Baby it's cold out there... But here, we're talking about warm Caribbean cruises and time spent by the pool deck.  We've gone through and hand-picked some fun articles for you to take a look at in case you missed any of it.

The big news this week is it appears Royal Caribbean will be sending Jewel of the Seas to Los Angeles in 2015.

It's not clear how much time Jewel of the Seas will spend on the west coast, but it is a step forward to bringing cruise ships back to an area that has been devoid of cruise ships for a few years now.  The port schedule lists three stops in 2015, which could very well be part of a Panama Canal cruise itinerary.

Royal Caribbean has not made any announcement about returning to Los Angeles, but in the past port schedules have been good indicators of what Royal Caribbean intends to do.

Royal Caribbean News

• U.S. News and World Reports listed Royal Caribbean as the top cruise line for the money.
• Check out our guide to getting to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades).
• Royal Caribbean could return to Dubai in 2015.
• Have you tried the savory bites in the main dining room?
• Serenade of the Seas' maiden cruise took place from New Orleans earlier this week.
• Royal Caribbean is going to build a new training facility at a South Florida University.
• Bringing an infant on a Royal Caribbean cruise?  Here are our tips to prepare you.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The nineteenth episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available and we're discussing Royal Caribbean's dress codes.

This week, Matt looks at what to pack for your cruise during the day, what to wear to dinner and what you can do if you don’t want to get dressed up at all.  We've also saved some time to answer listener emails, posts and tweets.

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

Our friends at Cruize Cast have a new podcast episode all about their group cruise that they are planning.

Kuki has a new blog post about being attached to technology at sea.

Cruise Currents reports Medevaced three guests from a Freedom of the Seas cruise.

It's been a few years since Royal Caribbean had a cruise ship on the west coast of the United States but there may be indications Royal Caribbean plans on returning in the coming years.

According to the Port of Los Angeles cruie ship schedule web site, Jewel of the Seas will be making stops there in September and October 2015.  It isn't clear if the cruise will begin and end in Los Angeles, but for at least 3 weeks the Royal Caribbean ship is on the schedule.

Royal Caribbean has not made any announcement about returning to Los Angeles, but in the past port schedules have been good indicators of what Royal Caribbean intends to do.

Royal Caribbean hasn't had a cruise ship based out of Los Angeles since 2010 when Mariner of the Seas left due to violence in Mexico.

Royal Caribbean is investing more and more cruise ships in Fort Lauderdale these days so if you're looking to get to Port Everglades (the cruise ship terminal in Fort Lauderdale), here's a quick guide to getting there easily.

Royal Caribbean currently operates a few cruise ships out of Port Everglades including Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Vision of the Seas.

Photo by Marc-Andre Mireault

Driving

Port Everglades is pretty easy to get to via car thanks to a number of major roads that connect to highways. 

If you're driving from outside of Fort Lauderdale (elsewhere in Florida or out of state), you can get easily to the main entrance of Port Everglades via U.S.1, I-95, State Road 7 (441), Florida's Turnpike, Sawgrass Expressway and I-75.

You just need to look for an exit to I-595 East straight into the port (I-595 becomes Eller Drive once inside the Port).

From Fort Lauderdale International Airport (5 miles):

• Exit the airport and follow signs for I-595 East/Port Everglades. Continue to the last exit on I-595 East and follow the signs to Port Everglades.
• This will automatically take you to the Port Everglades security entrance.
• From there, follow the directional signs for your designated ship's pier terminal.

From Miami International Airport (30 miles):

• Take 836 East to I-95 North.
• Exit I-95 North at 595 East.
• Follow 595 to the end; then follow the Port Everglades signs.

From Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

If you are flying into Fort Lauderdale and want to go straight to your cruise ship there are a few options for you.  The airport is very close to the cruise terminal via U.S. 1.

The quickest and arguably simplest option is to take a taxi from the airport and have them drive you to the port.  Taxi fare will cost you about $10 to $15.

There are also other shuttles and private car/limousine services available to purchase.  Shuttle services can be cheaper, especially with larger parties but may take longer.  Private sedan/limousine service will be more elegant than a taxi but cost more.

From an area hotel

If you are staying at a hotel near Port Everglades, many hotels and resorts near the port offer complimentary shuttles to the port.  Check with your hotel about if one is available and how to sign up for it.  

Some hotels require advance sign up and/or a specific pick up time to be brought to the airport.  

In addition, many area hotels offer parking for the duration of your cruise for a fee or included in your hotel price.

Royal Caribbean Transfers

Royal Caribbean offers a bus service of its own (called transfers) to bring you to the port from Fort Lauderdale Airport as well as Miami International Airport.

Royal Caribbean offers transfers in one way increments (you can book two one-ways to create a round trip).  At last check the cost was $29 per person, each way for a transfer from either Fort Lauderdale or Miami airports to Port Everglades.

To purchase a Royal Caribbean Guest Transfer or for additional information consult your travel agent or the Royal Caribbean reservations department at 1-800-327-6700.

If it's Friday, that means we are sharing our reader's best Royal Caribbean photos in this week's Friday Photos showcase.  As always, we want to include as many of our readers photos as we can, so be sure to send us your best Royal Caribbean photos too!

Our first photo this week comes from friend of the blog Michael Poole, who took this picture of Liberty of the Seas while on the Oasis of the Seas a few weeks ago coming into Fort Lauderdale.

