Royal Caribbean Blog

With Royal Caribbean (and all cruise lines) not offering sailings currently, cruisers have been looking for some fun escapades to help pass the time and the latest trend is cruise bingo cards.

We have seen virtual cruises, coloring sheets, and now we have a home version of bingo to play.

Part of the appeal of social media is sharing with others your experiences, and we have seen a few bingo cards pop up around Facebook, where you can check off your cruise "achievements".

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service Vicki Freed shared one such card on her Facebook page that focused on how many ports you have visited.

Our friends (and sponsor) MEI Travel came up with their own cruise bingo card, which includes a few references to this site!

The Facebook group NYC Rocks came up with Travel Bingo: Royal Caribbean edition.

We spotted this Perfect Day at CocoCay bingo card on Facebook.

These are fun diversions that help us all take a mental escape from this world of no cruises.

If your Royal Caribbean cruise was cancelled as a result of the voluntary global suspension of cruising, you have the choice of a Future Cruise Credit or getting a full refund.

There are advantages of both options, but if you are interested in a refund, here is what you need to know.

How long do you have to decide if you want a refund or a credit?

Royal Caribbean wants to provide its guests the greatest flexibility when choosing between either compensation offer.

Even if you opt for a future cruise credit, you have a certain amount of time to change your mind and opt for a refund instead.  Royal Caribbean would prefer you take the future cruise credit, but they do provide a means of changing your mind up until a certain point.

• If your cancelled sailing was on-or-before March 14 - May 11, refunds must be requested on-or-before December 31, 2021 and will be processed approximately 30 days after the request is submitted.
• If your cancelled sailing was between May 12 – June 11, 2020, refunds must be requested on-or-before December 31, 2020 and will be processed approximately 45 days after the request is submitted.

Keep in mind that even if you take a future cruise credit, taxes, fees, and prepaid gratuities  will be refunded to the original form of payment automatically.

How to request a refund

If you know you want a refund, there are two methods you can employ to get the process started on processing it.

If you booked through a travel agent, my advice is contact them and ask them to do it for you.

Alternatively, Royal Caribbean provides a self-service form that you can fill out and submit your refund request. This form is good for requesting refunds of a cancelled sailing, as well as opting into the Cruise with Confidence program.

You will need a few details to complete the self-service request:

• Booking ID
• Ship
• Sail Date
• Last Name

When can I expect refunds for shore excursions, specialty dining, beverage package, and other add-ons?

For sailings departing on-or-before April 10, 2020, once the reservation is cancelled, refunds can be expected within 30 days.

For sailings departing April 11 – May 11, 2020, guests had the option to select a 125% onboard credit to be used on a future sailing, in lieu of a refund. This option was available, if desired, through April 8, 2020, and has since expired. The fulfillment of both options is currently underway and can be expected within 30 days of request date.

For sailings departing May 12 – June 11, 2020, guests can elect to convert their purchases into an onboard credit valued at 125% of the amount paid via the Cruise Planner tool. You must opt-in to take advantage of this option on-or-before Monday, May 4, 2020 – at which time the offer will expire.

Thereafter, all guests who did not opt-in for the elevated onboard credit will automatically receive a refund to the original form of payment. Please allow 45 days for processing. This offer is applicable to individual reservations, as well as individuals within a Group.

Can I change my mind later and opt for a future cruise credit instead of a refund?

Yes, if the refund has not yet been processed, the compensation offer can revert back to a Future Cruise Credit.

What if my cruise isn't cancelled yet? Can I request a refund?

If your cruise has not been cancelled yet, you have a few choices that will depend on when your sailing is scheduled.

If you have not reached your final payment date, you can always cancel your cruise to get a refund, subject to the usual Royal Caribbean policies on how to cancel a cruise.

If your cruise is on or before September 1, 2020, you can take advantage of the Cruise with Confidence program to get a 100% future cruise credit.

The White House announced on Thursday a collection of executives from a variety of industry groups that are tasked with advising President Trump on how to best restart the economy, including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain.

Along with Fain, the cruise lines executives include Micky Arison, Chairman of the Board. Carnival Corporation, and Frank Del Rio, President and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 

Almost 200 people make up the this new economic council, that include executives from sectors including technology, agriculture, banking, financial services, defense, energy, transportation, sports and health care.

The task of these executives, scholars and industry leaders is to work work together to help guide the United States to economic recovery.

There is no indication yet how this industry group will work, or how the suggestions or ideas formulated by members will be used to reopen business, schools, stadiums or offices.

Despite Royal Caribbean's worldwide cruise shutdown that was just recently extended again, work continues on the cruise line's newest cruise ship, Odyssey of the Seas.

Odyssey is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany and, the shipyard released a 360 photo of the build hall where Odyssey of the Seas and other ships are being worked on.

