeast of Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas.

Details surrounding the terrifying incident

According to Nassau police, the ferry departed  for Blue Lagoon Island from Paradise Island around 9:30am. There were approximately 100 passengers onboard the ferry during the incident. As the ferry was approaching Blue lagoon Island, the boat reportedly hit a large wave and water started to flood the ferry. 

Police chief superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told Nassau Guardian ”The vessel experienced rough seas in the area, which resulted in the boat taking on water and becoming submerged in waters just outside of Blue Lagoon.”

The local authorities also shared that emergency teams from the island arrived quickly to the scene to assist the distressed ferry. Luckily, the boat was near shallow waters and did not submerge completely.  

Following the incident, local authorities reported a 74-year-old woman from Colorado sadly died in the incident. One report cites a police statement sharing that authorities attempted to rescue the woman from the water while the ferry was sinking, but she was unresponsive. CPR was reportedly performed after the passenger was taken to a dock, but she was pronounced deceased at the scene. All other passengers were safely rescued but two people needed additional medical attention. 

Videos on social media show the chaos

All over social media, videos began to surface of the ferry incident from passengers onboard the vessel. One TikToker, Kelly Schissel, chronicled the chaos onboard the Blue Lagoon Island ferry. 

“Our boat is sinking. So that’s fun. Everybody’s freaking out” says Kelly Schissel while showing the ferry capsizing.

In the background of the TikTok, you can hear screams from fellow passengers onboard the doomed ferry. Passengers can also be seen wearing life jackets and huddling to one side of the ferry. 

Kelly shares that she’s on the top floor of the ferry while simultaneously filming the ferry slowly submerging into the Blue Island Lagoon. “[We are] literally sinking,” she says in the TikTok.

In a second response video, the TikToker continues to share that guests on the bottom level allegedly heard the captain laughing about trying to do a donut-like maneuver by whipping the aft around quickly in a circular motion. While approaching the shore of Blue Island Lagoon, Kelly shares that she also thought the captain was maybe trying to show off with a quick maneuver. 

“I just don’t think it worked out the way he wanted it to” theorizes Kelly.

While the ferry continues to take on water, Kelly’s original TikTok shows many passengers panicking while still onboard the vessel. One passenger can be heard screaming amid the chaos. At one point, a male passenger jumps into the sea and encourages others to do the same. In Kelly’s TikTok video, passengers can be seen in orange life jackets jumping into the choppy waters of the Caribbean Sea from the listing ferry. 

In the comments section of her TikTok, Kelly shared that she safely made it off the ferry. She continued to share that the Blue Lagoon Island ferry appeared closer to the shore than it actually was, contrary to many peoples’ perception. 

The TikToker recounts how passengers were left without instructions during the incident.

In a second video, Kelly recounts the incident, sharing that the ferry captain made a sharp turn that sent everyone towards the front of the ship. When it was clear that there was an issue, Kelly said people started to panic and freak out.

Since Kelly was on the top deck of the Blue Lagoon Ferry, she said it was difficult to understand the severity of the situation initially. 

“Then one of the crew members that was downstairs ran upstairs. She is crying. Freaking out. Absolutely bawling while grabbing a life jacket.”

Throughout the incident, Kelly shares in her TikTok that the crew members were hysterically crying and did not provide any guidance or instructions. Eventually, guests started to jump into the ocean when it was clear that instructions would not be provided.

“It was actually pretty rough waves, so a lot of people were just trying to stay above water, even with their life vests on,” says Kelly in her second TikTok video. Although the water was warm and the weather was good, she shares that the seas were very choppy, which made the situation worse. 

The doomed vessel settled on the shore with the top half of the vessel above the waterline. After guests were brought ashore by other vessels, Kelly states that the survivors received hot dogs, chips and water. 

For many cruisers, Blue Lagoon Island is a popular destination while docked in Nassau, Bahamas. 

Royal Caribbean previously offered many excursions to Blue Lagoon Island. When Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog visited the island on a shore excursion a few years ago, he found at least nine different excursions that included a visit to the Blue Lagoon Island. 

