Royal Caribbean Blog

Can you believe August is already here? It is the middle of Summer and there is a lot of Royal Caribbean news to catch up from during this week.

The big Royal Caribbean news this week was the announcement of new Empress of the Seas sailings from Bayonne, New Jersey and Montreal, Canada in 2020-2021.

Empress will offer guests the opportunity to see "the seaside lights and historic sights" of Canada and New England with more to see from Montreal to Newport. In addition, she will offer longer stays in Bermuda with overnight stays in St. George’s Island and Hamilton. Plus 6, 7 and 8 night Caribbean itineraries from Miami.

Royal Caribbean News

• Fast Track priority boarding option is available for select guests.
• A new vegan menu is being added to the main dining room.
• New 50th Anniversary souvenir drink cup design.
• Our top picks for what to do in Cozumel.
• A week-long pre-cruise purchase sale began earlier this week.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 313th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Sheri joins Matt to share how to shop for a cruise at a dollar store.

In this episode, Sheri talks about the sort of things you can buy at a dollar store to prepare for a cruise and save money at the same time.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Worst Royal Caribbean advice you will get

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 — Worst Royal Caribbean advice you will get — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Cosmopolitan wrote how a Royal Caribbean cruise turned into their favorite vacation.

Cayman27 shared details on a proposed dock in Grand Cayman.

Hello Fashion listed five reasons to cruise with Royal Caribbean.

Guests dining in Royal Caribbean's main dining room will have new vegan options to consider.

As first reported by Cruise Critic, an enthusiast site not affiliated with any cruise line, Royal Caribbean added the new vegan choices effective August 1, 2019 to its main dining oom menu.

Some of the new items include:

• Edamame-stuffed portobello mushrooms
• Vegan spaghetti "bolognaise"
• Orzo pasta stew with green vegetables
• New desserts

It is Friday and with the weekend nearly here, that means we are sharing our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean photos.  Each week, we ask our readers to send us Royal Caribbean photos to share on the blog.

We begin with a photo by Gloria7649 of Perfect Day at CocoCay while visiting on Navigator of the Seas.

Matt Leprino shared this photo of a doe standing watch over Symphony’s Central Park on a beautiful summer night.

Pat & Sharon Patterson shared this photo of whales feeding between Radiance of the Seas and land in Icy Straight Point, Alaska.

Our next photo is of Brooke Clapp and family at a stop in St. John.

Here is a great sunset photo from Harmony of the Seas as seen by Bradley.

Ranán submitted this photo of the North Star from on Anthem of the Seas.

Our last photo is of Paul and the Captain of Anthem of the Seas.

Thank you to everyone for sharing these great photos. If you want to include your photos too, please send them to us via this form!

Do you have a Royal Caribbean cruise to Cozumel booked and trying to figure out what to do on the island? We have a brand new video detailing the important info about what Cozumel offers!

Cozumel is a popular Western Caribbean port known for its beautiful waters, exquisite beaches, culture and cuisine.  There is lots to consider, and we break down the basics when it comes to Cozumel in this new video.

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: What is your favorite thing to do in Cozumel?

Royal Caribbean is offering up to 30% off certain Cruise Planner purchases during its Endless Summer Sale.

Offer runs between August 1 – 8, 2019 and applies to select sailings departing August 10, 2019 – February 29, 2020.

It is available on all ships, except for Spectrum of the Seas.

• BEVERAGE: Up to 30% off on select sailings.
  • Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings). •Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings).
  • Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings)
• SHORE EXCURSIONS: Up to 25% off on select sailings.
  • Save up to 25% on select tours on select sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings)
• INTERNET: Up to 60% off on select sailings.
  • VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings).
  • VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings).
• DINING: Up to 50% off on select sailings.
  • Unlimited Dining Package on 3 Night – 9 Night sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes MJ, SC + Charter Sailings)
• ACTIVITIES: Up to 10% off on select sailings.
  • All Access Ship Tour: 10% off. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes SC + Charter Sailings)

The Cruise Planner sale promises savings on certain shore excursions and drink package purchases.  Guests can check which discounts, if any, are available for their upcoming sailing by visiting the Cruise Planner site. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Guests sailing on Symphony of the Seas this week noticed a new option to allow select guests faster boarding back onboard their Royal Caribbean ship.

Known as Fast Track, the program is available in the ports of call the ship visits and allows for expedited boarding for guests who are in any of these groups:

• Star and Sky Class Guests
• Pinnacle Members in Crown and Anchor Society
• The Key guests
• Assistance Needs
• Families with infant strollers

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Lovetocruise2002 spotted this on the current Symphony of the Seas sailing.

Fast Track was advertised in the Concierge Lounge on Symphony of the Seas, as well as on the front page of the Cruise Compass.

Royal Caribbean will offer cruises on Empress of the Seas from homeports in Cape Liberty, New Jersey and Montreal, Canada.

With Cuba sailings no longer an option, Royal Caribbean has begun offering new itineraries that will take Empress of the Seas to new ports and destinations. Empress will offer guests the opportunity to see "the seaside lights and historic sights" of Canada and New England with more to see from Montreal to Newport. In addition, she will offer longer stays in Bermuda with overnight stays in St. George’s Island and Hamilton. Plus 6, 7 and 8 night Caribbean itineraries from Miami.

Beginning in May 2020, Empress of the Seas will offer sailings out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey to destinations in Bermuda, New England and Canada. 

Later in 2020, Empress moves to Montreal, Canada, where she will offer 10, 11 and 12- night sailings around Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

In October 2020, Empress heads south to Miami, Florida, where she will sail a variety of Caribbean itineraries. These 6, 7 and 8 night sailings will visit destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean, and extend through April 2021.

You can view the full list of Empress of the Seas 2020-2021 sailings available for booking. The new sailings are available for booking immediately.

These new sailings are in addition to the recently announced January - April 2020 sailings Royal Caribbean released earlier this month.

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 313 is available for downloading, which is all about how to shop for your upcoming cruise at the dollar store.

Sheri shares how a dollar store can be a treasure trove of inexpensive options that are perfect for typical cruise planning and packing.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 313. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Our newest RoyalCaribbeanBlog video is sharing some of the worst advice you will get!

Planning a Royal Caribbean vacation can feel overwhelming at times, so it is only natural to seek advice throughout the process. But the truth of the matter is that there are two sides to just about every piece of advice. And what may be the absolute best decision for one group may not be the best for another. So we’re sharing our thoughts on some common bits of advice that get passed around regarding Royal Caribbean and when the advice might (or might not) work for your group in our latest YouTube Video!

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: What is your favorite piece of Royal Caribbean advice?

Guests sailing on Royal Caribbean ships this week spotted a new souvenir Coca-Cola cup that celebrates Royal Caribbean's 50th birthday.

Photos by twangster

RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers Lovetocruise2002 and Twangster shared photos from Symphony of the Seas and Empress of the Seas of this new cup design available for guests.

Photo by Lovetocruise2002

These souvenir cups are compatible with the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. The Coca-Cola souvenir cup has a special chip in it which activates the machine. In addition, guests can hand the cup to a bartender to be refilled.