Viewable in the 360-view is Odyssey of the Seas, which recently had her last block added, along with the first phase of the AIDAcosma and other blocks of AIDAcosma nearby.

Odyssey of the Seas will be the cruise line's second Quantum Ultra Class ship, and is scheduled to debuts in November 2020 when she sails out of Port Everglades, Florida.

Royal Caribbean announced today it has extended its global voluntary suspension of sailings through June 11, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of this new extension of cancelled sailings, Royal Caribbean expects to return to service on June 12, 2020.

This is the third time Royal Caribbean has cancelled sailings due to the health crisis, with the first set of cancelled sailings through April 10, then they cancelled all cruises through May 11.

Royal Caribbean had already cancelled all Canada, New England, and Alaska sailings through June 30, due to Canada closing all of its cruise ports.

There is a slight change to the policy on Future Cruise Credits for guests who had cancelled sailings between May 12 - June 11, 2020. They can choose between a 100% refund or 125% Future Cruise Credit. Future cruise credits must be redeemed by January 1, 2021 and sail by April 30, 2022. In addition, the deadline to request to change a future cruise credit to a refund deadline is December 31, 2020. 

Guests who had cancelled sailings between March 14 - May 11 must redeem their future cruise credits and sail by December 31, 2021.  They may request a future cruise credit to be changed to refund by December 31, 2021.

Any pre-purchased amenities and packages, such as internet, beverage, dining or RoyalUp upgrades, will be automatically refunded. Royal Caribbean Travel Protection will also be refunded.

Guests can opt-in to convert all Cruise Planner purchases into an Onboard Credit valued at 125% of the total amount paid. This offer is available to choose before it expires on May 4, 2020.

The announcement comes a day after Royal Caribbean reduced its U.S. workforce by 26%, and less than a week after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an extended “no-sail” order for cruise ships operating out of U.S. ports. The “no-sail” order could remain in effect through late July.

Competitor Carnival Cruise Line announced earlier this week it would cancel all of its worldwide sailings through June 30.

Helpful resources

• What should you do if Royal Caribbean cancels your cruise because of coronavirus pandemic?
• Should you reschedule your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2020 or 2021?
• How to cancel your Royal Caribbean cruise if you are concerned about Coronavirus
• More information on the Cruise with Confidence program

If there was a "Royal Caribbean Food Hall of Fame", I think it would be safe to say the flourless chocolate cake would be among the many inductees.

This dessert has been a staple of the main dining room dessert assortment for years, and is among the favorites of repeat cruisers. So much so, I received a special request for this recipe because it is so satisfying, and who would not want a little Royal Caribbean comfort food at home right about now?

Flourless chocolate cake Ingredients

Flourless Cake

• 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons dark rum
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee
• 7 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar

Brandy Snap

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 Cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup corn syrup

Garnish

• Whipped cream
• 20 strawberries, sliced
• Chocolate ice cream, purchased
• 1 tablespoon chopped, unsalted pistachios 
• Mint leaves

Suggested music while preparing flourless chocolate cake

• Andy Williams - A Summer Place

Flourless chocolate cake Instructions

Serves 10

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Coat a 10-inch springform pan with butter and wrap the outside with a double thickness of aluminum foil to prevent water from seeping in.
3. Over a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter. Do not overheat. Set aside to cool, stirring for 5 minutes.
4. Using an electric mixer. beat eggs and sugar until creamy Gradually fold the chocolate into egg mixture, then add rum, vanilla extract and coffee.
5. Bring a large kettle of water to a boil. Pour mixture into prepared cake pan and cover with aluminum foil. Place in a roasting pan and pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up outside of pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
6. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool to room temperature in pan, transfer to a wire rack and chill overnight.
7. For the Brandy Snap, combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll out to 1/4 inch flat on a sheet of parchment paper. Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. While still warm, cut into 1 -inch wide strips and roll one end around a shot glass.
8. Slice cake and serve on chilled dessert plates, garnished with Brandy Snap, whipped cream. strawberries. a scoop of chocolate ice cream and mint leaf. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios. 

Did you ever wonder why Royal Caribbean was the name picked for the cruise line? After all, it is not named after the founder of the company or the country or town it is based in, so why was this name chosen?

The name of the cruise line was achieved after a length discussion among the founding families.

As you might imagine, there were other names suggested and ultimately rejected. These include Pleasure Cruise Line, Holiday Cruise Line and Crown Cruise Line.

Royal Caribbean Line had been considered and rejected because the word "cruise" had to appear in the title.

The working title Royal Cruise Line aroused opposition from those who feared that it hinted at government involvement.  However, Ed Stephan and the partners felt that the word "royal" was essential, signifying a high level of service; moreover, the word had marketing appeal among republic-minded but royalty-conscious Americans.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line touched every base the partners wanted splendidly.

As a result, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line A/S - familiarly reduced to RCCL - came into formal being on January 31, 1969.