Excursions to Blue Lagoon Island include a variety of options with shore excursions through Royal Caribbean. These include beach day passes, dolphin swim encounters, stingray experiences, Segway tours and more. 

Blue Lagoon Island is surrounded by pristine blue seas and white sandy beaches. There are multiple beaches across the island and many activities for guests to enjoy. Given the close proximity to Nassau, Blue Lagoon Island has been a popular destination for cruisers on shore excursions.

Royal Caribbean cancels 2024 Israel cruise season

In:
02 Nov 2023

As a result of the continued escalation of the war in Israel, Royal Caribbean has canceled their 2024 cruise season in Israel. 

Last week during their Q3 earnings call, Royal Caribbean Group said that the canceled 2023 sailings to Israel will negatively impact their earnings for the year by three cents a share.

"Due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in Israel, and with your safety in mind," read an email sent from Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, Associate Vice President of Guest Experience for Royal Caribbean International, "we've adjusted our itinerary."

What ships are impacted?

Jewel of the Seas was slated to be homeported in Haifa, Israel from August to October 2024, with itineraries ranging from 3- to 10-nights.

A guest onboard a sailing in October received an email that said, "Due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in Israel, we've made the decision to redeploy Jewel of the Seas from Haifa, Israel to its new homeport in Boston, Massachusetts."

"Unfortunately, this means your upcoming October 7, 2024 sailing has been cancelled."

boston

Instead of sailing from Israel, Jewel of the Seas will now sail Northeastern itineraries. Grandeur of the Seas will be redeployed to Tampa and sail to the Western Caribbean. 

Those originally booked on Grandeur of the Seas will be able to select one of three different itineraries. The first departs on September 22, 2024 and visits Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick; and Portland, Maine. 

The second option departs September 29, as well October 6, 20, and 27 and calls in Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Portland, Maine.

The third and final itinerary departs from Boston on October 13 and will visit Sydney, Nova Scotia; Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick; and Portland, Maine. 

Voyager of the Seas was supposed to call in Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel during three 7-night round-trip cruises from Athens (Piraeus), Greece in June and August. 

An email sent to those booked on the August 19th sailing revealed that the ship will now have an overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey, with additional stops in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Santorini, Greece; and Mykonos, Greece. 

Odyssey of the Seas' four Holy Land sailings in May, September, and October were impacted, too, as the ship was supposed to visit both Hafia and Jerusalem (Ashdod). 

Those booked on the May 5th cruise were notified via email that they will now have an extra hour in Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece. Additionally, the ship will call in Mykonos, Greece and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey instead of visiting Israel. 

Guests booked on Jewel of the Seas may book another sailing and have any non-refundable deposit change fees waived

Jewel of the Seas

If guests choose to rebook, they'll be responsible for any difference in pricing for the cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other incidentals. 

For those who had their booking paid in full and decide to rebook a cruise with a cheaper fare, Royal Caribbean will provide a refund of the difference within 14 business days. Refund times may vary depending on the financial institution. 

Royal Caribbean will also help reimburse non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees for flights, trains, rental cars, etc. They'll cover up to $200 USD per guest for domestic changes and up to $400 USD for international changes. 

hafia-stock

If choosing not to rebook, Royal Caribbean will provide a full refund of the paid portion of the cruise fare (including non-refundable deposits), as well as any pre-paid amenities to the original form of payment. 

For those who made their Jewel of the Seas reservation with a Future Cruise Credit and opt to cancel will have their original certificate reinstated, with any new funds paid above the certificate amount refunded. 

No additional compensation will be provided. 

Those originally booked on Grandeur of the Seas out of Boston have a few options

Those who choose to rebook will receive their original stateroom category, as it will be price protected at the original cruise fare rate, excluding taxes, fees, gratuities. If the booking was paid in full and the rate decreases, Royal Caribbean will refund the difference. 

If booked guests want to rebook another sailing on a different ship, Royal Caribbean will waive non-refundable deposit change fees; however, they'll be responsible for paying the difference in cruise fare, taxes, fees, and gratuities, if applicable. 

Guests will also be reimbursed for non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees. They'll cover up to $200 USD per guest for domestic changes or $400 per guest USD for international changes. 

