Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean will continue offering cruises from Baltimore, Maryland for another four years.

The Baltimore Business Journal reports that Royal Caribbean signed a new deal with the Maryland Port Administration that will extend its year-round departures out of South Locust Point until June 2020.

Grandeur of the Seas is currently offering year-round cruises from Baltimore to the Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada.

Grandeur of the Seas has been offering cruises from Baltimore since May 2013, when she replaced Enchantment of the Seas.

Disney Cruise Line released its Summer 2017 itineraries this week and many Disney Cruise Line fans very surprised by the pricing they found.

I have no words. @TheDCLBlog pic.twitter.com/prTNGWk5Yv

— Laurel Stewart (@helloknitty) April 14, 2016

@TheDCLBlog 8/2/17 5 night Alaska 2 adults and 2 kids 5C $7680.36. 8/21/17 7 night Alaska $9290.12

— cambsuk (@cambsuk1) April 13, 2016

@TheDCLBlog 7 night Med 8/12 2A2C (12,10) : 9A $8879.64, 5A $10279.64, 4E $12099.64

— disneyheather (@hkeller) April 13, 2016

@TheDCLBlog 5-night MED cruise, 2 adults/1 child, cat 5A $7079.46 ....5 nights! I paid $4K in 2014.

— Ana B. Fallas (@abfallas) April 13, 2016

With this kind of sticker shock, there are some fans who have come to a similar conclusion as Dave.

@TheDCLBlog @DisneyCruise DCL has finally encouraged me to check out @CruiseNorwegian and @RoyalCaribbean

— Dave S. (@siouxperdave) April 13, 2016

If you are someone considering an alternative cruise that is just as fun, relaxing and far less costly as a Disney Cruise, Royal Caribbean is a great choice.  

That being said, we understand there is trepidation about changing cruise lines and leaving the warm embrace of the Mouse.  We are here to tell you that there's nothing to worry about and that a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation is very similar to a Disney Cruise (minus that price tag).

Here is our guide to how you can learn to stop worrying and love the Crown and Anchor.

Step 1: Disney and Royal Caribbean offer similar experiences

Before one can consider a Royal Caribbean cruise, I think it is important to understand that both Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer very similar experiences.

Both cruise lines are mass-market cruise lines that target family travel.

Both cruise lines embrace a strategy of building cruise ships that offer guests a lot to do onboard.

Both cruise lines have plenty for kids, parents, adults, grandparents and everyone of all ages to do and see.

In my experience, many ardent Disney Cruise Line fans have cruised Disney Cruise Line solely and a DCL cruise was their first cruising experience.  Give Disney credit, they are great at marketing their products and getting those new to cruising to give their cruise line a try simply because of the name recognition.

Believe it or not, I like the product Disney Cruise Line offers but like you, I also see this, frankly, crazy pricing Disney Cruise Line has and it is why we cruise with Royal Caribbean.

The first step in giving Royal Caribbean a try is to believe me when I say there are things Disney does better and there are things Royal Caribbean does better, but the bottom line is the experiences are more similar than they are different.

Step 2: Looking at what Royal Caribbean offers (besides price)

While price is a big deal, no one should book a cruise purely on cost factor alone. If that were the case, this blog post should be focusing on some other cruise line options.

Royal Caribbean has 24 (soon to be 25 next month) ships in its fleet and there are a few areas of the cruise experience Royal Caribbean greatly distinguishes itself from Disney Cruise Line.

Itinerary variety

Disney Cruise Line only has 4 ships in its fleet today, so it can only offer so many itineraries.  Royal Caribbean's fleet size means you can take cruises from Florida, Europe, Galveston, Baltimore, Alaska, New York, Australia, China and many more destinations for most of the year.

While Disney serves many of those areas too, they do so only occasionally and in many cases, there is not much variety in itineraries offered.

With Royal Caribbean, you can opt to explore more of the world via a cruise ship or visit your favorite spots again and again.

Ship features

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships are built to be meccas of onboard entertainment.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships may offer Broadway shows, ice skating, surf simulators, rock climbing walls, water slides, multiple pools and much more.

Royal Caribbean ships offer adults-only pools, a wide variety of specialty restaurants, unlimited alcohol and drink packages, and a casino.

Many Disney Cruise Line fans that try Royal Caribbean often comment about the wide variety of stuff to do while onboard.

Step 3: Kids, kids and kids

Earlier in this post, Disney's brand recognition was cited as a reason why many choose to cruise with Disney Cruise Line in the first place, but children are also a big factor.

I get it, Disney and kids are nearly synonymous with each other and many parents are concerned how could any other cruise line compare to what Disney offers for kids.

While Disney does a great job with kids and kids programming, Royal Caribbean has stepped up their children's programming in recent years and it is much closer to what Disney offers than you may think.

