Royal Caribbean Blog

Cruise ships from Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises and more joined together for an impromptu show of support for each other during a time when all cruise lines have halted sailings until the coronavirus threat passes.

Photo by Liam Davison

Celebrity Cruises Captain Kate McCue shared a video on Instagram of Captains and bridge crew from across different cruise companies engaging in a horn salute every day at 7:30pm.

"On March 20th we started something special. With ships from different companies congregating in the same "neighborhood" it was a perfect opportunity to celebrate our solidarity."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Captain Kate McCue (@captainkatemccue) on Mar 25, 2020 at 11:22am PDT

Captain McCue calls this movement "#HopeFloats" and it is about letting everyone know that they are safe onboard, and that they wish the same for everyone around the world.

"We sound our horns, to let our crew and the world know that while we are strong, safe, and healthy on board, we are thinking of those at home and hoping the same for them."

These ships are massed together in the Caribbean as cruise ships wait for cruise lines to resume operations.

1) Wondering where the @RoyalCaribbean Ladies have gone during this time? I’ll take you on a little tour with me as I check on the Fleet. pic.twitter.com/iL7ML1Ki79

— James Van Fleet (@JamesVanFleet) March 19, 2020

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd's brand new headquarters that is under construction will remain under construction for while longer.

The Miami Herald reports the construction work for the cruise line's $300 million corporate headquarters in PortMiami is on hold due to uncertainty over the coronavirus.

In May 2019, Royal Caribbean announced plans to expand and renovate its corporate campus on the southwest corner of Dodge Island. 

Work on the site will cease, with the exception of the parking lot adjacent to the building that will be completed as planned, according to the Miami Herald.

Work will resume "at the appropriate time," according to Royal Caribbean.

Once complete, the new campus will be landscaped with indigenous flora and sport a soccer field, volleyball court, basketball court, and fitness center for employees.  It will include a new parking garage and built-in sustainability features, such as electric car chargers, photovoltaic cells, and rainwater collectors.

At the heart of campus will be a 10-story, 350,000 square-foot building influenced by the graceful utility, fluidity, and innovative designs evident in the company’s ships.   

The new corporate headquarters would include a fitness center, a day care, a cafeteria, an auditorium and a maritime innovation center for the design development and renovation of cruise vessels.

Prior to the announced pause, the new headquarters was scheduled to open at some time in 2020.

Royal Caribbean, along with other cruise lines, will not qualify for government assistance as part of the roughly $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package that was passed by the United States Senate.

Despite the fact president Donald Trump has mentioned offering support for the cruise lines, the current stimulus package stipulates only U.S.-incorporated companies with a majority of workers based in the U.S. are eligible for assistance. 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, the parent company of Royal Caribbean International, is incorporated in Liberia.

Royal Caribbean referred requests for comment by CNBC to industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association, which did not return a request for comment.

To be eligible for relief, a company must be “created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States” and “have significant operations in and a majority of its employees based in the United States.”

Should the cruise lines be bailed out by the United States?

— Royal Caribbean Blog (@theRCLblog) March 26, 2020

A vote on the stimulus package is headed to the House of Representatives on Friday.

At the very least, it is going to be quite a while before any of us get to on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

While a involuntary dry dock for us all is downright depressing, I came up with some ways to recreate the fun at home.  I know many of us are going stir-crazy sheltering-in-place, and you are definitely not alone!

Here are 20 ways you can feel kind of like you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise without getting onboard a ship.

1. Cook a Royal Caribbean meal at home

Do you miss the main dining room or Windjammer food? The fantastic food served on a Royal Caribbean ship is always a highlight of any cruise vacation, and you can recreate some classics at home.

You can download Royal Caribbean's commemorative Food & Beverage ebook, which features recipes of classic dishes, such as lobster crepe, baked alaska, baby beet salad and more.

Recreating a meal from a Royal Caribbean ship is a great way to relive some of your favorite memories, or even try something new! 

2. Watch a movie filmed on Royal Caribbean 

Over the years, Royal Caribbean has been the backdrop a few different feature films and short series, so this may be the perfect time to catch up on these flicks.

