Royal Caribbean Blog

Following a few days of civil unrest on the French side of St. Martin, where the entire half of the island was closed off, we have an update on the situation there now.

Following "a series of civil demonstrations that began on December 12, 2019," the St. Martin Tourist office issued a statement on the current situation.

Dated December 23, the statement starts off with good news that, "much of St. Martin has returned to normal". The statement goes on to say, "shops and restaurants in Marigot, Grand Case and Orient Bay are open and operational as well as the main tourist attractions."

"St. Martin Hotels, guesthouses and villas are open with ease of arrivals and departures."

"The Grand Case airport, The Marigot Port and Ferry Terminal as well as Marina Fort Louis are operating as usual."

The Tourist Office did noe that there may still be debris left from roadblocks, particularly in the Sandy Ground and French Quarter areas.  But they reiterated that all roadblocks have been lifted and visitors can come and go once again.

It looks like one of the most-asked about features in Royal Caribbean's app might debut in the second half of 2020.

A RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader shared a response from Royal Caribbean's app support account to the question of when chat might available. The email says, "we hope to have chat on all of our ships by the third or fourth quarter of 2020."

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. SVP Digital Experience Jay Schneider recently shared some insight into the cruise line's digital evolution, and spoke to the fact they are keenly aware of the strong demand for this feature to become available, "We know people want chat. We know it's the number one feature they ask for, and it's something we're trying to rush to the market."

A beta version of the chat feature is currently available on Allure of the Seas & Harmony of the Seas. 

There is no cost to use Royal Caribbean's app while onboard and you do not need an internet package to use the app either.

The app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

Merry Christmas! The holidays are here, and so is our weekly round up of this week's Royal Caribbean news.

There was a lot of Royal Caribbean news this week, but the big news came when Royal Caribbean announced new 2021-2022 sailings in Europe and the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean released additional new 2021 European sailings for booking on two ships, Odyssey of the Seas & Adventure of the Seas.

In addition, they then released additional 2021-2022 7-Night or Longer Caribbean sailings.

If that was not enough, Allure of the Seas sailings out of Galveston also went on sale this week.

Royal Caribbean News

• We shared a few new Odyssey of the Seas construction photos.
• Royal Caribbean has a new Sip Tour Brunch galley tour available to book.
• Here are the top 10 Royal Caribbean stories of 2019.
• Six big changes coming to Royal Caribbean in 2020.
• A new Royal Caribean steel tumbler is for sale on select ships.
• Are you wondering what is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• Check out our 2020 Royal Caribbean Cruise Planning guide.
• Our guide to Perfect Day at CocoCay cabanas.
• Our readers shared one big mistake they made on their first Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Royal Caribbean UK launched a new family focused television commercial.
• Here is what is free on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 331st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and this week, Matt shares five things he would do differently in 2020.

On this episode, Matt looks back at how he has been cruising and provides a few changes he hopes to make in his cruising habits in 2020.

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.

Come cruise the Norwegian Fjords with us!

Have you ever dreamed of sailing to Europe and seeing the amazing fjords in Norway? Matt and the staff of RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com are inviting YOU to join them on an exclusive group sailing aboard Anthem of the Seas for an 8-night cruise to the Norwegian fjords from Southampton, UK!

This Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise is all about enjoying a fun Royal Caribbean cruise along with other fans who are big fans of Royal Caribbean.  Don't miss this opportunity to check out the amazing ship as well as be a part of exclusive events for those that book with our group!

For more details on booking the cruise, the itinerary and prices, check out the Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise page and if you have any questions, email me!

New RCB Video: Surprising facts about Oasis of the Seas

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 — Surprising facts about Oasis of the Seas — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Cruise Addicts wrote about how cruising on Symphony of the Seas is just plain different.

Business Insider shared how Royal Caribbean uses a psychological trick to get you to spend more money.

The Cherokeean Herald reviewed their Alaska cruise on Ovation of the Seas.

Finding the cheapest time for an Alaska cruise will depend on your vacation budget, how much time you can dedicate to the cruise and weather considerations. To help pick the best time of year to cruise, we have a comprehensive look at what you need to know about taking a cruise to Alaska.