Tampa downtown

Finally, Royal Caribbean will refund any paid portion of the cruise fare, including non-refundable deposits, if they decide to cancel. 

If the Grandeur of the Seas booking was made with a Future Cruise Credit and opt to cancel will have their original certificate reinstated, with any new funds paid above the certificate amount refunded. 

No additional compensation will be provided. 

Shore excursions will be automatically refunded

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Any pre-paid Royal Caribbean International shore excursions booked for Jerusalem (Ashdod), Limassol, Alexandria, and Haifa will automatically be refunded to the original form of payment. 

Royal Caribbean is not the first cruise line to cancel the 2024 season

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On Wednesday, November 1, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced that they would cancel the remaining sailings in 2023 and the entire Israel season in 2024. 

During their earnings call, CEO Harry Sommer said, "One of the main strengths and differentiators in our industry is our ability to reposition our assets, which is what we’ve done with the heightened tensions in the Middle East."

“The safety and well-being of our guests and crew members are without a doubt our number one priority.”

Royal Caribbean clarifies why they're restricting access to loyalty and suite lounges on some sailings

In:
30 Oct 2023

Royal Caribbean wants to make it clear why top-tier members aren't allowed inside loyalty lounges on some cruises.

crown-lounge-2

Royal Caribbean members have reported incidents on certain sailings when Diamond members haven't been allowed in the Crown Lounge, which is a dedicated space for top-tier members.

Those reports have compelled Royal Caribbean to respond to its members in a newsletter update.

Royal Caribbean sent out an email announcing that on sailings with a high number of top-tier members, Suite, & Pinnacle Club guests, access to the Crown Lounge, Suite/Concierge Lounge, Suite Sun Deck, and Coastal Kitchen will be limited. 

However, this is not a fleetwide policy change for all sailings.

Related11 of our favorite under-the-radar Crown & Anchor perks

crown-lounge-3

(Thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog reader OCSC Mike for the above picture of the Crown Lounge logo on Allure of the Seas)

If there are a lot of Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club cruisers on your next sailing, you may find that access to the Crown Lounge will be limited at certain hours of the day. 

"On sailings with a high number of top-tier members, the Crown Lounge will be reserved for Diamond Plus & Pinnacle Club members during the evening, with beverage service from 5 - 8 p.m," read the email.

"However, the lounge and its services will remain fully accessible to all Diamond and above members at all other times. This includes continental breakfast in the morning, snacks throughout the day, and entry during dedicated concierge service hours."

Lounge email

There are no changes to the number of daily drink coupons that eligible Crown & Anchor members will receive. Diamond members will still get four complimentary drinks per day, while Diamond Plus will get five and Pinnacle six. 

Diamond members unable to go to the Crown Lounge between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m. can still use these coupons at other bars throughout the ship, whether it's Boleros, Schooner Bar, etc. 

RelatedHow Royal Caribbean's free drink vouchers for Diamond and higher members works

These changes will only apply to sailings with a high number of top-tier Crown & Anchor members

At this time, Royal Caribbean is not making any other changes to its Crown & Anchor program. Additionally, the above adjustments are not permanent; they're based on the number of top-tier cruisers on each sailing. 

Possible sailings that could be impacted include but are not limited to charters, crossings, repositioning cruises, inaugurals, and President's Cruises.

Suite and Concierge Lounges, Suite Sun Deck, and Coastal Kitchen

Coastal Kitchen on Harmony of the Seas

When a sailing has a high number of Suite & Pinnacle Club guests, access to the Suite/Concierge Lounge, Suite Sun Deck, and Coastal Kitchen will be limited to guests staying in qualifying Suites, as well as to our top Pinnacle Club members onboard, based on cruise points," the email said. 

"Access will also extend to the guests in their stateroom. The number of top Pinnacle Club members granted access will vary depending on space and availability."

More members than ever

Diamond Lounge

The top tiers of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor loyalty program have increased by 30% within the last year, according to Royal Caribbean International's CEO, Michael Bayley. 

The result has been overcrowding in loyalty and suite lounges. 

