Cruises From The Us And Caribbean With Stops In Colombia
Guests age 18 and up who are not fully vaccinated will need to present a negative result for a PCR test taken within 3 days or an antigen test taken within 2 days prior to sailing.
Guests under the age of 17 and fully vaccinated guests do not have have any testing requirements.
Tests must be arranged on your own and are at your own expense.
Whakaari / White Island Eruption
On 9 December 2019, a volcanic eruption occurred killing 21 people from Ovation of the Seas. It occurred on New Zealand’s Whakaari / White Island while Ovation was docked in the nearby Port of Tauranga. Despite an increase in seismic activity in preceding weeks 47 people, including 38 passengers and crew from the ship, were on the island when it erupted. As of December 10,2019, 44 of the 47 were injured, missing, or killed. A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the line was “devastated by todays events”, and the ship remained in port until 10 December to assist with recovery efforts. In April 2020, legal action was commenced in Australia on behalf of relatives and Ovation passengers against Royal Caribbean.
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.
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How Royal Caribbean And Carnival Daily Tips Work
Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have slightly different daily gratuities. Here’s how it works on Royal Caribbean:
As of September 7th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guests SeaPass account on a daily basis. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories.
Royal Caribbean also explains that the tips are split between “dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.”
Carnival has a slightly different policy. It calls its daily tips “recommended.” The amounts below, however, post to you onboard account on the second-to-last day of the cruise:
- Standard Staterooms: $14.50 USD per person, per day
- Suite Staterooms: $16.50 USD per person, per day
Carnival does not add gratuities for guests under the age of 2. The cruise line does not explicitly say that you can modify or have those charges removed, but you can by visiting guest services
Royal Caribbean offers a more direct explanation of its tipping policy.
It is customary, but not required on both cruise lines to give your room attendant an additional tip on the last night of the cruise .
Bonus tip: Solo musicians don’t always have tips jars out, but they always appreciate being handed a tip.
After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises What I’ve Learned About Tipping
- Publish date: Dec 4, 2022 11:08 AM EST
Tipping has always been a mostly voluntary practice that’s supposed to be about customers rewarding service personnel for providing good service. The problem is that restaurants generally consider tips part of wages and don’t pay their waiters minimum wage . That makes tipping, while it’s usually still optional, a lot more required.
That’s sort of how tipping works on Royal Caribbean – Get Free Report and Carnival Cruise Line – Get Free Report ships. It’s still technically optional but opting out of daily gratuities — what the cruise lines call the fee added to your onboard account each day for each person in your room — is literally taking money out of the hands out of the lowest-level workers on cruise ships.
Those gratuities, however, are not the only tips you can/should pay on a Royal Caribbean or Carnival cruise ship. Exactly when you should open your wallet and exactly how the daily gratuities and whether you actually need to pay them can be confusing.
Image source: Carnival.
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Rci Cruise Ships Classes
RCI’s fleet has vessels in the following classes:
- Note: All vessels have an Outdoor Movie Theater , Solarium , Aqua Park, Rock Climbing Wall, FlowRider , 3D Cinema, Virtual Balcony Staterooms.
- “Oasis Class” ships feature Neighborhoods, AquaTheater, 3D Movies, Waterslides , Zip Line, 2 FlowRiders, 2 Climbing Walls, Carousel, Ice-Skating Rink, Loft Suites .
- “Icon Class” is a new design vessel with GT ~250K tons and passenger capacity 5600. The design is represented by 3x units and features 8x neighborhoods and numerous fleet-firsts in technologies, venues, amenities, cabin types and categories.
- “Quantum Class” and “Quantum Ultra Class” ships feature North Star , RipCord , Seaplex , Two70 Lounge , Loft Suites, Music Hall .
- “Freedom Class” feature Ice-Skating Rink, Royal Promenade .
- “Radiance Class” feature Glass Elevators, Gyroscopic Self-Leveling Pool Tables, Mini-Golf Course.
- “Vision Class” ships is the fleet’s oldest, excepting only the “Sovereign Class” ships Majesty and Empress.
The Voyager-class, Freedom-class, and Oasis-class vessels have Royal Promenade. It is a centerline promenade in a multi-deck Atrium with a pedestrian area lined with restaurants and shops. At night, the Royal Promenade turns into an entertainment venue hosting live parades and dance parties. Royal Promenade’s upper levels have “Promenade Staterooms” . Next aerial photo shows a Voyager-class cruise ship .
Next aerial photo shows an Oasis-class cruise ship as looked from above.
