Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has hired Washington D.C. lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and  independent lobbyist Kevin Kayes to represent their interests.

Politico reported the cruise giant has hired Brownstein Hyatt to bolster the cruise line's lobbying power.

Despite the Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines not getting federal stimulus funds in March, Royal Caribbean’s vice president of federal relations, Eleni Kalisch, says the hiring has nothing to do with the current coronavirus situation.

"We retained Brownstein Hyatt just to enhance our general legislative work in DC," Kalisch told Politico. "They will not be seeking any coronavirus relief on our behalf."

Coincidentally, Carnival also hired lobbyists in Crestview Strategy.

Going on a Royal Caribbean cruise is a great family vacation idea, but cruising with kids is definitely a different cruise compared to without them.

Having started cruising as an adult, and then bringing my children on Royal Caribbean, I have made quite a few shifts and adjustments in how I cruise, and here are some important things anyone going on a Royal Caribbean cruise should know about for their trip!

Cruise at their speed

One of the earliest lessons I learned about cruising with kids is to slow our routine down, and let the kids have time for them.

As adults, it feels natural to do a lot of walking around the ship and exploring different venues.  In addition, "burning the candle at both ends" is something else we parents tend to do, in terms of waking up early for excursions and staying up late for shows and dinner.

While you do not have to give up everything you are used to, slowing the pace down is a great idea for the sanity of everyone included.

One thing I always try to include now is time for the kids to splash and slide on the pool deck, sleep in some more, and provide breaks where they can chill out in the room.

Providing kids time to "do their own thing" helps them either burn some of the energy they have, or regain it by taking it easy. 

Two rooms or bust!

I love my children, but I do not love sharing and sleeping in the same room as them.

Most families look for a single stateroom that can accommodate everyone, but from one parent to another, let me emphasize the importance of getting two smaller connecting rooms.

The cost of two staterooms is often cheaper than some of the family staterooms, and can offer more separation between family members (a plus for families with teenagers).

Booking two staterooms also allows for connecting staterooms, in which there is a door between the staterooms that allows for easy flow between them.  This can be convenient during the day to keep the doors open, essentially creating a two room stateroom.

Splashaway Bay is the best onboard feature

Royal Caribbean has been a family-friendly cruise line since its inception, and among all the features and amenities it has added for kids, nothing has been as big of a hit with kids as Splashaway Bay.

The kid-focused aquatic park is the destination for my kids on any ship and has become a must-have onboard amenity for them.

They love the slides, splash buckets, geysers, and fountains.

I love the lounge chairs that surround the area, as well as the conveniently located nearby bars.

Register for Adventure Ocean on the first day

Just like the first day of school, it is important to register your kids for Adventure Ocean on the first day of the cruise.

Adventure Ocean is Royal Caribbean's award-winning children's programming and it is the focal point of what the cruise line offers for kids to do onboard.

Many parents are just as apprehensive about their kids going in there as the kids are about fitting in.  My best advice is to go to Adventure Ocean on the first day during the open house hours in the early afternoon.

Not only is this meant for registration, but it allows the kids to explore the facility, meet the counselors, and ask questions. Taking advantage of the open house tends to alleviate a great deal of concern from parent and child alike.

By the same token, going to Adventure Ocean on the first evening is when a lot of the friendships and social circles are formed, so ideally have the kids go up on the first day.

Leave the stroller at home

My wife and I argued about this point when my children were younger, but I say leave the stroller at home.

Strollers are great, but on a cruise ship I find them more of a hindrance then a benefit due to their size.

I totally understand how nice it is not to have to carry kids, but I find strollers totally impractical in many Caribbean ports due to uneven paving, lots of beaches, and of course the added weight of dealing with it. On the ship, they just take up space and narrow hallways make them a pain to navigate.

If you really need a stroller, I would concede an umbrella stroller that can fold down and is not too heavy is not a terrible idea, especially if it can fit under the bed.

What car seats?

This may be the most shocking aspect of this post, but a lot of parents ask how I bring a car seat to use in taxis in Caribbean ports and the answer is I don't.

Bringing a car seat is about the most impractical thing you can have on a cruise, and in almost every single Caribbean port, no taxis provide them.  So I do what my parents did with me when I was a kid, and have the kids on our lap or buckle them in with regular seat belts.

