Royal Caribbean adds 10 additional sailings from Singapore

In:
08 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Royal Caribbean announced that Mariner of the Seas will begin her upcoming Southeast Asian season a month earlier, adding 10 roundtrip sailings from Singapore in September 2017.

Mariner of the Seas will be returning to Singapore on September 10th this year for her 2017/18 season, instead of October as originally scheduled. The sales for her new September cruises open for sale today. They include the nine-night one-way cruise from Shanghai to Singapore on September 1st with calls at Xiamen and Ho Chi Minh City plus an overnight in Hong Kong which coincides with the Singapore one-week school holidays; and a mix of three- to five-night Southeast Asian itineraries.

Following her Singapore season, Mariner of the Seas will then be deployed to Miami, Florida in April 2018, after having homeported year-round in Asia out of Singapore and China since 2013.

Sister ship Voyager of the Seas is expected to bring several thousands more tourists to Southeast Asia’s ports for her 2018/19 winter/spring season. Itineraries will be revealed later this month when the season opens for sale.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: May 7, 2017

In:
07 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend and ready to talk a little Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean made a lot of people living near the Gulf Coast states very happy this week with the announcement of new options to the Caribbean from New Orleans, Galveston and Miami in 2018.

Royal Caribbean will offer once again cruises from New Orleans when Vision of the Seas in the winter of 2018-2019. Vision of the Seas will also offer a pair of Panama Canal cruises prior to her arrival in New Orleans.

Enchantment of the Seas will move to Galveston, Texas, to offer cruises alongside Liberty of the Seas.

Mariner of the Seas will call PortMiami home in 2018, and offer 3- and 4-night itineraries beginning on June 21, 2018.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 196th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, focusing on Royal Caribbean's specialty dining packages.

In this episode, Matt talks about the specialty dining packages that are available on most sailings and what they offer guests from a savings perspective.

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.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

CruiseMiss has a guide to Caribbean islands that Royal Caribbean ships visit.

Royal Caribbean celebrated 10 years of offering cruises in China.

CruiseBe shared 7 facts you probably did not know about Radiance of the Seas.

Cruise Hive shared a look at the ship formerly known as Legend of the Seas.

TTG Media has a look at the changes in the sales operations for Royal Caribbean in Europe.

Top 5 favorites at Sabor Modern Mexican

In:
05 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, we decided to countdown our favorites at Royal Caribbean's Sabor restaurant. Whether you prefer Sabor Modern Mexican or Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar, either choice is the perfect way to celebrate.

1. Chicken-Stuffed Jalapeños

Appetizers are the first part of any meal, and the Chicken-Stuffed Jalapeños are a crowd-pleasing favorite at Sabor.

If you are looking for something with plenty of flavor and a good kick, then the Chicken-Stuffed Jalapeños are the perfect choice. Chicken, wrapped in bacon, glazed with a sweet chiptle tomatillo salsa makes for one amazing appertizer. Plus, they are great for sharing.

2. Tacos

When you think of Mexican food, inevitably tacos come to mind.  Sabor's tacos are more than what you might find at a typical fast-food chain that incorporates a large carillon in its logo.

The tacos at Sabor come in a variety of options: barbacoa, pollo, pork and tuna.  Personally, I cannot get enough of the tuna tacos, but whichever variety you choose, Sabor's tacos blend fresh ingredients in a crispy tortilla shell.

3. Banana and Chocolate Chimichanga

The desserts at Sabor tend to be underrated in terms of what most guests talk about, but the dessert tray is something you not to be missed.

Specifically, the Banana and Chocolate Chimichanga is, well, incredible.  Melted chocolate with warm bananas, fried makes for one tasty dessert. It is the kind of dessert you eat a few of, right after declaring there is no possible way that you can eat anymore.

4. Avocado margarita

The hand-crafted margaritas at Sabor are a staple of any meal.  In fact, some guests go just for the margaritas.  Of all the choices, we pick the avocado margarita as our favorite.

What makes the avocado margarita so good? It is a smooth and tarty blend that is as refreshing as it is flavorful. The avocado margarita is the perfect accompaniment to anything on the Sabor menu.

5. Guacamole

When considering the full scope of the Sabor menu, it is hard to overlook the highlight of the entire meal and one dish nearly everyone cannot get enough of: the guacamole.

The handmade guacamole put Sabor on the map when the first Sabor restaurant debuted on Navigator of the Seas in 2014. Since then, legions of Sabor fans have made reservations at Sabor specifically to enjoy this heavenly dish.

What is your top five favorites at Sabor? Share your countdown in the comments below!

Symphony of the Seas construction photo update

In:
05 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society has released a new batch of construction photos, highlighting the progress of Symphony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean shared the photos on the official Crown and Anchor Facebook page, as well as with members of the media.

Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis-class ship, under construction at the STX shipyard in France. The ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2018.

Friday Photos

In:
05 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Happy Cinco de Mayo and happy Friday! To celebrate the weekend, a Mexican victory over the French, and any other excuse we can think of to get a virtual Royal Caribbean "fix", we are sharing our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean cruise photos.

Appropriately enough, we begin with a photo that Kyle Ritch sent in from Cozumel, Mexico.  It is of the top decks of Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas next to each other.

Here is another photo from Cozumel of Liberty and Freedom docked next to each other, taken by Cristina Myers.

Katie Kaus shared this photo of her and her husband in Nassau, Bahamas with Majesty of the Seas right behind them.

Here is a night photo from Independence of the Seas, taken by George Alcazar.

Rich Weiss took this photo of Harmony of the Seas in St. Thomas.  It is incredible how these ships look at night.

Jill Snyder took this photo from her Aquatheater Suite, onboard Harmony of the Seas.

Our final photo this week is by Paul O Connor, and it is of Serenade of the Seas docked in Olden fjord, Norway.

Thank you to everyone who shared their photos with us this week. If you would like to submit your favorite Royal Caribbean photos, you can use this form to send them in.

Avoid these ten Royal Caribbean dining mistakes

In:
04 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Whether this is your first Royal Caribbean cruise or your fiftieth, there are certain nuances and "secrets" to dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise that can be overlooked.  These lapses can result in time or money wasted, or perhaps simply missing out on something you might have otherwise preferred to try. 

Here are a few Royal Caribbean dining mistakes to avoid on your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise.

Waiting to book specialty dining onboard

When researching your Royal Caribbean cruise, it is easy to make note of the really enticing specialty restaurants onboard, and then deciding to dine there once you get onboard the ship. Perhaps this decision is made in an effort to spend onboard credit or just an assumption that there will be plenty of tables available any night of the cruise.

The reality is specialty dining has never been more popular on Royal Caribbean ships.  If you value dining at a specific time and day, or want to enjoy a meal on a formal night or holiday, booking a reservation in advance is critical.  

Royal Caribbean allows guests to book reservations online prior to a cruise, which ensures you get the exact time and day at the restaurant of your choice.  And you can even use your onboard credit for pre-cruise purchases now!

Only ordering one entrée

Did you know that in the main dining room (and some specialty restaurants) you can order as many entrées, appetizers or desserts as you like?

Often first-time cruisers will order food like they do when they go out to a restaurant at home: one appetizer, one entrée and maybe a dessert. But on a Royal Caribbean cruise, not only can you order as much as you want, you should!

The serving sizes of entrées in Royal Caribbean restaurants tends to be on the small side. Plus, you are absolutely allowed to order as much as you want in the main dining room.  This is a great opportunity not only to indulge, but to also try out some new foods, like escargot!

Not bringing wine onboard with you

If you enjoy wine, did you know Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom onboard?

While Royal Caribbean prohibits bringing beer or other alcohol on your Royal Caribbean cruise, guests are permitted to bring up to two bottles of wine with them.  If you have more than one room, start multiplying that allotment by the number of rooms you have.  And yes, champagne is allowed too since it is technically considered "sparkling wine."

Not checking your table on embarkation day

If you are in traditional dining for dinner, each guest will be assigned a table in the main dining room upon embarkation.  The table number and dining room is denoted at the bottom of your SeaPass card.  But did you know you can change your assignment?

On embarkation day, a smart idea is to head down to the main dining room and locate your table to see where you are located and what size table you have been assigned.  If the location is not to your liking, or perhaps you are seated at a table larger than your party (which likely means you will be seated with other guests), you can speak to the head waiter on duty and request a change.

The head waiter will do their best to accommodate you, but we have found there is a bit of flexibility with changes.

Not making My Time Dining reservations

If you opted for dinner on your schedule in the form of My Time Dining, while you can just show up and get a table for dinner, we believe it is best to make reservations in advance.

Unless you eat dinner very early or very late, there can be a wait associated with guests who walk up for dinner.  

The wait may be short or long, but it is still a wait.  Prior to your cruise (or even once onboard), you can (and should) make reservations for each evening to ensure you are seated quickly. No one likes to wait to eat, and since the option is there, take advantage of it.

Skipping lunch in the main dining room

Were you aware on sea days the main dining room is open for lunch?

The main dining room for lunch is an easily overlooked lunch option, because many guests either are unaware of it or assume the menu is not different from other venues.  In fact, the lunch menu is quite different and will change every day it is open.  Moreover, lunch in the main dining room features the amazing salad and pasta bar, known as the Tutti Salad bar.

