Royal Caribbean Blog

Have a future cruise credit from a cancelled cruise? Royal Caribbean will give you extra onboard credit if you book a cruise this month.

At any given time Royal Caribbean has a myriad of promotions running, but I was surprised to see an offer for redeeming future cruise credits.

While Royal Caribbean has been cruising since June 2021 in North America, there are still quite a few unredeemed future cruise credits out there.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Rich Triplett alerted us to this offer.

The "Future Cruise Credit Kicker" runs the entire month of February, and will give you $100 onboard credit per stateroom if you book a cruise departing between March 1 – December 31, 2022.

This offer is combinable with all rates and promotions, meaning there are no blackout rules with it.

Onboard credits will be added to up to two weeks after the FCC has been redeemed on all valid bookings determined by booking creation, FCC redemption and sailing dates. 

More offers in February

In addition to the onboard credit offer, there are a few other promotions Royal Caribbean has running during February.

30% savings off cruise fare for all guests in the stateroom

30% Off Every Guest offer must be booked between February 1 – 28, 2022 (“Offer Period”). 30% Off Every Guest offer applies to select sailings departing on or after March 1, 2022. 

WOW Sale

WOW Sale applies to new bookings made between February 9 – 14, 2022. WOW Sale offers up to $400 USD to spend at sea (“Onboard Credit” or “OBC”) per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after March 9, 2022.

OBC amounts are per stateroom and determined by category booked and sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $50 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $75 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $400 for Suites

2022 Kicker

2022 Kicker applies to new bookings made between February 1 – 28, 2022. 2022 Kicker provides instant savings of up to $150 USD per stateroom on select sailings departing between March 1 – December 31, 2022.

Savings amount 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

Crown and Anchor Bonus

Applies to new bookings made between February 1 – 28, 2022 to Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members.

CAS Bonus provides up to $50 USD to spend at sea (“Onboard Credit or “OBC”) per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after March 1, 2022.

OBC amount is determined by sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 to spend at sea
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 to spend at sea.

OBCs are not redeemable for cash and are non-transferable. When reserving, a valid Crown & Anchor Society membership number must be included in the reservation.

Our live blog is back with a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas for a 4-night sailing from Tampa, Florida.

Brilliance of the Seas restarted cruises from Tampa in December 2021, and I've been eager to get back onboard a Radiance Class ship. I really enjoy the layout of these smaller ships. I'm often asked which is my favorite small ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and Brilliance is always my answer.

This is a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise with just one port stop in Costa Maya.

Since the cruise departs from Tampa, I'm able to drive to the port in just about an hour travel time from my home in the Orlando area.

Of course, I took my pre-cruise Covid test two days ago and it came back negative.  I used the at-home test that Royal Caribbean accepts, and it couldn't be easier. No waiting, and the entire process took 20 minutes from start to finish, and I never had to leave my desk.

Since I booked this cruise only a few weeks ago, check-in times were limited by the time I went to get one.  At first I had a 1:30pm check-in time, but I managed to subsequently get a 1:00pm check-in time.

Read more: 7 things worth checking again on a Royal Caribbean cruise

The drive to Tampa was uneventful and I parked via the valet parking option. $80 total, and I get to drive right up to the terminal and hand my keys to the attendant and be on my way.

As expected, they were enforcing the check-in times and I entered a line for the 1:00 check-in time.  Luckily, it moved very quickly and I completed the entire check-in procedure in under 30 minutes.  In fact, I spent more time waiting to get through the line outside than the actual check-in procedure.

I boarded Brilliance of the Seas and headed right away to the Windjammer for lunch.  I hadn't eaten lunch yet, so I figured for the benefit of the entire ship it was a good idea to eat before I got hangry.

I love the outdoor seating in the Windjammer on Brilliance of the Seas at the back of the ship.

The staterooms opened up right around 1:30pm, so I went down to my room to drop off my stuff.

For this cruise I'm booked in a Category 2M - Spacious Ocean View Stateroom.

I haven't stayed in an ocean view cabin since Majesty of the Seas in 2017, and I was pleasantly surprised how much living space there is inside.

The distance between the couch and the bed is substantial. The room is anything but cramped.

After catching up on some blog posts, I realized I hadn't finished the muster drill, so I went to complete that.

I had done the first two steps (watch the safety video and listen to the emergency siren) while I was still at home, so all I needed to do was go to my muster station to check-in.  