Royal Caribbean offers complimentary programming for kids in its Adventure Ocean program, as well as teens in their own area.

The dedicated space for kids and breadth of programming has expanded greatly with each new ship class and for parents looking to cruise with children, the child care facilities on Freedom, Quantum and Oasis class ships should offer excellent choices.

Royal Caribbean also features on nearly all of its ships a nursery option, which for an additional hourly cost, can provide day care for children 6 to 36 months old.

Beyond child care, there is lots for kids to do onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.  Mini golf, ice skating, surf simulator, sports decks, video games, aqua parks and soon water slides are just a few of the options available.

In the Cruise Compass, guests can enjoy even more opportunities for activities throughout the day.

Step 4: (Thinking, considering & pondering) Making the jump

I hope by this point in this post you are thinking along the lines of, "I understand there is a huge price difference and the two cruise lines aren't really that different from each other."

If so, ask yourself this question next, "Why am I paying so much more for a Disney cruise?"

Answering this question may be the linchpin in the proverbial decision axle that convinces you to consider taking a Royal Caribbean cruise.

I think it would be foolish to assume every Disney Cruise Line fan that tries Royal Caribbean would be instant super fans and never look back, but I also believe (based on mine and others experience) that there is a good chance that making the switch would still result in a fun family vacation.

Look at the various options available to you in a Royal Caribbean cruise and consider the various itineraries and ships that might match up with what you are considering.

I often remind people considering Royal Caribbean for the first time, odds are they will still have a satisfying vacation on Royal Caribbean and they will either come around to cruise more with Royal Caribbean or opt to stay with the mouse.  In either case, it will be a good learning experience.

At the risk of shameless self promotion, here are some more resources on this blog to help guide you with what Royal Caribbean offers and what might be of interest to you

• Royal Caribbean itienrary recommendations for first-time cruisers
• 5 ways Royal Caribbean is different from Disney Cruise Line
• Podcast episode: Royal Caribbean versus Disney Cruise Line
• Comparing Royal Caribbean to Disney Cruise Line
• How to find the best deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Have you cruised with Disney and Royal Caribbean? Share your thoughts on how they compare in our comments!

There’s a new member of the Royal Caribbean family as the global cruise line officially took delivery of its 24th ship, Ovation of the Seas. Ovation and her Quantum-class sister ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, are of the most technologically advanced cruise ships in the world.

Royal Caribbean has "invited" James Hand, the man who recently entered a contest in the UK to name a ship Boaty McBoatface, to "help" Royal Caribbean name its next cruise ship.

Coincidently posted on April 1, Royal Caribbean  knows that James Hand has forever altered the business of naming ships, and perhaps could make a career out of it. Therefore, Royal Caribbean is thrilled to extend James Hand an offer to bring his talents on deck, and help Royal Caribbean develop the name for a future ship.

With five ships debuting in the next three years, Hand’s clever copywriting skills will surely be put to good use.

"The people of the United Kingdom know the name of a great ship when they see it," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Like the rest of the world, we fell in love with the name Boaty McBoatface when we heard it, and we knew immediately that Royal Caribbean could use James Hand’s talent to name our next ship."

As the first step, Royal Caribbean is inviting James Hand to sail on its newest and biggest ship, Harmony of the Seas, when she launches in Southampton, UK this May. Hand will meet with the cruise line’s very own ship naming experts to discuss potential names for a forthcoming ship.

"If James accepts our offer, who knows, perhaps he could name all our future ships,” added Bayley. “James Hand, Chief Naming Officer, Royal Caribbean International. It has a nice ring to it."

Blog writer Michael Poole is onboard Brilliance of the Seas for back-to-back Brilliance of the Seas cruises this week, and he is LIVE blogging all of it right here. Enjoy!

Hi friends, my cruise is finally here!  I woke up early and watched the Brilliance of the Seas dock in Tampa on the webcam.  Over the past year this has become a morning tradition of mine. 

Embarkation – Port of Tampa

I arrived to the port at 12:00 on the dot and my first thoughts were there are no signs that tell you where to go. 

The Vision of the Seas was beside us, so I could imagine first time cruises, not knowing which ship/terminal to pull up to. 

Once we pulled up, security asked us which ship we were sailing on, I suppose people get it mixed up often.   Once I arrived to the Brilliance terminal, there were lines out on the sidewalk.  Yikes, it was so hot and we were just standing outside. 

This was the line to go through security; it didn’t take too long approximately 20 minutes.   Once you get through security you are then asked to complete the health form, prior to approaching the check-in desk.  The only line at this point was the non-crown and anchor members, all others were wide-open. 

The ship

The ship itself is in great shape, everything still looks new from the dry dock she received two years ago. 

