Royal Caribbean Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size

How big will Wonder of the Seas be?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more: Why cruise ships are getting bigger

How much does Wonder of the Seas cost?

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

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

Where will Wonder of the Seas sail?

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

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

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

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

How many restaurants are on Wonder of the Seas?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the Broadway show on Wonder of the Seas?

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

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

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

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

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

Read more: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

Who is Wonder of the Seas' godmother?

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

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

What is the Vue?

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

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

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

How many unique neighborhoods does Wonder of the Seas have?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegetarian and vegan options at complimentary dining

The Buffet

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

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

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

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

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

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

Main Dining Room

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

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

Day 1:

Appetizer: Spring Onion “Falafel”

Soup: Butternut Squash

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

Dessert: Tahini Banana Soft Serve

Day 2:

Appetizers: Corn Fritters & Romesco Oat Spread

Soup: Caramelized Parsnip & Coconut Soup

Entrees: Penne Pasta & Grilled Eggplant

Dessert: No-bake Lemon Tart

Day 3:

Appetizers: Zucchini Fritters & Avocado and Melon Salad

Soup: Cherry Tomato Gazpacho

Entrees: Vegan Risotto & Crunchy Tofu Tacos

Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookie

Day 4:

Appetizers: Raw Vegetable Salad & Rice Paper Rolls

Soup: Tomato Soup

Entrees: Vegetable Pakoras & Orzo Pasta Stew

Dessert: Wild Berry Bar

Day 5:

Appetizers: Green Bean Croquette & Vegetable Tempura

Soup: Creamed Broccoli Soup

Entrees: Butternut Squash Curry & Vegan Eggplant Burger

Dessert: Vegan Crème Brulée

Day 6:

Appetizers: Grilled Avocado & Polenta Fries

Soup: Potato Soup

Entrees: Vegan Carbonara & Fried Rice

Dessert: Peanut Butter Caramel Rice Crisps

Day 7:

Appetizers: Ciabatta Salad & Grilled Peach and Panzanella Salad

Soup: Tortilla Soup

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

Dessert: Toffee “Cheesecake”

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

Park Cafe & Cafe at Two70

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

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

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

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

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

Solarium Bistro

Photo by an average Vegetarian, Billy of CruiseHabit.com

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

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

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

Sorrento’s

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

El Loco Fresh

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

Other complimentary venues

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

Best specialty dining for vegetarians and vegans

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

Izumi

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

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

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

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

Jamie’s Italian and Giovanni’s Table/Kitchen

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

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

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

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

Playmakers

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

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

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

Johnny Rockets

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

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

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

150 Central Park

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

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

Specialty dining with less options for vegetarians and vegans

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

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

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

Perfect Day at CocoCay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The scenery

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

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

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

Cruise Tours

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

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

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

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

Planning a port day is more important in Alaska

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

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

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

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

The food

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

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

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

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

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

The weather

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

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

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

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

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

Packing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Relaxation onboard

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

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

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

Planning an Alaska cruise? Check out these articles:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A look around Symphony of the Seas

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

Other ships returning soon

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

The four ships included:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. How did Omicron impact the quarter?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Are they seeing higher on-board spending?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Where do negotiations stand on the Grand Lucayan?

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

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

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

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

How you can listen to the earnings call

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

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

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

Going on a cruise ship means new challenges, but how can you balance vacation fun with best health practices?

Covid-19 has changed not just the protocols onboard cruise ships, but how guests approach vacation.  So what should you do to better protect yourself along the way?

Since I'm not any kind of health expert, I reached out to Dr. Anthony Harris, M.D, M.B.A, M.P.H. to share his recommendations.

Dr. Harris is the CEO of Hfit Health, where he focuses on how to keep the workforce healthy and the public in general healthy from an exposure standpoint. His company has worked as a corporate medical director with multiple Fortune 50 Fortune 100 companies during the pandemic.

Most importantly, Dr. Harris has kept tabs on the best ways to travel safely with updated regulations.

Wear a K95 mask

Since face masks are required by Royal Caribbean (and other cruise lines) while indoors, your best bet is wear a K95 or KN95 mask.

