Royal Caribbean Blog

Happy Sunday! Temperatures may be dropping, but there is plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share.  This is your weekly summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this past week, perfectly fitted for your consumption.

Royal Caribbean revealed their Europe 2021 sailings earlier this week.

Seven ships will sail around Europe in 2021 with 70% new itineraries that feature a new mix of destinations.

The highlight of the seas is the inclusion of Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas in the mix.

Royal Caribbean News

• We mourned the passing of Royal Caribbean's founder this week.
• Here are 10 ways to save money when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Royal Caribbean has a way to alert you once the Black Friday deals are announced.
• Empress of the Seas passengers can now use the new app.
• Royal Caribbean released a new video, which highlights the addition of the Ultimate Abyss to Oasis of the Seas.
• Check out this sneak peak at the Oasis of the Seas amplification.
• Royal Caribbean was named best cruise line for the money this year.
• Here is how to get a discount if you are an active or retired member of the military.
• How to pre-pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 328th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available to enjoy, where Matt speaks with Michael Poole about what it is like to get married on Royal Caribbean.

Michael elected to get married on Mariner of the Seas recentlty, and this week, he shares the ins and outs of getting marred at sea.

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

In The Loop Travel shared a look at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Cruise Habit looked at free and paid wifi options on cruise lines.

If you're ready for a mental escape to a Royal Caribbean cruise, then you're at the right place because we have some great Royal Caribbean photos our readers have sent in.  

Each week we ask our readers to send us their best Royal Caribbean photos to showcase right here on the blog so be sure to send yours in too!

Our first photo is from Kristy Gordon, and it is of Symphony of the Seas in Cozumel while at night.

Next up, is a photo of Vision of the Seas in Cabo San Lucas. Photo by Michael Kho.

Susan Widdowson shared her "happy place", which is enjoying breakfast from her balcony on Radiance of the Seas in Icy Straight Point, Alaska.

Matthew Hull sent in this photo of the AquaTheater from Oasis of the Seas.

Check out this shot of Symphony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas while docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo by Jay Spiegel.

Robin Buckley snapped this photo of Navigator of the Seas, while on their way back to the ship in Nassau.

Our final photo this week is by Sam Szpara, and it is a view of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Thanks to everyone who sent in their photos this week.  Be sure to send your photos in as well by using this form.

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

Empress 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.

Royal Caribbean is offering up to 30% off certain Cruise Planner purchases during its Seas the Deals sale.

The new promotion applies to purchases made between November 14 - November 18, 2019, and applies to select sailings departing November 20, 2019 – May 31, 2020. It is valid on all ships, except for Spectrum of the Seas.

BEVERAGE: Up to 30% off on select sailings.

SHORE EXCURSIONS: Up to 25% off on select sailings.

INTERNET: Up to 60% off on select sailings

• The Key. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings + Mj, SC)
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC).
• VOOM Surf & Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s). Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC)

DINING: Up to 55% off on select sailings.

•  Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 9N sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes MJ, SC)

ACTIVITIES: 10% off on select sailings

• All Access Ship Tour: 10% off onboard prices. (Excludes SC)

GIFTS & GEAR: 20% off on select sailings

• Chocolate Covered Strawberries: 20% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes QN, SC, VY)
• Happy Anniversary Decorations: 20% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes QN, SC, VY)
• Inky Travel Set: 20% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes QN, SC, VY)
• Strawberries with Champagne: 20% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes QN, SC, VY)
• White Wine & Cheese: 20% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes QN, SC, VY)

PHOTO PACKAGES: Up to 20% off on select sailings.

• Prints – 10: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AD, AL, AN, BR, EN, EX, FR, HM, JW, LB, OA, OY, RD, RH, SC, SR, SY)
• Prints – 15: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AL, BR, EN, FR, HM, LB, MA, MJ, NE, NV, OA, OY, QN, RH, SC, SR, SY)
• Prints – 20: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes All Ships + Charter Sailings except AL, BR, EN, EX, FR, GR, ID, JW, MA, MJ, NE, NV, OY, QN, RD, RH, SC, SR,VI, VY)
• Prints – All: Discount varies by ship. (AD, AN, EX, HM, ID, LB, MA, NV, OV, QN, SC, SY)
• Digital – 15: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AL, BR, EN, FR, GR, HM, JW, LB,MA, MJ, NV, OA, OV, OY, QN, RD, RH, SC, SR, SY, VI)
• Digital – 20: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AL, BR, EN, EX,FR, GR, ID, JW, MA, MJ, NE, NV, OY, QN, RD, RH SC, SR,VI, VY)
• Digital – All: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AD, AL, AN, BR, EN, EX, FR, HM, ID, LB, MA, NV, OA, OV, OY, QN, RH, SR, SY, VY)
• All Digital + Prints: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AD, AN, EX, GR, HM, ID, JW, LB, MA, MJ, NE, NV, OA, OV, OY, QN, RD, SC, SY, VI, VY)

The Cruise Planner sale promises savings on certain shore excursions and drink package purchases.  Guests can check which discounts, if any, are available for their upcoming sailing by visiting the Cruise Planner site. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Among the many upgrades and changes coming to Oasis of the Seas is the addition of the 10-story Ultimate Abyss slide.

Royal Caribbean has spent $165 million in upgrades to make Oasis of the Seas even more impressive, and we have a sneak peek at what it took to add a fan favorite like this to the ship.

