Royal Caribbean Blog

The last day of our cruise visits Nassau, Bahamas.

We did not have any plans to do anything onshore for this visit, although I left the possibility open to maybe walk off for a beer later.

Since we had no plans, we slept in a bit and woke up to a cloudy and windy day.  Independence docked earlier in the morning, and I noticed we were docked at what I believe is one of the new piers they built.

We were further down into Nassau Harbor, with Celebrity Apex docked behind us.

After getting breakfast, we went up to the sports deck. Originally I was going to take the kids to do the SkyPad again, but it wasn't open until 1pm. 

Instead, we saw the pickleball court was set up and took the kids to try it out.

Pickleball is essentially tennis with a whiffle ball and hard racquets. It was a lot of fun, although the wind made the game very difficult to keep the ball in play.  My lower back did not agree with it either, but I still enjoyed it.

A friend signed up for the ping pong tournament they held aboard the ship, and about a half dozen people participated. He came in second place at the end of the competition.

Lunch brought us back to Playmakers.

Unfortunately, they seemed to be a bit short staffed and our waiter told us the kitchen is a bit overwhelmed.  We told him to bring out whatever he had, when he had it.

The meal took longer than I planned, but Playmakers is usually slow to begin with.

After lunch the kids wanted to try the family scavenger hunt.  They had 15 minutes to answer a bunch of questions and take photos of various things around the ship.

They didn't win, but they liked being able to run around the ship for a few minutes and play.

We had planned to go see Grease, but opted instead to take a break and let everyone relax. Sometimes a lot of vacation fun needs a reset to keep everyone even-keeled.

Dinner tonight brought us to Chops Grille.

After dinner, we played a bit in the casino and then had some drinks at Playmakers to round out our evening.

Overall, it was a fun weekend on Independence and it gave us exactly what we wanted: a weekend getaway to CocoCay.

Thanks for following this live blog. Our next live blog is in less than two weeks when I check out the brand new Wonder of the Seas!

Stray observations

For the departure options after the cruise is over, there are segmented self-assist times.

I had never seen this before, but essentially instead of a luggage tag number, people who want to walk off the ship on their own have assigned times.

I suspect this is because on a 3-night cruise there will be a lot of people looking to do self-assist and they want to prevent a mass of humanity trying to get off the ship at the same time.

I found a tribute to travel writer John Honeywell, better known as Captain Greybeard, on the sunning deck above the Sky Bar.

Hope you are having a great weekend.  Here is all of this week's Royal Caribbean cruise news.

The big cruise news this week was Royal Caribbean's announcement it will begin requiring at least 95% of the ship be fully vaccinated and make face masks optional onboard.

Royal Caribbean confirmed it has opted into the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) voluntary Covid-19 reporting program.

As a result of opting into the, "highly vaccinated program", at least 95% of passengers and 95% of crew will be fully vaccinated on Royal Caribbean ships.

Royal Caribbean News

• CDC lowers warning level for Covid-19 on cruise ships
• Royal Caribbean relaxes crew member shore leave and quarantine rules
• Royal Caribbean updates: Mariner cancellations, Icon of the Seas, & more
• Study: Cruise ships had 8,000 percent lower rate of Covid-19 hospitalizations compared to land
• Matt is live blogging from Independence of the Seas this weekend
• Royal Caribbean brings back double points promotion for Australians
• What is the best time of year to see wildlife in Alaska?
• How to meet people on a cruise ship
• What's the best cruise ship cabin for my family?
• Books for Black History Month to read on your next cruise
• A Royal Caribbean Love Story: A couple finds love after meeting on cruise ship

New RCB Video: 22 Tips for Royal Caribbean cruise in 2022

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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 — 22 Tips for Royal Caribbean cruise in 2022 — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 442nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available featuring a review of Matt's Brilliance of the Seas cruise.

In this episode, Matt reviews his 4-night Western Caribbean sailing on Brilliance of the Seas.

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.

Guide to pre-cruise Covid test

Before you cruise, you'll need a negative Covid-19 test result and the rules and requirements can be a little confusing.

To simplify things, we've written a complete guide to testing policies and requirements as of February 2022.

With this article, you should have an easy understanding of how to get a test done before you sail.

Harmony of the Seas vs. Anthem of the Seas

Trying to decide between Harmony of the Seas or Anthem of the Seas?

The Quantum and Oasis Class ships are among the biggest in the world and come with seemingly endless dining venues, entertainment choices, and activities.

Take an in-depth look at how each of these ships compares to the other.

All about Quantum Class ships

Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class cruise ships are packed with signature activities, diverse dining options, and technology integrated throughout the ships.

Here's a look at everything the Quantum Class has to offer, and how the ships within the class differ from each other.

The second day of our Independence of the Seas cruise brings us to the pièce de résistance of the sailing: a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Our ship docked around 7:30am or so, and the ship was cleared right at 8am.

We took the kids up the Windjammer for breakfast, which was super packed since everyone else was trying to eat something before getting off the ship. It's times like this I miss having Park Cafe or Cafe @ Two70 to have an alternative venue for breakfast.

As we disembarked the ship, Harmony of the Seas pulled in to join us.

The weather was beautiful with no clouds in the sky, warm temperatures, and low humidity.

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We purchased tickets to the CocoCay water park for this visit, so we headed right to Thrill Waterpark.

The kids went up and down the slides and all over the park, while the adults mostly stayed around our chairs and the wave pool. The water was a bit chilly, but I was just enjoying being outdoors.

