Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society sent an update out to its members that it will be changing the date of its planned 2016 President's Cruise and offer a new itinerary.

The President's Cruise was originally scheduled for September 11, 2016 on Allure of the Seas but has now been changed to September 18, 2016.

Royal Caribbean cites the reason for the change being they received "an overwhelming response to our 'Save the Date' email survey'.

The new itinerary will sail out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and call in Nassau, Bahamas, an extended call in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and spend the day in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  This is an itinerary that Allure of the Seas has never offered previously.

The President's Cruise is a new event for Royal Caribbean, in which Crown and Anchor Society members have been invited to cruise with Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley and will be invited to exclusive events.

When someone thinks about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise, odds are they imagine staying in a stateroom that has a large sliding glass door that opens up onto a balcony with a gentle breeze flowing in.  Of course, that is because balcony staterooms have become the idealized way to enjoy a cruise and there is no question that a balcony stateroom offers guests a lot.

We recently looked at the reasons to stay in an inside stateroom but today we are moving on up to a balcony stateroom and listing our top reasons to stay in a room where you can enjoy the outdoors just as much as the indoors!

6. It may not be that much more money

Once upon a time, balcony staterooms were not as common as they are today, and so, prices for balcony staterooms were significantly more than an inside stateroom.

Today, Royal Caribbean is offering more balcony staterooms on its ships than ever before and that means the price difference is generally not as great as it once was.

Odds are you will still pay more for a balcony stateroom compared to an inside or oceanview stateroom, but the cost difference may only be a couple of hundred dollars difference.

It is always worth pricing out a balcony stateroom to see how much more it will cost, because in many cases there is not a large price discrepancy.

5. Some itineraries make a balcony a must

Photo by moknits

The view you get from a balcony stateroom is always impressive but on certain itineraries, past cruisers will tell you a balcony is a must.

Sailings that go to Alaska, the Mediterranean or other scenic destinations mean having a balcony gives you your own private spot to watch glaciers go by or be able to see beautiful ancient architecture.

Having the ability to simply walk out of your stateroom at any time and enjoy the view is an important factor for reserving a balcony stateroom. 

4. Balcony staterooms are bigger

At its core, a balcony stateroom will usually offer more living space than inside or oceanview staterooms.

This means more space to spread out and enjoy the room.  

Instead of doing that "inside stateroom shuffle" to get around people and objects, a balcony stateroom can allow you the space to more casually walk around your stateroom.

In addition, the balcony itself gives you extra square footage of living space to enjoy beyond what you will find inside.

3. Crown and Anchor Society members can get discounts on balcony staterooms

If you are a Platinum or higher member in Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program known as Crown and Anchor Society, then you can qualify for a balcony discount.

Royal Caribbean offers its repeat customers balcony discounts, with the exact amount depending on your status in the program.

The special rates get you a per stateroom dollars off discount that is open to Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members.

The exact discount depends on the length of your cruise, how far in advance you book and your standing in Crown and Anchor Society. 

2. Royal Caribbean balconies are more than the ocean

On Royal Caribbean's Oasis class cruise ships, staying in a balcony can be more than just a view of the ocean.

On these ships, guests can also book balcony staterooms that overlook Central Park, the Boardwalk or the AquaTheater.  

Instead of looking at out the ocean, guests can enjoy the ambiance of these amazingly decorated neighborhoods and get a view that is completely unique to these ships.

These staterooms are perfect for people watching and enjoying a view of what is happening onboard the ship at that moment.

1. Having your own private space outdoors

Most guests that book balcony staterooms over and over again will tell you the reason they do so is to have your own spot outdoors, away from the crowds.

You can have room service bring your meals out there, or perhaps enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea in the morning and enjoy the sunrise.  

Balconies are also great spots for a nap, reading a book or having the door open to let in the ocean breeze.  These are just some of the experiences that bring balcony cruisers back again and again.

Do you prefer staying in a balcony stateroom? Post your thoughts in the comments!

One of the signature onboard activities that Royal Caribbean has become well-known for is the rock climbing wall.  Since the first rock climbing wall debuted on a Royal Caribbean ship, the experience has spread to every other ship in the fleet making it a favorite among guests.

Rock climbing walls were added to all of Royal Caribbean's ships following great guest feedback.

The 30-foot rock wall offers different tracks for various experience levels and is open for most of the day.  

It's open to kids and adults and Royal Caribbean provides all the safety equipment that you will need, including helmets, harnesses and shoes.  You just need to bring a pair of socks.

Climbers need to be at least 6 years old and sign a waiver.  Climbing the rock wall is free and no reservations are required.