While these masks are meant to be disposable, Dr. Harris says it's possible to wear them multiple times, "If we're talking about how long, it depends on how often and what environment you're wearing the mask. If they become soiled with either water or different materials, then you want to evaluate and make sure that it's not preventing the mask from performing normally."

"If your mask has not been any tremendous soil scenario, throw it in a paper bag and it'll be nice and fresh for you in the morning."

Moreover, you want to ensure you have enough masks for the entire cruise, "Don't bring just one. Bring some backups."

Read more: My best advice for going on a cruise ship in early 2022 during Omicron

Social distancing

While Royal Caribbean has instituted changes onboard its cruise ships to keep passengers spaced apart, you can avoid being close to other people when possible.

"Be mindful that if you don't have to be elbow and elbow with someone as you're sitting and talking about and enjoying the the views over the bow."

Prioritize being outdoors

When possible, try to spend more time outside than inside.

"We know that being outdoors dramatically decreases your risk of transmission," Dr. Harris recommended. "You're outdoors, you can be a little bit more open in terms of your social distancing and your risk goes down."

Dr. Harris said the reason why being outdoors is important is air movement. Covid is an airborne illness, and Dr. Harris says studies have shown the more air movement you have, the better you are in regards to your risk of transmission.

While you are indoors, Royal Caribbean has already adopted an air flow strategy that mirrors what Dr. Harris recommends, "a standard that we use in health care and facilities is about six times an hour."

Royal Caribbean adjusted shipboard settings to allow for the maximum air changes per hour and upgrading to MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 13 filters throughout the system. 

In fact, Royal Caribbean says outside air is pulled in as existing air indoors is exhausted on the opposite side of the ship 15-20 times per hour (and up to 12 times in staterooms). That's twice more than what Dr. Harris recommended.

The bottom line for Dr. Harris is just being aware of your surroundings, " be mindful, but don't be fearful, particularly when you're in those settings where you have adequate air movement to reduce your risk."

Read more: New study shows "exceptionally low" risk of airborne particles on cruise ships

Let the crew know if you aren't feeling well

If you should start feeling less than great, you call the medical center onboard.

"Don't hesitate if you should start having any symptoms whatsoever to go and get tested while you're on the cruise."

"You're going to protect the everyone else that's on the on the cruise with you, and you're going to allow the majority of people to enjoy their time without concern or fear around transmission."

Read more: What happens after testing positive for Covid on Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Myth: Should you take an antigen test if you recently had Covid?

I asked Dr. Harris about a concern a number of cruise fans have about testing positive well after recovering from Covid in a PCR test.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com reader Mark Elliott posted last week on our message boards what to do about taking a test months after you had Covid without getting a positive result.

Other readers recommended an antigen test instead of a PCR test, but is that a good idea?

Dr. Harris confirmed Mark's initial concern, "PCR can show that someone is positive for COVID beyond their period of infective infectiousness."

"If you're 10 days after the onset of your symptoms, you are generally no longer infected or infectious. And that's the standard that CDC still has that we use in the clinical community."

If you're past the 10 day period, Dr. Harris said an antigen test is fine, "After that 10 day period, if you can show, and if it's acceptable, a negative rapid test, that's okay."

"Because, again, you're not putting people at risk if you're outside that that time window in terms of exposure to others."

Should you test after your cruise is over?

Assuming you go through your cruise vacation and get home without feeling sick at all, should you still take a Covid test?

Dr. Harris says the answer depends on your situation, "Should everyone test as soon as they get home? Perhaps not."

"You live alone. You're not going to be around anybody with vulnerable predispositions, then you may not need to test."

"But certainly, if you're coming home to grandma and your 90 year old mother or somebody with pre-existing condition...then it's reasonable to go ahead and test."

When should you test exactly after your cruise? Dr. Harris says a test immediately and a few days later makes sense.

He recommends a test when you get home, and then again three days later.

Dr. Harris emphasized testing after the cruise is only necessary for some people, not for everybody, but definitely consider it if you have people in your household who may have pre-existing conditions."

What should you do if you test positive before or after the cruise?

