Todd

Royal has agreed to sell Legend of the Seas to Thomson Cruises. The 21-year-old Legend will have all sailing after Feb 21, 2017 canceled. These sailings include cruises from Brisbane, Australia, and a summer schedule from Venice. Just this week I was looking at the cruise from Asia to Europe, and really thinking about booking it. Will need to make new plans, I liked the Legend, yes it was older and less flash but it was a great ship, to sail on. I was told Royal plains to do a few cruises to get the ship from Australia to Spain to deliver the ship to the new owners. News reports say Three repositioning cruises will be offered beginning on February 20 from Brisbane; there will be an 11-night sailing from Brisbane to Singapore, a 10-night cruise from Singapore to Dubai, and a 13-night sailing from Dubai to Barcelona. Should have checked the blog Matt already posted about this. http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/06/02/royal-caribbean-sell-legend-of-the-seas

It is almost like getting to the airport and being told your selected seat is not available but we do have Business Class seats to place you in do you want row 4 or row 8...... You have two great cruises you cannot lose here. But I would take the longer of the two because I like days on the ship. In the end you will have a great cruise.

This question seems to hit the board about once per month. The official simple short answer is not allowed. But as Matt posted it is done all the time by many people and no one ever seems to get stopped. But I would also ask this "What is the problem if you are stopped and they say no... you lose $5.00 worth of water" ? It is not like you are carrying Johnny Walker Blue Label at $150 dollars a bottle..... Take the water, 99.99 % of the time no issues and if stopped and not allowed no big issue here.

Yes I have read 4 days, 3 days, and 24 hours all in different places within Royal information. Like so many things Royal many different answers.

It depends upon what it is and when the cruise takes place and how you purchased the class? If done through Royal you need to contact them, if on the ship already guest services. Some of these things can be cancelled but many cannot.

Check this link about a engagement ring stolen out of the cabin. Link If cruise lines had to report all the crime that happens on ships, the public would have a different view of safety. Under the current law cruise lines like Royal are required to report only if the stolen items are valued at $10,000 or more. So you could have 300 cell phones stolen and in theory no report to US law enforcement.

This is a great answer to getting many things you want on Royal Cruises, just keep asking and someone will give you the answer you want.

I do not believe Royal has ever cancelled a port call because of just Thunder Storms. Thunder Storms and very high winds due to a Typhoon or Hurricane high seas making it unsafe yes. But not a simple Thunder Storm, as Matt pointed out these storms are a daily forecast in this part of the World.

I would not leave anything unattended that I could not afford to loose. Since smaller crimes do not need to be reported under the law, the real level of the problem is not know. While I do believe you are safer on cruise ships no reason to let your guard down. Here is a link to a FBI Information Posting about cruise ship safety. Crime on the High Seas Cruises Not a Vacation from Vigilance In part it says: “If you are going to go on a cruise, you want to treat it like you are going to a small city,†says David Hearn, a supervisory special agent in the FBI’s Indian Country/Special Jurisdiction Unit, which coordinates with field offices and the FBI’s legal attachés overseas to investigate crimes on the high seas. “You don’t know the people on a cruise ship. You don’t know who’s in the cabin next to you. Crime doesn’t stop just because you are on a boat.†Yes the ships do have holding cells, and have armed officers on select cruises but you do not see them. When travel through high crime areas of the open oceans Royal and other cruise lines bring special security teams on board for these trips. Ex military special forces the main reason for them is armed attacks against the ships. When Ovation of the left Dubai last week for India it had one of these teams on the ship. But really hard to spot them, as they are dressed and act somewhat like normal guests on the ship. Royal does many things that most passengers never really know about. When travelling on this trip the also moved with close range of a group of military ships and transport ships traveling the same route. What is done on a Caribbean cruise and the security level need is not the same as other parts of the world.

From US Customs: Can I bring seashells, sand, driftwood or other beach mementos into the U.S.?Seashells are generally allowed into the U.S. if they are not taken from endangered or threatened species (CITES protected), and they are completely sanitized from the creatures that inhabited them, and any other agricultural material such as sand, clay, soil, etc. A traveler may bring in a reasonable amount of seashells for personal use as a memento of their trip. Large quantities of seashells being brought into the U.S. for the purposes of using them in crafting, landscaping, or for commercial use are prohibited. Stones/Pebbles/Sand are generally acceptable in small quantities as long as the item does not present a threat to American agriculture and the harvesting of the item was not detrimental to the any species and/or the environment. Driftwood is discouraged as pests may have inhabited the wood. Also some wood is protected. For example, both the Sonora desert and the Sea of Cortez are protected ecosystems, therefore, it is advised not to pick up mementos from these areas. Be aware that just because the item is sold in a shop does not make it legal to own - possession of a protected item can subject you to state and/or federal prosecution All these items must be declared upon arrival to the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, on the arrival declaration form. Contact the Fish and Wildlife Service on whether the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) requires an import permit to bring these items into the U.S. See CITES Website. It is recommended that individuals check with the proper foreign government authorities to determine if there are any restrictions under that country's laws pertaining to the exportation of seashells, etc. The U.S. importercan find contact information for proper foreign government authorities at: http://www.cites.org/eng.

With Ovation of the Seas, making its first port call to Dubai, the Director of the port is making some very big claims. Normally when a port director makes a claim like we will have the best cruise port it is just that a PR claim. But when the claim is made by UAE member Dubai, everyone should take notice. They said they would have the tallest building in the Word and did, they claimed they could build the World's finest made made island and did, the airport is rated number one in the World. Dubai really understands tourism and the value of it. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. is the DP World and chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation chairman and CEO and these claims this week. Dubai will host one million cruise passengers by the year 2020. "Mina Rashid is the number one cruise terminal in the MENA region in terms of traffic and infrastructure, but we are set to go all out and make the passenger-friendly facility the best in the world," "We want to increase the number of cruise ships calling at Dubai Cruise Terminals in order to meet our target of one million cruise passengers a year by 2020." "Dubai has experienced a 22% growth in the number of cruise ships and a 33% increase in cruise passenger traffic between the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 cruise seasons, from 109 ships and 373,000 passengers to 134 ships and more than 500,000 passengers respectively." He further stated that with the ongoing development projects, Dubai's position as a global city and the premier cruise hub in the world will be strengthen. Royal has been targeting Dubai as the key to cruises from the Middle East and transit cruises. With the Ovation of the Seas , just this week being the largest cruise ship to ever dock in the port. Jamal Humaid Al Falasi, Director of Dubai Cruise Tourism, Dubai Tourism, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ovation of the Seas and its dedicated crew and guests to our fascinating city, and are honoured to be its first port of call in the region with an overnight stay and major passenger turnaround. “Our business relations with Royal Caribbean date back to 2009, when the line commenced its first Gulf cruise itinerary with Dubai as its home port, and the commitment is becoming stronger and more mutually beneficial year after year. We are pleased that Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas® will home port in Dubai for the 2016/17. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Royal Caribbean and further developing Dubai’s reputation as a cruise destination.

In my carry on it a complete change of cloths, swim suit and anything I would need for the first day. My carry on also includes phone, laptop, camera and and any credit cards, funds etc. I also carry complete documentation, with the idea that even if my bags are never delivered I can complete the cruise. And remember you only need to carry to the ship. Your carry on bag could be a roller bag that you check until you get to the ship and then roll it along.

On the cruise for the first first days the Unlimited photo downloads + prints that is $399.99 will be offered with a $50.00 discount. So that makes it only $50 more. It is a good deal if you really use the package. By that I mean you have 5 or photos taken at every photo station, inside the dinning room every night, port stops etc. Also do photos at all formal nights, if you really want to push it do early photos and late photos on formal night. So by the time the cruise is over you have 200 to 250 plus photos. The $350 package with 250 photos is now $1.40 per print. I have no choice on any cruise Reynaline say "Honey my photo package" and that is it no choice for me.

The proof is on you and not on customs. You need to be able to prove that you did not purchase on the trip if asked. But as I have said before customs officers are very smart, they can tell the difference between old and brand new jewelry. And even if the line officer cannot they have experts who can. You can use sales slips, photos, appraisals, insurance paperwork all to prove purchases. But many times the officers really do not need proof they just need to ask the questions and based upon training and years of handling people they will know by your reply. The best thing you can do with customs is be 100% honest. And if they do make a error and charge you for a old item, you can apply for and get a refund.

For the last five or so years every Royal cruise I have been on has offered a $50 discount for the top package, all photos printed and a disk that allows you to download all photos. So I would wait until you are on the ship. You will pay the same price or less than the pre purchase price.

Do not forget about the plus 18% service charge they will add on to the services.

This is the current information that the US Embassy in Jamaica is reporting: Zika Virus AlertThe U.S. Embassy Kingston informs U.S. citizens that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel notice for Jamaicaregarding the Zika virus. There is evidence that Zika is linked to birth defects in the fetuses of infected pregnant women and Guillain-Barré syndrome in infected individuals of any age or gender. Zika is typically a mosquito-borne illness, but there are reports that the virus has been transmitted through sexual contact and blood transfusion. For general information about Zika, please visit the CDC website. For information about CDC travel notices, call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) from within the United States, or 1-404-639-3534 from overseas or visit the CDC website.

