Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean's VIP-access program, The Key, is being offered again on cruise ships and you might be wondering if it's worth it.

The Key advertises as offering guests that purchase special perks and access while onboard that would otherwise not be available to them.

Internet access, early check-in, special times at signature attractions and more are included with The Key.

Does this extra cost amenity make sense to get for your family? I tried The Key out again on an Odyssey of the Seas cruise in 2021 to get a sense of what to expect for anyone sailing in 2022 and beyond.

What is The Key?

The Key is an optional add-on anyone can purchase for their Royal Caribbean cruise that includes special access and perks.

Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras.

Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021.  The cruise line has brought back The Key for sailings, albeit with some notable changes.

Guests need to purchase The Key before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website.

Here is a list of the benefits you get with The Key:

• Early access at the terminal.
• Drop off your carry-on luggage in the Main Dining Room on Deck 3 by 2:00 PM - your carry-on luggage will be hand delivered to your stateroom.
• Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille menu (open from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM). Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than 11:30 AM for you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us!
• Complimentary room service for your entire cruise, along with 25% off all onboard dining purchases
• Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc.
• Priority departure from ship-to-shore at tender ports.
• Early access at shows in the Main Theater on Deck 4, however a reservation is needed so don't forget to book once you're onboard.
• VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest).
• On debarkation day, enjoy a private á la carte breakfast and choice departure.

The early check-in is between 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. If guests are not able to make the early access window, Royal Caribbean says they should arrive within their appointment time and will receive priority access into the terminal.

A full list of benefits will be given to you once you board the ship with ship-specific benefits.

How much is The Key?

The price of The Key varies, and starts at $25.99 per day, per person, although there can be discounts available to bring that price down.

All guests over the age of 6 in the same room must purchase The Key.

When you get to the cruise terminal, and subsequently onboard the ship, there will be special signs to indicate where guests with The Key can go.  In addition, your SeaPass card will have a special sticker to easily identify yourself as having The Key.

Is The Key worth it?

The Key certainly sounds like a good investment for a lot of cruises, especially those new to Royal Caribbean, because it offers benefits and access that might not otherwise be available to them at all.

In my experience, I found the benefits sound a lot better on the surface than they really are.

Many benefits can be obtained in a different way, but without having to spend extra for it. Or the benefits are simply not as lucrative as it sounds. Here are some examples:

• Getting an early check-in time is easy (and free) if you just watch the Royal Caribbean app for when check-in windows will become available to book, and then book a time as soon as possible.
• Welcome lunch with Chops Grille menu can be bought separately at the restaurant or at a different restaurant.  Dining packages offer a good discount on how much lunch will cost.
• Private time at onboard activities tends to be very few (just two times on our Odyssey of the Seas cruise), and at less than ideal times.
• Reservations for shows can be made on your own via the Royal Caribbean app

The only perk that is truly unobtainable on your own is the ability to drop off your carry-on luggage on embarkation day.  Of course, this benefit lasts just 2 hours on the first day of the cruise, so the value is quite limited.

Unfortunately, the private times at attractions were limited and at inconvenient times.  A 9am Flowrider time and a 4pm rock wall session are both times of the day where competition for these venues is less to begin with.

I would also argue both attractions on Odyssey of the Seas with special times for guests with The Key have a limited appeal than other activities where it would be far more useful. 

Free room service is indeed a very nice benefit, but I question how often anyone will order room service to truly take advantage of it.  Breakfast room service is likely the most beneficial time to use room service, but there are so many easy grab and go breakfast options that I think in general, the idea of having room service is better than the actual thing.

The priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers.

The Key could be better in certain situations, such as when sailing on Oasis or Quantum Class ships, which have more entertainment venues where the Key can help with seating.  Then again, Royal Caribbean wants you to arrive 45 minutes early to the theater, which seems to negate the point of having a reserved seat, in my opinion. That is a very long time to wait for a show.

While the check-in time advantage could be helpful to ensure you are among the first to board, Royal Caribbean says if you miss the 30 minute window of arrival right at the beginning, you will not be able to use this benefit.

The Key includes Voom Surf and Stream access for each person, which arguably makes up the bulk of the daily cost. Internet access on Royal Caribbean is not cheap, and if you were already going to buy a wifi package, sometimes the additional cost to get The Key is not much more. Other times, it is notably higher. In addition, with multi-device internet plans, the Key doesn't scale to families or larger groups if internet is always purchased. 

The Key may be a good choice for someone who is going to buy internet access no matter what, and is sailing on a ship with a lot of shows they want to see.

But having tried The Key before and after the cruise industry shutdown of 2020/2021, I do not think it is worthwhile for most people simply because the benefits look better on paper than they are in practice.

If you are Diamond or higher in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society and/or a suite guest, some benefits overlap with The Key, further reducing The Key's value.

Don't forget you have to buy The Key for all guests in the room over the age of 6, whether they will use all the benefits or not.

I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. Skip The Key, and instead focus on how to get an early check-in time, buy a dining package, pre-purchase wifi, and I think you will find yourself still having a great time onboard.

I'm back on Harmony of the Seas for a Thanksgiving cruise, and our first RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com group cruise since the shutdown.

Not only is it our first time back on Harmony of the Seas, but this is my first time trying out Star Class. Star Class is the top-tier of Royal Caribbean's suite class offerings, and I'm excited to try it all out.

