Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

The cruise industry celebrated another milestone in its restart process when the first big ship returned to Alaska.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas departed Seattle earlier this week, marking the start of a delayed Alaska cruise season.

Alaska had been without any cruise ships since 2019, which had a profound impact on the state's economy.

Serenade's week-long itinerary features a lineup of ports of call, including Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point, Alaska, as well as Endicott Arm fjord and Dawes Glacier.

Royal Caribbean News

• Here's what it looks like if Royal Caribbean invites you to volunteer for a test cruise
• Royal Caribbean issues revised mixed vaccine policy
• Appeals court changes its mind and lifts CDC's cruise ship regulations
• CDC will enforce mask mandate for cruises despite court lifting cruise ship restrictions
• New show for Odyssey of the Seas revealed
• Odyssey of the Seas began her first test cruise
• Royal Caribbean shortens time window to get Covid-19 test before cruises from The Bahamas
• Quantum of the Seas in Singapore drops back to more stringent Covid-19 protocols
• 12 must have Royal Caribbean tips & tricks for families
• Top 8 ways you can make up for lost time while going on a cruise ship again
• Carnival will bring back all of its cruise ships by the end of the year

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 415th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Billy and Matt compare how Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are restart cruises.

The nuances of ships sailing again can vary from line to line, so this week's podcast episode compares what the restart process looks like between the lines.

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: 10 Weird Things About Royal Caribbean Cruises That No One Tells You!

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 — 10 Weird Things About Royal Caribbean Cruises That No One Tells You! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

How much does it matter if you book a big or small Royal Caribbean cruise ship?

Among the 25 cruise ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, there are different ships of various sizes you can book. Big or small, there are advantages and drawbacks to each.

Here are some important considerations when comparing big Royal Caribbean ships to smaller ones.

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

Royal Caribbean shared which changes to its customer loyalty program will be temporary or permanent.

As cruise ships return to service, the Crown and Anchor Society has had some changes made to adhere to certain social distancing guidelines.

Most of the changes are enhancements or additions, although there are a few benefits that have been temporarily rescinded and fewer that have been permanently removed.

To clarify the situation, Royal Caribbean has outlined which changes are going to be lasting, and which are just here for the time being.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean gets CDC approval to start test sailings on Ovation of the Seas
• NCL sues Florida over vaccine passport ban
• Royal Caribbean reverses decision to get rid of popular customer loyalty perk after fan backlash
• Royal Caribbean Group CEO celebrates cruise ships sailing again
• A look at Royal Caribbean's new fleetwide drink menu
• Top questions Royal Caribbean hasn't answered yet about its restart plans
• Coco Beach Club: cost, tips & review
• Some cruise lines will not allow passengers with mixed vaccines to sail
• Canada lifts cruise ship ban beginning in November
• Grand Lucayan resort day pass in Freeport

Video: What's one thing you will never do on a cruise?

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 — What's one thing you will never do on a cruise? — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 414th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt shares the best food he's eaten so far on a cruise ship this year.

It may be just three sailings so far, but Matt got to try a few new restaurants and return to some favorites. In this episode, he has a look at which dishes really stood out.

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.

Royal Caribbean will begin picking volunteers to go on test cruises

Check your email, because invitations to test cruises are coming soon.

Royal Caribbean posted on social media it will begin picking randomly from its list of well over a quarter of a million volunteers to come aboard a test cruise.

"The time is here," Royal Caribbean announced with excitement. "This week we’ll be randomly selecting and extending invites to registered Volunteers to participate in upcoming simulation cruises."

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are ready to catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from this week!

Cruises are back in multiple markets with Royal Caribbean restarting sailings with paying passengers out of Miami, Southampton, and Cyprus.

Three Royal Caribbean ships resumed service this week, including Freedom of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas.

Even better, more ships are set to resume service over the course of July and August.  Check out our list of all the test cruises scheduled right now.

Royal Caribbean News

• Judge denies CDC request to hold off on Conditional Sail Order injunction
• First cruise ship returns to Alaska in two years while on test cruise
• Families and kids are the reason why Royal Caribbean is doing test cruises
• Royal Caribbean cancels Australia cruises due to uncertainty in travel restrictions
• Royal Caribbean patents new way to alert cruise ship passengers in their cabin
• Royal Caribbean's rules for cruise ships sailing from Florida in August
• Royal Caribbean releases Alaska cruise ship protocols for August sailings
• Royal Caribbean announces health protocols for Harmony of the Seas from Spain
• Alaska withdraws from Florida's lawsuit against the CDC
• Royal Caribbean's chat feature is now available on every cruise ship
• A look around the big changes on Freedom of the Seas
• Photo tour of new Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas
• Paradise Beach Cozumel 2021 shore excursion review

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 413th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt reviews his recent sailing on Freedom of the Seas.

