Royal Caribbean's latest deployment features a new ship and a returning favorite to Australia in 2025-26

In:
10 Apr 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

It's been an eventful 2025-2026 deployment season with many ships changing places and regions, and that trend continues with the new Australia plans.

Royal Caribbean released its latest deployment with 45 long and short cruises during the 2025-2026 season from Australia.

There will be two ships down under, with Anthem of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

New arrival

Anthem of the Seas will sail from Australia for the first time when she calls Sydney her homeport.

The ship will offer a range of 3- to 18-night cruises to New Zealand, around Australia, and to the islands of the South Pacific.

Royal Caribbean is also going to offer more short cruises on Anthem when she arrives in Australia. There are five 2- to 4-night coastal cruises meant to be easy getaways.

sydney-australia

There is also a 5-night getaway that visits Hobart, Australia.

The longer cruises will satisfy the needs of anyone that wants to explore more. There are 9- to 12-night cruises to New Zealand, including a pair of festive 9- and 11-night sailings for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

A returning favorite

Voyager-of-the-Seas

Voyager of the Seas will come back to Australia in December 2025 and feature a stop in a new port of call, Luganville, Vanuatu.

Voyager's itineraries include 7- to 9-night cruises to Noumea, New Caledonia, and Port Vila, Luganville and Mystery Island, Vanuatu, which includes two 8- and 9-night cruises over Christmas and the New Year.

There are also longer 12-night sailings from Singapore to Australia in December. These sailings will visit places such as Benoa, Bali, and Darwin and Airlie Beach, Australia. Plus, there are as many as 10 shorter 4-, 6- and 7-night trips that visit Airlie Beach and Cairns, Australia.

Wiggly sailings

The Wiggles

For the families out there, look for a series of Wiggly Cruises.

There will be six new Wiggly Cruises that are part of a new partnership between Royal Caribbean and The Wiggles.

The Wiggles

The sailings are between November 2025 and April 2026 and feature the Wiggly Friends, which are a group of secondary characters in The Wiggles. 

Young kids and their loved ones can look forward to character events, live concerts, exclusive Royal Caribbean x The Wiggles merchandise and more.   

Open for booking now

The new 2025-2026 cruises are available to book immediately on Royal Caribbean's website or through your travel agent. 

One more deployment left

The 2025-2026 deployment season is coming to a close, with just one more deployment left to announce.

During the week of May 13, 2024, Royal Caribbean will reveal its Singapore sailings between October 2025 - April 2026.

Coast Guard no longer searching for passenger who jumped from Royal Caribbean cruise

In:
10 Apr 2024
By: 
Elizabeth Wright

According to a spokesperson for the US Coast Guard 7th District Public Affairs Team, the search for the passenger who went overboard while sailing on Liberty of the Seas has been suspended. 

Search called off for man who jumped off Liberty of the Seas

Last Thursday, a 20-year-old guest jumped off the ship around 4:00am after an alleged argument with his father. Liberty of the Seas, a Freedom Class ship that launched in 2007, was roughly 57 miles from Great Inagua Island in The Bahamas and just hours from returning to Fort Lauderdale after a 4-night cruise. 

Before jumping, he supposedly said to his dad, "I'll fix this right now," according to The New York Post

Fellow passenger Bryan Sims, who was in the hot tub with the unidentified guest leading up to the incident, said, "As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess."

Ocean view balcony

Though the vessel came to an immediate halt and crew members began searching for the missing man, the majority of the passengers onboard weren't aware of the situation until the Captain made an announcement later in the morning. Liberty of the Seas resumed sailing around 9:00am. 

About four hours later, the United States Coast Guard announced on X that USCG crews began searching for the overboard passenger. 

The statement read, "#Breaking @USCG crews are searching for a 20-year-old man who went overboard from the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship 57 miles from Great Inagua this morning. USCG Cutter Seneca and Air Station Miami HC-144 crews are conducting the search."

Liberty of the Seas

Recently, he was identified as Levion Parker of North Port, Florida. After being unable to locate Parker, the search, as confirmed by UNILAD, has been called off. 

Whenever a passenger does go overboard, Royal Caribbean opens up an investigation to determine how it occurred, as well as if there were any safety violations. 

Though cruise lines implement measures to help prevent guests from falling overboard, it's not rare to hear of such instances occurring. Thankfully, not all stories have an unhappy ending 

Symphony of the Seas

In October 2023, a guest sailing onboard Symphony of the Seas was reported going overboard shortly after departing from Barcelona, Spain on a 14-night transatlantic cruise. 

Passengers reported hearing, "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar," which is the crew's code for man overboard, over the PA system. X user @landonb94 even took to social media to post that he was able to see spotlights and rescue boats from his cabin's balcony. 

The ship turned around and successfully rescued the guest after about an hour of searching. They were then taken to the ship's medical facility. 

Mariner of the Seas in Nassau

Additionally, a 42-year-old passenger sailing onboard Mariner of the Seas in June 2023 was rescued after going overboard while sailing south of Punta Cana en route to Willemstad, Curaçao. 

As reported by FOX 35 Orlando, the passenger was recovered alive and in good health after falling from Deck 10. According to a statement released by a Royal Caribbean spokesperson, “The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and began searching for the guest."