Harmony is sailing on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, and will visit St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites last night, which was a nice hotel for the night. They offer a shuttle to the cruise port, but we had our own car, so we drove.

In the weeks leading up to the cruise, our Genie contacted us via email with an introduction and opportunity to convey different requests. We were able to book specialty restaurants, arrange for drinks and food to be waiting in our suite when we arrived, and even booked times for the kids at Adventure Ocean. Leading up to the cruise, I was impressed with the level of service we had before even stepping foot onboard.

We booked Star Class this time around because when we booked many years ago, the price was reasonable. Prices can really run the gamut for Star Class, but I found this sailing to be a great deal.

Our Genie told us to arrive a bit earlier than our boarding time because our kids needed to be tested at the terminal, since they are unvaccinated.

There is a special check-in area at Port Canaveral for Star Class guests. Instead of giving porters your luggage and it being delivered to your room later, the bags are brought up to your cabin right away.

The testing at the terminal went smoothly, and took about 45 minutes to get the results. This is our last time having to do a test at the terminal since our kids will be fully vaccinated before our next sailing.

After the test results arrived via email, we completed the check-in process and our Genie, Berty, met us in the terminal.

Our cabins were not quite ready yet, so we decided to take the kids to the Boardwalk to start exploring.

The carousel was not running yet, so it was up to the Windjammer for lunch. They had a wide selection of food, including lobster tails.

I got the message from Berty that our room was ready, so we went up to the cabin. The Genie can message you via the WhatsApp app.

We have a two-bedroom AquaTheater suite for this sailing, which is on deck 9.

AquaTheater suite are located at the very back of the ship, and offer fantastic views of the AquaTheater, Boardwalk, and ocean. 

There are two bedrooms, along with a nice living room.  It is not the largest cabin on the ship, but the wrap-around balcony is massive. 

We did a little bit of exploring in the afternoon, starting in Central Park and then moving down to the Royal Promenade.

Of course, we completed our muster drill by doing most of the steps in the app, and then visiting our muster station.

While Berty had signed the kids up for time slots in Adventure Ocean, we still had to register them.

Registration was held in what used to be the open play area for younger kids. Royal Caribbean removed the toys due to Covid protocols, and now is where the staff meets you to sign kids up.

We had a our first meetup of the cruise at Boleros to celebrate the start of the sailing.

There are about 112 friends sailing with us on this group cruise, and we have a few special events planned throughout the sailing.

Harmony of the Seas departed around 5:30pm. There were a few other ships, so we left last.

While it was cloudy enough to block sunset, the weather could not have been more comfortable. Temperatures in the mid 70s, low humidity, and a brisk breeze.

I generally do not get that wrapped up in sail away, but I had to go to our balcony to watch sail away because of the amazing views our balcony offers.

Our kids got room service for dinner: pizza and steak. Another benefit of Star Class is you can order off the specialty restaurant menus and have it delivered to the room. 

For my kids, this is perfect because they can to eat dinner nonchalantly, and then be ready for Adventure Ocean later.

With evening upon us, it was time to shower, change, and get ready for dinner.

We dropped the kids off at Adventure Ocean and then headed to Sabor for our first dinner onboard.

Sabor has been one of my favorite restaurants on a Royal Caribbean ship ever since it first debuted years ago.

As we were seated, guacamole and salsa were served. The salsa was just as good as I remember, but unfortunately the guacamole was a little too watery.

The ceviche appetizer and cohiba tacos were very good, and I enjoyed being back at Sabor one more time.

After dinner, we headed to the Boot & Bonnet pub to enjoy some live music with our evening drinks .

Tomorrow is a sea day.

Stray Observations

Yes, the check-in times matter for when you arrive to the cruise terminal.

I've heard there are around 4,500 guests onboard this sailing. Waiting to check with Guest Relations after we sail.

From almost as soon as we left Port Canaveral, there was quite a bit of movement in the ocean. Enough motion to stagger a bit while walking now and then. Probably the rockiest I've experienced since cruises restarted.

The evening performance of Big Daddy's Hideaway Heist in the AquaTheater was cancelled due to the motion in the ocean.

The first of Royal Caribbean's Black Friday deals is revealed, beginning with its Cruise Planner sale.

The Cyber Monday sale is being advertised as the "biggest sale of the year" with up 55% off onboard prices.

Royal Caribbean has not yet announced the details of its cruise fare sale for Black Friday.

The Cyber Monday sale is valid on purchases made November 23 - December 1, 2021. The sale prices do not begin until November 23.

It applies to sailings departing between November 23, 2021 - December 31, 2022.

Here is what is included during the sale:

Beverage: Up to 50% off

• Classic Soda Beverage Package: 50% off onboard prices.
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 45% off onboard prices.
• Dasani Water Cans: 50% off onboard prices.
• San Benedetto Water Cans: 50% off onboard prices.
• Evian Water Bottles: 50% off onboard prices.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: 30% off onboard prices.
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 35% off onboard prices.
• Refreshment Package: 50% off onboard prices.

Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off.

Internet: Up to 60% Off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off.
• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off.
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off.

Dining: Up to 55% Off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 9N sailings: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off.
• Lunch at Jamie’s Italian Restaurant: 30% off onboard prices. (only on SC)
• Dinner at Jamie’s Italian Restaurant: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off.
• Dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen: 25% off onboard prices.
• Dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar: 25% off onboard prices.
• Dinner at Giovanni’s Table: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off.