“Like Father” was filmed on board Harmony of the Seas and stars Kristen Bell, Kelsey Grammer and Seth Rogen in a Netflix original movie.

Then there's the Hallmark Movie that stars Royal Caribbean Godparents Carlos and Alexa PenaVega, "Love at Sea", which is set also on Harmony of the Seas.

3. Enjoy the Musical Stylings of Billy Pando

If you have ever been lucky enough to catch a performance of Billy Pando in the Schooner Bar of a ship, then you know how talented this man is at his craft.

Billy Pando is Royal Caribbean's go-to A-List performer each evening on the most important sailings, and you can watch some of Billy's live performances on his Facebook page.

Here is one live session he did on March 22 that is sure to make you feel like you are at the Schooner Bar (especially if you follow tip #8 on this list).

4. Color Royal Caribbean style

Coloring by Charlene Cancun

Coloring is a super relaxing activity, no matter what age you are! You can find Royal Caribbean coloring sheets online to print out and see how well you can stay within the lines!

5. Read a Royal Caribbean book

Note: links in this section contain affiliate links, which means I make money if you buy something. Don't worry, the price is the same to you.

Books are another thing you can find plenty of on Amazon! Whether you’re looking for the history of Royal Caribbean, cook books, or stories from a Captain, there is enough good reads out there to keep you occupied.

My favorite book is "Under Crown and Anchor: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, the first twenty-five years", and is difficult to find, but such intricate history and details that any super fan will enjoy.

6. Watch RoyalCaribbeanBlog videos!

Okay, this is very self-serving, but you can watch our super helpful planning videos that are totally free on the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube page!

There are dozens and dozens of videos on all sorts of topics from planning help, to first time cruise tricks, advice and a lot more.

Don't forget that every Monday night, I am live on YouTube answering your cruise questions too! Be sure to subscribe to our channel so YouTube will notify you when I go live.

7. Re-watch Royal Caribbean vintage commercials

Want to really kick up the nostalgia factor? Check out these Royal Caribbean commercials from the past.

Some of these videos will make you laugh, cry, or remember a classic you have not seen in a while. It is fun way to bring back memories of when you started cruising!

8. Concoct a cruise drink

While you may not have an unlimited drink package at home, you can try making the sort of cocktails or mocktails you typically order on a cruise!

Margaritas, lava flows, daiquiris and more are super popular on a cruise, and if you have blender and the ingredients, many are easy enough to try out from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Check out this list of 38 Royal Caribbean drink recipes for instructions on how to make your favorite (or discover a new one)!

9. Start planning your dream cruise vacation

While cruising is on hold right now, it wont always be like this, so planning your next cruise is one of the best ways to help pass the time.

Now is a great time to put a deposit down for a cruise in the future, and start planning which shore excursions you want to try, read a Cruise Compass to see activities onboard, and learn everything you can about the ship.

10. Play the Royal Caribbean version of Monopoly

This one will be tough to find, but if you can scrounge one up on eBay, there is actually a Royal Caribbean edition of Monopoly!

This edition of the game was given away to travel agents on Independence of the Seas as a gift, but a copy or two pops up on eBay now and then to purchase.

11. Watch the Oasis of the Seas Megafood Documentary

Royal Caribbean has been the subject of a number of documentaries over the years that provide an inside look at how cruise ships operate.

One of the newer ones is an episode of the Megafood series on Netflix that looks at food production on Oasis of the Seas.

12. Watch ship walk-through videos on YouTube

Is there a particular Royal Caribbean ship that you are missing the most? Chances are that there is a walk-through video of that ship on YouTube!

Try searching for videos of your favorite ships and enjoy someone else taking a stroll around the vessel. It is definitely not the same thing as being there, but it should make the time on your couch a little more exciting!

13. Play 20 Questions with Royal Caribbean ships, restaurants, venues and more

The classic “20 Questions” game is a staple for passing the time! One person thinks of a person, place, or thing, and another person asks yes or no questions to try to guess what word the first person is thinking. As the name suggests, they only get up to 20 questions until they have to guess!

14. Take a virtual cruise with Abe Hughes

Former Royal Caribbean cruise director Abe Hughes still works for Royal Caribbean, and has taken it upon himself to offer everyone a virtual cruise.