"Thankfully, the guest was successfully recovered and was brought on board. Our Care team is now offering assistance and support to them and their traveling party.”

Spotted: Royal Caribbean trademarks new customer loyalty program names

In:
10 Apr 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

The Royal Caribbean rumor mill has churned out a few intriguing possibilities this week.

In reviewing new trademark applications that Royal Caribbean has made with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, there's a few related the line's customer loyalty program that might indicate new options coming soon.

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean filed a series of trademark applications for words and phrases that reference it's intended for the customer loyalty program.

Trademark applications are notoriously vague, but they give a general indication of which aspect of the business the word or phrase is intended for.

 

To be clear, Royal Caribbean hasn't announced anything related to this, and this post is merely speculating at a possible offering coming in the near future.

Trademarks for customer loyalty

Trademarks

A few of the trademarks are centered around being intended for customer loyalty program.

"Royal Rewards" and "Royal One" were registered on April 8, and they are described as, "trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of customer loyalty services and customer club services, for commercial, promotional and/or advertising purposes."

Another two terms were trademarked related to customer loyalty.

"Anchored", "Aspire" and "Boundless" were also registered on April 8, and, "intended to cover the categories of customer loyalty services and customer club services, for commercial, promotional and/or advertising purposes."

Flagship trademark

The last two terms are "Flagship Rewards" and "Flagship" and are described as, "intended to cover the categories of customer loyalty services and customer club services, for commercial, promotional and/or advertising purposes."

Crown and Anchor logo

Royal Caribbean already has a customer loyalty program with its Crown & Anchor Society, which offers benefits for repeat cruisers.

There are six tiers to the program, with some of the best benefits coming at the upper echelon of the program, with complimentary drinks, free WiFi access, and even a free cruise.

Casino on Icon

There is also a casino rewards program for passengers who gamble in the ship's casino. The Casino Royale program also has multiple tiers that offer complimentary drinks in the casino, discounted and complimentary cruises, and other additional benefits.

Read more: I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise

These new terms may or may not have any relationship to the existing Crown and Anchor society or Casino Royale programs. 

Moreover, it could refer to a brand new program for something else completely.

Celebrity Logo

Royal Caribbean has openly talked about the idea of merging its loyalty program with sister cruise line Celebrity Cruises.

Nothing has been announced, but Celebrity Cruises indicated there's an opportunity for combining the program.

Andrea Shay, AVP of Loyalty for Celebrity Cruises, took the reign on this question, responding by saying, "I'm so glad that this question came up, and it's something that members are asking for."

"We have some status match between the brands today, but there's such a huge opportunity for us to do more and really take advantage of the connection and us being part of the same family."

According to Shay, the status match doesn't thread the three Royal Caribbean Group brands together, so they're working with their sister brands. Hopefully, more will be revealed in the coming months. 

Online marketplace

There was one other trademark filed on April 8 that doesn't appear to be related to customer loyalty, but is equally intriguing.

"Royal Xclusive" has the following description:

"Trademark is intended to cover the categories of provision of an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of goods and services; retail store services; online retail store services; retail and online retail store services featuring a wide variety of consumer and commercial goods; Advertising; Advertising services; Online advertising services; providing product sales information; providing product sales rankings information; providing consumer product information; providing a website featuring ratings, reviews, and recommendations on products and services for commercial purposes posted by users."

Too early to know what it all means

Ship docked in Caribbean

These new trademarks are something to keep in mind, but far from any kind of announcement or confirmation of a change.

Royal Caribbean often files trademarks in batches, just in case they want to use the names later.  In many cases, they register a few trademarks with the idea they will end up using just one of them. Cruise ship names are often trademarked in this fashion as well.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO talks new private islands, new cruiser demand, innovations & more

In:
09 Apr 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

As the cruise industry stands on the merits of multiple quarters of financial success, cruise line executives see a lot of reason for even better days ahead.

Cruise industry keynote

Speaking at Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami, Florida, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty joined a panel of other CEOs during the keynote "State of the Global Cruise Industry" session to share insight into where cruising is going next.

The overarching theme for the keynote is cruise lines see many opportunities ahead.

Trends favoring taking a cruise

Royal Caribbean ship at sea

Mr. Liberty sees good times ahead for the cruise industry, thanks to secular and demographic trends that are favoring going on a cruise.

Thanks to a very healthy U.S. consumer, Mr. Liberty thinks so many data points are leaning in the direction of cruises.

"The appreciation for building memories with your friends and family coming out of Covid is at extraordinarily high levels of cruise."

Main dining room

In addition, he talked about the wealth transfer going on between generations, "Grandparents wanting to see that wealth transfer live, watching their kids and their grandkids experience that is also at all time highs."

He seemed to agree a lot with Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein's outlook on state of the cruise product, "we have evolved our product and our experiences to be at the very forefront of what our different customers and their different segments are looking to achieve."

One interesting statistic mentioned was there was 30.7 million people cruise passengers last year, and Mr. Liberty said about a third of them were brand new to a cruise ship.

"And you think about 10 million new people, coming in and will that number will grow each and every year. They are 4 or 5 times more likely to cruise again once they've had the experience."

