Almost two years since being closed down, Royal Caribbean is ready to bring one of its signature activities back to life.

Royal Caribbean has a well-deserved reputation for adding incredible attractions on its cruise ships.  The sort of things you'd see and think "I can't believe you can do that on a cruise ship".

One of those was the Skypad, which originally included a bungee trampoline experience with virtual reality that offered a way for passengers to play virtual games in a fun way.

Unfortunately, the cruise line suddenly closed it down in March 2023 and since then, it's remained dormant.

In a statement to RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com, Royal Caribbean announced it has a new vision for the Skypad that it's putting on one ship to start.

Available only on Spectrum of the Seas, the new Skypad expedition: Adventure in Space & Underseas is available for passengers to try.

Here's how Royal Caribbean describes it:

During this experience, adventurers can immerse themselves into the vastness of interstellar space and explore the depths of the ocean and vibrant coral reefs through the lens of virtual reality technology. 

Guests put on VR goggles and ear cups that are meant to block out ambient sound, and then watch a film. The different films have pace, sci-fi, and under-water themed episodes. 

There is an additional cost, and is priced at $15 per person. Guests must be at least 6 years old, but kids under 12 need to be accompanied by parents or legal guardians.

You can book the Skypad experience before the cruise begins via the Pre-Cruise Planner or on the Royal Caribbean app. 

At this time, it's only available on Spectrum of the Seas.  Spectrum of the Seas is based in China and sails to the Asia-Pacific region. Spectrum was the first Quantum Ultra-Class ship. That means it had more to do onboard, such as the Skypad.

It's a giant cruise ship, with a size of 168,800 gross tons and a capacity of 4,905 passengers.

I asked if other Royal Caribbean ships with the Skypad would receive it, and as of now it's just Spectrum. 

The ships with a Sky Pad include:

• Independence of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas

It's likely Royal Caribbean is waiting to evaluate how popular the new offering is before rolling it out to other ships, but that's my own speculation.

The best known signature attractions on Royal Caribbean ships

Until the Skypad experience comes to more ships, there's plenty of other things to capture your attention.

While sports courts, rock walls, and mini-golf courses are common, there's a few things you're likely to marvel at on many of their biggest ships.

Ultimate Abyss

Available on the Oasis Class ships, this is a 10 story dry slide on the back of the ship that you're going to notice quickly.

You get into a mat and slide down a dark enclosed slide that features sounds and lights to enhance the thrill.

There's no cost, and it's a fun family ride.

Flowrider

Ever dreamed of learning to surf on a cruise ship?

The Flowrider is available on a lot of ships, and it's a controlled wave you can get on and attempt to surf. They offer boogie boarding as well.

There's no cost to the Flowrider (unless you take a lesson), and you just need to meet the height requirements to participate: 52 inches for boogie boarding and 58 inches for stand up surfing. 

Zip line

Also on Oasis Class ships only is a 82 foot zip line that goes high above the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Once again, no cost to this.

In order to participate, guests must be at least 52 inches tall and weigh no more than 275 pounds; children must also meet minimum weight requirements — 75 pounds or higher — for their own safety. 

Bumper cars

Within the Seaplex on Quantum Class ships is a bumper car attraction you can ride.

There's no cost to it and you hop into a bumper car and slam into as many other people's cars as you can!

Water slides

Royal Caribbean has added water slides to most of its ships, and these are sure to please anyone going down.

Most ships have two or three slides, but Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships actually have an entire water park onboard!

There's no cost to do the water slides, but they do get quite busy. 

Try them on embarkation day for less of a wait.

Sky diving simulator

Also on the Quantum Class ships is Ripcord by iFly, where you can enter an enclosed tube with a giant fan at the bottom to feel what it's like to sky dive.

Every passenger is entitled to one complimentary ride per sailing, but you can buy additional time.

Royal Caribbean provides a special suit to wear, and after a safety demonstration, you're taken into the tube to give it a try.

An instructor is in there with you to assist, and it's a one-minute thrill ride you won't forget.

Observation pod

One more feature on the Quantum Class ships is the North Star.

he North Star is a glass-enclosed observation pod that rises 300 feet above the deck of your ship, offering breathtaking views all around you.

