Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean has made those future cruise credits you have accrued over the last two years easier to use.

Future cruise credits (FCCs) have been given out to guests by the cruise line for cancelled cruises, and up until today there was a date a customer had to redeem it by before they expired.

Travel agents were advised today that Royal Caribbean has removed the "book/redeem by" deadline, and FCCs can now be redeemed anytime up until the expiration date listed on the certificate.

A FCC can now be redeemed on any Royal Caribbean International sailing departing on or before the expiration date. For example, if their credit expires on December 31, 2022, they can redeem their certificate on any sailing departing on or before the same date.

Royal Caribbean said the decision was made due to limited options for guests in light of the current global situation.

Royal Caribbean hopes this change will give guests more choice and more time to plan a cruise that can be booked with the FCCs.

Some other important notes about FCCs:

Multiple FCCs can be combined for one sailing.

If you are cruising with other guests on the same booking (reservation number), you can equally share the value of a FCC across all guests on that booking.

In addition, FCCs can be used with any promotion by the cruise line.

A welcome change

Sharla Manglass, a travel agent with MEI Travel, thinks this change will offer more flexibility for her clients, "This will give people more time to use them."

"And more time to sail, since a lot of people don't feel comfortable cruising right now."

Royal Caribbean has steadily pushed back expiration dates for FCCs given out during the pandemic.

While widespread cruise cancellations have stopped, the Cruise with Confidence program has been a popular option for Royal Caribbean customers who need to cancel a cruise close to the sail date for many possible reasons.

The program allows customers to get their money back in the form of future cruise credit if they choose to cancel for any reason, up until 48 hours prior to sailing.

Cruise with Confidence has been popular because of customers like knowing that they can cancel them due to Covid, or any reason.

The result has been a great deal of future cruise credits sitting idle as customers make a decision to sail again, or wait for the pandemic and its policies to change.

Read more: Top ways you cannot use your Royal Caribbean future cruise credits

Lots of credits out there

Prior to Covid, a future cruise credit was fairly rare, since cancelled cruises were few and far between.  But since then, many cruisers of all levels have dealt with them in one way or another.

During the height of pandemic when the cruise industry was shutdown, Royal Caribbean and other lines offered bonus FCC if a guest took the credit instead of a cash refund.

This strategy allowed the cruise lines to stay afloat, but it also has left lots of FCCs out there.

While cruise ships are back in service, there are still plenty of people who have a FCC and cannot use it yet for a variety of reasons.

Hopefully today's change will give these folks more time to find the right way to redeem it for them.

Planning a cruise? Check out these articles:

• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What to expect on your first cruise
• The unwritten rules of going on a cruise
• Is it worth it to book a short 3-night cruise?
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• How do I pick the perfect first cruise?

Royal Caribbean has updated its app so kids that are fully vaccinated can upload photos of their vaccination card.

Up until now, the app did not give parents the option of uploading a photo of their child's vaccine card in the app because there was legacy logic that did not ask for children's vaccine cards due to the Covid-19 vaccine being only available for kids 12 and up.

In the months since the vaccine has been approved for kids as young as 5, the app did not open up the option for kids vaccine cards to be uploaded, which meant an extra step of verification in the cruise terminal on embarkation day.

Now, the Royal Caribbean app allows the option for kids under the age of 12 to upload a photo of their vaccine card.

Thanks to RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader smokeybandit for noticing the 1.31.2 update added the function in Royal Caribbean's app.

Royal Caribbean's app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

Why you should submit a photo of your vaccine cards

By submitting your vaccine card via the app, you can speed up the check-in process.

Just like taking a selfie, it's necessary to take a photo of the vaccine card so that Royal Caribbean can verify a passenger's vaccination status. Those that do not upload a photo via the app, will have to wait for the port agent to take a photo.

Guests will still need to bring their vaccine card with them, but taking the photo at home will allow the embarkation process to move just a little bit faster since the terminal staff will not have to take time to take photos of everyone's card.

How to upload your vaccine card photo

The vaccine card photo upload is part of the four-step check-in process in Royal Caribbean's app.

You can upload a photo when you first complete the online check-in process, or go back later to add a photo.

The third step is to upload a photo of your vaccine card, along with entering the vaccine manufacturer and date of last dose.

After uploading a photo, the app will put it into a waiting status as it gets manually verified.

Don't worry that it remains in the "waiting" phase for a little bit. Eventually the card will either be accepted or you will be asked to submit it again.

There's plenty of cruise news out there, and I have a fresh look at some of the bigger stories from this week.

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!

Coast Guard investigating SpaceX launch scrub due to Harmony of the Seas

A SpaceX cruise ship attempt to launch a rocket last weekend was cancelled due to Harmony of the Seas veering into the "exclusion zone", and now the United States Coast Guard is involved.

Prior to any SpaceX launch, there is an exclusion zone established so that no planes, ships, etc are able to enter the space, which adjoins against the second busiest cruise and shipping port in the country at Port Canaveral.

Harmony of the Seas entered that zone, which cancelled the launch. SpaceX was able to launch the rocket the next day.

The Falcon 9 rocket was carrying an Italian satellite into orbit

U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson David Micallef confirmed that the Coast Guard will look into what happened, "Our primary concern is the safety of mariners at sea, and we will continue to work with our federal, state, and local port partners to ensure safe and navigable waterways."

