Royal Caribbean Blog

One of the best tips for anyone going on a cruise is to fly to their embarkation port at least one day early. If you have an evening to spend in Fort Lauderdale, a great family dinner experience is the Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show.

Mai-Kai is a bit of a local landmark, known for serving up Asian fare, tropical drinks & a Polynesian show. The building alone catches the attention of anyone passing by.  So much so that I took my family to check it out for dinner on an evening prior to our Royal Caribbean cruise.

Depending on the day of the week, there are one, two or three shows offered. The most shows are on the weekend, and they are closed on Mondays. You definitely want to call ahead and make a reservation as Mai-Kai is a very popular choice for tourists, celebrations, date nights and more.

As you drive up to Mai-Kai, the building's Polynesian architecture is hard to miss and in a part of South Florida that definitely has no other buildings that look anything like this one, it is hard to miss.  It is mandatory valet parking, so bring cash or take a Lyft ride over.  They offer standard valet parking ($3), as well as "express valet" ($10) that promises to get you out faster. I paid for the express valet to avoid a rush when the show was over, but there was hardly a line so next time I would go for the standard valet option.

Mai-Kai is a very large building, with the Molokai Bar immediately on your left as you walk in.  You could forgo the dinner show and just enjoy drinks here while also walking the grounds for a less-expensive evening. 

Dinner at the Mai-Kai means you are paying for the meal, and the show.  At the time this review was written, the show charge is $15 for adults, and for kids 2-12 years old, no show charge when ordering from the kids menu, or $10 per child without the kids menu.

You should also be aware Mai-Kai has a business casual dress code for the bar and dining rooms. Their site says, "No shoes meant for swimming or beach (flip flops or such sandals ok for the women). No swimwear or gym attire. No hats for men. No sleeveless shirts for men. Slacks are required for men." 

Upon check-in, the wait staff directs you to your assigned table.  There are a variety of tables with views of the stage, and I am not certain how tables are assigned.  We ended up with a great table that was slightly elevated, which provided the perfect view for my kids of the stage.

Dinner is served prior to the show, and you can (and should) walk the garden grounds before the show begins. Outside the restaurant is a large outdoor South Pacific inspired green space, which is perfect for family photos.

The menu is massive, and features a large variety of tiki drinks to enjoy. In addition, the food menu covers a wide variety of choices. Most of the food is Americanized Chinese food, with some sushi available as well.  

Speaking of the menu, this is not the cheapest meal you will find in South Florida.  It is fairly pricey, but the experience is part of what you are paying for overall. 

The food is far from the best I have ever had, but certainly tasty and everyone enjoyed what they ordered. Mai-Kai is not serving up avant garde cuisine, or looking to break the mold with their offerings. This is comfort Chinese food that anyone can enjoy.

Of course, the reason for going to Mai-Kai is for the show.  A troupe of performers who have been doing the show for decades regales the audience with a variety of musical and dancing styles from across the South Pacific.

The Polynesian Islander Revue provides the music and dancing styles of Samoa, New Zealand, Hawaii and more. During the summer months (starting in mid June to mid November), the Mai-Kai features a Kids Show every Sunday evening.

Mai-Kai claims the restaurant owner and choreographer began as one of the original dancers in 1961, and the show is now the longest running Polynesian dance show in the continental United States. In fact, the owner crafts a new show each year that aims to showcase village life in the South Pacific at the turn of the last century.

Overall, the Mai-Kai restaurant was a big hit with our family. Anytime I can find food that the adults can find appealing and my young daughters do not complain about is always a win.  The show and performance is what truly drew us in, and it was a big winner. 

The show's pacing and styles keep the audience engaged, and it is exactly the kind of pre-cruise family outing that we were looking for to get our vacation off on the right foot.

If the price is not going to break your vacation budget and you are staying in the greater Fort Lauderdale area, Mai-Kai is a great choice for an night out.

If it's Friday, that means we are sharing our reader's best Royal Caribbean photos in this week's Friday Photos showcase.  As always, we want to include as many of our readers photos as we can, so be sure to send us your best Royal Caribbean photos too!

Our first photo this week is by Gerald Chernicoff of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, taken while on a Quantum of the Seas Asian Spice Tour.