Royal Caribbean is not the only company seeing overcrowding in lounges. Recently, Delta Airlines has made changes to who can access their Sky Clubs in order to combat the issue. American Express Platinum cardholders, for instance, will no longer have unlimited annual visits. Instead, they'll be limited to ten per year. 

Rather than completely ban certain loyalty members from accessing the onboard lounges, Royal Caribbean sent out an email announcing that on sailings with a high number of top-tier members, Suite, & Pinnacle Club guests, access to the Crown Lounge, Suite/Concierge Lounge, Suite Sun Deck, and Coastal Kitchen will be limited. 

News comes just weeks after Royal Caribbean announced that the Diamond Lounge will be renamed

Courtney Brant, Director of Loyalty for Royal Caribbean announced that "...over the next few weeks, the Diamond Lounge — beloved by our Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members — is being specially renamed as the Crown Lounge across our fleet."

When this change was announced, Royal Caribbean Blog readers had numerous theories as to why they were implementing this fleetwide change.

"Seems like a no brainer to me that this is the first step to ultimately removing Diamonds from having lounge access," wrote Margaret

Serenade and Mariner of the Seas docked in Cozumel

Reader Rackham said, "I'm speculating that with the name change, Diamond access could be determined on a cruise-to-cruise basis depending on how many Diamond and up C&A members are aboard." 

While just a theory at the time, his prediction ended up becoming reality within a month! 

It is important to keep in mind that Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members will still have access to the Crown Lounge on every sailing.

If the lounge ends up being reserved for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club passengers between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m each night, Diamond guests will still be able to access it at any other time. It may be the case that one sailing you're on sees a temporary adjustment, with the next having no restrictions whatsoever. 

RelatedRoyal Caribbean to rename Diamond Lounge to Crown Lounge

Royal Caribbean cruise ship rescues individual who went overboard

In:
30 Oct 2023

A person that went overboard from a cruise ship in Europe was successfully rescued.

SOTS-Overboard-hero

A person was reported going overboard while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas shortly after departing Barcelona, Spain. 

Just hours after setting sail, guests reported hearing "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" over the ship's PA system, which is the code for man overboard. 

X user @landonb94 posted that he could see spotlights and rescue boats from his balcony. 

Thankfully, the individual was rescued and taken to the ship's medical facility. 

The incident occurred on the first night of Symphony of the Seas' 14-night transatlantic cruise

Abyss on Symphony

Symphony of the Seas' 2023 European season has come to an end. She departed Barcelona on Sunday, October 29 to begin her repositioning sailing to Florida, where she will remain until May 2024. 

The individual fell overboard after departing from Barcelona while en route to Valencia. 

Other scheduled ports of call during the voyage include Cadiz, Spain and Nassau, Bahamas. She'll arrive in Fort Lauderdale on November 12. 

Barcelona

The ship turned around, and after about an hour of search and rescue efforts, the Captain made an announcement that the person had been successfully recovered.  

No details have been given about the individual who went overboard

Symphony of the Seas docked

Royal Caribbean has not announced whether the individual who went overboard was a crew member or passenger. They also have not disclosed their gender, age, or any other details, such as why they went overboard in the first place. 

A full investigation will need to happen to determine if there are any safety violations. 

This is not the first time someone has gone overboard during a Royal Caribbean cruise

quantum-of-the-seas

Back in April, an Australian man went overboard while sailing onboard Quantum of the Seas from Australia just two days before the ship was scheduled to arrive in Hawaii. A few months later in July, a woman cruising to Singapore on Spectrum of the Seas went overboard. 

On August 29, a 19-year-old guest sailing onboard Wonder of the Seas went overboard on a Caribbean cruise. 

Wonder of the Seas

According to CruiseJunkie's website, there have been 60 passengers who have gone overboard on Royal Caribbean ships since 2000, not including this recent incident on Symphony of the Seas. 

Oscar, Oscar, Oscar

Crew member emuster

Cruise ships have a variety of code words for different situations to avoid alarming guests. "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar," for instance, lets other crew members know that someone has gone overboard.

