Royal Caribbean Blog

Cruising has changed a lot over the years, and while some traditions remain a part of the experience (formal night), others have gone away.

It is interesting to look back at how cruising used to be, and what norms then seem odd now.  One of those "not a thing anymore" cruise experiences was a passenger list.

Similar to a phone book, Royal Caribbean would compile a list of guests and crew on a given sailing and distribute it across the ship. It would include the name of each guest, and their home town.

Passenger lists were a vestige of the early days of cruising. They were provided in order to make introductions among fellow guests easier, as well as serve as a souvenir from the voyage. They were given to all passengers aboard liners and cruise ships until the 1970s and 1980s.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Bret Chafe shared a copy of one such passenger list from Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas sailing he sailed on back on September 23, 1989.

Take a look at who the ship's purser was on this sailing. Yes, the man that would eventually become Royal Caribbean International's President & CEO, Michael Bayley!

Not only was the passenger list an accumulation of names, titles and locations, it included some facts about the ship and the sailing.

The bulk of the publication was a listing of guests and their names, which by today's standards sounds a bit odd to share this information among guests.

So what happened to passenger lists? The evolution of cruises, along with an added desire for privacy among guests, saw the passenger list become obsolete. 

When passengers were given the choice of listing their names or not, many opted not to be included, and thus a list of only some passengers was not useful. In other cases, cruise lines removed it as an option in order to save time and money required in the purser’s department that might be better used elsewhere.

Would you want to see passenger lists still available on cruise ships? Or did these go away for a good reason? Did you ever sail on a ship that had one? Share your thoughts on this throwback to cruising's past in our comments!

It appears Royal Caribbean's joint venture for port development is looking to discuss timelines with the Bahamian government on the development of a $300 million project in Freeport, Bahamas.

Holistica Destinations CEO Robert Shamosh told Tribune Business it has “secured the required liquidity” for the project.

There was no timeline for when construction or other milestones will occur, but Hollistica was already in talks with banks and other lenders to secure the necessary project financing, according to Mr. Shamosh.

“Holistica Destinations confirms that we remain committed to, and are moving forward with, the proposed development on Grand Bahama. BPI, Holistica’s subsidiary, recently announced it has secured the required liquidity to develop the Grand Bahama project and is currently working with several financial institutions to secure the financing,” the statement added.

“BPI will be meeting in the next couple of weeks with The Bahamas government to further discuss project details and timelines.” 

In early March 2020, Holistica announced the $300 million investment in Freeport, Grand Bahama that will redevelop the Freeport cruise ship terminal to bring a new world-class destination with a one-of-a-kind hotel, convention center, water adventure park and more.

Bahamian officials, however, seem less optimistic that the project will move forward anytime soon.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, last month told Tribune Business he was “on his knees” hoping both projects pull through. He acknowledged that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean were likely to adopt a “wait and see” approach to those investments once the COVID-19 pandemic eases due to the major financial blow they have suffered.

And, disclosing that the Government “hasn’t heard anything yet” on either development, the minister said his “whole arms are crossed” in the hope both cruise lines will eventually proceed - albeit with some delay to construction and opening schedules - once the global health crisis has abated.

Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister K. Peter Turnquest expressed similar sentiments in a Zoom conference with Old Fort Bay Rotary members. “As we understand it, today those projects are still on although admittedly delayed, and we just hope they come through and we come to the bottom of this economic challenge relatively quickly,” he said.

Royal Caribbean launched its Save on Adventure sale today, which adds up to $200 bonus instant savings.

Save on Adventure Sale applies to new bookings made between May 14 – May 18, 2020.

Here are the promo details:

•  Instant savings of up to $200 USD per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after June 14, 2020
  • 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
• 30% off cruise fare for all guests in the stateroom
• Kids Sail Free applies to new bookings made between May 6 – 31, 2020.
  • 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.

30% Off Every Guest 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.  Save on Adventure Sale is combinable with 30% Off Every Guest 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 other Crown and Anchor discounts.  Offers 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. 

Royal Caribbean International President & CEO Michael Bayley spoke to travel agents on a webinar on Wednesday and commented on a number of commonly asked questions surrounding the current situation and the cruise line's recovery.