The next photo is by John Curtin, and it is of Serenade of the Seas in Cozumel, Mexico.

Here is a shot of the pool deck of Harmony of the Seas in the evening, taken by Peter Slinger.

George sent in this photo of Rhapsody of the Seas docked in Dubrovnik.

Next up is a photo by Stuart Cole of Ovation of the Seas departing Sydney.

Next up is a photo of Allure of the Seas behind the rocks at Labadee. Photo by Allen Scroggins.

Our final photo this week is by Jason Peterson and it is a view of the Boardwalk neighborhood, as seen from the Wonderland restaurant.

Do you have Royal Caribbean photos that you want to share?  We'd love to feature them so send them in by using our nifty submission form and maybe your photos will show up in next week's edition!

Royal Caribbean's Green Monday Sale offers 30% off every guest, kids sail free and up to $200 instant savings.

The Green Monday Sale applies to new bookings made between December 6 - 9, 2019 and is valid on select sailings departing on or after January 6, 2020.

It includes: 

• 30% off cruise fare for all guests in the stateroom.
• Up to $200 USD instant savings per stateroom and determined by category booked and sailing length:
  • Sailings 5 nights or less
    • $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $75 for Suites
  • Sailings 6 nights or longer
    • $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $200 for Suites
  • Instant savings do not apply to China departures.
• Kids Sail Free provides free cruise fare for 3rd guests and higher who are 12 years old or younger as of cruise departure date, booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple of quad-occupancy stateroom.
  • Kids Sail Free applies to select 4-night or longer Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, CaribNE, Coastal, Europe, Hawaii, Repositioning and all Serenade of the Seas Alaska 2020 sailings departing between January 4, 2020 - December 17, 2020.
  • Offer excludes Odyssey of the Seas Europe sailings, President’s Day sailings (Sailings between February 14 – 17, 2020), Spring Break sailings (Sailings between March 14 – 23, 2020), Holy Week/Easter sailings (Sailings between April 3 – 17, 2020), Peak Summer sailings (Sailings between May 15 – August 31, 2020) and Thanksgiving sailings (Sailings between November 21 - 28, 2020).
  • Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional and apply to all guests.         

30% Off Every Guest and Kids Sail Free are combinable with each other as well as with promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. Green Monday Sale is combinable with 30% Off Every Guest and Kids Sail Free, as well as with promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades and Shareholder Benefits, but not combinable with Crown and Anchor discounts. Offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates. Promo Code driven offers are based on select ships and sail dates and must be applied at time of booking; limit one promo code per booking.

Offer available to residents of United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and select countries in the Caribbean. 

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas made history when it became host to the largest pasta tasting event ever.

The Guinness World Records recognized the achievement when 468 guests sailing on Brilliance of the Seas attended the largest pasta tasting event.

The feat was reached during the ship's recent transatlantic repositioning cruise between Spain and the United States on November 15, 2019.

Royal Caribbean invited guests onboard to take part in the event, which was lead by Executive Chef Alastair Gillott.

You might be wondering how many formal nights there are going to be on your Royal Caribbean cruise. Part of planning a Royal Caribbean cruise is being prepared for the different activities and events onboard, including formal nights. 

On select evenings of a Royal Caribbean cruise, the dress code in the main dining room is a little bit fancier, with the cruise line encouraging guests to dress their best. 

There are anywhere from 1-4 formal nights during a Royal Caribbean cruise, and the exact number depends on the length of your itinerary.

• 3-5 night cruises: one formal night, usually on day 2.
• 6-10 night cruises: two formal nights.
• 11-14 night cruises: three formal nights, Days vary by ship and sailing.
• 15+ night cruises: Three or four formal nights, Days and number vary by ship and sailing.

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

Episode 331 is available for downloading, where we share a review of our recent cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.

Matt just got back from a 9 nights on the newly Amplified Oasis of the Seas, and talks about what he did onboard and shared some of his favorite things about this ship.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 331. 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!

Royal Caribbean's 2021-2022 Northeast, Canada & Bermuda sailings are now available to book, with sailings visiting New England, Canada, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the Southern Caribbean and Bermuda.

