Royal Caribbean Blog

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.

Royal Caribbean is offering this weekend up to $200 instant savings, 60% off the second guest and Kids Sail Free.

The Sail Away Sale runs between April 2 – 6, 2020 and applies to select sailings departing on or after May 12, 2020. 

It includes:

• 60% savings off the price of cruise fare of the second guest booked in the same stateroom as first, full-fare paying guest.
• 30% cruise fare savings for third guests and higher booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests.
• Instant savings of up to $200 USD per stateroom
  • Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $75 for Suites
  • Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $200 for Suites
• Kids Sail Free provides free cruise fare for 3rd guests and higher who are 12 years old or younger as of cruise departure date, booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad-occupancy stateroom.
  • Kids Sail Free applies to select 4-night or longer Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, CaribNE, Coastal, Europe, Hawaii, Repositioning and all 2020 Serenade of the Seas sailings departing between September 1, 2020 – December 17, 2020 and January 8, 2021 – May 17, 2021.
  • Offer excludes 2020 Thanksgiving sailings (Sailings between November 21 - 28, 2020), 2021 President’s Day Sailings (Sailings between February 12 – 15, 2021), and 2021 Spring Break and Easter sailings (Sailings between March 13 – April 4, 2021).
  • Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional and apply to all guests.

 BOGO60 and Kids Sail Free are combinable with each other as well as promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. Sail Away Sale is combinable with BOGO60 and Kids Sail Free as well as with promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, and Shareholder Benefits, but not combinable with Crown and Anchor discounts. Offer are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates. Promo Code driven offers are based on select ships and sail dates and must be applied at time of booking; limit one promo code per booking.

Offer available to residents of United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and select countries in the Caribbean.

According to paperwork filed with the SEC, Royal Caribbean's top executives are taking a pay cut while the cruise industry deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain has volunteered to not take a salary through the end of September, while Royal Caribeban International CEO Michael Bayley took a 25% pay cut.

Other executives taking a 25% pay cut include CFO Jason Liberty, and Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CEO of Celebrity Cruises.

Effective as of April 1, 2020, Richard Fain, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, agreed to forego payment of his base salary and Jason Liberty, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International and Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises, each elected to reduce their respective base salaries by 25%, in each case, through September 30, 2020. These reductions were made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative financial and operational impacts resulting therefrom.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative financial and operational impacts resulting therefrom, the Board of Directors approved to forego all cash retainers and fees payable for Board and committee service, effective from April 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020.

COVID-19 has completely disrupted the cruise industry, with Royal Caribbean in the midst of cancelling all sailings through at least mid-May.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain shared a brand new video on how he sees the current COVID-19 climate, and what his outlook on the situation.

Mr. Fain begins his video paralleling the current crisis with the timeline of a typical hurricane, and how things look bad before they get better.

"There's a reason for the old sailor's expression that it's always darkest before the dawn; It is darkest before the dawn, but we're not yet in the darkest part of the night. But, we're beginning to approach that period and we will have to prepare ourselves for two things."

"Firstly, we need to prepare ourselves for getting ready for that dark period, and secondly, we need to prepare ourselves for emerging into the dawn that follows."

Mr. Fain also talked about Royal Caribbean's dedication to the travel agent community, and the launch of RCL Cares. The support program helps small businesses navigate the government's CARES Act in a time when businesses are hurting all over.

"We hope these benefits can help your business not only recover, but prepared to charge ahead when we return to service."

"In these times, you can never have too much support and together we will get through this and back on the track to success."

Mr. Fain has been producing videos on a near-weekly basis, and you can check out each of his powerful and insightful takes on the situation:

• View Fain's video from March 25
• View Fain's video from March 13
• View Fain's video from March 2

"As Americans, we have a history of grit and resilience, and both will be needed as we deal with the rising devastation this diseases is bringing."

An article going around the internet today has spread a lot of misinformation about Royal Caribbean's current plans due to a misunderstanding about a recent policy change.

An article on Yahoo! Finance says Royal Caribbean has extended its halt of global cruise operations until September 1, 2020.

Unfortunately, this is inaccurate information.

Royal Caribbean has only cancelled nearly all of its sailings through May 11, 2020. Alaska, Canada and New England sailings are delayed until at least July 1, 2020.

The author likely is confusing Royal Caribbean's recent announcement to extend its Cruise with Confidence program through September 1.  This program allows guests to cancel their cruise up to 48 hours before there sailing and receive a 100% future cruise credit.

