Royal Caribbean came away a big winner at the 2016 Travvy Awards, which were held at Gotham Hall on January 6th, 2016 in New York City.

Photo by Vicki Freed

Royal Caribbean won a total of six awards in these categories

• Best Overall Cruise Line
• Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean
• Best Contemporary Cruise Line
• Best LGBT Cruise Line
• Best Cruise Line in Europe
• Best Cruise Line for Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, posted on Facebook how proud she was of the wins, "I am so proud and humbled to announce the awards Royal Caribbean was honored with at last night's Travvy Awards Event! We can not thank you enough for your continued support and love. Thank you Travel Partners."

The Travvy Awards recognize the highest standards of excellence in the industry today and honor travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, travel executives, travel agents and destinations for their outstanding achievement.

In a Twitter post earlier today, Royal Caribbean UK confirmed it has no current plans to charge guests for WOWbands on the soon to be launched Ovation of the Seas.

@markfazzy Hi Mark, the new pricing only applies to #AnthemoftheSeas at the moment.

— Royal Caribbean UK (@MyRoyalUK) January 4, 2016

Royal Caribbean has been testing charging for the RFID bracelets, known as WOWbands, on Anthem of the Seas since November 2015, by charging guests $4.99 for each band.

WOWbands are RFID enabled bracelets that that allows passengers to connect with a number of Royal Caribbean experiences, such as purchase goods and services, access stateroom doors and check-in for activities or entertainment.  They are essentially a replacement for the traditional SeaPass card.

According to a Royal Caribbean spokesperson, WOWBands do not have an additional cost on Quantum of the Seas either.

Ovation of the Seas launches in April 2016 and will be the third Quantum class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

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

Episode 127 is available for downloading, where Matt shares excursion ideas for cruises to Nassau, Bahamas.

Nassau is among the most commonly visited cruise ports in the Caribbean and this week, Erin Foster joins Matt to discuss what the options are to do in Nassau and review some excursions they have done in the past.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 127. 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 treats guests to a culinary delight with an exclusive white truffle themed dinner at the Chef's Table. Watch as the culinary team bids on rare white truffles - known as the culinary diamonds - from Alba, Italy and bring these rare delicacies onboard.

Royal Caribbean's new BOGO FURTHER sale begins today, where guests can get Buy One Get One fares, reduced deposits, 25% off for 3rd and 4th guests and up to $300 to spend at sea — plus special bonuses on select sailings.

The new promotion includes:

• Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 50% Off
• Up to $300 per stateroom onboard credit
  • Interior: $50 per stateroom
  • Oceanview: $100 per stateroom
  • Balcony: $200 per stateroom
  • Suite: $300 per stateroom
• 50% reduced deposit
• PLUS 25% Savings for 3/4 guests
• BONUS Select Beverage Package for 1st and 2nd guests aboard Jewel of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, and Rhapsody of the Seas roundtrip Europe sailings departing Apr.- Nov. 2016 ocean view and higher staterooms.

BOGO FURTHER offer applies to all deployed ships and sailings, excluding China departures. The free Select Beverage Package bonus is only applicable to guests sailing in Europe onboard Jewel of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, and Rhapsody of the Seas departing between April - November, 2016.

BOGO is combinable with the adjoining OBC, 3rd and 4th Guest Savings, Select Beverage Package Offer, Crown & Anchor discounts and NextCruise offers; BOGO and 3rd and 4th Guest Savings are not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military). OBC and Select Beverage Offer are combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military, BOGO) and NextCruise offers. OBC and Select Beverage Package Offer are not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts. All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, weekly Sales Events, Net Rates, Shareholder Benefits and Quick Getaway Fares.

BOGO FURTHER offer is combinable for Future Cruise Certificates and Letters of Credit.

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada.