Royal Caribbean Blog

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

Royal Caribbean surprised a lot of people this week when they announced Wonder of the Seas would sail from the United States and Europe, instead of China.

The new plan is for Wonder of the Seas to debut from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with sailings beginning on March 4, 2022.

Wonder of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale just in time for spring break in 2022 and in Europe, sail from Barcelona for summer vacations in the Western Mediterranean in May.

Caribbean sailings are available to book immediately. European sailings will open for booking on September 22.

Read more: Wonder of the Seas: Itinerary, features, and more

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean will now allow kids under the vaccine eligibility age to go on back-to-back cruises
• Alaska Senator introduces bill to permanently allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska without stopping in Canada
• Royal Caribbean releases cruise ship health protocols for U.S. sailings October 1-15, 2021
• Royal Caribbean pushes back final payment date and will allow kids to take antigen tests
• Royal Caribbean extends window of time to use future cruise credits through end of 2022
• Spotted: Royal Caribbean adds new way to add Covid-19 vaccine card in its app
• Here's a list of everything I ate on Odyssey of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean celebrates largest cruise ship to sail from New York area for the first time
• Is food included on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
• Royal Caribbean still hasn't returned to Labadee since cruise ships began sailing again
• Excursion Focus: Chacchoben Ruins in Costa Maya
• Nachi Cocom 2021 Cozumel excursion review

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 422nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt and Billy review their Odyssey of the Seas cruise.

After sailing on a 6-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, this week's episode looks at what stood out about Odyssey of the Seas.

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

Video: 8 Things I learned on my first Royal Caribbean cruise

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 — 8 Things I learned on my first Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The questions everyone is still asking about going on a cruise in 2021

Cruising may be back, but there are still some very commonly asked questions out there about what it's like to go on a cruise ship right now.

More than half of Royal Caribbean's fleet is back in operation, and Royal Caribbean is welcoming back more and more guests.  So if you have questions about the experience, there's a comprehensive look at the top questions people want to know about being on a ship in 2021.

You will find answers to concerns about wearing masks onboard, testing requirements, limited capacity issues and a lot more.

Odyssey of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship in 2021, and included onboard are some terrific dining options.

Royal Caribbean has steadily improved its onboard food over the years, and Odyssey of the Seas represents some of the best culinary options you can find on any cruise ship.

In the name of research, I took it upon myself to sample as much of the great food you can eat on Odyssey of the Seas.  I did not manage to eat everywhere, but I tried my best to hit up as many places as possible.

Here is a look at all the food I ate onboard the Odyssey of the Seas restaurants, and which items truly stood out as the best.

Windjammer

No Royal Caribbean can properly begin for me unless I eat lunch in the Windjammer because this is one of my personal cruise traditions. Every cruise I have been on has begun with embarkation day lunch at Royal Caribbean's signature buffet.

The Quantum Class Windjammer is massive, with plenty of buffet stations to choose from. Salads, soups, sandwiches, curries, cheeses, pasta and more.

Lunch on embarkation day would end up being the only time I ate in the Windjammer, but chalk that up to so many good choices.

Ultimately, I had to go with my all-time favorite food Royal Caribbean offers in the Windjammer, and that is Indian curry.

I had a serving of chicken curry and chana masala over a bed of rice.  Combine the two, and you get some excellent flavors.

I was content with just that, until I saw Odyssey has an ice cream station featuring more than just vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.  They had coffee ice cream, which is my all-time favorite flavor.  

Izumi Teppanyaki

Perhaps there is no better crowd pleaser for dinner on any Royal Caribbean ship that the hibachi dinner at Izumi Teppanyaki.

On Odyssey, the Izumi sushi and hibachi are separate restaurants, which allows both restaurants to have plenty of space.

Before we get to the food, the views were outstanding given you can see the ocean behind the chef.

Besides our chef (Orlando) being really good, the food was even better.  Freshly cooked meats, vegetables, and rice served with a heaping amount of garlic is a recipe for success.

I had the chicken option with my meal, and it really hit the spot.

Cafe @ Two70

If you are in a rush, the best place to get a good breakfast and coffee is at the rear of the ship in Cafe @ Two70.

Similar to Park Cafe on other Royal Caribbean ships, Cafe @ Two70 has a good assortment of grab-and-go breakfast, such as bagels, muffins, wraps and more.

Of course, they also have a good selection of coffees, which are valid if you have a Royal Caribbean drink package.

A iced caramel latte is the best way to start any day on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade

Following a fun day in the sun at Perfect Day at CocoCay, we decided to keep it casual and head to the SeaPlex for dinner at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.

I love that Royal Caribbean put Playmakers in the SeaPlex, because it perfectly compliments the sports action below, as well as better utilizing space in the upper part of the SeaPlex.

Between our group of friends, we ended up ordering nearly one of everything, and two items really stand out as the best of the best.

First, is the Pile On Nachos.  Personally, I enjoy nachos that are overloaded with veggies, guacamole, cheese, and whatever else they pile on.

And then there is the Campfire Cookie, which is so darn good. 

I know at the end of every meal you are thinking "I'm stuffed, there is no way I can eat dessert", but the Campfire Cookie is worth it.

Main Dining Room

Just like the Windjammer, I only made it to the main dining room once, but I do not regret my visit here at all.

I had breakfast on the first sea day, and I purposefully went here so that I could enjoy the aesthetics of the dining room.  In short, it is a beautiful space and I love how Royal Caribbean altered the look of the dining room on Spectrum and Odyssey so that it fits in more with the flow of the ship.

I ordered an omelet just the way I like it, and it came out perfectly.  The nice thing about eating in the dining room is the slower pace, so you can sip your morning coffee, check the news, and then have breakfast brought to you.

I wish I could have eaten dinner here as well, because of how impressive the space looks. Maybe next time.

Solarium Bistro

An easily overlooked restaurant on Odyssey of the Seas is the Solarium Bistro, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and costs nothing extra!

I think most people are unaware it exists until perhaps later in the cruise, and I love how there is a much greater variety of choices than at other restaurants.

Read more: Top 10 Odyssey of the Seas hidden secrets

Solarium Bistro has long been an excellent choice for vegetarians, but I find plenty I like to eat here too. The Mediterranean salads are what draw me in every time, although the German sausages and bratwurst looked so darn good.

Just like the main dining room, you can have breakfast here and enjoy omelets cooked to order.

El Loco Fresh

I am a sucker for fresh salsa on just about anything, and El Loco Fresh has plenty of it to go around.

Located on the pool deck, El Loco Fresh has quesadillas and burritos, but do yourself a favor and skip the pre-made ones and go right to the made-to-order area.

You are given a fresh tortilla, and you can load it up with rice, beans, chicken, beef and all sorts of toppings.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

When I boarded Odyssey of the Seas, I knew dinner at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen would be at the top of my list of things I was looking forward to doing.

I sampled the menu on Freedom of the Seas, so I was eager to get back and try the food out again here.

Luckily, it did not disappoint.  Truly the "problem" with Giovanni's is there are so many good items on the menu to choose from.

I think their pizzas are fantastic, and all their pastas are made fresh daily so it would be a crime not at least eat some.

Let us not forget about the appetizers, which are served family style and just try not to pick at them while it sits on the table.

To that point, I have to confess I just had to try the meatballs, which contain beef and pork. I do not eat pork, but they looked so darn good that I just had to give it a go and it did not disappoint.

This time around, I really liked the margherita pizza the best of all the pies we had.  Whenever I go to an Italian restaurant, chicken parmigiana is my go-to order.

Along with the side of pasta, it hit the spot.

Chops Grille

A last-minute decision was to go to Chops Grille, and it is one of those restaurants on any Royal Caribbean ship you can bet on being a solid meal.

Given it is a steakhouse, the steaks are what everyone orders when they visit and it is tough to beat their filet mignon (although I prefer the filet at the Coco Beach Club restaurant).