"Alpha" means there's a medical emergency and is typically followed by a location, such as Deck 11 Aft. 

Royal Caribbean also uses "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie," to alert the crew of a security threat onboard.

Night aerial photo Symphony of the Seas

Not all cruise lines use the same codes. If you hear "Alpha Team, Alpha Team, Alpha Team" on a Carnival ship, there is a fire onboard, rather than a medical emergency. 

Royal Caribbean CEO calls out Hamas attacks on Israel as "horrific terrorist attacks"

In:
26 Oct 2023

Before they talked any financials, the first comment from Royal Caribbean Group CEO was to condemn the terrorist attacks on Israel. 

israel-split-hero

Royal Caribbean Group held its quarterly earnings call on Thursday, and while Wall Street was curious about disruptions in the business from the attacks, Jason Liberty was quick to share his support to Israel and its people. 

"Before we begin today," he began, "I would like to first acknowledge the devastating events taking place in the Middle East." 

Liberty strongly proclaimed that the "horrific terrorist attacks" that have claimed "so many innocent lives" have "no place in civilized society." 

He also took a moment to recognize the efforts of the team onboard Rhapsody of the Seas, as they worked with the U.S. Department of State to aid in the evacuation of Americans from Israel. 

Rhapsody of the Seas sailing away in Haifa, Israel

As a result of the attacks, some Royal Caribbean Group sailings were disrupted.

"About 1.5% of our capacity in the fourth quarter had planned to visit Israel," said Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

"Most of the impacted deployment was quickly adjusted, including a few sailings that were home porting in Haifa."

There were fewer APCDs, or "available passenger cruise days," due to the cancelation of the rest of the sailings from Israel this cruise season; Rhapsody was scheduled to sail from Haifa to the Greek islands through early November.

What is the effect on demand for 2024?

In 2024, the capacity for sailings to Israel accounts for less than 1.5%, with all of Europe accounting for 15% of their capacity. The vast majority of capacity will be on sailings in North America, whether that's to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, or Canada/New England. 

According to Liberty, the growth that Royal Caribbean has seen has been across all of their markets. 

While the situation in Israel "could potentially weigh on a consumer's psyche...it's not something that [Royal Caribbean] is seeing at this point in time."  

"We're beginning to book for next year. Trends continue to be very strong. But it is, you know, it is early in the European season for us to start calling out that there's no impact from Israel," said Liberty. 

Typically, consumers want to stay within the ecosystem of Royal Caribbean, whether that is on a cruise throughout Europe or one that visits elsewhere in the world. If there is a decrease in demand for European cruises, a consumer will most likely just shift where they want to go, rather than completely abandon the idea of taking a cruise with Royal Caribbean. 

Overall, the demand for cruises has only increased

Ultimate Abyss slide

"The performance of our business continues to accelerate, driven by strong demand and excellent operational execution," remarked Naftali Holtz, Chief Financial Officer at Royal Caribbean Group.

In addition to demand for 2023 and 2024 sailings, Royal Caribbean is seeing folks make bookings into 2025 and 2026. 

"Our visibility in terms of how the consumer is looking at things going forward, at least on a vacation experience on our incredible brands," said Liberty, "is pretty good based off of where the consumer is standing today."

Ships docked at CocoCay

Outside of Europe, cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line's private island in The Bahamas, have seen an elevated demand.

This is due in part to brand-new experiences, such as Hideaway Beach, opening to the public, as well as it being a port of call on every itinerary on both new Royal Caribbean ships launching in 2024: Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean updates: New app features, Celebrity Cruises Black Friday offer, search results & more

In:
21 Oct 2023

We have a look at some changes and updates Royal Caribbean has made or announced over the past few days.

From new options in Royal Caribbean's app, to a refreshed website, to a Black Friday offer, here’s everything you should know about this week.

New app update

Celebrity app

Royal Caribbean rolled out a new update to its app, which adds a new features to it.

The app has a few new noteworthy icons you can now click to access more content without leaving the app.  It could be designed to make it less necessary to hop between the app and cruise line website, or it could be a way to simply elevate information and content cruisers may not have known existed.