I then walked around Brilliance of the Seas a bit to explore a bit. Being back on a Radiance Class ship, it was an adjustment after so many significantly larger cruise ships, but it felt like being home and the ship looks great.

Sail away was at 5pm, and I headed to one of my favorite Brilliance of the Seas secrets: the helipad.

We had a beautiful day to sail out of Tampa, with temperatures in the low 70s, no clouds, and a very light breeze.

We even saw a few dolphins as we departed.

When your ship departs Tampa, it takes a few hours to exit the harbor, as you travel towards the ocean and finally make it to the ocean when you pass under the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

In the time before we made it to the bridge, I decided to stop at Izumi for "pre-dinner" and get some sashimi to hold me over until dinner.

I was able to walk in without a reservation when they opened and get a table.

After I finished my sushi, I enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the pool deck.

Roughly two hours after we set sail, our ship passed under the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

Dinner brought me and some friends onboard to Giovanni's Table.

Food was great, and the pasta of the day had a spicy flavor to the sauce.

We concluded our evening with music in the King & Country pub.

Tomorrow is a sea day.

Stray observations

The water bottles on Brilliance have these aluminum water bottles with a screw top. 

The stricter face mask protocols are still in place on Brilliance of the Seas. One policy I noticed that I had never seen before was you had to mask up when ordering at the bar outdoors.

I had heard from other guests they were expecting around 1300 passengers on this sailing, but I'll need to go to Guest Services and verify the number.

If you're interested in sailing on part of Royal Caribbean's first world cruise, today is your first chance to book it.

Royal Caribbean is opened up the ability to book part of the epic 274 world cruise, beginning today for Crown and Anchor Society guests and friends and family of our ultimate world cruise guests.

Beginning February 20, these segments will open up for sale to everyone else.

The world cruise will take place on Serenade of the Seas and visit 11 world wonders across more than 60 countries.

Prior to starting the world cruise, Serenade of the Seas will undergo a revitalization in 2022 that include cosmetic updates.

The world cruise has been divided up into 4 segments that you choose from:

• Round the Horn: Americas & Antarctica Expedition: December 10, 2023 – February 11, 2024, 64 Nights, 36 destinations
• Wonders of Asia & the Pacific Expedition: February 11, 2024 – May 9, 2024, 87 Nights, 40 destinations
• Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Med Expedition: May 9, 2024 – July 10,2024, 63 Nights, 44 destinations
• Capitals of Culture Expedition: July 10, 2024 – September 10, 2024, 63 Nights, 40 destinations

All guests participating in the Ultimate World Cruise, or one of the segments, will receive the an unlimited drink package for each guest, wash and fold laundry service for up to three bags per state room per week, Gratuities and Voom surf and stream for two devices per stateroom.

Exclusively for Crown and Anchor members platinum and above, guests on the Ultimate World Cruise will also receive business class airfare from the guests home, a two-night pre-cruise hotel and gala dinner party at the Intercontinental Miami, premium transportation and seven new world wonders shore excursion.

Royal Caribbean Senior Manager of Onboard Cruise Sales Abundance Boekestein said demand for the world cruise has been incredible, " Our Ultimate World Cruise opened in October and has such a positive response from our guests that we've been holding on to our expeditions to give our ultimate world cruise guests the extra time they were looking for to secure their spots."

World Cruise segment prices

Round the Horn: Americas & Antarctica Expedition

Wonders of Asia & the Pacific Expedition

Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Med Expedition

Capitals of Culture Expedition

Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional and are subject to change at any time. All starting prices listed are per person, in USD, cruise only, based on double occupancy and are subject to change at any time.

Which world wonders will each segment visit?

Round the Horn: Americas & Antarctica Expedition: December 10, 2023 – February 11, 2024

Chichen Itza: via Cozumel Dec 13, 2023
Christ the Redeemer: via Rio de Janeiro Dec 31, 2023
Iguazu Falls: via Buenos Aires Jan 5, 2024
Machu Picchu: via Lima Jan 29-30, 2024

Wonders of Asia & the Pacific Expedition: February 11, 2024 – May 9, 2024

Great Barrier Reef: via Airlie Beach and Cairns March 13-14, 2024
Great Wall of China: via Beijing April 7-8, 2024
Taj Mahal: via Cochin May 1, 2024

Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Med Expedition: May 9, 2024 – July 10, 2024

Petra: via Aqaba May 17, 2024
Pyramids of Giza: via Alexandria May 21-22, 2024
Temple of Artemis: via Ephesus May 28, 2024
Colosseum: via Rome July 1, 2024 

Capitals of Culture Expedition: July 10, 2024 – September 10, 2024

There are no World Wonders visited during this expedition.

Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships are known for packing in lots of fun activities onboard a proven ship design.

Once the largest cruise ships in the world, these Royal Caribbean ships can accommodate slightly less than 4,000 passengers at double occupancy. All those passengers can look forward to plenty of specialty restaurant choices, and even Broadway shows on two of the ships, such as "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease."

While Freedom-class ships are no longer in the top 10 of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships, they remain a great combination of value and things to do. In fact, Royal Caribbean upgraded Freedom and Independence of the Seas as part of its Royal Amplified program.  All Freedom Class ships have received updates over the last few years to add new features and amenities onboard.

Between all of the Royal Caribbean ship classes, here's everything you need to know to help you decide whether the Freedom Class is right for you.

What are the Freedom Class ships?

There are three Freedom Class ships:

• Freedom of the Seas is the first ship of the class and sails from Miami, Florida
• Liberty of the Seas is the second ship of the class and sails from Galveston, Texas
• Independence of the Seas is the third ship of the class and sails from Port Canaveral, Florida

Their gross tonnage ranges between 154 - 156,000 GRT.

What is there to do on Freedom Class ships?

Freedom Class ships are known for all the fun activities on the pool deck, including cantilevered hot tubs, a FlowRider surf simulator, water slides, and a vibrant pool deck.

Freedom of the Seas' $116 million of upgrades in early 2020 added a resort-style Caribbean pool deck, along with its set of water slides.

Independence of the Seas also features new water slides, as well as the Sky Pad virtual reality bungee trampoline experience.

While Liberty of the Seas did not get her dry dock upgrades as originally scheduled in 2020, she did receive pool deck enhancements in 2016 that added a collection of waterslides including the first ever boomerang style slide at sea, Tidal Wave. New as well is Splashaway Bay, an aqua park featuring an interactive kid’s play area with water cannons, geysers and much more. 

There's no shortage of great dining options on the Freedom Class ships. Each has Chops Grille, Johnny Rockets, and Giovanni's Table specialty restaurants.  Freedom of the Seas features an updated version of the Italian restaurant and new menu, known as Giovanni's Italian Table. Independence of the Seas has an expansive Playmakers Sports Bar area to watch the game from, as well as a very large Izumi Hibachi room. Liberty of the Seas is the only ship in the class to have a Mexican cuisine restaurant at Sabor.

If you like shows, Liberty of the Seas features the Broadway show "Saturday Night Fever", and Independence of the Seas has "Grease." All three ships have production shows and featured entertainment as well throughout the cruise.

Each of the ships has an ice skating show in Studio B, along with the opportunity for passengers to skate during designated free skate sessions.

Each of the Freedom Class ships has a nursery for children between 6 - 36 months old, which has an additional fee. 

Freedom Class highlights

• Aqua park
• Rock-Climbing Wall
• Ice-Skating Rink
• Basketball court
• Royal Promenade
• British-Style Pub
• Designer Shopping
• Adults-only Solarium pool area
• Outdoor Movie Screen
• Panoramic staterooms
• Flow Rider Surf Simulator
• Water slides

Differences between the Freedom Class ships

When the Freedom Class ships first debuted, they were virtually indistinguishable from each other, but upgrades and enhancements have added features and amenities available on individual ships.

Freedom of the Seas was the most recent Freedom Class ship to be upgraded, and she is the only one of the three to offer these options:

• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
• Upgraded Adventure Ocean and teens club area
• Resort-style pool deck

Independence of the Seas was upgraded in 2018 and offers these exclusives over her sister ships:

• Sky Pad
• Grease, the Broadway musical
• Puzzle Break escape room 
• Fish & Ships, a poolside eatery where guests can grab quintessentially British seaside treats.
• Sugar Beach candy shop, a wondrous world of delicious delights, along with a few exciting surprises.

Liberty of the Seas may not have gotten a Royal Amplification, but she still has her own unique features among the class:

• Sabor Mexican restaurant
• Tidal Wave boomerang style slide

Who should sail on a Freedom Class ship?

The Freedom Class ships were designed for families that want a lot of things to do onboard.  These days, another compelling reason to pick a Freedom Class ship is the value they offer.