Royal Caribbean further clarified the article is indeed false as well.

(1/2) Hi there! Only our Cruise with Confidence program was extended until September 1st, 2020, which allows our guests o cancel up to 48 hours prior to their sailing.

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) April 1, 2020

(2/2) We remain hopeful we'll be able to resume our operations come May 12th and apologize for any confusion due to this article. For the latest travel updates please refer to our website: https://t.co/8mVZTiRkGp. -Yami

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) April 1, 2020

Royal Caribbean has five Oasis Class ships in operation, with more coming, and you might be wondering what the differences are between each of the ships.

Each ship offers something a little different, but they have more in common than different. While they are not carbon copies of each other, a lot of the offerings are similar, and the Royal Amplified program aims to bring the amenities up between them all.

Keep in mind that this is not a listing of every single difference, rather, it is a look at the significant differences that most guests will notice.

Read more: All about Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class cruise ships

Oasis of the Seas

Check out our first timers' guide to Oasis of the Seas.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Cats & One Sky
• Shows in AquaTheater: Aqua80
• Show in Studio B: Frozen in Time
• Mission Control: Apollo 18 escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Giovanni's Table
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Portside BBQ
• El Loco Fresh
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Sugar Beach
• Coastal Kitchen
• Starbucks

Pools & Slides

• Caribbean-style pool deck makeover, complete with Lime & Coconut signature bar. New day beds, casitas and variety of seating were added
• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides: Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark (larger than on Harmony or Symphony)

Unique Offerings

• Music Hall (instead of Dazzles)
• Ultimate Abyss slide
• Laser tag: The Clash for the Crystal City
• Spotlight Karaoke venue
• Bionic Bar
• Revamped Adventure Ocean
• Small Wonders

Allure of the Seas

Check out our Allure of the Seas cruise ship review.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Mamma Mia
• Shows in AquaTheater: OceanAria
• Show in Studio B: Ice Games! Ice Show
• No escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Johnny Rockets
• Giovanni’s Italian Table
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Samba Grill
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Sabor
• Coastal Kitchen
• Starbucks
• Park Cafe

Pools & Slides

• Allure of the Seas does not have any water slides
• There are four pools for all ages and a lounge with whirlpools

Unique Offerings

• Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship without some of the newest features due to the fact she was not amplified
• Last Champagne Bar on an Oasis Class ship
• One of the last Sabor restaurants in the fleet
• Samba Grill Brazilian steakhouse
• Small Wonders

Harmony of the Seas

Check out our Harmony of the Seas Guide & Review.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Grease & Columbus...The Musical!
• Shows in AquaTheater: The Fine Line & Big Daddy's Hideaway Heist
• Show in Studio B: 1887 A Journey in Time & iSkate
• Escape the Rubicon escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Jamie's Italian
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Mini Bites
• Wonderland
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides: Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark
• No pool in the Solarium

Unique Offerings

• Bionic Bar
• Ultimate Abyss
• Virtual balcony cabins

Symphony of the Seas

Check out our Symphony of the Seas cruise review.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Hairspray & Flight
• Shows in AquaTheater: HiRO
• Show in Studio B: 1977 & iSkate 2.0
• The Royal Society of Puzzles escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Jamie's Italian
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• El Loco Fresh
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Hooked Seafood
• Wonderland
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides: Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark

Unique Offerings

• Bionic Bar
• Ultimate Abyss
• Virtual balcony cabins
• Enhanced Solarium Bar area
• Ultimate Family Suite
• Laser tag

Wonder of the Seas

Check out our Wonder of the Seas cruise ship review.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Voices and The Effectors II: Crash 'n' Burn
• Shows in AquaTheater: inTENse
• Show in Studio B: 365: The Seasons on Ice
• Escape the Rubicon escape room

Notable Dining Options

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

Pools & Slides

• The Lime & Coconut is at the center of the Caribbean vibes, with two poolside bars and live music
• Perfect Storm trio of high-speed waterslides
• Kids aqua park Splashaway Bay

Unique Offerings

• Suite Neighborhood with Suite Sun Deck
• Wonder Playscape
• The Vue bar
• The largest poolside movie screen in the Royal Caribbean fleet
• Newly designed, dedicated kids and teens spaces at Adventure Ocean, Social100 and The Patio
• The Ultimate Family Suite

Utopia of the Seas

Utopia of the Seas will be the sixth Oasis Class ship, debuting in July 2024 in Port Canaveral, Florida. She will be the first Oasis Class ship to start with short 3- and 4-night sailings.