Singapore cancels two Quantum of the Seas cruises due to Covid-19

Two sailings on Quantum of the Seas from Singapore had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 cases among the crew.

According to the cruise line, 0.6% of the crew tested positive for Covid-19, and so the sailings were cancelled "in an abundance of caution."

The crew members that tested positive were immediately isolated. Close contacts were also quarantined and tested.

According to the Singapore Cruise Society, the affected sailings were the January 31, 2022 and February 3, 2022

The ship will under go a deep cleaning and disinfection during her time off.

Wonder of the Seas arrives in Cyprus

The newest and largest cruise ship in the world made a brief stop in Cyprus as it prepares to begin cruises.

Wonder of the Seas arrived in Limassol, Cyprus on January 31st in order to bring more crew members onboard.

Cyprus' Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos welcomed the ship upon her arrival, "The benefits for our economy and tourism are huge, when leading shipping companies dock in Cyprus. We welcome to the Port of Limassol the largest cruise ship in the world, the Wonder of the Seas of Royal Caribbean."

Wonder is now headed to Cadiz, Spain as a final stop before her transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The first sailing of Wonder of the Seas will be March 4, 2022.

Labadee sign painted

Labadee re-opened last week, and the sign that spells out the private destination's name has been repainted.

Prior to the pandemic, the letters had a colorful look to them, against a blue background.

Royal Caribbean repainted the letters with a green background and a white floral motif.

Royal Caribbean also shared new aerial photos of Labadee.

Royal Caribbean trademarks "Accessory Place"

In January, Royal Caribbean Group trademarked the phrase "Accessory Place".

According to the paperwork filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the trademark is intended to cover the category of retail store services featuring jewelry.

Royal Caribbean restarted cruises about eight months ago, and yet there are still some activities and entertainment onboard that have not returned.

The reason most of these activities have not resumed is due to social/physical distancing requirements. While we understand the rationale behind the decision, it doesn't mean we don't miss these fun things to do on a ship.

Here are just a few favorites that I hope can be brought back this year.

Pool Games

A staple on almost every cruise line is the belly flop competition.

Who doesn’t enjoy watching your passengers throw themselves into the main pool to see who will make the biggest splash?

And it’s not just the belly flop. Also missing are the hairy chest and the world’s sexiest man competition.

Quest

If you’ve never seen the Quest game show, you have missed out. It’s an adult themed scavenger hunt that not only has the teams participating but the audience too!

The cruise director will ask the teams to produce items (think “Let’s Make a Deal”) and if they don’t have it, they will look to the spectators to help them out.

Things can get a little racy, so if you’re easily offended, it may not be for you. It is such a hysterical show, even my 80-something year old grandmother was laughing harder than I’d ever seen.

Adventure Ocean

The kids club is open currently, but what is still missing is full capacity.

Pre-covid, you could drop your children off at Adventure Ocean and you may not see them again for the rest of the cruise due to all the fun they’re having.

These days though, you are required to make a reservation for a certain block of time to allow other guests access. It’s no surprise that the evening hours book up fast.

Main dining room seating

For now, the main dining room is only seating you with your immediate travel party, but I miss being able to sit with new friends for a meal.

Cruising can be a very social vacation, and to that point, there are many people who sail solo and like to meet new people. After meeting new friends at the pool or on an excursion, you may want to get together for dinner that evening.

As of right now, you are limited to sitting with people in your own stateroom, or those that have multiple rooms that were linked before the cruise.

Bar seating

Even though the “meet and mingle” gatherings aren’t available, you can still sit with new friends in the lounges. What you can’t do is sit at the bar itself.

Watching the bar staff make your martini can be part of the entertainment but to keep the distance between the bartender and the guests, the stools have “unavailable” signs placed on them.

Production shows

While you can still find Cats, Mama Mia and Grease on the Oasis class ships, what is noticeably absent are their other main theater shows.

Come Fly With Me, Blue Planet and Columbus! The Musical still remain dark. In fact, the main shows on most of the fleet have not returned. They are offering special guest entertainers in their places. I think this is due to a staffing issue.

This is probably what I hope comes back first. I enjoy having dinner and then going to the production shows with the Royal Caribbean singers and dancers. Even with the condensed 90 minute version of the Broadway shows, it’s still a bit too long for me. The 45 minute production shows are perfect.

Cooking classes

Prior to your sailing, you would find cooking classes in your cruise planner available for booking.

Two that spring to mind are the cupcake decorating class, which we did on one of our anniversary cruises and the sushi making in Izumi. These were very popular, unique activities that are definitely missed.

Ship tours

The behind the scenes tour was offered pre-cruise and could also be booked onboard. We did the tour on the Freedom of the Seas. It was held on the last sea day. The tour took you to the laundry rooms, the crew areas (we saw their “grocery store” named “Freedom Mart”), the backstage of the production and ice shows, the engine rooms and the bridge. After a nice lunch in the main dining room, we went to the galley to see the chefs in action. The tour ended with a toast in the champagne bar.

Abbreviated ship tours have also been a long-standing perk for higher tier Crown and Anchor members but they have also been suspended. One captain I spoke to recently said he hopes they never return but this is something I definitely miss. I never passed up an opportunity to visit the bridge.

As time goes on and we get the pandemic more under control, it is expected that these beloved activities will make their way back to the ships. In my opinion, it can’t come soon enough.