We had lunch at Snack Shack, which is located inside Thrill Waterpark (there's two other locations around the island).

After lunch, we decided to take a break from the slides and head to the beach. We chose Harbor Beach as something different to try.

The appeal of Harbor Beach is this cove has no waves at all.

The kids loved it because there are rocks on one side that are home to many hermit crabs, which they found great pleasure in finding.

We ran into a few friends from Harmony of the Seas during the day, which was a really nice surprise.

We eventually headed back to the ship as our time came to a close at CocoCay. I showered and then immediately took a nap after a full day of fun on the island.

Dinner tonight was in Playmakers.

Playmakers is really large, and located on deck 4 between Boleros and Casino Royale. It's an impressive space, and our waiter Cyrus took good care of us throughout the entire meal.

After dinner, we went down to Studio B to see Freeze Frame ice skating show.

The show is a journey through the music of the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Great hits to enjoy as you watched the skaters do their thing.

After the show, we had a few drinks at the pub before calling it a night.

Tomorrow we will be in Nassau, Bahamas.

Stray observations

I bought this Perfect Day at CocoCay Tervis cup!

In the back of the ice skating show set, there is a large newspaper with an article from right before the Oasis Class ships launched with a contest to name the Project Genesis ships.

I found the Stowaway piano player in front of Boleros. This is the same stowaway piano player I saw on Odyssey of the Seas last summer.

I'm back on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship this weekend, this time checking out Independence of the Seas.

Since it's President's Weekend, my kids have off from school on Monday and that's a natural fit for a weekend cruise.

We had originally booked connecting Royal Promenade rooms for this cruise, but prices came down at the last minute and my travel agent was able to upgrade us to connecting balcony rooms for just $50 extra.

Independence is sailing from Port Canaveral and offering a 3-night Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay itinerary.

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A week or so before the cruise, Royal Caribbean alerted us that embarkation would be pushed back an hour so that the ship could undergo additional cleaning. This is not unheard of over the last few months, although it is the first time I encountered it.

We had a 11:30am check-in time, but Royal Caribbean said for everyone to arrive one hour later than when they had booked.

We left our house and drove to Port Canaveral, which is about an hour drive door to door.

When we got to the terminal, they were letting people into the building to check-in, but they were holding passengers in the waiting area until the ship opened up boarding.

Luckily, by the time we finished checking in, boarding began.  They started with suites and pinnacles, and then went in reverse Crown and Anchor Society before opening it up to everyone.

The weather started off a little cloudy, but everything cleared up as the afternoon progressed.

Onboard the ship, we grabbed lunch at the Windjammer.

The cabins weren't open until 2pm, so we took the kids up to the sports deck for a ride on the Sky Pad.

I booked the unlimited dining package for this cruise, and it's always a good idea to book your reservations for restaurants on the first day. I was able to get the days and restaurants we wanted without much issue.

We signed the kids up for Adventure Ocean next. On this sailing, there are 600 kids onboard and they are limiting parents to 3 hours per child for advanced reservations.

My wife took a well-deserved visit to the spa, while I took the kids to the pool deck. Independence of the Seas has a rather large Splashaway Bay, and they enjoyed the slides.

Once we got in the rooms, we dropped off our belongings and then headed downstairs to complete the muster drill.

Our next stop was up to the Sky Bar to enjoy sail away. We ended up staying in port a bit longer than expected, but it was a beautiful afternoon in terms of weather, so we enjoyed being outdoors.

As we sailed away, it was time to prepare for dinner and change.

We had dinner tonight in Izumi hibachi.

Dinner was great, and we had a really good chef who had some original material.

After dinner, we enjoyed some music at the pub.

Tomorrow, we will be visiting at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean has opted into the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) voluntary Covid-19 reporting program.

On the final day to opt into the program, Royal Caribbean announced it will join as part of the, "highly vaccinated program"

This means at least 95% of passengers and 95% of crew will be fully vaccinated on Royal Caribbean ships.

The benefit of requiring at least 95% vaccinated passengers is face masks will no longer be required indoors on Royal Caribbean ships.

The new program will go into effect beginning February 25, 2022.

Royal Caribbean will join the "highly vaccinated program", which is defined as ships with at least 95% passengers and 95% crew who are fully vaccinated, but with less than 95% of passengers and 95% of crew who are up to date with their Covid-19 vaccines.

Prior to this change, Royal Caribbean had not required 95% of its passengers to be vaccinated, unlike sister company Celebrity Cruises.

Cruise lines that choose to participate in CDC’s Covid-19 Program must advise CDC of the vaccination status classification for each participating ship. 

In addition, each ship must maintain these thresholds for each voyage.

On the CDC website, Royal Caribbean's ships appear in the listing of the Cruise Ship Status Dashboard under the category of "Highly Vaccinated".

Inside the new CDC program

 The new optional system for foreign-flagged cruise vessels operating in U.S. waters will mark ships in one of three categories, depending on the level of vaccinated passengers and crew on board:

1. Not Highly Vaccinated: ships with less than 95% passengers and 95% crew who are fully vaccinated.
2. Highly Vaccinated: ships with at least 95% passengers and 95% crew who are fully vaccinated but less than 95% of passengers and 95% of crew are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
3. Vaccination Standard of Excellence: ships with at least 95% passengers and 95% crew who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

The new CDC program is a follow-up to its Conditional Sail Order, which expired in mid-January.

By opting into the Highly Vaccinated program, Royal Caribbean ships will be expected to uphold surveillance, documentation and reporting of Covid-19 cases onboard to the CDC, as well as continue subjecting them to the agency’s color-coded system that designates which cruise ships are being monitored or investigated for high case numbers.

