Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast
The 436th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt reviews his cruise on Navigator of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean returned to the Mexican Riviera recently, and Matt got to experience a 7-night sailing to Mexico.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! Wed appreciate it.
Can I Cancel My Royal Caribbean Cruise
If you would rather cancel your cruise, regardless of if Royal Caribbean decides to cancel it later, you have a few options.
Up until final payment date, you can cancel your cruise and get a full refund for money paid by cancelling, minus any change fees if you booked a non-refundable deposit.
Alternatively, Royal Caribbean’s Cruise with Confidence program allows guests to cancel their cruise up to 48 hours before your sail date for a 100% future cruise credit.
My Best Advice For Going On A Cruise Ship In Early 2022 During Omicron
It seems everyone is thinking twice about traveling during the Omicron variant spike in Covid cases, but thanks to Royal Caribbean’s strict health protocols, going on a cruise can still be an enjoyable and relatively safe cruise experience.
There’s risk with everything, but there are a few easy things any traveler can do to protect themselves while getting back to sea.
Read Also: Carnival Cruise Credit Card Pre Approval
Will There Be More Cancellations
Royal Caribbean intends to offer its scheduled sailings as currently listed, but more cancelations are certainly possible given the fact the Covid-19 pandemic is still happening.
For the time being, there is not much discussion of the entire cruise industry shutting down again given the fact that vaccines and stringent health protocols are readily available.
Even the cancelled cruises listed above are expected to resume service on the specified dates.
If you have a cruise booked in 2022, the possibility of it being cancelled is possible, but not necessarily probable.
It’s important to be realistic about expectations for not only the cruise happening, but also the onboard experience. Certainly changes, especially at the last minute, are likely, so be prepared for them.
Read more: Why you need to be flexible if you want to go on a cruise right now
The World Cruise Of World Cruises
President and CEO of Michael Bayley teased the news via a cryptic Facebook post earlier this week, saying: Get ready for the news of a lifetime. A big announcement is on the horizon. Stay tuned!
In an official statement released today, Bayley said: This is the world cruise of world cruises.
Now more than ever, people have resolved to travel the world and make up for lost time. Royal Caribbean is making that a reality with the ultimate vacation that welcomes those seeking adventure and exploration to taste, dance and dream with us around the world. To travelers asking themselves where they should go next, we say everywhere.
Don’t Miss: Royal Caribbean Cruises 2022 From Florida
Dress Code And Extras
Royal Caribbean arent as formal as some other cruise lines and whilst some nights may be formal, most evenings you are free to wear more casual clothes to dinner. For example, on a formal night, ladies might wear cocktail dresses and men may choose a shirt and dark jacket, whereas other nights you may just wear casual separates . Youre also free to wear whatever you like if you just fancy grabbing a snack on deck or eating in the buffet!
Who Goes On Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
For the most part, Royal Caribbean ships that sail from the United States attract a wide variety of North American passengers, mostly between the ages of 30 and 55 on the seven-night and shorter cruises, and 50 and over on cruises longer than seven nights. Seven-night and shorter cruises are also popular with families, especially during American school vacation periods, when the ships will often be at filled at well past double capacity and carrying more than a thousand kids.
Cruises from the U.K. — as well as Mediterranean, Asia and Australia cruises — attract a significant number of locals from each area, as well as Royal Caribbean’s usual North Americans.
You May Like: What Cruises Leave From Charleston
How Many Water Slides Does This Thing Have
It used to be Royal Caribbean didnt deal in water slides, but now theyre a signature fixture, especially on Oasis class, which all have three intense options. Icon of the Seas has doubled that, offering six slides on two towers for what will be the largest water park at sea called Category 6.
Weve called the classic Oasis-class The Perfect Storm, Schneider said. Weve used storm metaphors. We kind of had this a-ha moment of you know we had six waterslides and so if you think of this storm experience and Royal creating experiences the world has never seen before, its kind of a Cat 6 experience.
Its the prime offering of a neighborhood called Thrill Island that includes the free-fall slides Pressure Drop and Frightening Bolt Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter, which is the first family raft slide for the line that can sport four riders per raft and a pair of mat racer slides called Storm Chasers.