Since Freedom Class ships are no longer the newest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, the cruise line tends to price them a bit lower than newer and larger ships. Think of it like buying a leftover new car: you get a better price because it's not as new.

Both the Freedom and Voyager Class ships are very close in size, look, and amenities, but the Freedom Class's extra size gives it more room for more fun with plenty of activities.

Forget the age of these ships, there's lots to do for every age, from the sports court, to the ice rink, to the rock wall. These ships feature plenty of live music, a mini-golf course, surf simulators, and more.

These are big ships, and are great for a special occasion, group of friends, or first time cruiser. 

The one area you might prefer to move up to an Oasis Class ship, like Symphony of the Seas, is for the suites. The Freedom-Class cruise ship does not include the Royal Suite Class amenities that offer more included with the suite experience.

Another reason to skip the Freedom Class would be if you prefer smaller size cruise ships.  The Radiance Class or Vision Class ships would be a better choice in that situation.

Freedom Class tips and secrets

The helipad is open any of the Freedom-class vessels, which means you can walk all the forward on the outside deck of deck 4 and access the helipad for great views during sailaway.

Book reservations for all the shows once you get onboard the ship. Reservations for Grease and Saturday Night Fever are available via the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you connect to the ship's wifi. You can also book other show reservations too.

If you have younger children, be sure to sign them up for Adventure Ocean youth program on the first day during the open house in the afternoon.

Don't miss the Viking Crown Lounge for the views.  Located on Deck 14 via the aft elevators, the lounge is a great place to enjoy sweeping views of the ship.

The 2022 Alaska cruise season is quickly approaching, but will Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska sail this year?

Four Royal Caribbean ships are sailing to Alaska in 2022: Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas. Both Quantum and Ovation will sail from Seattle, whereas Radiance and Serenade will sail from Vancouver.

As of right now, there is no reason to believe cruises to Alaska will not happen in 2022. Both Serenade of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas made successful cruises to Alaska from July to October of 2021.

Since then, several government restrictions have been dropped and the cruise industry has had more time to prove its protocols and safety restrictions work. Therefore, Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruise season is set to begin when Radiance of the Seas sets sail on April 29, 2022.

Canada’s current stance on cruise ships

Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships are foreign-flagged. Under the Passenger Vessel Services Act, foreign-flagged ships departing from the United States must stop in a foreign port at some point during the cruise. Because of this, Canada’s acceptance of cruise ships is a vital piece of whether or not Alaska cruises can happen.

Canada banned cruise ships with more than 100 passengers at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. This ban was extended several times, leading many to believe the 2021 Alaska cruise season would be canceled.

The state of Alaska was eager to get tourism back in 2021, though, and passed The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act. This was a temporary waiver that would allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to sail to Alaska without having to stop in a foreign port. Therefore, Royal Caribbean was able to cruise to Alaska during the 2021 season.

The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act states the following:

Authority to conduct these voyages shall terminate on March 31, 2022, or when Canada lifts its Covid-related restrictions, whichever occurs first. Voyages may not occur during any period for which the CDC has issued an order to suspend cruise ship operations.

In July 2021, the Canadian government announced that the ban on cruise ships would be coming to an end on November 1, 2021.

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra stated that “As the outlook of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to improve, Canada looks forward to having a cruising season in 2022. The cruise ship industry, which represents more than $4 billion annual input into the Canadian economy and directly and indirectly generates approximately 30,000 jobs, is an important part of Canada’s domestic tourism sector.”

And while the Canadian government still advises Canadians to avoid cruise ship travel, their website also states the following:

Effective November 1, 2021, cruise ships are permitted in Canadian waters. Canada is working with the cruise ship industry, and other domestic and international partners, to support safe cruise ship travel in spring 2022.

Will new Covid variants affect the Alaska cruise season?

While everything is relatively uncertain when speaking about the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no strong reason to believe that a new variant, such as omicron, will affect the 2022 Alaska cruise season.

Omicron cases seem to be subsiding since their peak in mid-January. By May, when most Royal Caribbean ships will begin sailing to Alaska, omicron may not be as big of an issue as it was for cruise ships in January of 2022.

In addition, cruise ships have been successfully sailing throughout the world even during the peak of the omicron and delta variants. While new restrictions and protocols were put in place by Royal Caribbean, very few sailings were canceled.

Lastly, the Canadian government has not introduced any new restrictions for cruise ships since lifting the ban in November of 2021, even with the influx of Covid cases that appeared this winter.