I know, it is sacrilegious to do that back at home, but it is the way it is when traveling in the Caribbean.

Don't be afraid to ask the waiter for something else

Kids are notoriously picky eaters, but that does not mean you have to relegate yourself to only eating at Sorrento's or the Windjammer.

At any restaurant you dine at, be sure to ask the waiter for something else if the kids are not finding anything to their liking on the printed menu.

Many restaurants have a kids menu, and in addition to that, I have found waiters more than happy to grab a slice of pizza or a hot dog from Sorrento's or the Windjammer for the kids.

The key is not to feel bashful for asking for something else. Your child is far from the first to chomp down on pizza and fries while dining at Izumi.

Saving money with kids

My final lesson with cruising with kids is a smattering of ways to save a few bucks along the way.

• Do not prebook kids at specialty dining (or buy them a dining package). Kids ages 6-12 can dine at specialty restaurants for a $10 cover charge.
  • The exception is Izumi Hibachi because it is so popular, book them at the adult price and ask the wait staff at check-in to refund the difference.
• There is complimentary ice cream on the pool deck throughout the day.
• Be on the lookout for Kids Sail Free deals. These have the potential to be very lucrative, especially in Alaska or Europe.

What is your best tip for cruising with kids? Share your ideas and lessons you have learned in the comments!

Allure of the Seas is going to get some, but not all, of the refurbishment work beginning this week.

The ship is on her way to Cadiz, Spain for a "technical dry dock".  Allure will enter the Navantia Cádiz shipyard in Spain at the end of this week, and the work will take about 30 days.

Royal Caribbean was forced to postpone the work in March after Spain closed its cruise ports in March.

The amplification aspect of the work to be done is still being finalized, and Royal Caribbean will communicate an update when a plan is in place.

Spanish media is also reporting that the shipyard Commitee Chairman, José Gallardo, indicated Royal Caribbean has decided to postpone some of the upgrade work that was originally planned, and instead simply focus on the propulsion and navigation of the ship.

“La reforma del hotel no se va a hacer, algo lógico dada la situación del negocio de los cruceros, ”Gallardo said. This translates to, "The reform of the hotel is not going to be done, which is logical given the situation of the cruise ship business."

The work will be carried out by workers at the shipyard, with a focus on limiting the presence of foreign subcontractors.

Like so many other aspects of Royal Caribbean's business, plans for upgrades to Allure of the Seas (and Explorer of the Seas) were put on hold and now delayed until the company's financial situation can improve.

Royal Caribbean indicated last week it identified approximately $3.0 billion and $1.4 billion of capital expenditure reductions or deferrals in 2020 and 2021.

Planned upgrades for Allure of the Seas included the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, completely redesigned Adventure Ocean kids and teens spaces, the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, and Music Hall.

Royal Caribbean's Lift and Shift program offers guests the option to move their existing cruise reservation one year ahead, and it has intrigued plenty of potential cruisers looking to defer their vacations.

The appeal of Lift and Shift is it provides a simple and clean way to move a booking without having to cancel and rebook.

Taxes & fees will be adjusted to reflect the charges associated with the new sailing. Taxes & fees from the original sail date will not be protected.

How does Lift and Shift work?

If you have a cruise booked, Royal Caribbean is offering the opportunity between now and January 31, 2021, to protect the original price and promotional offering of a cruise by selecting a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.

You do not need to book the same ship or even class of ships.

Does it matter when a cruise was booked?

Guests are eligible to rebook under the Lift & Shift guidelines between now and January 31, 2021. After this point, Lift & Shift expires and is no longer eligible.

All existing bookings, as well as bookings made between now and January 31, 2021 are eligible.

Royal Caribbean announced Lift and Shift will be discontinued on February 1, 2021. However, they are still offering Lift & Shift when new rounds of cruise cancellations are announced.

You will need to refer to the specific Lift & Shift terms and conditions when offered for specifics on how and when it can be used.

Do all rates qualify for Lift & Shift?

Most cruise rates do apply with no restrictions, but there are a few exceptions.