The newly Amplified Oasis of the Seas returns to Cape Liberty in Summer 2021, sailing week long Caribbean itineraries with stops in Port Canaveral, Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Anthem of the Seas returns to Cape Liberty in Winter 2021 to sail a mix of week long wanders with stops in The Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, plus 11-night adventures to the exotic isles of the Southern Caribbean.

Enchantment of the Seas will from Baltimore and offer 8-night itineraries with stops in Charleston, Port Canaveral and The Bahamas, plus 12-night Southern Caribbean sailings with stops in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Lucia and more. Enchantment will also offer an escape on 5 and 9-night getaways to both Bermuda and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The Amplified Freedom of the Seas will sail 4-night summer adventures in Canada and 9-night New England fall itineraries, all from Cape Liberty. Freedom will also sail 5-night sailings to Bermuda that include an overnight stay in King's Wharf.

Brilliance of the Seas will do week long sailings out of Boston, while Empress of the Seas, returning to Cape Liberty, will offer 7-nighters  New England and Canada in Summer 2021, before sailing to Montreal for roundtrip 10 and 11-night fall adventures in Canada. Empress will also depart Cape Liberty to do overnight stays in both Hamilton and St. George.

View all the new sailings here:

• Anthem of the Seas
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Empress of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society members can begin booking sailings on December 4, 2019, with the general public available to begin booking on December 5, 2019.

Royal Caribbean won three awards when Cruise Critic announced the winners of the 2019 Editors' Picks Awards.

The 12th annual Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards recognizes the best cruise lines of the year across dozens of categories, as chosen by the site’s international team of editors.

Royal Caribbean was the winner in the following categories:

Best Ship Refurbishment: Oasis of the Seas

“Oasis of the Seas set the mega-ship bar high when it debuted in 2009, with a zipline, 20-plus restaurants and a plant-filled Central Park. The ship's latest refurbishment -- part of Royal's outstanding Amplified program -- has added the best of the line, including the Ultimate Abyss slide, the Perfect Storm water slide trio, a redesigned pool deck and several new bars and eateries.”

 Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International

“Royal Caribbean continues to entertain with original Broadway-style productions, parades and challenging escape rooms. High-tech enhancements elevate shows in the main theater and skating rink, as well as enable amusements like glow-in-the-dark laser tag and the trampoline-based Sky Pad. With surfing, rock climbing, water slides and flying (by zipline or skydive simulator) onboard many of Royal Caribbean's ships, it's impossible to get bored.”

Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International

“Royal Caribbean blends extravagance and inclusiveness in its perfectly conceived suites -- some ships offer up to a dozen top-level categories. Suite passengers get plenty of space, along with a bounty of perks, including special restaurants and "Royal Genie" personal concierges. Choose from suites with lavish penthouse trappings, duplexes with space for a full dinner party and family suites with slides.”

Royal Caribbean has won each of these awards at least once since last year, with taking home Best Entertainment for the second year in a row, Best Suites for the fifth year in a row, and Best Ship Refurbishment two years in a row (last year's winner was Mariner of the Seas).

Royal Caribbean is advising its guests of new travel document requirements for cruises that visit Martinique.

As of January 1st, 2020, all guests on sailings visiting Martinique will need a passport book (not a passport card) for boarding. The passport book must be valid for at least 6 months after the sailing ends.

Passport cards and birth certificates will not be accepted and may result in a denial of boarding for both adults and minors. This policy changes impacts sailings beginning from and returning to  the U.S. including San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Among the many changes Royal Caribbean made to Oasis of the Seas during her 2019 amplification was the addition of the first barbecue restaurant to the fleet.

Portside BBQ is a new specialty restaurant that offers slow cooked, smoked meats that are popular across the United States. This is a type of cuisine not well-represented on Royal Caribbean in the past, and aims to fill in that gap for guests.

Portside BBQ is a specialty restaurant that offers items on an a la carte basis, which means there is no cover charge to dine here; instead, you pay for what you order. Unlike most other specialty restaurants, this is a counter service restaurant, where you order your food at the counter and take your order back to your table.

Royal Caribbean placed Portside BBQ on deck 15 of Oasis of the Seas in the former location of the teen club. The restaurant has a bit of a rustic feel to it, with wood floors inside, dark wood tables and brick walls all around. 