Activities: 40% Off

• All Access Ship Tour (excl. Grandeur of the Seas)

Gifts & Gear: Up to 55% Off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Chocolate Cake & Strawberries
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake & Strawberries
• Happy Birthday Bright Style
• Inky Beach Set
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe)
• Inky Travel Set
• Red Wine and Cheese
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel
• Strawberries with Champagne
• White Wine and Cheese
• 9 Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Photo Packages: Up to 70% Off

• Photo Packages: From 5 - 100 Print and/or Digital Options: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific packages and percentages off.
• Photo Package: Private Photo Session: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific packages and percentages off.
• Photo Package: Picture This Private Studio: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific packages and percentages off.
• Photo Package: All Digital: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific packages and percentages off.

Spa: Up to 30% Off

• Spa Packages: Discount varies by ship. Please see spreadsheet for specific percentages off

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

More helpful information

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?

Happy Sunday! Temperatures may be dropping, but there is plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share. This is your weekly summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this past week, perfectly fitted for your consumption.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley answered questions on a variety of topics this week, giving us insight into what to expect from the cruise line in the near future.

Speaking onboard Odyssey of the Seas, Mr. Bayley hosted a question and answer session with travel agents that covered many aspects of what Royal Caribbean is doing right now.

Questions touched on health protocols, the app, Perfect Day at Cococay, and more.

Royal Caribbean News

• Disney Cruise Line will require kids 5 years and older to be fully vaccinated
• Royal Caribbean will begin offering consecutive cruisers at-home Covid tests
• Check out our Navigator of the Seas live blog
• Two calendar days (not 48 hours) is when you need to get your pre-cruise test completed
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise
• A beginner's guide to sailing in Star Class
• What it's like to go on an Alaskan cruise at the end of the season
• World Wonders you can see on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 431st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available to enjoy, where Matt interviews Royal Caribbean Group Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider.

Jay previews the ships, ports, and projects guests can look forward to seeing in the next two years.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: What it was like to go on a cruise ship in the 1970s

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 — What it was like to go on a cruise ship in the 1970s — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

6 things you can only do on Odyssey of the Seas

With every new Royal Caribbean cruise ship, there are at least a few things that the cruise line adds that are brand new to the fleet.

Along with favorites that make it on every ship, there are a few new venues and features that get added as well.

Here are a list of six things you can only do on Odyssey of the Seas.

Preparing for a cruise to Alaska can seem a bit overwhelming. Whether selecting a ship or planning your time in port, you don’t want to miss out on all of the outdoor and cultural activities Alaska has to offer.

It’s best to research what activities fit within your interest, fitness level, and budget. Some passengers may want to view as much wildlife as possible whereas others may be looking to learn more about Alaska’s history and culture.

Here’s a look at some of the best things to do on an Alaskan cruise.

What to do in port

Explore nature

Alaska’s nature is colossal. As the biggest state in the US, it can be difficult to comprehend just how vast the nature in Alaska really is. If you’re hoping to explore the outdoors, there are excursions to fit any interest and fitness level.

In the warmer months, consider a Bike and Brew tour in Juneau, where you will bike along a series of trails through the Mendenhall Valley and Tongass National Forest with a visit to Mendenhall Glacier. And, just as the name implies, these bike tours end with a stop at a brewery in downtown Juneau.

If you like hiking, check out what day hikes are available in port. Ketchikan, as an example, has several hiking trails of various difficulty. If you’re up for a challenge, push yourself to reach the top of Deer Mountain. With three thousand feet of elevation change over seven miles, it is certainly not easy, but you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Alaska in every direction.

There are plenty of ways to explore Alaska’s nature without breaking a sweat, though. After all, most excursions and activities focus on exploring the outdoors. For something relaxing and scenic, book a ticket on the White Pass & Yukon Railway in Skagway. This is a train ride that travels from Skagway into the mountains, passing through dense pine forests, waterfalls, and snowy mountain clearings.

Another less strenuous outdoor adventure is a whale watching tour. Whales are commonly spotted in Alaska’s southeast coast during the summer months. While you may be able to spot whales from the cruise ship, booking a whale watching tour allows you to get up close and personal with these magnificent sea creatures.

A helpful tip when looking for a shore excursion is to filter by “Activity Level” on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. You can filter excursions by mild, moderate, and strenuous. This can be helpful to ensure an excursion fits within the fitness capabilities of yourself or your group.

Grab a drink at a saloon

Whereas the Caribbean has tiki bars, Alaska has saloons. In many Alaskan ports you will find a historic or western-themed saloon. These establishments can be a great place to eat and drink after a shore excursion or relax in before heading back to the ship.

A popular spot to visit in Juneau is the Red Dog Saloon. The saloon was established in the height of the city’s mining era and has been recognized as Juneau’s oldest man-made tourist destination. Walking into the saloon is like walking back in time to the early 1900s. The establishment is eclectic, with frontier-themed decor as well as some more funky decor such as a collection of dollar bills and business cards posted on the walls.

The saloon offers very reasonably priced drinks as well as standard American and Alaskan fare. Make sure to try some of the saloon’s special drinks, such as the Alaskan Duck Fart shot and draft root beer. Or cozy up with a warm Irish coffee as you listen to live music from a local guitarist.

