Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean has expanded its new app to include support for Spectrum of the Seas.

Thanks to Michael S. for alerting us to this change.

Spectrum, now appears in the list of supported ships that can be found from within the app.

The new app is being actively developed, which means not all features area available on the app yet.  Moreover, the cruise line is slowly rolling out support for more ships.

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

Check out our latest RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com video where we are sharing the things you definitelly cannot do on a Royal Caribbean cruise!

We have a list of things that are banned while on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as well as talking about things you can bring or do, but only at certain times or places.  

If you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single episode!

So check out the video and then let us know: Did anything on this list of banned things surprise you?

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 298 is available for downloading, where Matt explains the important things to know about a Royal Caribbean suite.

Booking a suite for your next cruise is one way to really enhance your onboard experience and treat yourself to some of the best accomodations at sea. Before you book a suite or step foot in one, here are the important tips about a Royal Caribbean suite you should know ahead of time.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 298. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

IDEMIA announced that its partnership with Royal Caribbean and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be expanded to help speed up cruise passengers disembarking at select cruise ports.

Following successful trials of its high speed 3D face capture technology in Cape Liberty, New Jersey, and the Port of Miami, the program is now moving into commercial production at these ports.

IDEMIA and Royal Caribbean anticipate additional deployments in other Florida ports later in 2019 that each process several million passengers annually.

IDEMIA’s facial recognition technology has enabled the Royal Caribbean passenger debarkation process to be both more secure and efficient. The use of IDEMIA’s MFACE technology has played a key role in enhancing the passenger experience by completing the process significantly faster than the manual verification method previously used.

MFace technology compares the facial identities of guests disembarking with the identities of ticketed passengers who boarded the ship at the start of a cruise, matching against images in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Traveler Verification Service (TVS). No images are stored by Royal Caribbean, CBP or IDEMIA after the trip is completed to ensure that passenger privacy is maintained.

Guests on some Royal Caribbean ships are reporting a new souvenir Coca-Cola cup that is included with Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages.

While not all Royal Caribbean ships have these new cups, some guests have begun posting photos of the new cup design on sailings departing this week. The most notcable difference is the addition of a handle and built-in straw to the top of the cup.

Photo by Brad Payne

Photo by Kate Larson

These cups have been reported as being on Adventure of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. Special thanks to Karen Fraser, Kate Larson and Adam Rothschild for helping with this article.

From time to time, Royal Caribbean and its Coca-Cola partner update the design of their souvenir cups.

These souvenir cups are compatible with the self-serve soda machines on the pool deck as well as the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. The Coca-Cola souvenir cup has a special chip in it which activates the machine.

Do you like the design of these souvenir Coca-Cola cups? Tell us in the comments below!

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, the parent company of Royal Caribbean International, is looking to renovate and expand its corporate headquarters.

South Florida Business Journal reports the project would cost approximately $300 million and be located at the southwest corner of Dodge Island next to where its older offices sit now. The new campus would expand the company’s workforce capacity from 2,200 to 4,200.

The plan is to would demolish the building at 1040 Caribbean Way. It would build a Terminal K parking garage with about 1,820 spaces plus a new unspecified size office building. Royal Caribbean would perform major renovations to the buildings it leases at 1050 and 1080 Caribbean Way.

When finished, the renovated and expanded headquarters would include a fitness center, a daycare, a cafeteria, an auditorium and a maritime innovation center for the design development and renovation of cruise vessels.

The Miami Herald reports the design for the new buildings is by New York architecture firm HOK. The building is designed to look like a ship.  Royal Caribbean’s giant crown logo will be emblazoned on the roof to catch the eyes of airline passengers overhead.

Royal Caribbean’s Chief Financial Officer Jason Liberty also talked about the focus on climate change and the need to make changes to the buildings now. Liberty said to prepare for inevitable sea level rise, the company plans to build the structures 15 feet above sea level and store critical machinery on higher floors. Many climate models project Miami streets will be flooding daily by 2070.