Not buying a drink package before the cruise

If you decide a Royal Caribbean unlimited drink package is worth it, do not wait to buy it onboard the ship.

First, if you purchase it onboard you will have to spend time buying it.  Often there are lines on embarkation day to buy the drink package, and then there is a bit of paperwork associated with its purchase.

Second, if you buy the drink package online before your cruise, it will absolutely save you money on the total cost! There are discounts offered for the drink package if purchased prior to the cruise, which means money saved for something else on your vacation.

Skipping specialty dining because it costs extra

If you are new to cruising, it is easy to skip over specialty restaurants simply because there is an additional cost to them.   I get it, on principle why should you pay more for food when there is plenty of great food available that included with your cruise fare?

The specialty dining onboard a Royal Caribbean ship augments the complimentary food, and offers cuisines and service not found elsewhere on the ship.  Sushi, steak, Mexican, hibachi and much more are available with specialty dining and these restaurants are a great way to celebrate a special occasion, or toast to a wonderful holiday.

You certainly do not have to dine at a specialty restaurant every day, but sprinkling in one or two meals at a specialty restaurant is a great strategy for enhancing the cruise experience.

Missing out on pool deck ice cream

Whether you are six or sixty, do not miss out on the free soft-serve ice cream (technically it is frozen yogurt) available on the pool deck.

If you hang out near the pool long enough, you will likely see guests walking around with ice cream cones.  No pool day is complete without a frigid treat from the soft-serve machine.  If you cannot locate the ice cream machine, ask a crew member for directions.

One great tip is to grab a cup from the Windjammer and fill that up with ice cream.  Better yet, bring ice cream to the pool bar and amazing drinks can happen!

Paying full price for kids at specialty restaurants

If you have kids that are 12 years old or younger, do not pay for them when making a specialty restaurant reservation before your cruise.

Royal Caribbean offers special pricing for children at specialty restaurants, but there is no option online to take advantage of kid pricing.

Instead, make reservations just for the adults in the group, and then inform the restaurant upon check-in that you have children with you.  

We want to hear from you! What is your best tip for avoiding a Royal Caribbean dining mistake? Leave a comment and share with us below!

Royal Caribbean released a new six-night Tasmania sailing onboard Explorer of the Seas

In:
04 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Royal Caribbean has released a new six-night Tasmania cruise onboard Explorer of the Seas for later this year.

Departing Sydney on Saturday, December 9, 2017, the six-night round-trip cruise includes two port days and three days at sea. The voyage calls to Hobart, Tasmania and Melbourne, Australia.

“Many of our new customers opt for shorter cruises of up to six nights for their first time at sea, and once they get a taste for the fun, convenience and value of ocean cruising with Royal - they’re hooked!” said Adam Armstrong, managing director, Royal Caribbean Australia and NZ.

“This cruise offers guests the perfect way to explore our own beautiful backyard, while treating themselves to the huge range of dining, entertainment and activities onboard,” Armstrong concluded.

Specialty dining packages on Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

In:
03 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 196 is available for downloading, in which we provide an overview of the specialty dining packages.

Royal Caribbean has a few different dining packages available that promise significant savings on its popular specialty restaurants. In this episode, we look at how these packages work and if you should get one for your next cruise.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 196. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSSStitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Royal Caribbean WOW Sale offers 30% off all guests and up to $200 to spend at sea

In:
03 May 2017
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Royal Caribbean's WOW Sale begins today, with 30% off all guests and up to $200 to spend at sea, plus bonus savings on Oasis Class ships.

The WOW Sale applies to cruises booked between May 3-7, 2017 on all sailings departing on or after June 3, 2017. Offer excludes China departures.

The offer includes:

30% off all guests Maycation offer.

  • Onboard credit per stateroom depending on the length of your cruise
    • $50 for 5 nights or less
    • $100 for 6-9 nights
    • $200 for 10-nights and longer
  • 50% reduced deposit.

Oasis Class Bonus

If you choose to sail on an Oasis Class ship on sailings departing June 3, 2017 through September 30, 2017, you can qualify for additional savings.

Offer includes dollars off for bookings made on Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas determined by stateroom category booked:

  • $50 off per stateroom for interior and oceanview
  • $150 off per stateroom for balcony
  • $250 off per stateroom for suite

WOW Sale is combinable with Maycation 30%, standard/full fare rates and Next Cruise offers. WOW Sale is not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military, etc.), Crown & Anchor discounts, Shareholder Benefits or Loyal to Royal Sales. All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates.

After the Offer Period, the Offer will be removed from the booking if the guest cancels and reinstates the booking or rebooks into a new booking on the same ship and sail date, applies a fare change, or changes the ship or sail date of the booking; certain other changes to the booking may also result in removal of the Offer.

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada.