The powerful blow of a cruise ship's horn is an unmistakable sound on any cruise vacation, but what is it like to blow the horn yourself? I got to try it on my recent cruise, and here's how.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean announced a partnership with The Make-A-Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish—a nonprofit organization founded in 1980—grants wishes to children who have been diagnosed with critical illnesses. The wishes can be anything from a trip to Disney World to meeting their favorite celebrity, being a firefighter for a day, or, in Royal Caribbean’s case, taking a cruise.

Wishes At Sea is the name of Royal Caribbean's partnership program with Make-A-Wish, and guests can help make this partnership possible by giving donations and making select purchases onboard.

Each ship is selling branded t-shirts for $25, along with hosting a “Walk for Wishes” sometime during the sailing. You can also opt to fill out a card in your stateroom specifying a donation amount, which will then be added to your onboard account.

The most unique way to contribute to the cause is by auctioning off items or experiences

While onboard Odyssey of the Seas for an 8-night sailing earlier this month, my husband and I decided to participate in the Make-A-Wish auction on the pool deck. Jamie, our cruise director, was great about advertising the auction and previewing some of the amazing experiences up for bid.

On the third day of our cruise, we headed to the pool deck for the auction. This turned out to be quite the event, as all the senior officers were in attendance, including Captain Marek.

Royal Caribbean's ships are all in competition with each other to raise the most money. Currently, Odyssey of the Seas is leading the way. Jamie is so determined to win the fleet-wide contest that he has committed to shaving his head if they raise over $30,000 before the end of April!

The auction items up for bid included:

• Bingo cards
• Surf and Stream Internet package for the entire voyage for one device
• Dinner for two in a specialty restaurant (excluding Chef's Table and Izumi Teppanyaki)
• Pickleball lesson with the sports staff
• $100 credit for the arcade
• Digital photo package of every picture your family took during the voyage
• Private FlowRider lesson
• A behind-the-scenes tour of the theater with the cast of the Effectors including backstage access
• A tour of the galley with the Executive Chef
• A tour of the engine room with the Chief Engineer
• An All Access ship tour

In addition to all of these items, there were two additional auction items that offered the most exclusive experiences. First was the dinner at Chops Grille with the ship's captain (and up to eight guests). The other big ticket item was being invited to the bridge during sailaway from Perfect Day at CocoCay, which included a champagne toast with the captain and officers, and the opportunity to blow the ship's horn.

It was wonderful to see so many guests participating in the auction. There was something for everyone with a variety of price points for every budget. Of course, many items went for more than what you could buy them for in the Cruise Planner, but it is for charity, after all!

The competition was tough for the last two big ticket items. The dinner at Chops Grille ended up going for $1,000, and we won the auction for the CocoCay bridge experience with our $2,000 bid.

I got completely caught up in the bidding war. My husband said he was about ready to restrain me, but I really wanted this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After Jamie pointed to me and yelled, “SOLD,” he asked the family I was bidding against if they would match my bid. They said they would and he gave them the experience too!

Following our winning bid, it was time to blow the ship's horn

On the last day of our cruise, we met in Schooner Bar at 4:15PM, just before Odyssey of the Seas was to sail away from Perfect Day at CocoCay. There, we were met by a crew member that escorted us to deck 12, where the security team cleared us to go to the bridge.

Captain Marek was the most gracious host. He gave us a tour of the bridge, introduced us to all of his officers, and personally stayed with us the entire time answering questions and pointing out every instrument. We were even invited into the communications room to watch him make the announcement welcoming everyone back to the ship.

We have been to the bridge on other ships before, but we have never had the captain give us such individualized attention. I cannot say enough wonderful things about him or his team.

Terrence, the Playmakers manager, offered us champagne to celebrate the sailaway. As a former sommelier for Royal, he talked to us about the differences between champagne and sparkling wine along with explaining how white and red wines are made.

As soon as we departed the pier, we were each offered to blow the horn a total of three times.  We were docked with Freedom of the Seas and they would signal back to us. Because Freedom was our first Royal Caribbean cruise, as well as the ship where we renewed our vows, that was extra special for us.