Booking a pre- or post-cruise hotel just got easier for Royal Caribbean's sister brand.

Celebrity Cruises announced its new Hotels by Celebrity option, where guests can book a four- or five-star hotel along with their cruise. There is no limit to the duration of how many nights you can book.

While the program is now available for Celebrity Cruises only, it may be coming to Royal Caribbean too. Jessica Suchman, Celebrity's Sales Training and Development Specialist, told travel agents in a webinar, "this will be a tool for all of our brands at Royal Caribbean Group, but we're beginning here with Celebrity Cruises."

In order to book a hotel through the program, you need to have a Celebrity Cruises reservation number.

The program offers refundable hotel booking options. 

You may reserve up to 9 rooms at a time, provided they all have the same check-in and check-out dates. For a booking of 5-9 rooms a different name for each room is required.

Within the results, guests can view the amenities for each specific hotel, and even filter by amenity and star level to further refine the search.

Offering hotels for before or after their cruise is an addition to the pre-existing option to book airfare for cruise guests.

Royal Caribbean Group has offered airfare booking through the cruise lines for years via the Air2Sea website. 

With added health protocols, spending a night or two in the departure city before the cruise begins has never been more important, and offering a hotel booking option offers a more complete vacation planning tool for guests.

Read more: Why you shouldn't fly to your cruise the same day it begins

You can use the Hotels by Celebrity website here.

Is there a question or two you aren't sure about Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship?

Wonder of the Seas is about to begin her inaugural season, and there's plenty of people who are excited to it out. New ships are always exciting because they offer the latest and greatest. Plus, people want to know what makes this ship different from others in the fleet.

Every ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet stands out from others in at least a few ways, and Wonder certainly has a lot of new additions and distinguishing features.

After scouring commonly asked questions on Google, here are some of the top questions people are searching for on the internet about Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Is Wonder of the Seas bigger than Symphony of the Seas?

Yes, Wonder of the Seas is slightly larger than Symphony of the Seas, making her the biggest cruise ship in the world.

By bigger, we're talking about her gross tonnage, which is a nonlinear way to measure a ship's overall internal volume.

Wonder of the Seas is 236,857 gross tons, whereas Symphony comes in at 228,081.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size

How big will Wonder of the Seas be?

Now that we know Wonder of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world, how big is she exactly?

The new ship will be 1,188 feet long and 210 feet wide.

Wonder has a capacity of 5,734 passengers at double occupancy.

There are 18 decks and 2,867 staterooms to choose from, including interiors, balcony rooms, and suites.

An interesting fact about Wonder of the Seas is that there will actually be less suites on Wonder of the Seas than other Oasis Class ships. 

Why are there less suites? In order to make room for the new Suite Neighborhood, the amount of suites had to be cut back so there could be room for it all.

Read more: Why cruise ships are getting bigger

How much does Wonder of the Seas cost?

The construction cost to build Wonder of the Seas came out to 1.2 billion Euros or $1.35 billion.

The ship was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Naizaire, France.

Where will Wonder of the Seas sail?

The first sailing with passengers of Wonder of the Seas is scheduled for March 4, 2022.

Wonder will spend just two months offering cruises from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before heading over to Europe for a summer season.

Once in Europe, Wonder of the Seas will sail from Barcelona, Spain and Rome between April and October 2022.

After that, Wonder returns to the United States to offer year-round sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida in November 2022.

How many restaurants are on Wonder of the Seas?

There are more than 20 different places to eat on Wonder of the Seas. Some are included with your cruise fare, while others will cost extra.

Read more: What's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

Among the many restaurants on Wonder of the Seas, there is a brand new dining option in The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar.

The Mason Jar will serve Southern staples, beginning with freshly baked buttermilk biscuits and jalapeno cornbread. Brunch offers range from savory johnnycakes topped with barbeque pulled pork to the Sweet-Tooth Cinnamon Roll.

You will also find Italian classics at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar to American sports bar favorites at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, to New England-inspired dishes at Hooked Seafood.

Other Wonder of the Seas options include Wonderland, Asian-inspired flavors at Izumi, American steakhouse Chops Grille, American seasonal dishes at 150 Central Park, Johnny Rockets, Starbucks, Sugar Beach and more.

Here is a full list of restaurants on Wonder of the Seas:

• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Hooked Seafood
• El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca
• The Lime & Coconut 
• Izumi
• Wonderland
• 150 Central Park
• Johnny Rockets
• Starbucks
• Sugar Beach
• Chops Grille

What is the Broadway show on Wonder of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean has not yet announced the entertainment lineup for Wonder of the Seas.

In fact, it is not yet clear if there will be a Broadway show onboard Wonder of the Seas, although other Oasis Class ships have all had Broadway shows onboard.

When will Wonder of the Seas be available in Royal Caribbean's app?

Yes, but it is not clear when app support will become available for Wonder of the Seas.

Without question, Wonder of the Seas will have app support before her first sailing.  However, Royal Caribbean has yet to enable Wonder in the app, which also means the ability to check-in for the cruise remains unavailable.

Read more: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

Who is Wonder of the Seas' godmother?

Royal Caribbean has not yet announced the ceremonial role of the ship's godmother.

It is likely the godmother will be revealed closer to the official ship's christening, which has also not been announced yet.

What is the Vue?