My personal favorite item on the menu is actually the tuna tartare, which has a lot of raw tuna and guacamole.  Such a great combo.

Giovanni's Italian Wine Bar

Another great change Royal Caribbean made to Odyssey of the Seas compared to her sister ships was to transform Vintages Wine Bar into Giovanni's Italian Wine Bar.

In addition to the selection of wines, you can order food from Giovanni's Italian Kitchen.  There are even two items only available at the Wine Bar: the arancini and lasagna bites.

A good tip to remember is if Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is ever too full to seat you on a whim, go next door to the wine bar for basically the same food.

Just like at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, we also ordered a large sampling of food and got to revisit some favorites from the previous night.

I think Italian food fans are going to really enjoy so many options.

Wonderland

Our final meal on Odyssey of the Seas was Wonderland. We chose Wonderland because there was some friends with us that had never dined there.

Wonderland is a blend of over-the-top decor, odd looking food, and exploration inbetween.  It may never be my favorite restaurant to dine at purely for the food, but I do think it is a fun experience.

Our waiter took us through the entire meal and provided fun entertainment as we went through the various courses.  Nearly all of it looked odd, but most tasted better than it looked.

Top 5 things I ate on Odyssey of the Seas

Now that I have listed all the restaurants I dined at while on Odyssey of the Seas, I wanted to list my top picks of what I enjoyed the most.

There was a lot of good food, so needless to say I did not leave the ship hungry or disappointed.  So I wanted to share which dishes truly stood out as my personal favorites.

1. Pile On Nachos

2. Lasagna bites

3. Hibachi dinner

4. Margherita Pizza

5. Indian curry

You'll have a choice on a Royal Caribbean cruise to enjoy food included with your cruise fare, or spend extra on other food.

While not all the food on Royal Caribbean is included, there is enough food and drink for you to enjoy that is included so you will not need to pay extra for food.  However, you may feel inclined to pay for drinks or meals anyway as a way to enhance your cruise.

Depending on the ship you sail on, the exact venues with complimentary (included) food will vary, but here are some basics you can expect on any Royal Caribbean ship:

• Main dining room
• Windjammer Cafe (buffet)
• Grab-and-go coffee shop (Cafe Promenade, Cafe Latte-tudes, or Cafe Patisserie)
• Pool deck quick food (El Loco Fresh, Boardwalk Dog House, Park Cafe)

Read more: Royal Caribbean food guide

The two primary places you will find the widest selection of food included with your cruise is in the main dining room and Windjammer.

Main dining room

The main dining room is open for breakfast and dinner every day of your cruise, and for lunch on sea days.  The main dining room is a sit down restaurant where you have assigned seating.

For dinner, there are two types of main dining room seating: traditional and My Time Dining. 

Traditional dinner is when you pick between early or late seating.  Every day your dining time is the same, and your waiters and table mates are the same.

My Time Dining offers flexible dining times, where you can reserve times in advance or show up and wait for an available table. You will likely have different waiters and table mates every day, unless you request otherwise.

Read more: My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

Nearly all the food available in the main dining room is included with your cruise fare, with the exception being alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and some upcharge items at dinner (steak or lobster).

Windjammer

The Windjammer Cafe is the classic cruise ship buffet, and it is open for all meals every day of your cruise (the Windjammer is currently closed for dinner in 2021 while there is limited capacity, but will eventually re-open for dinner).

The Windjammer offers the widest selection of foods to eat, with different buffet stations you can walk up to and pick from.

All the food you see in the Windjammer is included.  Just like the main dining room, alcoholic drinks and soft drinks cost extra.

Read more: Guide to Royal Caribbean's Windjammer Cafe buffet

Room service

There is a service charge for room service, where you pay $7.95 per order.  Whether you order one or ten items, the service cost is the same.

You can order a continental breakfast option that has no service fee in the morning, which consists of coffee, tea, and assorted breakfast choices.

Drinks

Royal Caribbean includes some beverages with your cruise fare, which cover the basics to keep you refreshed and hydrated.