Rides are free if you do it while in port, otherwise there's a cost to do it on a sea day.

Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas is stuck in Yokohama, Japan after encountering technical issues - supposedly with its propulsion system.

Because of this, the ship’s current voyage will be delayed returning to Shanghai, China and the following voyage is cancelled.

According to Reddit user @SkylightJewel on the r/royalcaribbean thread, Spectrum of the Seas has faced ‘technical issues’ during its 7-night sailing from China to Japan. The presumed propulsion issue has delayed the ship’s return to Shanghai, China by two days from November 7, 2024 to November 9, 2024.

“I am currently onboard Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas Japan cruise from Shanghai (Baoshan) China [2nd Nov 2024 - 9th Nov 2024],” writes the cruiser.

“At the time of posting, the captain just announced the ship (Spectrum Of The Seas) is currently having a ‘technical issue' and we are stuck in the Yokohama port unable to depart until the parts to fix the ship come in.”

In an update to the post, the Reddit user explained how the captain later announced the ship was experiencing a “technical fault” that would result in the ship staying in Yokohama, Japan until the issue could be resolved.

Spectrum of the Seas embarked on a 7-night round-trip itinerary from Shanghai to Japan, originally scheduled to return on November 9, 2024. The itinerary featured port stops throughout Japan, including Kobe, Osaka and Yokohama (Tokyo). The original sailing was meant to return on November 9, 2024 to Shanghai, China before sailing on a 4-night itinerary to Japan.

The Reddit user continued, “Captain announced that the estimated arrival time back to Shanghai (Baoshan) has been delayed to 11th November 2024. It looks like whoever has booked their cruise on 9th Nov 2024 (4 Night Nagasaki Japan Cruise from Shanghai, China) will be cancelled.”

As of November 6, 2024 at 8:25 PM CST, CruiseMapper shows Spectrum of the Seas currently docked in Yokohama, Japan. Royal Caribbean has not confirmed exactly what the “technical concern” is, or what has caused the issue. However, the Reddit user alleges that Spectrum of the Seas is having a propulsion issue, which has impacted other Royal Caribbean ships recently as well.

Spectrum of the Seas is a newer ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, launching as the first Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship. Spectrum of the Seas was built for - and exclusively sails to - the Asian market. The ship is considered the largest, newest and most innovative ship to sail in Asia, holding nearly 4,900 passengers as maximum capacity and measuring 168,666 gross tons.

Compensation

According to a Facebook post shared by Cruise The World, guests booked on the November 9, 2024 sailing onboard Spectrum of the Seas have been notified of the cruise cancellation.

In the email sent to guests, Royal Caribbean states, “Unfortunately, due to a technical concern on our current sailing, we will be delaying our return to Shanghai (Baoshan), China. As a result, we will need to cancel our sailing together. We know how much time and effort go into planning your cruise, and we’re truly sorry for this disappointing news”

For compensation, guests will receive a 100% refund on their cruise, including taxes and fees, within 14 business days. All pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities and shore excursions will be refunded as well to impacted guests. Further, Royal Caribbean states that any flights purchased through Royal Caribbean are eligible for a full refund, including any pre-purchased Royal Caribbean Travel Protection plans too.

In addition, guests on the cancelled sailing will receive a 50% Future Cruise Credit as a gesture of goodwill from Royal Caribbean. The credit can be used on future sailings within one next year for impacted itinerary.

Royal Caribbean has also provided compensation for airfare changes and cancellations due to the propulsion issue. Those who booked flights directly through Royal Caribbean will receive an automatic refund while other guests will be compensated for any change fees incurred by the cancellation. 

Moreover. guests will receive $200 USD per person for domestic travel changes while those with international flights will receive $400 USD per person. According to the cruise line, these passengers are instructed to send receipts to [email protected] for review and reimbursement. 

Royal Caribbean’s recent propulsion issues

Although maintenance issues and cancelled cruises are rare, they are not unheard of. In fact, Spectrum of the Seas is not the first Royal Caribbean ship this year to experience technical issues. Royal Caribbean has experienced a few technical issues across its fleet within the last 12 months.

