Royal Caribbean has added three additional Symphony of the Seas sailings for guests to book.

Royal Caribbean has characterized these sailings as "the biggest dress rehearsals ever," and there may be "a few final touches being made onboard." Nonetheless, guests can expect Symphony of the Seas "to look and feel fully operational."

The newly added sailings are

• 5-Night Western Mediterranean - March 31, 2018
  • Barcelona, Spain • Cruising • Naples / Capri, Italy • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Cruising • Barcelona, Spain
• 7-Night Western Mediterranean - April 7, 2018
  • Barcelona, Spain • Palma De Mallorca, Spain • Provence (Marseille), France • Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Naples / Capri, Italy • Cruising • Barcelona, Spain
• 7-Night Western Mediterranean - April 14, 2018
  • Barcelona, Spain • Palma De Mallorca, Spain • Provence (Marseille), France • Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Naples / Capri, Italy • Cruising • Barcelona, Spain

Convincing someone to try a Royal Caribbean cruise is no easy task.  Many people have negative preconceptions about cruising, had a bad experience in the past on another cruise line, or have some other reason for disliking the notion of a cruise vacation.

These negatives run the gamut from expensive to being bored and more.  There is no shortage of opinions from many different sources that purport the shortfalls of cruising.  Negative Royal Caribbean specific arguments tend to be a little less common, but given the broad range of opinions on the internet, they certainly exist too.

Regardless of the background of the person you are trying to convince, it is possible to convince them to take a Royal Caribbean cruise and (more importantly) for them to have a good time.  You have to know how to approach the trip and convince them to go in with an open mind. 

Here are some of our tips for convincing your spouse, or anyone else, to take a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation.

Plan around their hesitations

If you encounter someone who dislikes the idea of taking a Royal Caribbean cruise, often it is based around certain fears or opinions of what a cruise vacation is all about.  The key is to assuage them of these concerns.

"I'll be bored" or "There won't be enough to do"

Many first time cruisers imagine a glorified fishing boat, where all you do is sit around between meals.  A Royal Caribbean cruise is anything but that, as their ships are packed with incredible experiences that run throughout the day and night.

Consider looking at a Quantum or Oasis Class cruise ship, which have the latest and greatest experiences onboard.  These ships were built with activities and things to do onboard.

Show them some past Cruise Compasses, which are the daily newspaper of events for the ship.  The Cruise Compass lists every onboard activity, and is a great example of how much there is to see and do on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

You might also consider an itinerary that has more port stops than sea days.  Visiting these beautiful islands and cities means an opportunity to explore off the ship.  Having a port-intensive itinerary minimizes the amount of time on the ship, and can be a good "stepping stone" to a fuller cruise experience.

"I will get sea sick"

A very common misconception about a cruise vacation is they will get sea sick.  It can be based on nothing at all, or a past boating experience, or an extension of motion sickness suffered elsewhere (like on cars or trains).

Royal Caribbean cruise ships are massive.  Significantly larger than any fishing boat or ferry they may have taken in the past.  The ships employ advanced stabilizers that keep the sensation of movement on a ship at a minimum.

Moreover, the Captain will constantly seek out the smoothest waters.  Smooth waters means happy guests, and happy guests translate to more money being spent onboard.  

In the unlikely event of getting sea sick, there are also plenty of medication available that can easily mitigate the effects of getting sea sickness.  There are great over the counter medications, natural remedies, and even prescription medicine that can help.  Spending a few dollars to buy these items as a backup can be the kind of reassurance needed to get someone to try a cruise.

"A cruise is expensive"

The price of a cruise vacation is as varied as the cost of a car.  Just like there are car prices that are $16k, $30k, $100k and more, cruise prices can vary significantly.  When it comes to a Royal Caribbean cruise, it does not have to be expensive.  In fact, it is an excellent value.

It is important to talk about everything that is included with the cruise fare, such as complimentary meals and beverages, entertainment each day and night, activities onboard, and more.  Remind them that if you were to take a land vacation, they would have to pay for food in addition to their lodging and transportation.  

Royal Caribbean has so many ships in their fleet that visit destinations around the world, that there is bound to be a sailing that fits in their price range.  Between the itinerary, sail date, and stateroom type, there is a lot of choices.  

This just covers a couple of common complaints about the cruise vactions, but you get the idea. Find out what they do not like about a cruise, and thenexplain why those fears are misplaced.  Talk to them about what really goes on during a cruise, and determine how you will avoid their fears.  Then, think of things that disprove these stereotypes, and add them to your plan.

Focus on things they enjoy

A key to success for convincing someone to take a Royal Caribbean cruise is to make it personal.  Find something they enjoy and illustrate how a Royal Caribbean cruise incorporates that passion.

If they are a fitness nut, talk about the impressive fitness center and classes available on Royal Caribbean ships.  Show them there is a running track onboard, and even shore excursions that demand physical endurance.