Luckily, the Red Dog Saloon is located only a few blocks away from the ship, so if you happen to have a few too many drinks, it won’t take very long to get back onboard.

Consider a land tour before or after your cruise

Cruises to Alaska primarily visit the state’s southeast region. Many of Alaska’s most iconic landmarks, such as Denali National Park, are located further inland and inaccessible by a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean recognizes that many passengers want to visit Alaska’s inland destinations. Thus, they offer Alaska Cruise Tours.

Alaska Cruise Tours are a combination of a one way cruise and a land tour of Alaska. Both pre and post-cruise tours are available, meaning that you can decide to fly one-way to Alaska, do a land tour, and take a cruise back to Seattle or Vancouver, or do it the other way around. Land tours range from an extra 2-5 nights on land in addition to your time on a cruise ship.

Land tours offer a mix of guided tours and independent exploring. All accommodation and transportation is organized by Royal Caribbean, making your time on land worry free. Activities and excursions on a land tour may include boarding the Wilderness Express scenic train ride to Denali, cruising the Chena River in Fairbanks, and enjoying a scenic ride on the Turnagain Arm Drive near Seward.

What to do at sea

View the scenery from public areas

Many cruises to Alaska offer a few hours of sightseeing in destinations like Hubbard Glacier and Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. On these days, the ship reaches a glacier and slows down, traveling along the glacier and turning the ship 360 degrees to ensure that passengers will get a chance to view the scenery from anywhere onboard.

Many passengers will opt to view the scenery from the comfort of their balconies, but this is not necessarily the best spot to do so.

Balconies usually only face one direction. If the ship is sailing past Hubbard Glacier, you will spend a significant amount of time there facing the opposite direction of the glacier from your balcony.

Viewing the glacier from a public area onboard, such as the pool deck, allows you to keep your eye on the scenery the entire time the ship is there. The glacier is on the ship’s starboard side? Simply walk over to that side of the pool deck. Now the best view is from the aft? Take a short stroll to the back of the ship.

A recommendation, especially if you do not have a balcony room, is to scope out the ship’s best areas for viewing the scenery when you get onboard. You may find a few “secret” areas, like the Solarium bridge wings or the outdoor seating area at the Windjammer, that offer fantastic views with fewer crowds.

Do nothing!

Funny enough, even though this article is about the best things to do on an Alaskan cruise, some of the most memorable moments onboard will be when you are doing nothing except relaxing and looking at the scenery around you.

A cruise to Alaska is less about the activities offered on a specific ship and more about the destination. Royal Caribbean takes very scenic routes through Alaska’s inside passage, meaning that a day “at sea” can also mean a day of sightseeing.

While some Royal Caribbean ships traveling to Alaska will offer more activities onboard than others, don’t let this be a deciding factor in which ship you choose. You may find that you spend less time doing activities indoors, anyway, and more time relaxing with a great view.

On the whole, an Alaskan cruise offers activities that fit various budgets and interests. And while the “best thing to do” on an Alaskan cruise might be relative, these options can be a great starting point for planning your trip.

If you’re looking for more inspiration on what to do on an Alaskan cruise, read our live blogs from Alaska on Explorer of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas for more ideas. In addition, don’t forget to check out our full ship tour of Ovation of the Seas if you will be sailing her to Alaska next summer.

Read more

• Top 10 tips for planning your Alaska cruise
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

The Covid-19 protocols are not easy to track across the board, but the amount of time before a cruise you need a test can be among the most easily confused.

Over the last few weeks, I've noticed a lot of posts across the internet mentioning needing a negative Covid test and causing issues for some when they think they need to match up their check-in time with what time their test is taken.

In an effort to simply explain what's needed, here is a quick explanation of when you need to get your negative Covid-19 test before your Royal Caribbean cruise.

When you need to take your test

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean says you need to get your test done in calendar days, not hours. So it does not matter at all what time your test is taken versus your check-in time.

Perhaps the notion of 48 hours comes from someone assuming 2 days and 48 hours are the same thing, but it has lead to confusion about what time of day you need to take your Covid test to ensure it is acceptable.

When you check-in for your cruise at the cruise terminal, the only things the staff will look at is:

• If you are negative
• What day you took the test
• Type of test
• Who administered the test
• Name on the test to match your travel documents

Once again, the time of day the test was taken is irrelevant. As long as it was two calendar days for vaccinated passengers (or three for unvaccinated kids) before embarkation, the test will be acceptable from a time taken standpoint.

Cruises sailing from U.S. homeports

For fully vaccinated guests, passengers need to get their negative Covid-19 test taken up to two days before their cruise.  

This means if your cruise leaves on a Sunday, you can get your test taken on Friday, Saturday, or even Sunday.

For unvaccinated kids, you have up to three days before your cruise to get a Covid-19 test taken.

Kids could get their test done on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday for a Sunday departure.  One difference is kids cannot get a test taken the same day their cruise departs because that may affect the sample taken during the kids’ test at the terminal.

Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test. 

Cruises sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico

The rules are a bit different for cruises from other ports outside the mainland United States, such as Puerto Rico.

If you’re flying in from the U.S.

• Vaccinated guests have no testing requirement to enter Puerto Rico.
• Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours prior to arriving at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan.

If you’re flying in from an international country

All travelers age 2 and up, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours prior to arriving at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan.

If you are already in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico does not require a test from you.

Guests under 2 years of age do not have test requirements to enter Puerto Rico.