Just two weeks ago, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas was stuck in Mexico due to a technical issue with the ship’s propulsion system. This resulted in a delayed return for the ship, causing further delays for the following sailing. Brilliance of the Seas is an older ship, launching in 2002. 

Brilliance of the Seas had propulsion issues earlier this year, too. During her time in Australia and the South Pacific this winter, the ship had to alter and cancel itineraries unexpectedly. During an 11-night itinerary to the South Pacific, Brilliance of the Seas returned to Sydney, Australia four days ahead of schedule for technical repairs. 

This caused the ship to cancel its ports of call in Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Luganville. The shortened itinerary with limited port stops was a huge disappointment for guests onboard. The following 5-night cruise was also cancelled due to ongoing propulsion issues and delayed maintenance. 

Earlier this year, another Radiance Class ship had unexpected maintenance issues with its propulsion system. Radiance of the Seas encountered a propulsion issue in April 2024 that caused a last-minute cancellation for one Alaskan itinerary. The ship had previously experienced propulsion issues in late 2023 as well, which resulted in two cancelled Alaskan itineraries last year.

Finally, Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest vessel, Icon of the Seas, cancelled a 7-night itinerary in September 2024 because of technical issues. Although the cruise line did not specify the exact issue, many presumed the ship was also experiencing propulsion issues. Cruises resumed when Icon of the Seas was repaired successfully. 

Spectrum of the Seas will shift to offer cruises from Singapore in Spring 2022.

Royal Caribbean announced Spectrum of the Seas will sail from Singapore beginning April 11, 2022.

This move means Spectrum will begin sailings six months earlier than originally scheduled.

The ship will offer 3- and 4-night "cruises to nowhere". Bookings are now open for reservations.

"We know that vacation time is precious and choosing how to spend it is more important than ever, which is why we are thrilled to welcome Spectrum of the Seas – one of the most advanced ships in the world, to Singapore in April – making Singapore the cruising destination of choice," said Angie Stephen, vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean International.

"We have seen incredible demand for Royal Caribbean cruise holidays in Singapore. Having hosted more than 178,000 Singapore residents since we restarted cruising, bringing Spectrum six months early is truly exciting. The combination of experiences specially designed for the Asian market, together with signature Royal Caribbean favourites on board, will make Spectrum a huge hit."

Spectrum changed homeports because Hong Kong began forcing Royal Caribbean to cancel sailings. Instead, she will shift to Singapore.

The arrival of Spectrum of the Seas will also mean a Royal Caribbean ship will remain in Singapore when Quantum of the Seas moves to Alaska for the summer 2022 cruise season.

Best features of Spectrum of the Seas

Spectrum is the first Quantum Ultra Class ship in the fleet, and has a few special offerings.

Sky Pad – Asia’s first, this virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure is where guests can strap in, don a headset and transport themselves to another time and planet.

Suite Enclave – Royal Caribbean’s first and exclusive space for the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area, featuring exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants and a dedicated lounge area.

Two70 – Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theatre by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals.

SeaPlex – The largest indoor active space at sea, featuring bumper cars, laser tag, fencing, archery and more.

Star Moment – A lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends come together to belt out and sing like stars.

Family Friendly Accommodations – From exterior balcony staterooms to interconnected rooms, to the signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own slide and cinema that also doubles as a karaoke stage, there’s an array of staterooms designed for the whole family.

Signature Experiences – A bold lineup of guest favourites are on deck, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass observation capsule which ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.

A World of Flavours – There are 19 dining options that serve up a variety of cuisines, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of Far East flavours cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, American steakhouse Chops Grille and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian.

Another week of Royal Caribbean news is here to share, with a look at some recent changes worth noting.

Since there's so much happening these days, sometimes it's easier to provide a more concise update from across the fleet of changes, interesting options and more good to know information.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

Royal Caribbean will cruise from Cyprus again in 2022 and 2023

Cyprus welcomed cruise ships in summer 2021, and Royal Caribbean will homeport a ship there again for the next two summer seasons.

Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Limassol, Cyprus, in 2022 and 2023, where she will offer itineraries that visit ports in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

There are 7-night Greek Isles cruises that sail roundtrip from Limassol in August and September 2022.

In May-August 2023, Rhapsody will return to the city to set sail on new 7-night Israel and Egypt cruises as well as Greece and Turkey itineraries. Afterwards, Rhapsody moves to Haifa as a homeport in early November 2023 to offer a mix of 2- to 7-night itineraries to Greece, the Greek Isles and Cyprus.

Hong Kong forces Royal Caribbean to cancel Spectrum of the Seas sailings

Royal Caribbean was forced to cancel all of its January 2022 cruises from Hong Kong on Spectrum of the Seas due to a short-term government ban on cruises.

The Spectrum of the Seas sailings scheduled for January 21, 23, 26, 28, and January 31, 2022 are now cancelled.

In a statement, the sailings were cancelled in an effort by Hong Kong officials to contain Covid-19, "The sailings were canceled following an update to local COVID-19 prevention policies by local authorities on January 14, which requires a 14-day suspension of all cruise operations; details can be found on the official government website."

"Royal Caribbean will continue to monitor the evolving situation and work closely with relevant local authorities on our return to service. We fully expect to welcome back our guests onboard Spectrum’s February 4 cruise."

More ships upgraded to new Cruise Planner

Royal Caribbean is slowly phasing in a new look to its Cruise Planner website, which allows guests to pre-book packages, dining, entertainment and more before the sailing.

Here is the dates when the new look will appear for each ship:

• Symphony of the Seas departing January 22,2022
• Odyssey of the Seas departing January 15, 2022
• Oasis of the Seas departing February 13, 2022
• Harmony of the Seas departing February 27, 2022
• Navigator of the Seas departing March 7, 2022
• Anthem of the Seas departing March 27, 2022
• Freedom of the Seas departing April 4, 2022
• Adventure of the Seas departing April 11, 2022
• Independence of the Seas departing April 15, 2022
• Liberty of the Seas departing April 17, 2022
• Allure of the Seas departing April 30, 2022
• Ovation of the Seas departing May 5, 2022
• Quantum of the Seas® departing May 16, 2022

If you're booked before these dates, you will continue to see the old Cruise Planner interface.

Royal Caribbean says it plans to steadily expand My Royal Cruise to additional ships and sailing windows at a later date. 

This week has barely started and already there's lots of cruise news happening.  Since so much of it overlaps, I wanted to provide a round-up of what's changed recently.

There are smaller updates from across the fleet that I think are kind of interesting, neat, or otherwise good to know.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

Spectrum of the Seas sailings in Hong Kong cancelled

If you read a headline about Royal Caribbean cancelling cruises today, don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds.

Royal Caribbean cancelled the January 6 sailing of Spectrum of the Seas from Hong Kong.

There weren't any actual Covid cases onboard. Rather, nine passengers on the previous sailing that departed on January 2 were identified as close contacts to someone that tested positive on land in Hong Kong.

The contacts have tested negative but the cruise ship will return to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong on January 5 to test all guests and crew who must take a second test on January 8th.

CDC still plans to make Conditional Sail Order voluntary

Despite the Omicron variant, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the plan is still for the Conditional Sail Order (CSO) to become a voluntary program next week.

As you may recall, the CDC temporarily extended the CSO for an additional two and a half months back in October.

According to Cruise Critic, the plan is still for the CSO to expire on January 15, per the federal agency.

"After the expiration of the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO on January 15, 2022, CDC intends to transition to a voluntary program, in coordination with cruise ship operators and other stakeholders, to assist the cruise ship industry to detect, mitigate, and control the spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships," a CDC spokesperson told Cruise Critic via email.

Once the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO expires on January 15, the CSO will shift to a voluntary basis, where cruise lines and other stakeholders will work together without a federal mandate to do so to ensure proper protocols are followed.

NCL cancels cruises on sailings on 8 ships

 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd announced a change to scheduled sailings on 8 ships due to the impact of the Omicron variant.

The reason for the cancellation has to do with crew staffing related to Covid cases onboard.