Weve given ourselves a generous space reservation, Schneider said. We didnt want to make it feel like it was congested. So one of the things we studied very carefully as a company was the flow of guests throughout Thrill Island. We dont want to wait a very long time so were very cautious of how many slides we needed, how long people would have to wait.
Dont Miss: What Cruises Leave From Miami
Estoy Listo Para Comenzar A Planificar Mi Crucero Cmo Puedo Obtener Las Mejores Ofertas
Ya sea que estés buscando reservar un viaje corto o una aventura más larga a destinos lejanos, Royal Caribbean hace que sea fácil ahorrar mucho en todo, desde la tarifa del crucero hasta experiencias especiales a bordo y en tierra. El primer paso para asegurarse de obtener las mejores ofertas es unirse a la lista de correo electrónico. Después de estar registrado, recibirás actualizaciones periódicas sobre las últimas ofertas, como ofertas por destino, promociones gratuitas para niños y descuentos de tiempo limitado. Los ahorros no terminan cuando reservas tu crucero. Una vez que hayas hecho una reserva, también recibirás notificaciones sobre ofertas especiales para experiencias a bordo, como descuentos en bebidas y paquetes de comidas especiales, excursiones en tierra, servicios de spa y más a través de Cruise Planner.
You May Like: What Cruise Lines Leave Out Of Galveston
What Do I Wear On A Royal Caribbean Cruise
There are three types of outfits you should bring on your Royal Caribbean cruise:
-
Casual – these are the types of things you would wear on a normal holiday, such as dresses, shorts, swimwear and comfortable clothing.
-
Smart Casual – this is what you should wear to dinner most nights. These include shirts and dresses, blazers and smart jackets.
-
Formal – this is when youll want to iron your best suit and gown. Tuxedos and cocktail dresses are welcome, as are fancy shoes of any kind.
Cococay Island Refurbishments 2018
Since 2015, RCCL invests huge money in the corporation’s private Bahamian island CocoCay. In March 2018, Royal Caribbean announced a USD 200-million project for developing private land destinations in the regions of the Caribbean, Asia, and Australia-Oceania. As part of this project, on CocoCay will be built unique water attractions.
CocoCay has 3 new beaches. Chill Island Beach offers private cabanas and daybeds. South Beach is specifically designed for beachside activities and offers bungalows, daybeds, teepees . Coco Beach Club is an exclusive beach with overwater cabanas providing premium island vacation experiences. Coco Beach cabana rentals are inclusive of 1 hammock, 1 waterslide, dedicated service . The complex also has a freshwater infinity pool, full bar, restaurant.
In May 2018, RCI announced plans to build permanent accommodations on CocoCay allowing Suite passengers to stay on the island overnight . The concept includes premium cabanas serving passengers on any of the RCI ships calling at CocoCay.
In 2017-2018 was constructed a new pier , as well as a basketball court, bocce ball court, bowling court, volleyball nets, large-size pool table.
In 2016 the private island was upgraded with a swim-up bar at Barefoot Beach, new cabanas, new island dock , 35 beach bungalows at Barefoot Beach.
In 2015, the island was upgraded with new trams and was added a new / shorter tram route and a new freshwater shower .
Also Check: Los Angeles Cruise Port Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean Cancels Cruises Due To Covid Surge
PublishedJan 10, 2022 8:17 PM by The Maritime Executive
Royal Caribbean International announced that will temporarily suspend cruise operations on three of its ships sailing from Florida while also delaying the return to service of a fourth ship all due to the current surge in coronavirus cases linked to the Omicron variant. The cruise line became the second large cruise company to announce that it was adjusting its schedule following Norwegian Cruise Line which last week canceled cruises and delayed ships, while other cruise ships continue to adjust itineraries to manage the current outbreak of cases.
Despite stringent health and safety measures, including vaccination and testing requirements for guests and crew, and extensive contingency planning, we have had to move forward with this decision, Royal Caribbean wrote in a message sent to travel advisors at the end of the week announcing the changes to its cruise scheduled. The company said it wanted to ensure that passengers get the best cruise experience on the trips that operate.