Select restricted rates are ineligible for Lift & Shift and Best Price Guarantee - including but not limited to

• Net rates
• Casino rates
• Travel Agent Friends & Family rates
• Travel Agent Reduced rates
• Complimentary staterooms

Are there any blackout dates for Lift & Shift?

Christmas, New Year’s, and Chinese New Year’s cruises are ineligible, unless you are currently confirmed on one of these sailings and wish to take advantage of Lift & Shift to move to the same sailing next year (assuming all other qualifying criteria is met).

Will my pre-cruise purchases at their booked rates come with Lift & Shift?

Unfortunately, not.

Pre-cruise purchases such as beverage packages, shore excursions, etc. will be removed during the re-accommodation process and can be added to the future reservation, as desired, at prevailing rates.

What happens to hotels and transfer purchases?

If you purchased hotel accommodations or transfers with Royal Caribbean, these will be removed during the re-accommodation process, but can be re-added, if desired, once confirmed
on the future ship/sailing of choice at prevailing rates.

If you purchased these outside of Royal Caribbean, you will need to be addressed directly with whomever you purchased it originally.

Is there a limit to how many times I can use Lift & Shift?

Yes, you can only use it once throughout the lifetime of the booking.

Lift & Shift scenarios

While the rules laid out in this post answer many questions, there may still be lingering questions and conundrums you may have about specific situations.

In order to provide better context, Royal Caribbean has provided some examples of when Lift & Shift may or may not be applicable.

Different ship

Currently booked on Explorer of the Seas in Europe this August 2020. Can I Lift & Shift to Harmony of the Seas in September 2021?

Yes, provided the sailing next year is on a departure that falls within a 4-week span of their original sail date, you are able to enjoy a cruise onboard the Harmony of the Seas in
Europe within the same stateroom and on a sailing of the same length. 

Currently booked on an Open Jaw Alaska itinerary onboard Radiance of the Seas departing August 21, 2020 and want to move to a Roundtrip Alaska itinerary onboard Ovation of the Seas departing August 20, 2021. Does this qualify for Lift & Shift?

Yes, assuming you want the same stateroom category since the sailing length, itinerary type, and timing meet the required criteria.

Different Sailing Length

Currently booked on a 4-night Bahamas cruise onboard Mariner of the Seas in October 2020 and now want to move to a 3-Night weekend getaway onboard the same ship in October 2021, can I take advantage of Lift & Shift as long as the same stateroom category is selected?

No, because the two sailings are not the same length. 

While the same itinerary, stateroom category, and 4-week cruise window were selected, you would have to select another 4-night Bahamas cruise in October 2021 to qualify for Lift & Shift.

Different stateroom type

Is it possible to Lift & Shift from 2020 to the same cruise in 2021, but upgrade to a balcony stateroom over the prior booked oceanview?

Yes, you could upgrade to a balcony, but under prevailing pricing and promotional offerings.

Unfortunately, prior rates and promotions will not carry through.

Different timing

Is it feasible to Lift & Shift an Oasis of the Seas cruise from Port Everglades on December 6, 2020 to Oasis of the Seas departing Miami on December 19, 2021?

Since December 19, 2021 is a Christmas sailing and the current reservation is confirmed on a non-holiday December cruise, unfortunately, Lift & Shift does not apply.

Are cruises cancelled eligible for Lift & Shift?

Lift & Shift is applicable to cancelled sailings departing between June 12 and July 31, 2020. Those sailings previously impacted by Royal Caribbean's pause in operation, unfortunately, are ineligible.

If you are keeping score at home, we have now gone through the longest period of time since Royal Caribbean voluntarily suspended all of its cruises without any more cruises being cancelled.

Here is the breakdown of the recent timeline of cancelled cruise announcements:

• March 13: Initial cruise cancellations announced for March 14 - April 11, 2020
• March 24: Second round of cruise cancellations: April 12 - May 11
• April 16: Third round of cruise cancellations: May 12 - June 11

The time between the first and second announcements of cancelled cruises was 11 days, and then the second and third round took 23 days.

At the risk of jinxing things, today marks 25 days since the last round of cancelled cruises.

This statistical anomaly is not necessarily an indicator that more cruises will not be cancelled. In fact, Royal Caribbean disclosed last week that more cancelled cruises are possible, as continued disruptions to travel and port operations in various regions.