Freedom of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to sail from the United States since early 2020, and Matt shares what his experience was like onboard.

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: Top 5 changes Royal Caribbean has made (so far)!

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 — Top 5 changes Royal Caribbean has made (so far)! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

8 truths of going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in summer 2021

Cruises are back again in North America and Europe, and while there have only been very few sailings, already a few "new rules" are emerging from the collective experience.

With new protocols, onboard rules, and travel industry trends, there are a few things anyone going on a cruise this summer or fall should know about before they head out.

Based on my experience, here are the top eight new rules I've garnered from going on a Royal Caribbean cruise so far.

Happy Sunday! It is getting hot outside these days, and the Royal Caribbean news this week is equally heated.  

We had arguably the best news in 16 months when Royal Caribbean announced plans to restart a handful of cruise ships in July and August.

Beginning on July 2, Freedom of the Seas will sail from Miami and mark the return of cruise ships from the United States for Royal Caribbean.

Over the next few weeks, six additional ships will restart operations from ports in Florida, Texas, and Barcelona.

By the end of August, 12 Royal Caribbean ships will be cruising once again across The Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska and Europe.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean drops vaccine mandate for U.S. cruises
• CDC approves test cruises for Independence and Mariner of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean announces health protocols for cruises from Bahamas on Adventure of the Seas
• Mediation fails between CDC and Florida in lawsuit to get cruise ships sailing
• Royal Caribbean gets CDC approval to start test sailings on Allure and Symphony of the Seas
• New Royal Caribbean cruise ship arrives in Florida
• South Florida Mayors ask Governor to lift ban on cruise ships asking for vaccine proof
• CDC has approved 4 test cruises, with 6 more under review
• Royal Caribbean hopes to close on Freeport port project by this summer

Cruise News

• Disney Cruise Line gets approval to start test cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line abandons plans to restart cruises from Dominican Republic this summer
• Celebrity will swap cruise ships for summer cruises from St. Maarten
• Celebrity Cruises announces changes to Captain's Club customer loyalty program
• New MSC cruise ship looks a lot like like Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships
• The changes predicted for cruise ships after the pandemic that never happened
• Spain will open its borders to cruise ships in June

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 409th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, taking a look at what you should know when it comes to flying to a cruise.

It looks like cruises are close to restarting (hopefully), and if you are flying to a cruise ship, this may be a good opportunity to review the basics when it comes to planning to book flights and plan for a cruise you have to get to via airplane.

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: 8 Annoying Things Some People On A Cruise Ship Do!

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 — 8 Annoying Things Some People On A Cruise Ship Do! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Live from the first cruise ship in North America!

The first cruise ship in North America has set sail on the Celebrity Millennium, and we have our first look at what it's like.

Our sister site, Cruise.Blog is reporting live from Celebrity Millennium and sharing the changes made on the first sailing since March 2020.

Odyssey of the Seas arrives in United States

Odyssey of the Seas arrrived in Port Canaveral on Friday, marking her inaugural entry to the United States.

Odyssey of the Seas will offer 6- and 8-night Southern and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, starting July 3.

You can check out a look at Odyssey of the Seas' sail in with plenty of photos, which was celebrated as a big event at the port.

Happy Sunday and unofficial start to summer! Temperatures are rising, and so is the pace of cruise news to share with you this week.

Royal Caribbean has moved the closest yet to getting ships sailing in the United States by announcing test cruises on its first ship.

Royal Caribbean has received permission from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to start test cruises on Freedom of the Seas from PortMiami.

The test cruise can commence on June 20-22, 2021.