What if you take your Covid test before the cruise and you test positive before you ever board?

Dr. Harris says the first thing to do is test again, "Is it a true positive? There are still some false positives out there. And so consider getting a second test."

If the second test comes back positive again, then you want to quarantine yourself.  Dr. Harris recommends looking for an Airbnb instead of a hotel room for the comfort level it provides.

"Certainly protecting others in that scenario means you're not getting on the plane to travel back to your house while you have a positive result from Covid, staying in place, and using the new guidelines."

After five days, if you test again and you're negative, you're good to travel home.

Read more: I had to cancel my cruise because I caught Covid, here's what happened

Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship joined the fleet this week when Wonder of the Seas was delivered.

The new ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean by ship builder Chantiers de l’Atlantique at a small ceremony in Marseille, France.

This is the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship, and Wonder will begin sailing with her inaugural voyage March 4, 2022 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean returns to Labadee
• Royal Caribbean redeploys Spectrum of the Seas to Singapore for April 2022
• Royal Caribbean launches new pre-cruise sale on drink packages, wifi and more
• Royal Caribbean updates: adults-only beach update, new Covid testing partner & more
• What is the state of the cruise industry? Trends and the cruise comeback
• Symphony of the Seas Guide & Review
• The weirdest Alaska cruise questions
• What I learned from my first solo cruise
• Perfect Day at CocoCay beach bed review
• Why taking a weekend cruise is a great escape
• Cruising with vaccinated kids: What to expect on Royal Caribbean
• The myth of the "perfect" vacation

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 439th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Jenna shares a review of her cruises on Independence and Harmony 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.

New RCB Video: When you'll have to quarantine if you get Covid on 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 — When you'll have to quarantine if you get Covid on Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The last original Royal Caribbean cruise ship has been scrapped

The ship formerly known as the Sun Viking has been scrapped.

One of the original three Royal Caribbean cruise ships, she was beached this week in Pakistan to be broken up and recycled.

The ship had mostly recently been operating as the Oriental Dragon, where she operated as a a gambling ship in Hong Kong and Penang, Malaysia.

I tried The Key on an Oasis Class ship to see if it's worth it

Should you buy The Key?

Jenna recently sailed on Harmony of the Seas to get a sense if The Key is worth it on an Oasis Class cruise ship.

Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program offers ways to get some great rewards the more you sail.

Earning points for your cruise vacation enables you to move up in the loyalty program, giving you exclusive access to pre-cruise discounts as well as onboard benefits and events.

Check out our comprehensive overview of the program’s benefits and offers.

From the moment we book a trip, we start dreaming about the “perfect vacation” we are going to have.  We imagine all the fun we are going to have, the things we will do and all the places we are going to see.  While this may sound like a reasonable expectation, expecting the “perfect vacation” is a set up for disappointment.  Last I checked, no one is perfect, so extremely high expectations can lead to “disenchantment” while on Enchantment of the Seas.  

When I dream about my vacations, I dream about sun and sand, and my happy, smiling children who are eternally grateful for this wonderful experience that I have given them. 

Instead sometimes the reality is my kids are fighting and throwing sand at each other, the ocean water is freezing cold, and it starts to rain.

Somewhere in there I realize I forgot to pack the sunscreen and my husband becomes “hangry” because we miss-read the hours of the Windjammer and got back to the ship too late.  

It is times like this where I used to throw up my hands in despair and lament that this is NOT how my vacation “should be”!  This is where I need to step back, take a few breaths and remember my kids fight like siblings at home as well.  They will be best friends again by supper time. 

Too much togetherness isn’t good and sometimes they need a little time apart.  This may be some alone time with each parent or a trip to the room for one and Adventure Ocean for the other.  

When my husband is “hangry” I’m eternally grateful for Sorrentos Pizza or the hot dog stand on Oasis and Quantum class ships.  A slice of pizza or a hot dog can make a world of difference and we usually have some emergency cookies stashed in the room for just such occasions.  

When I forget to pack something, I remind myself that beside my passport (and now vaccine cards), there isn’t anything I need that cannot be replaced on the ship or port.  The price may be higher for my forgetfulness, but it is not the end of the world.  Sometimes this is something that I need to remind myself.  We have never been turned away from the main dining room because my husband forgot to bring black dress shoes and dress socks… again.