The drinks included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare are:

• tap water
• milk
• tea
• coffee (regular and decaf)
• lemonade
• iced tea
• flavored waters
• juices (at breakfast and not fresh squeezed)
• Hot chocolate (via instant packets)

Read more: What drinks are included with your Royal Caribbean cruise?

All other drinks cost extra, including alcohol, soda, and juices.

Royal Caribbean offers guests beverage packages that can be purchased to save money on these extra drinks.  Drink packages are worth it if you drink enough every day of your cruise to "break even" on the package cost.

Snacks

Besides meals, there is also a good assortment of food you can munch on between meals.

Depending on the Royal Caribbean ship you sail on, the exact venues will vary, but there are some common options for something small to eat that has no additional cost.

• Cafe Promenade, Cafe Latte-tudes, or Cafe Patisserie
• Park Cafe
• El Loco Fresh
• Boardwalk Dog House
• Sorrentos

These locations are open most hours of the day and night, and you will find sandwiches, pizza, desserts and much more.

Not only are these grab-and-go restaurants included, they offer some very tasty choices that many cruise fans really enjoy.

Some top favorites include:

• Roast beef kimmelweck sandwiches from Park Cafe
• Pizza slices from Sorrentos/Cafe Promenade
• Cookies from Cafe Promenade, Cafe Latte-tudes, or Cafe Patisserie

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, and there is a surprising amount of food included with your visit to the island.

Lunch is served at the island, and there are a few different dining venues you can go to that should be close enough to anywhere you are relaxing.

Not only is there a lot of food included at Perfect Day at CocoCay, it is really good too.

• Skipper's Grill
• Chill Grill
• Snack Shack

Cups of water are available at no additional charge at these venues.

Labadee

Royal Caribbean also has a private destination on the coast of Haiti, called Labadee.

Just like CocoCay, lunch is served for all guests to enjoy.

• Columbus Cove Cafe
• Cafe Labadee
• Dragon's Cafe

Cups of water are available at no additional charge at these venues.

More information

• What's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• Cruise FAQ: Dining
• Ten Royal Caribbean dining mistakes

The weekend is here and every Friday, I share our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean photos so that we can all enjoy a quick "virtual trip" back on a cruise.  

This is a fun opportunity to highlight cruise photos RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers have taken, and for a little bit of time, take a mental escape onboard.

If you want to share your Royal Caribbean photos, use this form to send them in!

Our first photo is from Steve Cohen, and it is from the brand new Odyssey of the Seas.

Steve went up to the pool deck to share what it looks like at night.

Next up is a photo from Sky Sessions of Tom on the FlowRider.

This was a birthday surf session, with Allure of the Seas in the background.

Here is a photo of Independence of the Seas departing Port Everglades.

This photo was taken by Sandy back in 2015, and you can see the Goodyear blimp in the background.

This is a great photo of Brilliance of the Seas taken by Mark Greenwald.

Brilliance was off the coast of Grand Cayman in 2019, which requires tender service to shore.

The art on Royal Caribbean always stands out when you are onboard, including this art display in the atrium of Navigator of the Seas.

Andrea Vrsek took this photo of the area near Guest Relations on the Royal Promenade and it is indeed lovely.

Hiram Perrand took this photo of the sunset, as seen from the aft of an Oasis Class ship.

Hiram did not specify which ship it was, but it's still a beautiful view to see on any ship!

I really like this photo of Mariner of the Seas in Nassau, taken by Beth Dewey.

Dusk photos are always special because you get the night lighting on while there is still some day light.

We have another night photo, this one of Allure of the Seas.

Christian Goulet took this photo of the top pool deck, along with Central Park lit up below.

Our final photo is by "cruise genius", and it is of Mariner of the Seas sailing away from Port Canaveral.

This photo was taken from nearby Jetty Park.

That wraps up this week's edition of Friday Photos. If you want your Royal Caribbean photo featured here, use this form to send them in!

