Royal Caribbean Blog

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

Episode 317 is available for downloading, in which Matt is opening up the mail bag this week to answer more of your Royal Caribbean questions.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 317. 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 informed guests that it will temporarily close its private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, until September 4, 2019.

Due to the forecasted path of Tropical Storm Dorian, the cruise line informed guests via email that it has decided to shutdown CocoCay until Wednesday, September 4th.

Any shore excursions pre-purchased for CocoCay will be refunded to onboard credit. If a guest onboard spend does not reach this amount, the remaining balance will be refunded to the credit card on file.

Royal Caribbean also promised an itinerary update for ships by August 28th at 3:00pm EST.

Our community of readers share news and changes with us all the time, we have a new lot of reader finds to share this week.

Enchantment of the Seas propulsion issue

Some guests with an upcoming Enchantment of the Seas cruise planned received an email from Royal Caribbean informing them, "to maintain a safe and comfortable journey, we must lower our maximum speed due to a technical limitation with one of the ship's propulsion pods."

The Key embarkation day lunch venue change

We have received numerous reports similar to this, where the embarkation day lunch perk that comes as part of The Key has moved from Chops Grille to the Main Dining Room. In fact, Timothy Krietemeyer spotted that Royal Caribbean has updated its website to list the venue change.

Despite the change in location, food from Chops Grille is still served to guests.  Moving to the main dining room allows for more efficient service, while still offering the Chops Grille menu.

New screens added to Allure of the Seas AquaTheater

A reader who did not share their name snapped this photo of new video screens added to the AquaTheater on Allure of the Seas.

Got at tip for us?

If you noticed something new or different on your Royal Caribbean cruise, you can always share it with us by emailing it over!

If you booked your first Royal Caribbean cruise, you probably want to know what important steps you should take to get ready for an amazing vacation.  We have a brand new video sharing the absolute most important things you should be doing in the weeks and months leading up to your cruise.

Getting ready for your first Royal Caribbean cruise means planning, preparing and packing.  This new video explains a few of the most critical tasks to complete before you get to your cruise ship.

Did you love this video? We have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

Check out the video and then let us know: What is the most important things to do in order to get ready for a cruise?

Tropical Storm Dorian formed in the Caribbean in the last few days and has caused two Royal Caribbean ships to change itineraries to avoid the projected path of the storm.

Harmony of the Seas has changed from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean itinerary.

The new @RoyalCaribbean #HarmonyoftheSeas Itinerary is as follows: Perfect Day CocoCay, Cozumel, Roatan (phenomenal snorkeling and diving), Costa Maya, back home safely...no storm!! pic.twitter.com/Uf7utH7EAw

— James Van Fleet (@JamesVanFleet) August 25, 2019

Symphony of the Seas has changed her itinerary and is skipping a scheduled stop at St. Maarten, while adding a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay at the end of the sailing.

The new @RoyalCaribbean #SymphonyoftheSeas Itinerary is as follows: San Juan, Labadee, Perfect Day at CocoCay, back home safely...no storm!! pic.twitter.com/3aiqbKR8bu

— James Van Fleet (@JamesVanFleet) August 25, 2019

Allure of the Seas has changed from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean itinerary.

Photo by Joe Kuehner Jr

We will share any further itinerary updates if/when they occur.

As of Sunday afternoon, Dorian’s tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles from its center. Forecasters said that Dorian is expected to move generally west-northwestward for the next several days and start impacting some Caribbean islands.

We recommend following Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet for weather updates.

Thanks for joining us for another weekly look at all of the Royal Caribbean news from this week.  The late-summer heat is still on, and we have plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share from this week.

Royal Caribbean revealed its amplification plans for Freedom fo the Seas in spring 2020.

Royal Caribbean will add the Perfect Storm duo of waterslides, a redesigned Adventure Ocean, a Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and a reimagined pool deck that will feature Splashaway Bay, El Loco Fresh and The Lime & Coconut.

