Royal Caribbean Blog

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its recommendations for cruise ship travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These new recommendations were released over the weekend, and are aimed at ensuring cruisers get home as quickly and safely as possible.

The CDC is coordinating these efforts with the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, port authorities, local and state health departments, and Department of State.

Most notably, the CDC recommends that cruise lines get passengers who have no symptoms or mild symptoms off the ship as quickly and safely as possible in the United States, and ensure they get home directly via chartered or private transportation.

The CDC specifically says commercial flights and public transportation should not be used.

Prior to this recommendation, the CDC said it was acceptable for passengers who exhibited no symptoms and passed a temperature check to travel on on commercial flights or public transportation, assuming they wore a face mask and self-isolated for 14 days once home.

As Royal Caribbean ships are shutdown for at least the next six weeks or so, I wanted to take a peek at what cruise ships looked like years ago.

Cruising has evolved over the years, and Royal Caribbean has changed with the times.  Looking back on the first few decades of Royal Caribbean's existence shows some interesting choices and amusing contrasts to today.

All these photos are from the out of print book "Under Crown and Anchor: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, the first twenty-five years".

We begin with this look at the Song of America's expanded sun bowl, featuring for the first time on any Royal Caribbean ship, two swimming pools.

This is an interesting contrast with Oslo's sail-training ship Christian Radich side by side in the Caribbean with the newly lengthened Song of Norway.

Here is a look at the compact, but complete standard cabins on Song of Norway.  These were tailor-made in 1970 for passengers comfort and convenience.

Thorough maintenance has always been an important aspect of Royal Caribbean's dedication to its craft.  The chair colors bring back memories.

Check out the shaping of Royal Caribbean's logos.  These are examples of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor in various stages of design development.

Speaking of designs, here is a look at some early ideas for the configuration of the Viking Crown Lounge.

How can you not enjoy interior decorating in the 1970s? Here is the embarkation lobby in 1970 on Song of Norway.

Speaking of interior design, here is a look at Song of Norway's The King and I Dining Room.  

Interiors were "perhaps a little loud in the matter of color, but this was necessary to make an impression," said Gjert Wilhelmsen, a member of one of the original families that helped form Royal Caribbean.

"Sail a Skyscraper" was the call to action in this promotional poster that advertised the Viking Crown Lounge as a major reason to cruise.

Here is a look at Song of Norway after being stretched.

Despite the fact there are no cruises happening, plenty is happening and I have a wrap-up of everything that occured this past week!

Royal Caribbean announced earlier this week it is extending the ability to cancel a cruise up to 48 hours before it sails.

The Cruise with Confidence program will now include sailings through September 1, 2020.

Under this policy, Royal Caribbean is providing guests with the flexibility to cancel a cruise for any reason up to 48 hours before a sailing is scheduled to depart.  

Royal Caribbean News

• RCL Cares was launched to support the travel agent community.
• Royal Caribbean's top executives have taken a pay cut.
• Royal Caribbean has bolstered its financial situation with $3.48 billion in backup financing.
• Majesty of the Seas was forced out of Gulfport, Mississippi due to a port closure.
• Richard Fain shared his outlook on the cruise industry right now.
• Will there be cruises to Alaska in 2020?
• A poll shows Americans will be slow to want to cruise again.
• Applying or renewing a passport is quite difficult for the foreseeable future.
• Should I buy Royal Caribbean stock right now?
• An inaccurate report of Royal Caribbean cancelling its cruises until September made the rounds online.
• We shared some Royal Caribbean drink recipes!
  • Lava Flow
  • Coco Loco
• A list of differences between each of the Oasis Class ships.
• Take a retro-look back to Soveriegn of the Seas in 1998!
• A new Virtual of the Seas cruise departs today to Alaska.
• Here is what life is like on empty cruise ships.
• Free printable Royal Caribean coloring pages for adults!
• What you should know about cruising during hurricane season.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 348th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with the story of how cruising changed Kat's life.

The world has changed, and so has this podcast. Given the state of affairs, we have a new concept for the podcast to share that provides a glimpse into our listener's past cruises and highlight memorable sailings.

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: Latest Royal Caribbean News

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 — Latest Royal Caribbean News — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

If you want to get that private island feel back at home, you might consider putting on your sunglasses, turning up the reggae music and making yourself the official concoction of Perfect Day at CocoCay: The Coco Loco.

The Coco Loco is the kind of frozen concoction that is sure to put a smile on just about anyone's face, and ever since I had my very first one while visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, I was hooked.

While at home, it is easy enough to make a batch yourself so that you can feel like you are sitting on Chill Island.

Photo by Lori Barrett

Coco Loco Ingredients

Makes one cocktail

• 1/2 oz Orange Juice Concentrate
• 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice Concentrate
• 1/2 oz Papaya Juice Concentrate
• 1/2 oz Coconut Cream
• 3/4 oz Dark Rum (or make it a virgin Coco Loco without the rum)
• 3/4 oz Coconut Rum
• 1/4 oz Grenadine
• Crushed ice

Coco Loco Instructions

1. Toss all the ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.
2. Pour the potion into a cocktail glass.
3. Dress it up with a fresh wedge of pineapple.

Suggested music while preparing

• Kenny Chesney - No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems

Royal Caribbean fans enjoyed a pair of "virtual cruises", and there is a brand new one that is visiting Alaska this weekend.

Curated by former Cruise Director Abe Hughes, the Virtual of the Seas is headed to Alaska.

Beginning on Sunday, cruise fans can expect a week long visit to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Icy Straight Point and Hubbard Glacier.

You can follow Abe Hughes on his Facebook page and join in on the third sailing of Virtual of the Seas!