Thankfully my embarrassment is saved once his feet are tucked under the table cloth hiding his “dress Keens” sandals.  

Traveling with extended family is not an exception to the “perfect vacation”.  The way they behave at Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings is not going to magically change during a cruise.  While cruises are a great way for multiple generations to vacation together; it can provide numerous opportunities for opinions on how children should be raised and behave.  

It is so easy to forget when you watch the commercials of the happy and perfect looking people that vacations are still real life.  When you see people’s vacation photos posted on social media, trust me when I say they likely only posted the “good pictures” where everyone is smiling and happy.  They don’t take pictures when someone is crying or an excursion gets cancelled.  

Vacation can be a great time to work on table manners with kids; unfortunately I have seen adults who could use some remedial training.  On one cruise several years ago there was an elderly woman in her late 70’s who was seated at our table.  She was impossible to please. We watched the crew do everything in their power to try to appease her and make her happy.  It became a game to see how soon into the dinner service she would send something back to the kitchen.  

She received mashed potatoes one evening and insisted on a baked potato after her plate arrived.  When the crew brought it out, she gently touched it with one finger and announced that it was cold.  She then turned her nose up and waved a dismissive hand telling them to “take it away.”  When asked if she would like a different one, she tersely responded that it was “too late” and she didn’t want anything anymore.  

While there is nothing wrong with asking the waiter to fix an order, there is a way to do so with grace and compassion.  Sometimes I’ve left mistakes in place and didn’t point them out.  They ended up being “happy accidents” where I tried something new that I would not have otherwise done.  These are times when I found something new on the menu that I liked.  Also I have some empathy for the crew.  The amount of meals that are going out in such a short order of time means that things will not always be perfect.  Even with a 99.9% accuracy rate, on an Oasis class ship that would mean at least 5 dinners each night being messed up.  

We have had excursions cancelled in the past due to bad weather. One instance was the waves were too high at “Sting Ray City” in Grand Cayman for my children.  Royal Caribbean staff were wonderful in helping us find a substitute excursion on the spot at the Turtle Sanctuary and the Dolphin Encounter.  This has been one of my (and my children’s) favorite excursions to date and it is not one that I would have picked.  Speaking with people that elected to go to “Sting Ray City” despite the waves, said they had a disappointing experience as they were pushed around by the waves and the water was cloudy with poor visibility from all the sand stirred up.  

I could have been disappointed and upset that I didn’t get to go to “Sting Ray City” which was a main reason for picking this itinerary.  On the other hand, I could be thrilled that we had this amazing excursion and have an excuse to come back to this port of call on another cruise, although I might have to convince my children to try an excursion other than the turtles. Sometimes the anticipation is just as satisfying as the actual experience.  

Covid and the related changes have complicated cruising, with onboard shows, ports of call, or even entire cruises cancelled with little notice.  Instead of complaining and asking “Why did this happen to me?!?” instead ask “How is this happening FOR me?” 

Try to find any glimmer of good that can come out of this situation.  It may take some work to come up with a silver lining for a missed cruise, but when you find it, it will feel much better to hold on to that instead of the disappointment and anger. 

We had a cruise that was cancelled in 2020 and instead of being upset, we adjusted directions. We ended up taking a trip to Yellowstone and Utah to visit friends. It was amazing!  We had another one that was cancelled in November 2021.  However, we were able to use the future cruise credits from both of those trips in order to upgrade to a suite for our cruise this past December.  

Just remember wonderful memories and great stories from any vacation rarely start with the phrase “Everything went exactly as planned.”  Many of our most memorable stories and adventures are when things went wrong, we got lost, someone got seasick, or there was some other hardship at the time that we had to overcome.  Our lives are made up of stories and the hero needs to overcome some adversity on their adventure.  

Just picture yourself as the hero of your story and find a way to win the day with an amazing adventure.  Heed the words attributed to Captain Jack Sparrow, who also spent time on a ship and faced many adventures that did not go as planned; “The problem is not the problem.  The problem is your attitude about the problem.”  What story do you want to tell when you get home?  Make it an amazing one since you get to write it, problems and all.      

