Royal Caribbean Blog

Welcome to this week's round-up of all the Royal Caribbean news and happenings.  Hope you are staying warm and are ready to cozy up to the cruise happenings this week.

Unfortunately Royal Caribbean had to cancel sailings on four cruise ships this week, marking the first mass cancellations since last summer.

Sailings on Symphony, Serenade and Jewel of the Seas were cancelled for at least a few weeks. Vision of the Seas had her return to service pushed back.

The cruise line did not specify the exact reason why these ships were taken offline, only saying the decision was, "a result of the ongoing COVID-related circumstances around the world, and in an abundance of caution."

Many cruise fans think perhaps the decision was due to Covid cases among crew members impacting operations.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean releases new Europe summer 2023 cruises to book
• Royal Caribbean extends stricter face mask protocols until January 31, 2022
• Icon of the Seas blocks arrive at shipyard, along with something we've never seen before
• Media begins to question why CDC has singled out cruise ships
• Royal Caribbean updates: Spectrum of the Seas cancellation, CDC plans and more!
• Icon of the Seas information and features
• What it's like to go on a cruise with Royal Caribbean's stricter mask rules
• Royal Caribbean surveys guests for name for next Oasis Class cruise ship
• Everyday things that are better on a cruise ship
• How to find the cheapest cabins on Royal Caribbean
• Guide to Miami cruise port

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! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: 6 things cruise pros hate

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 6 things cruise pros hate! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

What happens if you test positive for Covid on a cruise ship

A lot of cruisers are curious what happens if you test positive for Covid-19 during your cruise.

Brandon Smith sailed on Freedom of the Seas recently and had to quarantine due to testing positive for Covid, and shared his experience.

Brandon shared what happened when he tested positive for Covid on a ship, and what steps and changes you might expect to encounter should it happen to you.

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.

If you decide to go ahead with your cruise, I shared important recommendations for how to cruise during the early part of 2022.

Top untrue myths about Omicron variant and going on a cruise ship right now

While there's been lots of announcements in the cruise industry, there's also been a few rumors that simply aren't true about going on a cruise.

Between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning vaccinated passengers to not go on a cruise ship, and news reports about missed port calls making the rounds on social media, a lot of misconceptions about where cruising is right now have emerged.

Here are three really important untrue myths about going on a cruise right now that are totally untrue.

Going on a cruise vacation is undoubtedly more exciting than your daily life at home. Each day on a cruise brings you to a different place packed with new views, experiences, and memories to make.

There are, of course, some everyday things that you will do both at home and on a cruise. But what everyday things are better on a cruise ship than at home?

Waking Up

The start to your day on a cruise ship is a lot more enjoyable than at home. You don't need to set an alarm, rush to get ready for work, and drop the kids off at school. You can wake up when you want with no obligations planned for your day.

Waking up on a cruise ship is even better when you have a balcony room. With a balcony, you will wake up to the sun shining through the window and sound of the ocean breeze. Our recommendation is to order room service for breakfast at least once on your sailing. Enjoying fresh fruit, pancakes, eggs, and toast on your own private balcony is a relaxing way to spend the morning on a cruise ship.

Plus, waking up on a cruise is especially exciting. Rather than waking up to prepare for your normal daily routine, you are waking up ready to explore and experience new things. It's a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning when you have a new island to explore!

Dining

Dining at home is much more complicated than on a cruise. From making a shopping list to going to the grocery store, meal prepping, and cooking, it can simply be a lot of work.

On a cruise ship, however, dining is exciting, dynamic, and stress-free. Say goodbye to sad leftovers at the office and say hello to endless dining choices with no cooking required.

Royal Caribbean cruises offer both complementary and specialty dining, which gives you the chance to try a variety of cuisines, dishes, and flavors.

Those looking for a unique dining experience may wish to try the peculiar dishes available at Wonderland. If you’re looking for something really fun, book a dinner at Izumi Hibachi, where you can watch your meal being cooked right in front of you.

Dining on a cruise ship may also be more elaborate than your usual meals at home. Whether in the Main Dining Room or at a specialty restaurant, meals often come with three or four different courses. Whereas dining at home may be a quick event, dining on a cruise ship always feels like a special occasion.

Another benefit of dining on a cruise ship compared to at home is the ability to try new foods without worrying about whether you will like them or not. While eating at a restaurant on land, you may be nervous to order a dish you’ve never tried before for fear of disliking it. After all, you’ll be paying for each dish you order!

On a cruise ship, though, there is no harm in ordering something new to try. Dishes are included in your cruise fare or dining package, so if you do not like something, you can always order something else.

Finally, did we mention that there is unlimited soft serve ice cream?

(Lack of) cleaning

Everyday life involves a fair amount of cleaning. Whether doing the dishes, laundry, vacuuming, yard work, or cleaning the kitchen, housework is a daily chore that many people really dislike doing.

One of the best parts of a cruise vacation is the service you receive while onboard. Once you board the ship, you can forget all about chores at home and enter vacation mode. Cooking, cleaning, and maintenance will now be dealt with by Royal Caribbean crew members.

On a cruise, your stateroom will be cleaned not just once, but two times per day. Did you leave your clothes on the floor? Are your dirty room service dishes on the desk? Did you run out of clean towels? No need to worry. Your stateroom attendant will come through to put your cabin back to picture-perfect condition.