However, it is a good sign that with shelter in place laws being lifted around the United States and abroad, perhaps this just one more sign that we are getting closer to cruises resuming.

More than any other question, cruisers are curious to know when will Royal Caribbean resume cruises.

Royal Caribbean has not provided much detail on when it intends to resume cruises, other than stating it will resume cruises on June 12, 2020 (with the exception of Canada, New England and Alaska sailings).

Carnival Cruises announced a more fleshed out plan to resume sailings later this summer, while simultaneously cancelling more cruises. The announcement seemed to carry more weight with it, as it provided more than just a new target date to sail again.

When do you think cruises will start back up again? Share your predictions in the comments!

Happy Mother's Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a cruise booking too.

Royal Caribbean unveiled an expanded ability to cancel and rebook cruises earlier this week.

The "enhanced & extended Cruise with Confidence policy" offers guests the ability to cancel up to 48-hours prior to sailing in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit on sailings through April 2022 for bookings made on-or-before August 1, 2020.

In addition, a new "Lift & Shift" program was announced to move a cruise to a similar sailing one year away. 

On top of all of that, Royal Caribbean relaxed its Best Price Guarantee up to 48-hours prior to their cruise vacation start date, ensuring the best rate and/or promotion.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean issued a business update on how its business is doing given the major impact of no cruises.
• Royal Caribbean has cancelled plans to introduce a Spa stateroom category on its ships.
• Carnival Cruises announced its plans for resuming cruises.
• Grand Cayman announced it will close its borders to cruise ships until September.
• Five important facts from Royal Caribbean's business update.
• Two sailings were cancelled so that the ships could repatriate crew members.
• Richard Fain spoke on the work to get crew home and resume cruises.
• Get Kids Sail Free & 30% off all guests on cruises booked in May.
• Royal Caribbean is working on a plan to get its crew members home.
• Have you gotten your refund yet? I asked readers if they have gotten theirs yet.
• Have you seen this uplifting video made by Royal Caribbean's entertainment team?
• One year ago this week, Perfect Day at CocoCay officially opened.
• I shared some really captivating Royal Caribbean cruise photos.
• Here is the full recipe on how to make the Grand Sabor Margarita at home.
• The Royal Caribbean shareholder meeting is scheduled for the end of May.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 353rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, that features Ron's story of how he rescheduled a cruise to work around family obligations

Our love of cruising can sometimes take a back seat to our loved ones, and Ron tells us about how he changed sailings to work around family plans and ended up with a fantastic cruise.

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.

How to get ready for your next cruise (whenever it happens)

While there are no Royal Caribbean cruises to go on currently, the day when they will sail again is coming, and now is a great opportunity to prepare for that vacation.

One of the best ways to ensure you have a fantastic vacation is to plan ahead, as I see too many cruisers that do little to no research into their vacation.

Make the most of your cruise with these top tips!

The Caribbean island of Grand Cayman has decided to keep its borders closed until at least September 1, 2020.

Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell confirmed that Cayman’s borders will remain officially closed until at least 1 Sept., and no cruise ships will be landing here before that date.

Grand Cayman's borders had been closed and set to re-open after May 31, but the new timeline was approved by the cabinet.

The new date is not a guarantee that Grand Cayman's borders will re-open by then, simply it is the new "line in the sand".

Kirkconnell said the cruise business “is extremely fluid” and it may be some time before those ships touch local shores.

“I don’t think that we’re going to see cruise vessels back in Grand Cayman [for the] second, third quarter or fourth quarter, to be quite honest. We will continue to dialogue and see what’s the best for the tourism industry and product,” he said.

Royal Caribbean provided an operating update on Friday that gave a fairly positive outlook on its business operations, despite a major impact by global cruise suspension.

While the information was mostly provided for the context of financial disclosures, cruise fans can glean some important tidbits from the announcement.

New ships will be delayed

The most striking announcement was new cruise ship construction is certainly going to be delayed.

Royal Caribbean said that impacted shipyard operations, "will result in delivery delays of ships previously planned for delivery in 2020 and 2021."