The Alaska cruise season spans the months of May through September. Nearly all of Royal Caribbean's cruises are seven nights sailings, although there are land tours you can tack onto the cruise to expand the adventure.

May

May is the early part of the Alaska cruise season, and it is the time of year when things begin to truly thaw in Alaska after winter. The average high temperature in Juneau in May is 56°F. May is also one of the driest months of the Alaska cruise season, which means less of a chance of being rained on during your shore excursion.

May is also one the best values for cruising to Alaska, with the lowest fares of the season. In fact, May is part of the "shoulder season" because of the lower temperatures and the fact school is still in session, so bargain hunters will want to target this month. To that point, you will generally find lower crowds in Alaska during this month.

June & July

The summer cruise season is during the months of June and July, and is one of the most popular times of the year to go on a cruise to Alaska. You will find the most daylight hours (14 to 18) during this time of year. The average temperatures range between 62°F - 65°F in June and July. The weather can still be a little drier in early June, but that will change by July.

July is the warmest month of the Alaska cruise season, with average highs around 65°F. Predicting the weather in July is difficult, as you can experience rain, hot temperatures and everything inbetween. 

In terms of crowds, you will find peak cruising season begin in mid-June, and extend through much of August. In short, this is peak cruising season, so deals and low fares are few and far between.  Bargains can still be found in early June, but the closer you get to July, the higher those prices.

If wildlife is of interest, then early June is a great time for whale watching because this is around the time of year where whales reach Alaska waters and active near or at the surface.

It is also worth noting that peak Mosquito season is from mid June though about the end of July. The good news for cruisers is that mosquitoes are not seagoing and they do not like wind at all. Moreover, mosquitoes tend to be worst in Northern Alaska, so it is less of a concern for cruise ship guests.

August

August is another busy time of year for cruises to Alaska, but it also represents the tail end of the peak cruise season. The closer to the end of the month, the better prices you will find on cruises. In general, prices in August tend to be lower than June or July, making it a more affordable time of year to cruise.

August averages about 16 hours of daylight, so this means daylight hours are at their peak. Most of the month is still quite busy from a crowds standpoint. Rainfall is at its highest in August, with around half the days in August experiencing rain.

The Alaska berry picking season is anywhere from late August to late September. In addition, bears are quite active in August due to the great salmon spawn. Whales are also active in August, as they start their migration south.

September

September culminates with the end of the Alaska cruise season, and it is a shoulder season for sailings. As a result, you can find some of the best deals of the year for Alaska.

Autumn arrives early in Alaska, and that means leaves changing colors and cooler weather. Temperatures are usually closer to the beginning of the cruise season. The average rainfall is still rather high.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says moose, caribou and muskoxen all mate during this time, so they are active in open areas while they search for a mate or spar for dominance within the herd. Bears, however, tend to begin their hibernation during this month.

Which month to choose

To pick the right time of year to cruise for you, you will have to weigh cruise costs, weather, and what you are most interested in seeing. Alaska cruise prices are lowest in May or September. The least amount of rain is typically in May or early June. June, July and August offer the warmest temperatures and some of the most active wildlife spotting opportunities.

• Best value: May or September
• Best time for whale watching: June or July
• Best time for bears, moose and other animals: August

The bottom line is a cruise to Alaska is rarely disappointing. Regardless of which month you choose, Alaska is a fantastic place to explore and each month provides some intriguing benefits.

With 2019 nearly over, this seemed liked the perfect opportunity to look back at the Royal Caribbean news stories that generated the most interest.  After all, 2019 was a super busy year for Royal Caribbean, with plenty of new offerings, ships, ports and more.

This year's top ten list is based on the Royal Caribbean stories we feel generated the most buzz and interest.  There are some stories that made the top ten list that surprised me and others I'm more surprises did not make the list.  Let's dive in!

Perfect Day at CocoCay opens

If there is one accolade for Royal Caribbean in 2019 that stands out above the rest, it has the be the mega-succesful opening of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

In May 2019, Royal Caribbean officially opened Perfect Day at CocoCay following a $250 million transformation of the cruise line's private island.

