Hope you had a great week (maybe one week closer to your next Royal Caribbean cruise?) and you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.

Royal Caribbean News

Here's what happened in the world of Royal Caribbean this week

• The travel agency putting together a Paula Deen themed cruise announced they've added a second cruise due to overwhelming demand.
• Have you been to St. Thomas?  We reviewed Magens Bay beach, known around the world for being one of the most beautiful beaches.
• You missed it by now, but did you hear about the one-day sale Royal Caribbean held yesterday?
• J.D. Power released their first cruise line satisfaction survey and Royal Caribbean finished second.
• Do you enjoy a drink (or two) onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise?  We shared our favorite ten bars and lounges across Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Join us for the first ever Royal Caribbean Blog Cruise!

We're so excited to announce the first ever group cruise for readers and staff of RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com aboard Quantum of the Seas!  This is an exclusive group where we are inviting you, our readers, to join us on one of the first Quantum of the Seas sailings on an 8-night cruise to the Caribbean.

This Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise is all about enjoying this brand new ship with other fans who are big fans of Royal Caribbean.  Don't miss this opportunity to check out the brand new cruise ship as well as be a part of exclusive events for those that book with our group!

For more details on booking the cruise, the itinerary and prices, check out the Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise page and if you have any questions, email me!

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

FIUSM is reporting Royal Caribbean is in the final stages to lease land at Florida International University for the purpose of house their on-board performers.

CruizeCast has released a new podcast episode talking about how to enjoy Greek cruise ports.

CruiseCritic has 13 things they think are worth splurging for onboard your next cruise.

Kuki has a fun blog post looking at the pitfalls in cruise booking.

When it comes to going on a Royal Caribbean cruise, enjoying a cold drink at a bar is a real highlight for lots of vacationers.  Forgetting your worries and indulging in a drink or two while at sea has become tradition for many people that sail Royal Caribbean and across their fleet of ships, there are a lot of great places to enjoy a cocktail.  

Today, we're listing our favorite ten bars and lounges across Royal Caribbean's fleet to spend happy hour at.

Viking Crown Lounge

For many Royal Caribbean fans, especially the ones that have been cruising with Royal Caribbean for years, the Viking Crown Lounge is an integral part of what makes a Royal Caribbean cruise.  Located high above the action in the upper most tower of many Royal Caribbean ships, the Viking Crown Lounge offers a great vantage point of the ship and the horizon around you.  

The Viking Crown Lounge offers your favorite drinks along with that scenic view that you really can't get anywhere else onboard.  And given that it's usually on a deck not near many staterooms, the Viking Crown Lounge can often be less crowded than other venues onboard and the perfect place to sit in one of the comfy couches, take in the scenery and have a drink.

R Bar

The R Bar is a relatively new bar that is located in recently refurbished Royal Caribbean ships' Centrum area.  While it may not have been around as long as other bars on this list, it's already making a name for itself as a great place to have a drink.

R Bar is all about martinis and for fans of this "shaken, not stirred" cocktail, R bar is the place to be.  Of course, there's more here than just a place to drink.  R Bar is meant to be a throwback to the bars of the 1960s that serve classic cocktails with a modern twist. What we really like about R bar is that the drinks are hand-crafted and it's different than your usual bar.  And of course, being in the Centrum, that means there's plenty of entertainment around you to enjoy with your drink.

Vintages Wine Bar

For wine lovers that want more than just the "house red", Vintages is a great choice for an evening drink.  First introduced on Voyager class ships, Vintages Wine Bar has been rolled out to many other Royal Caribbean ships and it's become a big hit.

In addition to ordering glasses or bottles of wine, Vintages regularly hosts wine tasting events where passengers can try something new or indulge in a series of wines that may be a favorite.  Of course, Vintages also has a lot of wines to try and when you're in the mood for a glass of red or white, Vintages is the place to go.

Rising Tide Bar

Okay, so we're suckers for bars with unique elements to them and the Rising Tide Bar is your basic bar but what makes it cool is the fact it actually moves between decks!  Rising Tide is proof where you drink can be more important than what you drink and everyone onboard seems to want to drink here at least once.

We've also noticed because Rising Tide is so centrally located and its often what passengers passing by are looking at, it's often the place to be onboard to be seen. There's just something very cool about being on a bar that moves through the air and with a drink in hand, it's a great place to watch all those people that are watching you.