On Monday the Miami-Dade Tourism and Ports Committee approved a deal, but the full board of commissioners will vote on the proposal in May.

Spring is here and it is also Sunday, which means we are celebrating warm(er) temperatures and Royal Caribbean news from this week!

Spectrum of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean this week, becoming the 26th ship in the fleet.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain and President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley received the new ship from Meyer Wert Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer and Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Director Tim Meyer at the official handover ceremony. The first in the Quantum Ultra class of ships, Spectrum will homeport from Shanghai starting June 2019.

The first in the Quantum Ultra class of ships, Spectrum will homeport from Shanghai starting June 2019.

Royal Caribbean News

• The SkyPad is temporarily closed while Royal Caribbean inspects it.
• Royal Caribbean introduced a new ultimate dining package.
• Royal Caribbean UK named the winner of its shore explorer contest.
• Hong Kong sailings for 2020-2021 were released this week.
• Royal Caribbean produced a video of Spectrum of the Seas' delivery.
• Royal Caribbean updated its smart phone app, which included a group chat feature.
• Here is a list of Perfect Day at CocoCay prices.
• Check out the map of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 297th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring a listener's recent cruise on Allure of the Seas.

Lauren Reed joins Matt this week to talk about her recent sailing on Allure of the Seas. Lauren talks about why she picked Allure of the Seas, reviews her stateroom, dining and shore excursions.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Cruise Fever shared tips for booking shore excursions.

Eat Sleep Cruise posted a guide to Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.

SeaTrade Cruise News reported on how Royal Caribbean is using MFace to speed up disembarkation.

There's a mix of things included and extra cost at Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay.

If you're headed to Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, you may be wondering how much it costs to spend the day here, whether you want to splurge or just stick to the free stuff.

The good news is you can easily spend your entire day on the island without spending anything extra. Royal Caribbean includes quite a bit in your cruise fare, so it's very feasible to walk off the ship and have fun in various beaches and pools, have lunch, and never spend extra.

Alternatively, there are parts of CocoCay that cost extra, and they include experiences you wont find anywhere else on the island. There are splurges, enclaves, and fun activities you could consider.

Everything is a great idea until you see the price, so we wanted to share how much does Perfect Day at CocoCay cost.  This breakdown should encompass everything you can do around the private island.

Complimentary venues and activities

The majority of the experiences Royal Caribbean has at Perfect Day at CocoCay are complimentary and included with your cruise fare. 

In addition to the classic beach day experience, Royal Caribbean has added the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean, the shipwrecked Captain Jill’s Galleon loaded with slides and water cannons, the biggest ever Splashaway Bay aqua park yet, and new sports courts on South Beach.

The beach experience at Perfect Day at CocoCay has not been overlooked, with enhanced Chill Island and South Beach, both offering plenty of free beach chairs and beachside activities.

To go along with your fun in the sun, there are five new complimentary dining venues located throughout the island. 

The beaches included at no cost are big enough to handle lots of passengers, and you'll find enough to keep you busy between all of them.

Keep in mind that you can move between any of these places, so you don't have to spend all day in one spot.  You could start out at the beach and then move to Oasis Lagoon.

You will find some extra cost items within these areas, such as cabanas or beach beds (more on that later in the article).

Extra charge venues and activities

In addition to what is included with your visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, there are additional options that you can purchase. We have listed price estimates, and they can vary by season and are subject to change without notice.

The exact pricing will vary from sailing to sailing, and exact prices can be found by visiting Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner after booking your sailing. In fact, there could be savings found by pre-booking via the Cruise Planner.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing for most of these extra cost add-ons, which means the exact price you will pay depends on when you sail. This means there isn't exactly a set price and depending on which ship and time of year you sail, the price will change.

Here is a ballpark of prices for extra cost add-ons at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Remember, prices will vary.