A new feature for any Oasis Class ship is the Vue, which is a new cantilevered bar.

Royal Caribbean says the Vue will offer panoramic ocean views by day and a colorful mosaic canopy overhead by night.

The Vue is located on Deck 15 forward in the Solarium, and is where you would find the cantilevered hot tubs on other Oasis Class ships.

How many unique neighborhoods does Wonder of the Seas have?

Wonder of the Seas is the first Oasis Class ship to have an eighth neighborhood, with the addition of the Suite Neighborhood.

Located midship across decks 16, 17, and 18, the new Suite Neighborhood wraps around the funnel.

Suite guests will have a private sun deck on deck 18 to enjoy at their leisure, which offers a view of the back of the ship.  There are also loungers and various seating options near an exclusive plunge pool and bar.

Like all Oasis Class ships, suite guests also can dine at Coastal Kitchen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Junior Suite passengers can only dine at Coastal Kitchen for dinner). Coastal Kitchen is a complimentary restaurant for suite guests that offers a Mediterranean-Californian fusion menu that changes daily.

Sailing on Wonder of the Seas? Here are more helpful articles:

• Wonder of the Seas tour
• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What to expect on your first cruise
• The unwritten rules of going on a cruise
• Royal Caribbean frequently asked questons

How does dining on a cruise ship work if you are vegetarian or vegan?

If you take a look at cruise ship marketing, odds are you will see an abundance of food. Cruise ships are known for their dining options, and for good measure. The cuisine on cruise ships is diverse and extra tasty. Whether you choose to eat at complimentary venues like the Main Dining Room or at specialty dining like Chops Grille, you will never run out of things to eat.

Those with dietary restrictions may be nervous about finding food they can eat on the ship. Will there be any vegan and vegetarian options? Will they have to survive on protein bars brought from home?

There’s no need to worry, as Royal Caribbean aims to provide plenty of dining options for vegetarian and vegan guests. With so many restaurants and dining options, though, it can be a bit confusing to keep them all straight. This list will help you pick the dining venues that are the most vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

Vegetarian and vegan options at complimentary dining

The Buffet

The Windjammer Marketplace is Royal Caribbean’s signature buffet onboard. The buffet has an abundance of cuisines available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options at the Windjammer for every meal. Whether pasta with marinara, a salad, fresh fruit, oatmeal, soup, or avocado toast, you’ll certainly be able to find something to eat. Plant-based milks are also available on request for cereal and coffee.

One of the best options at the Windjammer are the live cooking stations, where you choose what you would like and a crew member will cook right in front of you. My favorite has been the stir fry station, where you can choose a variety of vegetables and a spice level to be cooked with either rice or noodles.

Another popular vegetarian option at the Windjammer is the Indian food. More often than not there is a vegetarian curry option available at every meal, such as chana masala, paneer masala, or dal. Served with rice and pita, this is a go-to protein-rich option for vegetarians.

The only problem with the Windjammer is that vegan and vegetarian options are rarely labeled. In my experience, I end up asking the crew member if something has meat or not. As a flexible pescatarian this works fine for me, but for stricter vegetarians or vegans this is not totally ideal, as the crew member may not be aware of every ingredient in the dish.

On my most recent sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, though, there was an entire vegetarian and vegan section, which included Thai curries, quinoa salads, sautéed vegetables, and even vegan desserts. However, I have not seen this on other ships.

Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room is one of the best places onboard for vegetarians and vegans to dine with ease. Royal Caribbean has implemented a special vegan menu each night in the Main Dining Room. This makes it extremely easy for vegans to find a dish that works for them. There are usually two appetizers, one soup, two entrees, and one dessert to choose from on the vegan menu.

The best place to see the day’s vegan menu offerings is on the Royal Caribbean app, as they usually will not be listed on the paper menu. Here were the vegan menu options during a recent 7-night cruise on Harmony of the Seas:

Day 1:

Appetizer: Spring Onion “Falafel”

Soup: Butternut Squash

Entrees: Edamame-stuffed Portobello Eggplant & Pan-roasted Green Asparagus 

Dessert: Tahini Banana Soft Serve

Day 2:

Appetizers: Corn Fritters & Romesco Oat Spread

Soup: Caramelized Parsnip & Coconut Soup

Entrees: Penne Pasta & Grilled Eggplant

Dessert: No-bake Lemon Tart

Day 3:

Appetizers: Zucchini Fritters & Avocado and Melon Salad

Soup: Cherry Tomato Gazpacho

Entrees: Vegan Risotto & Crunchy Tofu Tacos

Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookie

Day 4:

Appetizers: Raw Vegetable Salad & Rice Paper Rolls

Soup: Tomato Soup

Entrees: Vegetable Pakoras & Orzo Pasta Stew

Dessert: Wild Berry Bar

Day 5:

Appetizers: Green Bean Croquette & Vegetable Tempura

Soup: Creamed Broccoli Soup

Entrees: Butternut Squash Curry & Vegan Eggplant Burger

Dessert: Vegan Crème Brulée

Day 6:

Appetizers: Grilled Avocado & Polenta Fries

Soup: Potato Soup

Entrees: Vegan Carbonara & Fried Rice

Dessert: Peanut Butter Caramel Rice Crisps

Day 7:

Appetizers: Ciabatta Salad & Grilled Peach and Panzanella Salad

Soup: Tortilla Soup

Entrees: No-egg Omelet & Vegan Spaghetti “Bolognese”

Dessert: Toffee “Cheesecake”

While there is no separate vegan menu available for breakfast and lunch in the Main Dining Room, requests can be made to cater to your dietary needs. Vegetarian options are available on the menu for both breakfast and lunch. Vegetarian Indian food is also often available on request.