After a big dinner at home, your kitchen sink is probably full of dirty dishes. On a cruise ship, you don’t have to worry about doing the dishes! You just eat your meal and a crew members take away the dishes for you.

All this being said, even though someone is going to be cleaning up after you, you should maintain common courtesy. And of course, be sure to leave gratuities to your helpful crew members!

You should also be aware that going home after your cruise and suddenly having to do these household chores again will feel very hard.

Entertainment

At home, it is unlikely that you are attending live musical events and theater performances every night. Your daily entertainment at home probably includes your couch, TV, and Netflix! This could not be more different than being on a cruise ship.

One of the biggest myths about going on a cruise is that you will be bored. People new to cruising may be nervous about feeling “stuck” on a cruise ship with nothing to do.

Once you get onboard, though, you’ll quickly realize that there is always something exciting happening on the ship. Royal Caribbean plans its days at sea or in port to be packed with entertainment, events, music, fitness, crafts, lectures, dance parties, and more.

Entertainment on cruise ships is nothing short of exciting. Depending on the ship, you can see full-length Broadway shows, ice skating shows, live music, comedians, and AquaTheater performances, to name a few. 

Another plus of being on a cruise is that unlike at home, entertainment on a cruise ship is included in your cruise fare. You won’t have to shell out pricey tickets to view a Broadway show or musician, and you can view as many performances as you want while onboard.

To find out which events are happening on your sailing, browse through the daily calendar on the Royal Caribbean app. It is a good idea to make reservations for shows in the Royal Theater, AquaTheater, Two70, and Studio B in advance to ensure that you have a seat.

Working out

Let’s face it: going to the gym can often feel like a chore. Whether before work, after work, or on the weekend, there is probably something you would rather be doing than going to the gym.

However, working out on a cruise ship is a whole lot better than on land. Royal Caribbean’s ships have excellent fitness facilities, and they design the gym so that most equipment is facing windows. This leads to unbeatable views as you sail through the ocean, making a strenuous workout a little more enjoyable.

While onboard, complementary and paid fitness classes are available. For complimentary offerings, take a look at the Cruise Planner each day to see what classes are available. You may find that there are complimentary guided stretching classes in the morning or dance lessons in the afternoon.

Some fitness classes come at an additional cost, including spinning, yoga, and pilates. These can be purchased individually. If you plan to attend several classes, though, you may want to purchase a class package in Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner prior to your sailing.

There are a variety of fitness opportunities outside the gym, too. One of the most popular places to get active onboard is the Sports Court. Here you can test out your strength on the rock climbing wall, practice surfing on the FlowRider, and play basketball, pickleball, soccer, or volleyball on the basketball court.

On select ships, you can also get your daily exercise in by roller skating, ice skating, or even trying out the flying trapeze at circus school!

And lastly, are you just looking for a simple run? Enjoying sunset views over the ocean while on the jogging track is much better than running on the treadmill at home.

Commuting

Commuting is a part of the day that most people do not enjoy. Traffic, increment weather, and long commutes are simply not very fun. On a cruise ship, commuting is much more exciting. Your "commute" will be more unique than sitting in a car on the freeway.

Going to Alaska? Board the White Pass & Yukon Railway for a commute up into the mountains. Visiting Cabo San Lucas? Step onboard a tender boat and make your way from the ship to Baja California's coast for a full day of whale watching, beaches, and tacos. How about Europe? Try exploring Croatia's coast in a sailboat, Copenhagen via bicycle, and Rome by foot.

No matter where you cruise, your commute as you explore a new port will certainly be more enjoyable than back at home.

Meeting new people

Whereas at home you are usually surrounded by the same community every day, a cruise vacation brings ample opportunities to meet passengers and crew from all over the world.

A great way to meet new passengers is, unsurprisingly, at the bar. Heading to the Pool Bar or the pub is a nice place to strike up a conversation with fellow passengers. If it isn’t busy, get to know the crew! Royal Caribbean’s crew is extremely diverse, and getting to learn more about where they come from provides a nice insight into their culture and background.

Shore excursions can also be a fantastic way to mingle with other guests. It is easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger when traveling to a destination on a bus, taking a walking tour, or touring a historical site. 

Kids and teens will have an enjoyable time meeting new peers, too. On the first day of your cruise, be sure to enroll your kids in Adventure Ocean, the kids programming onboard. Adventure Ocean is broken up by ages (3-5, 6-8, and 9-11) and is filled with games, crafts, science experiments, and more. 

If you have a teen who doesn't want to hang out with their parents the whole cruise, you’re in luck. Teenagers can go to the teen club onboard, where passengers aged 12-17 can meet and hang out with each other. The teen club also organizes group activities specifically for teenage passengers, including events like pool parties, dedicated time at the Flowrider, guitar hero, and themed dances.

Amazing views

At home, the views mostly stay the same. The view out of your bedroom window might change slightly from summer to winter, but nothing changes drastically. You likely spend most of your time in an environment with the same views.

This could not be more different when at sea. On a cruise, you will see a different view from the ship each and every day. One day you might see palm trees and sand in St. Maarten, the next day a view sailing into CocoCay, and the next day mountains in St. Lucia.

