Happy Sunday! We’d like to wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day! We hope you get to have a relaxing and fun-filled day with your family!

Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the latest Royal Caribbean news!

Royal Caribbean provided our first look at its new non-refundable deposit program with select sailings offering the new option.

Beginning June 13, guests can expect to see the non-refundable deposit option live on various products. Royal Caribbean will work with these test products leading up to the fleet wide launch on July 1, 2017.

As of July 1st, 2017, the fleet-wide launch of nonrefundable deposit fares will debut across all ships.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean confirmed there will be no impact to its Cuba cruises as a result of the new U.S. policy change.
• Royal Caribbean changed its shore excursion cancellation policy.
• A new Cruise Planner sale debuted this weekend.
• There is a new option to pre-purchase arcade credit.
• Royal Caribbean is offering Crown and Anchor Society members a discount on suites on Oasis Class ships.
• Our list of things not to worry about on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 202nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we discuss what you need to know about taking a cruise during hurricane season.

In this episode, Matt talks about what impact hurricanes can have on a cruise, and whether or not taking a cruise during this time of year is a good idea.

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

New York Post shared a look at a recent Allure of the Seas cruise.

My Cruise Course shared a list of their favorite cruise podcasts.

Disney Cruise Line Blog shared tips for packing for a cruise.

Reasons to Cruise compared MSC Meraviglia to Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas.

Cruise Radio released a new episode with a review of Liberty of the Seas.

Travel Weekly reports the new Royal Caribbean sales manager for Scotland.

Royal Caribbean's Pre-Cruise Summer Sale is offering up to 30% off select pre-cruise purchases made via the Cruise Planner.

The three-day sale is available for guests on select sailings, and offers discounts on services, such as unlimited drink packages, internet packages and even some shore excursions and spa treatments. Offer applies to new purchases made June 17 - 19, 2017. Discount applies to beverage, internet, dining and spa packages on select sailings departing July 1 - December 15, 2017. Discount amount varies by amenity type.

The exact discount available will vary from sailing to sailing, but there appears to be a fair amount of discounts applied.

Based on the countdown clock, it appears this promotion ends at midnight on June 19, 2017.

To check what items are on sale for your sailing, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site to see any available offers.

If you have already prepurchased something on the Cruise Planner that is now less expensive, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same service under this promotion.

UPDATE: Royal Caribbean has extended the sale by another 24 hours. Offer applies to new purchases made June 20, 2017. 

President Trump announced new restrictions on Friday to curtail travel and commercial ties between the U.S. and Cuba, but it appears there will be no impact on Royal Caribbean cruises to Cuba.

On Twitter, Royal Caribbean confirmed that there will be no impact to any sailings that visit Cuba as a result of the new U.S. policy toward Cuba.

We're pleased to share there is no impact to any of our cruises to Cuba as announced in the new U.S. policy toward Cuba today.

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) June 16, 2017

Royal Caribbean currently offers year-round sailings to Havana, Cuba on Empress of the Seas from Tampa, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida through March 2019.

When the calendar says it is Friday, that is when we share our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean cruise photos.  

Our first photo this week is from Scuba Steve, taken while snorkeling at Coco Cay during a cruise on Freedom of the Seas.

Bob Carpenter took this photo of Empress of the Seas at Terminal Sierra Maestra in old downtown Havana.

Steve Nikazy shared this photo of sunrise, taken onboard Grandeur of the Seas.

Here is a shot of St. Thomas, taken by Jennifer as her Royal Caribbean ship was leaving port.

Check out this photo of Harmony of the Seas docked next to Rhapsody of the Seas in Cozumel, by Dana and Patricia Hall.

Jason A Mathis-White took this photo from the aft of Navigator of the Seas.  

Our last photo this week is from Deborah, taken in St. Thomas while on a Harmony of the Seas cruise.

Thank you to everyone who shared their photos with us this week.  As always, you can share your favorite Royal Caribbean photos with us too.

Royal Caribbean is now allowing guests to pre-purchase arcade credit via its Cruise Planner site.

There are three options available to purchase prior to a cruise, which offers the convenience of pre-loading arcade credit, as well as a discount.

• $25 Arcade credit for $20
• $50 Arcade credit for $40
• $100 Arcade credit for $80

We spotted these new options for Harmony of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, although it may be available on other sailings as well.

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 202 is available for downloading, focusing on what you need to know about taking a cruise during hurricane season.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic is a time of year when large storms have the potential to disrupt cruise vacations.  What risks are there? Should you avoid taking a cruise this time of year? Matt discusses the important considerations during these months.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 202. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Royal Caribbean is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its most popular sale, the WOW Sale, with another WOW sale!

Guests that book a Royal Caribbean cruise between June 14-16, 2017 on sailings departing on or after July 14, 2017 (excluding China departures) are eligible for the WOW sale.  