We were then moved to the wings where we could watch the sailaway. It was so smooth and seamless. It was even more of a treat to have a clear, sunny day. The photos from the wings could never do it justice. It must be a view that never gets old.

We spent an hour on the bridge, and it went by so quickly. Everyone was so gracious and generous with their time, and it was a unique experience that I will always treasure.

Overall, the ship raised $13,400 in a combination of shirt sales and auction items. Odyssey of the Seas is now a mere $4000 short of their April goal. I sure hope someone gets a picture of Jamie after he shaves his head!

Royal Caribbean has joined the growing grassroots movement to help supply teachers with needed classroom supplies that may not be covered in the school’s budget.

Royal Caribbean is helping Florida teachers start off on the right foot this back-to-school season by participating in the #ClearTheList movement.Once the trending initiative was discovered by the Royal Caribbean social media team, they quickly jumped in because it was the right thing to do.  

Over the course of ten days, Royal Caribbean helped clear the lists of over 100 teachers across Florida. Teachers throughout the state immediately reacted to Royal Caribbean’s generosity by publicly thanking the company on social channels. In addition to this, the company is making a donation of $10,000 to DonorsChoose.org to support even more teachers.

"It’s in our DNA to support our communities, joining the #ClearTheList movement was a natural fit. We initially thought to support our hometown teachers in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and quickly realized that we could go farther and touch classrooms across the state. I’m glad we did because the reaction has been incredible," said Helen O’Connell, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited."

If you're an Florida resident and you're on Twitter, you can help #ClearTheList here.

A Boston cab driver returned a bag full of $187,000 in cash to a fare that accidentally left it in the car earlier this week, which has compelled Royal Caribbean to reward this selfless gesture.

The Boston Globe reported Raymond “Buzzy” MacCausland picked up a passenger who was moving from a homeless shelter to a local hotel. The passenger exited the cab but accidentally left a backpack behind. When MacCausland opened the bag to look for identification, he only saw large bundles of cash instead—and he headed straight to the local police station.

Royal Caribbean felt the selfless act deserved more than the $100 tip he received, and the cruise line surprised the driver, Boston-based Raymond “Buzzy” MacCausland, with a “Ticket to Adventure” for a free 7-night Caribbean vacation onboard one of the world’s largest cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas.

Should he accept, MacCausland and a guest will set sail on a cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to sunny ports of call in their choice of the Eastern or Western Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas spread some early holiday cheer by welcoming onboard a group of seniors and volunteers of  the local voluntary welfare organisation Lions Befrienders for a Christmas tour, show and lunch.

The 60 seniors were treated to an ice show, as well as lunch in the Main Dining Room. They also enjoyed viewing the Christmas decorations onboard and had a photo-taking session with the giant Christmas tree along the Royal Promenade.

Captain Mal Bardsnes of Mariner of the Seas with Mr Sean Treacy, Managing Director, Singapore & Southeast Asia of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., also presented a donation check of S$10,000 on behalf of the company to Dr Chey Chor Khoon, Executive Director of Lions Befrienders, to contribute to Lions Befrienders’ seniors' welfare and more eldercare services and facilities.

This activity is part of Royal Caribbean’s yearly Christmas charity activity in Singapore which invites onboard local charity groups, ranging from seniors to children with special needs or from low income families.

Mr Treacy said, “This year, we specially honour the Pioneer Generation for our Christmas charity celebration. Hence it is our great pleasure to invite Lions Befrienders’ seniors to tour our ship during one of her most beautiful moments of the year, for them to enjoy a day out with our family-friendly entertainment and amenities, and most of all, for us to have the opportunity to contribute to their welfare. Royal Caribbean will continue to work closely with charity organizations in the region to contribute actively to the community.”

Dr Chey added: “We are delighted to have Royal Caribbean’s continual friendship and care for our seniors, many of whom may not have the opportunity to enjoy such a treat on the seas. Royal Caribbean’s donation will go a long way in ensuring the sustenance of our services as we expand our programs and reach to more vulnerable seniors.”   