Picking the Crown and Anchor Logo

Now that the name was chosen, what about the Crown and Anchor logo? 

In the days when Song of Norway was being designed, Royal Caribbean adopted its hallmark logo, the anker med krone, or crown that became the company house flag.

Morits Skaugen had asked a designed to sketch an original that was instantly accepted by all partners in March 1969.

Examples of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor in various stages of design development

A crowned anchor is featured in the cap badges of both the Norwegian Navy and Merchant Navy. Avoiding infringement of those necessitated a different design, so Royal Caribbean's crowned anchor is abstract, yet, at the same time, deftly stylized.

Obtaining permission from the authorities was not easy. Oslo's royal family is reluctant to franchise crown facsimiles as trademarks. Some said that final permission was given the personal imprimatur of His Majesty King Olav V.

The crowned anchor has proved widely and successfully applicable, whether adorning funnel, cufflink, calling card or doorplate.

Royal Caribbean has advised travel agents that a decision on more cruise cancellations could come in the next day or two.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service Vicki Freed spoke to travel advisors in a weekly webcast and started off the call with an update on the impact of future sailings being affected by the recent 100 day 'No Sail Order' by the CDC.

Freed indicated that while Royal Caribbean "is still evaluating" what the 'No Sail Order' means to the cruise line, she said, "we are going to come out with a statement on our suspensions in the next day or so."

Later in the call, a question was asked about the possibility of Royal Caribbean offering cruises later this summer in Europe (and a similar question was asked about Alaska), and Freed answered, "We do hope to be cruising in August out of Barcelona, and that's why when we announce suspensions, we are only announcing at 30 days in advance.

"Things can change rather quickly with this coronavirus, so our goal is to be cruising in Europe, but again, we all have to take it day by day."

Royal Caribbean has already cancelled all of its sailings from March 14 through May 11, in addition to all Canada, New England, and Alaska sailings cancelled through June 30.

Carnival Cruises has already announced it will cancel its sailings through the end of June.

Royal Caribbean has reduced its workforce by 26% through a combination of permanent layoffs and 90-day furloughs with paid benefits.

The Miami Herald reported the workforce reduction, as confirmed by Royal Caribbean chief communications officer Rob Zeiger.

The layoffs and furloughs are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has greatly impacted the entire cruise industry. Royal Caribbean has been under a voluntary global shutdown since mid-March that extends through mid-April, although that could certainly be extended as well.

The CDC has issued a 100-day no-sail order, and Carnival Cruise Line has already cancelled sailings through the end of June.

Royal Caribbean has stated it is "studying" the new CDC regulation before making any changes.

Royal Caribbean is offering past cruisers up to $425 combinable instant savings on new cruises booked between April 15 – 21, 2020, based on the length of the cruise and loyalty tier.

The Crown and Anchor Bonus is combinable with the April Splash Sale or a Crown and Anchor existing member discount.

April Splash Sale applies to new bookings made between April 15 – 21, 2020. Spring Sale offers instant savings of up to $200 USD per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after May 15, 2020. Savings amount determined by category booked and sailing length: On sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $75 for Suites; on sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $200 for Suites. Instant savings applied as instant rebate to the price of cruise fare at checkout. Instant savings do not apply to China departures.

Crown and Anchor (CAS) Bonus offer applies to new bookings made between April 15 – 21, 2020 to Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members. CAS Bonus provides up to $50 USD instant savings per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after May 15, 2020. Savings amount determined by sailing length: On sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings; on sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings. Savings are not redeemable for cash and are non-transferable. When reserving, a valid Crown & Anchor Society membership number must be included in the reservation. Instant savings applied as a single instant discount from the total price of cruise fare at checkout.

Balcony and Suite Discounts are a per stateroom discount applicable on balcony and suite categories only available to Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members. Savings are not redeemable for cash and are non-transferable. When reserving, a valid Crown & Anchor Society membership number must be included in the reservation. Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members will receive an increased discount for making a reservation for a sail date outside of six (6) months. Within six (6) months of sailing, if the guest cancels and reinstates the booking, applies a fare change, changes categories, or changes the ship or sail date of the booking, the discount will be automatically adjusted to the lower value.

Kids Sail Free applies to new bookings made between April 1 – 30, 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.

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, Shareholder Benefits, Crown and Anchor Balcony and Suite Discounts and CAS Bonus. April Splash 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, Shareholder Benefits, with Crown and Anchor Bonus but not combinable with Crown and Anchor Balcony and Suite Discounts. Crown and Anchor Balcony and Suite Discounts is combinable with Crown and Anchor Bonus but cannot be used with certain restricted fares and is not combinable with any other promotion or offer, including, but not limited to other dollars off and onboard credit offers, MyCruise® Upgrades, Companion Fare and Free Cruise promotions and benefits. Offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline Rates, 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.