Beautiful views don’t only happen in port, though. One of the best parts of being on a cruise is looking out at the ocean around you on a sea day. Whether it's whales swimming near the ship in Alaska or sunset in the Mediterranean, views from a cruise ship are much better than at home.

Trying new things

Going on a cruise vacation is the perfect time to try something new.  A Royal Caribbean cruise is packed with activities, events, and entertainment. The majority of activities offered are included in your cruise fare, meaning that you can get outside of your comfort zone to try something completely different than what you would normally do at home.

Have you ever tried indoor skydiving? RipCord by iFLY is a popular cruise activity on Quantum-class ships. After a brief demonstration, you will have the opportunity to try to fly in the skydiving chamber. If the thought of jumping out of a plane terrifies you, RipCord by iFLY is a nice alternative!

How about ziplining? Oasis-class ships offer a zipline that goes over the ship’s Boardwalk neighborhood. Trapeze? Check out the circus school in the Seaplex. Bumper cars? Surfing? Karaoke? Sushi making class? 

Needless to say, there is surely something onboard that you have never experienced before, so give it a try!

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced Royal Caribbean to cancel scheduled cruises on 4 ships for varying lengths of time, with one as far out as April.

Royal Caribbean posted an update that it has cancelled the sailings, "as a result of the ongoing COVID-related circumstances around the world, and in an abundance of caution."

The affected ships and sailings are: 

• 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

It's important to note that Vision of the Seas was not sailing with passengers and had yet to restart operations. It was scheduled to restart cruises on January 24, 2022 from Fort Lauderdale.

Passengers on affected sailings were sent emails to inform them of the change.  Guests will receive a full refund, which will include any non-refundable deposits.

The cruise lines says they can expect to receive refunds within 14 days after we process the cancellation. 

"We know how much time and effort go into planning your vacation, and we're sorry for the impact to your plans," Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote in an email to passengers.

" We are working as quickly as possible, and we appreciate your patience."

Travel agents received similar emails that also touched on the impetus for this decision, "Our top priority is always the well-being of our guests, our crew and the communities we visit. 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."

For Serenade & Symphony of the Seas departing January 8, 2022, and Jewel of the Seas departing January 9, 2022, Royal Caribbean is providing passengers with a 100% Future Cruise Credit to book a new cruise by May 31st, 2022.

"This is amount is based on the total cruise fare paid (excluding taxes & fees, gratuities, and any RoyalUp upgrades). Certificates can be used on any Royal Caribbean International sailing that departs on or before December 31, 2022 (or one year from your original sailing - whichever is further out), as long as it's redeemed by May 31, 2022. 

There is no indication yet why these specific ships have had their sailings cancelled.

Why these four ships?

After seeing Royal Caribbean cancelled sailings on just four ships, the question of why these, and not other ships, appears.

Vision of the Seas makes sense, since it was being used for crew quarantine procedures.

But the three other ships had been operating with passengers for some time. 

Royal Caribbean did not specify why these particular ships were chosen, although cruise fans certainly have plenty of theories.

On the RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards, Pattycruise thinks perhaps too many crew members testing positive is the reason, "Lack of crew members who are Covid free would be my guess."

Neesa agreed crew members were likely the reason, "This does not surprise me at all. The Holiday sailing capacity issue I feel is directly responsible for this. Everyday on the Odyssey more and more crew were missing. They need this pause to get the crew healthy again, just my humble opinion. "

Omicron impact

The cancellations are the first mass-cancellations by Royal Caribbean since they restarted operations in June 2021, and reminiscent to many of what happened in March 2020.

Back in 2020, the entire cruise industry ceased operations for 30 days.  The shutdown ended up going over a year after governments refused to let cruise ships sail.

On December 30, 2021, Royal Caribbean Group said that while there had been more Covid-19 cases onboard, none had been severe or needed the person to be taken to a hospital.

The surge in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant has resulted in many industries suffering staffing shortages due to its employees contracting the virus.

While some ships are pausing operations, the majority of cruise ships remain in operation, thanks to the stringent protocols onboard.

Unlike theme parks, casinos, airlines and every other form of leisure travel, cruise ships implemented the strictest health protocols possible, including requiring vaccinations, mask wearing, pre-cruise tests for all and more.

Other cruise lines cancelled cruises too

Royal Caribbean joins Norwegian Cruise Line and others that also cancelled sailings on select ships.

Earlier this week, NCL announced it had cancelled sailings on eight of its ships due to "ongoing travel restrictions".

• Norwegian Pearl departures through Jan. 14.
• Norwegian Sky departures through Feb. 25.
• Pride of America departures through Feb. 26.
• Norwegian Jade departures through March 3.
• Norwegian Star departures through March 19.
• Norwegian Sun departures through April 19.
• Norwegian Spirit departures through April 23.

In addition, Oceania cancelled cruises on its Marina ship, and Regent Seven Seas cancelled a 120-day world cruise.

What is it like if you go on a cruise ship and test positive for Covid-19? 

With the Omicron variant driving up positive case counts around the world, cruise ships have not been immune to seeing more cases onboard as well.

While Royal Caribbean is still operating its ships with arguably the most stringent health protocols found anywhere, some guests are more concerned with what the onboard process is like if you were to test positive, rather than concern over getting sick.