• Thrill Waterpark: Between $93 - $199 per person
• Coco Beach Club: $169 - $319 per person
• Hideaway Beach: $74 - $93 per person
• Zip Line: $93 - $109 per person
• Up, Up & Away: $74.99 - $99 per person
• Kayak: $40 - $49 per person
• Jet Ski: $103 - $119 per person
• Snorkeling: $36 - $44 per person

CocoCay Cabana Prices

If your idea of relaxation involves your own private spot in the shad, perhaps a CocoCay cabana is what you want. In addition to the complimentary umbrellas, clamshells, and daybeds (available for a rental charge), you can find cabanas for rent at all the beaches, Thrill Waterpark, and Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool. 

The overwater cabanas at Coco Beach Club take the cabana experience to a whole new level, accommodating up to eight guests and comes with attendant service, a private hammock, a minibar, and your own personal slide into the sea.

If you reserve a cabana at Thrill Waterpark, you’ll enjoy complimentary entry to all of the slides and activities inside for up to six guests. If you reserve a cabana at Coco Beach Club (including the overwater cabanas), you’ll enjoy complimentary access to the club for up to eight guests.

The adults-only beach, Hideaway Beach, has two different cabanas to choose from.

The Hideout Cabanas are located in area known as, "The Hideout", and it's where you can bring up to 8 guests with you to enjoy a private cabana. Each poolside cabana has in-water loungers, outdoor shower access, Bluetooth speaker, floating beach mats, resort-style seating, a cooler, sink, mini fridge, charging outlets, ceiling fans, and private lockable storage space.

Hideaway Cabanas are on the beach includes unlimited supply of bottled water, private lockable storage, sink and mini fridge, cooler, ceiling fan, charging outlets, resort-style seating, and floating beach mats.

Hideaway Beach cabana guests can enjoy bottle service, along with complimentary food from the Snack Shack or Slice of Paradise.

The obvious question is, "is it worth it to rent a cabana?", and the answer depends on primarily on your budget and willingness to splurge.

CocoCay cabana prices have gone dramatically up in 2023, driven primarily by high demand. Royal Caribbean had them at lower prices in years past, but the fact they would sell out all the time lead the cruise line to raise prices to take advantage of the demand.

Cabanas are fantastic ways to spend the day at CocoCay because it gives you a "home base" of operations to enjoy, along with extra service and space just for your family and friends.

Every cabana comes with attendant service that can bring you food and drinks (food is included, drinks are not unless you have a drink package) and it really enhances your time.

Plus, you'll get extra seating, shade, and a sense of exclusivity. 

These benefits come at a high price, with some cabana prices costing as much as a cruise! That's a tough pill to swallow when thinking of it that way.

In the end, a cabana rental will give your family extra space and service, and you'll feel like a movie star with the exclusivity of it all. You can definitely have a good time on CocoCay without a cabana, but just like a first class ticket on an airplane, it's an expensive splurge.

Are you ready for a virtual escape to a Royal Caribbean cruise? Every Friday we share our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean cruise photos in a showcase of why we love going on Royal Caribbean.

We begin with this look at a sunset from Freedom of the Seas, taken on Deck 13 by Joe Moran.

Kinny Lee shared this photo of Central Park in the early morning hours on Allure of the Seas.

Here is a look from the aft of Radiance of the Seas sailing through Doubtful Sound in New Zealand. Photo by Carl Green.

Our next photo is by Jeff L. and it is of Brilliance of the Seas docking next to Independence of the Seas.

David Donnelly snapped this fun shot of the Boardwalk on Harmony of the Seas.

Francois St-Onge took this panoramic photo of Allure of the Seas in Nassau (as seen from Navigator of the Seas).

Our final photo this week is by Rich Weiss and is of the sun setting over the bow of Freedom of the Seas. Photo taken from Harmony of the Seas.

Thank you to everyone who's photos were featured this week, and if you want to share your best Royal Caribbean cruise photos, you can send them in via this form. Have a great weekend!

Royal Caribbean International officially took delivery of the 26th ship in its fleet, Spectrum of the Seas, in a ceremony held in Bremerhaven, Germany. The first in the Quantum Ultra class of ships, Spectrum will homeport from Shanghai starting June 2019.