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

Episode 83 is available for downloading where we review a Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant staple, Giovanni's Table.

Giovanni's Table has become Royal Caribbean's defacto Italian restaurant onboard its ships so this week, Matt's dedicated this episode to taking an in-depth look at what this restaurant offers. From decor to service to the food itself, it's a complete tour of what Giovanni's Table encompasses.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 49. 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 debuted a brand new site redesign on its flagship site, royalcaribbean.com.

The new site look is a full-width layout that is a responsive design that adjusts its look conform to the screen resolution of your device.  

This is not the only site design Royal Caribbean has trotted out recently.  Royal Caribbean relaunched its blog with a new design and focus in January 2015.  Royal Caribbean also revamped its Cruise Planner software for guests to book shore excursions, dining reservations and more last year in coordination with Quantum of the Seas' launch.

Based on the Internet Archive Wayback machine, the previous site design has been in use for a number of years going back to late 2011.

Simulated sky diving at sea is one of the many adventures that awaits guests onboard Royal Caribbean'sQuantum of the Seas. A first at sea in the cruising industry, this unparalleled activity brings the cruise experience to new heights

It's time to start saying goodbye to Splendour of the Seas.  Royal Caribbean announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell Splendour of the Seas to TUI Cruises in the second quarter of 2016. The ship will then be leased to Thomson Cruises, which will operate the vessel.

Splendour of the Seas will complete all scheduled open deployment, and no sailings will be altered or disrupted due to the sale.

"Splendour of the Seas has been a treasured member of the Royal Caribbean International family since she entered service," said Michael Bayley, president and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean International. "She has offered countless guests memorable vacation experiences and we look forward to continuing to provide the same Gold Anchor Service our brand is known for right up to the last sailing." Her final sailing will commence on April 4, 2016, and all officers and crew will remain with the company and will be transferred to other vessels worldwide after the ship leaves the Royal Caribbean International fleet.

Splendour of the Seas is not the only Royal Caribbean ship that will be leaving the fleet. In November 2014, Royal Caribbean announced Majesty of the Seas will be transfered out of the fleet in 2016.

Splendour and Majesty's exit from the fleet coincides with Royal Caribbean's cruise ship building spree that is underway, with four new ships set to come online in the next few years.

Royal Caribbean says people from Scotland are the biggest spenders on cruise ships among Great Britain, given that they book more expensive staterooms and spend more onboard.

Royal Caribbean UK managing director Stuart Leven indicated Royal Caribbean will now try to lure more Scots to book a Royal Caribbean cruise by launching a new development fund to encourage more travel agents to sell cruises.

Leven said the new direction came ahead of the cruise line adding billions of dollars in new cruise ships over the next four years.

Royal Caribbean will bring Anthem of the Seas to Southampton when she debuts in April 2015, which will mark a new effort by Royal Caribbean to appeal to the UK cruising market.

Blog reader and talented photographer Björn Haß recently had the opportunity to take some wonderful shots of Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Anthem of the Seas following her float out last week.

Since I'm not one to pass up a good photo of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, I thought I'd share Björn's photos.  Enjoy!

Another week has come to an end and we've gone through and hand-picked some fun articles for you to take a look at in case you missed any of it.

By far, the big Royal Caribbean news this week was details emerged all about the third Oasis-class cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas.

First, Royal Caribbean announced her name after a couple of weeks of rumors floating around that it would be Harmony of the Seas.

Then just a few days later, Royal Caribbean announced many details about Harmony of the Seas, including restaurants, entertainment and onboard activities.

Royal Caribbean News

• Liberty of the Seas experienced some propulsion problems that slowed her down.
• Royal Caribbean lead the pack in the 2015 Members Choice Awards.
• We featured some beautiful Anthem of the Seas float out photos.
• Heavy sea fog canceled the February 23 Brilliance of the Seas cruise.
• What first time cruisers to Royal Caribbean need to know.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The eighty-second episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and this we're talking about the strategy of staying onboard your ship in port.

In this episode, Matt discusses why you might want to stay onboard your Royal Caribbean ship while it's in port.  There are some distinct advantages to not leaving the ship, including being able to enjoy the feeling of having the ship to yourself.

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

Cruise Critic Managing Editor Colleen McDaniel spoke to Fox Business about the best cruise ships of 2015.

Live Design has an in-depth look at the theater tech behind the Royal Theatre on Quantum of the Seas.

CBS Sports noted Royal Caribbean's witty tweet to Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer after he was stuck on Brilliance of the Seas.

Cruise Hangout has a visual recap of Anthem of the Seas' float out.