Mr. Bayley answered a series of questions that travel agents had submitted prior to the webinar about a variety of concerns related to the timing and plans to resume cruises.

The questions were all about the current situation Royal Caribbean is facing in the midst of no sailings and the global health crisis.

When will Royal Caribbean cruises resume?

Naturally, the question everyone wants to know is when will Royal Caribbean start cruising again.

Mr. Bayley indicated internal research is showing guests are more interested in traveling again, and bookings improving, particularly for 2021. He believes people are getting fatigued with the quarantine and everything else going on, and people want to plan their vacations once this all ends.

"You need to be timing your return to service so it fits with how consumers are thinking about taking a vacation. We have some protocols that we need to really get right, and of course we need to be working with the CDC on all of these things."

"There's going to be a point in time in the future, I think, when all of these things cross and it'll be the perfect moment to announce that we'll be returning to service. I really don't know when that will be."

Mr. Bayley made a comparison to what is happening in China to what may happen in the United States and Europe. May signifies a major travel opportunity in China, and Royal Caribbean sent their team in China to visit Shanghai Disneyland to get a sense of what recovery looks like in a major tourism center in a country so hard hit. They saw a major bounce back with demand for tickets there, along with travel all around China.

Which ships will restart sailing first?

Another question posed was in what way will Royal Caribbean bring back its ships into service.

"It's pretty logical that when we restart our operations, when everything's good and when we've got everything figured out, that it will be the most popular products on the most popular itineraries with the best ships going to the best destinations."

"I would say the startup, depending upon the circumstances and timing, will be relatively gentle. It won't be a sudden, 'Wow, everything's operating.' I think we'll put our toe in the water and begin operations and make sure everything is perfect, and make sure the guests are having a wonderful time, and making sure we've got all of the protocols established."

"Probably the short product to Perfect Day will be among the first to start."

Private destinations role in recovery

Many travel advisors were curious what role private destinations, such as Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, play in starting back up.

"The great thing about the destinations is we have a massive amount of control over who comes, who goes, all of the protocols. We can manage those destinations exceptionally well. I think the private destinations will be integral to the recovery."

What will onboard experience be like for guests when things resume?

Equally high on the list of concerns among guests and travel agents alike is what will it be like to be on a Royal Caribbean cruise, especially in the first few months cruises resume sailing.

"Of course it has to be fantastic, making sure that everybody is safe, both from a practical operational perspective, and also from a very optical perspective of making sure people understand that this is good, I don't need to worry about these concerns, I'm going to have a great vacation."

"I think when we're ready to announce all of the processes and protocols that we'll be introducing, I hope people will be excited and comforted by the way that we're approaching this."

In terms of the Windjammer buffet, Mr. Bayley did talk a little about what it may look like going forward.

"We've got teams working on every single element of the guest experience, and we obviously have a team working on the buffet. I think in the beginning, there will not be a buffet in the beginning, that's how I see it. It depends again upon the timing. We will utilize the space, we will utilize the Windjammer, but in all probability it won't be a classical buffet. It will be something more akin to a restaurant."

"I think the key focus on dining, for example, is making sure that our guests have plenty of choice. But now, that plenty of choice has to be put through the lens of distancing, and safety and health, etc. in a more acute way. I think there will be changes for sure, and I think the word 'buffet' will diminish and we'll replace it with a new concept."

Will the delivery of Odyssey of the Seas be delayed?

Last week it was disclosed that new ship deliveries will be delayed, and that lead to a question about if Odyssey of the Seas will be on time or not.

"We are working on that with the yard. Everything was on schedule. There have been delays because of obviously there has a lot going on around the world, and it impacted the shipyard at the same time. Our newbuild organization is deep in project discussion now with the yard itself. We don't have any definite dates yet. I would hope in the coming weeks we will have something firmed up."

"I think there may be some delays, but we're working through it as a team to try and figure that out."

What Royal Caribbean is doing to repatriate crew members

At one point, Mr. Bayley interrupted the question and answer session to bring up a point he wanted to raise concerning the work Royal Caribbean is doing to repatriate its crew members, as well as dispel inaccurate media reports on those efforts.