If they are a foodie, pick a Royal Caribbean ship that has a lot of great restaurants and talk about the variety of foods available onboard.  Consider even investing in a specialty dining package to help bring the cost down to enjoy those experiences.

If they have kids, be sure to talk about the award-winning Adventure Ocean program, which means there is programming for children every day and night of the cruise.  The kids get to have fun playing with other kids, while you get time to yourself.  Any parent should jump at that opportunity.

If they like history and culture, talk about the ports your cruise ship will visit. Show them the kind of experiences they can have in a single cruise, such as visiting Mayan Ruins in Mexico, touring a plantation house in Jamaica, and going where Spanish Conquistadors first stepped foot in Puerto Rico.

Talk about the experiences they might not know are on a cruise ship

I imagine many people who have never taken a cruise before, think of a cruise ship as a giant floating pool with a cafeteria somewhere and a bunch of newly weds and retirees strewn about.  Tell that to someone who has taken a Royal Caribbean cruise before, and they are likely to laugh at hearing that description.  The key is to talk about everything a Royal Caribbean ship offers.

When you are trying to convince someone to try a cruise, focus on the type of activities and offerings found on Royal Caribbean.  Your list will vary depending on which ship you are considering, but here are some good points not to miss.

• FlowRider surf simulator
• Broadway shows
• Adults-only Solarium
• Specialty restaurants
• Spacious suites
• Mini-golf
• Rock climbing wall
• Casino
• DreamWorks characters and events
• Fitness classes
• Skydiving simulator
• NorthStar observation pod
• Water slides
• Aqua parks
• Ice skating

You get the idea with just the items we picked on this list.  The great thing about a Royal Caribbean cruise is that it offers so much to do that will appeal to virtually anyone.  Whatever your friend/spouse/colleague/sibling's interests are, chances are there is some way to cater those interests on Royal Caribbean.

Use video

You can talk about how great something is for days, but videos work wonders because they can see what you are talking about.  Incorporating video in your strategy works wonders.

YouTube is likely the best source of videos that show off how much fun a Royal Caribbean vacation can be.  Find videos that back up the points and ideas discussed earlier and use that to show them what you mean.

There are videos that incorporate ship tours, recordings of shows, vlogs, and a lot more.  Inevitably, you should have no trouble finding videos that provide a glimpse of the kind of fun waiting for them onboard.

Share these videos on their Facebook page, or text them a link to the videos so that they can quickly see your point.  If the video is already on Facebook, tag them in the video so they get notified.  Odds are they will click and watch.

Your thoughts

We have listed a lot of suggestions for those trying to convince someone else to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but do you know of an idea that we missed? If you have run into this scenario before, we would love to hear suggestions you might have to offer, or even stories about a reluctant spouse or friend that you can share.  Please leave your stories, experiences and suggestions in the comments!

Royal Caribbean has released a new set of photos that show the construction progress being made on Symphony of the Seas.

Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis-class ship, under construction at the STX shipyard in France. The ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2018.

Royal Caribbean announced today it will resume calls to St. Thomas on November 10, following weeks of skipping the island due to hurricane damage.

Adventure of the Seas will mark Royal Caribbean's return to the island.  She will be the first Royal Caribbean ship since early September to visit St. Thomas, which was impacted by hurricanes last month.

In partnership with the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Royal Caribbean also has committed to undertaking the complete restoration of Magens Bay, one of St. Thomas’ most popular tourist attractions – with plans for a grand re-opening of the pristine destination during Adventure of the Seas’ visit on Nov. 10.

With power and water to the island fully restored and most downtown shops, restaurants and bars and tour operators fully operational, guests will be able to experience a diverse and extensive array of dining, shopping and activities.

“We are very excited to get back home to our friends in St. Thomas. The Caribbean is our family, having cruised there for nearly 50 years, and the long-standing relationships created in all this time are unwavering,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We are committed to doing everything we can to help and proud to support the restoration of the iconic Magens Bay."

In addition, Royal Caribbean is planning a return to San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten by the end of November and is working closely with local governments to announce the exact dates.

By December 1, all scheduled calls to the three islands will operate as planned.

A reoccurring concern among first time cruisers that book a Royal Caribbean cruise in the warmer months of the year is they see a weather forecast that looks something like this.

Does this mean your cruise is ruined? Not so fast.

Understanding rain in the tropics

The tropics have two seasons: the dry season and the wet season.  During the summer months in the tropics, it rains every day. This means there is a high chance of rain, but it is not an all day soaker event.

Unlike rain storms in the north, where fronts move through and saturate the area with rain for much of the day, rain storms in the tropics are sporadic and short-lived.  They pop up during the afternoon, move quickly and have been known to actually rain while still sunny.