The WOW Sale includes:

60% off second passenger

Onboard Credit

WOW Sale includes up to $200 onboard credit:

• $50 for 5 nights or less
• $100 for 6-9 nights
• $200 for 10-nights and longer

Sailings departing between 12/19/17 - 12/31/17 and 12/18/18 - 12/31/18 qualify for additional onboard credit:

• $75 total OBC for 3-5 Nights
• $150 total OBC for 6-9 nights
• $250 total OBC for 10 nights and longer

50% Reduced Deposit

Kids Sail Free

Kids Sail Free offer provides free cruise fare of third and higher guests who are 12 years or younger as of cruise departure date, booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad occupancy stateroom on 5 nights or longer Bahamas and Caribbean sailings departing Sep. 1, 2017-May 31, 2018, excluding sailings departing 11/17/17-11/27/17, 12/17/17 – 1/8/18, 2/15/18-2/20/18 and 3/10/18-4/1/18.

All other charges, including, but not limited to, taxes, fees and port expenses, are additional and apply to all guests.

WOW Sale is combinable with BOGO60, 30% Savings for 3rd and 4th guests, Kids Sail Free, standard/full fare and Next Cruise offers. WOW Sale is not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military, etc.) Crown & Anchor discounts, Shareholder Benefits or Loyal to Royal Sales. All offers are 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, and Net Rates. WOW Sale is valid for Cruisetour package. Bookings with a Cruisetour package will receive an OBC based on the combined length of the cruise and Cruisetour component

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada. 

Royal Caribbean has released details on the launch of its non-refundable deposit program, where guests can opt to make a cruise reservation with a no-refund policy on the deposit.

Beginning June 13, guests can expect to see the non-refundable deposit option live on various products. Royal Caribbean will work with these test products leading up to the fleet wide launch on July 1, 2017.

Here are the sailings eligible for the non-refundable deposit program

Caribbean

• Freedom of the Seas departing San Juan
  • Sailing window: May 12, 2018 through August 25, 2018
• Rhapsody of the Seas departing Tampa, FL
  • Sailing window: January 7, 2018 through April 29, 2018
• Adventure of the Seas departing from Northeast
  • Sailing window: May 5, 2018 through October 8, 2018

Alaska

• Explorer of the Seas
  • Sailing window: May 18, 2018 through September 7, 2018
• Radiance of the Seas
  • Sailing window: May 18, 2018 through September 7, 2018

Europe

• Jewel of the Seas departing from Rome roundtrip
  • Sailing window June 17, 2018 through September 2, 2018

Non-refundable fares booked 6-months or more from sail date, recieve automatic Early Booking Incentive bonus. The early booking credit is combinable with promotional onboard credit offers, Crown & Anchor discounts, and NextCruise benefits.

• Sailings 1-5 nights
  • Interior/Oceanview: $25 OBC
  • Balcony/Suite: $50 OBC
• Sailings 6+ nights
  • Interior/Oceanview: $50 OBC
  • Balcony/Suite: $100 OBC

A non-refundable deposit will become the only option for those guests interested in reserving an upper Suite. This also holds true for guarantee categories, including W/WS, X/XB, XN, Y/YO, and Z/ZI.

As of July 1st, 2017, the fleet-wide launch of nonrefundable deposit fares will debut across all ships.

A change fee of $100 per guest will be imposed to all reservations booked under a nonrefundable deposit fare that opts to change either the ship and/or sail date originally selected. Multiple adjustments to the ship and/or sail date of a booking will result in the assessment of a $100 per guest change fee for each qualifying change made to the reservation. There is no limit on the number of change fees that can be incurred.

Outside of final payment, when a nonrefundable deposit cancellation occurs, guests will receive a Future Cruise Certificate in the amount of their designated cruise deposit, less the $100 per guest change fee.

Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program is offering up to $1000 off suites on Oasis class sailings, departing July 10 - September 30, 2017.

Crown & Anchor Society members with a valid membership number of Gold or higher status can take advantage of this deal onboard Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas sailings booked between June 9-30, 2017 and departing between July 10 and September 30, 2017. The promotion is combinable with 60% off your second guest and 30% off third and fourth guests.

Gold Tier and higher members will receive the following savings

• Star Tier Suites: $1,000 in Instant Savings
• Sky Tier Suites: $500 in Instant Savings
• Sea Tier Suites: $300 in Instant Savings

BOGO60 is combinable with Kids Sail Free, Crown & Anchor Balcony & Suite Discount, Crown & Anchor Suite Instant Savings, Next Cruise offers, and Shareholders benefits. Not combinable with any other offer, restricted rate, or promotion. The Crown & Anchor Suite Instant Savings is combinable with BOGO60 and Kids Sail Free and is not combinable with Crown & Anchor Balcony & Suite Discount, restricted rates or any other offer or promotion.

Offer open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.