Wondering what it is like to go on a cruise by yourself? I recently had my first solo cruise experience with a 4-night sailing on Independence of the Seas and a 7-night sailing on Harmony of the Seas.

Before my cruises, I was feeling nervous about what it would be like to go on a cruise alone. 

While I have done travel days alone here and there, I had never done a full vacation solo. In the end, though, I had a wonderful experience and came back with a few tips and tricks that can really enhance a solo cruise experience.

Initial Concerns

I am an extrovert and get a lot of energy from being around and experiencing things with other people. Feeling lonely was my main concern going into my solo cruises. Would I not talk to anyone for 7 days? Would I be doing everything alone? Will I dislike not having someone there with whom I could share my experience?

Another concern I had was with dining. I don’t normally eat alone at restaurants at home, so I was not sure what my dining experience would be like onboard. Going into my cruises, I planned to eat most meals at the buffet and spend my days in port or at sea exploring solo.

In the end, my solo cruise experiences could not have been more different than I initially imagined. I ended the two cruises with new friends and memories made throughout the Caribbean. Most importantly, though, I learned a few key lessons that may help alleviate a few concerns if you are planning a solo cruise vacation.

Meeting other passengers is easy

As soon as I boarded Independence of the Seas for my first solo cruise, I quickly realized that you are never truly alone on a cruise ship. There are thousands of passengers and crew members all around you, so it’s never too hard to strike up a conversation.

During my time on Independence of the Seas, I would go to events onboard that skewed more social, such as trivia, and also chat with the bartenders and crew throughout the ship. 

After my cruise on Independence, I felt extra confident as a solo cruiser for my next sailing on Harmony of the Seas. My solo cruise on Harmony ended up not being very “solo” at all!

As soon as I got onboard, I met two guests, Zach and Collin, at the embarkation day lunch with The Key. We ended up spending a lot of time together throughout the cruise, whether at the Windjammer, Aquatheater, or Solarium.

As the week went on, we slowly introduced more people into our “cruise squad”. One place that proved to be a fantastic social environment onboard were the hot tubs! Hanging out in the hot tub always led to interesting conversations with fellow passengers, several of which I connected with throughout the rest of the cruise.

By the end of the week I had a group of five other passengers to hang out with onboard. From evenings in the Promenade to sunny afternoons on the pool deck, it was a blast. I certainly did not expect to meet such a fun group of people so easily as a solo cruiser.

On the last night we shared a dinner at Jamie’s Italian and it was a wonderful way to close out a “solo” cruise experience that ended up being one of my most social cruises yet.

Dining “alone” can be fun!

Dining is one of the biggest concerns for solo cruisers, but on my cruise I learned that dining alone does not have to seem so intimidating. I found that if I was eating alone, crew members would often stop by my table to get to know me. One morning at breakfast in the Main Dining Room, I was seated at a table next to another solo cruiser and we ended up chatting for around an hour! I rarely had a completely “solo” meal.

The best decision I made, though, was booking dinner at Izumi Hibachi on Independence of the Seas. Izumi Hibachi tables seat eight people. If your group is not a party of 8, multiple parties will be seated together at the same table.

My hibachi table had four separate parties and, as usual, the hibachi experience created an environment of conversation and laughter with plenty of mouth-watering food. I think Izumi Hibachi is the best choice for a solo cruiser looking to enjoy a more social dining experience onboard.

Time in port is really flexible when you’re solo

I thoroughly enjoyed my solo days in port, too. One benefit of cruising solo is that you can choose to do whatever you want while in port. You don’t have to plan around anyone else’s preferences, interests, and schedule. 

I spent my days solo exploring Nassau, cycling around St. Maarten, and chilling out at Perfect Day at CocoCay and had an amazing time, even if I did not share the experience with anyone else.

I also learned that booking excursions can also be an easy way to mingle with fellow passengers. In St. Thomas I reserved the Discover Scuba excursion, which took ten guests to an island off the coast of St. Thomas to learn the basics of scuba diving. The exploratory nature of the excursion fostered a social environment for everyone in the group, leading to a fun afternoon of conversation, diving, and snorkeling.