These sort of afternoon pop up storms are incredibly difficult to predict, so most weather forecasters simply attribute a high percentage chance of rain and hope for the best.  Pop up storms are so sporadic that it is too difficult to know exactly where it will rain, so forecasts often look worse than they really are. Despite the fact you see rain in the forecast everyday, it does not mean it will actually rain at all on you, nor will it rain for a long time.

How to plan your day

This may sound crazy, but ignore the forecast.

Seriously.

Rain in the tropics is so common and so unpredictable that it is simply not worth concerning yourself with prior to your trip.  Since it is often short-lived, if it does actually rain on you, you can wait it out (with a cocktail in hand) and before you know it, the sun will be back out.

On sea days, often the Captain will take routes to follow the sun and avoid clouds so that guests can enjoy the kind of sunny day they dreamed about when booking the cruise.  Of course, the Captain can only do so much to help, but if it can be helped, he will do what he can.

The exception to all of this are tropical storms (hurricanes), but your Royal Caribbean cruise will not be anywhere near these storms to begin with.  Royal Caribbean detours its ships well away from the path of the storm.

We hope everyone reading this is having a wonderful Sunday and enjoying some time this weekend with friends, family and some good food too.  There was a lot of Royal Caribbean news this week, and we have summarized all up into one easy-to-read blog post for your convenience!

By far the big news this week was the much anticipated reveal of activities, restaurants, and entertainment on Symphony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean pulled back the curtains a bit, and showed off what guests can look forward to seeing, doing, and eating on what will be the world's largest cruise ship.

Among the newly announced features, the new Ultimate Family Suite, Hooked seafood restaurant, and Playmakers Sports Bar garnered a lot of the attention.

Royal Caribbean News

• Grandeur of the Seas will be the first cruise ship to return to St. Maarten since Hurricane Irma.
• Royal Caribbean launched a new video series that focuses on the local peoples and culture.
• Michael Poole is live blogging on Empress of the Seas this weekend.
• We shined the light on four Royal Caribbean drink package mistakes to avoid.
• Here is a comparative look at damage to Labadee cabanas from Hurricane Irma.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

Did you hear the news about the recent unlimited alcohol package rule change? On this week's Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast, we talk about the new change and what it means to you.

Matt discusses what the new rule change is, why it changed, and what impact it may have on getting the drink package going forward.

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 Around the Internet

Cruise Habit shared news that Celebrity Cruises now offers legal same-sex marriages at sea.

Cruise Cirtic has a new video about the craziest top-deck activities on cruise ships.

The Voyage Report interviewed Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist on their podcast.

TTG reported that Royal Caribbean is attracting younger families to UK cruises.

Ship Monk reported on the passing of a cruise journalism industry legend, John Honeywell.

Friday is here and that means it is time to share our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean photos! Each week, we invite our readers to send us photos from their past Royal Caribbean cruises to be showcased on the blog.

With the weekend nearly upon us, here is this week's batch of fabulous photos!

Our first photo this week is from Don Jackson, and it is a rainbow after a morning storm on Anthem of the Seas.

Firegal2539 sent in this photo of Enchantment of the Seas in Nassau, Bahamas.

Here is Explorer of the Seas in Astoria, Oregon, taken by Allen Shaffer.

Travis N. took this photo of English Harbor, Antigua, as seen from Shirley Heights.

Jeff L. shared this photo of Navigator of the Seas docked next to Allure of the Seas in Nassau, Bahamas.

Bob Carpenter took this photo of Oasis of the Seas in Cozumel, Mexico.

Our final photo this week is by Steven and Sharon Kronick, kicking up their feet with a view of Labadee from their Grand Suite on Oasis of the Seas.

Thank you to everyone for their great photos, and we invite everyone reading to send in their photos too.  Use this form to submit your photos to be included in an upcoming Friday Photos post!

Following the devastation of Hurricane Irma, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas will be the first commercial cruise vessel to return to the destination post-Irma on Sunday, November 5th.

A delegation from Royal Caribbean recently met with Port St. Maarten Board, Management and Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher, to discuss the recover efforts that underway.

The Royal Caribbean delegation discussed the state of various infrastructure on the island with the Port St. Maarten Management and Board.  They also got an update on the Great Bay Beach Promenade, the commercial center of Philipsburg, Front Street and other areas of interest from a tourism perspective.

Royal Caribbean carried out a site visit as part of their destination readiness assessment to accept cruise passengers, and the availability by early November of tours, shore excursions, shopping, beaches, and other cruise tourism related amenities.

Following the visit, Royal Caribbean praised the Port St. Maarten Board, Management and Government with respect to the diligence carried out by the aforementioned to get the country ‘cruise ready’ for November in order to bring in much needed foreign exchange into the economy that would kick-start the economic engine of the country – (cruise) tourism.

Royal Caribbean pulled the curtains back on much of the new features and amenities coming to its next Oasis Class cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas.