Read more tips and information about cruises to Alaska:

• The weirdest Alaska cruise questions
• Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska 2022
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise
• What it's like to go on an Alaskan cruise at the end of the season
• Cruising to Alaska: What I Did Right and Wrong

The cruise industry is lashing out at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their latest guidance against cruise ship travel.

On February 9, the CDC updated the notice to clarify the modifications of CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters.

Despite Covid numbers falling precipitously on ships (and on land), the agency continued to urge the public against cruise ship travel for the fully vaccinated because in their view, the chances of getting COVID on a cruise ship is "very high".

In a statement by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry rejected this notion and called out the CDC for being "unnecessarily discriminatory against
cruise to maintain that the chances of getting COVID-19 on a cruise “is very high” even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines."

Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have adopted highly effective protocols for passengers and crew members on its ships that that test all persons boarding, have medical, isolation and quarantine facilities on site, implement extensive response plans using only private shoreside resources, and have created an environment where almost every single person is fully vaccinated.

According to CLIA, the result has been has been a dramatic drop in the number of COVID-positive cases, with hospitalizations being extraordinarily rare – in fact 80 times
lower than on land in the U.S. 

This data was backed up by Royal Caribbean Group's CEO Jason Liberty when he said over the last several weeks, cases onboard have been "declining rapidly."

Despite these facts, the CDC continues to maintain even if you are fully vaccinated, the chances of getting COVID on a cruise ship is very high.

"Regrettably, upon initial review, the latest CDC guidance appears out of step with the actual public health conditions on cruise ships and unnecessary in light of societal trends away from more restrictive measures.

"We are confounded by the CDC’s imposition of even more complex and unwarranted measures which ignore empirical evidence that the industry’s protocols have provided a greater level of COVID mitigation than most any other setting.

CLIA says misleading statements by the CDC on the state of Covid on a cruise ship creates confusion for consumers, and creates potential problems within the different sectors of travel the cruise industry operates.

In short, CLIA feels the CDC is targeting the cruise lines in its recommendations, "It seems unnecessarily discriminatory against cruise to maintain that the chances of getting COVID-19 on a cruise “is very high” even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines."

CLIA even went as far as to say the CDC's actions against cruise ships are counterproductive to promoting the importance of Covid-19 vaccines to the general public, "This discounts the importance of what the CDC has otherwise promoted as the single most important touchstone for public health and safety."

"The vaccination rate on cruise ships is close to 100%, whereas on land it is only about 63%."

You can read the full CLIA statement here:

Why does the CDC not warn against other travel and entertainment?

Often the CDC has been accused of holding the cruise lines to a double standard when compared to other forms of shoreside travel and entertainment settings (such as restaurants, bars, and theme parks).

On the CDC's website, it now explains that cruise ships are "congregate residential settings" with high risk of COVID-19 transmission among travelers (passengers and crew).

In case you're wondering, this means the CDC thinks examples of "congregate residential settings" are prisons, nursing homes, schools, and shelters.

Source: CDC

"Cruise ships have thousands of travelers living for multiple days (or months for crew) on the same ship—eating, sleeping, and participating in activities together in one location. These factors are not typically found in other shoreside travel and entertainment settings (such as restaurants, bars, theme parks). Data from the pandemic suggest COVID-19 spreads quickly in group settings, including on cruise ships. Hence, CDC developed COVID-19 THN criteria specific to cruise ships to inform the public regarding COVID-19 conditions on cruise ships."

It then went on to pass the buck of saying those other shoreside travel and entertainment settings in the United States are regulated by public health agencies on a state and local level.

With Omicron cases on cruise ships plummeting, Royal Caribbean will not extend its stricter face mask rules and will allow them to end.

In mid-December Royal Caribbean tightened its face mask protocols due to the increase of Covid-19 cases around the world due to the Omicron variant.

Specifically, face masks were required to be worn indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking. This included vaccinated-only zones.

Beginning February 15, 2022, the stricter mask rules will go away and that means guests will not have to wear face masks at venues designated for vaccinated guests only, such as select bars, lounges, restaurants, shows and Casino Royale. 

During a webinar with travel agents, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, told travel agents the policy was changed yesterday, and beginning February 15, 2022 the stricter mask rules will go away.

"One thing that changed yesterday is we have now announced that in our casinos you will not be required to wear masks and you can smoke again in the smoking areas of the casino," Ms. Freed told travel agents.

