Royal Caribbean Blog

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?

Royal Caribbean offers special rates for police, firefighter and military members on select sailings. 

These special rates are meant to recognize and reward those that serve their county and community.

Police and Firefighters

Special rates for fire and police require there must be at least one guest in the stateroom that is an active or retired, volunteer or employee of a local, state or federal law enforcement agency or fire department in the United States.

When boarding the ship on the first day of your cruise, you will be required to present valid proof of employment (badge or ID) plus a second form of identification when boarding the ship.

Spouses, parents, in-laws, children or other family members or friends are not eligible for the rate without the eligible person occupying the stateroom. 

Military Rates

To qualify for a Military rate, at least one guest in the stateroom must be classified as one of the following,

1. Active personnel currently serving in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves or Canadian National Defense.
2. Retired from any of the divisions listed directly above.
3. Veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of 2 years, or 6-months in an active war zone, in any of the United States service divisions listed above.

At least one guest per stateroom must be eligible to be considered in compliance with these rates.

Spouses of actively deployed military personnel are eligible to book one stateroom as long as the eligible spouse is occupying the stateroom. This rate also applies to all other guests traveling in the same stateroom.

Spouses of deceased military personnel are also eligible for the military rate. As proof of eligibility, spouses must present the Pink or Tan Dependent Military ID upon check-in.

if you are unable to provide proof upon check-in at the pier, it will result in the reservation being re-priced to the lowest available fare for that particular day and the guest will be responsible to pay for any differences immediately or risking denial of boarding.

How to get the special rate

To check for special rates, inform your travel agent or Royal Caribbean representative at the time of booking that you qualify for a veteran rate. 

These special rates will vary from sailing to sailing, and there are potentially more lucrative discounts available depending on the ship and sail date you choose.  

Royal Caribbean announced one if its founders passed away over the weekend. Edwin Stephan died November 8. He was 87.

In 1969 Stephan founded the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and his contributions helped create the modern cruise industry we know today. Under his leadership in 1970, the company launched Song of Norway, the first ship purpose-built for warm-water cruising. Since that initial voyage, Stephan’s fledgling company has grown into the world’s second largest cruise line, a multi-billion-dollar global company of six brands, operating 63 ships across seven continents.  

Stephan retired in 2003, when he was vice chairman of the board of directors.

Royal Caribbean announced to celebrate his memory, flags will be flown at half-mast on the cruise line's ships this week.

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.

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean announced its 2021 Alaska, Hawaii and Transpacific sailings.

Ovation, Radiance and Serenade of the Seas will return to the Pacific Northwest in 2021 to offer varying 7-night itineraries sailing from Seattle, Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean released a free food & beverage retrospective ebook.
• You will soon be able to open your stateroom door with your phone on Oasis of the Seas.
• Royal Caribbean's custom-branded beer made its debut at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• We released a new video that looks at the things I must do on every Royal Caribbean cruise.
• 17 Royal Caribbean tips that repeat cruisers always use.
• Drone footage of Oasis of the Seas in drydock.
• Slides have been added to Oasis of the Seas.
• Our list of the five most exciting Royal Caribbean cruises in 2020.
• When looking to book a suite, here is the answer to "what is Star Class?"
• Our guide to how to get excited for your Royal Caribbean cruise in the months leading up to it.
• Royal Caribbean announced its 2020 President's Cruise sailing.
• In case you are wondering, here is how to upgrade your cabin on Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 327th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available to enjoy, where Matt is joined by Royal Caribbean's Global Vice President Culinary, Dining & Beverage to take a look back at how dining on Royal Caribbean has changed.

Linken D'Souza shared an inside look at how Royal Caribbean's world-reknown innovations extend to the culinary experience as well.

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.

New RCB Video: Things that cost extra on Royal Caribbean that are totally worth it!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Things that cost extra on Royal Caribbean that are totally worth it! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Family Traveller shared what it is like to cruise with a toddler.

CruiseLine.com compared Perfect Day at CocoCay to Castaway Cay.

CNBC interviewed Richard Fain about the growing global presence of the cruise line.

Guests with upcoming sailings on the amplified Oasis of the Seas are seeing a new option to use Royal Caribbean's app to open their stateroom door.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers Ashley Chandonia and Victoria Wittle shared screenshots of their app offering the new option.

The app works in conjunction with a SeaPass card.

Spectrum of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean ship to offer a digital key and control the stateroom television from the app.

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