New Services Venues Trademarked Ship Names
Note: OTS=”Of The Seas”
In January 2017 were trademarked the ship names Valhalla OTS, Sunrise OTS, Icon OTS, Symphony OTS. On September 15, 2014, RCCL trademarked the ship names Spectrum OTS, Harmony OTS, Emblem OTS, Joy OTS, Apex OTS. In September 2015 were abandoned the trademarks Emblem OTS, Passion OTS, Pulse OTS, Apex OTS, Joy OTS, Spectrum OTS. Other currently trademarked by Royal Caribbean ship names include Gallant OTS, Phenom OTS, Valhalla OTS, Sunrise OTS.
In September 2018 were trademarked 3 ship names – Eon OTS, Gallant OTS, Phenom OTS. In October was trademarked Metropolis OTS.
In September 2018 was trademarked the Oasis-Class ships’ smokestack area . The design features a crown-shaped bottom section with 2 slanted funnels above. In October 2018 was trademarked the hull’s oblong-shaped stern. The design features AquaTheater Suites , Ultimate Abyss and RCCL’s logo. In December 2018 was trademarked the name “Fly Rider” .
In October 2019, RCI partnered with Funky Buddha Brewery for an exclusive beer label available only on CocoCay Island. The private beer label was trademarked on July 8, 2019. The craft beer is a tropical ale packaged in 12-oz cans and is offered in different labels themed after CocoCay’s areas.
In April 2020, RCG filed a trademark application for “Seaface” – its own sanitary mask brand intended for cruise ship services.
In March 2021 was trademarked the phrase “America’s Cruise Line” .
In September 2022 was trademarked “Icon of Vacations”.
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Rci’s Cruise Planner Packages & Prices
Cruise Planner is an online booking system for adding/pre-purchasing shore excursions, specialty restaurants, beverage packages, internet packages, photo packages, gifts and gear, onboard activities , The Key , as well as making wellness reservations .
Specialty restaurant dining packages currently offered by RCI include “Unlimited” , “3-Night” and “Chops+1” .
Drink packages include Deluxe , Refreshment and Soda .
The Key must be purchased prior the voyage and is priced US$20-35 per person per day.
Arcade Gaming credit packages via CruisePlanner cost less .
Royal Caribbean International Highlights
Dining Treat your palate to an adventure on the exciting ships of Royal Caribbean. Dining options and flavors are deliciously suited to every mood, taste and requirement. Whether you choose traditional dining or My Time Dining, wonderful and innovative menus await. Royal Caribbean has also launched My Family Time Dining which is perfectly suited to expedite mealtimes for younger cruisers and teens who are excited to get back to their new friends and fun at Adventure Ocean. Royal Caribbean also offers specialty restaurants including gourmet Italian fare, a prime steak restaurant, fine Asian cuisine and a gourmet experience at the Chef’s Table among many others.
Onboard Activities Royal Caribbean is renowned for their innovative ships. They put a thrilling spin on onboard activities such as rock climbing over the Atlantic Ocean or surfing on a FlowRider® while sailing in Alaska. Get your adrenaline rush on a zip-line or bungee trampoline in the Mediterranean, sky dive on a cruise ship or lace up some blades and go ice skating in the Caribbean. Virtual reality and laser tag, transformational spaces, bionic bars, exciting waterslides, chic bars and discos, bustling casinos, adults-only spaces, Zen spas, Broadway shows and more are nestled among the other fantastic opportunities for all ages. Royal Caribbean continues to create and provide one of the most innovative fleets at sea.
Special Cruise Offers
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Thanksgiving On Royal Caribbean
If your cruise happens to sail over the Thanksgiving holiday, you can expect the celebration to extend onboard as well.
Royal Caribbean gets into the spirit of the holiday with fall color decorations around the ship on Thanksgiving sailings, and even a few special events such as Thanksgiving trivia games, and special cocktails.
Of course, there will be plenty of turkey offerings. The main dining room menu will have its regular menu, as well as a special Thanksgiving menu you can order from that has the traditional foods available.
Football games will be available to watch in the bars and screens around the ship.
And in case you are wondering, Christmas decorations start going up around this time, but it varies by ship. Some ships don’t start putting them up until after Thanksgiving. This can vary by ship and year-to-year. Some ships doing early December.
Review Of Royal Caribbean
RCI is a subsidiary company and largest brand of RCG . This Norwegian-American corporation is currently ranked the world’s second-largest passenger shipping company . However, RCG owns the world’s biggest passenger ships. As of 2020, RCG controlled ~24% of the global ship cruising market , had full ownership of 4 brands , 49% stake in Pullmantur , 50% stake in TUI Cruises , 19% stake in Wamos Air .
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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.