For advanced climbers, Royal Caribbean will offer advanced climbing sessions, speed-climbing competitions and for teens, teen tournaments.

Photo by Dale Morton

On the Oasis class cruise ships, you will find two rock climbing walls, which offer double the capacity of climbers compared to other ships in the fleet.

What makes the rock climbing wall so much fun is that it is an exhilarting challenge to try and climb up all the way to the top and ring that bell to let everyone around know you conquered it.

There are different paths on the rock wall to allow beginner climbers and advanced climbers alike have a go at it.  Once you conquer one side, try the next side!

Royal Caribbean's rock climbing walls are a great way to stay active, challenge yourself and have fun all at the same time!

Have you tried the rock climbing wall yet? Tell us how you did in the comments!

Royal Caribbean is kicking off a Labor Day weekend sale that will give guests up to $50 in bonus onboard credit for cruises booked this weekend.

The Labor Day weekend sale applies all new bookings made September 4-8, 2015 for all sailings departing on or after October 4, 2015, excluding China departures.

Bookings made during this sale will receive

• Inside & oceanview staterooms: $25 onboard credit per stateroom
• Balcony & suite staterooms: $50 onboard credit per stateroom

Offer is combinable with current standard/full fare rates, restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military, BOGO, Upgrade offers), and Next Cruise offers.

Offer is 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, Crown & Anchor Discounts, and Shareholder benefits.

Offer available in the United States and Canada.

Royal Caribbean is testing out a new homeport in Australia at Wollogong's Port Kembla Harbour that could replace Sydney.

Photo by Sap

Radiance of the Seas will make a port stop here in October 2016 as part of a 7-night East Australian Coast and Tasmania cruise.

Royal Caribbean Regional Vice President Gavin Smith says Radiance of the Seas' stop here is the first step in a possible new partnership between the cruise line and the port, "I’m thrilled to announce we will be bringing one of the largest and most feature-packed mega liners in Australian waters to the South Coast of NSW, when Port Kembla becomes the newest destination for Radiance of the Seas."

"Including Port Kembla on our itineraries will provide our guests the opportunity to sample all that Wollongong and the South Coast has to offer. At the same time, it will give us the chance to investigate Port Kembla as an alternative home port, as an overflow to congestion in Sydney Harbour."

Royal Caribbean is particularly interested in Wollongong as an alternative home port because of the congestion problem in Sydney harbor.

A Royal Caribbean cruise just would not be possible without the amazing crew members.  These are the hard working folks that make our cruise vacation so very special and in many cases, it is their personal touch that make the memories we will remember for years to come.

Unfortunately, many of them don’t receive the recognition that they deserve. Here are ten crew member jobs that are under appreciated.

10. Windjammer greeter

Photo by Lois Evensen

Nothing says "good morning" better than the crew member at the entrance to the Windjammer that welcomes you with a friendly smile, a warm greeting and a reminder to wash your hands.

It is hard to beat starting your day on a Royal Caribbean ship with a visit to the Windjammer, and the crew member working the entrance is responsible officially for counting guests and reminding them to wash their hands, but we also love the ones that give us high-fives, welcome our kids and have a smile on their face.

Some of them dance, some sing and others act silly.  But it's a welcome treat to have a friendly face to say hello to each day.

9. Crew members welcoming you back from shore excursions

Odds are it will be quite hot on your Royal Caribbean cruise and that includes the ports you will visit.  After a long day exploring beaches, ruins, cities and more, someone with a towel or a drink really makes a difference.

Royal Caribbean often will station a table with water, towels and even ice covered towels near the gangway to welcome back guests returning to the ship.

That little gesture of providing some relief from the hot sun always makes a big difference and it can transform even the most miserable sweaty time into a better situation very quickly.

8. The Captain

Perhaps no crew member is more visible (or audible) than your Royal Caribbean ship's Captain.

Every day of your cruise, the Captain is around the ship to give updates, answer questions and pose for photos.

After all, the Captain is in charge of the ship and with the lofty responsibility comes also a friendly face to see.  Many of the Captains have a great sense of humor and you will often see him or her around the ship quite often.

7. Loyalty ambassador

When you get on a Royal Caribbean ship, pretty soon you will begin thinking about booking another Royal Caribbean cruise and the Loyalty Ambassador is there to make that as easy as possible.

Let's face it, the Loyalty Ambassador is your "chief enabler" and someone who can not only answer questions you may have but be your friend all along the way.

It is always fun to stop in and speak with the Loyalty Ambassador on your cruise to discuss upcoming itineraries and sailings that may be of interest, as well as see if they have any news to share about what else is coming around the corner from Royal Caribbean.