Every day this week, he has been sharing a Cruise Compass from Virtual of the Seas, and even recorded his traditional morning show for all to enjoy. Check it out!

15. Look through photos from your last cruise

Even though we cannot go onboard a ship right now, this may be the perfect opportunity to look back on happy memories from past vacations.

If you have paper copies of your photos, now is also a great time to get them organized into an album!

16. Follow Nick Weir on Twitter

Nick Weir is the Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, and he is a mega force of innovation and fun, and he is on Twitter!

Despite the cruise industry sitting in idle, Mr. Weir is still hard at work coming up with the next amazing theatrical production for Royal Caribbean, and he tends to share little teasers and tidbits on Twitter.

While you are on social media, be sure to follow Royal Caribbean's Chief Metorologist James Van Fleet too! Mr. Van Fleet not only covers the weather around the world, but shares a look into his life, Oklahoma Sooners football, and where he is traveling these days.

17. Share your stories with us in the comments!

Do you have a fun story or memory from a past Royal Caribbean cruise? I want to hear about it, and I bet others do too!

I encourage you to share a fun memory in the comments of this blog post, and read everyone else's experiences to help relive better times.

18. Create a cruise playlist

If you have Spotify or Pandora, consider finding some great music that reminds you of being on the pool deck of a Royal Caribbean ship, or at one of the amazing beaches you might visit.

Reggae, steel drum, Jimmy Buffett, and Zac Brown Band are just some of the typical tunes you can find that will instantly set the mood that you are onboard or at the beach.

Whether you delve into your own collection of music, or check out an online radio station, or even a digital music streaming service, there are some great choices out there.

Radio Margaritaville is a good place to start, along with Spotify or Pandora.

19. Join Matt to talk Royal Caribbean on Facebook

Okay, one more self-serving shameless plug, but every Tuesday and Saturday I am live on Facebook to talk Royal Caribbean...and you are totally invited!

These days, it is so comforting to be among my cruise friends, and during these live videos I will answer cruise questions, discuss the latest news, and have some fun along the way. Make plans to join us!

20. Break out those Royal Caribbean mugs and soda cups

This is the perfect time to use those Royal Caribbean souvenirs at home, instead of them collecting dust in the back of the cabinet.

Use a Royal Caribbean coffee mug with your morning coffee, or fill up a souvenir soda cup with your favorite soft drink (or mixed cocktail, I'm not judging)!

Each year, Royal Caribbean sends a number of ships to Europe for the summer, but this year's cruise season is in question given the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled all of its global sailings through mid-May, and this is the time of year when traditionally cruise ships make the transatlantic crossing to begin the European cruise season.

Warnings against travel

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has classified Europe as an area with “widespread ongoing transmission” of COVID-19 and has given it a Level 3 Warning, asking citizens to avoid nonessential travel. That is the same warning level applied to China, South Korea and Iran.

On top of that, the State Department has restricted all but United States citizens and legal permanent residents from returning from Europe. And countries have instituted lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus.

European lockdown

Over in Europe, Spain and Italy are two countries where Royal Caribbean offers a great many sailings, and Spain has over 40,000 and Italy almost 70,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Moreover, the European Union has banned nonessential travel from elsewhere in the world for 30 days. In addition, there are select European countries that have added new rules to prohibit cruise ship arrivals for at least 30 days.

• Spain has closed all its borders for entry from March 23 for 30 days.
• Italy is under a countrywide lockdown and cruise ships are prohibited from visiting.
• The Netherlands has closed its cruise ports to cruise passengers by river or ocean, which applies to the busy port of Amsterdam.
• All of Denmark's cruise ports are closed to non-resident foreigners at least April 13, 2020.
• Sweden has a temporary ban on travel to the country from March 19 for up to 30 days.
• The United Kingdom appears to have no restrictions related to cruise ships at this time.

The waiting game

Royal Caribbean has not commented on the prospects of the 2020 cruise season, so both the cruise line and guests are relegated to waiting things out and seeing what conditions are like closer to the resumption of sailings in May.