A fourth cruise ship, the Vision of the Seas, also had its return to service delayed. It had been due to begin commercial sailings in late January but now will remain out of service till the beginning of March. Reports indicate that this ship is being used to quarantine crew members who test positive on the companys other ships.
MORE
Get Simon Calders Travel Email
Cruise operator Royal Caribbean has announced an epic new cruise which will last nine months and stop in 150 spots around the world.
The Ultimate World Cruise, which the company is billing as the longest and most comprehensive world cruise out there, will sail from Miami in December 2023 and make stops in 65 countries across all seven continents before ending in September 2024.
Some 57 of the stops planned will be new ports for the cruise company: the ship will stop at unusual locations including Qaqortoq in Greenland, Antarctica, Moorea and Tahiti in French Polynesia, and Okinawa in Japan as well as bucket-list big hitters such as Rio de Janeiro, India for the Taj Mahal, China for the Great Wall, and Australias Great Barrier Reef.
Bookings for the epic journey which will be taken by the Serenade of the Seas vessel, with capacity for 2,490 passengers open today.
Read Also: Disney Cruise Check In Online
Do I Have To Dress Up On A Royal Caribbean Cruise
Royal Caribbean’s dress code is casual during the day at night there’s either casual, smart-casual or formal dress code depending on the schedule. Casual attire includes jeans and collared shirts for men and sundresses or pants with blouses for women smart-casual means collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits and on formal nights, suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns are expected. If you want to avoid dressing up altogether on any night, the extensive Windjammer Cafe is always casual dress.
Caps, tank tops and bathing suits are never allowed in the main dining room or specialty restaurants shorts are not permitted during dinner and footwear is always required.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Highlights
- An incredible company that has been in operation since 1969.
- A well-known name in the cruise line industry, with service standards that accompany their length of time in the industry.
- Winner of a plethora of service awards, including “Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean,””Best Cruise Line Overall,” and “Best Cruise Ship Symphony of the Seas.”
- Amazing rooms in various sizes available for all of your accommodation needs and party sizes.
- Breathtaking views, offering you uninterrupted views of the water, the shores, and all of the beautiful sights of each destination.
- Unmatched customer service to make your trip a relaxing and unforgettable experience.
- Knowledgeable tour guides to accompany you to places that you might have never heard of.
- Lots of space to explore and get to know the ship.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Luxury Cruise Line
South Georgia Medical Center
. There are so many reasons to get excited about a Royal Caribbean®cruise. Choose from itineraries that take you to top-rated destinations, from sun-soaked Caribbean isles to ancient temples in Asia and everywhere in between. And. 2022. 6. 24. ·Whether youre in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or any of the 240 destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise, theres a world of flavors to explore on board. Think Italian trattorias, American steakhouses, Mexican street fare, fresh sushi and hibachi, New England-inspired spots, vegan menus and more. Theres a mix of new takes on traditional.
Rci’s Shipboard Kids And Teen Programming
Also complimentary the company offers to kids and teenagers supervised activities at dedicated facilities and youth counselors on each vessel.
For toddlers on each liner are provided at-fee nursery services via highly experienced and professionally trained staff.
RCI’s children program covers ages 2-17 and features brand partnerships , Family Disco Hour. dedicated areas and facilities, including toddlers-only pools, computer rooms, video game arcades, separate kids- and teen-only clubs.
On September 30, 2018, RCI discontinued fleetwide its in-cabin babysitting service . Service’s only alternatives still available are the shipboard nursery and group sitting . The other two kids programs remained unchanged.
Don’t Miss: Spirit Of America Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean Adds Longer Cruises To The Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has added longer cruises to the Caribbean in 2022-2023 that range from six to eleven nights on five cruise ships.
The six night sailings will visit the Western Caribbean while the eight to 11 night cruises will stop in ports in the Southern Caribbean.
The following new cruises from Royal Caribbean in 2022-2023 are now open for bookings.
Royal Caribbeans all-new Odyssey of the Seas will say ciao to Rome, Italy and set off on a 13-night transatlantic to her winter homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Once stateside, the cruise ship will sail eight night Southern Caribbean itineraries that visit destinations such as Labadee, Haiti a Royal Caribbean private destination Oranjestad, Aruba Willemstad, Curacao and La Romana, Dominican Republic.
The Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship will alternate eight night Southern Caribbean cruises with six night Western Caribbean sailings that visit island gems Falmouth, Jamaica George Town, Grand Cayman and Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas on every cruise.
Vision of the Seas will join Odyssey of the Seas in the Venice of America to sail 10 and 11 night Southern Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, beginning November 2022.
These wanderlust-worthy sailings are perfect for adventure seekers who have been saving their vacation days to experience an epic mix of the Caribbeans most picturesque beaches and pulsing ports.
New Internet Packages Cost
RCI’s ship internet offering was revamped from only one plan into different per day packages with pricing based on the number of included devices. Two new packages are currently available for booking:
- Note: All below listed unlimited Internet package prices are CruisePlanner booking rates and include the 30% pre-cruise booking discount. Packages can be purchased onboard and also pre-purchased via RCI’s “Cruise Planner” booking system.
- “Voom Surf Voyage” is the “light package” providing high-speed Internet for general web browsing, e-mails and social media platforms . The “Voom Surf Voyage” Internet package cost depends on the number of mobile devices using it. “Voom Surf” pricing is as follows: $13 , $12 , $10 and $20 .
- “Voom Surf + Stream” is the “real deal”, offering unlimited Internet activities, including high-speed video streaming . The “Voom Surf + Stream” Internet package cost also depends on the number of mobile devices included. Voom Surf + Stream pricing is as follows: $18 , $16 , $14 and $28 .
Occasionally, Royal Caribbean offers VOOM package discounts for passengers with pre-purchased online internet packages. Discounts are also offered for Royal Caribbean loyalty program members when the VOOM package is purchased onboard.
Also Check: What Is The Nicest Cruise Line
What To Expect On Board A Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
Your holiday starts from the moment you step on board your Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Across the Royal Caribbean fleet you will find a wealth of facilities including gorgeous theatres and live music venues, casinos, a rock-climbing wall, a surf simulator and swimming pools as well as countless bars, lounges and restaurants.
Whether you want to experience an adventure-filled cruise like no other, or simply want to bask under the warm sunshine, on board Royal Caribbean you are free to spend your time relaxing, adventuring or just having fun!
Panama Canal Cruises 2023
For winter 2023-2024, Rhapsody OTS has scheduled an RCI-first Caribbean and Latin America program based on 3x homeports – two in Panama and one in Colombia .
The 7-night roundtrips also visit Panama Canal and The Netherlands’ ABC islands in the Leeward Antilles. The Panama Canal itinerary visits Cartagena, and Costa Rica’s Puntarenas and Quepos.
Also Check: Christmas Markets River Cruise 2022
Cancelled Cruises In 2022
Here is a list of the cancelled cruises by Royal Caribbean so far.
On January 28, 2022, Royal Caribbean announced more Spectrum of the Seas cancellations for cruises from Hong Kong on these dates: February 04, 07, 10, 12 and 14, 2022.
On January 18, 2022, Royal Caribbean had to cancel Spectrum of the Seas Hong Kong sailings scheduled on January 21, 23, 26, 28 and 31, 2022.
The sailings were canceled following an update to local COVID-19 prevention policies by local authorities on January 14, which requires a 14-day suspension of all cruise operations.
On January 14, 2022, Royal Caribbean cancelled three sailings on Independence of the Seas . She will return on January 29, 2022.
On January 7, 2022, Royal Caribbean cancelled four ships:
Vision of the Seas return to cruising is postponed until March 7, 2022
Serenade of the Seas sailings from January 8 March 5, returning after dry dock on April 26, 2022
Jewel of the Seas sailings from January 9 February 12, returning on February 20, 2022
Symphony of the Seas sailings from January 8 January 22, returning on January 29, 2022
Royal Caribbean cancelled the January 6 sailing of Spectrum of the Seas from Hong Kong because nine passengers on the previous sailing were identified as close contacts to someone that tested positive on land in Hong Kong. The local government required Royal Caribbean to cancel the next sailing.