Royal Caribbean International Assistant Vice President of Guest Experience, Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, told travel agents protocols will go back to the way they were before the stricter mask rules were added due to Omicron, "After February the 15th, we'll now allow smoking in the casino again. That is actually aligned, with us going back to protocol the way they were before, where you don't have to wear a mask in vaccinated areas."

"We'll go back to the way it was before on Omicron."

"As of right now, we did not push that additional mask restriction and casino smoking out to guests beyond the 15th. So hopefully we're in a good spot."

Masks are NOT required to be worn:

• In open-air areas of the ship, unless you are in a crowded setting.
• In the pool or any activity where they may become wet.
• At venues designated for vaccinated guests only, such as select bars, lounges, restaurants, shows and Casino Royale. NOTE: For cruises departing through February 14, 2022, masks must be worn in vaccinated-only venues
• In your stateroom when you are with your traveling party.
• While visiting our private destinations, unless you are in a crowded setting.
• By any guest under the age of 2.

Masks ARE required to be worn:

• While indoors in public areas of the ship, unless seated and actively eating or drinking.
• While visiting public ports of call, where local regulations may require them.

Falling Covid cases on ships

The change in protocols coincides with Covid cases onboard falling back to pre-Omicron levels.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty told investors last week that ship cases are significantly lower than the last two months, "In the last several weeks, cases on board our ships have been declining rapidly and we now have returned to exceptionally low pre-Omicron levels."

Over the last seven days, Royal Caribbean Group has averaged only "a handful of positive guest cases per cruise."

Other cruise lines relaxing protocols

Royal Caribbean's announcement comes a day after Norwegian Cruise Line said it would end its Omicron protocols as well.

NCL said beginning March 1, masks will no longer be required while indoors. Instead, they will be recommended.

Another change is NCL will now allow children under 5 years old to sail if they are unvaccinated, beginning on March 5.

In addition, NCL will require its passengers to test once at home before the cruise begins in an effort to speed up the check-in process.

You might be able to save extra money on booking a new cruise or a pre-cruise add-on, such as a drink package, excursion or wifi.

Royal Caribbean's WOW Sale begins today, which offers new discounts on cruise fares and items purchased via the Cruise Planner website.

Whether or not either of these sales saves you money will depend on the ship and sailing you pick, but here's what you should know about the promotion.

WOW Sale

WOW Sale applies to new bookings made between February 9 – 14, 2022.

It offers up to $400 USD Onboard Credit per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after March 9, 2022. 

OBC amounts are per stateroom and determined by category booked and sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $50 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $75 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $400 for Suites

Onboard credit does not apply to China departures.

Combinability: 30% Off Every Guest, 2022 Kicker, CAS Bonus and FCC Kicker are combinable with each other as well as promotional OBCs, Next Cruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. WOW Sale is combinable with 30% Off Every Guest, 2022 Kicker, CAS Bonus and FCC Kicker as well as with promotional OBCs, Next Cruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Shareholder Benefits, but not combinable with Ultimate World Cruise and Crown and Anchor discounts. Resident rates apply to select states on select sailings; valid state of residence must be provided at time of booking. 30% Off Every Guest, 2022 Kicker and CAS Bonus is not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Ultimate World Cruise, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates. FCC Kicker is combinable with all rates and promotions. 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. 

Cruise Planner WOW Sale

The new sale offers up to 35% off pre-cruise purchases made between February 9 – 16, 2022 on sailings departing between February 13, 2022 – December 31, 2022.

Here is what is included during the sale:

Beverage: Up to 40% off

• Classic Soda Beverage Package: 30% off onboard prices.
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 35% off onboard prices.
• Spring Water Cans: 40% off onboard prices.
• San Benedetto Water Cans: 40% off onboard prices.
• Evian Water Bottles: 40% off onboard prices.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 30% off onboard prices.
• Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices.

Shore Excursions: Up to 30% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship.

Internet: Up to 50% Off

• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.
• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.

Dining: Up to 55% Off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 9N sailings: Discount varies by ship.

Gifts & Gear: Up to 20% Off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Chocolate Cake & Strawberries
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake & Strawberries
• Inky Beach Set
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe)
• Inky Travel Set
• Red Wine and Cheese
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel
• Strawberries with Champagne
• White Wine and Cheese

Photo Packages: Up to 70% Off

• Photo Packages: From 5 – 100 Print and/or Digital Options: Discount varies by ship..
• Photo Package: Private Photo Session: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: Picture This Private Studio: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: All Digital: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% Off

• Spa Packages: Discount varies by ship.