While sailing on a New Years Eve cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas, Brandon Smith tested positive for Covid on the second day of his voyage, and documented the experience on his YouTube channel once he got home.

Just like all aspects of life right now, there are no zero-risk activities, but Brandon felt better about going on a cruise ship in terms of the procedures the cruise line has in place, "if I was going to be anywhere, if I was traveling, I think on a cruise ship, especially with Royal Caribbean, knowing that they've got all this taken care of is the best place to have a bad situation."

Brandon shared what happened when he tested positive for Covid on a ship, and what steps and changes you might expect to encounter should it happen to you.

Testing

Every single passenger on a cruise ship must take a Covid-19 test in the days leading up to a cruise ship sailing.  

In the case of Brandon, he took his test two days before embarkation and it came back negative. In fact, he felt great walking onboard Freedom of the Seas, "I felt absolutely fine when I boarded."

"I was even well enough to go work out when I got on the gym around 6pm that evening went to dinner, luckily, by myself at that time. And then walking around the ship trying to figure out what the New Year's Eve celebration was that I wanted to do."

As the evening went on, Brandon started to feel the early effects, "Towards the end of the evening, I was starting to get fatigued. And at the time I didn't think anything about it. I was kind of disappointed in myself that I couldn't make it to the New Year's Eve celebration."

He returned to his cabin to rest, but woke up the next morning with a sore throat and found it difficult to swallow, "That was my first sign that something was amiss or awry."

"It progressively got worse. The headache kicked in, the fog, and a little bit of a cough started to creep in."

Sensing something was off, he called the medical center onboard to share his symptoms.

Every Royal Caribbean ship offers limited professional medical services through licensed (international or domestic) physicians and nurses. All  ships have shipboard medical facilities that are built, staffed, stocked and equipped to meet or exceed guidelines established by the American College of Emergency Physicians Cruise Ship & Maritime Medicine Section.

Royal Caribbean says depending on the ship and amount of passengers onboard, there are one to three doctors and three-to-five Nurses, available to passengers and Crew members 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

After arriving at the medical center, Brandon took a PCR test, "unfortunately, that returned the positive result that nobody wanted to see."

Quarantine

Once he tested positive, Royal Caribbean moves the passenger into a quarantined area of the ship.

In Brandon's case, he was escorted to a new cabin on deck 2 of the ship, which was an oceanview cabin.

"They first offered for security to pack up my belongings," but since Brandon was traveling alone, he was able to be escorted back to his original cabin to pack up his belongings.

Each of the crew members escorting Brandon is wearing full PPE outfits, with white gloves, shoe covers and face mask.  They also carry a ionizer that resembles a hair dryer, which the crew member can spray a mist to cover the area where Brandon walks.

"They're also closing off all of the hallways and all of the areas that you're going through. So we do take the service elevator at that time. You don't go in the traditional guest elevator, take the service elevator to my floor."

"There's a gentleman in the service elevator, so they're protecting the crew so crew members can't come up or down the stairs that are located there."

"And then there's two security guards at the beginning and entrance of the hallway where my room is standing there, blocking the hallway so that people can't come in and see and be exposed to Covid-19."

Once in his quarantine cabin, Brandon describes his cabin experience, "It's kind of bare. They've really stripped the room out. There's not a separating curtain. The bed doesn't have a bed skirt. It's really been taken down to bare bones a little bit. I think just so that you they don't have as much to clean when they need when you leave the room."

"There's also red trash bags for biohazard, there's cleaning cloths, there's two large bottles of I think one was Clorox and one was another disinfectant that was there."

Communication

One thing that struck Brandon about the experience was all the communication he received from crew members to walk him through the process.

In the end, the guest services manager, the hotel director, security, and the medical facility all contacted him.

"I was getting or averaging around two phone calls in the morning and two phone calls in the afternoon, just checking up on me and seeing how I was doing."

Once he was settled in his new cabin, guest services informed him of the basics of his quarantine experience:

• Complimentary room service
• Complimentary pay-per-view movies
• Complimentary internet access

"I had an extension I could dial if I needed to get up with my person there, and they also sent a lot of letters to the room. This started happening more on the evening before debarkation."

These letters detailed the future cruise credit he was going to receive for the missed days onboard, as well as the refund for a drink package purchase.

In addition, Royal Caribbean provided Brandon with documentation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how he should quarantine once he gets home.

Contact tracing

One of the many steps Royal Caribbean takes if someone tests positive for Covid-19 is to conduct contact tracing.

Brandon said a member of the onboard security department contacted him to go over where he had been, "I walked him through where I was, how much time I spent with people."

"I was a little bit of a loner that evening. One of the benefits of going on cruises allows you can kind of pick and choose when you want to be extremely social or when you kind of just want to do your own thing."

"I got the impression that given the exposure that I had to other people, which was traditionally, less than 10 minutes, I kept my mask on. Most of the time I had dinner by myself, I was in the gym with. I think there was only two other people in the entire facility. There just wasn't a lot of opportunity for me to be around individuals or people that I could expose more heavily."

Disembarkation

Getting Brandon off the ship and safely back home without exposing other crew members or passengers to Covid was the next step in his journey.