Next is a photo by johnpaulla taken on Mariner of the Seas during "World Toilet Day" (don't ask).  He wants to know, "I am sending you this photo.  I have a problem...where do I deposit my excrement in my cabin, if the toilet is for tissue ONLY?... "

Ross and Pam sent in our next photo, which is of Radiance of the Seas at Moorea.

Giulio Saggin sent in this photo of a Manly Ferry glides past Rhapsody of the Seas while she is docked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay in Sydney, November 19, 2013.

The last photo comes from Mike and Ruth of the lighthouse pulling into Nawiliwili,Kauai on Rhaapsody of the Seas.  They describe it as, "It still exciting after doing that cruise 4 years in a row. Already booked for next year!"

Thank you to everyone that sent in their photos this week and if you have Royal Caribbean photos, well, we want to see them!  You can use this form to send us your photos and we will feature them on an upcoming Friday Photos blog post!

You may not know what they are called, but the savory bites that are served in the main dining room have become a favorite of many Royal Caribbean cruisers. 

Photo by nenner1

These poppy seed covered bread bites take one or two bites to eat and have become a Royal Caribbean classic food.  It's basically a little savory sour dough "nugget" with herbs baked in that is kind of like a mini roll.  

The name comes from the fact they are bite sized and have the herb savory baked into them.

Some veteran cruisers will specifically ask their assistant waiter when he/she brings over the bread basket for the savory bites if they don't spot them because they are usually available on all Royal Caribbean cruises each night in the main dining room.

It's one of those foods that you just can't stop at having just one roll and I know when I visit the main dining room, something I look for each cruise.

Photo by ikirumata

Savory Bites Recipe

Servings: 1157 pieces (!)

• 25 pounds Potato Bread Flour.
• 2 ½ pounds Savory base.
• 2 pounds Margarine.
• 5 ounces Dry Yeast
• 7 ½ liters Water.

1. Mix all ingredients for 2 to 3 min slow and 5 to 6 min fast speed until well developed.
2. Rest the dough for 30 min.
3. Scale into 16 oz. pieces and pre shape.
4. Roll them sheet pan long and dip in Poppy seed, than put 9 pieces on one sheet pan.
5. Store in freezer overnight.
6. When ready to bake defrost about 3 hours in the fridge, cut them into small triangles (25 pieces per pound stick).
7. Place 9 x 6 on one sheet pan.
8. Bake them between 220 °C and 230 °C and steam for about 13 to 17 min until golden brown.

U.S. News & World Report's Best Cruises rankings are out, where the magazine looked at 15 cruise lines across a number of categories and Royal Caribbean came out on top for "Top cruise line for the money".

The report compared how the cruise lines were regarded by travel experts, how they were rated by cruise travelers (using data collected in collaboration with Cruiseline.com) and how they fared in health and safety evaluations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Royal Caribbean was named best value because of what you get for what you pay for.  The report says Royal Caribbean, "doesn't sacrifice a quality experience for affordability: Royal Caribbean's fares cover lodging, dining and onboard activities ranging from youth-focused exploits like swimming and ice skating to enrichment programs like language classes and cooking demonstrations."

Royal Caribbean did well in other categories as well.  Royal Caribbean came in second place for "Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean" as well as "Best Cruise Lines for Families".

In terms of ships, U.S. News and World Reports ranked Royal Caribbean's ships in this order

1. Oasis of the Seas
2. Liberty of the Seas
3. Allure of the Seas
4. Freedom of the Seas
5. Mariner of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is considering sending a cruise ship back to Dubai in 2015.  Royal Caribbean had ships in the area for a number of years before deciding to remove ships from the Gulf this year.

Gulf News reports Royal Caribbean regional director for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Helen Beck, says there is potential for a return.

“We’re evaluating it right now … [we’re] right in the middle of discussing opportunity for the potential for the 2015/2016 season,” she said.

Beck said she was pleased with the “positive progress” across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries towards supporting cruise tourism and investments in infrastructure.

Adding to the push to bring cruise ships back to the Middle East is the double digit passenger growth in the Middle East, according to Lakshmi Durai, Executive Director – Middle East at Royal Caribbean.

Beck admits that the UAE and Middle East region is still an emerging cruise market. She said passengers from the United States, China, and other markets still dominated bookings.

Any return to the Arabian Gulf is likely to see similar operations as before with Royal Caribbean likely to dock in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Muscat.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas arrives at Port of New Orleans’ Julia Street Cruise Terminal today to begin weekly cruises through April.

Serenade of the Seas replaces Navigator of the Seas and is fresh off a recent refurbishment last December.

Serenade of the Seas will sail offer her first cruise today, December 12, with a nine-night Caribbean adventure cruise to Key West, Fla.; Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman. The ship’s regular itineraries will feature seven-night Bahamas cruises to Key West, Fla.; Nassau, Bahamas; and CocoCay, Bahamas. As well as seven-night western Caribbean cruises to Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. 

Royal Caribbean senior Vice President Vicki Freed is excited about Serenade's arrival, "We are excited to be back in New Orleans with a newly revitalized Serenade of the Seas.  Guests sailing from New Orleans will enjoy a Caribbean vacation like no other aboard one of our unrivaled and most innovative ships."

New Orleans Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange commented on Serenade's arrival, "We are happy to have Royal Caribbean return this year and bring this magnificent ship to New Orleans.  Royal Caribbean is a perfect fit for the New Orleans tourism demographic and offers a wide variety of itineraries throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean."

Royal Caribbean Quantum Experience Advisor Dhani Jones has released a second episode all about how he is working with Royal Caribbean to develop new and innovative fitness activities for Quantum of the Seas.