Mr. Bayley characterized getting crew members home as, "genuinely a massive challenge," due to being caught in the middle of different laws and restrictions related to quarantine rules.

"We've been getting those crew home over the past two months, and we've managed to get over 10,000 crew home and we've got about another 20,000 crew going home in the coming weeks."

Related to those efforts, Mr. Bayley commented on news reports that painted a different picture than what the cruise line was conducting.

"There were some media reports that quite honestly we're one-sided and really unfair," Mr Bayley stated.  "I can assure everybody that we are passionate about our crew. We love our crew. We are doing everything in our power to take care for them, and to make sure that they get home to their families. By the way, over a thousand crew decided they just simply wanted to stay on our ships because they didn't feel safe going home."

"We're doing everything we can to take care of our crew and get them home. The crew are pleased with what we're doing, they're thankful, they're understanding."

What will happen to the President's Cruise this year?

One travel agent wanted to know what the outlook was for this year's President's Cruise in Europe and if it will occur.

Mr. Bayley responded, "I'm feeling pretty bullish that I'm going to be on that President's cruise, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Will there be a shift back to smaller ships?

Another question brought up was if the current health crisis will lead Royal Caribbean to shift back to smaller ships instead of larger ones.

"Through the lens of COVID-19, it's really about density and space. I think people may assume because there's less people on a smaller ship, that makes it better, but that's really not correct. A larger ship has a lot more space."

What questions would you ask Michael Bayley? Share your top concerns in the comments!

Last week Royal Caribbean expanded the option to take advantage of a price drop up until 48 hours before the start of the cruise.

The Best Price Guarantee allows guests to take advantage of a better price up to 48 hours before your sail date. If there is a better price, you can contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean and have the new price applied.

If there is a price drop and you re-price the cruise, you will receive the difference as a non-refundable onboard credit inside final payment or rate adjustment outside final payment.

This is significant because prior to this announcement, once guests hit final payment date, it was not practical to make price changes past the final payment date.

The Best Price Guarantee is part of Royal Caribbean's Cruise with Confidence program, that aims to offer guests more flexibility and assurance that they can cancel or rebook if they so change their mind later.

Like other aspects of the Cruise with Confidence program, the Best Price Guarantee covers sailings departing on or before April 30, 2022.

Best Price Guarantee FAQs

If I am issued onboard credit, when will I get it?

The difference in pricing will be added to the booking as an onboard credit and it’ll be applied within 14 business days, and a new confirmation will be generated with the Onboard Credit value.

If there is a price reduction, will it automatically be applied to my reservation?

No, pricing will remain unchanged unless you contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean to reprice the reservation.

If I reprice my cruise under Best Price Guarantee, will I be able to keep promotional onboard credits previously confirmed on the reservation?

When you re-price a cruise, you accept the new promotional incentives, which replace any onboard credit or promos that came with the previous booking.

Do all rate codes qualify for Best Price Guarantee?

Select restricted rates are ineligible for Lift & Shift and Best Price Guarantee - including but not limited to Net rates, Casino rates, Travel Agent Friends & Family rates, Travel Agent Reduced rates, and complimentary staterooms. 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has hired Washington D.C. lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and  independent lobbyist Kevin Kayes to represent their interests.

Politico reported the cruise giant has hired Brownstein Hyatt to bolster the cruise line's lobbying power.

Despite the Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines not getting federal stimulus funds in March, Royal Caribbean’s vice president of federal relations, Eleni Kalisch, says the hiring has nothing to do with the current coronavirus situation.

"We retained Brownstein Hyatt just to enhance our general legislative work in DC," Kalisch told Politico. "They will not be seeking any coronavirus relief on our behalf."

Coincidentally, Carnival also hired lobbyists in Crestview Strategy.

Going on a Royal Caribbean cruise is a great family vacation idea, but cruising with kids is definitely a different cruise compared to without them.

Having started cruising as an adult, and then bringing my children on Royal Caribbean, I have made quite a few shifts and adjustments in how I cruise, and here are some important things anyone going on a Royal Caribbean cruise should know about for their trip!