Guests visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay enjoyed a new water park, freshwater pool, refreshed beach areas, new dining choices and more.

Navigator of the Seas may have been the first ship to officially call on Perfect Day at CocoCay, but so many guests have visited the new destination in the months since then and the reviews have been excellent across the board.

Accidental $18 drink package

Many guests were shocked to see Royal Caribbean's unlimited alcohol drink package offered for just $18 per day. This was a price mistake that lasted for just a few hours, but during that time quite a few people were able to lock in the price.

Usually, the Deluxe Beverage Package runs somewhere between $40 - $52 per person, per day when purchased in advance.

At first, Royal Caribbean said the price mistake was an error and the purchases would be cancelled.  However, following a lot of guest feedback, the cruise line decided to honor the "computer glitch" for anyone that booked it.

Oasis of the Seas crane accident

While undergoing some routine work at a shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas struck by a construction crane.

Oasis of the Seas was in the Bahamas for a short period of work. No passengers were onboard the ship at the time of the accident.

The accident did cause a few sailings to be cancelled in the weeks that followed in order for the ship to be fully repaired.

Oasis of the Seas $165 amplification

Speaking of Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean completed a massive $165 million refurbishment that added new amenities, activities and more.

Oasis of the Seas had a lot of changed to it, including the cruise line’s first barbecue restaurant, Portside BBQ; and guest favorites, from the tallest slide at sea–the Ultimate Abyss–to popular live music venue Music Hall, and a reimagined, Caribbean pool deck. 

Now that Oasis of the Seas is amplified, the ship is offering sailings from Miami, and will transition to the New York City area for summer 2020.

Royal Caribbean's Hurricane Dorian relief efforts

Following the devastation Hurricane Dorian inflicted upon The Bahamas, Royal Caribbean stepped up in the hours following the storm's departure to pledge $1 million in disaster relief.

The cruise line delivered much-needed supplies to the people of Freeport, Bahamas by ferrying in supplies as each of its cruise ships passed through the area.

Teams of volunteers onboard Royal Caribbean ships worked for hours to package up meals and bottled water to be delivered once the ship arrived in Freeport.

In the first few days, the cruise line delivered 20,000 daily meals to the Grand Bahama Island community.

Grandeur of the Seas will leave the fleet

Royal Caribbean announced it plans to transfer Grandeur of the Seas out of its fleet and will join sister brand, Pullmantur Cruises in spring 2021.

Grandeur of the Seas’ final sailing with Royal Caribbean will take place on March 26th, 2021. Thereafter, she will transition to Pullmantur.

Enchantment of the Seas, will return to Baltimore to replace Grandeur in spring of 2021.

Grandeur's final sailing for Royal Caribbean International will be March 26th, 2021.

Toddler death on Freedom of the Seas

One of the saddest news of the year was the death of a toddler from Freedom of the Seas in July 2019.

An 18-month-old girl died after falling on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas while docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday. The toddler fell after she fell out of her grandfather's grasp at a window on deck 11 of the ship.

Tragic and disturbing, the story has transformed in recent months with the gradfather being charged in the accident, and tabloid-level coverage of the aftermath.

Royal Caribbean purchases resort in Grand Bahama

In March 2019, Royal Caribbean signed a letter of intent with the government of The Bahamas for the purchase of the Grand Lucayan resort and redevelopment of the Freeport Harbor.

The cruise line has been fairly quiet with details on what it intends to do with the property. Royal Caribbean's CEO hinted the resort could become a multi-million dollar, multi-phased project on par with CocoCay in Freeport.

The development will take place over a 24-month period, with $65 million of the purchase price for the Grand Lucayan Resort.

Social apprentice search

Royal Caribbean went viral with their search in February 2019 for a social media apprentice, who would be paid to go on cruises and share the experience online.

The role was open to British and Irish citizens which garnered 37,000 applicants.  After a lengthy search, Harry McNulty was chosen to become the Shore Explorer.

The Shore Explorer's job is to discover fun and incredible experiences around the world that will ultimately influence the brand’s shore excursion offerings.