Brandon recalls the ship's Hotel Director called the night before the cruise ended to walk him through what would happen the next day.

On disembarkation day, Brandon said getting off the ship made him feel "a little bit like you're in the movie Mars".

He said he was among the last passengers to disembark the ship so that other passengers can disembark first, "They made sure everybody was off the ship and then they came to my cabin, knocked on the door and said, We're getting ready to escort you off."

He packed his bags and put them in the hallway, at which point his bags were wrapped in plastic wrap and put it on a luggage cart.

"Almost everybody's kind of dressed up and you're going through hallways with plastic."

"I was really surprised at how many rooms were set up for the potential of quarantine on deck number two."

"I believe it was only me and one other gentleman who was unfortunately making use of these rooms, but there were a lot of rooms that were set up that I was able to walk by and kind of peek in all with the same setup that my current room had as well."

He walked off the ship from the deck 1 gangway instead of the gangway passengers usually use on deck 4.

At this point, a U.S. Customs officer met Brandon to process his paperwork.  He was then taken by private car to his vehicle in the parking garage.

"I was in good hands"

Looking back at what happened, Brandon was grateful to Royal Caribbean for taking such good care of him.

"I felt extremely well supported. They were communicative. They kept me in the loop on what was happening, and I got the sense that they knew what the next step was."

"They knew what the process was. They kept to whatever playbook or guidebook was that they have."

"And for me, as a passenger going through this quarantine Covid test experience, I felt really comforted knowing that all of that was taken care of. It was thought through and that I was in good hands."

Brandon's advice to anyone who is on a ship is don't be afraid to let someone know if you aren't feeling well, "Make sure that you are seeking medical treatment and not just waving it off. Just give it a whirl. Just see what they have to say.

"You might have to go through the quarantine experience, but you'll have the comfort in knowing you don't expose other people to it."

I asked Brandon having gone through the entire process, how he felt about getting back onboard a ship once he felt good again and tested negative.

"Being on a cruise still is a safe place to be."

"You can get Covid anywhere at the end of the day, and it's probably always going to be able to make its way onto the cruise ships. But it's reassuring to me to know that when that happens, they do have those policies and procedures in place."

When the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its warning for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, avoid cruise ships, it arrived without any other similar warnings for other forms of travel or leisure in the United States.

While a lot of negative press surround the cruise industry followed, at least some media outlets are beginning to question why the CDC singled out just the cruise industry and ignored other forms of leisure travel, sporting events, or other large gatherings.

Certainly the CDC only has jurisdiction over the cruise industry and not airlines, theme parks, or casinos, but that doesn't stop the CDC from issuing warnings about Covid-19 related impact to those endeavors.

Read more: Why does the CDC regulate the cruise lines?

Laura Elder, the Managing Editor for the Galveston County Daily News, questioned why the CDC warned against travel on a cruise ship, but not airplanes.

"Note the CDC has issued no such warning about air travel, in a game in which we all pretend and wink that being in close quarters on an airplane is different than being in close quarters on a ship and that people are flying mainly for essential reasons and not for fun."

"The CDC has issued no such warning about sporting events or anything else that involves large gatherings."

"So why the cruise industry in particular?"

The Boston Herald also did not see the logic in warning the public against only cruise ship travel in a recent editorial, "If you can fly once vaccinated and masked, why not cruise? And if COVID exposure by airline staff and passengers is taken into account by the CDC, why not do the same for the cruise industry?"

The dichotomy between cruise ships and the rest of travel in the eyes of the CDC perplexed the cruise industry just as much as anyone else.

A statement by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) echoed this contrast, "The decision by the CDC to raise the travel level for cruise is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard — far fewer than on land — and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore."

The same week the CDC issued its warning, it also reduced its recommended quarantine and isolation periods in most cases from 10 days to five, with a subsequent five days of masking when around other people.

In December, several major airlines and lobbying group Airlines For America asked CDC director Rochelle Walensky to reconsider the 10-day guideline, describing it as “extremely disruptive” and calling for a five-day maximum quarantine.

The Boston Herald editorial illustrated the public's desire to travel by air is no different than by cruise ship, "This, however, is 2021, not 2020, and vaccines and boosters are readily available. Hospitalizations among the vaccinated are low. It’s why people are flying again, after getting vaxxed and tested and masking up and getting tested again."

"The agency is advising those who do travel on a cruise ship to make sure they are fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, and get tested before and after their trip.

"They should have left it at that."

Ms. Elder agreed that the CDC should have left things alone, "But as the CDC works that out, it should refrain from using its power to single out the cruise industry, which has done all that it was asked and more to reduce the spread of the virus."

That perfect cruise itinerary has been booked for months, you've got everything ready to go, and the notion of cancelling your cruise seems unfathomable at this point.

However, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant is giving just about everyone second thoughts about their travel plans.

Between Royal Caribbean's incredibly high level of health protocols and certain steps you can take as a traveler, there are some ways to travel and stay relatively safe.

If you decide to go ahead with your cruise, here are some things I would recommend doing so that your cruise is enjoyable.

Be okay with changes, especially at the last minute

If nothing else, you need to be totally fine with an email or letter in your stateroom informing you that your plans need to change.

Whether it is a new health protocol or your ship changing itinerary, travel right now is full of changes on an almost daily basis.