Cruise at their speed

One of the earliest lessons I learned about cruising with kids is to slow our routine down, and let the kids have time for them.

As adults, it feels natural to do a lot of walking around the ship and exploring different venues.  In addition, "burning the candle at both ends" is something else we parents tend to do, in terms of waking up early for excursions and staying up late for shows and dinner.

While you do not have to give up everything you are used to, slowing the pace down is a great idea for the sanity of everyone included.

One thing I always try to include now is time for the kids to splash and slide on the pool deck, sleep in some more, and provide breaks where they can chill out in the room.

Providing kids time to "do their own thing" helps them either burn some of the energy they have, or regain it by taking it easy. 

Two rooms or bust!

I love my children, but I do not love sharing and sleeping in the same room as them.

Most families look for a single stateroom that can accommodate everyone, but from one parent to another, let me emphasize the importance of getting two smaller connecting rooms.

The cost of two staterooms is often cheaper than some of the family staterooms, and can offer more separation between family members (a plus for families with teenagers).

Booking two staterooms also allows for connecting staterooms, in which there is a door between the staterooms that allows for easy flow between them.  This can be convenient during the day to keep the doors open, essentially creating a two room stateroom.

Splashaway Bay is the best onboard feature

Royal Caribbean has been a family-friendly cruise line since its inception, and among all the features and amenities it has added for kids, nothing has been as big of a hit with kids as Splashaway Bay.

The kid-focused aquatic park is the destination for my kids on any ship and has become a must-have onboard amenity for them.

They love the slides, splash buckets, geysers, and fountains.

I love the lounge chairs that surround the area, as well as the conveniently located nearby bars.

Register for Adventure Ocean on the first day

Just like the first day of school, it is important to register your kids for Adventure Ocean on the first day of the cruise.

Adventure Ocean is Royal Caribbean's award-winning children's programming and it is the focal point of what the cruise line offers for kids to do onboard.

Many parents are just as apprehensive about their kids going in there as the kids are about fitting in.  My best advice is to go to Adventure Ocean on the first day during the open house hours in the early afternoon.

Not only is this meant for registration, but it allows the kids to explore the facility, meet the counselors, and ask questions. Taking advantage of the open house tends to alleviate a great deal of concern from parent and child alike.

By the same token, going to Adventure Ocean on the first evening is when a lot of the friendships and social circles are formed, so ideally have the kids go up on the first day.

Leave the stroller at home

My wife and I argued about this point when my children were younger, but I say leave the stroller at home.

Strollers are great, but on a cruise ship I find them more of a hindrance then a benefit due to their size.

I totally understand how nice it is not to have to carry kids, but I find strollers totally impractical in many Caribbean ports due to uneven paving, lots of beaches, and of course the added weight of dealing with it. On the ship, they just take up space and narrow hallways make them a pain to navigate.

If you really need a stroller, I would concede an umbrella stroller that can fold down and is not too heavy is not a terrible idea, especially if it can fit under the bed.

What car seats?

This may be the most shocking aspect of this post, but a lot of parents ask how I bring a car seat to use in taxis in Caribbean ports and the answer is I don't.

Bringing a car seat is about the most impractical thing you can have on a cruise, and in almost every single Caribbean port, no taxis provide them.  So I do what my parents did with me when I was a kid, and have the kids on our lap or buckle them in with regular seat belts.

I know, it is sacrilegious to do that back at home, but it is the way it is when traveling in the Caribbean.

Don't be afraid to ask the waiter for something else

Kids are notoriously picky eaters, but that does not mean you have to relegate yourself to only eating at Sorrento's or the Windjammer.

At any restaurant you dine at, be sure to ask the waiter for something else if the kids are not finding anything to their liking on the printed menu.

Many restaurants have a kids menu, and in addition to that, I have found waiters more than happy to grab a slice of pizza or a hot dog from Sorrento's or the Windjammer for the kids.

The key is not to feel bashful for asking for something else. Your child is far from the first to chomp down on pizza and fries while dining at Izumi.

Saving money with kids

My final lesson with cruising with kids is a smattering of ways to save a few bucks along the way.

