Royal Caribbean hit with fine for for breaking Dutch employment laws

In:
14 Oct 2014

The Dutch Social Affairs and Employment Inspection Agencey says Royal Caribbean is facing fines of thousands of euros for violating Dutch employment law.

Oasis of the Seas underwent work to update the ship as part of a two-week dry dock, when the Dutch agency claims hundreds of workers were flown in to Rotterdam to help with the work required, however many of them did not have a work permit or were underpaid. The agency also suspects that working time limits are being violated.

According to the agency, the fines focus on 48 Filipino workers who do not have permits. The fine is a maximum €12,000 per worker, which means the cruise company faces a €600,000 bill, the agency says.

Royal Caribbean launches newly refurbished Oasis of the Seas

In:
14 Oct 2014

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas is out of a 14-day drydock and back in service with a lot of new upgrades, fixes and enhancements.

The changes to Oasis of the Seas include reimagined dining, game-changing high-speed internet, exciting new retail offerings, a new popular and favorite Broadway show, new suites with exclusive suite dining and lounge.

As we reported earlier, Oasis of the Seas is prepared for its conversion to dynamic dining, with new restaurants

  • American Icon Grill  (comfort foods)
  • Silk (Asian)
  • The Grande (every night here is formal night)

Guests will enjoy menus of the new concepts beginning March 14, 2015, onboard Oasis of the Seas. Guests sailing Oasis of the Seasprior to March 14, will enjoy the traditional dining room experience in the newly designed spaces. 

In addition, other new specialty restaurants were added:

  • Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
  • Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar
  • Wonderland
  • Coastal Kitchen

Other specialty restaurants that were previously on Oasis of the Seas remain, such as Giovanni’s Table, 150 Central Park and Vintage Wine Bar.

Another big change to Oasis of the Seas  comes in the technology department. New changes include:

  • Boatloads of Bandwidth, the game-changing partnership with technology partner O3b that will offer guests onboard Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas connectivity that matches fast broadband connections onshore and is greater than all other cruise ships combined. These new capabilities, allow the cruise line to offer affordable, easy-to-use Internet packages so that guests may watch streaming video, check email, share images on social media and enjoy face-to-face video conversations – even in the middle of the ocean. 
  • Royal iQ is a new app that puts guests in charge of their vacation choices.  Thanks to the dramatically improved connectivity, Royal iQ is able to continue dining reservations, shore excursions and spa appointments onboard, through both a downloadable app and at freestanding iQ stations around the ship.  Guests also can use Royal iQ as a convenient calendar that provides at-a-glance views of their program and to keep in touch with one another and home via phone and text capabilities. 

Royal Caribbean is introducing 10 new suites on Oasis-class ships, offering breathtaking views of the ocean or the ships’ signature AquaTheater and Boardwalk neighborhood and includes, two Royal Suites, six Grand Suites and two Royal Family Suites, which can accommodate up to six guests. These suites offer a new level of sophistication when paired with the variety of new exclusive suite amenities that include: 

  • The Suite Lounge, an exclusive lounge area for suite guests to relax offering unmatched expansive views of the ship and sea; 
  • The Sun Deck, a new sun deck area that gives suites guests the chance to soak-up and relax in the Caribbean sun with lounge furniture, shaded and seating areas and private service; 
  • Coastal Kitchen is a suites only full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with a Mediterranean flare. 

Oasis of the Seas will also feature CATS as its Broadway show.  This replaces Hairspray, which debuted on Oasis of the Seas back in 2009.  

Sister ship Allure of the Seas will change its Broadway show from Chicago to Mammia Mia!, which is also the Broadway show on Quantum of the Seas.

Lastly, the Royal Promenade on Oasis of the Seas has been updated as well.  Here you'll find shops from Michael Kors and the Britto Art Gallery, as well as a whole new line-up of merchandise and fashion jewelry such as, Alexis Bittar, Uno de 50, Lauren G Adams, and Nina Nguyen. 

Sister ship Allure of the Seas will follow suit in May 2015 with nearly identical enhancements.

99 days of Quantum: Three beautiful Quantum of the Seas photos

In:
13 Oct 2014

We're counting down to the 99 days until Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, launches with a brand new blog post every day. Be sure to check back for something new everyday here. 

Three beautiful Quantum of the Seas photos

If you're anything like me, you really enjoy looking at photos of Quantum of the Seas, especially the pretty ones.  

Photographer Jens Hagens contributed a number of photos back when Quantum of the Seas was floated out and we came across three new ones of his that are quite lovely.

Enjoy the photos and be sure to visit Jens' Facebook page, where you will find lots of beautiful cruise photos.

All photos provided by JENS HAGENS PHOTOGRAPHY.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Quantum!

Royal Caribbean will expand Dynamic Dining to Allure of the Seas

In:
12 Oct 2014

The largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, will be converted over to Dynamic Dining.

Dynamic Dining is the new twist on traditional cruise ship dining.  Instead of a main dining room with fixed dining times, smaller restaurants are spread all over the cruise ship to offer more choice in ambiance and cuisine.  Some restaurants will be complimentary while others will have a cover charge to dine there.

Earlier this year Royal Caribbean announced sister ship Oasis of the Seas would be converted to Dynamic Dining and it was widely speculated Allure of the Seas would follow suit. 

SEE DYNAMIC DINING CHANGES COMING TO OASIS OF THE SEAS

Royal Caribbean's web site is now reflecting the change coming to Allure of the Seas, although the content there appears to have been copy and pasted from the Oasis of the Seas description.

Allure of the Seas is scheduled to go into drydock in May 2015 and will then offer Mediterannean cruises from May 2015 to October 2015.