While most people generally don't like change, I think there's a lot of folks are fine with these updates as long as they still get to go on vacation.

I certainly recall during the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-21 where I would have absolutely paid money to sit on my balcony and do nothing else. Luckily, a cruise today still offers a much better experience than that.

Be aware that changes could be announced at anytime, and there is no point where the cruise line cannot announce something. If that sounds okay to you, go ahead with the cruise. Otherwise, defer your vacation until later.

Read more: Why you need to be flexible if you want to go on a cruise right now

Assume less activities to do

Cruise ships are packed with so many activities and events onboard, but with Covid affecting crew members just as much as passengers, the ships can sometimes be short staffed.

The result of less crew is there may be less activities offered onboard. 

My advice is plan on a cruise that resembles a classic cruise experience, rather than one where you could count on every single event and signature activity being open.

Admittedly, this is a "glass is half full" approach to planning the cruise.  But I think it keeps expectations in line so you can only be pleasantly surprised when there's more to do onboard.

If I'm going on a ship tomorrow, I would pack more books or card games so I could enjoy that almost anywhere. I'd pack my kids' Nintendo Switch or iPads so they have something to do in the room when Adventure Ocean is full.

I might also plan to spend more time (and money) in the casino.

A time-honored cruise tradition is time spent at the pool, and I would figure to spend more time up there.  Maybe even an afternoon nap, which is the best indulgence of vacation, if you ask me.

Bring N95 masks

I'm not a health expert, but it seems a lot of health experts are advocating upgrading your mask to a N95 or KN95 mask.

In an study conducted last August, researchers from universities including Yale and Stanford found surgical masks were 95% effective at filtering out virus particles, compared with 37% for cloth masks.

Royal Caribbean requires masks to be worn indoors, so when I sailed on Navigator of the Seas last week, I packed KN95 masks to wear just to add better protection.

Purchase at-home Covid-19 tests

Assuming you don't have unvaccinated kids cruising (they need a PCR test), you should plan to order at-home Covid-19 tests rather than trying to get an appointment somewhere.

One of the many effects Omicron is having is land-based testing sites are overwhelmed, and long waits for a test are common. 

Your best bet is to purchase the Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test, which is the only at-home test that Royal Caribbean accepts.

I would recommend purchasing them 1-2 months before your cruise so there is enough time in terms of shipping to reach you.

You can purchase the test through eMed or Optum.

Read more: I tried the at-home Covid-19 test that Royal Caribbean accepts

Prioritize outdoor excursions

It's not always possible, but an easy strategy of avoiding higher-risk situations is to book outdoor shore excursions.

Catamarans, beach days, or hikes are all great examples of tours you can book on your own or through Royal Caribbean to be able to do something fun in the ports you visit while avoiding being indoors.

Not to mention if you plan an outdoor tour, you may be able to ditch the mask (subject to local laws).

On our last cruise, we took three tours that were all almost exclusively outdoors: catamaran, ATV, and beach day excursions.

Obviously if you did something indoors that is not to say you are putting yourself in harm's way.  Rather, if the Covid cases are worrying you, there are lots of good tours outdoors you can book.

Air travel tips

In addition to not being a public health expert, I'm also not an air travel expert.  But, I've read lots of tips to help prepare for when we flew cross-country for our cruise.

Here are some pieces of airplane advice that I think makes sense.

Book a window seat to avoid exposure to people walking by in the aisle. If you can afford it, this is a great time to upgrade to a business or first class seat because they are less crowded.

Once you are seated on the plane, turn the air blower on to its highest setting to keep as much air moving as possible.

In the airport, try to find the most social distanced place you can find. That is usually not easy, but instead of cramming into a chair near the gate, find a spot to stand away from everyone else where you can see the gate agent so you know when boarding begins.

Now is the time to try upgrade your cabin

I've never been a major fan of Royal Caribbean's bid for a cabin upgrade program, RoyalUp, but if there's a silver lining to Omicron, it is that it has never been easier to get an upgrade.

Royal Caribbean said there's been increased cancellations in the near-term sailings due to Omicron fears, which means cabin upgrades could be easier to get.

If you are booked in an inside cabin or a oceanview, I would recommend rolling the dice on a balcony upgrade via RoyalUp to see if you can snag a great deal on a bigger room.

Obviously I cannot promise you will get anything, but I think the odds are better in general today than they were a month ago.

Bidding for a suite upgrade is always tough since everyone that does RoyalUp dreams of moving up to a suite, but you may as well give it a shot too.

Keep in mind that RoyalUp doesn't necessarily mean there is an open cabin to move up to, but I think the soft demand right now makes it the right time to try for an upgrade.

Read more: How to upgrade your cabin on Royal Caribbean

Don't be afraid to delay your cruise plans

Last, but not least, if you decide this isn't the time to cruise, you can still change your mind.

Royal Caribbean's Cruise with Confidence program allows anyone to cancel their cruise up to 48 hours before the sail date without any penalty, and get a 100% future cruise credit.

You could take that credit and rebook another sailing later in the spring or summer.

I love to cruise, but I would be the first to say if you don't feel comfortable right now, it's okay to push things off. Going back to my first tip, you need to be okay with a certain amount of fluctuating plans. Not everyone will feel that way, so there's nothing wrong with taking some more time before you sail again.