Allure of the Seas is already in Europe, as she managed to conduct her transatlantic crossing prior to the initial shutdown. Jewel of the Seas is in the Middle East.

The rest of the fleet is either somewhere off the coast of the United States, Caribbean or Australia.

It appears even a partial cruise season in Europe is better than no cruise season in Europe, so no official word on plans has been made yet.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain has shared another video speaking to travel professionals on the current state of the cruise industry while in the midst of a prolonged shutdown.

Speaking from his backyard, Mr. Fain filmed his message with his phone on an iPad, dressed more casually, and offering words of encouragement. 

His message comes less than a day after Royal Caribbean announced it would extend its global suspension of cruises for an additional 30 days.

"We all came to work in January ready for a truly gangbuster year, and look where we are today. But even against that very serious backdrop, the work goes on here in Royal Caribbean."

"Our immediate focus is on keeping our guests and our employees safe and healthy, even while the last few ships are returning to port. But you should also know that we're putting just as much effort and just as much focus into making sure that from the day we begin sailing again - and it won't be that long before we do - we're able to offer our guests safe, healthy, and enjoyable cruises from day one."

Mr. Fain explained he believes lots of people will want a vacation escape once the current crisis improves, and Royal Caribbean has "teams studying to make sure that health and sanitation procedures are best in class and make use of the hard lessons we've learned over these last few months."

This is one of many videos Mr. Fain has recorded in the last few weeks that offer comfort, inspiration and a dash of humor.

• View Fain's video from March 13
• View Fain's video from March 2

Mr. Fain also touted the fact Odyssey of the Seas is coming, which is Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship and set to debut in November.

"Better days may seem far away right now, but they're coming sooner than you think."

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

Episode 347 is available for downloading, which has a review of the Royal Amplification to Freedom of the Seas.

Don from EatSleepCruise joins Matt on this week's episode to talk about the changes made to Freedom of the Seas, as well as his sailing onboard that was extended by a couple days.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 347. 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!

If you pre-purchased drink packages, spa treatments or anything else on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site and now your cruise is cancelled, Royal Caribbean will give you the option of onboard credit in the value of 125% of the total Cruise Planner purchases on your reservation.

This new option is only for cruises cancelled between April 11 and May 11. Royal Caribbean is now giving guests the choice to get a 100% refund of pre-purchased add-ons or 125% value in onboard credit. This is in addition to the offer of a 100% refund on the cruise fare or 125% future cruise credit.

Guests have until April 8, 2020 to pick between the two options.  

If you do want to take advantage of the 125% onboard credit offer, you can use a self-service form to process the request.

If you do not fill out that form on or before April 8, all Cruise Planner purchases will be automatically refunded.

In the first 30 days of cancelled cruises, Royal Caribbean did not offer this onboard credit for Cruise Planner purchases.

Royal Caribbean announced it has extended its voluntary suspension of cruises an additional 30 days due to coronavirus.

The cruise line had cancelled all sailings through April 10, and will now cancel all cruises through May 11, 2020.  

Royal Caribbean expects to return to service on May 12, 2020.

We are working with our guests to address this disruption to their vacations, and we are genuinely sorry for their inconvenience. We are also working with our crew to sort out the issues this decision presents for them.

In addition, due to port closures around the world, Royal Caribbean added they expect to return to service for Alaska, Canada and New England sailings July 1, 2020.

Like the previous 30 days of cancelled sailings, guests impacted by this round of cancellations can choose between a 100% refund or 125% Future Cruise Credit. Future Cruise Credits will be automatically issued on April 30, 2020.

Any pre-purchased amenities and packages, such as internet, beverage, dining or RoyalUp upgrades, will be automatically refunded. Royal Caribbean Travel Protection will also be refunded.

The global outbreak of coronavirus has impacted all sectors of travel, and all cruise lines have had to put further sailings on hold. Royal Caribbean had announced just a pause for 30 days, while some cruise lines opted to delay resuming sailings for a longer period of time. MSC Cruises paused for 45 days and Viking Cruises opted to wait until May 1, 2020.

UPDATE 6:04PM: Voyager of the Seas in Singapore is scheduled to return to service in June 2020.