The Norwegian cancellations announced Wednesday include:

• Norwegian Pearl departures through January 14, 2022
• Norwegian Sky departures through February 25, 2022
• Pride of America departures through February 26, 2022
• Norwegian Jade departures through March 3, 2022
• Norwegian Star departures through March 19, 2022
• Norwegian Sun departures through April 19, 2022
• Norwegian Spirit departures through April 23, 2022

Royal Caribbean trademarks Royal Beach Club name

Royal Caribbean snuck in one more trademark filing before the end of 2021.

The cruise line registered a trademark for the phrase, "Royal Beach Club", which is the name of its private beach club experience it is developing in Nassau, Bahamas.

The first Royal Beach Club is set to open in Nassau, Bahamas, perhaps as early as 2023.

Read more: Royal Caribbean looks forward to big plans in 2022 and 2023

This new project is not intended to be for all guests on a ship to do. Rather, it will supplement the Nassau offerings. The beach club will be built on 7 acres on the western end of Paradise Island.

The Royal Beach Club will be able to accommodate about 3,500 together with 250 workers. 

Royal Caribbean announced a new ship will sail from Singapore, as well as an extension of other cruises.

Singapore was the first place that Royal Caribbean International restarted sailing during the global cruise shutdown, and it remains a focus for the Asian cruise market as the rest of the region struggles to reopen.

Spectrum of the Seas will move to Singapore, beginning October 21, 2022.

She will sail 3- to 9-night sailings from Singapore, and her new sailings are available to book immediately.

Spectrum of the Seas was designed for the Asian cruise market, and has been not offered any cruises since early 2020.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has extended Quantum of the Seas sailings yet again, this time offering more sailings from Singapore on Quantum through April 7, 2022.

"We are thrilled to introduce a whole spectrum of new adventures with Spectrum of the Seas, which features groundbreaking escapades exclusively designed for the Asian market, a testament to Royal Caribbean’s confidence in the potential of the cruising industry in the region. We have seen a surge in repeat cruisers, as well as a significant number of new to cruise guests, and look forward to bringing the best of the Royal Caribbean experience to our guests," said Angie Stephen, vice president, Singapore, Royal Caribbean International.

"At the same time, we are excited to extend Quantum’s ultimate ocean getaways once again through early next year to continue catering to the strong demand for sailings from Singapore."

Another change for Singapore sailings is the requirement for passengers to be fully vaccinated.

In addition to robust onboard ventilation systems, enhanced cleaning and sanitization as well as having its crew vaccinated, the cruise line will also require all guests to be fully vaccinated for all new bookings made from October 1, 2021, and onwards.

What makes Spectrum of the Seas different

Spectrum of the Seas is not only a new ship to Singapore, she is one of the newest ships in the fleet.

Royal Caribbean designed the ship to be an innovator, that offers plenty of innovations and touches of eastern culture infused with the ship.

Here are some of the major things to do on Spectrum of the Seas:

• Asia’s first Sky Pad, a virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure
• Royal Caribbean’s first and exclusive Suite Enclave, which features the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area supremely positioned at the forward end of the ship. Guests booked in these luxury suites have exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants, and a dedicated lounge area.
• Cutting-edge and transformative venues such as Two70. Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theater by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals. 
• Star Moment, a lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends can belt out and sing like stars.
• The signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own ensuite slide and cinema, which also doubles as a karaoke stage.
• A bold lineup of signature activities, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass capsule that ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.
• Nineteen distinct dining options serve up flavors from around the world, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of authentic oriental flavors cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of authentic spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, top-notch, aged beef at Chops Grille, and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian.

Another Royal Caribbean cruise ship will be returning to service this summer.

Hong Kong has given Royal Caribbean approval to restart cruises aboard Spectrum of the Seas with short sailings with no port stops.

Spectrum of the Seas would be the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to resume sailings in China, and there will be a series of cruises between July and November.

Similar to Quantum of the Seas in Singapore, Hong Kong has approved limited sailings with strict protocols onboard.