• Do not prebook kids at specialty dining (or buy them a dining package). Kids ages 6-12 can dine at specialty restaurants for a $10 cover charge.
  • The exception is Izumi Hibachi because it is so popular, book them at the adult price and ask the wait staff at check-in to refund the difference.
• There is complimentary ice cream on the pool deck throughout the day.
• Be on the lookout for Kids Sail Free deals. These have the potential to be very lucrative, especially in Alaska or Europe.

What is your best tip for cruising with kids? Share your ideas and lessons you have learned in the comments!

Allure of the Seas is going to get some, but not all, of the refurbishment work beginning this week.

The ship is on her way to Cadiz, Spain for a "technical dry dock".  Allure will enter the Navantia Cádiz shipyard in Spain at the end of this week, and the work will take about 30 days.

Royal Caribbean was forced to postpone the work in March after Spain closed its cruise ports in March.

The amplification aspect of the work to be done is still being finalized, and Royal Caribbean will communicate an update when a plan is in place.

Spanish media is also reporting that the shipyard Commitee Chairman, José Gallardo, indicated Royal Caribbean has decided to postpone some of the upgrade work that was originally planned, and instead simply focus on the propulsion and navigation of the ship.

“La reforma del hotel no se va a hacer, algo lógico dada la situación del negocio de los cruceros, ”Gallardo said. This translates to, "The reform of the hotel is not going to be done, which is logical given the situation of the cruise ship business."

The work will be carried out by workers at the shipyard, with a focus on limiting the presence of foreign subcontractors.

Like so many other aspects of Royal Caribbean's business, plans for upgrades to Allure of the Seas (and Explorer of the Seas) were put on hold and now delayed until the company's financial situation can improve.

Royal Caribbean indicated last week it identified approximately $3.0 billion and $1.4 billion of capital expenditure reductions or deferrals in 2020 and 2021.

Planned upgrades for Allure of the Seas included the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, completely redesigned Adventure Ocean kids and teens spaces, the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, and Music Hall.

Royal Caribbean's Lift and Shift program offers guests the option to move their existing cruise reservation one year ahead, and it has intrigued plenty of potential cruisers looking to defer their vacations.

The appeal of Lift and Shift is it provides a simple and clean way to move a booking without having to cancel and rebook.

Taxes & fees will be adjusted to reflect the charges associated with the new sailing. Taxes & fees from the original sail date will not be protected.

How does Lift and Shift work?

If you have a cruise booked, Royal Caribbean is offering the opportunity between now and January 31, 2021, to protect the original price and promotional offering of a cruise by selecting a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.

You do not need to book the same ship or even class of ships.

Does it matter when a cruise was booked?

Guests are eligible to rebook under the Lift & Shift guidelines between now and January 31, 2021. After this point, Lift & Shift expires and is no longer eligible.

All existing bookings, as well as bookings made between now and January 31, 2021 are eligible.

Royal Caribbean announced Lift and Shift will be discontinued on February 1, 2021. However, they are still offering Lift & Shift when new rounds of cruise cancellations are announced.

You will need to refer to the specific Lift & Shift terms and conditions when offered for specifics on how and when it can be used.

Do all rates qualify for Lift & Shift?

Most cruise rates do apply with no restrictions, but there are a few exceptions.

Select restricted rates are ineligible for Lift & Shift and Best Price Guarantee - including but not limited to

• Net rates
• Casino rates
• Travel Agent Friends & Family rates
• Travel Agent Reduced rates
• Complimentary staterooms

Are there any blackout dates for Lift & Shift?

Christmas, New Year’s, and Chinese New Year’s cruises are ineligible, unless you are currently confirmed on one of these sailings and wish to take advantage of Lift & Shift to move to the same sailing next year (assuming all other qualifying criteria is met).

Will my pre-cruise purchases at their booked rates come with Lift & Shift?

Unfortunately, not.

Pre-cruise purchases such as beverage packages, shore excursions, etc. will be removed during the re-accommodation process and can be added to the future reservation, as desired, at prevailing rates.

What happens to hotels and transfer purchases?