Royal Caribbean News

• Spectrum of the Seas will restart cruises from Hong Kong on July 30
• Blocks arrive at shipyard for Royal Caribbean's first Icon Class cruise ship
• CDC gives cruise lines relaxed face mask guidelines and issues new rules for vaccinated passengers
• Royal Caribbean Group CEO: "We will not need to be wearing masks" on cruise ships
• President Biden signs new bill into law to allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska in 2021
• Royal Caribbean extends ability to cancel cruise for a credit until July 31, 2021
• Important things to know about Royal Caribbean's restart plans
• Royal Caribbean has vaccinated over half of its crew members
• Florida's vaccine passport law is holding up Royal Caribbean's new health protocols for cruises this summer
• Royal Caribbean patents new firework illusion special effect for its cruise ships
• Royal Caribbean offering up to 35% off pre-cruise purchases with Cruise Planner sale

Cruise News

• Celebrity Cruises announces first ship to sail out of the United States in June 2021
• How will Celebrity deal with Florida's vaccine passport ban?
• Carnival announces agreements with Port Canaveral, Miami & Galveston to restart cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line announces 8 more cruise ships that will sail from the U.S. in 2021
• Carnival plans to run test cruises from Galveston
• Norwegian Cruise Line expects to get approval to sail from the CDC "in the coming days"

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 408th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, covering some of the latest cruise news this week.

There has been a ton of changes, updates, and announcements by Royal Caribbean since last week's episode, so Matt talks about all the changes on this episode.

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: Here's what volunteers have to do on a test cruise

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 — Here's what volunteers have to do on a test cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO talks about changes we can expect on a cruise this summer

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain shared his most optimistic video update yet this week.

The opportunity for cruises to restart again from the United States is something Fain sees as the result of widespread vaccine distribution, public pressure on government officials, and a change in the relationship with the CDC.

So what will a cruise be like once they can sail again?

"As we restart, there will be some more restrictions than before," Mr. Fain explained, "but we expect there will be temporary and similar to what we've all become used to on land.

Happy weekend! In case you missed any Royal Caribbean news, here is a look at everything that happened this week!

There was so much cruise news this week, but Royal Caribbean announcing cruise ships will sail in Alaska this year had to be the biggest story so far.

Royal Caribbean Group confirmed plans to restart cruises to Alaska beginning in July 2021.

Two ships will sail to Alaska this summer, Serenade and Ovation of the Seas. Both ships will sail roundtrip from Seattle.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean cancels all Vision of the Seas cruises from Bermuda
• Royal Caribbean has submitted its first plan to the CDC to get approval for test cruises
• Royal Caribbean changes Covid-19 vaccine requirements for cruise ships
• Celebrity Cruises will let vaccinated passengers not wear masks and passengers can go on their own shore excursions
• U.S. House of Representatives passes Bill to allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska without stopping in Canada
• Odyssey of the Seas will sail from Florida first
• Florida tells Royal Caribbean it does not need its permission for cruise ships to sail
• Judge orders mediation in Florida's lawsuit against the CDC to get cruise ships sailing
• Royal Caribbean finalized a port agreement with Port Canaveral so it can start test cruises
• PortMiami wants to broker a deal for shared cruise terminal between Royal Caribbean and MSC
• Royal Caribbean expects new CDC update on cruise ship protocols this week
• CDC will only require cruise ship passenger Covid-19 tests after the cruise on sailings more than 4 nights
• Canada will meet with Alaska Senators to discuss cruise ships skipping Canada
• First look at Royal Caribbean's changes to Singapore cruises
• Carnival Corporation announces it will sail to Alaska in 2021
• Carnival is in active discussions with CDC to restart cruises in July
• Spotted: New Royal Caribbean show celebrating showgirls
• 5 times Royal Caribbean trolled other cruise lines

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 407th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which addresses the question of what is the worst Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Many first time cruisers are eager to learn about the best Royal Caribbean ship to sail on, so a common question asked is which cruise ships should be avoided.

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: Celebrity Cruises announces new mask, vaccine, and shore excursion rules!

fff

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 — Celebrity Cruises announces new mask, vaccine, and shore excursion rules! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

40 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips, tricks and secrets

Want to know the best advice for what to do at Perfect Day at CocoCay?

If you have a Royal Caribbean cruise visiting Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, I'm sharing 40 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips, tricks and secrets.

This has all the information you need before you hit the pools, slides, and beaches, so you don't miss anything!

Stay up-to-date with all the Royal Caribbean news from this week with our roundup of all this week's news.

Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean had to cancel its entire cruise season from Israel on the brand new Odyssey of the Seas.

Late on Saturday night, Royal Caribbean confirmed all sailings from Haifa, Israel were cancelled "due to the unrest in Israel and the region, Odyssey has not been able to complete the preparations required".