Ambitions to do more private destinations

Concept art for Royal Beach Club

One question asked of Mr. Liberty was for an update on destination developments.

While he did not announce anything, he did allude to the idea that Royal Caribbean wants to offer more of those experiences, "I think for us, between the Royal Beach Club and Perfect Days, we have ambitions to do more of that."

"It's by far our highest rated experience that happens on land and that connected to other destination visits to other places is what's winning for us."

People that go on a cruise want a story

Kids on an Alaska cruise

Mr. Liberty thinks people are going on a cruise not just for the typical vacation reasons, but to be able to share a humble brag when they get home.

"Our guests want to walk away with a story and they want to build a story," Mr. Liberty explained during the keynote.

"They're less focused on city tours. They're more focused on those kind of immersive culinary experiences that might happen on land, and then they want to build memories on the ships."

Pushing the experience with innovation

icon-pearl

When the topic of innovation within the cruise industry came up, all eyes turned to Mr. Liberty because of the early wins on Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's first Icon Class ship has been a major innovation, setting a new standard for a family vacation and it was clear all the executives knew it too.

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure they are matching their customers' needs, "we all, I think, do is meeting our guests on the experiences that they're looking to deliver. Also meeting our guests when we think about in the dreaming and booking process, how do we take friction out of that customer experience, which I think is very important."

Hideaway beach

He also says while not necessarily super innovative, the progress with their land projects stands out, "you're seeing more immersiveness because the guests expectations of what their vacation experience should be like has broadened."

"If you want to compete with land, you want to take that share, and you need to have a product from end to end. You need to have an experience from dreaming to delivering that matches those expectations."

Nuclear power and the future of cruise ship fuels

Nuclear power plant

How to make cruise ships more sustainable was a big topic of the keynote, with each executive talking about the challenges facing them. Supply of a next-gen fuel source seemed to be the overarching issue.

There are a number of options to help their cause, but cruise ships needs more options from suppliers. Shore power, marine bio fuels, and hydrogen are all options but severely lacking in availability.

Mr. Liberty pointed to the U.S. power grid as improving, but he wants more from it, "getting access to green sourcing, like nuclear as an example for shore power, we think is an important thing."

Terminal A gangways

More importantly, he wants better access to cleaner fuel sources, "I think the key thing is bringing forward in the US to have those fuel sources, whether it's a green methanol or LNG, etc., available to us at the ports of call that we that we access and most of our bunkering takes place."

With reliable supply, then cruise ships can truly prepare for the future, "how do we make sure that when we come in and we fuel, we bunker our fuels, that those fuels are going to be available to us? And once we know that, then we can think about how do we retrofit our ships or what other actions can we be taking on the newer ships to get them ready to take on those alternative fuels into the future?"

Demand for China

Spectrum of the Seas in Japan

When asked about future plans for China, Royal Caribbean Group has Spectrum of the Seas ready to go there now, with Anthem of the Seas going there in 2025.

Mr. Liberty said his company is "thoughtfully growing" in the Chinese market in order to return to their position there pre-2020.

"They are continuing to look for a Western experience that has the fine details of their Chinese culture and culinary etc. and we're all collectively very good at putting that together."

"We see very kind of prosperous future there, but we're going into it with a measured approach."

The worst months to cruise to Europe

In:
09 Apr 2024
By: 
Jenna DeLaurentis

Planning a European cruise? There are a few months you might want to avoid booking your dream vacation.

Side by side image of cruise ship with Rome Italy

Cruises within Europe offer a contrasting experience compared to those in the Caribbean. Whereas cruising to The Bahamas might involve spending your days lounging in a pool chair, European cruises are all about sightseeing.

From exploring ancient castles in Portugal to touring Viking museums in Norway, there are countless ways to immerse yourself in Europe’s history and nature on a cruise. Not only that, but European cruise itineraries are diverse, too. You can travel anywhere from the British Isles to Canary Islands, and even venture to the crossroads of Europe and Asia in Istanbul.

Odyssey of the Seas anchored in Santorini

When planning such a monumental vacation, it’s important to know what to expect, and to plan your trip during the most ideal time to visit. Royal Caribbean’s European cruise season runs from April to October, and each month brings pros and cons.

While there’s not necessarily a “right” or “wrong” time to cruise to Europe, there are a few factors to consider when picking the best time to cruise.

Here are the worst months to cruise to Europe, based on the weather, crowding, and cruise destination.

If you’re cruising to southern Europe, the worst months to visit are July and August

Beach in Zakynthos, Greece

During the initial planning stages of a European cruise, you might assume the peak of summer is the best time to book a sailing. After all, you’re dreaming of sipping wine in a sunny Italian piazza, not bundling up in a parka in Greenland.

And while summer can be a great time to visit Europe, it can also be extremely hot and crowded. For those booking cruises in southern Europe—Mediterranean and Adriatic itineraries—summer heat waves are a major concern.

It’s not uncommon to see temperatures in the high 80s and even low 90s in cities like Palermo and Valencia during the months of July and August. Although these temperatures may be tolerable on a beach vacation, they are anything but ideal when sightseeing in European cities.