Cruises sailing from Barbados

All travelers age 5 and older require a negative PCR COVID-19 test result to fly into Barbados regardless of vaccination status. The test must be taken within the 3 days before the day you fly into the country. You must upload the result to Barbados’ online Immigration/Customs Form, and show it to authorities upon arriving. Learn more about island entry requirements at Visit Barbados.

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 years of age must show a negative PCR COVID-19 test result at the cruise terminal for a test taken no more than 3 days before the day you board the ship. If timed properly, the same PCR test result provided for entry into Barbados can satisfy this requirement.

The second and final day of our Navigator of the Seas media cruise brings us to Ensenada, Mexico.

This morning, I woke up early to walk around the running track on Deck 12 and catch some great views of the ship on its way to Ensenada. I ended up walking around the pool deck and promenade deck for around an hour, and I enjoyed the calm seas and slightly chilly weather.

I also ventured to the Helicopter Pad down below. The Helipad is only available to guests on Radiance, Freedom and Voyager class ships, and is one of my favorite places to go to have some peace and quiet while watching the ocean.

We ordered room service for breakfast this morning. One of my favorite things to do when I have a balcony room is to enjoy a nice, private breakfast on the balcony. Our room service arrived right as the ship docked in Ensenada.

Ensenada is south of Tijuana and Rosarito in Baja California and it definitely has a different feel compared to Royal Caribbean’s stops in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Whereas Cozumel is very green, humid, and flat, Ensenada is dry and mountainous. And while the Caribbean side of Mexico is known for its beaches and Mayan ruins, Ensenada offers different activities such as winery tours, horseback riding, and whale watching excursions.

Navigator of the Seas docks near downtown Ensenada. You can get to the main part of town via a short shuttle bus or by taking a stroll along the boardwalk in the harbor. We opted to go on foot, and it was an easy five minute walk to town.

We had nothing planned for our day in Ensenada, but we knew we wanted to experience a more local side to the city. Uber conveniently works in Ensenada, so we grabbed a ride to Mercado Los Globos, a large local market about ten minutes away. I love exploring markets in whatever country I visit, as it gives a great perspective into the local culture, cuisine, and traditions.

When we arrived at the mercado, our time in Ensenada quickly turned into a food tour. The market was packed with fresh produce, restaurants, and juice stands. We started off our food tour by tasting fresh fruit and snacks.

For lunch, I grabbed a Jamaica juice from one stand in the market and chilaquiles from another. It’s hard to go wrong with Mexican food, and the offerings at Mercado Los Globos are varied and authentic.

Following lunch, we continued exploring the market before taking an Uber back to the main tourist strip in Ensenada near the port.  There, we walked around the shops to pick up a few small souvenirs to bring home.

Ensenada is filled with street food vendors, though, so our food tour continued! First up was ceviche at La Guerrerense, a famous spot for locals and tourists alike. In fact, Anthony Bourdain named La Guerrerense one of the best street food carts in the world! If you like fresh seafood, this is a great place to try in Ensenada.

We ended our food tour with my personal favorite, churros filled with chocolate and dulce de leche, before heading back onboard Navigator of the Seas.

After a short walk around the promenade deck, I headed to the pool deck to watch the ship sail away from Mexico.

Sailaway happened right at sunset, and tonight’s sunset was magical. With vibrant colors and smooth seas, it may have been the best sunset I’ve ever seen while at sea.

I originally planned to attend tonight’s ice skating show, but the sunset was so beautiful that I couldn’t make myself leave the pool deck! I did, however, run down to Studio B to check it out for a few minutes and the show was quite impressive.

I especially enjoyed the synchronized drones that lit up at the start of the show. 

After watching the sunset, we went to Playmakers to play pool, shuffleboard, and Mrs. Pac-Man while enjoying a sampler of wings and truffle french fries.

Playmakers is one of my favorites venues on Royal Caribbean, and tonight the space was packed with guests, creating the energized ambiance that every sports bar should have.

After a brief rest in my stateroom, I spent some time listening to the pub singer at the Copper & Clover, which is always a relaxing way to end a busy day on a cruise.

Due to the extensive food tasting in Ensenada, I wasn’t very hungry for a big dinner, so I grabbed some pizza from Cafe Promenade. While not as fancy as last night’s dinner at Chops Grille, it definitely hit the spot.

Lastly, I headed to the theater to watch Showgirls before going to bed.

This two night cruise went by quickly and I’m sad to say goodbye to Navigator of the Seas tomorrow. At the same time, I’m excited that the ship will continue to sail out of Los Angeles and add more Royal Caribbean presence on the west coast.

Odyssey of the Seas may be the fifth Quantum Class cruise ship, but she offers a few things you cannot find on her sister ships, or even any other Royal Caribbean ship.

With every new Royal Caribbean cruise ship, there are at least a few things that the cruise line adds that are brand new to the fleet.

Royal Caribbean certainly puts its tried-and-true offerings onboard, but it also mixes things up with new innovations when the opportunity presents itself.

Here are a list of six things you can only do on Odyssey of the Seas

Zone Zero

Tucked away in the corner of the SeaPlex is Royal Caribbean's first foray into immersive virtual reality, with Zone Zero.

Royal Caribbean already offers a virtual reality helmet experience on the Sky Pad, but Zone Zero puts your entire body into a virtual world.