According to the Hong Kong Cruise Society, here are the sailing dates and itineraries:

• 2-night cruises: July 30 / Sep 05,17
• 3-night cruises: Aug 05,12,19,26 / Sep 02,07,10,23,30 / Oct 07,14,21,28 / Nov 04,11,18,25
• 4-night cruises: Aug 01,08,15,22,29 / Sep 13,19,26 / Oct 03,10,17,24,31 / Nov 07,14,21,28

The new sailings have not yet been released by Royal Caribbean.

Guests looking to book a sailing can only book oceanview or higher categories (no interior rooms). 

In addition, guests 16 years or older must be fully vaccinated and have received their second dose at least 14 days ago prior to boarding. 

Passengers must also provide a negative PCR test within 48 hours of boarding the ship.

Many of these protocols come from Hong Kong's government, which just approved "cruises to nowhere" on Wednesday.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah confirmed Royal Caribbean was one of the lines with permission to sail from Hong Kong.

Spectrum of the Seas was one of the first cruise ships to have her cruises cancelled due to the global health crisis, with her season cut short in China and moved to Australia for a short period of time before the cruise industry shutdown completely in March.

With Spectrum of the Seas restarting cruises in July, this adds another ship to the list of Royal Caribbean ships that will be able to resume operations, including Adventure of the Seas from the Bahamas, Anthem of the Seas from Southampton, and Jewel of the Seas from Cyprus.

Royal Caribbean also received permission to start test cruises on Freedom of the Seas in June.

Two new 2022 itineraries have been quietly released by Royal Caribbean.

The itineraries revealed are on Spectrum of the Seas in Asia and Quantum of the Seas repositioning cruises to/from Hawaii.

Spectrum of the Seas will sail 4-8 night itineraries in 2022 from Shanghai (Baoshan) and for the first time ever, Beijing (Tianjin).

Sailings on Spectrum will visit Japanese ports such as Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Sasebo.

These new Spectrum of the Seas sailings begin in January 2022 and run through October 2022.

In addition, two long sailings on Quantum of the Seas to and from Hawaii have been added.

Quantum will depart Honolulu in April 2022 to head to Vancouver, and then will stop back in Hawaii in October 2022.

Read more: Hawaii cruise on Royal Caribbean: Everything you need to know

Royal Caribbean does not offer regular cruises to Hawaii, but does stop there as part of repositioning cruises between Australia and North America.

Royal Caribbean has not announced any deployment schedule yet for the remainder of 2022-2023 cruises.  These new sailings appeared without warning.

In light of the global health crisis, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has altered the loans it took out to finance Anthem of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas in order to take advantage of a 12-month debt holiday.

The deal was made between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Euler Hermes Aktiengesellschaft on April 8, and it essentially means Royal Caribbean to skip a few payments without accruing additional interest. Moreover, it provides the cruise line with $200 million of incremental liquidity through April 2021.

The deferral period is between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. The deferred money will be repayable in eight equal semi-annual installments between April 2021 and October 2024.

In addition, Royal Caribbean amended the export-credit backed loan facility incurred to finance Celebrity Reflection in order to incorporate the benefits of the Debt Holiday. Across these three facilities, the Debt Holiday initiative will generate $200 million of incremental liquidity through April 2021.

Royal Caribbean is also looking into taking advantage of the debt holiday initiative across the remainder of their Hermes-backed facilities.

The loan amendment has a few stipulations, including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. may not take certain actions including:

• Payment of dividends
• Repurchase of stock
• Issuance of debt or equity other than for liquidity

When Royal Caribbean decided to move Spectrum of the Seas out of Asia due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the cruise line took this opportunity to give back to the first responders of Australia.

A number of complimentary humanitarian sailings were offered in support of Australia's volunteer first responder community, who worked tirelessly during the recent bushfire crisis. 

Volunteers and their families were invited from all over Australia to sail on Spectrum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean worked with state-based volunteer agencies directly to notify and encourage eligible volunteers to register for their complimentary cruise. The company partnered with Lifeline to provide individual support sessions for any guests who have been impacted by the bushfires and need to talk through calling the Bushfire Recovery line 13HELP on 13 43 57.