Colosseum Rome

Roaming the ancient streets of Pompeii or touring the Acropolis in August’s blazing heat is enough to exhaust any cruiser. If you must cruise to Europe in the peak of summer, take caution when booking shore excursions.

If drastic temperatures are forecasted, consider booking excursions on the water rather than in the city, such as a catamaran tour around Santorini or beach day in Positano.

Related: 30 Best European cruise tips

Additionally, consider bringing extra clothes to change into when visiting cathedrals. Although it’s required to cover your shoulders and knees in the Sistine Chapel, you don’t need to cover up all day—if you do, you could potentially overheat.

Instead, pack a scarf and a lightweight skirt or pair of pants in your day bag that you can quickly put over your clothes before entering religious sites.

Not only are temperatures high in the summer, but crowds are at their peak, too

Mykonos Greece beach

A European summer is a dream for many cruisers. After all, nothing screams relaxation quite like sipping a rosé along the French Riviera. And while summertime in Europe is undoubtedly dreamy, it comes with one major downside: massive crowds.

Whether in Santorini or Tenerife, you’re almost guaranteed to face large crowds in the summer. Not only will your cruise likely be fully booked, but shore excursions will book up quickly and you’ll be navigating your way around thousands of other visitors in each port of call.

August in particular can be an exceptionally busy time in Europe, as Europeans traditionally plan several weeks of vacation during the month. In August, you should plan to encounter even higher crowds than earlier in the summer, particularly in southern Europe.

Related: How to beat the crowds on your cruise ship

Valetta Malta street

Truthfully, though, there’s a good chance you will not notice a difference between July and August crowds. Crowds are high in Europe throughout the peak season, and while there may be more crowds in August, it’s going to feel crowded during any summer month.

No one likes dealing with crowds, but they are inevitable when cruising to Europe in the summer. While they certainly aren’t bad enough to cancel your plans, you shouldn’t expect quiet, calm sightseeing days in port either.

Another con of cruising in July and August are the higher costs

Odyssey of the Seas pool deck

The last major downside of cruising to Europe in July and August are the higher costs. Due to the school calendar, most families plan European cruises in late June, July, and early August. Therefore, it’s no surprise that these months see the most demand, which results in higher prices.

Let’s look at a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Allure of the Seas. You can expect to pay $400-500 more for a balcony cabin when cruising in July versus September. If your schedule is flexible, why not wait until September to cruise?

Related: How much does a European cruise cost?

Not only will there be fewer crowds, but you can put those savings toward a shore excursion or cruise add-ons like drink and dining packages.

Aside from the cost of your cruise fare, airfare prices peak in the summer. A roundtrip flight to Rome, for instance, might cost $900 in May, but could skyrocket to $1,500 in July. When traveling with a large group, these extra costs will easily add up.

The best months to cruise the Mediterranean and Adriatic are May, early June, and September

Rhapsody of the Seas ship

Knowing the drawbacks of cruising southern Europe in the peak summer season, what are the best months to cruise?

Generally speaking, the most favorable months for a cruise to the Mediterranean and Adriatic are May, early June, and September. During these months, you will find lower prices, more comfortable temperatures, and fewer crowds.

Related: Ultimate Greek Isles cruise guide

Because the school year is still in session in most of Europe and North America, you will see fewer families onboard, and the lack of demand leads to lower cruise fares. Plus, you’re less likely to spend your port days sweaty and miserable, as temperatures will generally be more mild (although that’s never guaranteed!).

While crowds will start to increase in June, sticking to the first half of the month is recommended, as crowds will not yet have hit their peak.

If you’re cruising in northern Europe, however, avoid sailings in early spring and late fall

Norway cruise ship in fjord

Europe is a diverse continent, and the best time to cruise one region may be the worst for another. While some cruisers may book a sunny getaway to the Greek Isles, others are more interested in visiting ports like Amsterdam and Dublin.

Although sticking to the spring and fall is preferable for cruises to southern Europe, it should be avoided when visiting northern European countries. Simply put, the weather in these regions is more unpredictable, and the shoulder season can come with less-than-ideal conditions.

While that Norway itinerary in May might be the cheapest option, waiting until June, July, or August might bring sunnier skies and warmer temperatures. Unfortunately, this means spending more on your cruise fare and airfare, but it’s almost always worth the trade-off.

Should you cruise to Europe in October?

Jewel of the Seas in Iceland

Royal Caribbean’s European cruise season usually ends in October, and like any month, October comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

One plus of sailing in October is the weather. Unlike the scorching 90 degree days of August, you’ll find the weather more pleasant in the fall. Temperatures in Mykonos, as an example, are around 70 degrees in October compared to the mid-80s in August.

In addition, there will be fewer crowds in October compared to during the summer. Once the school year is back in session, European tourist attractions become quieter, making sightseeing days a little bit less hectic for visitors.

Related: What is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?

La Coruña Spain port

As far as drawbacks, though, you will find fewer itineraries offered in October. During this month, Royal Caribbean begins to send its ships back to North America for the winter Caribbean season. By the end of the month, only a few ships remain in Europe, and almost all itineraries visit southern European destinations, where the weather is still comfortable in October.