Park Cafe & Cafe at Two70

Park Cafe (Oasis-class ships) and Cafe at Two70 (Quantum-class ships) are two complimentary dining locations open for breakfast and lunch. They have similar food options and concepts.

One of the tastiest options available at these two venues is the Create Your Own Salad station. With several options of lettuce, vegetables, legumes, starches, and dressings, you can create a salad any way you like.

My go-to salad at Park Cafe is a bed of romaine and spring mix topped with bell peppers, kidney beans, Israeli couscous, corn, carrots, croutons, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Soups and sandwiches are also available and, in my experience, there has usually been a vegetarian soup and sandwich option each day for lunch. The soup is not labeled vegan, so you would have to ask a crew member whether it is vegan or not.

For breakfast at these two venues you can choose from oatmeal, a bagel station, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and pastries.

Solarium Bistro

Photo by an average Vegetarian, Billy of CruiseHabit.com

Available on Quantum and Oasis-class ships, Solarium Bistro is a complimentary venue offering dishes with a Mediterranean flare. Solarium Bistro is open for breakfast with a similar selection of food you can find elsewhere on the ship, but the main meal is at dinnertime.

Vegetarians and vegans will enjoy the wide array of appetizers available at Solarium Bistro for dinner. From greek salad to hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, pita, moussaka, grilled vegetables, arugula salad, and barley salad, there is no shortage of flavorful Mediterranean cuisine at Solarium Bistro.

Appetizers are served buffet-style, so guests are able to try as much as they desire. Desserts are also available and include baklava, torta de mele, and chocolate nocciola.

Sorrento’s

Sorrento’s Pizza is a surprisingly easy place to eat vegetarian or vegan. Not only does Sorrento’s offer a variety of cold plates, such as grilled vegetables and olives, but you can actually order a custom pizza all for yourself with or without cheese and topped with vegetables. To order a custom pizza, simply talk to a crew member at Sorrento’s and they will begin making the pizza for you.

El Loco Fresh

El Loco Fresh is a complimentary and casual Mexican venue located on the pool deck of select Royal Caribbean ships. At El Loco Fresh you can build your own tacos with rice, beans, and a salsa/topping station. There are also cheese quesadillas and a nacho station available.

Other complimentary venues

Outside of the venues mentioned above, you can find more places to dine as a vegetarian or vegan on a Royal Caribbean ship. Venues like Cafe Promenade, Vitality Cafe, and Mini Bites offer small sandwiches, fruit and vegetable cups, and other snacks throughout the day. 

Best specialty dining for vegetarians and vegans

While the complimentary dining options available on Royal Caribbean are plentiful, specialty dining can be a nice way to enhance your cruise experience. Not all specialty dining restaurants offer the same amount of vegetarian/vegan options, though, but there are a few I feel are the best for those with dietary restrictions.

Izumi

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi is a nice option for vegetarians and vegans due to how customizable the menu is. A vegetable roll is offered on the sushi menu, and if you talk to the sushi chef they will likely be able to customize another vegan or vegetarian roll for you.

Traditionally, the hibachi option includes egg and butter in the fried rice. The hibachi chef will ask guests if they have any dietary restrictions prior to cooking, so be sure to let the chef know what you can and cannot eat.

I’ve found that the vegetarian hibachi option has varied greatly by ship. On some ships, I was given just the fried rice and sauteed vegetables. On other ships, the chef cooked a tofu udon noodle dish in addition to the fried rice and vegetables.

Vegetarian appetizers include edamame beans and a ginger salad, and for dessert you can choose between mochi ice cream and crispy red bean sesame balls. The options are not labeled for dietary restrictions, so be sure to check whether the ginger salad dressing and sesame balls are vegan. The mochi ice cream contains dairy.

Jamie’s Italian and Giovanni’s Table/Kitchen

Royal Caribbean’s Italian specialty restaurants are one of the best specialty dining choices for vegetarians. Pasta and pizza are easy dishes to make vegetarian or vegan and Royal Caribbean’s Italian restaurants offer several options for those with dietary restrictions.

My favorite vegetarian Italian meal is the eggplant parmesan with penne pomodoro at Jamie’s Italian. The eggplant is not breaded, so there is no need for vegans to worry about the eggplant including eggs. The dish comes topped with cheese, but this could be removed for vegans.

In addition to pasta with marinara sauce, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen has an elaborate pizza menu which can be customized to fit dietary needs for both vegetarians and vegans.

Some pasta may be made with egg and sauce with cheese, so it’s a good idea to inquire about whether or not the pasta and marinara sauce at the Italian specialty restaurants are vegan. 

Playmakers

Royal Caribbean’s premiere sports bar is another great venue for vegetarians, and it has several dishes that can be customized for vegans as well.

Vegetarians can start their meal by snacking on Pile On Nachos, Playmakers Fries, Jalapeño Poppers, and the extra tall Crispy Onion Ring Tower. Vegans can request the fries without cheese and garlic sauce.