I spent my days relaxing solo at Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you’re looking to meet guests at Cococay, though, I’d say the best spot to meet people there is Oasis Lagoon. This always turns into a big party in the afternoon and can be a fun way to mingle with other guests (or just people watch as the party gets wild!).

Post-cruise thoughts

Cruising solo is not nearly as “scary” as I thought it would be and I actually enjoyed the independence and freedom it gave me to plan my cruise vacation. As an extrovert I did not feel lonely once, although I did enjoy having an internet package so I could still chat with friends and family back home.

Do I prefer cruising solo or with friends and family? I think I still prefer to cruise with friends or family because a huge part of traveling for me is making memories with those close to me. I feel that some things in life, whether discovering a new island or enjoying a fancy dinner, are better shared with friends and family.

However, I would definitely cruise solo again. Making friends onboard proved to be extremely easy and having a group to hang out with certainly enhanced my experience.

It’s also nice, though, that if I did not want to be social, I could have stayed to myself. There is no requirement to go on a solo cruise with the intention of making new friends or always chatting with other guests and crew. I, however, found the way that works best for me and I am already looking forward to my next solo cruise.

Planning a cruise? Check out these articles:

• Solo cruises on Royal Caribbean
• Top 10 tips for going on a Royal Caribbean cruise solo
• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What to expect on your first cruise
• The unwritten rules of going on a cruise
• Royal Caribbean frequently asked questons

We recently took a Christmas cruise on Enchantment of the Seas out of Baltimore.  This was the first sailing of Enchantment out of Baltimore after their preliminary test cruise.  We had been hoping that a Covid vaccine would be approved for 5-11 years old age group as it would greatly simplify our trip.

The CDC did approve a COVID vaccine for the age group in early November, making mid-December the earliest a child could be fully vaccinated with the 14 day post vaccination period. This made our trip one of the first sailings where there be COVID vaccinated children ages 5-11 on board.  

As this age group was just approved for the vaccine, there was not the option to upload their vaccine card into the Royal Caribbean App prior to boarding.  We took a photo and had physical copies of everyone’s vaccine cards with us.  This was our first cruise since January 2020, so this was our first experience with the new COVID protocols as well.

Vaccinated people need to have a COVID test 1-2 days prior to boarding.  Unvaccinated children need a PCR test no more than 3 days prior to departure and an antigen test at the port.  Having everyone in the group vaccinated did simplify which test was needed and when it had to be done.  We had plans to arrive in Baltimore a few days prior to the cruise, so we brought our pre-purchased approved home tests to do in the hotel.  

We also made appointments at a CVS near our hotel for testing the day prior to our cruise leaving as a back-up plan, ensuring we wouldn’t have to scramble if there were any issues with the home test.  On various Facebook groups, people have reported that their test kit was missing the dropper bottle or it was empty.  Other people had reported that they couldn’t get a proctor when they needed to for the home test.  Another variable out of our control was the reliability and speed of the hotel Wi-Fi.  

As the home tests come in packs of three or six and we are a family of 4, we ordered the six pack, giving us two back up kits if needed for an indeterminate or defective test kit.  Thankfully the all test kits worked well for us and the hotel Wi-Fi was adequate. We were able to do two tests at a time using two phones. This cut down the time away from our vacation fun by half the time.  Major and I did our tests first and then we helped the kids with their tests when ours were done.  

As soon as we had confirmed negative test results in the Navica App, we cancelled the CVS appointments so they would be available for other people.  It was nice to have that backup, and not need to worry about getting a “Plan B” if there were any issues with the home test.  We have also heard about people having their CVS and Walgreen’s appointments cancelled last minute as well, so I’m glad that we didn’t need to find a “Plan C”.  

Once we arrived at port there was a mild bit of confusion with staff to find the correct line for us.  Staff immediately wanted to place us in the unvaccinated children line to be tested prior to boarding.  We had to explain that our children were fully vaccinated; this seemed to confuse them at first.  After several staff determined that we could be in the vaccinated line, we then had to find the correct vaccinated line as there was one for general boarding and the other for suite guests.  