95% vaccinated

The move to require at least 95% vaccinated may seem like a big change until you realize Royal Caribbean was already basically at that threshold.

Thanks to high vaccination rates among adults and the addition of children between the ages of 6-12 that have recently gotten vaccinated, the average sailing was already hovering around the number.

In late December 2021, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said a typical sailing has anywhere between 95 to 98 percent fully vaccinated onboard population.

Michael Bayley speaks out

Mr. Bayley posted on Facebook an update on Royal Caribbean’s decision to opt into the new program. 

As many may know the CDC conditional sail order expired in  mid January and we continued to operate voluntarily under the program.

Recently the CDC issued the next phase of guidelines consisting of three categories each built on the same foundation of protecting health and each with specific guidelines based on vaccination and booster status. All cruise lines had until today to opt in or out of the program.

Today Royal Caribbean confirmed we will participate in the CDC's voluntary Program.

Specifically, we will operate under the program's Highly Vaccinated category beginning with sailings departing from the U.S. as of Friday, Feb. 25. Requirements include sailing with 95% of crew members fully vaccinated, which Royal Caribbean already exceeds with 100% of its crew fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible.

Ninety-five percent of guests must be fully vaccinated as well -- this excludes children under five years who are not eligible for the vaccine. The updated protocols will include face masks being optional for all fully vaccinated guests and expected for unvaccinated children.

All kids will be required to wear face masks during Adventure Ocean youth program activities.

We are thoughtfully working through the details regarding other changes to our health and safety protocols which we will share with our guests and travel advisors before Feb. 25. 

Cruise lines employ some of the toughest health protocols around, and that means a very unlikely chance you will get seriously sick on a ship.

Perhaps no other industry has been as hardly hit, and unfairly associated with, as the cruise lines have with Covid-19. Any sort of minor increase in Covid numbers has typically generated all sorts of negative media attention.

With the Omicron variant past peak, just how dangerous was it to go on a cruise during the pandemic?

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) provided analysis of recent data from the CDC of Covid cases on cruise ships taken during the height of the Omicron wave.

Analysis conducted by the PBI Research Institute, an independent, research-based consultancy in the energy, transport, and maritime sectors, determined that hospitalizations on cruise ships were 80 times lower than on land in the U.S. at the height of the Omicron surge.

During a two-week period covered by the PBI Research Institute analysis—from December 30, 2021 through January 12,  2022 — only five hospitalizations occurred out of more than 416,000 passengers and crew carried.

This is equivalent to 34 per 100,000 Covid-19 positive cases.  In stark contrast, during the same period, there were 269,067 new hospitalizations in the United States (equivalent to 2,786 per 100,000 Covid-19 positive cases), which is 80 times more than the rate onboard cruise ships during the time period.

Effective protocols

If you've been on a cruise, it probably comes as no surprise to hear there were few serious cases of Covid-19 onboard.

Cruise lines employ a multi-tiered approach to their protocols, which require all crew members to be fully vaccinated, and a vast majority of passengers to be vaccinated.

The PBI study concluded, "The low levels of severe Covid-19 cases that required hospitalization on ship is most likely due to the high vaccination rates among passengers on ships."

All crew members are tested regularly, and all lines require a pre-cruise Covid test from all passengers to be taken in order to sail.

Once onboard, mask wearing was adopted by all lines during the Omicron variant (some lines are relaxing that rule now).

If there is a Covid case onboard, contact tracing is immediately conducted and testing of those people is completed.

In early February, Royal Caribbean Group reported they carried approximately 1.3 million guests since cruises restarted, and only had about 2,500 guests testing positive for Covid-19.

That represents a positivity rate of 0.19%.

Falling Covid-19 cases

While the low hospitalizations are great to hear, the falling Covid numbers on cruise ships is even better news.

This study was conducted a few weeks ago when Covid cases were higher than they had been on ships. Since then, the amount of Covid cases on ships (and society as a whole) have dropped quite a bit.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lowered its travel health notice for cruises from Level 4 to Level 3 this week due to falling Covid numbers onboard.

CDC spokeswoman Caitlin Shockey said in a statement the CDC lowered the warning in response to decreasing cases on ships operating in the United States.

This data matches up with statements made by Royal Caribbean executives a couple of weeks ago of what their ships were experiencing.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told investors, "Certainly, we see now with with Omicron that the decrease in positivity is really significant not only in the U.S. and certain states, but also on board of our ships."

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said cases on ships are now well below the height of the Omicron wave, "The good news is is that in the last several weeks, cases on board our ships have been declining rapidly and we now have returned to exceptionally low pre-Omicron levels."

An Alaska cruise provides the opportunity to spot some of the state’s remarkable wildlife. Luckily, the peak time to view Alaska’s wildlife coincides with the cruise season.

From April to September, wildlife viewing opportunities are plentiful throughout the state. Whales, bears, otters, sea lions, eagles, and other marine and land animals can be spotted during your Alaska cruise.

The best time and place to view each animal depends on many factors including migration patterns, hibernation, and food sources. If viewing wildlife is important to you on an Alaska cruise, it’s a good idea to know when and where you can view Alaska’s wildlife best.

Bears

Alaska is home to more bears than any other state. Black bears, brown bears, and polar bears call Alaska home. While polar bears do not migrate far enough south to see while on a cruise, passengers may have the opportunity to spot black or brown bears.

