Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants have become quite popular with guests for the amazing food, expanded variety and excellent values they offer.  While most guests enjoy specialty restaurants at dinner, many are open for lunch too.

Lunch can be a great time to try a specialty restaurant or visit a favorite again because it offers additional slots to eat at the restaurant and often at a reduced price, compared to dinner.

If you are considering a specialty restaurant on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, be sure to look for their lunch hours and keep this information in mind.

Lunch hours

Select specialty restaurants will be open for lunch on your Royal Caribbean cruise, primarily on sea days.

Check your Cruise Compass for specific days and times, but usually you will find specialty restaurants open for a few hours for lunch on sea days.

In almost all cases, advanced reservations via the Cruise Planner are not possible and guests are encouraged to walk up to the restaurant and ask to be seated.

On embarkation day, some ships will have their specialty restaurants open for lunch, while others may not.  

Lunch prices

Generally speaking, specialty restaurants with a cover charge will have a reduced price to dine at them for lunch.

In the past, we have seen these types of prices for lunch

• Giovanni's Table: $20 ($30 for dinner)
• Sabor Modern Mexican: $20 ($30 for dinner)

For restaurants that are a la carte, there generally is no change in pricing.

While embarkation day dinner at specialty restaurants usually offer a 20% discount, the same is not true for lunch.

Lunch menus

The menus between lunch and dinner do not often change much, but the lunch menus can be slimmed down a bit compared to dinner.

At Sabor Modern Mexican, we have seen a few items missing from the lunch menu menu and at Giovanni's Table, a smaller steak was offered with lunch.

At Izumi, some of the non-sushi items are left off the menu.

The exact differences in menu options and choices between lunch and dinner will vary from ship to ship.

Roal Caribban has announces its list of their annual Travel Partners of the Year for the United States of America and Canada.

"Royal Caribbean is delighted to name our 2015 Travel Partners of the Year to recognize these incredibly successful and meaningful partnerships," said Vicki Freed, senior vice president, Sales, Trade Support and Services, Royal Caribbean International. "We are driven by our ongoing commitment to travel agents and are very proud to acknowledge these travel partners who have displayed an exemplary commitment to our brand and achieved significant growth in their business with us. We thank all of our valued travel agent partners for recommending Royal Caribbean to their clients and their important role in creating incredible adventures for our guests."

Royal Caribbean’s 2015 Travel Partners of the Year award recipients are as follows:
 
Chairman's Award for Overall Achievement       

Cruise Planners- An American Express Representative
 
President's Award for Overall Achievement      

Vacation.com                   
 
National Partner of the Year

AAA/CAA
 
Home-based Partner of the Year

Nexion, LLC
 
Online Partner of the Year

Expedia, Inc.
 
Consortia Partner of the Year

Ensemble Travel Group
 
Corporate Incentive Partner of the Year

Maritz Travel Company
 
Luxury Partner of the Year

Virtuoso
 
Loyalty Partner of the Year

CruCon Cruise Outlet Plus, Inc.
 
Marketing Partner of the Year

Avoya Travel
 
Southeast Partner of the Year

Educational Travel Service, Inc.
 
Northeast Partner of the Year

Autism on the Seas
 
Central Partner of the Year

AAA Allied Group
 
West Partner of the Year

Auto Club Enterprises/AAA Travel
 
Canada Partner of the Year

Expedia CruiseShipCenters

Royal Caribbean is committed to providing an expansive and unmatched array of multidimensional entertainment found only on Royal Caribbean. Jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and unique programming featuring spectacular ice skating, diving and aerial performances wow guests on their cruise adventure.

Royal Caribbean formally announced the entertainment line up for its brand new third Oasis class ship, Harmony of the Seas.

Royal Theater

Harmony of the Seas will feature two headline shows for guests to enjoy in the Royal Theater that can accomodate 1,380 guests.

Grease

Harmony of the Seas will offer guests the musical classic, Grease, which has been specially adapted by Royal Caribbean Productions. It will boast original choreography, costumes and aerial elements set to amaze the most seasoned theater goers. 

Featuring a soundtrack of crowd favorites such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Born to Hand-Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout” and more, guests will follow the romantic twists and turns of Sandy and Danny as they navigate the tricky social waters of Rydell High School while keeping their reputations – and relationship – together.  