While none of Royal Caribbean's ships were named specifically, Odyssey of the Seas is/was scheduled for delivery at the end of 2020 and Wonder of the Seas in 2021.

Booking levels for 2021 have not taken a major hit (yet)

Perhaps the most surprising statistic of the disclosure was executives suggested a growth recovery as early as 2021.

Although still early in the booking cycle, the booked position for 2021 is within historical ranges when compared to same time last year with 2021 prices up mid-single digits compared to 2020.

While there are "elevated cancellations for 2020", it appears the public has not yet made such stark decisions for vacations next year.

Royal Caribbean is going through around $150 million per month

With no real revenue coming in since cruises were cancelled in mid-March, Royal Caribbean said its average ongoing ship operating expenses and administrative expenses is approximately $150 million to $170 million per month during the suspension of operations.  

Royal Caribbean is doing its best to mitigate costs during this time, and may seek to further reduce this average monthly requirement under a prolonged non-revenue scenario.

More than 5,000 employees have been cut

Many companies have been forced to lay off workers in order to deal with reduced demand and income, and Royal Caribbean is no exception.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd reduced workforce by approximately 26 percent of more than 5,000 shoreside employees in the United States.

The reduction was made through a combination of permanent layoffs and 90-day furloughs with paid benefits.

More people want credits instead of refunds

A good sign for Royal Caribbean is the fact approximately 55% of its guests who had a cruise cancelled opted for a 125% future cruise credit in lieu of a 100% refund.

Royal Caribbean is known for its cruise ships that not only take guests to destinations around the world, but offer an incredible onboard experience as well.

In fact, the cruise ships are as impressive as they are photogenic and Royal Caribbean has taken some truly impressive photos of their vessels.  These photos capture the majesty of their design, as well as incorporating the vistas and cityscapes in the background.

I have hand-picked some of my favorite Royal Caribbean cruise photos shared by the cruise line recently to show off the intriguing look these vessels offer.

If there was a recipe for a great photo, you would not want just a sprinkle or dash, but instead a heaping of sunset. Photo by Volnei M.

In the first year since Perfect Day at CocoCay debuted, there has been no shortage of jaw-dropping photos of this private destination. It is impressive to consider how closely the island ended up looking like the concept art that proceeded it. Photo by Adam H.

If you have been on an Alaska cruise, then you know just how amazing your surroundings look every time you visit. No matter the port or location of the ship, there is always sweeping landscapes to take in, and this photo is a shining example of what happens when you combine the scenery around you with a sunny day. Photo by twangster

Earlier, I talked about how a great sunset and Perfect Day at CocoCay never disappoints from a photography perspective, so it should come as no surprise to see when combined, the results are awe-inspiring. Photo by Pieter D.

The sleek lines of a Royal Caribbean ship have been eye-catching for decades, and the contrasting color you will find across its decks are always a visual treat.

In photography, the golden hour is the period of daytime shortly after sunrise or before sunset, during which daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky. Combine that with the ship's lights and you have a great photo!

The Ultimate Abyss may be a polarizing topic among cruisers, but the ten story plummet will capture the attention of pretty much anyone. Photo by Nick M.

It is always an interesting contrast between the natural wonders created thousands of years ago, and the latest in cruise ship design.

Fireworks, anyone? The launch of a new ship is cause for celebration and it makes for a great photo too.

Our final photo may not have lens flare, fireworks or even an amazing sunset behind it, but during its prime, this would have been an incredible sight to see, because Royal Caribbean made a name for itself from the beginning with cruise ships that commanded the attention of anyone who caught a glimpse.

It is incredible to consider that from this one ship, Royal Caribbean would go onto build ships like Oasis of the Seas or destinations like Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean's in-house production company has been away from the office during the current shutdown, but put out a powerful new video sung to the popular Styx song, "Come Sail Away".

The video is narrated by Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, Nick Weir, who starts off the video at a vacant production studio in North Miami, but quickly turns to the casting team who engage in their rendition of the 70's song.

The video includes scenes from various stages and venues aboard Royal Caribbean's ships, as well as ships around the world.

This is one of many videos that Royal Caribbean crew and employees have created during its voluntary cruise suspension. Many have been posted on social media and quickly shared between guests, crew, and executives.