If you purchased hotel accommodations or transfers with Royal Caribbean, these will be removed during the re-accommodation process, but can be re-added, if desired, once confirmed
on the future ship/sailing of choice at prevailing rates.

If you purchased these outside of Royal Caribbean, you will need to be addressed directly with whomever you purchased it originally.

Is there a limit to how many times I can use Lift & Shift?

Yes, you can only use it once throughout the lifetime of the booking.

Lift & Shift scenarios

While the rules laid out in this post answer many questions, there may still be lingering questions and conundrums you may have about specific situations.

In order to provide better context, Royal Caribbean has provided some examples of when Lift & Shift may or may not be applicable.

Different ship

Currently booked on Explorer of the Seas in Europe this August 2020. Can I Lift & Shift to Harmony of the Seas in September 2021?

Yes, provided the sailing next year is on a departure that falls within a 4-week span of their original sail date, you are able to enjoy a cruise onboard the Harmony of the Seas in
Europe within the same stateroom and on a sailing of the same length. 

Currently booked on an Open Jaw Alaska itinerary onboard Radiance of the Seas departing August 21, 2020 and want to move to a Roundtrip Alaska itinerary onboard Ovation of the Seas departing August 20, 2021. Does this qualify for Lift & Shift?

Yes, assuming you want the same stateroom category since the sailing length, itinerary type, and timing meet the required criteria.

Different Sailing Length

Currently booked on a 4-night Bahamas cruise onboard Mariner of the Seas in October 2020 and now want to move to a 3-Night weekend getaway onboard the same ship in October 2021, can I take advantage of Lift & Shift as long as the same stateroom category is selected?

No, because the two sailings are not the same length. 

While the same itinerary, stateroom category, and 4-week cruise window were selected, you would have to select another 4-night Bahamas cruise in October 2021 to qualify for Lift & Shift.

Different stateroom type

Is it possible to Lift & Shift from 2020 to the same cruise in 2021, but upgrade to a balcony stateroom over the prior booked oceanview?

Yes, you could upgrade to a balcony, but under prevailing pricing and promotional offerings.

Unfortunately, prior rates and promotions will not carry through.

Different timing

Is it feasible to Lift & Shift an Oasis of the Seas cruise from Port Everglades on December 6, 2020 to Oasis of the Seas departing Miami on December 19, 2021?

Since December 19, 2021 is a Christmas sailing and the current reservation is confirmed on a non-holiday December cruise, unfortunately, Lift & Shift does not apply.

Are cruises cancelled eligible for Lift & Shift?

Lift & Shift is applicable to cancelled sailings departing between June 12 and July 31, 2020. Those sailings previously impacted by Royal Caribbean's pause in operation, unfortunately, are ineligible.

If you are keeping score at home, we have now gone through the longest period of time since Royal Caribbean voluntarily suspended all of its cruises without any more cruises being cancelled.

Here is the breakdown of the recent timeline of cancelled cruise announcements:

• March 13: Initial cruise cancellations announced for March 14 - April 11, 2020
• March 24: Second round of cruise cancellations: April 12 - May 11
• April 16: Third round of cruise cancellations: May 12 - June 11

The time between the first and second announcements of cancelled cruises was 11 days, and then the second and third round took 23 days.

At the risk of jinxing things, today marks 25 days since the last round of cancelled cruises.

This statistical anomaly is not necessarily an indicator that more cruises will not be cancelled. In fact, Royal Caribbean disclosed last week that more cancelled cruises are possible, as continued disruptions to travel and port operations in various regions.

However, it is a good sign that with shelter in place laws being lifted around the United States and abroad, perhaps this just one more sign that we are getting closer to cruises resuming.

More than any other question, cruisers are curious to know when will Royal Caribbean resume cruises.

Royal Caribbean has not provided much detail on when it intends to resume cruises, other than stating it will resume cruises on June 12, 2020 (with the exception of Canada, New England and Alaska sailings).

Carnival Cruises announced a more fleshed out plan to resume sailings later this summer, while simultaneously cancelling more cruises. The announcement seemed to carry more weight with it, as it provided more than just a new target date to sail again.

When do you think cruises will start back up again? Share your predictions in the comments!