Columbus, The Musical!

An original Royal Caribbean production created in the spirit of “Spamalot” and “Something Rotten,” the story recounts the imagined history of Marvin Columbus, Christopher’s fictional, down on his luck, distant cousin. 

Banished from his family’s kingdom, Marvin sets sail on a madcap voyage of discovery in the hopes of claiming his own place in history. Unforeseen romance and a “happily ever after” story are on the map as Marvin Columbus crashes into his Caribbean destiny. 

A breathtaking and revolutionary set design, transporting the audience across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, will awe the entire family and adults will thoroughly enjoy the smart, nuanced humor.

AquaTheater

Harmony of the Seas will offer two shows in the AquaTheater, the distinct high diving, acrobatic performance space introduced by Royal Caribbean with the Oasis class of ships, that feature two 10-meter high platforms and the hydraulic-floored pool, the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea, below will serve as podiums for high-diving, hair-raising aerobatics that AquaTheater audiences have come to love.

The Fine Line

A journey from extreme to extraordinary, The Fine Line is the AquaTheater redefined with high-flying feats, mind blowing stunts and physically demanding acrobatics brought to life by the world’s best extreme-sport athletes.  Designed as a 360° immersive entertainment show, revelers will be wishing for eyes in the back of their head to take in all the action happening around them.

Hideaway Heist

A dive into hilarious escapades, guests will steal some laughs and experience amazing wows with Royal Caribbean’s new comedy dive show, Hideaway Heist. This action packed comedy aqua show jumps into the world of a swanky 1950’s holiday resort where guys ‘n’ dolls take the audience on a frolicking escapade in, on and around the pool as an undercover detective, playing the part of a high-rolling vacationer, pursues a crafty burglar. Guests can expect plenty of family-friendly fun and awe-inspiring performance tricks as the staff of the Hideaway Resort solve the crime of a century.

Studio B ice skating

Royal Caribbean's ice rinks have been home to some amazing shows in the past, and Harmony of the Seas will feature world-class skaters that can perform extraordinary skills as stunning multimedia visuals, audio and state-of-the-art technology provide a sight and sound theatrical extravaganza.

1887

An original Royal Caribbean production about love and adventure that begins in Paris on February 14, 1887 at the height of the career of Jules Verne, renowned author of timeless adventure novels such as “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (1864), “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” (1870), and “Around the World in Eighty Days” (1873). 

Beginning their journey on the frozen River Seine, Juliet and her mysterious time traveling companion, the Tempus, travel in multiple dimensions to discover the wonders of the world, and of the heart. World-class skaters and striking technology combine in a unique way that is guaranteed to leave audiences both breathless and emotionally touched. 

iSkate Showcase

A Studio B ice show unlike any other where Royal Caribbean’s talented skaters put their best blade forward in a dazzling showcase of their very best moves set to their own favorite tunes. The cast goes rogue and anything can happen!

Fan favorite entertainment

Royal Caribbean is also adding entertainment that guests have enjoyed on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships including

Puzzle Break Escape the Rubicon

A puzzle that transports players to another world and another time where they must ESCAPE! Players will collaborate with friends, old and new, as they attempt to find the hidden clues needed to solve a collection of puzzles that will eventually unravel the mystery of the Rubicon.

With only 60 minutes of life-support, the suspense builds with every tick of the clock.  For the first time, this remarkably popular activity will take place in a dedicated space designed in partnership with ShowFX Inc., a staple for Hollywood studios’ engineering, design and fabrication of custom entertainment equipment.

Red Party

The hottest high-energy party at sea. With DJs, surprise performances, special effects and technology, this all out nightlife extravaganza is an experience not to be missed.

Stowaway Piano

The pop-up piano player, which originally debuted on Anthem of the Seas, heads to Harmony. Behind the door. Around the corner. In the elevator. By the pool. Guests never know where the Stowaway Piano will turn up next.

Royal Promenade

Guests can enjoy on its Royal Promenade some great themed nights and parades.