Even with these drawbacks, October can be a fantastic time to cruise to southern Europe for those who want lower fares and fewer crowds.

Cruising is all about having the right mindset. With the right expectations, there’s no “best” or “worst” month to cruise to Europe

Streets of Europe

While there’s no denying that some months offer nicer weather conditions and crowd control than others, no time of year is completely perfect. Sure, May might offer excellent conditions for traveling to Sicily, but the same cannot be said about cruising to Iceland.

Even if you sail during the “worst” month to cruise to Europe, you will still, more than likely, have a wonderful cruise experience. For most cruisers, the highs of cruising to Europe far outweigh the lows.

Visiting 2000-year old archeological sites, tasting local delicacies, and being awestruck by breathtaking fjords can be worth the high temperatures and crowds.

If you board a European cruise expecting tranquil days in port and no lines at tourist sites, you’re going to be disappointed.

If you go in with an optimistic mindset, on the other hand, any month will provide a remarkable cruise vacation.

The worst months to cruise to Europe

Why some people hate hiding ducks on a cruise ship fad

In:
08 Apr 2024
By: 
Elizabeth Wright

In recent years, a particular trend has emerged within the cruising community: the practice of hiding ducks. Though a seemingly harmless game of hide-and-seek sea, the phenomenon has received its fair share of hate. 

Duck-hero
Photo by Ken Jarvis

According to Cruising Ducks, the tradition was supposedly started by an 11-year-old on a cruise sailing out of Galveston. Abby Davis asked her mother if they could purchase rubber ducks for their sailing. 

Throughout their 7-night cruise, they hid seven ducks per day for other passengers to find. Supposedly, they hid a duck on the BlueIguana sign onboard their Carnival ship, and it wasn't found for three days! 

Critics of the activity argue that they contribute to the spreading of germs, as well as detract from the refined experience many passengers expect onboard a cruise ship. Nobody wants to see a duck that was accidentally knocked over into food in the buffet. 

WAYNO-Duck
Photo posted by WAYNO on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum

One comment on a Cruise Radio Facebook post went as far as stating that hiding ducks contributes to the "dumbing down of America," with others advocating for a "cruise duck assassin club." There's even a Facebook group dedicated to the ducks' demise, "Cruising Ducks-Death Squad," though it's not as popular as those in favor of hiding ducks. 

A separate post in a Virgin Voyages group asks for those sailing on the adult-only line to leave the ducks at home, as it's a "childish hobby." 

There are plenty of environmental concerns, too. Those against the hiding of ducks have circulated rumors that any found by crew members and guests are often thrown overboard into the sea. John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line's Brand Ambassador, took to Facebook to clear up the issue.

Neesa-duck
Photo posted by Neesa on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum

"This is completely untrue," he wrote, "Let me say this, if any crew member throws anything overboard, they would be in serious trouble and would for sure face disciplinary action....many of the crew love finding the ducks and have them in their cabins, as they bring them cheer." 

Other cruisers have reported seeing ducks in the trash, citing that participating is wasteful. 

Despite the controversy, duck-hiding lovers claim that it adds an element of fun and fosters a sense of community by connecting passengers from around the world

asquared17-duck
Photo posted by asquared17 on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum

Even with all of the negativity surrounding hiding ducks on cruise ships, it remains a popular tradition. Today, the original Facebook group has over 258,000 members, and you'll find countless Reddit forums dedicated to discussing and sharing duck-related experiences. 

Guests can search for line-specific groups as well. "Carnival Cruising Ducks" has over 66,000 members, whereas "Royal Caribbean Cruising Ducks," has around 51,000. 

Oftentimes, those who want to participate will customize the ducks in some way. You may, for instance, find a duck with an informational sheet indicating the duck's origin, like New York City or Orlando. 

tiny26-ducks
Photo posted by tiny260 on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum

Imagine discovering a duck from England when you live in the United States! You can choose to re-hide it or keep it as a souvenir; however, make sure that you don't throw it in the trash. If you don't want it, leave it for someone else to find!

Should you decide to keep the duck, look to see if there are any instructions on the tag, if applicable, as to where the hider wants it to be shared. Guests often like to figure out where their duck is traveling to! It makes the experience more memorable for everyone. 

Those cruising around a holiday, such as Valentine's Day, Halloween, or Christmas, may find themed ducks during their voyage, too. 

If you plan on hiding decks on your next cruise, make sure that you're respectful of the ship's rules and regulations

RWDW1204-duck
Photo posted by RWDW1204 on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum

Though you want to hide ducks in public areas, as nobody will find a duck stashed away in your stateroom, there are some guidelines to be mindful of. 

A general consensus amongst duck hiders is that the ducks shouldn't be hidden near food. Rather than leave one near food in the Windjammer, consider placing it in a commonplace location, such as a stairwell, where it won't be seen as an inconvenience to other passengers.

You'll also want to avoid placing ducks in the pools and hot tubs, as young children may endanger themselves by reaching for them and falling in. Shops with merchandise available for purchase are off-limits, too. You don't want anyone to get in trouble because it looked like they were shoplifting!

foulmouthedleon-duck
Photo posted by foulmouthedleon on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum

While indoor railings, such as those in the stairwell, are okay, don't place ducks somewhere they could fall overboard. Royal Caribbean forbids guests from throwing things over the side of the ship; you don't want to get caught breaking this rule

When hunting, you'll want to ensure you're acting respectfully, too. Avoid running and destroying cruise ship property. Those who are too rowdy may accidentally injure themselves or another passenger. 