6. Main dining room waiters

Among the hardest working crew members on your Royal Caribbean ship are the main dining room waiters.

Your waiter and assistant waiter are there for you every day to make your dining room experience exceptional.  They remember your preferences, call you by name and bring you extra servings of coffee ice cream when available (maybe that is just me).

The main dining room wait staff are a very friendly bunch and they will often tell jokes, do magic tricks for kids (and kids' parents) and give recommendations on what is best to eat.  

What always strikes me about the wait staff is they will go out of their way to make your cruise better.  Want an extra entree? Think something needs to be heated more? Need something from the Windjammer? They always are there to help.

5. Drink servers

Let's face it, when you are lounging by the pool or at a Royal Caribbean private destination and enjoying the sun, breeze and sounds around you, the last thing you want to do is get up and go to the bar.

The drink servers that walk all around the pool decks and beaches are your best friend in this situation and they make enjoying some time by the water much easier on you.

Just like the main dining room waiters, the drink servers often have a great attitude and a good sense of humor.  Getting to know them is always a great idea!

4. Performers and entertainers

Royal Caribbean has always valued offering high quality entertainment on their ships that mirror what you might find on Broadway or in Las Vegas and it is their performers and entertainers that make these shows so memorable.

Each cruise, you will find a feature performance in the Royal Theater or at Studio B ice rink, or Two70 or in the AquaTheater and the crew members in each of these shows are tremendously talented.

Dancers, singers and acrobats are just some of the crew members that bring these shows to life.  When you can spot one on the ship somewhere, it's almost like meeting a celebrity because you will inevitably get star struck byt the fact you are seeing someone from the show the other day.

3. Cruise director and their staff

The Cruise Director's job is to make all guests onboard have a great time and it is a task they always seem to do so well.

Each day of your cruise, there are so many fun activities to choose from and it is the Cruise Director and their staff that make them all happen.

Bingo, trivia, game shows, belly flop competitions and more are just a few of the shows the activities staff puts together every day of every cruise.  

It's a tough job and frankly, it is amazing to see how quickly the Cruise Director can get from one event to another and they always have a big smile on their face and infused with enthusiasm.

2. Guest relations

Every cruise there can be something that needs to be remedied and the Guest Services crew members are available 24 hours per day to assist with any of it.

There are lots of things guests go to Guest Services for and the staff there are always available to help and try to make things right.

Most issues can be easily resolved and for the more difficult problems, they will try their very best to make sure guests are satisfied.  Having someone there to at least look at all your options and give some guidance is always appreciated.

1. Stateroom attendant

Perhaps no other crew member is as important to guests as their stateroom attendant.

Twice per day, they come to your messy stateroom and help clean everything up, give you new towels and turn down your beds at night. 

This is the kind of service that you rarely see on land these days and your stateroom attendant does it with a smile and the open question of if there is anything else they can do for you.

These dedicated people work a lot and when you walk through a deck, odds are you will run into a few of them and each of them is there with a smile and a "hello".

Who is your favorite Royal Caribbean crew member? Tell us in the comments!

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

Episode 109 is available for downloading where our friend Susan previews her upcoming back to back cruise on Independence of the Seas.

Susan is embarking on a back to back cruise on Independence of the Seas (yes, we are all jealous) and she talks about why she booked a back to back, how her large group plans impacted her planning and what her plans are for this cruise.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 109. 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!

When Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas debuts, she will offer a premier cruise experience, with lots of new innovations, things to do and ways to spend to your day.

Royal Caribbean prides itself on being a family cruise experience, so here is a look at what families can do when they get onboard the largest cruise ship in the world.

Ride on the carousel

It does not matter how young or old you are, a ride on the carousel in the Boardwalk neighborhood is timeless.

The carousel on Harmony of the Seas is hand-crafted and especially designed by Carousel Works for Royal Caribbean and is one-of-a-kind.

The inspiration for the carousel was taken from turn-of-the-century carousel designs. Even the original artwork scenery panels located on the carousel’s eight Rounding Boards feature custom painted scenes to highlight the wistfulness of life on the historic boardwalks.

Watch 3D Movies

Photo by Royal Caribbean

Onboard Harmony of the Seas, guests will be able to watch first-run movies by DreamWorks Animation and other studios in 3D.

Just like your local movie theater, guests will walk to the theater, where 3D glasses will be provided.

When you consider these 3D movies are included in your cruise fare, going on Harmony of the Seas is a great opportunity to catch up on movies you wanted to see or want to see again without the movie theater costs!

Teen activities

Photo by Royal Caribbean

For teenagers, Harmony of the Seas will offer a lot of activities to choose from.

