We have a brand new RoyalCaribbeanBlog video for you this week, and we are talking about the worst ways to spend your money on Royal Caribbean!
Royal Caribbean cruises are not free, so we ant to help you save as much money as possible when you go. That is why we are talking about some of the worst ways to spend money on a cruise vacation, and how to avoid some of these pitfalls.
Thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean cruise but you have run across negative online reviews about a particular ship? Are you having second thoughts about the cruise you booked because of someone else's horror story?
Stop.
On this episode, Matt explains why online reviews are not the way to figure out the right cruise for you.
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Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - Planning a cruise with friends and family
Perhaps you’re going through some great family vacation ideas and the notion of bringing your family, friends, or both on a cruise so everyone can enjoy one giant vacation together sounds like a fantastic idea. Certainly cruising with friends is a mantra I’ve repeated quite a few times here. But with a great vacation comes great trip planning responsibilities and this week I wanted to talk about how to best plan a group sailing, as one of our podcast listeners did just that and we have some tips and tricks to share this week.
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Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - What to do a week before your cruise
We are back with another RoyalCaribbeanBlog Video today, and we are letting you in on the cruise line jargon that you might hear or read while planning a Royal Caribbean cruise.
In the cruise industry, there is a lot of words and phrases thrown around that have roots in the sailing industry as well as on cruise ships. We have a breakdown of the most important words you should know prior to going on a cruise so that you know exactly what people are talking about.
When you decide to book a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have to decide between a refundable cruise fare or a non-refundable cruise fare. The decision to opt for one or the other largely has to do with your risk tolerance, personal preferences and how you vacation.
Here is a quick breakdown of what to consider before booking a cruise.
What is a refundable cruise fare?
A refundable cruise fare is a booking made in which if the sailing is canceled prior to the final payment date, Royal Caribbean will issue a full refund of any deposit/money paid towards that reservation.
Historically, refundable cruise fares were the norm and they offer greater flexibility especially if vacation plans are not firm. Booking a cruise vacation months or years in advance can be difficult when trying to account for time off of work and other personal responsibilities.
Provided the reservation is before final payment date, refundable cruise fares are eligible for repricing, as well as changing to a different sail date or ship without penalty.
What is a non-refundable cruise fare?
Non-refundable cruise fares are bookings for a Royal Caribbean cruise in which if the guest opts to cancel a non-refundable booking prior to the final payment due date, Royal Caribbean will issue a future cruise credit in the amount of the deposit paid minus a $100USD per person service fee to the guest named on the canceled booking. Such Future Cruise Certificates can be applied towards your future.
The reason to book a non-refundable cruise fare is because the price is lower than a refundable cruise fare and they have become popular with cruisers who are interested in the lowest possible price for their cruise vacation.
Change fees are only incurred should an adjustment to the ship and/or sail date occur; therefore, no change fee will be assessed upon swapping between category types on the same ship and sail date (such as in the case of a price drop).
It is worth noting you can change from refundable to non-refundable fare at any time (but not back).
What to consider before choosing the cruise fare
Price: We would be remiss if we ignored the most compelling reason to book a non-refundable cruise fare and that is the price. Often non-refundable cruise fares are hundreds of dollars cheaper than refundable cruise fare. Multiplied by many people in a group and the savings can be substantial.
Flexibility: How flexible do you need to be with your sail date? Are you dead set on the sailing and ship you are on? Or is this a placeholder reservation that you are not too certain you will sail on? These sort of questions are at the heart of deciding between a refundable and non-refundable fare. The more doubt you have about your plans, the less compelling a choice non-refundable cruise fare becomes.
Stateroom type: If you are staying in an upper suite, the decision has been made for you. Royal Caribbean made the change to enforce only non-refundable fare options for its suite inventory. This also holds true for guarantee categories, including W/WS, X/XB, XN, Y/YO, and Z/ZI.
Still unsure which to pick?
When in doubt, go for refundable cruise fare for the flexibility it provides. It may cost more money, but if you are still "on the fence" about your plans, the knowledge of being able to cancel and get a full refund before final payment date is a great choice to have.
Moreover, we recommend talking over the decision with a good travel agent. Travel agents are a wealth of knowledge and have seen pretty much every booking scenario (and nightmare) you could imagine. Their years of experience can be invaluable in choosing the right cruise fare and the best part is their services and consultation should cost you absolutely nothing extra.
Which cruise fare do you typically book? Do you still have a question about cruise fares? Let us know in the comments below!
Happy 2019! We are celebrating the new year with a new Royal Caribbean Blog video, previewing what will be new in 2019 on Royal Caribbean.