If your next cruise docks in Costa Maya, Mexico, don’t hesitate to book an excursion to the Chacchoben Ruins. Located about an hour’s drive from the cruise port, Chacchoben is an archaeological site estimated to have been settled around 200 B.C. On the site are three excavated pyramids kept in excellent condition, as well as various smaller ruins to explore.

On my recent Western Caribbean sailing, I was torn between a beach day at Maya Chan or heading inland to the Chacchoben ruins. Ultimately, since I would be spending the following day at the Nachi Cocom Beach Club in Cozumel, I decided to book an excursion to Chacchoben.

I had never heard of the archeological site before and was not sure what to expect. However, I left the site extremely impressed by this fascinating look at Mayan history. Here’s what you can expect on a visit to Chacchoben.

Overview

The Chacchoben ruins are part of an ancient Mayan city, with structures dating around 700 A.D. Chacchoben remained a ceremonial site for Mayans until 1847, at which point the Caste War began, leading to the eventual abandonment of the site. Forgotten for decades, the ruins were re-discovered in 1942 by a local farmer who built his home on the site.

The ruins have since been excavated and opened to the public. Today, visitors can walk around the beautiful jungle path at Chacchoben and encounter the pyramids, ancient plazas, and the tropical flora and fauna in the region. Our guide informed us that jaguars live nearby, but luckily we did not encounter any!

There are also several hills and mounds on the site covered in vegetation. These are presumed to be pyramids or other structures, and it was fascinating to see first-hand how the ruins were once hidden under the jungle.

Climbing to the top of the pyramids is not allowed, although there are certain areas where visitors can take photos on the pyramids. There is also a tall set of ancient steps visitors climb to reach two of the pyramids on the site.

Comments

I booked my tour through a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, making my time in port stress-free. The tour lasted a total of four hours. After checking in with the guide at the shore excursions tent, our group got on an air-conditioned bus and began the drive through rural Mexico to the Chacchoben.

We had an excellent local guide who informed us about Mayan culture and history in the region. While you could technically visit the site on your own, having a guide provided a more in-depth look at the ruins and he was able to answer any questions I had. Interestingly enough, his first language was a Mayan dialect and he even taught our group a few phrases!

Our tour group consisted of a wide range of age groups and each group seemed to thoroughly enjoy the excursion. While a historical tour might not seem as appealing to kids as a water park or beach, the kids in our group seemed captivated by the ruins. They particularly seemed to enjoy climbing up and down the stairs and searching for monkeys in the trees.

I was impressed with the condition and size of the pyramids. I also appreciated that visitors were not allowed to climb to the top of the pyramids, as this shows that an importance is placed on maintaining the site’s condition.

Much of the site is covered in lush rainforest which (thankfully) blocks the sun. The walking paths around the site were gorgeous, and our guide pointed out unique trees and plants the Mayans used for medicine and wellness. Food was not provided on this tour, but snacks and refreshments were available at the entrance to Chacchoben. Water was provided to all guests.

Overall, I was happy with my decision to book a Royal Caribbean shore excursion to the Chacchoben ruins. At $89 a person, I appreciated that all logistics were taken care of, including providing a knowledgeable guide. And as our time in Costa Maya was short (11AM - 6PM), I felt comfortable knowing the ship would wait for us if we ran into anything unexpected along the way.

And, while short, my time in Costa Maya was beautiful and historically enriching. I am already looking forward to returning and exploring more of what the port has to offer.

A new bill aims to permanently circumvent U.S. cabotage laws so that cruise ships can always visit Alaska without needing to stop in Canada.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced on Wednesday she will introduce a new bill to Congress that would permanently allow foreign flagged cruise ships to sail to Alaska without having to stop in Canada by creating a permanent exemption from the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA).

At the onset of the global health crisis, Canada banned cruise ships from its waters, and that meant in 2021 when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) began allowing cruise ships to sail again, cruises to Alaska were still not possible due to the PVSA.

Senator Murkowski wants this bill to become law to prevent the same situation that happened in 2020 and early 2021 from ever happening again, where Canada's ban on cruise ships greatly impacted Alaska's economy.