Both vegans and vegetarians can enjoy the Playmakers Impossible Burger. The plant-based burger is topped with lettuce, tomato, onion rings, and cajun mayonnaise on a brioche bun. While the burger patty is plant-based, vegans should order the burger without mayonnaise and check with the staff whether the bun and onion rings are vegan.

Johnny Rockets

Vegetarians and vegans will have no trouble dining at Johnny Rockets onboard as the menu features a vegan burger. The Streamliner burger is topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mustard on a wheat bun.

Apparently the buns at Johnny Rockets are not vegan, so either double check with the waiter or order the burger without the bun if you are concerned.

The menu also features grilled cheese as well as fries and onion rings.

150 Central Park

Located within Central Park on Oasis-class ships, 150 Central Park is an elegant dining venue that sources local ingredients for its dishes. The venue features several vegetarian appetizers, such as Caesar salad and roasted organic beet salad. It also has a vegetarian entree of cauliflower “steak”.

Vegans can eat at 150 Central Park by making substitutions to the selections, such as asking for no cheese and no yogurt.

Specialty dining with less options for vegetarians and vegans

Some specialty restaurants onboard do not offer as many options for vegetarians and vegans on their menus, although dietary accommodations can likely be made upon request.

Restaurants such as Portside BBQ, Chops Grille, Sabor, Samba Grill, and Wonderland do not have any entrees that are vegetarian or vegan, although there are vegetarian/vegan side dishes available.

The best bet for dining at a specialty restaurant without any specific vegan/vegetarian main courses is to call or walk into the restaurant and ask if they are able to accommodate your dietary needs. The chef may be able to make something vegetarian or vegan for you to enjoy.

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is one of the most frequented cruise ship ports in the Caribbean, and as it is a private destination, food and drinks are complimentary on the island (with the exception of the Coco Beach Club).

Chill Grill and Skipper’s Grill are the two best dining options for vegetarians and vegans at CocoCay. Both venues serve the same food in a buffet-style, and include a taco bar with rice, beans, and a salsa station, salads, a portobello and mozzarella sandwich, fresh fruit, dessert, and smaller side dishes like corn on the cob and french fries.

Snack Shack is another popular dining spot at CocoCay, but its menu is more limited for vegetarians and vegans, with salads, mozzarella sticks, and french fries available.

If you’re spending the day in the Coco Beach Club, you’ll have the opportunity to dine at the Coco Beach Club restaurant. This venue has more upscale offerings compared to the complimentary venues on the island.

The only entree available for vegetarians at the Coco Beach Club is a caesar salad, but Royal Caribbean states that “You’ll find gluten free and vegetarian options available at the Coco Beach Club as well as options to suit most dietary needs,” so it’s possible you are able to request a separate dish.

The appetizer spread will definitely be a favorite for vegetarians and vegans, though, as it features freshly made hummus, baba ganoush, vegetables, and pita. Desserts include exotic fruit salad, tropical fruit sorbet, and Bahamian rum soaked cake.

An Alaska cruise sounds like an amazing adventure, but how different is it from a Caribbean cruise?

Two of Royal Caribbean’s most popular cruise destinations are the Caribbean and Alaska. Both offer the chance to set sail on an impressive ship, enjoy onboard entertainment and dining, and create memories with your fellow passengers.

Aside from those similarities, though, there are a vast array of differences between a Caribbean and Alaska cruise. From swinging on a hammock in Mexico to walking on a glacier in Juneau, here are the top differences between these two cruise regions.

The scenery

In the Caribbean, sea days usually mean a day at sea with no views around you except the open ocean. And while this is a wonderful view, time spent at sea in Alaska could not look more different.

Most of the time spent on an Alaska cruise will be within the Alaskan or Canadian Inside Passage. The Inside Passage is a stretch of ocean that runs from Puget Sound in Washington and along the British Columbia and Alaska shoreline up to Skagway.

The Inside Passage offers unbeatable views of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife as you sail through awe-inspiring fjords. If you’re lucky, you may even spot whales swimming near the ship and, as fall approaches, the northern lights peeking out from the sky.

Cruise Tours

A unique aspect of Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruises is the possibility to book an Alaska Cruise Tour. These are 3-6 night land-based tours that you can book before or after your Alaska cruise.

For example, you can book a 7-night cruise leaving Vancouver on Radiance of the Seas, visiting Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Hubbard Glacier. The cruise will end in Seward, Alaska, where you will begin a 3-night tour on land visiting Seward, Talkeetna, and Denali, Alaska.

You can also do a land tour after a round-trip Alaska cruise. As an example, you can book a 7-night roundtrip cruise from Vancouver on Serenade of the Seas. The cruise will visit Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Tracy Arm Fjord. After the cruise, you will begin the “Mountain Resort Experience Cruisetour” which visits destinations in Canada including Calgary, Jasper, and Banff.

Booking an Alaska Cruise Tour gives you the opportunity to explore Alaska or Canada beyond the Inside Passage and see some of the region’s most magnificent and famous sites. Just like a cruise, the price includes lodging, transportation, and sightseeing. Air transportation, shore excursions, and meals ashore are not included unless otherwise noted.

Planning a port day is more important in Alaska

On a Caribbean cruise, the ports you visit are often a second thought compared to the ship you choose. Planning your time in port may simply mean choosing from a list of beaches where you can spend the day or strolling around the cobblestone streets of Puerto Rico.