Totally Awesome 90s 

Harmony of the Seas debuts the evolution of Royal Caribbean’s much-loved Promenade 70s Party as the clock is pushed forward to the 90s. Guests can party it up in a new era when soundtracks are dominated by teen pop, dance-pop and the growing popularity of hip hop.  A live DJ spinning favorite 90s hits, live pop-up performances and crazy neon track suits set the stage to transport partygoers back to this totally awesome decade.

Let’s Celebrate!

When on a cruise, vacationers really don’t need an excuse to celebrate, but Royal Caribbean is giving guests one anyway with Let’s Celebrate! – the ultimate celebration of celebrations. Halloween, Birthdays, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve will all be celebrated at once, in a wild and crazy parade that’s truly unforgettable. 

“We are taking entertainment to the next level on Harmony of the Seas with more captivating, immersive entertainment experiences than ever before,” said Nick Weir, Vice President, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. “The level of innovation that has gone into our latest lineup is truly mind blowing, and Harmony guests can expect the unexpected with our biggest, most awe-inspiring stage yet.”

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas will be the line's third Oasis class cruise ship and she is launching in Spring 2016, but already, people are getting really excited about this new ship.

Jad Estuaire shared some great shots of Harmony of the Seas under construction in STX France shipyard.

All photos by Jad Estuaire.

Good news, we are all one week closer to our next Royal Caribbean cruise!  In case you missed any of the Royal Caribbean fun from this week, here is our weekly round up!

The Royal Caribbean news everyone was talking about was the rise in price of the unlimited alcohol packages.

Royal Caribbean rose the prices of its unlimited alcohol and non-alcoholic drink packages a bit this week. The increases ranged from less than a dollar to a few dollars per day.

This was the first change in the base price of the drink packages since Royal Caribbean introduced the drink packages in late 2012.

Royal Caribbean News

There was plenty more Royal Caribbean news, so dig into this week's batch!

• Royal Caribbean launched its new BOGO Further sale this week and today is the last day of an add-on sale.
• Check out our guide to Royal Caribbean's 2016 new cruise ships and refurbishments.
• Royal Caribbean has no plans (yet) to charge for WOWBands on Ovation of the Seas.
• We shared seven surprising facts about Allure of the Seas.
• The best itinerary recommendations for first time cruisers.
• A 10 drink card was spotted on Oasis of the Seas.
• Royal Caribbean won a few awards at the 2016 Travvy Awards.
• We reviewed a great alternative beach in St Thomas, Emerald Beach.
• Take a photo tour of Labadee.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 127th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and this week, we are discussing what shore excursions to do in Nassau, Bahamas.

In this episode, Matt and Erin discuss why a lot of guests struggle with what to do in Nassau and share some of their picks for what to do (and not to do) in Nassau.

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.

How you can support Royal Caribbean Blog

So many of our readers have reached out to us to ask how they can help the blog and we are introducing the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders for just that reason.

The Insiders group is a way readers can contribute to Royal Caribbean Blog and help fuel some of the really amazing ideas, projects and new content that we have lined up.

As a way of saying thank you for your contribution, there are some fun rewards for being a member of the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders.

Becoming a member of the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders is completely up to you and you can cancel at any time. No questions asked! 

As always, thank you for visiting Royal Caribbean Blog and being a part of our community!

Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds

If you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise and spot something cool, new or just fun, share a photo with us on Facebook or Twitter so we can add it to our Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds each Sunday!

Collier Swecker took this photo of Adventure of the Seas docked in San Juan.

Andrew McConnell took a panoramic photo from Oasis of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Royal Caribbean shared six unique adventures on Anthem of the Seas.

Fortune Magazine looked at how cruise lines are targeting gamers.

Cruise Critic answered the top frequently asked questions about Oasis of the Seas.

Shermans Cruise has a 90 second tour of Anthem of the Seas.

Most Royal Caribbean guests looking for a shore excursion in St. Thomas are likely to consider something at the beach and for good reason.  St. Thomas has a reputation for having some of the best beaches, including the world famous Magens Bay.

On our recent visit to St. Thomas, we tried a different beach that was much closer to the cruise ships at Emerald Beach.

Description

Some background is necessary for understanding why one would want to consider a lesser known beach, like Emerald Beach.

We had been to Magens Bay many times and while beautiful, it requires a long taxi ride across the interior of St. Thomas to reach there and then a modest entrance fee.