I wish I knew what was going on because the last update on AIS was a day and a half ago. marinetraffic.com is having no problem tracking the rest of the fleet but Empress is like a black hole... very strange....

The Singapore / Hong Kong to Australia repositioning cruises, or the return cruises always seem to be great deals with Royal. While harder for US Clients becasue of flying times, for SE Asia and Australia New Zealand residents they are great. Anyone looking for a very interesting longer cruise these are wonderful choices. Also very safe part of the ocean for travel both from a security and weather standpoint.

Yes it is strange but the ship is not showing in the Miami port. Every ship entering and leaving the port is tracked and logged. I cannot tell why the tracking is not showing a updated location. But the Port log clearly shows it coming into port and leaving. here is that log. EMPRESS OF THE SEAS (9HJE9) MALTA ELLER-ITO STEVEDORING COMPANY, LLC 691 ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES, LTD. 48563 NASSAU NASSAU PSG ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL PSG 38,307 G (6.5-W) SST 5/27/16 555 5/28/16 1700 In short the ship was at the cruise terminal at 5:55am on the 27th of May Friday. It left the cruise terminal on Saturday May 28th at 5:00 pm local time. Cannot example anymore other than to say we are talking about the Empress of the Seas.

The ship is in the open ocean about 35 miles south of Miami. It appears it may have had a late departure, but no reason is known.

It seems that Harmony of the Seas has had more than it share of problems on its first cruise. Now to be fair to Royal it was a pre cruise that was added to the ship before the first official trip. And on these cruises it is normal for some work and final touches to be done. But it appears the Harmony work goes far past final check list items But if you Google Harmony of the Seas, the news you see is now all about problems and not the largest cruise ship in the World. Some terms Royal never wants to see in a lead news story about its newest Flag Ship: 'dangerous', 'chaotic', building site, 'should've stayed in dock', complaints, angry passengers,Mutiny. Here are a few of the links, and not from second or third rate news outlets from leading news providers: Harmony of the Seas: World's biggest cruise ship's first voyage was 'dangerous' and vessel 'should've stayed in dock' Harmony of the Seas maiden voyage to go ahead despite complaints over 'chaotic' test trip Mutiny on the Harmony: The biggest cruise ship in the world is still a building site, angry passengers say during its maiden voyage Is this part of a new negative pattern with Royal, rushing to build more mores add routes and grow the company? But all the time failing to take care of the current business they have and provide great passengers service. Maybe it would have been better not to bring two mega ships online within a couple of months? I am a fan of Royal cruises but is this rapid growth ready in the best interest of the company or passengers? Here is a short video shot on the first cruise http://video.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2016/05/27/3263781061834457455/960x540_3263781061834457455.mp4http://video.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2016/05/27/3263781061834457455/960x540_3263781061834457455.mp4

I require business and people to follow the contracts they make. I'm not saying others need to follow my lead, or do what I do. I do not drink alcohol, a strong case could be made that the over safety of the ship would be greater without any alcohol on the ships, but you do not see me telling you not to drink. The United States Navy maintains almost a 100% alcohol ban on its ships, and they are the best of the best. All I ask of a person or company is do as agreed and I will never cause a problem, but try to change the terms and watch out for what happens. I had another company (not royal) make statements like yours about what they saw as a small issue. They told me "nothing I could do and the issue was close" And while I'm not allowed to name the company or talk about the case I can say by "lawyering up for damages" I could now enjoy cruises every moth for the rest of my life. So you enjoy your cruise and I will enjoy my wins and the rewards they have given me.

Good Morning Latestarter, Sorry I should have looked at your location. I did not need to tell you about Australia, you already know you could spend 6 moths in AU and still have many things left to see and do. Since you are flying to Seattle, then you should consider spending some extra trip in Seattle and a quick side trip maybe to Canada. Vancouver is well worth a visit, very friendly city, and great people and attractions, about 150 miles (240 KM) by car. but also bus, train, air and ferries. The high speed ferry is about 3 hours and a nice inside passage. Maybe you could plan up to a week in the Seattle area. I know I spend a week in Darwin last year with friends from Darwin and even a smaller place like that after a week I wanted more.

It is a trip many here would love to take. Myself I really like sea days and this cruise has many of them back to back. You are visiting the best of Hawaii with not hotels or other things needed, two great Islands. With the option to take tours through the ship or just walk around and tour on your on. And then you move on to the Pacific Ocean and Fiji. Just going to Fiji or Hawaii on its own is a great vacation and you can do this without 24 hour plus airplane rides, no jet lag no hassle. I hope you are able to add some extra time in Australia before flying home as it is a very big place with many different areas and a full vacation in itself. Just about 16 months to go.