You aren’t visiting Alaska just to spend the day sitting in a pool chair, though. Ports in Alaska require more planning. It’s important to research shore excursions and things to do in your port of call to ensure you don’t miss out on anything you are interested in.

Whale watching excursions, glacier visits, and historical train rides are just some of the unique shore excursion opportunities waiting for you in Alaska.

Shore excursions may be slightly more expensive in Alaska than what you are used to in the Caribbean. And while there are more expensive excursions, such as helicopter tours over Mendenhall Glacier, you will be able to find more budget friendly options too.

The food

Discovering new cuisines is an integral part of exploring a new place. Whether cruising to the Caribbean or Alaska, you will have the chance to taste new foods and drinks local to the area.

Caribbean food means fresh, tropical flavors. Spending the day in Puerto Rico? Order the original piña colada in old San Juan. Going to the Bahamas? Be sure to taste authentic conch fritters from a fish fry. Hoping for something healthy? Enjoy a fresh mango pineapple smoothie in St. Maarten.

Just like in the Caribbean, the food on an Alaska cruise will give you a look into the region’s history and cultural influences. One of the most popular foods to try in Alaska is freshly caught seafood. There are seafood restaurants available in every Alaska port, and Royal Caribbean even offers excursions that visit an outdoor salmon bake!

Other than seafood, you may want to taste Russian-influenced cuisine throughout Alaska or warm up with traditional Alaska fry bread and a hot chocolate.

Regardless of whether you are cruising to the Caribbean or Alaska, you are definitely going to enjoy some delightful meals.

The weather

Taking weather into consideration is much more important on an Alaska cruise compared to in the Caribbean. 

You will almost always encounter warm weather in the Caribbean. While the winter months may be a bit cooler and the summer months warmer, the weather mostly remains comfortable. Weather forecasts may show rain, but this usually means brief afternoon showers. And while the fall may be peak hurricane season, Royal Caribbean will change itineraries to avoid getting in the path of a potential storm.

Whereas weather in the Caribbean can be more predictable and comfortable year-round, weather on an Alaska cruise is always changing. The Alaska cruise season runs from May - September, and each month brings different weather conditions.

Early May and September, being the shoulder seasons, can see more unpredictable weather. June, July, and August are the busiest months to cruise to Alaska and will see the warmest temperatures. Late May and the beginning of June tend to have some of the best weather in the region during the year.

Regardless of the month you sail to Alaska, be prepared for the weather to change several times throughout the day. You may find yourself shivering in the morning and exploring a port with a t-shirt on in the afternoon!

Packing

Packing for a Caribbean cruise is relatively easy and means shorts, t-shirts, swimsuits, and a sweater or jacket if it gets chilly at night. Packing for an Alaska cruise could not be more different!

Choosing what to pack on an Alaska cruise can seem daunting. Whichever month you sail, though, layers are key to staying comfortable.

Our top recommendation for what to wear on an Alaska cruise is to pack the following:

• Base layer (lightweight t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, leggings)
• Warm layer (sweatshirt, hoodie, sweater, cardigan, jeans, etc.)
• Waterproof layer (rain jacket, rain pants)
• Beanie or other warm hat
• Water-resistant shoes or boots

Don’t make the mistake of only packing cold-weather clothes, though. You may find that a t-shirt is all you need during the day in the peak of summer or that it is warm enough to swim in the outdoor pools once you get closer to Seattle or Vancouver.

In addition, don’t make the mistake of packing way too many clothes for Alaska. Because it isn’t as hot and humid in Alaska compared to the Caribbean, your clothes may stay cleaner longer and you will be able to wear nearly the same outfit each day in port.

Another important packing tip is to bring a waterproof or water-resistant daypack with you in port. Whether you are walking around town or on a whale watching tour, it’s important to be able to keep your valuables dry in case of sudden rain.

Relaxation onboard

A Caribbean cruise is often a big party. Live reggae is played by the pool band as guests go down the waterslides, order a drink at The Lime & Coconut, and participate in pool activities such as the belly flopping contest.

And while a cruise to Alaska has its fair share of partying, the atmosphere of an Alaska cruise is a little more relaxed. You will often find passengers sitting quietly near windows or on the upper decks looking out at Alaska’s astonishing scenery. Instead of a morning at the pool, you may wish to attend trivia at Schooner Bar, listen to jazz at Two70, or just read a book on your balcony.

It can be hard to not want to spend the day doing nothing but relaxing and enjoying the views around you on an Alaska cruise.

Planning an Alaska cruise? Check out these articles:

• Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska 2022
• What to pack for a cruise to Alaska?
• Top 10 tips for planning your Alaska cruise
• Cruising to Alaska: What I Did Right and Wrong
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

Three weeks after Royal Caribbean was forced to cancel three sailings on Symphony of the Seas, the ship is back in service.

In early January, Royal Caribbean announced four of its cruise ships would either cancel cruises or remain out of service for a while longer due to a rise in Covid-19 cases, largely due to the Omicron variant.

On Saturday, the first of these ships returned to service without any further delays.

Symphony of the Seas departed PortMiami on a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that includes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

According to reports from onboard Symphony, there are 2,937 passengers on this sailing.

When Royal Caribbean cancelled the Symphony sailings, it said it did so, "as a result of the ongoing COVID-related circumstances around the world, and in an abundance of caution."