The focal point for teens is in the back of Deck 15, where they'll find a teen-only hangout called the Living Room, a video arcade and the teen dance club.

Royal Caribbean also promises special events just for teens onboard such as pool parties, open mic nights and more.

The Cruise Compass provides a number of teen activities that offer teenagers events just for them,

Neighborhood just for kids

Kids are a big part of the cruise experience on Harmony of the Seas, and this ship will feature a central boulevard on deck 14 just for kids to make getting around for them simpler.

Kids Avenue will connect children with dedicated spaces for the Adventure Ocean program as well as various themed play areas.

Kids Avenue will include access to

• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Adventure Art
  • This studio for the future Picasso will give children the opportunity to explore the world of color and imagination
• Adventure Science Lab
  • A fully equipped lab where Einstein’s-in-the-making can expand their knowledge
• Adventure Ocean Theater
  • The first-ever children’s state-of-the art theater at sea. Children of all ages can learn about theatrical productions, take part in talent shows, or sign up for hip hop dance classes.
• Workshop
  • A space where families can come together and hone their scrapbooking skills and create personalized jewelry​​

Adrenaline filled fun

Photo by Royal Caribbean

For kids that want some thrills, they will find plenty of it on Harmony of the Seas.

Water slides, a zip line, FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall and more are available for kids to try while onboard.

These activities are included in their cruise fare and are sure to get their hearts pounding.

The zip line features a 10-deck high ride that takes them 120 feet above the Boardwalk.

Kids can also try the Perfect Storm water slides, that will take them down three decks through a series of twists and turns over the ship’s tree-lined Central Park neighborhood.

Also brand new to Harmony of the Seas will be the Ultimate Abyss, a 10-story dry slide.  It will be located on the aft of Harmony of the Seas and it is being billed as something to try for the super brave!

Splashaway Bay

Photo by Royal Caribbean

Harmony of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature Splashaway Bay, an interactive aqua park for kids.

Inside, kids will find sea creature water cannons, water slides, a gigantic drench bucket and a multi-level jungle gym.

Splashaway Bay was designed with kids and toddlers in mind and will be a brand new way for kids to cool down while having fun.

Royal Baby and Tots Nursery

Photo by Royal Caribbean

Parents that have toddlers 6 months to 36 months old will love the Royal Baby & Tots Nursery on Harmony of the Seas.

The nursery has become a favorite spot for parents on other Royal Caribbean ships, because it offers supervised care for young children during the day and night.

Having a place onboard Harmony of the Seas to bring your children to so that parents can enjoy a quiet dinner together or some time doing one of the many activities onboard gives everyone involved a great way to have fun.

Parents are never far away from their children, as the nursery provides wireless phones for parents to use in case they want to check in on their little ones or the nursery needs to get a hold of them.

Adventure Ocean

Royal Caribbean's signature and award-winning Adventure Ocean supervised kids program is available on Harmony of the Seas, where kids can play, explore and learn with other children.

Adventure Ocean is available for kids ages 3 to 11 and is included in your cruise fare.  

Once inside Adventure Ocean, kids will have the opportunity to take part in a number of daily activities during the day and night.  Adventure Ocean is a safe place for your children to spend their time onboard and make lots of new friends.

The Aquanauts (3-5 years old) will enjoy do magic tricks, dress up like pirates and pretend to be super heroes.  Explorers (6-8 years old) can take part in hands-on science experiments, try their hand at art and theater, as well as dancing and ice cream.  Voyagers (9-11 years old) will be able to do science experiments, backstage tours and new sports like Gagaball.

What is your family excited to do on Harmony of the Seas? Tell us in the comments below!

Leonardo Da Vinci was a visionary with ideas that far surpassed his time. With the technology available inAnthem of the Seas’ Two70, Royal Caribbean is able to bring many of his dreams to life in a dazzling display of digital technology.

About 300 passengers from Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas had to be forcibly removed because they were upset about an itinerary change.

Quantum of the Seas was slated to make stops in three Japanese cities, but concerns about Typhoon Goni forced the ship to make stops in South Korea instead.

The passengers were upset about the change and wanted to receive compensation for the change in their route.

When Quantum of the Seas returned to the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Baoshan District, the angry passengers refused to disembark until 1pm, when the final few were removed by crew members.

Royal Caribbean had given passengers free Wi-Fi and lobster dinners during the voyage to try to make up for the change.

Royal Caribbean took the upset passengers to a nearby hotel, where negotiations reconvened.

Royal Caribbean said it was willing to communicate with tourists based on international and Chinese regulations.

However, it said it would not accept “irrational and illegal behavior,” including threats affecting other tourists’ vacation.