"While the PVSA is well-intentioned to protect American jobs and businesses, it had the unintended consequence of putting Alaskan businesses at the mercy of the Canadian government. It nearly wiped out Southeast Alaskan economies as we saw business after business ready to welcome visitors, but unable to because Canadians would not respond to our requests to allow foreign stops at their ports to meet the requirement of PVSA. We cannot let that happen again," said Senator Murkowski. 

Foreign flagged cruise ships (which are all of Royal Caribbean's ships) are required to make a stop in a foreign port when sailing roundtrip from the United States.

The law is part of the Passenger Vessel Service Act (PVSA) of 1886, and if left in place, cruises to Alaska from Seattle, Washington would not be able to legally sail.

The justification for both the PVSA is to protect the U.S. Merchant Marine (the licensed (officers) and documented (trades) personnel on the ships) and to protect U.S. shipyards that both build and repair the ships.

Senator Murkowski believes while the still serves its purpose in the Lower 48, it became readily apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic that Alaska needed an exemption due to Canada closing its borders. 

She will introduce the legislation next week, which would permanently exempt Alaskan cruises carrying more than 1,000 passengers from the PVSA.

"Bottom line, we need to reform the PVSA so that Alaskans’ ability to engage in commerce isn’t derailed by the government of another country."

This is not the first time a bill like this has become law.

Senator Murkowski along with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) managed to get a bill passed earlier this year to provide temporary relief from the PVSA for just this year in the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act. That bill passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in May 2021.

Royal Caribbean has changed its mind where it will send the soon-to-be largest cruise ship in the world.

Instead of being based in China, Wonder of the Seas will call Fort Lauderdale, Florida home, and begin sailing from Port Everglades on March 4, 2022.

Wonder of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale just in time for spring break in 2022 and in Europe, sail from Barcelona for summer vacations in the Western Mediterranean in May.

Back in October 2019, Royal Caribbean had originally announced Wonder of the Seas would be homeported in Shanghai, China year-round.

The impact of the global health crisis meant a delay in Wonder's construction, and perhaps even the impetus for changing her homeport.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the change, "The momentum taking off across bookings and our returning ships in the U.S. and Europe is significant. With half of our fleet sailing again, we are encouraged by what we’re seeing. These regions are in the position to welcome a brand-new, innovative ship like Wonder of the Seas."

"Wonder will shine bright as the world’s newest wonder in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. And what’s in store is the ultimate vacation experience that highlights the very best of Royal Caribbean, reimagines renowned favorites and introduces new adventures every guest, no matter their age, can enjoy."

Port Everglades was the original homeport for Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, as Terminal 18 was built specifically for Oasis and Allure of the Seas when they first debuted.

Wonder of the Seas will become the largest cruise ship world, and can accommodate 6,800 passengers and 2,400 crew members. She has a length of 362 meters and a width of 66 meters for a weight of 230,000 tons and a draft of over 9 meters.

She is the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and has 100 cabins more than Symphony of the Seas.

Another major different for Wonder of the Seas is the addition of an eighth neighborhood: the Suite Neighborhood. Neighborhoods are how the cruise ship is differentiated for easier navigation by guests.

Royal Caribbean describes this as an area exclusively for suite guests onboard:

"The new neighborhood provides a private experience like no other, featuring world-class dining, a new sun deck for unparalleled ocean views, a private lounge and restaurant and much more. Moreover, loved ones can make it the getaway of a lifetime when they book the expansive and beloved Ultimate Family Suite."

Based on released deck plans, it appears this neighborhood could be part of Decks 17 and 18.

The ship will also have a cantilevered pool bar named The Vue, and Wonder Playscape – an interactive, open-air kids’ play area.

Royal Caribbean says the Wonder Playscape will be, "an underwater world studded with slides, climbing walls and more."

Wonder of the Seas recently completed her sea trials, and is at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Naizaire, France.

UPDATE: Wonder of the Seas will replace Allure of the Seas in Europe for summer 2022. Guests booked on Allure will get moved to Wonder.