Tropical Storm Fay alters Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas itinerary

In:
12 Oct 2014

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas will have to skip a stop in St. Maarten on October 13 and instead go directly to San Juan, Puerto Rico due to Tropical Storm Fay and another unanmed storm in the Atlantic ocean.

Cruise Critic is reporting the change, which will result in Explorer of the Seas arriving in San Juan at 2pm and stay overnight in port.

A Royal Caribbean spokeswoman told Cruise Critic: "The change was due to Tropical Storm Fay and Investigative Area 90 (the low pressure system). Explorer was scheduled to call at San Juan on Tuesday so we have extended the call [to two days]."

Explorer of the Seas is in the middle of a 9-night cruise from Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

99 days of Quantum: Quantum of the Seas' cruise director

In:
12 Oct 2014

There's less than 99 days until Royal Caribbean's brand new Quantum of the Seas debuts and we're counting down each day with a brand new blog post all about this amazing ship. Check into the blog every day for something new to read about Quantum of the Seas.

Quantum of the Seas' cruise director

Photo by Dothan Eagle

The heart of any Royal Caribbean cruise is the cruise director, who is the force behind all the onboard activities you find on your cruise.  On Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has selected one of the line's best cruise directors, Jimmy Rhodes, to fill the role.

Rhodes will manage a team of about 120 dancers, musicians, youth and activities staff and will head up all the entertainment for guests 18 and older on Quantum of the Seas.

If you've cruises with Royal Caribbean in the past, Rhodes' name may sound familiar.  He's been a cruise director with Royal Caribbean for over 10 years.  In fact, he's been the cruise director on Explorer of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

Here's a little taste of Jimmy from his time on Explorer of the Seas when he listed the top 10 questions cruise passengers ask.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Quantum!

Royal Caribbean removes corkage fee for bottles of wine

In:
11 Oct 2014

Royal Caribbean has quietly removed the $25 corkage fee it previously charged to open a bottle of wine in its restaurants and lounges.  The removal of the corkage fee is effective immediately.

Royal Caribbean first started letting guests bring up to two bottles of wine (up to 750ml) per stateroom but included a $25 corkage fee to open the bottles in its restaurants, bars and lounges.

In practice, the corkage fee was infrequently charged and now the policy has been completely removed.

There's no official word from Royal Caribbean why the policy changed but it has been confirmed via Royal Caribbean's official Facebook page.

Thanks to Stacey Cruisedivanj for alerting us to the change.

99 days of Quantum: More Quantum of the Seas in Bremerhaven

In:
11 Oct 2014

With Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, launching very soon, we're counting down each day with a brand new blog post all about this amazing cruise ship.

More Quantum of the Seas in Bremerhaven

Earlier this week we posted a video update of how work is progressing on Quantum of the Seas while she is ported in Bremerhaven, Germany. We've since run across another video construction update that's even newer than that one, so we wanted to share.

What I love about these videos is it gives us a good idea of the progress on this new cruise ship and every video shows off something a little different.

Enjoy!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Quantum!

99 days of Quantum: Chops Grille

In:
10 Oct 2014

There are less than 100 days until Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, debuts and every day we're counting down each day with something really fun on this brand new ship. Read our blog each day for a new post all about this amazing cruise ship.

Chops Grille

A Royal Caribbean staple, Chops Grille is coming to Quantum of the Seas and its bringing over a decade of quality, hand cut steaks for guests to enjoy.

Chops Grille markets itself these days as "the new American Steakhouse", which means it offers what you'd expect to find at any great American steakhouse but this one is at sea.

Royal Caribbean revamped the Chops Grille menu earlier this year and when you eat at Chops Grille on Quantum of the Seas, you will find traditional favorites mixed in with what's hot in steaks today.

At the center of the new menu are dry-aged steaks, that are aged for nearly four weeks to enhance the flavor, tenderness and aroma.  Royal Caribbean is particularly proud to be offering dry-aged steaks first at sea and it's a tremendous addition.

READ OUR REVIEW OF NEW CHOPS GRILLE MENU

Of course, Chops Grille also offers more than just steaks.  You will find Maine lobster, veal parmesan, grilled branzino and more succulent dishes paired with addictive sides and amazing desserts.

Chops Grille is a specialty restaurant and has a cover charge to dine there. There is a smart casual dress code and it will be open for dinner.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Quantum!

Friday Photos

In:
10 Oct 2014

Welcome back to Friday Photos, our weekly showcase of Royal Caribbean photos that were taken by readers of this blog.  

Every week, we ask our readers to send us their best Royal Caribbean vacation photos to be considered for this post and you're welcome to send yours in as well. We'd love to feature photos of the ships, excursions, activities onboard and anything else that reminds you of a great time while sailing with Royal Caribbean.

First up this week is a photo of a beach overlooking Orient Beach in St Maarten by Paul Westbrook.  I could go for a little bit of this today!

Jan-Arild Knutsen sent this photo of Radiance of the Seas passing the Golden Gate Bridge back in 2012.  Just made it!

Here's one of my favorite ships, Navigator of the Seas, docked in Cozumel by Ken Slusser.  I think we call could use a little Navigator of the Seas in our lives today!

I love the perspective on this photo by Humberto Carnero from Freedom of the Seas.  He wrote, "the sea is calling" and I think I really need to answer that call soon!

Our final photo this week is from Keith Davis and it's from the Mexican Riviera back in 2009 aboard Mariner of the Seas.  That is some beautiful scenery!

Thanks to everyone who sent in their photos this week.  Be sure to send your photos in as well by using this form.

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