Video in app

There's a new Videos icon, which essentially showcases the same videos Royal Caribbean produces for its YouTube channel and marketing.

App function

The app also has a Loyalty Hub to track and enroll in the Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program.

Read moreCrown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

It explains how each tier works and what benefits you get with each.

Cruise searches look different

New search results

If you do a search for a new cruise booking on Royal Caribbean's website, you can expect to find a new look to it.

Royal Caribbean has periodically enhanced the look and feel of its search function, and it attempts to include more information related to your search in a concise manner.

Also, the ability to add a cruise to your watchlist is more explicit, whereas before it just had a heart icon.

New search results

The watchlist feature was added in December 2022, but it appears they want to provide more visibility to it.

The cruise line has indicated the amount of first time cruisers has never been higher, so making the search function easier to navigate is clearly a step in providing more information to them during the booking process.

Celebrity Cruises Black Friday offer

Celebrity Constellation

While we don't yet know Royal Caribbean's Black Friday offer, sister brand Celebrity Cruises has shared what to expect.

Celebrity Cruises will begin its Black Friday offer on November 10th, and it will run through December 5th.

Celebrity will have a BOGO 75% off a second guest as well as up to $300 in onboard credit for nearly all itineraries through April 30, 2026.

Royal Caribbean will almost certainly have a Black Friday sale of its own, but has not revealed any details yet. Check out all of their past Black Friday offers to get an idea of what to expect.

Royal Caribbean updates gift card policy

Mariner of the Seas docked in CocoCay

In case you missed it, Royal Caribbean gift cards just got much easier to use, thanks to a change in how to redeem them.

Gift cards are valid for both Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, and there are four ways to use your gift card value:

  • Booking a new cruise on Royal Caribbean's website
  • Calling Royal Caribbean and redeeming over the phone
  • Working with a travel agent to book a new cruise
  • Waiting to use it onboard and redeem as onboard credit.

Prior to sailing, gift card amounts can only be applied toward the cruise fare and may not be used for pre-payment of beverage packages, dining packages, shore excursions, pre-paid gratuities, etc. 

Check out all the details on how to use a Royal Caribbean gift card.

Royal Caribbean news: Final payment change for long cruises, adults-only beach update, Israel cancellations, & more

In:
11 Oct 2023

There's lots happening in the cruise world, including Royal Caribbean updates you should know about.

Ship sailing

With a fleet of 26 ships, there are always going to be things happening and in an effort to keep everyone up to date, here's a quick run through of the latest news from this week.

Think of these as quick hits of changes and news that you should be aware of that changed in the last few days.

Final payment date change for long cruises

Royal Caribbean has changed when final payment is due for long cruises.

The new policy applies to sailings that are 15 nights or longer.

Final payment letter

"As of today, guests will now have up until 120 days prior to sailing to make their final payment for sailings that are 15 nights or greater. Additionally, there will be a higher deposit amount required, per person, for new bookings made for sailings that are 15 nights or greater after today."

If you booked a cruise already, Royal Caribbean will grandfather you into the old policy, "no changes to your booking and payment schedule since you booked prior to these changes."

Hideaway Beach construction update

Hideaway Beach construction

We have new photos to share of the construction progress being made at the new adults-only beach coming to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Hideaway Beach will open to guests in January 2024, and is the first major expansion of the private island since the opening of the Coco Beach Club in 2020.

Hideaway Beach Club render

This new area will have an extra-cost, and it's meant for adults who want to enjoy a lively atmosphere and no kids.

Poolside cabanas, a new pizza restaurant, swim-up bar and infinity pool are what Royal Caribbean will add to keep adults in a party mood all day long.

Hideaway Beach is for guests 18 years or older and has an admission cost to enter.

Hideaway Beach construction

Construction of On The Rocks is progressing, with a bright red color visible.

Hideaway Beach Club render

On The Rocks is located along the rocky shore and has live music, TVs to watch live sports, games like pool and shuffleboard.

More cruises from Israel could be cancelled

Tel Aviv

Royal Caribbean has already cancelled two cruises from Israel due to the conflict started by Hamas terrorists, and more cancellations could be on the way.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, told Travel Weekly the cruise line will take things a step a time, "as far as next year goes, I think we just have to see where we are a month from now, two months from now."