Symphony of the Seas will offer a variety of new experiences onboard, including

Frictionless arrival

When guests arrive to the port, they can use their mobile phone to check-in and board the ship with just a security checkpoint between the curb and the ship. A redesigned check-in experience will eliminate lines and bypasses the counter. The new process will leverage a combination of facial recognition, bar codes and beacons to make boarding fast and frictionless.

Guests will check-in via the brand’s new mobile app and seamlessly upload their security “selfie” to create their onboard account from the comfort of their home. Upon arrival, guests will go through a security screening and then head straight to their stateroom, where their key will be ready and waiting.

The check-in process will take place via the new Royal Caribbean smartphone app that is under active development.

It will be available in Barcelona and in the new terminal in Miami.

Ultimate Family Suite

The two level Ultimate Family Suite is a dream come true for kids of all ages and will debut eye-popping features, including: an exclusive slide from the kid’s only bedroom down to the living room below; a floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall, an air-hockey table and hidden nooks for chilling. A separate 3D movie theater-style TV room, complete with popcorn machine and a library of video games across multiple gaming systems will bring a new level of euphoria and competition to gamers in every family. And that’s just the inside; the 212 square foot wrap-around balcony touts a bumper pool table, a climbing experience and a full-size whirlpool that will provide unmatched ocean views.

The room can accommodate up to 8 guests.  There is only one of these rooms on the ship.

Hooked Seafood restaurant

Fresh New England style seafood and located in Solarium.  It will feature fresh seafood and a robust raw bar complete with oysters shucked to order.

Located at the front of the ship in the Solarium, the casually sophisticated restaurant will offer expansive views of the open water, serving lunch and dinner.

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade

Score an awesome time at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade — whether you’re watching your home team on one of dozens of TVs, making your own legendary plays at the arcade, or refueling on your game day favorites.

Playmakers will be located on the Boardwalk neighborhood and span the entire length of the Boardwalk neighborhood. It will take the place of where Sabor and Starbucks were on Harmony of the Seas.

Starbucks will open on the Royal Promenade, but will not be available during the European season.

Sugar Beach Candy & Ice Cream

Sugar Beach candy and ice-cream shop will bring a sugar high of sweet treats to adults and kids alike, enticing them with colorful candy-packed walls and tempting ice cream and toppings galore. The sweetest spot on the high seas also will feature family-friendly activities for aspirational bakers.

This will replace the retail outlets on the Johnny Rockets side of the Boardwalk.

Laser Tag

In a far-flung galaxy in a distant future, two forces are set to collide. Choose your side, grab your laser blaster, and gear up for a stellar glow-in-the-dark time in Studio B.

An epic glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience.  State-of-the-art technology and special effects will transform Studio B into the ultimate laser tag arena as family, friends and foes battle over the fate of the last planet in the galaxy.

El Loco Fresh restaurant

Fresh. Fast. Authentic. Satisfy your craving for fresh-made Mexican favorites — the craziest thing about it is just how good it is.

It will be located in the Sports Zone, replacing Mini Bites on Harmony of the Seas. It will seat more than 100 guests.

Flight (Royal Theater)

You’re cleared for takeoff in Flight, a one-of-a-kind show that takes you through the history — and the future — of flying.

Flight is an uplifting historical satire on the evolution of air travel that ends with homage to the famed Wright Brothers.

HiRo (Aqua Theater)

A mind-blowing show that combines cutting-edge technology, future-forward choreography, unexpected stunts and highly innovative, physically extraordinary acrobatics.

1977 (Studio B)

This spectacular adventure on ice follows a time traveling, dimension-jumping hero as he is called upon in London to recover Her Majesty's Crown Jewels in time for the famous Silver Jubilee.

1977 will take ice-surface video projection technology to a new level and was developed Panasonic to push the limits of what is possible technologically.

Hairspray

Big hair, big dreams and all the right moves — you can’t stop the beat in this Tony Award-winning Broadway hit.

Escape Room

Vacationers looking for a challenge can experience a new Puzzle Break experience on Symphony, where teams will race against the clock and learn to work together toward a common goal – to escape the submarine-themed room before time runs out.

Royal Caribbean made the announcement of Hairspray coming to Symphony of the Seas last month.

The highly anticipated additions to the Boardwalk will round out the signature offerings that propelled the neighborhood’s popularity. The Ultimate Abyss will catapult only the brave from the tallest slide at sea into the heart of the Boardwalk to revel in their adrenaline rush.

The future

Symphony of the Seas will debut in April 2018 and offer an initial European season prior to coming to Miami in November 2018.

Royal Caribbean said the Godmother naming ceremony will take place once Symphony of the Seas arrives in North America.  In keeping with maritime tradition, the ship will have a naming ceremony in Europe to begin her sailing season.