Instead, Odyssey will now head to Florida and await a new deployment.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean says passengers will not have to wear face masks on Perfect Day at CocoCay
• CDC updated some of its rules for cruise ships
• CDC added new rules for screening cruise ship passengers
• Bill passes U.S. Senate to allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska without stopping in Canada
• Cruise industry wants you to tell President Biden to let cruise ships sail again
• A look at the CDC's "preposterous" requirements for cruise ships test sailings
• Royal Caribbean adjusts cruise ship health protocols on Singapore cruises due to Covid-19 alert
• Carnival cancels some July 2021 cruises, but hopes to restart some ships from U.S. in July
• Florida Governor dismisses Norwegian Cruise Line threat to pull cruise ships from Florida
• My 2021 Royal Caribbean bucket list

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 406th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which is all about what happens to a cruise ship during a dry dock.

Every so often we hear about a ship going in for a dry dock, but what happens and why are they so important? A retired Coast Guard Commander shares with us what happens during these scheduled breaks for cruise ships.

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.

5 cruise trends Royal Caribbean doesn't do (and 1 it jumped on)

Royal Caribbean is an industry leader, but they don't do everything their competitors offer.

Some new cruisers, as well as people new to Royal Caribbean, may be surprised by some of the things Royal Caribbean does not do, which are found on other cruise lines. 

Here are the top five cruise industry trends I have noticed Royal Caribbean does not do, as well as one that they recently changed their minds about.

Happy Mothers Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a new cruise booking too.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given cruise lines new instructions for test cruises and even sailings from the United States.

The CDC released the next two phases of its Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) that will allow for the "eventual resumption of U.S. cruise industry operations."

The new instructions cover the test cruises that cruise ships would need to conduct in order to start sailing passenger sailings under a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean begins vaccinating crew members in Miami
• Royal Caribbean says kids may be able to cruise under CDC's 95% vaccinated restart plan
• Norwegian Cruise Line CEO says July cruises from U.S. "not possible"
• Royal Caribbean releases new Enchantment of the Seas 2022-2023 sailings from Baltimore
• Norwegian Cruise Line warns it could move cruise ships from Florida due to vaccine passport ban
• Royal Caribbean will begin hiring crew members from India again later this month
• New renderings released of Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal in Galveston
• Florida Governor signs bill banning vaccine passports possibly affecting cruise ship restart
• Florida Governor thinks cruise lines don't need ability to require vaccine proof from passengers
• Texas joins lawsuit against CDC to get cruises restarted
• What’s New & Coming to Royal Caribbean in 2021, 2022 & 2023
• What it was like to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the 1970s
• What is the difference between Royal Caribbean's Voom Surf and Voom Surf and Stream?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 405th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available,which takes a look at the big cruise news outside of Royal Caribbean.

This week, Ashley and Matt look at all the cruise news happening with other cruise lines.

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: 10 Cruise ship mistakes travel agents see people doing all the time!

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 — 10 Cruise ship mistakes travel agents see people doing all the time! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Summer 2021 Cruise Planning Guide

This summer there were will be at least a few ships sailing from ports in the Caribbean and Europe, and I have important tips and things to know about reserving and planning for these summer sailings.

One thing is certain for these summer 2021 cruises, and that is there will be changes and new protocols in place that are new to any cruiser.

With that in mind, our Summer 2021 Cruise Planning Guide shares advice, tips, and news you should be aware of for cruises in summer 2021.

Happy weekend! In case you missed any Royal Caribbean news, here is a look at everything that happened this week!

The big cruise news this week came when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave the cruise industry new hope for sailings to resume from the United States this summer.

In the new guidance, the CDC said cruise ships that have 98% vaccinated crew members and 95% vaccinated passengers could restart sailings and bypass the required simulated test voyages carrying volunteers and jump to sailings with paying passengers.

It is not clear yet if Royal Caribbean will move in this direction, nor when any restart might commence yet.

Also included in the report are five points of clarification that give cruise lines better insight into the CDC's expectations for a restart.