If you're sailing on an Oasis or Icon Class ship, be cautious of placing ducks in Central Park, as children may see it as an opportunity to crawl through the greenery. The horticulturists work hard to maintain all the plants onboard, and hiding ducks in them can inadvertently damage them. 

Ducks can be purchased on Amazon for less than $15

asquared17-duck-2
Photo posted by asquared17 on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum

Looking forward to your summer cruise? Instead of bringing standard yellow ducks, spice up your experience by purchasing pirate-themed ducks. You can even find some that are patriotic if you happen to be sailing over the Fourth of July

Families sailing together over the holidays can get Christmas or Hanukkah ducks to spread festive cheer, while those cruising in October can embrace the spirit of Halloween with some spooky-themed ducks

Please note that we have linked Amazon items above, which contain affiliate links. The affiliate link costs you nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission if you purchase the item through the link.

I stopped booking the upgraded train tickets on Florida's high-speed train from Orlando to Miami. It wasn't much different than coach

In:
08 Apr 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Ever since Brightline started offering train service between Orlando and South Florida, I've been hooked.

Matt on the Brightline

Not having to take the mind-numbing boring drive rife with traffic and slow downs is worth it every time, and I've become a convert to the train. I've taken at least a half dozen roundtrip rides, and it's an incredible innovation for anyone looking to get between the two areas.

Read more: I Rode on Brightline, Florida's New High-Speed Train

While I won't ever go back to driving myself, I did make one big change in how I approach my plans.

I started off always booking the Premium seats, but tried the economy Smart seats and don't see a good reason to go back.

Premium vs Smart tickets

Seats on the Brightline train

Brightline has two classes of seats: Premium and Smart.  Think of them as business class and economy.

A Smart ticket gets you leather seats, complimentary WiFi and multiple power and USB connections at each seat.

Premium service adds complimentary snacks and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) and access to a Premium Lounge. Snacks and drinks are included both on the train and in the Premium Lounge.

Lounge

In addition, the Premium car has a row of single seats, whereas the Smart cars are all double seating on each side of the aisle.

One other important difference is checked bags cost extra for Smart fares, but one bag is free per passenger with premium.

Depending on how far in advance you book your tickets and how much demand there is for that time, the prices can vary.

Brightline train prices

For a ride between Orlando and Miami, a one-way Smart ticket starts at $54 per person, while a one-way Premium ticket starts at $144 per person. I did find a 4:50am ticket going for $49 per person for a Smart fare, but the Premium was still $144.

If you book your ticket closer to the day of travel, or if there is high demand for a seat and tickets are selling quick, prices can go up quickly. I found peak pricing for a Smart fare to be $154 per person and $224 per person fo Premium.

Why Premium isn't worth it for me

Brightline sign

My first few rides were all in Premium because I thought the added benefits were important to me.

Specifically, I booked it to get access to a single seat so I didn't have to sit next to anyone, along with the free food and drink that came with it.

I always enjoyed my rides in Premium, and the Premium Lounge was a nice touch when I got to the station early and had a lot of time to waste until the train left. 

Ticket kiosk

After a few rides on Brightline, I started to consider if the benefits were really worth the extra cost.

I booked Smart fares for the last few rides on Brightline and I really don't see a good reason for me to go back.

While I have had to sit next to a stranger more often than not on my train rides while in Smart class, the reality is the person sitting next to me was only a necessity for the South Florida leg.  The vast majority of the ride (Orlando to West Palm or even Boca Raton) is quite empty.  Brightline hasn't made headways into the commuter market in Central Florida as it has in South Florida.  So at worst, I'm sitting next to a stranger for an hour of my 3 and a half hour ride.

Drink service

The complimentary food and drink are nice, but I found the food choices to be nothing special. It's better than nothing, but it's just snacks and sandwiches I never thought much of.  

The included beers and cocktails are fun, but I'm certainly not drinking enough to "get my money's worth" out of it. Maybe one or two drinks, but I don't indulge on the train because I'm either driving when I get off the train, or I'm trying to do work.

One of the major reasons I love taking Brightline instead of driving is I get the commute time back to work on Royal Caribbean Blog and Cruise Blog. With the high-speed internet, it's like being in the office in terms of productivity. 

Train

As for the luggage, the truth is I bring my luggage onboard with me to the train and there's no cost. I roll my full-size suitcase onboard, stick it in the luggage rack, and then take it off the train. Quite easy, and no need to check bags.

I quickly came to the conclusion that the Premium fare benefits are nice to have, but considering the cost difference you can expect, I don't see a need to book it.

Icon of the Seas in Miami

The exception might be later this summer when I take my family on Brightline to go to Miami for our Icon of the Seas cruise. All those snacks and drinks make the ride more fun for the kids, and my wife prefers to check luggage when possible.