The best time to see bears in Southeast Alaska is from July through early September. 

Each summer season, Alaska sees an influx of salmon swimming upstream to spawn. And where there are salmon, other types of wildlife are often present. Bears can most easily be spotted feeding on salmon nearby creeks and streams. 

One of the best ways to see bears in Alaska is through one of Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Tours. By going inland and touring destinations such as Denali National Park and Preserve, your chances of spotting grizzly bears and black bears are higher. Plus, you will have the opportunity to spot wildlife such as caribou, moose, and wolves as well.

On an Alaska cruise to Sitka, guests can book the “Best of Sitka” tour which goes to the Fortress of the Bear for wildlife viewing. This is a bear rescue center whose mission is to rescue bear cubs that are orphaned or sick and bring them back to health.

Visitors at Fortress of the Bear can get within 25 feet of Alaska’s brown bears to observe the animals’ behaviors and personalities.

There are more exclusive bear watching excursions available as well. Those with a high interest in seeing bears in their natural habitat can choose to visit Admiralty Island near Juneau.

Passengers will be taken to the island’s wilderness via a float plane. Since the island is home to one of the highest density populations of brown bears and eagles in the world, wildlife is likely to be spotted.

Of course, those hiking in Alaska or exploring the outdoors without a guide should be extra vigilant and knowledgeable on bear safety.

Whales

The types of whales you are likely to spot on an Alaska cruise depends on the month of your sailing.

If you’re sailing to Alaska in the peak summer months of June and July, you are more likely to spot humpback whales. An estimated 500 humpback whales call the Alaska Inside Passage home during the summer. 

While technically part of the dolphin family, many cruise passengers are eager to spot a killer whale in Alaska. The best time to see Killer whales on an Alaska cruise is in May and June. They are commonly found near Ketchikan, Juneau, and Seward. 

Grey whales are prevalent in southeast and southern Alaska in the late spring. Those with an Alaska cruise booked in April or early May are more likely to see these whales, as they begin migrating to the colder northern Alaska waters in late April.

Spotting a blue whale while on a cruise to Alaska is quite rare, but those lucky enough to see them will most likely be cruising during the late summer months of July and August. Blue whales tend to hang out in the open water as opposed to near the shoreline.

Sea Lions and Otters

Steller sea lions do not migrate when the weather is frigid, so they can be spotted year-round in Alaska. The best time to see sea lions, though, is early in the spring until the end of July.

You can spot Steller sea lions throughout southeast Alaska, but it is recommended to take a wildlife tour excursion for the best chance of seeing these animals up close.

Both playful and adorable, sea otters can also be spotted on an Alaska cruise. Sea otters do not migrate long distances, so they can be spotted year-round in Alaska. The best place to find sea otters while on a cruise is in streams and creeks near the ocean. 

Eagles

There are an estimated 100,000 bald eagles in the world, with around 30,000 calling Alaska home. A bald eagle is one of the most recognizable birds in the world, and many people are eager to spot an eagle during their Alaska cruise.

An eagle’s diet consists mainly of fish, so the best place to spot an eagle is in the trees near a body of water. Luckily, an Alaska cruise means that you are nearly always surrounded by tall trees and water, so be sure to get out your binoculars.

You can spot eagles year-round in southeast Alaska, as the temperate rainforest provides an ideal habitat for the bird. They are most commonly seen during the salmon run in mid-summer, when they feed off the scraps of fish left by bears.

You may also wish to take an excursion to view eagles. The “Sitka Cultural Discovery and Alaska Raptor Center” brings guests to visit the Alaska Raptor Center, where injured eagles and other birds are rescued and rehabilitated.

Outside of eagles, there is no shortage of bird watching opportunities on an Alaska cruise. Southeast Alaska is a temperate rainforest, and with that comes hundreds of species of birds that migrate to and from the state each year. There are an estimated 470 species of birds in the state.

Tips for spotting wildlife in Alaska

Wildlife can be found not only while exploring a port, but also at sea. Oftentimes, the captain will announce on the livespeaker when whales or other wildlife can be spotted from the ship. When this happens, expect a crowd of excited passengers to form on the outside decks hoping to catch a glimpse of the animals.

An important tip when hoping to view wildlife in Alaska is to remain flexible. Tour operators can never guarantee you will see a pod of orcas, humpback whales breaching, a grizzly bear eating salmon in the stream, or an eagle soaring through the trees.

Wildlife can be unpredictable, especially if you are cruising to Alaska in the shoulder season. However, you may also be surprised by how easy it can be to find wildlife, too.

Whether you’re eating lunch on a sea day and the captain announces there are whales swimming alongside the ship, walking in Ketchikan and suddenly seeing otters playing in the stream, or traveling in a bus and passing an eagle in its nest, you never know when and where you will spot wildlife on an Alaska cruise.

The best tip we can give, though, is to pack binoculars with you on your Alaska cruise. Having the ability to view the animals “close-up” when you are technically far away will make your wildlife viewing experiences much more personal and exciting. 

Read more tips and information about cruises to Alaska:

• How much does an Alaska cruise cost?
• The weirdest Alaska cruise questions
• Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska 2022
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise
• What it's like to go on an Alaskan cruise at the end of the season
• Cruising to Alaska: What I Did Right and Wrong

A cruise vacation can be a very social experience, with some people making friends or just good conversation along the way.

Cruises are the vacation that has something for everybody. You’ll find everything from large family reunions to solo cruisers and everyone in between.

There are times I have been on the same ship with people I know and have not run into them once. I then see the photos they publish on social media and it was like we took a completely different vacation.