There are a lot of big changes coming to Royal Caribbean this year and there is bound to be a lot of excitement about a new ship, big upgrades to the fleet, CocoCay's opening and more. Take a look ahead with us in our latest YouTube video!
It goes without saying that if you are listening to a podcast about Royal Caribbean cruises, you probably are very interested in going on a cruise. As much as we all dream about all the different itinerary and cabin combinations out there, the reality is we all have to adhere to what our vacation budget can spare. Sometimes, that budget gets really tight and so this week, we are sharing our best tips for cruising on the slimmest of budgets possible.
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Royal Caribbean has big plans for 2019, with plenty of new additions and changes to the fleet. Perhaps no change is bigger than the anticipated arrival of a new cruise ship and refurbishment of quite a few others.
Each year, Royal Caribbean plans on changes to its fleet of ships and if you are considering a 2019 cruise, then you are certainly going to want to consider some of these ships that are getting new upgrades or are joining the fleet for the first time.
Here is what you need to know about the cruise ships joining Royal Caribbean's fleet and which ships will be upgraded this year.
New cruise ships in 2019
Royal Caribbean will add one new ship in 2019 to its fleet, which will be the first subclass of an existing class.
Spectrum of the Seas
The first Quantum Ultra Class ship joins Royal Caribbean's fleet in 2019 with the launch of Spectrum of the Seas.
Spectrum of the Seas is the first Quantum Ultra Class vessel. What separates Spectrum from previous Quantum Class vessels is the fact she will boast private enclave for suite guests, new stateroom categories, innovative dining concepts, and stunning features and experiences – many of which have never before been seen at sea.
Accommodating 4,246 guests at double occupancy and 1,551 international crew members, Spectrum will be the largest and most expensive ship in Asia when she sails from Shanghai starting in June 2019.
Spectrum will debut Royal Caribbean’s first exclusive suites-only area, which will feature the exquisite Golden and Silver suite accommodations in a private enclave at the forward end of the ship on decks 13 through 16. Vacationers booked in these luxury suites will have special keycard access, a private elevator and a dedicated restaurant and lounge. In addition to a range of exclusive amenities, guests will have access to The Balcony – a private outdoor space for sunbathing and relaxing – that offers the best views on board; and The Boutique, a shopping area where travelers can book private shopping experiences.
Another big change for Spectrum is the ship's take on dining, The three-level main dining room will serve a variety of Chinese and Western a la carte options rotating each day of the sailing. The Windjammer Marketplace – 20 percent larger than those on Quantum Class ships – will offer a wide buffet selection of Chinese and Western dishes, including noodles, pizza, Japanese teppanyaki and mini hot pot.
Spectrum will boast a number of specialty restaurants, including Wonderland’s Dadong (run by Chinese chef Dong Zhenxiang), Jamie's Italian, Izumi, Chops Grille and the new Leaf and Bean traditional tea room and café parlor.
Spectrum of the Seas will feature bold and unexpected experiences, including the iconic Sky Pad, a virtual reality, bungee trampoline experience located on the aft of the ship.
Cruise ship refurbishments in 2019
Royal Caribbean is always looking to add more value to their ships and in 2019, four Royal Caribbean ships are getting upgrades, refurbishments and some nice changes.
Here is a list of what you can expect to see changed in the coming year.
Navigator of the Seas
Refurbishment dates: January 3 – February 23, 2019
Royal Caribbean will start 2019 with a major refurbishment of Navigator of the Seas. Navigator will undergo a $115 million upgrade, as part of the fleet's Royal Amplified program.
Royal Caribbean will add all-new features and firsts, including a revamped Caribbean poolscape, two waterslides, the first blow dry bar at sea, nightlife and dining, and activities for the whole family.
Navigator of the Seas will return to service on February 24, 2019 and offering 3- and 4-night Caribbean cruises from Miami.
Empress of the Seas
Refurbishment dates: February 3, 2019 and March 3, 2019
Empress of the Seas will undergo a dry dock for maintenance work in February 2019.
There are no sailings scheduled between February 3, 2019 and March 3, 2019.
No word on what work will be done, but it is expected to be mostly a maintenance effort to keep the ship running in great condition.
Voyager of the Seas
Refurbishment dates: September 10 – October 14, 2019
Like Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas will also undergo a refurbishment in 2019 as part of the Royal Amplified program.
Royal Caribbean has not announced the exact changes that are coming to Voyager of the Seas, although it stands to reason the changes should be similar to recent changes made to Mariner of the Seas or the scheduled changes for Navigator of the Seas.