Guests put on a full virtual reality suit, with sensors on their hands, legs, and feet.  The bulk of the hardware is contained in a backpack you wear as well.

Guests then literally walk through a virtual world and fight pirates as a group, where they can see each other in virtual world. If you move your arm, your avatar moves its arm. It is incredibly impressive.

Zone Zero has a charge of $18 per person.

Go on a Quantum Ultra class ship in North America

Spectrum of the Seas may have been the first Quantum Ultra Class ship, but she went to Asia immediately leaving the western hemisphere without the opportunity to sail on her.

With Odyssey of the Seas, this is the first chance for many to experience the extras a Quantum Ultra class offers.

If you are wondering what the difference is between a Quantum Ultra and Quantum Class ship are, the answer is in the details.  It is more a sub class than a true different class.

Between the new dining options, revamped public areas, and a splash of new activities onboard, there is just enough to differentiate Odyssey from Quantum, Anthem, or Ovation.

Quantum Ultra Class firsts

Onboard Odyssey, you will find certain features to the first to be offered on a Quantum/Quantum Ultra class ship.

On the top deck is Royal Caribbean's new approach to the pool deck, which has a Caribbean-inspired look to it with the Lime and Coconut.

Royal Caribbean Group's Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider thinks the implementation of the open deck on Odyssey took it essentially to the next level.

The SeaPlex has also been redesigned, opting to swap out the pods found on other ships for new activities in those areas.

This SeaPlex is the largest indoor and outdoor activity center at sea.

Adventure Ocean on Odyssey of the Seas also has the new update to the supervised kids program.

The robust program for kids up to 12 years old is designed for young travelers to chart their own adventures from one vibrant, open space to the next. At Hangout, kids can kick back and play with the latest game consoles, digital interactive tables, board games and more.

Teens have two spaces just for them. Social180 offers the latest in music, games and movies as well as an outdoor deck called The Patio.

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade in SeaPlex

Speaking of the SeaPlex, Odyssey of the Seas is the first to offer Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade onboard.

Located in the SeaPlex, it has a great spot not just for watching your favorite team on one of the many televisions, but to check out the action below. Bumper cars, pickleball, basketball, and more are performed throughout the day.

This is one of the best implementations of Playmakers on any ship because it evokes the sports bar feel the most of any location.

There are 56 TV's you can watch, which means you can catch any game that is on from pretty much any seat.

Playmakers also has a giant TV screen that hangs over the SeaPlex sports court.

Oh, and then there is the menu.

Chicken wings, nachos, onion rings, burgers and chicken sandwiches make up a really tasty set of choices.

Then there is the impressive array of beers you can choose from, a welcome change from the usual Royal Caribbean selection.

New wine bar concept

When Royal Caribbean decided to revamp Giovanni's specialty restaurant, they also took a stab at the nearby wine bar.

Instead of Vintages, Giovanni's Italian Wine Bar took over  the area, and offers a smaller bar menu, such as fried lasagna bites. These small plates are meant to go really well with a glass of wine.

For wine aficionados and those that are looking to grab a quick bite, the new wine bar offers something different.  

Pro tip: If you cannot get a reservation at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen restaurant, you can go to the wine bar and order the same food there without a reservation.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean reimagined its signature Italian restaurant

The Book

Of course there are new shows that you can only see on Odyssey of the Seas.

In Two70 you will find "The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure"

This original production loosely tells a story of a librarian who explores the chapters of a book through song, dance, and music. It features lots of different elements and performing styles intertwined to create an act you have never seen before.

World cruises are the ultimate bucket list item for many dedicated cruisers. You’re not alone if you’ve dreamed of sailing the world, taking in each world wonder from the balcony of your stateroom. Unfortunately, these cruises are typically very expensive and require months of being away from home. 

In a surprise announcement, Royal Caribbean released a 274 day world cruise with an outstanding lineup of ports for 2023. If time and money were unlimited, you’d be seeing me on that itinerary in a heartbeat! Sadly, I doubt my boss would approve that much time away from work. Not to mention, our dogs would miss us terribly.

Maybe you aren’t able to spend that much time away from your home or family. Perhaps you simply cannot afford to sail around the world on a voyage like this. But, fear not! You can still visit plenty of world wonders on shorter (and cheaper!) cruises. 

Some of the world’s most historic and famous monuments can be visited on a cruise. For example, Eastern Mediterranean itineraries often stop at historic cities in Italy, Greece and Turkey, making it super easy to visit multiple famous monuments.  

Below is a list of world wonders you can visit on your next cruise. If you didn’t know, there are multiple categories of world wonders, including the new world, ancient world, medieval world, modern world, industrial world, etc. So many places to see!

From the 7 New Wonders of the World

• The Great Wall of China (Tianjin, China)

• Petra, Jordan (Abaqa, Jordan)

• Colosseum (Civitavecchia, Italy)

• Chichen Itza (Cozumel, Mexico)

Cozumel is a common port for Caribbean cruises, making this an easy visit if you are cruising from the United States. I’ve been to Cozumel more times than I can count, but still haven’t made the trip to Chichen Itza. Adding it to my list currently!

Ships sailing Cozumel

Adventure of the Seas - 5 and 4 night sailings to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico. November 2021 - March 2022 from Galveston, TX

Allure of the Seas - 6 night sailing to Cozumel, Puerto Costa Maya and Perfect Day at CocoCay. April 2021 to September 2021 from Fort Lauderdale, FL. 