Caribbean sailings are available to book immediately. European sailings will open for booking on September 22.

Royal Caribbean announced two changes to policies that will likely make things easier for all guests going forward.

An email update was sent to travel agents on Wednesday advising them of these changes.

The time needed to make final payment for a cruise has been pushed back, a change the cruise line has not done throughout the global health crisis.

The final payment due date on sailings departing between October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021, will now have until 30 days prior to sailing to submit full payment.

The final payment date is typically 90 days before a sailing commences. 

No action is required on the part of guests or travel agents, and no cancellations will occur until the new final payment date.

Royal Caribbean says the change was made to "grant a little more time and flexibility."

This change comes just days after Royal Caribbean extended the time guests have to use their future cruise credits under the Cruise with Confidence program.

Royal Caribbean originally introduced the Cruise with Confidence program at the very beginning of the global health crisis, as a way for guests to cancel their cruise past the final payment date window.

By cancelling a cruise before the final payment date, they can get a full cash refund, if they booked refundable cruise fare.

Guests could still cancel a cruise past the final payment date even with this new final payment date window, up to 48 hours before their sailing without penalty and get a 100% future cruise credit.

Change for unvaccinated kids pre-cruise testing

According to the cruise line, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) has revised its pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirement for unvaccinated kids.

This means unvaccinated kids ages 2 to 11 may present either a negative PCR or antigen test result.

The test must be taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing, but not on boarding day. 

Then on embarkation day, unvaccinated kids ages 2 to 11 will undergo a complimentary PCR test for COVID-19 at the terminal. Pre-cruise test cost continues to be the guest's responsibility and telehealth home tests are still not accepted for unvaccinated guests.

Royal Caribbean announced yesterday that unvaccinated kids would be able to do back-to-back cruises as well.

Royal Caribbean has been back in service for more than 3 months and more than half of its ships have returned, but there are still a few very commonly asked questions about what it is like to go on a cruise.

While cruising is back, there are some changes, and many people who have yet to cruise are trying to get a sense of what it is like to be back onboard.

The good news is the overall experience of being back on a cruise is more similar to what it was like in 2019 than different, but the changes made to ensure guests, crew members, and the communities ships visit remain safe are necessary protocols that do require adjustments to the cruise experience.

In an effort to put some folks minds' at ease, here are answers to the top questions people are still asking about what it is like to go on a cruise right now.

How do you get a negative test in time before the cruise begins?

Royal Caribbean requires all guests bring a negative Covid test with them to their sailing, and the test must be completed no more than 2 days before the cruise begins (3 days for kids under the age of 12), so how do you manage to get this done in time?

The key is planning and knowing which test to get.

For adults, I recommend getting the rapid antigen test, which gets results back in about an hour.  In fact, the at-home test approved by Royal Caribbean is really the easiest and most convenient way to get a test done before your cruise from pretty much anywhere.

If you choose to get a test at a pharmacy, just be sure to plan ahead and make a reservation when new appointment times become available to book. CVS opens their appointments up two weeks in advance, while Walgreens does it 48 hours in advance.

Check out my recommendations for your approach to getting a Covid test before your cruise. Follow this guide and you should have no problem getting a test result back in time for your cruise.

Can I still arrive to the cruise terminal before my check-in time?

Simply put, no.

Royal Caribbean is enforcing check-in times, so plan to arrive no more than 15 minutes before your check-in time. All too often I see large groups of people standing around outside the cruise terminal waiting for their check-in time. Not only is this a waste of your time, but it is uncomfortable since there is no seating and it is quite warm and humid in Florida.

There is an exception for suite guests (and Pinnacle Club members), but the concierge will email you 4-7 days before the cruise to inform you if you have some flexibility with your check-in time.

Instead of standing around the cruise terminal waiting to be let in, grab lunch, see a local sight, or ask for a later check-out from your hotel.

Do you have to wear a mask on the cruise?