There have been two sailings thus far, a 7-nighter to the Western Caribbean and a 4-night Perfect Day at CocoCay itinerary.

These pretend sailings have been a huge hit with cruise fans that are looking for something to do in the midst of cruise withdrawal.

Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas had been waiting out the coronavirus shutdown in the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi, but the ship has been instructed to depart on Friday.

Fox10 reports the Port of Gulfport has ordered all cruise ships docked there to leave after Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves’ ordered a shelter-in-place order that will go in effect at 5 p.m. on Friday and last until 8 a.m. on April 20. 

Majesty of the Seas is one of four cruise ships docked in Gulfport, along with Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, and Carnival Freedom.

Until the threat of Coronavirus is gone, the Port of Gulfport will continue to support the efforts in limiting the spread of the virus while also maintaining essential operations, the news release states. 

Summer cruises to Alaska are one of the highlights of Royal Caribbean's offerings, but the 2020 Alaska cruise season seems in doubt with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have a cruise booked for Alaska this year, here is a look at all the information we know that impacts sailings to The Last Frontier.

No cruises until at least July

Royal Caribbean has already taken a step to cancel all Alaska cruises until July 1, 2020.

On March 24, Royal Caribbean extended its suspension of cruises until May 12, however, they also decided to cancel all Alaska cruises through June 30, 2020.

The decision was based on two primary factors: the ongoing spread of Coronavirus, as well as American and Canadian port closures.

Canadian port closures

A major factor prohibiting any Alaska cruise is the decision of the Canadian government to close its ports to cruise traffic, which means Royal Caribbean's ships cannot enter these ports.

On March 13, Transport Canada announced it would defer the start of the cruise ship season in Canada from April 2, 2020 to July 1, 2020, at the earliest.  This deferral will apply to cruise ships capable of carrying more than 500 passengers and crew members.

There are two primary ports Royal Caribbean relies on for its Canadian cruises: Vancouver and Victoria.

Vancouver is where Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas homeport during the season, while Victoria is a port of call for cruises out of Seattle.

Without access to Canadian ports, it is impossible for Royal Caribbean to operate any cruises, since even sailings beginning in the United States require a foreign port stop at some point in order to be in compliance with U.S. laws.

Port of Seattle delays

In addition to Canadian port closures, the Port of Seattle has delayed its start to the 2020 cruise season.

The Port now expects the launch of the cruise season will be delayed until the resolution of the public health emergency.

As a result of COVID-19, the start of Seattle’s cruise season will depend on the status of the public health emergency and the advice of local, state and federal public health officials.

The CDC has issued a nonessential travel warning and a temporary no sail order for cruise ships, and the State and King County have imposed a number of strict limitations to limit the spread of COVID-19.

One of the best pieces of advice I offer to cruisers is to invest in a passport for a cruise, but applying for one or renewing now is basically impossible due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. State Department has halted its passport services except for limited exceptions. 

Unless it is a life-or-death situation, passport service is not available.

Effective March 20, 2020, we are only able to offer service for customers with a qualified life-or-death emergency and who need a passport for immediate international travel within 72 hours.

If you are wondering what constitutes an emergency, it is serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family (e.g. parent, child, spouse, sibling, aunt, uncle, etc) that require you to travel outside the United States within 72 hours (3 days).

In order to have your passport application processed, you must provide:

• A passport application with supporting documents
• Proof of the life-or-death emergency such as a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a signed letter from a hospital or medical professional. Documents
• Proof of international travel (e.g. reservation, ticket, itinerary)

If you are trying to apply or renew a U.S. passport  on or after March 20, 2020, the State Department says they will not offer expedited service and routine service may be delayed. 

If you applied and requested expedited service on or before March 19, 2020, the State Department will honor its commitment of a 2-3 week turnaround time, door-to-door, for expedited service.

As of March 25, 2020, post offices which are still accepting applications are requiring customers to make an online appointment to apply in person for a U.S. passport. If you need to apply in person for your U.S. passport, please contact the facility directly to confirm the status of its operations

I am certain that if you close your eyes and start thinking of memories from past Royal Caribbean cruises, you may think of the Perfect Storm water slides, laughing with family during dinner in the dining room, or perhaps sipping on a frosty cocktail.

Ever since I had my first Lava Flow on a Royal Caribbean ship, I have been hooked!

The lava flow is essentially a pina colada with fruit syrup and mixed with a dark rum. If you ask me, it tastes significantly better when you opt for Kraken Rum (which is included with the Deluxe Beverage Package).

While at home, you can make this drink fairly easily and give yourself a bit of an escape back to the Lime & Coconut!

Lava flow Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. light rum
• 1 oz. Kraken rum
• 2 oz. coconut cream
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1 banana

Suggested music while preparing

• Boat Drinks by Jimmy Buffett

Lava flow Instructions

1. Mix strawberries and rum in blender and blend until well mixed.
2. Place contents at bottom of a tall glass.
3. Mix rest of the unused ingredients with crushed ice in a blender until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into glass. The strawberry and rum mixture will creep up the sides of the glass, giving the drink its name.
5. Serve with straw.

Royal Caribbean's recent filing with the SEC indicates it has taken advantage of $3.48 billion in backup financing between two revolving lines of credit.

The loans come as the cruise line contends with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the cruise industry. This new backup financing means the cruise line has emptied its revolving credit coffers.

The move comes just over a week after Royal Caribbean took out a $2.2 billion loan on March 23. At the time, the company said it had $3.6 billion of liquidity, including undrawn revolving credit lines.

In addition to taking out loans, the cruise line has indicated it will cut costs, as well as pay cuts for the cruise line's executives.

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has forced Royal Caribbean to cancel 30 days of sailings two times, with cruises beginning no earlier than mid-May.