Royal Caribbean Blog

One of the signature attractions Royal Caribbean has added to its Perfect Day at CocoCay makeover has launched.

The Up, Up and Away helium balloon takes guests 450 feet above Perfect Day at CocoCay, providing the highest vantage point in The Bahamas.

The cost for Up, Up and Away will vary by season:

• Age 13+: $39-$99 per person
• Age 4-12: $24-$64
• Age 0-3: Complimentary

There are no age, height or weight restrictions for enjoying the helium balloon ride.

Guests can book a ride on Up, Up and Away through Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a private destination exclusively for Royal Caribbean guests, located in The Bahamas. 

Guests on Spectrum of the Seas are the first to be able to use Royal Caribbean's new app to open their stateroom door.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Stephen O’Brien shared with us a look at how the new app allows guests to use their app to open their doors.  The app works in conjunction with a SeaPass card or WOWband.

After installing the digital key, the home screen of the Royal Caribbean app adds a door icon.

In addition, the bed icon also allows guests to control the stateroom television from the app.

Spectrum of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean International ship to offer these features.

The app is available for download from the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

Did you miss any of this week's Royal Caribbean news? No worries, because we have you covered with our wrap-up of cruise news!

Royal Caribbean began construction of its fifth Oasis Class ship this week.

The steel cutting, marking the official start of construction, took place at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Royal Caribbean News

• Two new venues opened at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• A new dining package was spotted featuring Chops Grille and a choice of another specialty restaurant.
• There are still a few days left in Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner sale.
• Spectrum of the Seas traversed the Suez Canal earlier this week.
• The next Royal Caribbean earnings call with investors has been scheduled.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 299th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring emails from many podcast listeners.

Matt dives into the email bag this week and answers questions about what to do if you have a late flight after your cruise, room upgrades, bringing drinks onboard and more.

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.blog shared info on the ultimate Elvis tribute cruise planned for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Cruise Industry News wrote about how Royal Caribbean and Celebrity focused on target markets.

Bahamas Eyewitness News reports that Royal Caribbean donated laptops to the National Training Agency.

The Points Guy compared Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Disney for families.

Conde Nast Traveler shared a trick to save up to 40 percent on cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean shared 10 things you didn't know about the Mediterranean.

Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas completed her Suez Canal crossing on her way to to Asia.

According to a statement by the Suez Canal Authority, Spectrum of the Seas crossed the canal from north to south as part of a 46-night Global Odyssey from Barcelona, Spain to Shanghai, with the next stop to be Jordan’s Aqaba port.

The reported crossing fees were $964,000.

Accommodating 4,246 guests at double occupancy and 1,551 international crew members, Spectrum will be the largest and most expensive ship in Asia when she arrives to her new home in Shanghai on June 3, 2019.

Can you believe the weekend is here?

When the calendar reaches "Friyay", we are sharing great Royal Caribbean cruise photos that have been sent in by our readers!

We begin with a photo that you will never be able to re-create again.Adventure of the Seas anchored off CocoCay by Michelle McCann.

Blake Baldwin sent in this photo of Independence of the Seas off the coast of Grand Cayman.

Kinny Lee shared this photo from Labadee.

Next up is a photo of Grandeur of the Seas by Gwendolyn Salzman.

Check out this beautiful photo of the waterslides on Adventure of the Seas by Justin Dudek.

Vicki Sheppard shared this photo of Empress of the Seas arriving in Cienfegos, Cuba for the first time.

Ruth Williams Moles wins the "I need a cruise now" award with this photo. Note her license plate.

Thank you to everyone for sharing their photos this week. If you would like to share your best Royal Caribbean cruise photos, use this form and them on in! Have a great weekend!

Royal Caribbean is offering bonus instant savings on new cruise bookings made this weeked.

The Dive & Discover Deals offer is valid on Royal Caribbean cruises booked between April 25 – 28, 2019 on select sailings departing on or after May 25, 2019.