There is outdoor seating, both along the port side of the ship as well as behind the restaurant.  There is a surprisingly large amount of seating available at Portside BBQ, so even at its busiest, you should have no issues finding a spot.

Portside BBQ has three menus to match its serving times: lunch, dinner and late-night.  The lunch and late-night menu is a smaller menu that primarily offers combos, whereas the dinner menu greatly expands the options provided.  

In terms of the food offered, there is a variety of turkey, pork, beef and chicken options to consider. Brisket, smoked turkey, pulled pork, chicken wings, spare ribs and more are available to enjoy. Royal Caribbean aimed to cover the major barbecue categories.

Photo by AshleyDillo

Speaking of the meats, barbecue aficionados know how critical smoking the meat is to a great meal. 

At Portside BBQ, the cruise line introduced a bold hickory flavor that uses smoke from real wood. The Combi Oven Smokers slow cook chicken and burnt ends along with the meats and the oven technology locks in the flavor by improving cooking capacities with reduced moisture loss. Each oven is specifically programmed to perfectly cook all the BBQ items. Hickory wood chips are used in small portions to give just the right smoky flavor, and small batches are cooked throughout the day to provide fresh food for guests, while infusing the air with just enough smoke aromas to spark their appetite.

In addition, you will find traditional bbq sides to enjoy, like coleslaw, mac & cheese, cornbread and more.

Photo by AshleyDillo

There is also a variety of sauces you can add on your own once the food is delivered.

I freely admit that I did not grow up in an area of the United States where barbecue is a way of life, so I am by no means the mayor of any flavor village. That being said, I enjoy a well-cooked and juicy piece of meat as much as the next Yankee.

On my first visit to Portside BBQ, I opted for the beef brisket at lunch, while my table mate went for the pulled pork sandwich.

The first thing I noticed about the brisket was how incredibly tender the meat tasted, as well as how flavorful it was.  By default, the sammies are served with coleslaw and pickles, sans any sauce.  Without getting into the "does good BBQ need sauce" debate, I opted to eat the food as it was prepared, and I loved it.

The pulled pork sandwich was described as equally tasty, and hit all the right checkboxes when it comes to great pulled pork.

I also sampled the smoked turkey sammie, and was incredibly impressed by the taste of it. In fact, I ended up ordering the smoked turkey over the brisket on later visits to the restaurant because it really hit the spot for me.

Out of sheer curiosity, my daughter decided to try the smoked jumbo turkey leg, and I was leery she wasted $8 on something she would never eat. As it turned out, the turkey leg became her new favorite cruise food and requested we eat at Portside BBQ for lunch every day for the turkey leg. I think it is safe to assume she liked it.

Photo by AshleyDillo

The sides provided were just as compelling.  In fact, I found myself munching on the sides more than I expected to because they were just that good.  Gooey, yellow, and thick mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and I ended up doubling down on mac and cheese on subsequent visits.  The beans where combined with burnt ends, and had a fantastic, tangy flavor.

While you probably come to Portside BBQ for the meats, stay for the dessert. The chocolate brookie is a combination of cookie and brownie, and I cannot come up with the proper superlative to describe the taste, but it is a must-order.  If you love bananas in your dessert, the Banana Dream is also very good.

Looking at the prices of Portside BBQ, it represents a pretty good value all around.  Considering you can get an entree for lunch, along with two sides and a dessert for $8, you get a lot for the money.  At dinner, they include an additional meat or two for a few dollars more.  Stretchy pants optional.  If you are dining with a specialty restaurant package, you can dine at Portside BBQ and be provided a $20 per person stipend per visit, which is ample for enjoying what the menu offers.

Prior to dining at Portside BBQ, I would never have told you I was much of a barbecue food fan, but now I am ready to drive to Texas, Kansas City or Alabama to sample more of this food.  That, or I could just re-book a cruise on Oasis of the Seas.

Disclosure: I dined at Portside BBQ on multiple occasions, although my first meal was provided to me at no cost by Royal Caribbean for purposes of review.  I paid on my own for subsequent visits.

What are your thoughts on Portside BBQ? Leave us a comment and tell us about it below!