Beginning March 8, 2020, the reimagined Freedom will sail year-round, 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries from San Juan, Puerto Rico and will include stops in St. Lucia, Antigua and the ABC Islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

Royal Caribbean News

• We shared some changes our readers discovered this week.
• Here is a guide to Royal Caribbean's specialty dining packages.
• Our new video of 10 things to do on any shore excursion.
• There is still a day left in Royal Caribbean's cruise planner sale.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 316th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt shares the tips he uses on every cruise he takes.

There are plenty of tips, tricks and advice out there when it comes to cruising.  This week, Matt shares the tips he uses on every sailing.

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: 5 myths people use to avoid trying Royal Caribbean

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 — 5 myths people use to avoid trying Royal Caribbean — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Kingdom Cuisine shared the basics of dining on Royal Caribbean.

Cruise Critic wrote about their recent Gradeur of the Seas sailing.

Cruise Buzz listed 75 things to know about Harmony of the Seas.

Cruise Hive shared 15 impressive things about Symphony of the Seas.

We have a terrific community of blog readers who regularly share things they have noticed on a cruise with us.  Sometimes it is big news, and sometimes new offerings that are neat to track.

Without further adieu, here are some recent changes that came our way from our readers!

Express Press

Ken Jarvis noticed this new "Express Press Laundry special" offered on Anthem of the Seas. It offers a discount on laundry that will be pressed and delivered back within 24 hours.

Elevator panel on Oasis of the Seas

Rich Freudenberg took a few photos of a new elevator panel on Oasis of the Seas that uses a large touch screen for guests to indicate which deck they would like to select. It was added to just one elevator so far on Oasis of the Seas.

LED Lighting at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Lastly, Twangster noticed new LED lighting added to the pier at Perfect Day at CocoCay.  This lighting could be an addition to prepare the island for the upcoming late night stays.

Got at tip for us?

If you noticed something new or different on your Royal Caribbean cruise, you can always share it with us by emailing it over!

Royal Caribbean announced today its major plans to enhance Freedom of the Seas with an extensive $116 million amplifcation. 

The cruise line will add the Perfect Storm duo of waterslides, a redesigned Adventure Ocean, a Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and a reimagined pool deck that will feature Splashaway Bay, El Loco Fresh and The Lime & Coconut.

Beginning March 8, 2020, the reimagined Freedom will sail year-round, 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries from San Juan, Puerto Rico and will include stops in St. Lucia, Antigua and the ABC Islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

Here's a full list of the changes coming to Freedom of the Seas:

Pool deck fun

• The Perfect Storm waterslides: duo of racer waterslides, Cyclone and Typhoon.
  
• Reimagined poolscape with a larger variety of seating and shade with casitas, daybeds and hammocks
  • Addition of Splashaway Bay aquapark for the youngest travelers.
  • Renewed, adults-only Solarium

• The Lime & Coconut, Royal Caribbean’s new, poolside signature bar is a the three-level spot serves up live music, a lineup of cocktails and a rooftop deck for a bird’s eye view of the action.

Dining

• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is a fresh, new twist on a guest favorite. Pick from authentic Italian dishes with a contemporary flair, including made-to-order pizzas hand tossed front and center, and baked in the new, in-house pizza oven. With a wide selection of wines and limoncellos on the reimagined menu, it’s “Sunday supper” Royal Caribbean style.
  
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, the Asian-inspired restaurant with teppanyaki tables and a sushi bar, features a variety of hot and cold appetizers, entrees, desserts and more.
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade features more than 80 TV screens, arcade games, and menu of classic bar bites with twist and ice-cold brews on tap.
• El Loco Fresh will sit poolside and offer fresh grab-and-go Mexican fare, from tacos and burritos, to quesadillas, along with an array of salsas for an extra kick. For the first time, the venue will include a full-service bar with a selection of tequilas on offer.

