Royal Caribbean is working with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) to send relief assistance to families affected by recent deadly floods in Mexico.

Specifically the two companies are assisting 100 families in  Puntilla Aldama, Mexico that have been affected by the recent floods.  The region is in the state of Veracruz, along the Gulf of Mexico.  Each family will receive clean-up and reconstruction supplies to help in mud and debris removal and home repairs. Items include galvanized metal sheeting, hammers, nails, shovels, pickaxes, and wheelbarrows.

Cáritas Emergencias, a Mexican-based disaster prevention and response organization commented on the help Royal Caribbean and PADF are providing.

"This support from Royal Caribbean Cruises comes at a critical time for many families who need our help to recover from this tragedy," said Liza Mantilla, Director of Disaster Management for PADF. "By giving them the tools to clean-up and repair the damage to their homes, we're helping jumpstart their recovery."

To help PADF provide immediate assistance to the affected communities, go to www.padf.org/donate-disasters. You can also contribute by calling toll-free at 877.572.4484.

Speaking at the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference in Cartagena, Colombia, Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein and Chairman Richard Fain commented on the future of the cruise line in a number of directions.

Minuto30 covered the conference where Goldstein spoke about which parts of the world Royal Caribbean will focus its efforts in the coming years and mentioned they will strengthen its presence in the Caribbean, its natural destination, but is dedicated to recognizing "business opportunities everywhere."

"There are other regions like Asia-Pacific, also emerge as potential cruise," Goldstein added, stressing that these routes are also near the American public, who "will remain the largest source of world cruises".

Later Richard Fain addressed one of the thorniest issues surrounding this industry: safety.  He said that cruise ship safety is "essential" along with respect for the environment.

Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein announced the cruise line will now allow its guests to perform tricks on the FlowRider surf simulator after passenger complaints the rules were too restrictive.

The rules were tightened back in 2012 and as of this summer, guests are able to try various types of fun tricks, "such as sitting, 180 degree turn, facing opposite direction, lazy boy, drop knee, drop knee 360, layback, boogie shuvit, baseball catcher, 360, skiing, show pony, rail slide, basic ollie, pop shuvit, heel side stall and the toe side stall".

The FlowRider surf simulator is available on Freedom, Oasis and Quantum class cruise ships. Use of the FlowRider is complimentary.

Word of the cruise line's relaxing of the rules means guests who are good at surfing can try out more advanced tricks, which makes the FlowRider experience more intriguing to advanced surfers.

Hey everyone! Episode 9 of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available for your listening pleasure.

This week, we're back from our 7-night Jewel of the Seas cruise to the southern Caribbean and we have lots to share about our experiences on and off the ship.  We will discuss Jewel of the Seas herself, including what we did, where we ate and how our staterooms turned out.  We will also discuss the islands we visited and how things worked out and what we would recommend to others.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 9. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS 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 has released a video showing off the beginning of construction of its third Oasis-class cruise ship. When complete, it will be the largest cruise ship in the world.

The new ship will be complete in 2016.

The shutdown of the United States government that began today at midnight has had a lot of effects throughout the country, including a Royal Caribbean cruise.

USA Today is reporting that cruise passengers aboard Brilliance of the Seas that had booked an excursion to Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine were turned away due to the shutdown. Royal Caribbean had to cancel all of its excursions to national parks.

Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez elaborated on what the cruise line is doing instead, "We were able to come up with some alternatives in order to accommodate those guests that had booked excursions to the national park."

Some other options offered include the Mount Desert Oceanarium or going on a schooner sail.

Martinez indicated the cruise line will monitor the shutdown situation and make whatever changes are necessary for upcoming cruises.

Royal Caribbean released the first video starring Quantum Experience Advisor Genvieve Gorder, detailing her work on the interior design of the brand new Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean announced a few weeks ago that Gorder was hand-selected to be the first celebrity expert designer that will work on creating the look for Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship that debuts in late 2014.

Royal Caribbean announced today 29 new cruises on Mariner of the Seas to Southeast Asia.  

Beginning in November 2014, Mariner of the Seas will sail out of Singapore and offer three- to five-night cruises to ports such as Phuket, Thailand, and Penang, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) in Malaysia.

A special seven-night itinerary, departing February 11, 2015, will overnight at Bangkok (Laemchabang), Thailand, and call at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Vietnam. Mariner of the Seas’ winter season will conclude with an eight-night itinerary from Singapore to Shanghai (Baoshan), China, departing on March 7, and featuring an overnight at Hong Kong with calls at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Xiamen, China. 

The Voyager-class ship, Mariner of the Seas, has been operating between Asia and Australia.

Royal Caribbean announced last week new cruise packages for trans-Atlantic cruises that allow guests to extend such voyages with a two- or three-night, pre- or post-cruise land stay.

These new add-on packages include breakfast, airfare options, transfers and tours at destinations such as London, U.K., Reykjavik, Iceland, Barcelona, Spain, or New Orleans, Louisiana.

In addition, those that book a balcony or suite category stateroom on an Ocean Voyage cruise package will receive the Premiuym Beverage Package for the first two guests for free.  The unlimited alcohol package includes call and premium brand cocktails, refreshing frozen or non-alcoholic cocktails, beers, house wines by the glass, and fountain sodas.

Some of the Ocean Voyage packages include a 16-night Windsor Castle and London package that combines a 13-night Ocean Voyage from the Caribbean to England aboard Independence of the Seas – departing May 4, 2014, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to Southampton, U.K. Guests will then enjoy a three-night post cruise stay in a four-star hotel with breakfast, a West End Theater performance, and a Windsor Castle Tour with stops at St. Georges Chapel and Windsor Great Park. 

There's also a 19-night Spanish, French and Italian Riviera cruise package combines a 13-night Ocean Voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Portugal and Spain, departing May 1, 2014, aboard Liberty of the Seas. Guests enjoy a two-night extended stay in Barcelona with two-day tickets on Barcelona’s ‘Hop-on, Hop-off’ Bus Turistic. 

Or perhaps a 20-night New Orleans and Barcelona Entertainment package aboard Serenade of the Seas, which departs April 26, 2014, and combines a 16-night Ocean Voyage with a pre- or post-cruise option. Vacationers can opt for a two-night pre-cruise stay in New Orleans, which coincides with the city’s famous Jazz & Heritage Festival; a two-night post-cruise stay in Barcelona with a two-day ticket on the ‘Hop-on, Hop-off’ Bus Turistic; or both for a grand 20-night adventure. In New Orleans, guests also have the option to purchase tickets for the Jazz & Heritage Festival.