Can I save money with this sale?

Each Royal Caribbean sale adds the potential to save money on the cost of these purchases, but the price does not change for every single sailing and item available to purchase.

Some prices may change, but there is not a flat discount applied across all sailings.  Some people will notice better prices, while others may not see any change.

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.

More helpful information

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship is home to many impressive suites, but which one is the most expensive?

While there are spacious multi-room suites and even Aquatheater suites offering stellar views of the ship’s aft, the most expensive suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the Ultimate Family Townhouse. 

Designed to be a hub of activity and fun for families, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is a redesigned version of the Ultimate Family Suite that first premiered on Symphony of the Seas in 2018. 

As of 2024, the Ultimate Family Townhouse can only be found onboard Icon of the Seas; however, it'll be available on Star of the Seas when the second Icon Class ship launches in August 2025. While little is known about the third Icon Class ship, it can be assumed it will be present when it debuts in 2026, too. 

The one-of-a-kind suite offers a kid-centric design, colorful decor, and unique features not found in any other stateroom or suite onboard. 

To see what makes the Ultimate Family Townhouse the most expensive in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, let’s take a closer look at what's offered. 

Icon of the Seas' Ultimate Family Townhouse

Icon of the Seas stole the title of the world's largest cruise ship from Wonder of the Seas. This is the first time that an Oasis Class ship hasn't held that title since Oasis of the Seas launched in 2009.

Onboard this mega-ship, you'll find many cruise line firsts, including the record-breaking Category 6 water park, walk-up Izumi window in Central Park, a swim-up bar, and more. 

One of the most impressive additions, however, is the Ultimate Family Townhouse. At 1,772 square feet, not only is it one of the largest suites in the fleet, but it's also the most expensive. 

This massive suite can accommodate up to eight guests and has everything that a kid could ever need or want! 

From an in-suite slide to colorful decor, movie-viewing room, and "backyard" with access to the family-centered Surfside Neighborhood, this suite is sure to be a hit for those willing to splurge.  

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is three stories that span Decks 7, 8, and 9. The entrance is located on Deck 8. 

In the dining area, there's an interactive game table, while the movie room features a large television, popcorn and karaoke machines, and even a monster-themed daybed. 

Parents will enjoy the master bedroom, which has a king-sized bed, private balcony, large flat-screen TV, and ensuite bathroom outfitted with a twin vanity and double shower. 

Of course, no family-centered suite is complete with a bedroom designed just for children! Featuring bunk beds and a whopping four televisions, parents will have trouble making sure that their kids are getting enough sleep. It can sleep up to four thanks to the pullman and convertible sofa beds.  

The second bathroom is just as fun as the rest of the suite, with an elevated sink, mirror with LED lights, and funky shower tiles. 

There's also a dual shower tub, so there won't be any worries about bathing even the youngest of cruisers. 

Since this is a suite, everyone — both kids and adults alike — will enjoy the premium amenities, including toiletry products and luxurious bedding. 

One of the premiere features of the Ultimate Family Townhouse is the slide. Starting from upstairs and ending in the living room, it’s sure to be popular with kids staying in the suite.

Complete with a hot tub and plush outdoor seating, the balcony is another spacious area of the Ultimate Family Townhouse that offers impressive ocean views. 

This is different from the sister Ultimate Family Suite onboard Symphony and Wonder of the Seas, as neither suite offers uninterrupted ocean views since they overlook the sports area and Boardwalk Neighborhood. 

What does the Ultimate Family Townhouse cost?

Regardless of when you cruise onboard Icon of the Seas, the Ultimate Family Townhouse will always come with a hefty price tag. Despite that, it's already sold out for the entirety of 2024!

Looking into 2025, here are some prices of the Ultimate Family Townhouse for a family of four. Note that these prices are subject to change at any time. 

• 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise departing on June 28, 2025: $118,669
• 7-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise departing on October 18, 2025: $82,305

Here's a look at how much the Ultimate Family Suite will cost onboard Star of the Seas during her inaugural season:

• 7-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise departing on November 9, 2025: $81,157
• 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise departing on March 8, 2026: $75,691

Is the Ultimate Family Townhouse worth it?

Ultimately, deciding whether a suite is worth it or not depends on what you value in a vacation, your family’s specific needs, and, of course, your budget.