If you've been on a Royal Caribbean cruise lately, you may have noticed in the Cruise Compass daily activty guide a special event to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation and all those fundraisers across Royal Caribbean's fleet has raised nearly a million dollars.

NY1 is reporting that Make-A-Wish Foundation CEO David Williams says Royal Caribbean's onboard events have raised $850,000 in addition to the other things Royal Caribbean does for the charity.

As one of Make-A-Wish’s travel partners, Royal Caribbean donates 200 staterooms a year.

Included in the staterooms are some onboard Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.  The Grubb family from New Jersey were able to go on Quantum of the Seas as a Make-A-Wish Foundation family because their son Joshua is suffering from brain cancer.  They were invited to be among the first guests onboard Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, meeting some of the people who make wishes come true.

Royal Caribbean invites its guests aboard many sailings to take a walk around the pool deck to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  T-shirts are sold at the event, which go directly to the foundation.

Royal Caribbean is joining the worldwide effort to provide humanitarian relief efforts to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Royal Caribbean has taken steps to help crew members attempt to communicate with relatives inthe Philippines. Company executives also held a special meeting Monday morning with more than 200 Filipino crew members aboard Vision of the Seas, which was docked near the company’s headquarters in Miami, to let them know that more would be done, including matching contributions from employees dollar-for-dollar.

Royal Caribbean said its efforts to help the people of the Philippines would raise $1 million. 

Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain commented on the effort, "Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the storm. More than 12,800 of our employees call the Philippines home. We want to do everything we can to help them, their families, and their neighbors heal from this terrible tragedy."

Royal Caribbean cares a lot about the plight of the storm victims, especially considering Filipinos make up the largest nationality represented across Royal Caribbean's cruise line.

The cruise company will collaborate with its local manning agency, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC), to assess the storm’s impact on crew members and their families. The companies have deployed an emergency team to the hardest-hit areas in the Philippines, and will establish a central communications point where employees currently on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, CDF Croisieres de France, and TUI Cruises ships, can ask for assistance in reaching their family members, and where employees who are not currently on ship assignments can check in.

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.

Two Norwegian contemporary artists were shared in an art award that was presented by Royal Caribbean as part of the 10th annual Royal Caribbean Arts Grant (RCAG).

The ceremony took place in Oslo onboard Adventure of the Seas on June 15 where Anawana Haloba and Lene Berg received US $43,500 each.  An international jury has picked the two finalists out of a pool of 262 well qualified applicants.

The jury issued this statement as to why they picked the two women, "A unanimous jury has decided to nominate two solid artists who are well on their way to establishing themselves both in Norway and internationally. Both finalists work with film using historical narratives and criticism of established precedents reflecting our present time. The finalists to this year's Royal Caribbean Arts Grant are Anawana Haloba and Lene Berg."

Royal Caribbean Arts Grant is an established and recognized award and has through its ten years' long history reflected the high level of competence and skill in the Norwegian art scene, something the jury acknowledges.

More than a thousand Royal Caribbean employees, friends, families, vendors and business partners volunteered to spend their day off this past Saturday to improving a South Florida community as part of the company's 16th annual G.I.V.E. Day.

G.I.V.E., which stands for "Get Involved Volunteer Everywhere," is a community service event that assists non-profit organizations and improves the quality of life in their local communities. The volunteers painted and landscaped the grounds at Kids In Distress, the home away from home for many children in the South Florida foster care system, located in the Wilton Manors neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

After a hard day's work, volunteers transformed the Kids In Distress grounds with more than 2,000 gallons of environmentally-friendly paint for 13 buildings and surrounding areas; 8,500 plants, including fruit trees and vegetables native to Florida; 100 bird feeders made by young volunteers; and by reconnecting the irrigation system, which will help Kids In Distress save on their monthly water expenses. In addition, their donation center was inventoried and organized to help them better serve their 5,000 kids in foster care homes throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties.  

"As one of the largest employers in South Florida, we are committed to supporting and helping our local communities," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We hope that the personal satisfaction and enjoyment of assisting our neighbors on G.I.V.E. Day will help inspire our employees to pursue volunteer and public service opportunities throughout the year."