We endeavored to return to Magens Bay until our taxi driver pointed out two basic facts: almost any beach in St. Thomas is beautiful and there are beautiful beaches closer and for less money.

Enter, Emerald Beach, which is located just a few minutes drive from Charlotte Amalie.

Emerald Beach is a public beach that anyone can access, although there is a hotel that is located near the beach as well.  Despite the hotel, anyone can use the beach.

There is an outdoor bar and restaurant at the Best Western that anyone can go to to get drinks or food.

Comments

As our taxi driver promised, Emerald Beach is indeed quite beautiful and certainly a lot less crowded than what we have experienced on previous visits to Magens Bay.

If you want to be really picky about the details, Magens Bay is situated in a lush tropical valley, whereas Emerald Beach has a hotel behind it and the airport is across the street.  I would not characterize either as a problem, but it is worth noting.

Emerald Beach is a good choice for anyone looking for a quiet(er) beach experience with less crowds and/or a closer drive.  At five minutes from Charlotte Amalie, it is a really quick ride.

Address: 8070 Lindbergh Bay | West, Charlotte Amalie 00802, St. Thomas

Cost: Admission to beach is free

Royal Caribbean kicked off a 72-hour weekend cybersale today that offers up to $50 onboard credit that is combinable with the existing BOGO Further promotion.

Beginning on January 8, 2016, guests can take advantage of the 72-hour sale on all sailings departing on or after February 8, 2016. Offer excludes China departures.

Guests will receive up to $50 onboard credit per stateroom

• Interior & Oceanview staterooms: $25 onboard credit per stateroom
• Balcony & Suites: $50 onboard credit per stateroom

Anyone that has a current booking should see if this promotion can be combined with their existing rate to save them a little more.

Offer applies to new bookings made January 8-10, 2016.

Offer is combinable with current standard/full fare rates, restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military,) BOGO Further offer, and Next Cruise offers. Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, weekly Sales Events, Net Rates, Crown & Anchor Discounts, and Shareholder benefits. 

Offer available in the United States and Canada.

Royal Caribbean has been experimenting with offering guests various drink package offers beyond the usual unlimited drink packages and on Oasis of the Seas this week, there is a 10 drink card offer that has been spotted.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Dan Kohout sent us this photo of an offer for 10 drinks for $79 on Oasis of the Seas.

Guests can pay one price for 10 drinks at any onboard, bar, restaurant and lounge that is valid for the purchase of most beers, glasses of wine and cocktails, as well as fountain sodas, specialty coffee and fresh juices.

We also received a report from Kris Leppien-Christensen, onboard Liberty of the Seas, of a similar offer this week, where guests can purchase ten drinks for $69.

Royal Caribbean has been experimenting with these special offers over the last couple of weeks, with a one-day unlimited alcohol package on Enchantment of the Seas and a 10 drink ticket on Grandeur of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean spokesperson Celia de la Llama told Cruise Critic, "Ships have been given the option to test different beverage package offerings onboard.  The decision of which program to offer, if any, is made by the ship."

Would you buy a drink ticket like this instead of an unlimited alcohol package? Share your thoughts in the comments!

When the calendar says it is Friday, that means it is the perfect time to share some Royal Caribbean cruise photos that our readers have sent to us. Each week, we invite all of our readers to send us their best Royal Caribbean photos so we can show them off on the blog!

First up this week, is this photo of Legend of the Seas in Bali by Ross and Pam.  I love the contrast between the various boats in the foreground and Legend looming large in the background.

Here is a fun photo by Frederic of Santa and his elves arriving to Anthem of the Seas, via the North Star. Santa knows how to arrive in style!

Kalya submitted this shot of Enchantment of the Seas as seen from Coco Cay on a beautiful and cloudless day.  Sign me up for this kind of weather!

Heath sent us this photo as they were leaving Labadee while walking on deck 11 towards the front of the ship.  Amazing colors!

John had some Halloween fun on Serenade of the Seas with these costumes!

Thank you to everyone that sent in their photos this week and if you have Royal Caribbean photos, well, we want to see them!  You can use this form to send us your photos and we will feature them on an upcoming Friday Photos blog post!