Royal Caribbean International Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Mark Tamis, told The Points Guy last month the cancelled cruises gave the cruise line an opportunity to take care of crew members and give passengers a better experience, "“One is [that] crew who test positive and are asymptomatic are able to serve their quarantine period on one of these ships."

"It also allows us to have these additional crew members who then can supplement the crew who are not able to work for those 10 days in order to make sure that we’re able to deliver a great vacation and a full experience — all the while protecting our guests, our crew, the ships and the places that we visit, as we have done since our healthy return to service."

Read more: What it's like to be on a cruise ship quarantining crew members

When Symphony of the Seas ceased operations, she was the largest cruise ship in the world.  Today, she has been supplanted by sister vessel Wonder of the Seas.

A look around Symphony of the Seas

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Robert Jaworski is onboard Symphony of the Seas and shared photos from around the ship.

Other ships returning soon

When Royal Caribbean cancelled cruises on four ships last month, they did so in order to minimize the overall impact to the fleet.

The four ships included:

• Vision of the Seas sailings through March 7, 2022
• Serenade of the Seas sailings from Jan. 8–March 5, 2022
• Jewel of the Seas sailings from Jan. 9–Feb. 12, 2022
• Symphony of the Seas sailings from Jan. 8–22, 2022

With Symphony back in service, the other three ships will also return to service in the next month or so.

Serenade of the Seas was already scheduled to go in for a short dry dock, so Royal Caribbean combined her cancelled cruises with the upcoming refurbishment.

Vision of the Seas had not yet returned to service when her debut was pushed back.

Royal Caribbean Group will release its fourth quarter financial results later this week, which will provide insight into many aspects of their business right now.

While quarterly results are primarily focused on sharing the financial health of a company, there is usually insight into the direction Royal Caribbean is going in and even answers to some questions many have about what to expect next.

As Royal Caribbean is still recovering from the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021, there are short-term and long-term concerns investors and cruise fans have about cruising.

Royal Caribbean Group will host their call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Friday, February 4, 2022.

Executives will start the call off with prepared statements about the outlook they have for the near-term future, but the majority of the call is question and answer between Wall Street analysts and the executives. Many times, these questions are of equal interest to cruise fans as they are to investors.

To get a sense of the questions and concerns Wall Street has for Royal Caribbean, I reached out to Dan Kline, Managing Editor, TheStreet.

1. How did Omicron impact the quarter?

There should be a prop bet on how many times the word "omicron" is said during the earnings call with investors, because it will be the primary topic.

From an investment standpoint, people want to know what kind of effect the Omicron variant had on Royal Caribbean's business, in terms of cancellations, cruise fare pricing, and ship capacities.

Mr. Kline will be looking closely at the short and long term impact of Omicron, "Royal Caribbean saw its comeback derailed a little bit by omicron, but the company has handled it well."

"I'm curious to see how the resurgence of the pandemic impacted the quarter and future bookings."

On December 31, 2021, Royal Caribbean Group said they "experienced a decline in bookings and increased cancellations for near-term sailings but to a lesser degree than that experienced with the Delta variant."

How much of that changed in the month since remains to be seen.

2. What percentage of bookings are new money versus future cruise credit?

Another indicator Mr. Kline is keen to know more about is how many bookings are the result of new cash flow versus re-using future cruise credits.

Future cruise credits (FCC) is something given out when cruises are cancelled, and to get a better sense of the company's financial state, comparing the amount of cash the company has versus FCC is another common question.

3. Are they seeing higher on-board spending?

One of the major sources of revenue for Royal Caribbean has been the money guests spend onboard.

While the cruise fare covers costs, the true profit center is money spent by passengers on cruise extras, such as drink packages, shore excursions, wifi and more.

Before the pandemic, Royal Caribbean's high profit quarterly results were almost always a result of higher guest spend.

While cruise ships are still sailing at a reduced capacity, higher spending by passengers could buoy profits.

Even in the third quarter 2021 results, Total revenues per Passenger Cruise Day in the third quarter was up 12% versus record 2019 levels driven mainly by strong onboard revenue performance. 

In fact, Royal Caribbean Group said onboard spending per passenger were at the highest levels in the company's history during Q3 2021.

4. What steps are they taking to manage their debt?

It's no secret that cruise lines took out big loans during the shutdown to keep them afloat in 2020 and 2021, so how are they balancing those obligations to avoid defaulting on the loans?

While this concern is primarily an investment question, it also impacts the average cruise passenger since being able to pay off these loans will allow the company to remain in operation.

5. Where do negotiations stand on the Grand Lucayan?

Mr. Kline is personally curious about Royal Caribbean's capital projects.

We know about plans to expand port projects into places like Nassau and Freeport, Bahamas, so what's the status of these projects.

Why does Wall Street care about port projects? Competitive advantage is a key metric for Mr. Kline, "I'm also very curious to hear about future investments like the Nassau project and the potential for revisiting the Freeport Grand Lucayan deal."

"I think that Royal has a huge lead on Carnival in private destinations and those two projects are fairly important."

How you can listen to the earnings call

There will be full coverage of anything intriguing that comes out of Royal Caribbean Group's fourth quarter 2021 earnings call right here on RoyalCaribbeanBlog, but if you would like to listen on your own, here's how.

The call will be available on-line at the company's investor relations website, www.rclinvestor.com.  

You will be able to listen via the link provided close to the start of the call.