No more cruises to Cuba

Following the United States travel ban to Cuba in June 2019, Royal Caribbean had no choice but to cancel all scheduled visits to Cuba.

The two ships that were offering cruises to Cuba, Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas, had their sailings cancelled and visits to Cuban ports replaced with other ports of call.

While Cuba cruises were never a major destination for the cruise line, many guests were disappointed with the news and inability to visit.

Your thoughts

What did you think was the biggest Royal Caribbean news of 2019? Did we miss one? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

This week's batch of beautiful Royal Caribbean photos is here and it's always fun to share with all of you the great photos our readers take while on their cruise vacation.

The photos we have to show this week are fun and of course anyone can send us their Royal Caribbean photos to use as well!

We kick off this Friday Photos edition with a sunset photo from Rhapsody of the Seas, taken by Ethel Crawford. Love a good sunset photo!

Next up is a photo of Navigator of the Seas next to Mariner of the Seas in Nassau, with another awesome sunset shot by Liz Laird.

Scott Schuman snapped this photo while walking in the countryside  in Lerwick of the Shetland islands with the Serenade of the Seas in the background.

Next up is a little Texas pride on Enchantment of the Seas. Photo by Francine Brown.

Khadijah Ahmad sent in this photo of Ovation of the Seas in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Alex H. shared this timely photo of his Royal Caribbean tree! 

Our final photo this week is by Peter Slinger, and it is of Liberty of the Seas docked in Cozumel.

Thank you to everyone that sent in their photos this week and if you have Royal Caribbean photos, well, we want to see them!  You can use this form to send us your photos and we will feature them on an upcoming Friday Photos blog post!

Shipyard Meyer Werf has released a set of new photos that show off the construction progress being made on Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship, Odyssey of the Seas.

The ship is actually being constructed in two different places at once: the shipyard harbor, and the indoor building dock.

Odyssey of the Seas will be delivered to Royal Caribbean in Autumn 2020.

In addition to the the 7-night Caribbean cruises that were released a month ago, a few new sailings are now available for booking in 2021-2022.

As we previously reported, Allure of the Seas will be sailing for the first time from Galveston, Texas beginning in November 2021.  Sailing 7-night adventures in Winter 2021-2022, Allure will be freshly Amplified and the biggest ship to ever sail from Texas.

Majesty of the Seas will be sailing year-round from New Orleans, and offering a variety of 6-, 7- and 8- night Caribbean sailings. Her cruises will take her to a variety of Caribbean ports, including Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Jewel of the Seas will offer cruises from Miami, following a 12-night transatlantic repositioning cruise from Barcelona. Jewel of the Seas will sail a mix of 6-Night Western Caribbean and 8-Night Eastern Caribbean itineraries, some with overnight stays in Aruba.

Odyssey of the Seas will return to Fort Lauderdale for 6-night sailings to the Western Caribbean and Perfect Day at CocoCay, plus 8-night sailings to the Southern Caribbean. 

Here is a look at all the new itineraries released today:

• Allure of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Majesty of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas

The new cruises are available to book immediately.

Just a week after Royal Caribbean announced it would homeport its first Oasis Class ship from the port of Galveston, guests can now begin booking Allure of the Seas sailings in 2021.

Royal Caribbean released new sailings for sale beginning in November 2021, and going through April 2022. 

The sailings are all 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries, with the sole exception of her first sailing that is a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise on November 10, 2021.

The newly released sailings are available to book immediately.

Prior to Allure of the Seas' arrival in Galveston, she will undergo a major renovation in summer 2020, that will add a variety of new upgrades and enhancements.

Meanwhile, Galveston is constructing a brand new $100 million state-of-the-art cruise terminal to perfectly accommodate Allure of the Seas. The facility will feature mobile check-in and facial recognition to expedite guest arrival. The terminal will be designed and developed sustainably to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental) certification standards.

Oasis of the Seas is not only one of Royal Caribbean's most popular cruise ships and one of the largest ship in the world, it is also a real trailblazer. 

In this video, I have seven surprising facts you may not have known about Oasis of the Seas.

And if you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: Which of these facts was the most interesting or surprising?