Over in Europe, cruises to Italy almost always include a stop in Civitavecchia, which is a port city located an hour outside of Rome. No excursion to Rome is complete without a stop at the Colosseum in the heart of the city! 

Itineraries to Jordan are less common, but Royal Caribbean has featured this port a few times on Middle Eastern or Suez Canal cruises.

Ships sailing to Europe

Vision of the Seas - 8 night Western Mediterranean to Rome, Nice, Sicily and Portofino. June 2022 to October 2022 from Barcelona, Spain.

Rhapsody of the Seas - 7 night Greek Isles cruise to Cyprus and Greece. August 2022 to September 2022 from Haifa, Israel. 

Brilliance of the Seas- 6 night Italy and Adriatic Sea cruise to Croatia, Italy and Montenegro. October 2022 from Venice (Ravenna), Italy.

Finally, Tianjin in China is a common stop and departure port for Royal Caribbean’s Asian cruises. The city is conveniently located 2 hours from Beijing and the famous, historic Great Wall of China. Add this one to your bucket list!

Ships sailing to China

Spectrum of the Seas - 7 and 8 night Best of Japan sailings to Nagasaki, Osaka and Kyoto. September and May 2022 from Tianjin (Beijing), China. 

From the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

• The Parthenon (Athens, Greece)

• Great Pyramid of Giza (Cairo, Egypt) 

• Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes, Greece)

• Status of Zeus (Olympia, Greece)

• Temple of Artemis (Ephesus, Turkey)

If you’re new to traveling and want to see as much ancient history as possible, a Greek Islands cruise is your best bet. You’ll be able to see 3 of these world wonders in Athens, Rhodes and Olympia. 

Cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Holy Land and Greek Isles, often include a stop at Turkey’s port city of Ephesus. This is a great stop packed with centuries of history. 

If you’re hoping to see the Great Pyramid of Giza, you’ll want to look for cruises that stop in Cairo. This is a less common stop in recent years for Royal Caribbean, but hopefully will make its return to itineraries in the Mediterranean. 

Ships sailing to Greece and Turkey

Jewel of the Seas - 9 night sailing to Italy, Greece and Turkey in September 2022. Sailing from Barcelona, Spain. 

Odyssey of the Seas - 9 night Greek Isles sailing to Italy, Greece and Turkey in May 2022 and September 2022. Sailing from Rome, Italy. 

The 7 Wonders of the Medieval World

1. Stonehenge (Southampton, UK)

2. Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

3. Leaning Tower of Pisa (Livorno, Italy)

These 3 wonders of the medieval world can be found in Europe as well. Stonehenge is a common excursion for ships docked in Southampton, which is a port located 1.5 hours from London. 

To visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, your ship will dock at Livorno, which is conveniently located to both Florence and Pisa. Very doable to visit both cities in one day! 

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the most popular mosques in the world. No stop to Isanbul is complete unless you visit this famous medieval wonder. 

Ships sailing to UK and Italy

Anthem of the Seas - 7 night France and Spain cruise from Southampton, England from May 2022 to September 2022. 

Rhapsody of the Seas - 7 night Western Mediterranean cruise from Venice, Italy to Barcelona, Spain with stops in Rome, Cannes, Livorno (Pisa) and Sicily in June 2022. 

From the 7 Wonders of the Modern World

1. The Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, California)

2. Empire State Building (New York City, New York)

3. Zuiderzee Works (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

4. Panama Canal (Panama)

Two of these modern world wonders can be found in the United States - one on each coast. Itineraries to the Pacific Northwest will typically include a stop in San Francisco where you can see the famous Golden Gate Bridge. 

New York is also a popular departure port on the east coast, where you’ll be able to see the Empire State Building.

Ships sailing from East Coast

Oasis of the Seas - 9 night Eastern Caribbean from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Labadee, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten in August 2022. 

Adventure of the Seas - 9 night Canada and New England Cruise from Cape Liberty, New Jersey from September 2022 to October 2022. 

Ships sailing from West Coast

Serenade of the Seas - 7 night Pacific Coastal cruise to San Francisco, Oregon and Victoria, British Columbia in September 2022 from Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Further south is where you’ll find the Panama Canal. Sailing through the canal is an incredibly memorable experience and the best way to see this modern wonder and engineering accomplishment.  

Ships sailing to Panama

Grandeur of the Seas - 14 night Ultimate Caribbean cruise sailing to Colon, Panama in January 2022 and February 2022 from Bridgetown, Barbados.

Finally, Zuiderzee Works is located just outside of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Royal Caribbean has Amsterdam as a common departure port for Northern European cruises. 

Ships sailing to Amsterdam

Voyager of the Seas - 9 night Best of Western Europe cruise to Amsterdam, Netherlands from Barcelona, Spain to Copenhagen, Denmark on April 15, 2022.

Jewel of the Seas - 12 night Iceland & Ireland cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands from May 2022 to August 2022.

From the 7 Wonders of the Natural World

1. Northern Lights (Arctic Circle)

2. Great Barrier Reef (Cairns, Australia)

Most of the natural world wonders are located more inland than ports can accommodate, but there are 2 famous sites that are easily accessible by cruise ship. 

The Northern Lights can be seen on Arctic Circle cruises or itineraries that feature northern ports in Norway. If you catch a glimpse of these dancing natural wonders, you’ll remember the sight for the rest of your life!