This might be the most commonly asked question I get about going on a cruise, and usually people want to know if they have to wear a mask everywhere onboard their cruise.

The answer is, yes, you do have to wear masks while indoors in certain situations, but it is not as bad as it may sound.

Wearing of masks applies to all guests, except for guests under the age of 2 years old, who do not need to wear a mask.

Masks are NOT required to be worn:

• In open-air areas of the ship, unless you are in a crowded setting
• In the pool or any activity where they may become wet
• At venues designated for vaccinated guests only, such as select bars, lounges, restaurants and shows
• In your stateroom with your traveling party

Masks ARE required to be worn:

• While indoors in public areas of the ship, unless seated and actively eating or drinking
• While visiting public ports of call, where local regulations may require them

What is means is you have to wear your mask when you are in public areas, primarily when walking around. As soon as you get to a restaurant, bar, lounge, and/or designated vaccinated area, you can remove your mask.

I thought this comment from RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Dime summed it up well, "Currently onboard the Symphony of the Seas and honestly the protocols aren’t really changing the cruise-feel. The mask mandates aren’t as aggravating as they seem while when you read about them."

What is the capacity right now on cruise ships?

Royal Caribbean is sailing with limited capacity, but has not stated what the capacity is or will be for any of its ships going forward.

The cruise line is not providing any kind of guidance as to how long limited capacity will be in place, nor at what percentage for any of its ships.

The only information we have is when someone onboard a ship reports back the passenger count, and perhaps an estimate from a crew member onboard for the next week.

So assume less than full ships for the time being until further notice.

If my kids are unvaccinated, am I limited to what I can do on the ship?

If you sail with unvaccinated children, your group will be designated as unvaccinated, but that does not mean the vaccinated members of your group will always be treated as such.

When your kids are not with you, you can enjoy vaccinated-only experiences.  So if your kids are in Adventure Ocean, back in the stateroom, or doing things on their own, you could go to vaccinated-only areas of the ships.

The same holds true for shore excursions. If someone in your group is unvaccinated, you will only be able to book tours through Royal Caribbean. However, if they remain on the ship, then the vaccinated group could do a tour on their own.

How much different is disembarkation?

The process for leaving the ship on the last morning of the cruise is very similar to what it was like before the cruise industry shutdown, with one key exception.

Guests are now asked to wait in their stateroom, rather than in a public area, while waiting for their luggage number to be called. This is actually a more convenient change, in my opinion.

If you want to walk off the ship with your own luggage, that is still available and you just have to wait for the ship to be cleared.  You will wait in your cabin for that announcement.

Otherwise, the disembarkation process is nearly identical to what it was like before.

Royal Caribbean has changed its policy and will now allow children under the vaccine eligibility age may now sail on back-to-back cruises.

When cruises first restarted in North America in June, Royal Caribbean added a provision preventing unvaccinated children to do back-to-back cruises.

That rule was in place until today when Royal Caribbean informed travel agents of the policy change.

Kids on a back-to-back cruise will be subject to all health protocols, plus a complimentary COVID-19 test administered onboard prior to the start of their second voyage. 

Royal Caribbean also added that guests are welcome to do as many back-to-back cruises as they wish.

In addition, Royal Caribbean said it would "continue to evaluate this policy as public health guidance evolves."

What is a back-to-back cruise?

Back-to-back cruises is a term referring to when a guest goes on consecutive cruises on the same ship, rather than just one and then disembarking.

The reason to do a back-to-back cruise is so that you can have more time to enjoy everything the ship you sail on has to offer, as well as perhaps a different itinerary. Some ships alternative itineraries depending on the week they sail.

Towards the end of the first sailing, a letter is delivered to a back-to-back cruiser's stateroom to let them know what to expect on turnaround day.

Typically on Royal Caribbean, all the consecutive cruisers report to a designated area of the ship to wait for all other guests to disembark.  Then, a complimentary covid test is administered (sometimes the test is done the day before), and after the results come back, guests are escorted through the process of de-activating their SeaPass card from the first sailing and issued a new SeaPass for the new sailing.