Family & Activities

• Glow-in-the-dark laser tag adventure – Clash for the Crystal City.
• Floor-to-ceiling redesign of Freedom’s dedicated teens spaces and award-winning Adventure Ocean
  • Adventure Ocean will get a makeover that will touch every inch of the spaces specially designed for babies and kids. The imaginative layout encourages young vacationers to venture into a world of interactive experiences, from thought-provoking exploration at Play Place to art, science and tech activities at Workshop and friendly challenges at Arena. Kicking back is just as fun with gaming consoles and places to chill at Hangout. Babies and 3- to 5-year-olds will each have personalized areas with AO Babies and AO Junior
  • Teens will rejoice at their exclusive hangout, entirely transformed to feature the latest in movies, gaming and music, plus a new, private outdoor deck.

Freedom of the Seas will be the latest Royal Caribbean ship to join the Royal Amplified Fleet.  Royal Amplified is the cruise line's fleet moderinizaation effort that will encompass 10 ships in four years at a cost of more than $1 billion.

Regardless of what you have planned to do at the various ports your cruise ship will take you, here are ten things everyone should do to ensure a great time overall.

Royal Caribbean offers a lot of different things to do in the ports of call you will visit on your cruise, and there are definitely some "best practices" when it comes to not only having a fun time, but staying safe, informed and ready for more fun.

Did you love this video? We have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: What are your best tips for having a great shore excursion?

Royal Caribbean is offering up to 30% off select Cruise Planner purchases during its Set Sail & Save sale.

The offer runs between August 20, 2019 – August 26, 2019 and is valid on sailings from August 29, 2019 – March 15, 2020. It is valid on all ships, except for Spectrum of the Seas.

• BEVERAGE: Up to 30% off on select sailings.
  • Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings). •Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings).
  • Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings)
• SHORE EXCURSIONS: Up to 25% off on select sailings.
  • Save up to 25% on select tours on select sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + 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 SC + Charter Sailings).
  • VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings).
• DINING: Up to 50% off on select sailings.
  • Unlimited Dining Package on 3 Night – 9 Night sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes MJ, SC + Charter Sailings)
• ACTIVITIES: Up to 10% off on select sailings.
  • All Access Ship Tour: 10% off. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings).
• GIFTS & GEAR: Up to 20% off on select sailings.
  • Happy Birthday Decorations: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes QN, SC, VY + Charter Sailings)
  • Happy Anniversary Decorations: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes QN, SC, VY + Charter Sailings)
  • New! Strawberries with Champagne: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes QN, SC, VY + Charter Sailings)
  • New! Red Wine & Cheese: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes QN, SC, VY + Charter Sailings)
  • New! White Wine & Cheese: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes QN, SC, VY + Charter Sailings)
• PHOTO PACKAGES: Up to 25% off on select sailings.
  • New! Prints – 10: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AD, AL, AN, BR, EN, EX, FR, HM, JW, LB, OA, RH, SC, SR + Charter Sailings)
  • New! Prints – 15: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes AL, BR, EN, FR, HM, JW, LB, MA, MJ, NE, NV, OA, RH, SC, SR, SY + Charter Sailings)
  • New! Prints – 20: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes All Ships + Charter Sailings except AD, AN, HM, LB, OA, OV, SY)
  • New! Prints – All: Discount varies by ship. (AD, AN, EX, HM, ID, LB, MA, NV, OV, QN, SC, SY + Charter Sailings)
  • New! Digital – 15: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes All Ships + Charter Sailings except AD, AN, EX, ID, OV, QN, VY)
  • New! Digital – 20: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes All Ships + Charter Sailings except AD, AN, HM, LB, OA, OV, SY)
  • New! Digital – All: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes GR, JW, MJ, NE, RD, SC, VI + Charter Sailings)
  • New! All Digital + Prints: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes All Ships + Charter Sailings except AL, BR, EN, FR, OA, RH, SR)

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

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