So, what do you do when you’re a solo cruiser or just want to meet people onboard? Where do you go? How do you strike up a conversation? Well, it’s easier than you think. Hopefully these tips will make it seem less overwhelming.

Before your cruise

You can get a head start on making connections before you even sail. Facebook groups that are created for your specific ship and sail date are extremely popular.

The groups are a great source of information for the ship and destinations but they also organize activities.

There’s usually a meet up on the first day for sail away. I have also been in groups that organize slot pulls in the casino and cabin crawls that allow members to see different room categories.

Bear in mind, some moderators keep their group more active than others but members always welcome to post questions or comments.

Ask for a large table at dinner

On embarkation day you will find a crew member outside of the main dining room handling special requests, including seating. Feel free to ask to be included at a large table. You’ll get to know your table mates and will be able to share your experiences together each night at dinner.

This option may not be available at the moment due to the Covid restrictions. It will definitely return and remains one of the best way to meet people onboard.

Communal seating at specialty restaurants

Two specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean have seating for people at the same table that may not be part of your family.

Izumi hibachi and Chef's Table are both group experiences, where you will be seated at a large table. Assuming your group is not large enough to take up all the seats, the restaurant will usually fill in the other spots with other guests.

Since you're all seated together for a little while, a conversation might spark a friendship.

Adventure Ocean

It's not just adults that can make friends on a cruise ship. Just like at school, kids will be together with other children when at the Adventure Ocean program and friendships are commonly made.

The key for facilitating friendships is for kids to go to Adventure Ocean on the first night of the cruise.  Just like the first day of school, if everyone is new, it's easier to say hello and break the ice.

The same strategy is true of the teen club, where going the first day makes a difference in getting to know everyone.

Excursions

Many people make connections with their fellow cruisers on excursions. Your group will be together for several hours so it’s only natural to strike up a conversation with the person next to you on the bus in between stops.

Some city tours also offer a lunch. That’s a great time to get to know others.

Trivia

Trivia is offered on every ship several times throughout your cruise. Categories can include general knowledge, music, movies, geography and logos, just to name a few. Some ships feature a progressive trivia that has events throughout the cruise and the winner is determined on the last day.

I have met several people at trivia. Teams are usually up to 6 people. If you see a couple or group of four, feel free to introduce yourself and ask to join the team. Even if you’re not comfortable with the category, it will at least break the ice and get you talking.

The Quest

The very popular adult scavenger hunt is a great place to meet people. It’s a team environment that requires audience participation. Everyone is there to laugh, make fools out of themselves and have fun. Just the nature of the competition is enough to have you bonding with your fellow teammates.

After the game, learn more about your new friends by celebrating your team’s victory at your favorite bar.

Bars

Whether it’s karaoke or listening to live music in the pub or Schooner, bars are by far the easiest places to meet people on a ship, just as they are on land.

The conversation can start by seeing someone with an interesting looking drink and asking what it is. Before you know it, you’ll be performing a duet in Studio B or the Star Lounge.

Diamond or Suite lounge

This is my personal favorite and definitely where I have met the most people. Tables in the lounges are typically designed for four or more people. My husband and I have frequently had others ask to sit at our table when it’s just the two of us travelling.

Conversation flows easily in the Diamond Lounge since everyone has the same interest, cruising. A lot! We’ll talk about trips we’ve been on, favorite ships and ports, and places on our bucket list we haven’t been to yet.

You’ll typically see the same people in the lounges night after night, before or after dinner times.

It’s not just the evening happy hour either! The lounges are always open. Some mornings we’ll go for a coffee or a bagel when we’re not in the mood for a huge breakfast.

We’ll also frequent the lounge during the day for some quiet time. There’s always people in there reading, chatting or planning their next cruise. It’s a very social venue.

Final thoughts

The most important thing to keep in mind when looking to meet people is to be friendly and approachable. Be aware of the conversations going on around you. Feel free to add your thoughts. You’ll find most of your fellow cruisers are very friendly and will welcome your company.

If possible, try to be helpful. For example, just last weekend there was a new cruiser in the elevator that had no idea where to go for free coffee. She had already missed the floor for the Windjammer so I suggested she go to Café Promenade. She was under the impression they only sold specialty coffees. Since that’s where we were headed anyway, I walked with her there and pointed out where the crew member was serving the complimentary coffee. Little things like that are easy ice breakers and will get you remembered.

Whether you make friends for a lifetime or just the duration of your cruise, there are plenty of places to meet and get to know others. Then there’s always social media to help you stay in touch.

There's always something new and different happening with Royal Caribbean that it's hard to cover it all, but there were a few things over the last few days that I've summed up in a new post.

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!

Royal Caribbean cancels Mariner of the Seas cruises in early 2023 to allow more dry dock time

Royal Caribbean informed guests with a Mariner of the Seas cruise booked in early 2023 their cruises have been cancelled.

Guests received emails today informing them that the ship will need more time for her scheduled dry dock, which impacts cruises between January and March 2023.

The specific dates cancelled are sailings between January 7, 2023 and March 27, 2023.

"Mariner of the Seas will need some extra time during its scheduled dry dock next year," the email said. "We known this news is disappointing and apologize for the impact."

Guests booked on a now cancelled cruise have the choice of rebooking to Jewel of the Seas sailings during the same time period:

• Nassau, Bahamas, Falmouth, Jamaica, and Labadee, Haiti on January 14th, February 11th, or March 11th
• Costa Maya, Mexico, Roatan, Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico on January 28th or February 25th
• Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay of February 7.