The offer includes:

• 50% off cruise fare of second guest booked in the same stateroom as first, full-fare paying guest
• 25% cruise fare savings for third guests and higher booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests
• Up to $150 instant savings per stateroom determined by category booked and sailing length:
  • Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $50 for Balconies and $75 for Suites
  • Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites
• Kids Sail Free 
  • Provides free cruise fare for 3rd guests and higher who are 12 years old or younger on select 4-night or longer Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, CaribNE, Coastal, Cuba, Europe and Hawaii sailings departing between May 1, 2019 – May 15, 2020.
  • Offer excludes Summer sailings (Sailings between May 15 – August 31, 2019), 2019 Thanksgiving sailings (Sailings between November 23 – 30, 2019), Holiday sailings (Sailings between December 15, 2019 – January 3, 2020), President’s Day sailings (Sailings between February 14 – 17, 2020), Spring Break sailings (Sailings between March 14 – 23, 2020) and Holy Week/Easter sailings (Sailings between April 3 – 17, 2020).

BOGO and Kids Sail Free are combinable with each other as well as with Dive & Discover Deals Sale, 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. Dive & Discover Deals Sale is combinable with promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers and Free Upgrades but not combinable with Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. 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, 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 began construction of its fifth Oasis Class cruise ship today with a steel cutting ceremony.  

Pictured from left to right: Jean-Yves Jaouen, SVP, Operations, Chantiers de l’Atlantique; Florence Mauduit, Oasis Contract Director, Chantiers de l’Atlantique; Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique; Beatrice Siri, Associate Vice-President, Architectural Design and Outfitting, Royal Caribbean; Joseph Pineau, Directo,r Newbuid, Royal Caribbean

Photo Rights : Bernard Biger/Chantiers de l’Atlantique

The steel cutting, marking the official start of construction, took place at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Royal Caribbean says the fifth Oasis Class ship will "combine the iconic seven-neighborhood concept that her sister ships feature with a bold and unexpected lineup of thrilling experiences, imaginative dining, unparalleled entertainment and the latest technology."

The unnamed Oasis-class ship is scheduled to be delivered to Royal Caribbean in 2021. She will be delivered following Odyssey of the Seas, which will debut in 2020.

Royal Caribbean has added a new specialty dining option where you can reserve a dinner at Chops Grille specifically, plus an additional dinner at a different specialty restaurant.

Dubbed the Chops + 1 Dining Package, it is available on select cruises to be booked via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. One dinner must be redeemed on the  the first or second night of the sailing. The second dinner can be redeemed any other night of the sailing.

Second dinner of package may not be redeemed in Chops Grille. For venues with a la carte pricing, package includes a $35 food credit. 

Not valid for premium experiences including Chef’s Table, wine pairings dinners, Izumi Hibachi experience, Mystery Dinner Theater and Holiday Dinners. 

The cost of the package ($75 per person) includes a  40% discount on bottles of wine under $100 and 20% on bottles above $100 during your meals.

Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10.

Royal Caribbean's new weekend sale on pre-cruise purchases begins today, with select pre-cruise purchases discounted up to 30% off onboard prices.

The Sale Before You Sail promotion runs between April 23, 2019 - May 1, 2019 and is valid on select sailings May 4, 2019 – November 15, 2019.

The offer is valid on certain shore excursions, drink packages and internet packages.

Royal Caribbean states guests can expect to see:

• Beverage Packages: Up to 30% off onboard prices
  • Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings).
  • Deluxe Beverage Package. Discount Varies by Ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings).
  • Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings).
• Shore Excursions: Save up to 25% on select tours on select sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings).
• Internet: up to 60% off on select sailings
  • VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings).
  • VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4, Device(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings).
• Dining
  • 3 Night Dining Package. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes MA, MJ, NV, OA Interporting + Master Sailings and Charter Sailings).
  • Unlimited Dining Package on 3 Night,4 Night and 5 Night. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AD, AL, EX, FR, HM, LB, MJ, OA, OV, QN, RH, SY + Charter Sailings).
• ACTIVITIES: Up to 10% off on select sailings
  • All Access Ship Tour. 10% off. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings).

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers. 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.

Royal Caribbean will hold a conference call on May 1, 2019 at 10am to discuss its first quarter 2019 financial results.

The call will be available on-line at the company's investor relations website, www.rclinvestor.com.  To listen to the call by phone, please dial (877) 663-9606 in the US and Canada.  International phone calls should be made to (706) 758-4628. There is no passcode or meeting number. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same site for a month following the call.