Read more:

• CDC update means there are now two potential timelines for cruise ships to restart
• Royal Caribbean talks about CDC letter and what it means for kids
• U.S ports begin vaccinating cruise ship crew members

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean reports $1.1 billion loss in first quarter of 2021
• Royal Caribbean Group CEO on 2021 Alaska cruises: "reason for some hope"
• Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Barbados beginning November 2022
• Royal Caribbean will use Nassau hotel for Adventure of the Seas passenger check-in
• Royal Caribbean asks Galveston for extra time to complete new cruise terminal in case ships cannot sail
• Harmony of the Seas completes dry dock
• Royal Caribbean's Royal Beach Club in Nassau is almost a done deal
• Norwegian Cruise Line will not limit passengers to cruise line shore excursions
• Where are Royal Caribbean's cruise ships right now?
• CDC says fully vaccinated Americans don’t need masks outside in most cases
• Royal Caribbean temporarily halts hiring new crew members from India
• Royal Caribbean offering up to 35% off Cruise Planner purchases with Seas the Deals sale
• Royal Caribbean Group pledges support to buy Alaska products
• 10 Vision of the Seas tips, tricks and secrets
• European Union to allow fully vaccinated Americans during summer 2021
• Bar Harbor Survey Could Mean More Port-Specific Cruise Ship Restrictions

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 404th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with advice on flying to Nassau.

Someone that has flown to Nassau a lot recently shares his tips and experiences for flying to Nassau given the changes these days.

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: The most FRUSTRATING things about Royal Caribbean cruises!

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 — The most FRUSTRATING things about Royal Caribbean cruises! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

5 reasons why what happened to cruise ships in 2020 will never happen again

In the early days of the global health crisis, the cruise industry was caught off guard with a new health threat which was unfortunately seen in the public eye in the case of a few high profile ship quarantines.

More than a year later, memories of what happened to those cruise ships in early 2020 still dominate the narrative for many people and the fear of allowing something like this to happen again is enough to compel some to not want cruise ships to sail again.

While the cruise industry struggles to prove it can safely sail from the United States, here is why what happened on cruise ships at the very start of the global health crisis will all but certainly never happen again.

Did you miss any of this week's Royal Caribbean news? No worries, because we have you covered with our wrap-up of cruise news!

Alaska joined Florida in suing the federal government in an attempt to get cruises started.

Earlier this week, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) announced Alaska was joining the lawsuit against the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Both states want the CDC to drop the Framework for Conditional Sail Order (CSO), which is not allowing cruise ships to sail in U.S. waters.

Royal Caribbean News

• Senate blocks passage of new bill to allow cruise ships to restart sailing
• The big questions for Royal Caribbean's 1st quarter earnings call next week
• First look around Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean Group CEO: "we're more optimistic than ever" for summer cruises
• New House Bill introduced to override CDC's cruise ship ban
• Royal Caribbean opens Wonder of the Seas cruises for booking
• Royal Caribbean's new Oasis Class ship will have an all suites neighborhood
• Royal Caribbean subsidizing flights from New York to Bermuda for summer 2021 cruises as low as $99
• 5 things people that cruise a lot would tell first time cruisers if they could
• Photos: Odyssey of the Seas arrives in Israel
• Bahamas Prime Minister says Bahamas will drop Covid testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers
• Florida Senate passes bill that would overrule Key West cruise ship ban
• Florida Governor doesn't think cruise lines should be able to require proof of Covid-19 vaccine
• What is the difference between The Retreat, AquaClass and Concierge Class on Celebrity Cruises?
• Travel experts: Expect higher airfare prices in 2021

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 403rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with Matt's opinion of what is happening with the CDC right now.

A lot has been happening over the last few weeks with various statements, injunctions, and legislation aimed at getting cruise ships sailing again. This week, Matt talks about how he sees things moving, and what it all means.

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: My favorite Royal Caribbean cruise hacks

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 — My favorite Royal Caribbean cruise hacks — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Will a Royal Caribbean sale actually save me any money?

There are lots of Royal Caribbean sales and promotions you could book, but will these cruise sales and pre-cruise discounts save you any money?

Quite often you will see an email or social media post advertising discounts to take advantage of, but like so many things, it depends on how much it may actually save you.

The key is to track prices, and reprice when possible.

Help Corner: How to contact Royal Caribbean for help with a cruise cancellation or refund

These days, it seems we all have various billing questions to decipher.

With all of the cruise cancellations over the last year, there is a good chance you may have a future cruise credit, onboard credit, or upcoming booking that you are trying to balance.

Here are some easy steps for getting answers if you are trying to sort out options, or get an update on your refund status.