She also posted on Facebook a heartfelt show of support to the Israeli people in this troubling time, "There are truly no words to describe the unfathomable situation in Israel right now. I am praying for the innocent civilians who've lost their lives and their families, those who’ve been kidnapped, the brave soldiers, and all of the people of Israel. It's heartbreaking to see the reports, photos and videos of such senseless violence. I stand with Israel today and always."

The October 9, 2023 and October 13, 2023 sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas were both canceled, along with port visits by Odyssey of the Seas.

Bahamas shipyard expanding operations

Freeport harbor

Grand Bahama Shipyard announced it will build one of the the largest floating docks in the Western Hemisphere, thanks in part to working with Royal Caribbean Group.

The shipyard, together with Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corporation, recently received approval to proceed with an expansion project that is estimated to bring billions of dollars in economic impact to Grand Bahama’s economy over the next 25 years.

The $600 million project includes the construction, delivery to Freeport, and commissioning of two world-class floating docks that will allow the shipyard to service the entire range of cruise ships in operation and under construction, as well as much of the world’s commercial shipping fleet.

Harmony of the Seas in dry dock

"For more than 50 years we have partnered with The Bahamas to deliver exceptional vacations to millions of guests and create opportuni6es for local Bahamian communities," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

"We are proud to expand our longstanding partnership and see establishing Grand Bahama as a premier maritime destination for repair and revitalization of all kinds of vessels, as a project that will drive economic growth for the Bahamian industry and create a positive impact for the people of The Bahamas for generations to come."

The two new floating drydocks are under construction in China, with expected delivery in 2025 and 2026.

Royal Caribbean Group joins global trade association for the methanol industry

Eagle LNG

Finding cleaner energy solutions for its cruise ships has become a top priority for Royal Caribbean Group, and the company is aligning itself with a trade group.

Royal Caribbean Group is the newest member of the Methanol Institute, which represents the world’s leading producers, distributors, and technology companies. 

Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group said, "We are pleased to join the Methanol Institute, and as we seek sustainable energy solutions we recognize the importance of collaboration to help us transition to the energy platform of the future."

Court allows toddler dropped through cruise ship window lawsuit to resume

In:
11 Jul 2023

A federal appeals court in Atlanta is allowing a negligence lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises to continue.

chloe-footage-2

In July 2019, 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand fell about 150 feet to her death after slipping through her grandfather's hands and falling through an open window on Deck 11 onboard Freedom of the Seas. The ship was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the time. 

Following this incident, parents Alan Wiegand and Kimberly Schultz-Wiegand sued Royal Caribbean, claiming that the cruise line violated industry standards since they did not have any safety devices in windows in place. 

The case was originally dismissed in July 2021, when U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in Miami, Florida said that Salvatore Anello, Wiegand's grandfather's, behavior was unforeseeable, proximate cause of Chloe's death, with the open window acting as an obvious danger. 

The 21-page decision was released by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta and said that jurors could potentially find that Royal Caribbean was aware of the risk of children falling through open windows, as they had protective railings and warnings on ships telling passengers not to climb over them. 

Likewise, the three-judge appeals court said that jurors should decide whether Royal Caribbean could have foreseen an adult holding the infant near the window. This might not excuse the alleged negligence that the family is suing over. 

It also said jurors should decide whether Royal Caribbean could have foreseen an adult like Anello holding Wiegand near the window, which might not excuse its alleged negligence.

In February 2021, Anello was sentences to three years of probation after pleading guilty to negligent homicide in Wiegand's death.  

He initially would not plead guilty; however, he changed his plea to avoid jail time and serve probation instead. 

According to surveillance footage released by Royal Caribbean, Anello knew the window was open, as he leaned out of it for approximately eight seconds before lifting Wiegand up. She was there about 34 seconds before he lost his grip. 

chloe-1

Jacqueline Garcell, a lawyer for the parents, said, "We look forward to continuing our fight for justice for Chloe Wiegand and to make cruise ships safer."

 

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