Once through security, the check in person needed to take pictures of the kid’s vaccine cards and upload them to the Royal Caribbean system, since there was not an option to do this at home.  As they were using a new computer system, this took a bit longer than usual for check in.  However, with a bit of patience and help from one of the computer system trainers, we were on board in no time. 

When we arrived at our room there were two white Royal Caribbean logoed adult masks and two kids cloth masks with rainbow fish.  I thought that the kids’ masks were super cute.  There was also a small bottle of hand sanitizer in the room for us.  The kids muster station bracelets were already in the room as well, rather than us having to go to a check in station for them.  

All vaccinated guests receive fabric bands that indicate their status as vaccinated.  This is a “one size fits all” band and cinches up like a zip tie, so once it is on it can’t be loosened.  This leaves some annoying tails.  One strategy to deal with them is to place the band on the same side as your watch and tuck the tails under your watch band.  For the kids, we trimmed the tails, but learned you need to seal the raw ends as the bracelet will soon begin to unravel. 

After replacing a couple unraveled bands we tried fingernail polish which did the trick.  If you do need a new one because it broke or it is too tight, a quick stop at guest services (or the concierge if you are in a suite or Diamond and above) will fix that.  My daughter went through 3 bands during the course of the cruise.  

Vaccination status did not appear to affect the use of Adventure Ocean, however since we did not sign our kids up, I cannot comment on this.  As my son turned 11 on this cruise and my daughter is 9, they are starting to lose interest in Adventure Ocean and are enjoying the evening shows with us more.  We did not want to take a spot from someone else who would need it or want it more than we did.  

As the kids were vaccinated, they were free to roam the ship with us, we could sit in the main level of the theater and they could enjoy trivia in the Schooner bar with us. Unvaccinated families had to sit in the balcony of the theater and had different dining room floor as well.

The Park Café is in the Solarium, which was vaccinated only, so our children were able to go there.  That was their favorite place to grab a slice of pizza when they needed a midday snack after swimming.  

Speaking of food, we were also able to have our regular early dining time at the main dining room reserved for vaccinated guests.  We were able to be seated with our friends who also had vaccinated children the same ages as ours. 

Despite being a Christmas cruise, there were not as many children as I anticipated seeing.  Finding a table in the Windjammer could still be a challenge as several tables were not in use due to social distancing.  You would need to look for the card on the table to see if it was able to be used.  Sometimes that could take a bit of searching even with the smaller number of guests on board.  

Having everyone vaccinated allowed us to leave the ship at Nassau without a Royal Caribbean excursion scheduled.  We all needed to wear masks off the ship, per Bahamian rules.  We took our vaccine cards with us at Grand Island and Nassau. 

One thing that changed with COVID and was a nice addition was the ability to scan a QR code and order pool towels to be delivered to the room the morning of port rather than standing in a line to check in or check out towels when getting on or off the ship.  

As my kids spent a great majority of time either in our room (the Royal Suite) or at the pool, there was not much time where they really needed to wear masks. 

The lifeguards enforced a limit of 10 people in the pool at one time.  They were also very good at not letting anyone hog the pool the entire time it was open.  At regular intervals the lifeguards asked guests who had been in the pool the longest to allow others who were waiting to have a turn swimming. 

Our lanyards served double duty holding our sea pass cards as well as our masks when we were at the pool or eating.  With the breeze on the pool deck, it was important to keep the masks secured to something.

When we left our room, we would do a quick “mask check” with everyone.  More than once we had to turn around to get a mask that someone forgot.  By the end of the cruise it was second nature for all of us. 

All in all, this cruising experience was very similar to previous cruises.  Very little has changed as wearing masks is part of our daily routine. 

There was better mask compliance and vaccination rate here than at my local grocery store.  With the staff quarantined prior to our sailing, we had a full crew available to serve.  We did not have any issues going to any of our ports and the weather was beautiful. 

Everything that I could have asked for in a cruise vacation happened.  We had a perfect, almost COVID-free vacation.