Royal Caribbean's new 2023 European cruises are now available to book.

The new sailings are available to book via Royal Caribbean's website, offering a variety of ships and itineraries during the summer months when Royal Caribbean deploys its cruise ships to the region.

There are sailings between April and November 2023 to book across 9 different ships. That's a large proportion of Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Here is a breakdown of where the ships will be sailing from:

Anthem of the Seas will sail from Southampton, UK and offer cruises of various lengths to destinations in Spain, Portugal, Norway and the Canary Islands.

You'll be able to visit destinations new to Anthem, including Maloy and Haugesund, Norway, and Cork, Ireland. Longer, 11- and 12-night vacations will go further to places such as Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; and the Canary Islands. 

Brilliance of the Seas will offer cruises from different ports in Europe, including Athens, Venice, and Rome (Civitavecchia) on sailings throughout the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, as well as the Adriatic.

Something new for Brilliance will be the opportunity to visit Praetorian Palace in Koper, Slovenia.

Explorer of the Seas will sail from Venice (Ravenna) to offer cruises in the Adriatic, as well as to the Greek isles.

Explorer will allow passengers to visit Olympia, Greece – the birthplace of the Olympic Games – for the first time.

Jewel of the Seas will be based in Amsterdam, and offer 8 and 12 night cruises to Iceland & Ireland, as well as Norway fjords cruises. She even has a 12-night Arctic Circle cruise.

Odyssey of the Seas will return to the Europe again to be based in Rome (Civitavecchia).  Odyssey will offer 7- to 12-night cruises around the Greek Isles.  Odyssey also has a 12-night Holy Land cruise in May 2023.

Vacationers have a choice of 7- to 9-night cruises from Rome to Naples, Italy; the idyllic Greek Isles and Turkey, as well as 12-night Holy Land sailings to the historic, bustling cities of Limassol, Cyprus; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; and Jerusalem, Israel. 

Rhapsody of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to sail from Limassol and Haifa, Israel, all in one season. The new summer combination consists of 7-night sailings to ports of call in Turkey, Israel and Greece, including first-time destinations for the cruise line, like Skiathos and Thessaloniki, Greece.

Starting in September, the ship will take off on short 4- and 5-night getaways from Haifa and visit Cyprus and the Greek Isles.

Serenade of the Seas will homeport out of Barcelona, Spain and offer 5-, 8-, and 12-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean.

Symphony of the Seas will also sail from Barcelona, with 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises to enjoy. 

Travelers can set course on 7-night cruises, from Barcelona or Rome, to bucket list destinations like Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and Provence, France. 

Voyager of the Seas will be based in Copenhagen, and offer primarily Scandinavian and Russian cruises. Voyager will also offer two Best of Northern Europe cruises during the season.

Guests looking for a longer vacation can cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Copenhagen on a 14-night sailing that features an overnight in Bermuda and visits to St. Thomas, France and Belgium. 

This is the third 2023 deployment released so far, as Royal Caribbean released Alaska 2023 cruises and longer Caribbean 2023 cruises last month.

More itineraries will be released later this spring, including Northeast cruises, Los Angeles, Short Caribbean and more. There is no dates yet for when these new itineraries will be released. 

Booking early can save you money

Thinking about booking a cruise a year and a half away may seem excessive, but it is one of the best ways to get the best price on a cruise.

Generally speaking, the lowest prices for cruises are available when new itineraries are released, such as these Europe 2023 sailings. Over time, prices will go up as more and more cabins are booked up.

If you are interested in a suite, the importance of booking early is even more apparent, as these cabins usually jump up in price quickly after release.

No matter what the price is today, you can always take advantage of a lower price later with the Best Price Guarantee program, which allows for repricing of cruises in case of a price drop.

Besides cost savings, booking early also ensures you get the exact cabin you want. A lot of cruise fans gobble up the most desirable cabins when new sailings hit the market, such as suites, extra large balcony rooms and other unique staterooms.

Planning on booking a 2023 cruise? These stories will help:

• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• 7 tips for a great Royal Caribbean Baltic cruise
• Why you shouldn't avoid older and smaller cruise ships

This week has barely started and already there's lots of cruise news happening.  Since so much of it overlaps, I wanted to provide a round-up of what's changed recently.

There are smaller updates from across the fleet that I think are kind of interesting, neat, or otherwise good to know.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

Spectrum of the Seas sailings in Hong Kong cancelled

If you read a headline about Royal Caribbean cancelling cruises today, don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds.

Royal Caribbean cancelled the January 6 sailing of Spectrum of the Seas from Hong Kong.

There weren't any actual Covid cases onboard. Rather, nine passengers on the previous sailing that departed on January 2 were identified as close contacts to someone that tested positive on land in Hong Kong.

The contacts have tested negative but the cruise ship will return to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong on January 5 to test all guests and crew who must take a second test on January 8th.

CDC still plans to make Conditional Sail Order voluntary

Despite the Omicron variant, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the plan is still for the Conditional Sail Order (CSO) to become a voluntary program next week.

As you may recall, the CDC temporarily extended the CSO for an additional two and a half months back in October.

According to Cruise Critic, the plan is still for the CSO to expire on January 15, per the federal agency.