If guests choose a Jewel of the Seas sailing, they'll receive their original stateroom price protected, as well as $50 onboard credit for interior, ocean view and balcony staterooms. $100 for suites.

Royal Caribbean will also cover up to $200 in change fees for non-refundable transportation costs.

Guests also have the choice to re-book on any other cruise, or a full refund if they decide to cancel.

Mariner of the Seas was last refurbished in 2018 when she received her Royal Amplification updates.

Typically, cruise ships go in every 5 years for a dry dock. Older ships can sometimes go in more often than that.

UPDATE: The plot thickened when people booked on Independence of the Seas received a similar email that they are being moved to Mariner of the Seas.

What does it mean and how can two ships be cancelled for same timeframe? Share your ideas in the comments.

Royal Caribbean trademarks something related to Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office that sounds like it could be related to the new Icon Class cruise ships.

Two trademarks were filed on February 10 for:

• This is not a cruise
• This is Icon

Trademark applications are notoriously vague, and simply filed to cover the category of cruise ship services.

Canada drops PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated

It just got easier for someone that is fully vaccinated to travel into Canada.

The Canadian government announced this week it fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada will not need to take a PCR test, beginning February 28.

Instead, fully vaccinated people entering the country can take an authorized rapid antigen test taken no more than one day before their flight or arrival at the land border.

Currently, travelers entering Canada must show proof of a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of their departing flight or planned arrival at the land border. 

Deciding between Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas means choosing between two cruise ships with lots of of fun things to do.

Whether you’re planning your first cruise or fiftieth, Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships are likely to be of interest to you. The Quantum and Oasis Class ships are among the biggest in the world and come with seemingly endless dining venues, entertainment choices, and activities.

How do the two classes of ships compare, though? Let’s take a look at Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas to see how the ships compare and contrast in layout, itineraries, and offerings for guests.

Overview

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Harmony of the Seas is the 3rd ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class, the largest class of cruise ships. She has a capacity of 6,687 guests, length of 1,188 feet, and measures 226,963 in gross tonnage. Her maiden voyage was in May of 2016.

Anthem of the Seas is the 2nd ship in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class. She has a capacity of 4,905 guests, length of 1,141 feet, and measures 168,666 in gross tonnage. Her maiden voyage was in November of 2014.

Ship Layouts

As an Oasis Class ship, Harmony of the Seas is split into seven main neighborhoods. These are designed to help break up crowds by spreading guests around the ship, and all are quite distinct from each other:

• The Boardwalk neighborhood is located on Deck 6 in the aft of the ship. This neighborhood is designed like a nostalgic boardwalk near the sea, with an arcade, carousel, souvenir shops, and dining options. The Aquatheater entertainment venue is also located here, where guests can enjoy aqua shows involving diving, synchronized swimming, and slack lining.
• Central Park is a neighborhood unlike any other on a Royal Caribbean ship. With over 10,000 plants and flowers, guests might feel as if they are walking through a park on land as opposed to being onboard a cruise ship. Dining and shopping venues are in Central Park as well.
• The Pool and Sports Zone is where guests will find pools, jacuzzis, water slides, and several signature activities.
• The Royal Esplanade is the main thoroughfare on Oasis Class ships, with dining, shopping, bars, guest service areas, and more.
• Entertainment Place is where guests go to watch signature entertainment and live music onboard.
• The Vitality Spa and Fitness neighborhood is where guests can work on wellness, whether at a massage, hair appointment, or fitness class.
• The Youth Zone is the hub of Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean programming, offering activities for guests aged 6 months to 17 years.

Anthem of the Seas does not have the same neighborhood concept as an Oasis Class ship. However, the ship can still be broken into a few distinct areas:

• The Via is on Deck 5 as you walk toward the aft of the ship. Here guests will find artwork, dining, shopping, Next Cruise, and the Two70 entertainment venue.
• The Royal Esplanade is similar to the Royal Promenade on Harmony of the Seas. This is a two-story hub of dining venues, bars and lounges, shopping, and guest services areas.
• The Pool Deck area is where you will find all of the pools on Anthem of the Seas as well as the Solarium
• The Sports/Seaplex area is where many of the main signature activities are offered on Anthem of the Seas

Food & Dining

Both Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas share many of the same dining venues:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Cafe
• Solarium Bistro
• Coastal Kitchen
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrento’s
• Chef’s Table
• Wonderland
• Jamie’s Italian
• Chops Grille
• Izumi (sushi)
• Johnny Rockets
• Dog House

As an Oasis Class ship, Harmony of the Seas has several more dining options than Anthem of the Seas.

• Park Cafe is a complimentary dining option in the Central Park neighborhood on Harmony of the Seas. Open for breakfast and lunch, Park Cafe offers an assortment of breakfast sandwiches, pastries, a bagel station, sandwiches, a salad bar, soups, and more.
• 150 Central Park is a specialty venue located in the Central Park neighborhood focused on sourcing local ingredients. Menu highlights include lamb wellington, roasted tenderloin, and fried cheesecake.
• Mini Bites is located near the Sports area onboard and offers quick, complimentary grab-and-go options such as quesadillas and hamburgers. Breakfast is also available with made-to-order omelets, bacon, and more.
• Sabor is a Mexican specialty restaurant offering small plates, build-your-own tacos, quesadillas, and more. Menu highlights include spicy beef empanadas, red snapper ceviche, grilled cobia tacos, steak quesadillas, and cinnamon churros. Sabor also features a tequila bar and margarita menu.
• Izumi on Harmony of the Seas also has a hibachi option, whereas the venue is only for sushi on Anthem of the Seas.
• Vitality Cafe is a casual venue featuring grab-and-go sandwiches and pastries. Freshly made smoothies are also available here as well as protein shakes. The food options are complimentary at Vitality Cafe while drinks come at an extra cost.
• Harmony of the Seas also has a Starbucks location on the Boardwalk.