Schooner Bar

For fans of trivia onboard their Royal Caribbean cruise, the Schooner Bar is the place to put your wits to the test.  In addition to a beautiful lounge area that is themed to classic wooden nautical vessels, the Schooner Bar regularly hosts trivia events of all kinds.

It's hard to not pass by the Schooner Bar in the evening and not see it packed with other guests who are taking in a post-dinner drink while they try to remember which Elton John song clip was just played.  And when there aren't trivia events going on, it's a great choice for comfortable chairs near the window or talkative bartenders. 

On Air Karaoke Bar

Karaoke isn't for everyone but it's hard to deny the great drink choices here.  Plus, while you may not have the courage to go up on stage and sing your favorite Stevie Nicks song, it's a lot of fun watching others give it a try while you kick bar with a few drinks. After a few drinks, they all do start to sound better.

On some ships, we've found the best deals on drinks onboard, with two-for-one margaritas often served during happy hour on Freedom of the Seas.  Are you a fan of karaoke now?

Champagne Bar

We love to meet up with everyone in our group for a pre-dinner drink and the Champagne Bar is usually a good choice for drinks and maybe even some entertainment.  Since the Champagne Bar is often near the Main Dining Room, it's a great spot for catching up on everyone's day and getting the evening started with a good drink.

After dinner, the Champagne Bar often features live music and it's one of those places that seems to always have a good crowd hanging out in.  

Globe & Atlas Pub/Hoof & Claw/Bear & Bull Pub

I dare you to not have a good time in an Irish pub and Royal Caribbean's versions are usually right on the money.  From the authentic Irish, British and European beers on tap to the live music in the evening, a stop in the pub onboard is often where we go to wind down the night.  The dark interiors with wooden tables really does make it feel like your local Irish pub down the street.

Whether you prefer Guinness or Stella or Newcastle, these pubs usually hit the spot and like so many other bars on this list, the evening entertainment is great for singing along to some classic bar songs.

Boleros

If you're a fan of mojitos or margaritas, the Boleros is the place for you.  This Latin infused lounge serves up some of the best tequila and rum onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.  Like other themed bars, Boleros offers a lot more selection of mojitos and margaritas as well as tequilas than anywhere else.

Of course, no Latin bar is complete without some salsa or meringue music playing live and some dancing if you choose.  Whether it's pre- or post-dinner drinks, Boleros is muy bueno.

Sky Bar

I've noticed onboard Royal Caribbean there's usually a set of cruisers that seem to always be near the pool for most of the cruise and by far, the "cool people" are hanging out at the Sky Bar.  Located at the top of the pool decks, Sky Bar offers a great vantage point to see what's going on in the pool and around the area.  Since Sky Bar is outdoors, there's usually a great breeze and plenty of sun to take in.  

What I really like about Sky Bar is it's one of the best outdoor bars if you're feeling social.  It's kind of like the Cheers of Royal Caribbean, where if you hang out long enough, everyone will know your name (especially if you're buying).

J.D. Power released their inaugural J.D. Power 2013 Cruise Line Satisfaction Report and Royal Caribbean ranked second among all cruise lines.

The inaugural report measures cruise line customer satisfaction based on seven key factors (in order of importance): service; stateroom; food; embark/debark; entertainment; cost; and excursions.

In the survey, Disney Cruise Line ranked first with a score of 871 (out of 1,000) with Royal Caribbean just behind them with a score of 838.  Royal Caribbean ranked particularly well for their service.

Other key findings of the survey were respondents ranked price (53%) and experience with the brand (38%) as the two main reasons why they select a particular cruise line.  Also, the average price paid for one person is $1,628 and $2,330 for a group of two to four.

Rounding out the top 5 were Holland America, Celebrity Cruises (sister company to Royal Caribbean) and Princess Cruises.

"Many cruise lines in the report have very high levels of passenger satisfaction, well above the report average; however, for more than a year, the overall industry has been dealing with a lot of negative news affecting customer perceptions, expectations and trust," said Ramez Faza, senior account manager of the global travel and hospitality practice at J.D. Power. "To raise the bar, the industry must focus on meeting the needs of the nearly 20 percent of passengers who experience a problem with their cruise line experience. Cruise lines need to understand the causes of customer dissatisfaction and determine what will motivate them to come back."