Some guests may opt to book a smaller suite or a balcony room and instead use the money they saved to book beverage and dining packages, spa treatments, and shore excursions.

Others may value the exclusivity of a suite and decide that the extra comfort, space, and amenities are worth the extra cost.

It’s important to note that the benefits of staying in the Ultimate Family Townhouse don’t just stop at the suite’s features and amenities, though.

Guests staying in the Ultimate Family Townhouse are part of Star Class, the highest tier of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, which comes with exclusive benefits.

Star Class guests will receive full access to Coastal Kitchen, complimentary specialty restaurants, beverage packages, gratuities, and VOOM internet, as well as expedited boarding and departure, reserved seating at entertainment venues, and Suite Lounge and Suite Sun Deck access, among others.

Perhaps the best benefit of staying in Star Class, though, is the Royal Genie. Each Star Class Suite has its own Royal Genie. A Royal Genie acts as a personalized concierge onboard who can take care of special requests, arrange and manage reservations, and plan special events and celebrations.

The exact list of services a Royal Genie can provide varies based on your specific needs. For example, the genie may bring an ice cream bar to your suite for kids, deliver Starbucks to your room at the same time each morning, bring specialty dining to your suite, etc.

Prior to your cruise, you will receive a questionnaire, so your Royal Genie can get to know you and your party better before you board the ship.

Is the Ultimate Family Townhouse more expensive than other staterooms and suites onboard? Yes, but the features, design, and concept of the suite are unlike any other cabin offered on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Staying in the Ultimate Family Townhouse is sure to be an unforgettable experience for both kids and adults alike.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced it has relaxed its Covid-19 protocols beginning in March, perhaps signaling a change for the industry.

On Tuesday, Norwegian Cruise Line updated its Sail Safe Health and Safety Program for cruises sailing March 1, 2022 and beyond. In it, it changed its mask and vaccine requirements by reducing how strict they are.

Like Royal Caribbean, NCL had tightened its protocols due to the Omicron variant. 

Here's a look at the major changes NCL announced.

Face masks

Norwegian announced for cruises sailing on or after March 1st will be no longer required to wear face masks onboard.

NCL continues to recommend face mask use, but will not require it indoors.

Sailings through February 28 still require all guests to wear masks onboard while indoors, except when actively eating or drinking. This matches Royal Caribbean's current stricter protocols.

It's important to note that NCL did not require masks while indoors before Omicron because they required all of their passengers to be fully vaccinated. The CDC had a policy if 95% or more guests are vaccinated, there were different mask rules for those ships.

Covid-19 vaccines

Another change is NCL will now allow children under 5 years old to sail if they are unvaccinated, beginning on March 5.

Prior to this change, all passengers had to be fully vaccinated, including children ineligible to be vaccinated.

On NCL's site, it said the change is part of the evolution of the protocols, "As we continue to heed guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prioritize maintaining health and safety, our Sail Safe Program, which requires all guests, ages five and over, to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before departure and show proof of vaccination at the terminal in order to board the vessel, has evolved to allow children under five to sail while unvaccinated."

Testing

In addition, NCL will require its passengers to test once at home before the cruise begins in an effort to speed up the check-in process.

Previously, NCL required passengers to be tested at home and then again at the terminal.

Tests taken at home need to be completed within two days of embarkation when sailing from U.S. ports and three days when outside the U.S.

Will Royal Caribbean do the same?

Is NCL's change a harbinger of what's to come for Royal Caribbean?

Maybe.

Royal Caribbean still has its stricter Omicron protocols in place through at least February 14.  If those protocols were to lapse, then Royal Caribbean's protocols would fall back to their pre-Omicron protocols that mirror NCL's new policy.

There's good reason to believe protocols are more likely to become less restrictive given the lower rate of Covid-19 cases in society, and on cruise ships.

Last week, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said cases on cruise ships were substantially down from last month, "in the last several weeks, cases on board our ships have been declining rapidly and we now have returned to exceptionally low pre-Omicron levels."

"In fact, over the last seven days, we have averaged only a handful of positive guest cases per cruise."

"With the declining cases, operational challenges are also abating. So, while the variant is not done, it appears that the worst is behind us."

Later in the call, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said the cruise line would re-evaluate its protocols, "I think what we'll see is as we get into that environment, we'll start, again, working with the CDC. We'll start removing many of the protocols that exist today, and it will become easier and simpler for our customers."