Oasis of the Seas returns to service on November 24, when she sails from PortMiami and delivers a lineup of new experiences for guests to enjoy.

We have a list of all the changes coming to Oasis of the Seas, along with a deck-by-deck look at what has been replaced or removed during the work.

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

Episode 328 is available for downloading, where we share a listener's experience getting married on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Did you know that you can get married on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship? This week, Michael shares his recent wedding experience on Mariner of the Seas and talks about what it's like to get married on Royal Caribbean.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 328. 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 released new information about summer 2021 European cruises.

Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas will return to Southampton and Barcelona respectively, while the brand-new Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s second Quantum Ultra class ship, will sail through Turkey and Greece.

All itineraries are available to book as of today with the exception of Odyssey of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas which will be open to book the week of December 9.

Anthem of the Seas will be the first Quantum-class ship to take guests to ports in Norway including Stavarnger, Kristiansand and Geiranger. Other new stops for Anthem include Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark and Bordeaux, France. Select sailings include late nights in Paris, France and overnights in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Lisbon, Portugal. 

Anthem of the Seas 2021 Europe Itineraries

Harmony of the Seas will be sailing 7-night itineraries through the Western Mediterranean from Barcelona. For those wishing to start and end their trip in Italy, round-trip sailings from Rome are also available.

Harmony of the Seas 2021 Europe Itineraries

Odyssey of the Seas, set to debut in November 2020, will be Royal Caribbean’s first Quantum Ultra Class ship to visit the spectacular shores of both Turkey and Greece on numerous itineraries. Odyssey will open for bookings the week of Dec. 9, 2019.

Vision of the Seas will continue to offer 12-night Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona sailing the Greek Isles and making stops in Kotor, Motenegro; Nice, France; Rome, Florence/Pisa, Italy and include an overnight in Venice, Italy and late nights in Split, Croatia.

Vision of the Seas 2021 Europe Itineraries

Select Jewel of the Seas sailings from her homeport of Amsterdam to the British Isles and Baltics will include overnights in Edinburgh (S. Queensferry), Scotland and in St. Petersburg, Russia; as well as late-nights in Liverpool, England – marking the first time a Radiance class ship calls to the city – and Bordeaux, France.

Jewel of the Seas will end the summer homeported in Barcelona, where she will offer sailings to the Iberian Peninsula and Greek Isles including stops in Cannes, France; Athens and Santorini, Greece.

Jewel of the Seas 2021 Europe Itineraries

Rhapsody of the Seas will spend another summer season in Venice offering 7-night sailings alternating between Greece/Croatia and the Greek Isles. Select sailings will offer late nights in Kotor, Montenegro.

Rhapsody of the Seas 2021 Europe Itineraries

Adventure of the Seas will offer 7- to 11-night sailings including overnights in St. Petersburg, Russia from Stockholm, Sweden and will also sail to Helsinki, Finland; Tallin, Estonia and Visby, Sweden. Adventure will be open for booking the week of December 9.

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society members can begin booking sailings on November 13, 2019, with the general public available to begin booking on November 14, 2019.

Royal Caribbean has released a brand new video today that offers a behind-the-scenes look at Royal Caribbean's largest amplification to date.

Currently undergoing a major, $165 million transformation, Oasis of the Seas will soon emerge from her upgrades to offer guests a new level of fun at sea.

From the tallest slide at sea, The Ultimate Abyss, to the cruise line’s first barbecue restaurant – Portside BBQ – and the Ultimate Panoramic suites with 200-degree, floor-to-ceiling views, the original gamechanger that revolutionized the industry marks its 10-year anniversary in a big way.

The amplified Oasis will debut her new look in November 2019 to begin 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, FL before heading to the Big Apple in May 2020 as the largest ship to ever sail from the Northeast.

U.S. News & World Report named Royal Caribbean International as the best cruise line for your money in its 2020 list of the best cruise lines.

With more than 20 cruise ships, Royal Caribbean is one of the largest lines sailing the ocean today. Having the ability to accommodate thousands of guests per ship allows the company to keep rates low. In fact, travelers may find itineraries in popular Caribbean, European and Alaskan destinations for less than $200 per person.

The top five for the Best Cruise Line for the Money were:

1. Royal Caribbean International
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
4. Princess Cruises
5. Carnival Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean has won this award in 2017, 2015 and 2013. It was edged out last year by Celebrity Cruises.

U.S. News & World Reports compiles its rankings based on "an analysis of expert and user opinions." U.S. News ranked the cruise lines based on a methodology that factors in itinerary affordability, health ratings and reputation among experts and travelers.

If you want to be among the first to know what Royal Caribbean's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals will be, the cruise line is allowing guests to sign up for a notification.

Royal Caribbean typically does not post its Black Friday offers much in advance, so it appears as the cruise line is offering guests who really want to know as soon as possible a new option.

Guests can sign up to receive an email from Royal Caribbean when the deals are announced. A special form is available to fill out and submit.

You can view past Black Friday deals in our Black Friday post archive.

If you are eyeing a pre-cruise discount on a shore excursion, beverage package, WiFi access or more, keep in mind all purchases made via the Cruise Planner site can always be cancelled and rebooked if the price drops.

Let us know in the comments: Did you sign up for the email alert?