It Pays To Be Loyal To Royal
The Crown & Anchor® Society is our way of recognizing and rewarding our most loyal guests. As a member, youll enjoy exclusive benefits to make your cruise experiences with Royal Caribbean® even more wow-worthy. Youll earn one Cruise Point for every night you sail with us, and double points when you book a Suite. Points add up to perks you can enjoy both on board and on land. And as your points grow, so do your benefits and status. Ready to join the club? All you have to do is come aboard youll be automatically enrolled into the Crown & Anchor Society once you complete your first sailing. Each tier has its own set of special rewards just click on each ribbon below to compare.
For more information on how your benefits are temporarily impacted, please click on your respective tier below.
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The Icon Of Vacations
This is more than a vacation upgrade. Its the best family vacation in the world. Introducing the new Icon of the Seasa first-of-its-kind Royal Caribbean® adventure where youll have the time of your life, multiple times a day. Its thrills you never dared to imagine and next-level chill you never dreamed possible. Let your adrenaline surge at the largest waterpark at sea or conquer an all-out test of courage dangling high above the ocean. Pick from seven unique pools to satisfy any mood this is an all-you-can-swim buffet. Fuel bolder bonding with tons to do for everyone in your crew at Surfside, the ultimate stay-all-day family neighborhood right onboard. And discover dishes to delight every appetite with 40 ways to dine and drink. This is the Icon of Vacationsarriving January 2024.
Ships Sailing In November 2022
All of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships are back in service, and Royal Caribbean has returned for the first time to Australia since 2019.
Royal Caribbean’s cruises down under this season will offer 2- to 12-night cruises to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Here’s where you can find each ship this month.
- Freedom of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Anthem of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
- Allure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas beginning November 13.
- Symphony of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Independence of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Adventure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
- Explorer of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles, California
- Spectrum of the Seas from Singapore
- Grandeur of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Enchantment of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland
- Radiance of the Seas from New Orleans, Louisiana
- Serenade of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
- Voyager of the Seas from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Quantum of the Seas from Brisbane, Australia
- Ovation of the Seas from Sydney, Australia
- Oasis of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
- Wonder of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Odyssey of the Seas from from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Vision of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Rhapsody of the Seas from Bridgetown, Barbados
- Jewel of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
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Intuit Royal Caribbean Cruises And These 3 Other Stocks Insiders Are Selling
The Nasdaq tumbled by over 200 points on Monday. Investors, meanwhile, focused on some notable insider trades.
When insiders sell shares, it indicates their concern in the companys prospects or that they view the stock as being overpriced. Either way, this signals an opportunity to go short on the stock. Insider sales should not be taken as the only indicator for making an investment or trading decision. At best, it can lend conviction to a selling decision.
Below is a look at a few recent notable insider sales. For more, check out Benzinga’s insider transactions platform.
Royal Caribbean Cruises To Cuba From Florida
Royal Caribbean operated Cuba cruises with the Miami-homeported ship Empress of the Seas. The first Cuban cruise was on April 19, 2017 .
The newly-refreshed Empress OTS had scheduled a total of 58 voyages in the period January 2018 through March 2019, with more than half offering overnights in havana. Empress was homeported in Tampa for summer 2018, for 4- and 5-night itineraries to Key West, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Havana . For the winter 2018-2019 season, the ship repositioned to Port Everglades .
On December 1, 2017, RCI added 2 new Cuban ports included in 4- to 8-night long Caribbean itineraries on Empress of the Seas. The new 7-night “Best of Cuba” itinerary from Miami visits Cienfuegos, Havana, and Nassau. The 5-night itinerary visits Key West Florida and Havana . The 8-night itinerary visits Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, Grand Cayman Island, and Labadee Haiti.
Majesty of the Seas offered 4- and 5-night itineraries to Havana leaving roundtrip from Tampa and from Fort Lauderdale . In July 2017, RCI unveiled the company’s 2nd ship to Cuba – Majesty OTS, homeported in Port Canaveral. Starting March 25, 2019, the liner offered a 4-night voyage calling at Havana.
Alaska Airlines offers regular nonstop flights to Havana from Los Angeles . An 80-min ling JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Havana costs less than USD 100. Previously, air travel from the USA to Cuba was thought charter flights only.
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Health Protocols For November 2022 Cruises
Royal Caribbean’s health protocols for November are fairly similar to the protocols from October.
Vaccinated guests do not need to take a test for sailings of 9 nights or fewer for cruises from North America and the Caribbean.
On sailings of 10 nights or longer, fully vaccinated guests age 12 and older will need to bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 test within 3 days before boarding day.
Guests age 12 and up who are not vaccinated have 3 days to take a test before their cruise, regardless the duration of the cruise.
Guests under the age of 12, do not need to take a test prior to cruising.