"After the expiration of the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO on January 15, 2022, CDC intends to transition to a voluntary program, in coordination with cruise ship operators and other stakeholders, to assist the cruise ship industry to detect, mitigate, and control the spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships," a CDC spokesperson told Cruise Critic via email.

Once the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO expires on January 15, the CSO will shift to a voluntary basis, where cruise lines and other stakeholders will work together without a federal mandate to do so to ensure proper protocols are followed.

NCL cancels cruises on sailings on 8 ships

 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd announced a change to scheduled sailings on 8 ships due to the impact of the Omicron variant.

The reason for the cancellation has to do with crew staffing related to Covid cases onboard.

The Norwegian cancellations announced Wednesday include:

• Norwegian Pearl departures through January 14, 2022
• Norwegian Sky departures through February 25, 2022
• Pride of America departures through February 26, 2022
• Norwegian Jade departures through March 3, 2022
• Norwegian Star departures through March 19, 2022
• Norwegian Sun departures through April 19, 2022
• Norwegian Spirit departures through April 23, 2022

Royal Caribbean trademarks Royal Beach Club name

Royal Caribbean snuck in one more trademark filing before the end of 2021.

The cruise line registered a trademark for the phrase, "Royal Beach Club", which is the name of its private beach club experience it is developing in Nassau, Bahamas.

The first Royal Beach Club is set to open in Nassau, Bahamas, perhaps as early as 2023.

Read more: Royal Caribbean looks forward to big plans in 2022 and 2023

This new project is not intended to be for all guests on a ship to do. Rather, it will supplement the Nassau offerings. The beach club will be built on 7 acres on the western end of Paradise Island.

The Royal Beach Club will be able to accommodate about 3,500 together with 250 workers. 

A few weeks after registering a number of names for a cruise ship, Royal Caribbean has sent a survey to its most loyal passengers asking for their input on which one to choose for the next Oasis Class ship.

While Royal Caribbean's fifth Oasis Class ship, Wonder of the Seas, is just a few months away from launching, the cruise line is looking to move forward with its sixth and final Oasis Class ship.

In mid-December, Royal Caribbean registered 24 different trademarks for names of a possible cruise ship with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Earlier today, Pinnacle Club members in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society received an email asking them for opinions on the names.

"The objective of this survey is to hear from you, our valued Pinnacle Guests, to see which of the final contenders for the next Oasis Class ship names are your favorite," the email stated.

The survey first asked to rank the names from least to most appealing.

It then asked to rate the appeal of each name, followed by choosing a favorite.

Here are all the new names trademarked:

• MAGNIFICENCE OF THE SEAS
• FANTASIA OF THE SEAS
• PARADISE OF THE SEAS
• HAVEN OF THE SEAS
• MELODY OF THE SEAS
• GRACE OF THE SEAS
• SANCTUARY OF THE SEAS
• ILLUMINATION OF THE SEAS
• UNITY OF THE SEAS
• INTRIGUE OF THE SEAS
• ARIA OF THE SEAS
• EUPHORIA OF THE SEAS
• SPLENDOR OF THE SEAS
• AWE OF THE SEAS
• ETERNITY OF THE SEAS
• EDEN OF THE SEAS
• VIBRANCE OF THE SEAS
• BLISS OF THE SEAS
• AURA OF THE SEAS
• UTOPIA OF THE SEAS
• JOY OF THE SEAS
• MARVEL OF THE SEAS
• NIRVANA OF THE SEAS
• DIVINE OF THE SEAS

The sixth Oasis-class ship is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2024. It is currently under construction at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France.

Prior to that ship, Icon of the Seas will be delivered in the 3rd quarter of 2023.

The yet-to-be-named megaship will follow sister ships Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, which are among the largest cruise ships in the world.

There's been quite a lot of speculation as to what the sphere-like object spotted in the shipyard building Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship might be, and today we have new photos to share of it.

I posted yesterday an exclusive photo from the shipyard constructing Icon of the Seas a large pearl-shaped object that is unlike anything we've seen on a Royal Caribbean ship prior to this point.

Since posting that photo, more photos have emerged of the construction of this object.

Ruslan shared close-up photos of the object, including a look at its construction prior to the photo shared yesterday.

What could it be?

After posting the photo yesterday, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley shared a link to the article on his Facebook page with the question everyone wants to know, "Hmmmmm what could this iconic thing be?"

There has been quite a lot of guesses shared on social media as to what this might be, and I'm not sure there's any clear consensus yet.

One of the most frequently guessed ideas is that it is a tank for the ship's liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Icon of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to be powered by LNG, but Royal Caribbean shared an update back in October 2021 that the LNG tanks had already been installed. Plus, those tanks look substantially larger than this sphere object.

There have been lots of other guesses (some serious, and some not) for what it might be, including:

• Gyroscope
• Next-gen bungee jump experience
• Repurposed alien spacecraft from Area 51
• Planetarium
• IMAX Theater

Whatever it ends up being, we'll have to wait for Royal Caribbean to reveal it at a later date.

Icon of the Seas will be the first ship in the Icon Class to launch.  She is scheduled to be delivered in Fall 2023, and there are two other Icon Class ships on order.

The other two ships will be delivered in 2025 and 2026.