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

Episode 157 is available for downloading, and this week we have an exclusive interview with the Godmother of Anthem of the Seas, Emma Wilby.

Hear about how Emma was chosen to become Anthem's Godmother, what she did to prepare for the role and what her favorite aspects of Anthem of the Seas are.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 157. 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!

Guests visiting Royal Caribbean's private destination of Coco Cay in the Bahamas will have something new to try on their next visit.

Royal Caribbean added a new swim up bar for guests to enjoy while out for a swim.  It is located near South Beach/Barefoot Beach.

The new bar is floating in the ocean, which means guests have to swim to it in order to get a drink.  Michael Poole reports the new bar was added just a few weeks ago.

The rules of the bar are posted at the bar

• Adult Only Bar - No children under the age of 18
• Must be able to swim
• No diving, flips, horseplay, stunts, trucks or pushing allowed
• No diving or swimming under bar

Royal Caribbean is in the midst of upgrading a number of experiences on the island, including new cabanas and even a dock for the island.

Do you want to try this bar on your next cruise stop in Coco Cay? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

During Royal Caribbean's second quarter earnings call with investors, Royal Caribbean reiterated it had absolutely no plans to reduce or transfer capacity from the Chinese cruise market.

Royal Caribbean Chief Financial Officer Jason Liberty summarized the quarter's earnings and provided guidance for the future, where he mentioned there has been some "softness in close-in demand in Shanghai in recent weeks". 

Royal Caribbean Ltd Chairman Richard Fain added, "Softness in China is being driven by huge capacity growth rather than faltering demand."

Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley spoke more about the role of China within Royal Caribbean's business, "With the softness we've seen, still, China continues to generate above-average yields and it's accretive to our business."

"Certainly, we are optimistic about the overall future in terms of the market potential, and we have been very actively engaged in the broadening and broadening of channels in the marketplace.  There is no issue with demand. The demand is there and the market is there. It's the building of the distribution quickly enough to handle the capacity."

When concerns arose from investors about a shift in capacity from China to the Caribbean, Richard Fain flat out ruled out any such change in the foreseeable future, "We are a long-term industry. This is an industry where our horizon is long-term, we plan long-term. We see a very powerful market and don't see any real change in that.  The idea that because of relatively modest discounting in one year, and in the face of a more profitable environment even with that discounting, that we would suddenly change the way we've operated forever in the industry just doesn't seem to me to be realistic."

"There are concerns that if China doesn't develop, all the capacity will turn left and head towards the Caribbean and saturate the Caribbean. It would require an enormous change in the fundamentals of China to even begin to contemplate that.  I will just tell you, within our company, the subject has literally never arisen in any deployment discussion that I am aware of.  We are so far from it that we just think that would require a level of change that none of us think is likely or remotely likely."

Royal Caribbean reported its second quarter 2016 earnings today, with US GAAP Net Income of $229.9 million or $1.06 per share, compared to $185.0 million or $0.84per share in 2015.  

Adjusted Net Income for the second quarter of 2016 was $235.2 million, or $1.09 per share, up over 25% versus the same quarter last year.  The outperformance for the quarter was primarily driven by better than anticipated fuel expense. 

"Our business remains strong and we continue to improve our return profile," said Richard Fain, chief executive officer. "This keeps us solidly on our path towards the Double-Double."

The company's booked position for the remainder of 2016 remains strong, similar to last year's record levels.

"While there are always puts and takes in our key markets, our portfolio is performing as expected, our booked position remains strong, and our newbuilds are entering their markets to great fanfare," said Jason T. Liberty, chief financial officer. "These factors are driving another year of record earnings."

You can see the full second quarter financial results here.

Royal Caribbean's next promotion will offer 30% off every ship and every guest.  Plus, kids will sail free on select sailings.

The 30% off discount is valid on bookings made between August 4 and 31, 2016, on all sailings departing on or after September 4, 2016.

The 30% off the standard cruise fare for all guests in a stateroom; all stateroom categories. All other charges, including, but not limited to, taxes, fees and port expenses, are additional and apply to all guests.

Kids Sail Free is valid for bookings made between August 4 and 18, 2016, for 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 Offer qualifying guests in a triple or quad occupancy stateroom.

Kids Sail Free is eligible in 5 nights or longer Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Dubai, and Europe sailing that departs Sept. 6, 2016-May 15, 2017. Kids Sail Free Offer excludes sailings departing between 11/17/16- 11/24/16, 12/15/16-1/05/17, 2/16/17-2/23/17, 3/10/17-3/20/17, 4/06/17-4/16/17 and Harmony of the Seas. Offer excludes China departures.

30% Savings Offer and Kids Sail Free are combinable with adjoining Holiday OBC, Crown & Anchor discounts, NextCruise offers, and Shareholders benefits.

30% Offer and Kids Sail Free are not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military). Holiday OBC is combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military) and NextCruise offers. Holiday OBC is not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts.

All Offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion.

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

Royal Caribbean was forced to change the scheduled itineraries for two of its cruise ships today, due to the predicted path of a tropical disturbance.

Royal Caribbean spokesman Owen Torres told Royal Caribbean Blog the change was made, "to ensure our guests enjoy a safe and comfortable cruise. Given the storm’s current location and projected path, we had no other option but to revise itineraries for Empress of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas."

Empress of the Seas revised itinerary will be

Monday, August 1: Miami, Florida
Tuesday, August 2: Key West, Florida
Wednesday, August 3: At Sea
Thursday, August 4: Nassau, Bahamas
Friday, August 5: CocoCay, Bahamas
Saturday, August 6: Miami, Florida

Liberty of the Seas revised itinerary will be

Sunday, July 31: Galveston, Texas
Monday, August 1: At Sea
Tuesday, August 2: Cozumel, Mexico
Wednesday, August 3: At Sea
Thursday, August 4: Nassau, Bahamas
Friday, August 5: At Sea
Saturday, August 6: At Sea
Sunday, August 7: Galveston, Texas

Royal Caribbean will continue to monitor the path and progress of the tropical disturbance in the Western Caribbean.

You may have heard about Royal Caribbean's drink packages and even the drink cards, but here is a new drink card especially for those that enjoy a little "pep" in their day.

On Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, guests were able to purchase a specialty coffee drink card, where if 6 coffee drinks are pre-purchased, they get one for free.

Photo by Dr. Kris L-C

These pre-paid punch cards area available at three different price points, so you can choose one that is right for you.

• $24 for 7 coffee drinks priced at $4 or less
• $30 for 7 coffee drinks priced at $5 or less
• $36 for 7 coffee drinks priced at $6 or less

There is no indication that this kind of a drink card will be available on any particular sailing or ship. Royal Caribbean has experimented greatly with the concept of pre-paid drink cards that did include specialty coffees over the last 12 months or so, but this is the first we have seen of a pre-paid card specifically for coffee.

Would you buy one of these coffee cards? If so, which one appeals to you? Tell us in the comments below.