The 2013 Cruise Line Satisfaction Report is based on responses from 3,003 customers who traveled on a cruise line in the past 12 months. The study was fielded from May 29, 2013, through June 14, 2013. 

Royal Caribbean is planning a Super Saturday Sale on its summer cruises by offering up to $50 onboard credit on all July 1 through September 30 sailings. 

Only on Saturday, June 29, 2013, Royal Caribbean will offer vacationers who book a Royal Caribbean cruise on any sailings departing July 1 through September 30, 2013 $25 onboard credit per Interior and Oceanview stateroom, and $50 per Balcony stateroom and Suite-category stateroom. The Super Saturday Sale is applicable for all new individual U.S. and Canadian bookings.

For all deals on this sale, check out the Super Saturday Sale website or contact your travel agent.

The travel agency organizing the Paula Deen Cruise is adding a second sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas because of "so many requests".

A second winter 2014 cruise is being organized now by Alice Travel, who is responsible for putting the cruises together.

A spokesperson from Alice Travel had this to say about adding a second cruise, "Due to so many requests from Paula’s fans in the past we are actually planning two cruises for 2014 and look forward to both. It’s always an amazing time with Paula, her family and fans. If she goes – we go."

While the cruise group is being held on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Paula Deen Cruise is being organized by a travel agency and not by Royal Caribbean. 

"Royal Caribbean has never had a partnership or any formal association with Paula Deen," says Cynthia Martinez, Royal Caribbean's director of global corporate communications. "She has sailed with our brands a couple of times, but as host of group cruises, and each time, the groups were booked through a specific travel agency, not through Royal Caribbean."

St. Thomas is well known for its beautiful beaches and Magens Bay is at the top of the list when it comes to beautiful beaches, not only on the island but in the world.  When it comes to beautiful Caribbean beaches, it's hard to go wrong with Magens Bay.

Description

Magens Bay is a protected cove on the north side of St. Thomas. Magens Bay is known around the world for its white sand beach that is almost three quarters of a mile in length.

Beach goers and swimmers alike will enjoy the view and the beach's notoriety is well earned given how scenic the entire area is.  Calm waters are typical for the beach, thanks to the protection from larger waves further out in the bay.

Entrance to Magens Bay does have an admission fee ($4 for tourists) and it's quite far from where Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock.  There's plenty of taxi service to Magens Bay from the cruise ship area as well as Charlotte Amalie.  There are lifeguards on duty at the beach and there's a small snack shack on one end of the beach to buy meals, snacks and drinks from.  Visitors can also rent beach chairs, floats, windsurfers and small sailboats for an additional fee.

Because Magens Bay is so well known, it will get crowded and stay crowded most of the day.

Comments

Magens Bay is known for being a beautiful beach and it does not disappoint in that regard.  Truly, the biggest problem with Magens Bay isn't the beach but the fact the beach can get very crowded.  While the beach is very long, it is not very wide (distance from beginning of the beach to the water's edge) so finding a good spot will go quickly.

We have found the best times to go to Magens Bay are very early in the morning before the bulk of the cruise visitors arrive or in the afternoon when many cruise goers will start to leave to get back to their cruise ships. On our last trip to St. Thomas on Freedom of the Seas, our ship arrived later than the other ships and as a result the last two hours at Magens Bay ended up being quite empty.

The snack counter serves typical fried food that you would find at most beaches such as pizza, fries and burgers.  The food isn't anything special and it is expensive.  You're better off bringing food from Charlotte Amalie to the beach with you, or at least buying drinks.  

Those that have been to St. Thomas often will tell you the smaller crowds at other beaches outweigh the beauty of Magens Bay, but if you can deal with the crowds (or you're going on a not-so-busy day), I think the experience of Magens Bay is worth going to.  Especially if you've never been, Magens Bay is a must-see.  Like any island, on subsequent visits it may make sense to try other options but it's hard to go wrong with Magens Bay.  The sand is great and the water has the perfect color along with calm waves for everyone in the family to enjoy. 

Address: Magens Bay, Rte. 35 at end of the road on North side of St. Thomas

Cost: $4 per adult. Kids 12 and under are free.