One venue that is offered on Anthem of the Seas but not on Harmony is Cafe @ Two70. Located inside the Two70 entertainment venue found only on Quantum Class ships, Cafe @ Two70 has a similar selection of food to Park Cafe on Oasis Class ships.

There is also a coffee bar located in Cafe @ Two70 where guests can order specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic coffee drinks. Cafe @ Two70 is a complimentary venue aside from specialty beverages.

The second venue found on Anthem of the Seas but not Harmony is La Patisserie. Guests can order specialty coffee and tea beverages here as well as French delicacies including macarons, cheesecake, and eclairs. La Patisserie is an extra-cost venue.

Outdoor dining on Anthem of the Seas includes a section of the Windjammer which offers views of the aft and an outdoor area of Jamie’s Italian on the Promenade Deck.

Outdoor dining on Harmony of the Seas can be found at dining venues located at the Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods, including Jamie’s Italian, Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Park Cafe, Sabor, and Johnny Rockets.

Bars & Lounges

Both Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas share many of the same bars and lounges:

• Vintages 
• Pool Bars
• English-style pub
• Schooner Bar
• Bionic Bar
• Boleros
• Solarium Bar

Several bars and lounges feature excellent views of the pool deck and ocean, such as the North Star Bar on Anthem of the Seas and Mast Bar on Harmony of the Seas.

Harmony of the Seas has several smaller bar areas located throughout the ship as well, including Wipe Out Bar on the Sports Deck and Trellis Bar in the heart of Central Park.

Perhaps the most unique bar on Harmony of the Seas is the Rising Tide Bar. This is a bar that moves up and down three stories between the Royal Promenade and Central Park neighborhoods. The bar is adults-only and free to ride.

There are a few more lounges to note on Harmony of the Seas:

• On Air, a karaoke bar where guests can put their vocal skills to the test as they sing their favorite songs.
• Jazz on 4, an intimate jazz club which offers live music each evening
• The Attic, a comedy club where guests can listen to a selection of comedians each cruise

Guests looking for a nightclub lounge experience onboard have options on both Anthem and Harmony of the Seas. On Anthem of the Seas guests can go to the Music Hall, a two-story venue with a stage, dance floor, two bars, comfy seating, and pool tables.

On Harmony of the Seas, guests will enjoy Dazzles. This is another two-story music and dance venue which overlooks the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Entertainment

Both Anthem and Harmony of the Seas offer top-notch entertainment options. Both ships have a Royal Theater with a full-length Broadway musical performance, but each ship has a selection of other shows in the diverse entertainment venues found onboard.

Anthem of the Seas is home to Two70, a signature venue found only on Quantum Class ships. This is a venue in the very aft of the ship with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 270 degree views of the ship’s aft. The venue incorporates technology through moveable television screens and light effects into its performances. Both live and “virtual” concerts are available here.

Anthem of the Seas offers the following signature shows:

• Broadway musical: We Will Rock You
• Two70 show: Spectra’s Cabaret
• Other: The Gift (Royal Theater)

In addition to the Royal Theater, Harmony of the Seas has an Aquatheater and Studio B ice skating rink. The Aquatheater is unique to Oasis Class ships and is where Royal Caribbean’s signature aquatic shows are performed.

Harmony of the Seas offers the following signature shows:

• Broadway musical: Grease: The Musical
• Studio B: iSkate and 1887: A Journey in Time
• Aquatheater: The Fine Line and Hideaway Heist
• Other: Columbus: The Musical (Royal Theater)

Pool Deck

Harmony of the Seas features three main pools: the Main Pool, the Beach Pool, and the Sports Pool. The pools are all very similar to each other, with pool games being offered in the Sports Pool and a beach-style design at the Beach Pool.

Anthem of the Seas has two main pools: one indoor pool and one outdoor pool. As Quantum Class ships were designed to function in both cold and warm weather, Anthem of the Seas has plenty of indoor pool deck space, with indoor jacuzzis and an indoor pool bar as well.

The Solarium on Harmony of the Seas does not have a pool, but instead has four jacuzzis throughout the space. The Solarium is not an enclosed space, but offers plenty of shade. The Solarium on Anthem of the Seas is fully enclosed, and features a series of cascading pools as well as jacuzzis.

Both ships offer plenty of activities for kids on the pool deck, too. Harmony of the Seas has a large Splashaway Bay area with kid-sized water slides, splash pad areas, water dump buckets, and water sprayers.

Anthem of the Seas has the H20 Zone, which features shallow pool areas for young children. There is also a small kids pool here as well that is not as shallow as the splash pad areas.

Harmony of the Seas has three water slides: the Cyclone and Typhoon slides, where guests can race each other, and the Supercell slide, where guests spin around a “champagne bowl” to make their way to the bottom.

Being a Quantum Class ship, Anthem of the Seas does not have water slides.

Onboard Activities

With Anthem of the Seas being a Quantum Class ship and Harmony of the Seas being an Oasis Class ship, many of their signature activities onboard differ from each other.