You shouldn't look at the Premium and Smart fares as being as different as coach and first class airfare. While the Premium benefits are nice, I find the Smart fares to be "good enough" and the added benefits not worth the price difference.

Royal Caribbean News Round-up April 7, 2024

In:
07 Apr 2024
By: 
Calista Kiper

Happy April! It was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week so that you don't miss any details.

The big news story this week was a sad report of a man who jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

According to reports, an allegedly drunk passenger got in a verbal fight with his family, and then proceeded to jump off the side of the ship. The ship was located near The Bahamas.

Rescue efforts by the ship and the U.S. Coast Guard were unsuccessful.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

Photo by Stephen S.

The 529th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available! In it, Matt discusses the top six mistakes he saw other cruisers make on his spring break cruise.

Worried about being that person messing up? Give the podcast a listen to learn from their mistakes.

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: Ranking EVERY SINGLE Free Restaurant on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship (2024)

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 — Ranking EVERY SINGLE Free Restaurant on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship (2024) — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

"Very active" Hurricane season predicted for 2024: What that means for cruise ships

Hurricane as seen from space

June 1st will mark the start of the 2024 hurricane season.

Experts at Colorado State University (CSU) have predicted a very active hurricane season this year, with a total of 23 named storms.

CSU estimates that the probability of a major hurricane making landfall across the entire U.S. coastline is 62%.

This means that cruisers looking forward to this summer and fall should start taking a few precautions.

How does specialty dining work on Royal Caribbean?

izumi-sushi

On your Royal Caribbean cruise, you can either dine for free or choose to try an extra-cost restaurant.

Extra-cost venues are called specialty restaurants, popular for their specific themes and quality cuisine.

But how do you reserve a spot at one? And how much will it cost?

This is your guide to all the specialty dining on Royal Caribbean. 

Cruising with teenagers: Will they have fun on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Bluth-teen-article-4

Alexa H. Bluth shares a guest post about cruising with teenagers.

You never want to hear "I'm bored" on your vacation, so can you be sure that teens will have fun on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

There are lots of activities a teenager can enjoy, from teen lounges to time with family.

You can feel confident that your teen won't get bored on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

'Drunk' cruise ship passenger jumps off balcony on a Royal Caribbean cruise in front of his family

In:
05 Apr 2024
By: 
Calista Kiper

A recent cruise on Liberty of the Seas turned into a tragedy this Thursday after a man reportedly jumped overboard.

Liberty of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-Class ship was sailing on a 4-night Eastern Caribbean cruise and returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida when the incident occurred.

The 1,111-foot-long vessel was approximately 57 miles from the Great Inagua Island, Bahamas at the time.

The passenger, a 20-year-old man traveling with his family, allegedly jumped overboard while drunk, and has not been recovered.

hot-tub-freedom-solarium

The New York Post reported that around 4:30 A.M. on Thursday, April 4th, the unnamed passenger was returning to his stateroom after relaxing in a crowded hot tub.

As his dad and brother began walking toward him, he suddenly jumped out of the window and overboard the side of the ship.

The decision appeared to be impulsive, although some have begun calling it a suicide attempt.

Crew was alerted immediately, and the ship stopped to begin conducting a search.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson made a statement.

"The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, who has taken over the search.”

“Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest's family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share."

No information has been released about the identity of the passenger or his family.

Reddit user Thick_Horse_2405, who was apparently onboard as a passenger on Liberty of the Seas, posted that the ship stopped until around 9:00 or 9:30 A.M. when the Coast Guard arrived.

“So sad!”

At 1:11 P.M. on Thursday, the United States Coast Guard announced on X that the USCG Cutter Seneca and Air Station Miami HC-144 crews were conducting the search.

Coast Guard

As of the writing of this article, the Coast Guard is still conducting a search, and the man has not yet been found.

After the Coast Guard arrived to take over the search, Liberty of the Seas continued sailing.

Cruise Mapper tracking shows that the ship is currently returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Liberty of the Seas Itinerary

Liberty of the Seas sailing away from Port Everglades

At the time of the incident, Liberty of the Seas was on a sailing that embarked on Monday, April 1st, 2024. 

The ship left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and called on Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. 

The 3,634-passenger vessel is scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale and continue 3 and 4-night cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Liberty of the Seas

On May 4th, 2024, Liberty of the Seas will make New York City her new homeport and offer longer Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean cruises.

No further delays to her itinerary have been announced or noted.

What happens when someone goes overboard?

Railing on cruise ship

Cruise ships make efforts to ensure no one ever falls overboard with measures like high railings on decks and balconies. 

Dr. Ross A. Klein, a professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, estimates that only 314 overboard incidents have happened since 2000, out of the millions of people that cruise every year.

However, tragic incidents still occur. 

In July 2023, a passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas fell overboard after allegedly sitting on a railing.

The 64-year-old woman unfortunately was not recovered and passed away.

The response is immediate when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean ships have safety measures such as surveillance cameras and trained crew members ensuring that they can respond as swiftly as possible.

Once the ship receives a notification that someone has gone overboard, emergency protocols are initiated.

Usually, they will sound alarms and notify the bridge and relevant local authorities.

Once alerted, the crew on the bridge will stop the ship to begin search and rescue operations.

At the same time, trained crew members and security staff will attempt to visually locate the person in the water.

Maritime authorities, such as the Coast Guard in the United States, will also join the ship and work to find the individual.

They may use search and rescue techniques such as aircraft, cameras, and radar systems.

Meanwhile onboard the ship, the cruise line is also responsible for investigating how the incident could have occurred.

They review surveillance footage, speak to relevant witnesses, and study onboard accounts.

In the case of Thursday’s incident, witnesses reported that the passenger was very drunk.

Cruise hack lets you preview Royal Caribbean add-on costs before you book a cruise

In:
05 Apr 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Before you book a cruise, you might want to compare the price of a shore excursion, drink package, or spa treatment.

Hideaway Beach cabanas

Royal Caribbean's pre-cruise purchases are big business for the line, as it's a major source of revenue every quarter. But the price for these add-ons aren't the same across the board.

Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing for its add-on purchases, which means the price charged for the same shore excursion, drink package, or WiFi internet package could be different depending on which ship or sail date you go on.

In some cases, the price differences can truly be significant. 

Overwater cabana price

As an example, for the May 20, 2024 sailing of Freedom of the Seas, the cost of an Overwater Cabana at Perfect Day at CocoCay is just $958. 

Overwater cabana price

But on the June 29, 2024 sailing of Icon of the Seas, that same cabana is $4,999 (and sold out!).

The dramatic price differences could be a compelling reason to pick one sailing over another, especially if you're debating which week to book a cruise.

There's a hack you can use to preview the price of these cruise add-ons before you actually book a cruise.  

How to access the Cruise Planner without booking a cruise

Freedom-Cruise-Planner

This hack is pretty simple, you just need a web browser and a list of ship codes.

All you need to do is manipulate the website address of the Cruise Planner to see what's available.

Many thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog message board member ZBrady for outlining the instructions.

Step 1: Copy this URL

Use this URL and paste it into a Notepad or other blank document for easier editing:

https://www. royalcaribbean.com/ account/cruise-planner? bookingId=&shipCode=ZZ &sailDate=YYYYMMDD

Step 2: Find your ship code

Wonder and Adventure in Cozumel

You're going to need to replace the "ZZ" in the URL for "shipCode" to be the two letter ship abbreviation for the Royal Caribbean ship you want to sail on.

Adventure - AD
Allure - AL
Anthem - AN
Brilliance - BR
Enchantment - EN
Explorer - EX
Freedom - FR
Grandeur - GR
Harmony - HM
Icon - IC
Independence - ID
Jewel - JW
Liberty - LB
Mariner - MA
Navigator - NV
Oasis - OA
Odyssey - OY
Ovation - OV
Quantum - QN
Radiance - RD
Rhapsody - RH
Serenade - SR
Spectrum - SC
Star - ST
Symphony - SY
Vision - VI
Voyager - VY
Wonder - WN
Utopia - UT

Once you find your ship code, replace the "ZZ" in the URL with the exact ship code.  Yes, it needs to be capital letters.

Assuming you were looking for Wonder of the Seas, the URL would now be:

https://www. royalcaribbean.com/account/cruise-planner ?bookingId=&shipCode=WN &sailDate=YYYYMMDD

Step 3: Change the Sail Date

Then you need to change the sailDate value to be the first day of the cruise.

Let's assume you want to see what the December 1, 2024 sailing of Wonder of the Seas. 

You would need to enter 20241201 into the URL. The new URL would be: 

https://www. royalcaribbean.com/account/cruise-planner ?bookingId= &shipCode=WN &sailDate=20241201

Step 4: Enter the complete URL into private browser mode

Cruise Planner

As a matter of best practice, open an incognito or private browser window to and then copy and paste the URL and give it a try.

This hack appears to work only if you're not signed into your account, so it's easier and simpler to use an incognito window.

If you managed to enter the information correctly (i.,e. the right ship code and sail date), then it should work!

Why Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing

Freedom of the Seas bow

If you're wondering why the price of cruise add-ons costs more or less depending on the sail date and vessel, it's because this is more profitable for the line.

In general, newer cruise ships command higher prices. Not just for cruise fares, but also for the add-ons that come with it.

When demand for a sailing is higher, the price of the fare and the add-on generally goes up to match it. It's similar to how a baseball game ticket costs more for certain teams or airline tickets cost more over holidays.

On the flip side, if you happen to be on a sailing that has less demand and pay less than someone else does, it's not a bad deal. 

The price today could change later

cruise-planner-deluxe-beverage-package-sale

Keep in mind that if you use this hack to preview the price of something, it could change at any time.

Royal Caribbean employs a pricing algorithm to its add-ons, and there are constantly new sales and promotions. This leads to price fluctuations all the time.

Your best bet is once you settle on a particular cruise to book, reserve any cruise add-on you absolutely want immediately to lock in the price.

Family eating at Chops Grille

All extras purchased on the Cruise Planner website are refundable up to the sailing, so if there's a better price at any point between when you make a reservation and your sail date, you can cancel and rebook at the lower price without any penalty.

This is one of our best tips for saving money, because with a little bit of vigilant checking, you'll end up with the lowest possible price for these items.