Ships sailing to Arctic Circle

Voyager of the Seas - 14 night Arctic Circle Crossing to Greenland and Iceland in September 2022 from Amsterdam to Boston.

Jewel of the Seas - 12 night Arctic Cruise to Norway’s Arctic Circle from Amsterdam, Netherlands in June and July 2022. 

If snorkeling or swimming in the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, you’ll want to look for itineraries that feature stops to Cairns, Australia, which is located on the northern side of the continent.  

Ships sailing to Australia

Quantum of the Seas - 6 night Queensland cruise visiting ports in Australia from Brisbane, Australia in November 2022.

Special Mention: Other Famous Monuments

• Big Ben (Southampton, England)

• Eiffel Tower (Le Havre, France)

• Church of Spilled Blood (Saint Petersburg, Russia)

• Arc de Triomphe (Le Havre, France)

• Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia)

• Burj, Khalifa (Dubai)

• The Berlin Wall (Warnemunde, Germany)

• Mont Saint-Michel: (Normandy, France)

• The Western Wall (Jerusalem)

• Giant’s Causeway (Belfast, UK)

• La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain)

• The Grand Palace (Bangkok, Thailand)

• Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

• Blue Domes of Oia (Santorini, Greece)

In addition to the world's wonders, there are plenty of other famous landmarks that you can visit on your next cruise! From Europe to Asia and the Middle East, cruising makes it easy to see multiple famous monuments from the comfort of your stateroom.

If you’re dying to visit a historic city or see a world wonder, consider looking at more unique cruise itineraries that include these stops!

Today is the first day of a two night cruise from Los Angeles on Navigator of the Seas.

Navigator of the Seas is a Voyager Class ship and is the first Royal Caribbean ship to sail from Los Angeles in ten years. This two night sailing is a media sailing, and Royal Caribbean invited me onboard to check out all that the new west coast sailings have to offer.

I was especially excited for this cruise because I really enjoyed my cruise on Mariner of the Seas, which is also a Voyager Class ship. I love the size, decor, and layout of the Voyager Class. Plus, Navigator of the Seas was amplified in 2019, so it has many of the same features and venues as newer Royal Caribbean ships.

I arrived at the port around 11:30AM to board Navigator of the Seas. Our room was changed at the last minute and we were given an accessible ocean view balcony. The room is very spacious, and after two cruises in an inside cabin, I was really excited about the extra large balcony!

The first stop once I got onboard was The Bamboo Room in the Royal Promenade. I think this might be my favorite indoor bar on any Royal Caribbean ship. I love the Polynesian and tiki style decor and vibe, and the drinks are really great too! I ordered the Banana Colada which never disappoints.

One of the primary tasks for this cruise is to film a full ship tour of Navigator of the Seas for the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel. This will be the fourth full ship tour we have created, following Mariner of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas. This afternoon was spent exploring the ship with my camera to take video clips of all the exciting places onboard.

Being a media cruise, there were a few special events happening. Many of the specialty restaurants had food and drink samples available for guests to taste, and the Windjammer had an enhanced menu to celebrate the start of cruises in Los Angeles. I celebrated by sampling the red velvet cake from Chops (so good!) and enjoying some Indian food in the Windjammer for lunch.

After lunch, I continued exploring the ship. Navigator of the Seas' amplification included adding Playmakers, The Bamboo Room, waterslides, The Lime & Coconut, and more. The waterslides look extremely fun and even jet over the side of the ship! I thought the layout of the pool deck was great, too, with casitas, comfy seating, and a tropical vibe. 

Sailaway was at 5PM, right as the sun began to set in Los Angeles. For sailaway, I headed to the top deck of The Lime & Coconut. I love how The Lime & Coconut encompasses three decks, and the top deck in particular has both comfy seating and excellent views.

Soon enough, we were sailing past the Port of Los Angeles and into the open ocean. Since it got dark pretty quickly after sailaway, we headed back to our stateroom to relax before an evening of activities on board.

First, we headed to the Viking Crown Lounge. Whether during the day or night, this space is one of the best places to relax with a view on any Voyager Class ship.

Next up was dinner at Chops Grille. While I usually opt for Italian or Teppanyaki, I decided to switch it up on this cruise. Our table enjoyed the crispy goat cheese salad, black pepper bacon, lobster, salmon, key lime pie, and cheesecake. It was delicious as usual!

Dinner finished quite late and the rest of the evening was spent walking around the ship, listening to Latin music at Boleros, and relaxing on the balcony.

Overall, it was a great first day onboard and I am excited to keep exploring Navigator of the Seas. Tomorrow we dock in Ensenada, Mexico.

Stray Observations:

Be sure to go to the right cruise terminal! We originally drove to the wrong area and ended up at the cruise terminal where Carnival and the Queen Mary are docked. Luckily, it was only a ten minute drive away, and seeing the Queen Mary was fascinating. However, definitely type the exact address into Google Maps instead of just typing "Port of Los Angeles." Oops!

The DJ had some pretty awesome music playing during sailaway.

I wish Navigator of the Seas had Teppanyaki!

The gym area on Navigator is much bigger than on Mariner of the Seas. Playmakers also has more seating and space, including an Owner’s Box.

Right next to Navigator of the Seas at the port is the USS Iowa. This is a retired battleship turned museum and looks like an interesting thing to do if you have extra time before or after the cruise.