More resources:

• What you need to know about the Future Cruise Credit
• What happens to the crew members onboard during the coronavirus cruise suspension?
• Royal Caribbean takes out $2.2 billion loan to protect improve company's position against Coronavirus impact

Odyssey of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean second Quantum Ultra Class ship when she debuts in November 2020, and she already promises to offer a number of firsts for guests to enjoy.

The days of subsequent cruise ships in a class being carbon copies of the ships that came before them are gone, and when Royal Caribbean builds a new ship, it starts with a blank canvas to bring new ideas, enhance existing venues, and spice up everything else along the way.

While we do not know quite everything yet about Odyssey of the Seas, here are five ways Odyssey will be different from any other Quantum (Ultra) class ship that came before her!

First Quantum Class ship with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

Odyssey of the Seas will be the first Quantum Class ship to offer guests Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. 

Not only is this the first Quantum Class ship not to offer Jamie's Italian, it also will be one of the first ships in the fleet to offer Royal Caribbean's refreshed look at Giovanni's Table.

Royal Caribbean promises pizza, cured meats and specialty cheeses, as well as an impressive selection of wines and limoncellos. 

Playmakers in the SeaPlex

The addition of Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade to Odyssey of the Seas is a first for the Quantum Class, but Royal Caribbean went above and beyond by moving it to the SeaPlex.

Located on the second floor of the SeaPlex, Playmakers will serve up the beers, wings, sliders and burgers it is known for, while giving guests a choice of watching the action below them in the SeaPlex, or catching a game on one of the many televisions throughout the bar.

On other ships, Playmakers has been located either on the Royal Promenade or Boardwalk. With views of the ocean on one side, and the SeaPlex fun on the other, I think this Playmakers location may be the best one yet.

Revamped Adventure Ocean

Odyssey of the Seas will usher in the cruise line's new take on supervised fun for kids with the new Adventure Ocean club.

Adventure Ocean has been completely revamped, and was first offered on Navigator, Oasis and Freedom of the Seas.  

Children and their families can choose their own immersive adventures and discover whimsical rooms with climbable creations at Play Place; hands-on art, science and tech fun at Workshop; friendly competition in physical, interactive games at Arena; and make new friends over gaming consoles or while just sitting back in Hangout.

Younger children (ages 3-5 years old) have their own space and will benefit from experiential activities at the multipurpose AO Junior area.

Just like other Quantum Class ships, babies and toddlers will have access to AO Babies.

Royal Caribbean has also redesigned its teen club concept with Social180. Located just outside the SeaPlex, the new teens-only area features gaming consoles, music and movies in their own lounge or out on the private patio.

Two-level pool deck

I think families are going to love the new approach to the pool deck with the two resort-style pools and four whirlpools.

Odyssey of the Seas will feature two open-air, resort style pools that are surrounded by casitas and hammocks. This new pool deck concept has been a hit on other recently Amplified cruise ships, and it promises much more pool deck space than on other Quantum Class vessels.

In addition, you can expect Splashaway Bay aqua park for kids to enjoy waterslides, fountains, water cannons and more. Adults can escape to the Solarium that has swimming pools and whirlpools, a full-service bar, daybeds and hidden nooks for prime napping.

The Lime and Coconut will make its Quantum Class debut next to the pool with two stories of drinks and island vibes. If you get hungry, the first El Loco Fresh on a Quantum Class ship is available.

More to come

There are still more surprises to come with Odyssey of the Seas, including entertainment.

Nick Weir is the Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, and he has hinted at some big shows and fun coming to Odyssey of the Seas. 

Mr. Weir has said Odyssey will feature the biggest drone project ever onboard, as well as brand new productions.  Needless to say, these new shows will be brand new to the fleet.

Coming soon in November

In November 2020, the ship’s inaugural year will kick off with 8- and 6-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Odyssey will then sail to her homeport of Rome in May 2021 and become the first Quantum Ultra Class ship to cruise Europe for the summer. 

More Odyssey of the Seas info

• Odyssey of the Seas activities, dining and things to do
• Odyssey of the Seas inaugural itineraries
• Odyssey of the Seas 2021 European sailings