Harmony of the Seas offers several signature activities that are included in your cruise fare. The majority of these activities take place on the sports deck or Boardwalk:

• The zipline, where guests can fly nine decks over the Boardwalk neighborhood
• A carousel
• The Ultimate Abyss, a dry slide where guests slide 9 stories down from the Sports Deck to the Boardwalk neighborhood
• Ice skating in Studio B
• Mini golf
• Sports court (outdoors)
• Water slides
• Escape room

Likewise, Anthem of the Seas offers several activities only found on Quantum Class ships:

• The North Star, an observation pod that rises from the pool deck to offer 360 degree views from 300 feet above sea level
• RipCord by iFLY, an indoor skydiving simulator
• Bumper Cars
• Roller skating
• Circus school
• Xbox gaming area

The hub of activity on Anthem of the Seas is in the SeaPlex. The SeaPlex is the only indoor sports center in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, where guests can enjoy indoor soccer, volleyball, pickleball, dance classes, and more. This is where signature activities such as bumper cars, roller skating, and circus school are located.

Most signature activities on both ships are complementary. On Anthem of the Seas, though, there may be both a complementary and extra fee option for the North Star and RipCord by iFLY. Guests should make reservations for these activities via the Royal Caribbean app as soon as they get onboard, as complementary reservations can fill up quickly.

Both ships offer the Flowrider and rock climbing wall. Because Harmony of the Seas has a higher capacity, there are two Floriders and two rock climbing walls available. There are also two arcades on Harmony, whereas Anthem of the Seas has one arcade.

Itineraries

Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas offer itineraries that differ from each other in length, departure port, and region of the world.

Anthem of the Seas itineraries

Anthem of the Seas splits her time sailing from Southampton, England, and Cape Liberty, New Jersey. She sails from Southampton from May to October, offering a variety of European cruises. Highlights include:

• 7-night Norwegian Fjords Cruises visiting destinations such as Bergen, Alesund Olden, Haugesund, Kristiansand, and Geiranger
• 7-night Spain & France cruise visiting La Rochelle, La Coruna, Bilbao, and Paris (Le Havre)
• 12-night Discovery The Canaries Cruise visiting ports including Madeira, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Lisbon, La Coruna, and Vigo
• 9-night Spain & Portugal Cruise visiting Bilbao, La Coruna, Vigo, Lisbon, and Seville
• 14-night Mediterranean Cruises with cruise options including destinations such as Lisbon, Barcelona, Nice, Rome, Naples, Gibraltar, Malaga, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and Ibiza

For the rest of the year, Anthem of the Seas sails from Cape Liberty, New Jersey offering cruises to the Caribbean. Cruise selections include:

• 7-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise visiting Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 8-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise visiting Port Canaveral, Miami, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 11-night Southern Caribbean Cruise visiting San Juan, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts

Transatlantic cruises are also offered on Anthem of the Seas when she sails to and from Europe.

Harmony of the Seas itineraries

Harmony of the Seas sails from Cape Canaveral until October 2022, when she will begin offering cruises from both Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, Florida. Regardless of the embarkation port, Harmony of the Seas offers Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises. Highlights include:

• 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting destinations such as St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Nassau, St. Kitts, Labadee, Puerto Plata, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 7-night Western Caribbean cruises visiting destinations including Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 8-night Southern Caribbean cruises visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, Aruba, and Curacao

Staterooms

As Quantum and Oasis Class ships, both Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas offer everything from the most basic interior rooms to exquisite loft suites. Both ships offer the Virtual Balcony for interior rooms as well.

In addition, Anthem and Harmony of the Seas offer the Royal Suite Class. Depending on the suite, guests will be in either Sea Class, Sky Class, or Star Class, all of which bring exclusive benefits, including access to the Coastal Kitchen restaurant.

Star Class is the most exclusive suite class and includes a Royal Genie, who is a personalized concierge during your time onboard.

A difference between the two ships are the neighborhood rooms available on Harmony of the Seas. Oasis Class ships offer both Central Park and Boardwalk balcony rooms, which look down into their respective neighborhoods.

Central Park rooms do not have an ocean view, but Boardwalk balcony rooms will have a partial ocean view to the side. There are a few interior “Central Park view” staterooms available as well, which have a porthole looking into Central Park.

Harmony of the Seas also has Aquatheater suites which overlook the ship’s aft and Aquatheater area. 

Which ship should I choose?

Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas will both provide an excellent, modern cruising experience. There is no shortage of things to do and places to eat on either ship, but there are a few key things to consider before choosing one over the other.

First, the itineraries on the ships are totally different. For those living in the northeast, Anthem of the Seas can be a nice option for a Caribbean cruise that does not require flying to Florida. Anthem of the Seas is also a good option for those based in Europe, due to her wide range of European itineraries.

Harmony of the Seas offers more traditional Caribbean cruises. Because she departs from Florida, there are fewer sea days required to reach Caribbean destinations. Therefore, guests can see a wider range of Caribbean islands on Harmony of the Seas than they can on Anthem of the Seas.

Second, Anthem of the Seas has more of a traditionally-built cruise ship layout whereas Harmony of the Seas, being an Oasis Class ship, has a completely different layout to other Royal Caribbean ships.

Both ships offer plenty to do for families. Harmony of the Seas may have a slight edge toward toddlers and young children with a full sized Splashaway Bay on the pool deck, whereas Anthem of the Seas has many activities for older children like bumper cars and RipCord by iFLY.

Ultimately, whichever ship you choose will lead to a fantastic Royal Caribbean cruise, and you will definitely not run out of things to do and see on either ship.