Oasis of the Seas
Refurbishment dates: September 22 – November 23, 2019
The Royal Amplified program continues with upgrades coming to Oasis of the Seas. Just like Voyager of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has not announced any specific details on what will be changed on Oasis quite yet.
Oasis of the Seas will undergo the refurbishment work after wrapping up her summer cruise season in Europe. Following the bow-to-stern revitalization, Oasis of the Seas will change her homeport to Terminal A at PortMiami for the fall and winter seasons.
Royal Caribbean describes the goal of the Royal Amplified program as something that will, "innovative attractions, pools, bars, and dining." Royal Amplified targets three key areas: pool deck & attractions, bars & nightlife, and onboard dining.
If you are wondering what work will be done on Quantum of the Seas, so are we. Royal Caribbean has not announced yet the scope of changes coming to Quantum of the Seas.
Which ship addition or refurbishment are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!
With 2019 right around the corner, a new year of Royal Caribbean cruising is nearly upon us. With the new year comes new changes to Royal Caribbean, and we picked out six of the most noticeable changes that guests will undoubtedly encounter.
New app features
While Royal Caribbean's new smart phone app has been around since being announced in 2017, 2019 will be the biggest year yet for the app.
In 2019, Royal Caribbean's app will not only roll out to most (if not all) of the fleet by years' end, it will also see the most popular featuresfinally reach users.
Scheduled for a 2019 rollout are features such as chat, shore excursions, stateroom dining and even stateroom changes.
Navigator is set to receive a combination of firsts as well as Royal Caribbean favorites, including an awe-inspiring Caribbean poolscape, waterslides, the first blow dry bar at sea, nightlife and dining, and thrilling activities for the whole family.
Navigator of the Seas will be the third Royal Caribbean ship to undergo a Royal Amplified upgrade. Royal Amplified is a $900 million initiative to reimagine Royal Caribbean's fleet through a new modernization effort.
Ovation of the Seas arrives in North America
Royal Caribbean will debut a Quantum Class ship in Alaska in 2019, with the arrival of Ovation of the Seas for the 2019 Alaska summer season.
Ovation of the Seas will transition from Sydney, Australia to her new summer homeport of Seattle, Washington.
Ovation will sail 7-night itineraries to destinations from Juneau to Victoria, British Columbia, showcasing Alaska’s natural treasures and luring adventure seekers with stately spruce forests, island- studded waters, native wildlife and awe-inspiring glaciers.
Along with a new pier, a number of new attractions and experiences at Perfect Day at CocoCay will debut in 2019. Guests will be able to choose from a variety of fun ways to spend their day, in addition to the classic lounging by the beach option.
Royal Caribbean lists Thrill Waterpark, the Zip Line, Splashaway Bay aqua park, Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Captain Jack’s Galleon, Skipper’s Grill dining, Captain Jack’s dining, Chill Island, Chill Grill dining, and Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool will open in May 2019. South Beach, Coco Beach Club and the overwater cabanas are scheduled to open in December 2019.
Oasis of the Seas returns to Europe & upgrades
File this change as something to keep track of for later, because we do not know the full extent of what will be done quite yet, but Oasis of the Seas is headed to Europe in 2019 and her season across the pond will culminate with a major upgrade.
For the first time since 2014, Oasis of the Seas will spend the summer season in Europe when the ship repositions to Barcelona in 2019. From Barcelona, Oasis of the Seas will sail seven-night itineraries, visiting Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Marseille, France; and Florence (though the port wasn't specified), Civitavecchia and Naples, Italy.
Following her European season, Oasis of the Seas will undergo a bow-to-stern revitalization before changing her homeport to Terminal A at PortMiami for the fall and winter 2019 seasons. If you are wondering what changes Oasis of the Seas will receive, well, so are we. Royal Caribbean has not divulged what will be changed or added to Oasis of the Seas quite yet.
Spectrum of the Seas launch
The new year will see a new Royal Caribbean ship join the fleet with the addition of Spectrum of the Seas.
Spectrum of the Seas will be the cruise line's first Quantum Ultra class ship. The ship will feature a number of firsts for a Royal Caribbean ship, including the cruise line’s first private enclave for suite guests, new stateroom categories, "innovative dining concepts", and "stunning features and experiences".
Designed specifically for the Chinese market, Spectrum of the Seas will be the largest and most expensive ship in Asia when she sails from Shanghai, China starting in June 2019. The ship is scheduled to be delivered in April 2019.
Which Royal Caribbean change are you most excited about for 2019? Tell us in the comments!
Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial fan blog written for other fans of Royal Caribbean International. The Royal Caribbean Blog is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International
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