Entertainment

• Show in AquaTheater: Aqua 80 Too

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• El Loco Fresh
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Izumi in the Park
• Hooked Seafood
• Starbucks
• Coastal Kitchen
• The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar
• The Spare Tire
• Royal Railway - Utopia Station

Pools & Slides

• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark
• One FlowRider

Unique Offerings

• Pesky Parrot Caribbean bar
• The longest Ultimate Abyss slide yet
• Suite Neighborhood with Suite Sun Deck
• Utopia Playscape
• Solarium Suites, Royal Loft Suite and The Ultimate Family Suite
• Two casinos (smoking and non-smoking)

More information about Utopia of the Seas can be found here.

Aside from questions about when Royal Caribbean will resume sailings, the next most commonly asked question I have been seeing is if buying Royal Caribbean stock is a good idea.

The COVID-19 situation has wreaked havoc on the stock market, and cruise line stocks have been among the hardest hit.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) is -74.16% lower on its value in year-to-date trading and has touched a low of $19.25 and a high of $135.32 in the current 52-week trading range.

Is Royal Caribbean's stock a good buy?

Of the many rules and advice one can give about buying stocks, it is you want to "buy low and sell high".  Essentially, buy stocks when they are at their lowest and sell when they are at their highest.

Most stock experts believe cruise line stocks are pretty darn low, although it is anyone's guess if the price has bottomed-out quite yet.

There are a lot of factors currently working against Royal Caribbean: their ships are shutdown until at least May, there is little hope of a bailout by the U.S. government, and the general public's anxiety about COVID-19 and going on a cruise.

On the flip side, the appeal of buying Royal Caribbean's stocks is some day, this will pass and the cruise line is very likely to return to a position of making billions of dollars again in profit, which saw its stock price rocket to the top of the market.

Chris Woronka, senior leisure analyst at Deutsche Bank, commented on the cruise line's current situation to Barron's, "There is meaningful cash burn as the ships are idle. But I do think these companies all have strong support from their banking groups."

“You would prefer to have some operation during the peak summer period, but it’s unknown exactly what that’s going to look like,” says Woronka. “You’re going to scale back into profitability. It’s not a switch where you go from zero to normal. It’s going to be a process to build back to profitability, but it starts with getting some sailings going again.”

The share price would not as cheap as it is if there were not risks. Analysts seem to agree the dominant risk is how long COVID-19 drags on, especially if it goes into next year. In addition, even when the crisis is over, how quickly consumers will want to cruise again is debatable.  And then there is the risk that affects everyone, which is the possibility of a global recession that will slow any recovery down.

This is a classic "can you weather storm now, in anticipation of better days later" situation.

Benefits of owning stock beyond investment

You should buy any stock because you think it is a good investment, but owning Royal Caribbean stock has an added benefit if you own at least 100 shares.

The benefit is

• $250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights
• $100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 13 nights.
• $50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less.

You may request this benefit multiple times-as often as you sail on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises or Azamara. 

Benefit is non-transferable and not available to employees, agents of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. or its subsidiaries and affiliates, travel agents and tour operators. Benefit is not combinable with interline rates, travel agent rates, and employee friends and family rates. Benefit cannot be redeemed for chartered sailings, any Galapagos sailings or complimentary sailings.

It is essentially free onboard credit for investing in a stock you may have had interest in buying anyway, but the combinability is a hit or miss if you can actually take advantage of it or not.

Disclosure: I/we do not own any stocks mentioned in this article, nor any position in the stocks mentioned.  I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com). 

Royal Caribbean announced today it is creating RCL Cares to show support of the travel agent community that aims to assist thousands of travel professionals in the U.S., Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories dealing with the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis.  

RCL Cares will roll out in a few days, and offer variety of services to help educate travel partners as they navigate the myriad of government benefits, including those in the newly signed U.S. economic relief measure—the CARES Act.

These services will include one-on-one assistance and access to key resources and the latest information pertaining to recovery benefits available under the act.

Travel partners can find educational material about the new law beginning today, and they will soon have the opportunity to receive more assistance through a resource desk the company is setting up. The program will not provide legal advice.

The sales teams from Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea will guide travel advisors through the information about the CARES Act as they consider their options for economic relief. 

Travel professionals can get started with RCL Cares at CruisingPower.com, where they can access highlights of the CARES Act, FAQs, Small Business Association resources and tips. The support program will introduce new services and tools in the near future to continue helping travel partners during this difficult time.