When you walk on, you have to walk through the shops to get to the Centrum.  The Centrum on the Brilliance is much larger than those on the Vision class.  I did notice the R Bar was a little smaller than the one on the Enchantment. 

The Next Cruise desk is now a full venue on deck 5 with the beautiful new décor.  I also noticed they have six desks in there now, so they must be seeing a lift in their on board bookings. 

The pool deck was full of passengers already enjoy their first day in the sun. 

However, there are a lot of kids and I’m talking in the masses.  But you just have to expect that around this time of year, it does make me miss the kid’s pool on the Freedom/Oasis class ships. 

My Cabin – SI Solo Cabin 4583

Since I’m sailing solo on this leg of the cruise, I booked a Solo cabin.  There are only three of these cabins on board and they were added during her last dry dock.  

First, let’s start out with the location of the cabin, it’s on deck 4 beside the centrum.  I really love having easy access to the centrum, it’s about four steps away and I’m there.  I was a little worried about possibly hearing music or the R Bar from my cabin, but so far I’ve heard nothing. 

Okay let’s talk about the cabin, it’s around 100sq feet with a twin bed.  I was expecting the cabin to feel much smaller than the standard inside cabin, however it doesn’t at all.  In fact, I feel like there is more space to walk around the cabin. 

The closet is much easier to access since it’s not beside the door when you walk in.  I would recommend this cabin’s to all solo cruisers, and will likely book them again. 

Sail Away

Almost sail away time, we had the mandatory muster drill at 3:15; they shut down all the bars down at 2:45 to prepare for the muster drill. 

As everyone knows, this is the worst and best part of the cruise.  Worst, because they pack you on the outside decks very close to others.  But best, because when it’s over you are officially on vacation!  It was over around 3:30, and I ran up to the pool deck, and yes I was almost running. 

They had a poolside lunch with hotdogs and hamburgers to enjoy during sail away. I also saw little mini bars set up all around the pool decks, I’m sure they needed these two weeks ago on college spring breakers. 

I met a bartender who said they were hit really hard with college crew for the last two weeks, but none on this sailing.   We sailed before the Vision of the Seas so I was able to take some great pictures of her.  I must be honest, seeing the Vision really made me miss the Enchantment; I just love that class of ships. 

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

After sailing for around two hours out of Tampa you get to pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  If you have never gone under a bridge on a cruise ship, it’s a really fun experience. 

I was actually enjoying a cocktail in the Diamond lounge and ran outside, just in time to see it.  We had 2-3 feet clearance from the top of the ship, so everyone was clapping once we passed. 

The captain also blows the horn as we are going under, so be sure to experience this from the outside decks. 

Dinner

For dinner tonight, I decided to do something different, this is starting to seem like the theme of this cruise.  But I dined in the Windjammer for the first time for dinner. 

I was actually surprised for two reasons.  One they have so many options and two it was very full of guest.  I enjoyed some grilled fish and 1 or maybe 2 cuts of prime rib, and maybe grabbed some pasta too!  I liked being able to sample a little of everything and leave when you wanted. 

And sadly, this is where day 1 comes to an end, after dinner I decided to get some sleep and call it a night.  After a full day on board it just finally caught up to me.  Tomorrow we are in Key West! 

Drink Cost Vs Drink Package Check – Up

As I mentioned in my first post, I didn’t purchase the drink package on this sailing.  I tried to enjoy myself just as I did have the package, and order at will. 

I ordered 3 beers before sailaway/during for a total cost $22. 

In the evening time, I used my diamond cocktails perks pre-loaded to the seapass card.  For those unaware, once you reach diamond level you get three drinks per evening at any bar from 5:00pm-8:30pm. 

So for day 1 looks like a saved a few dollars by buying them at bar price, but I didn’t enjoy post dinner entertainment. Let’s see if it holds true tomorrow… 

Royal Caribbean's new approach to luxury cruising will debut in May 2016 in the form of Royal Suite Class, and if you are interested in what this new level of luxury offers, here is what you need to know.

The three categories of Royal Suite Class

Star Class

• Royal Loft Suite
• Owner’s Loft Royal Suite
• Grand Loft Sky Loft Suite
• 2-Bedroom Aqua Theater Suite
• 4-Bedroom Family Suite

Sky Class

• Aqua Theater Suite
• Crown Loft Suite
• Owner’s Suite
• Family Suite
• Superior Grand Suite
• Grand Suite

Sea Class

• Junior Suite
• Spa Junior Suite
• Family Connected Junior Suite

Ships Royal Suite Class will be available on

Beginning in May 2016, Royal Suite Class will be available on 

• Oasis of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas (when sailing Australian and European itineraries, but not China itineraries)

Royal Suite Class will not be onboard ships in China.

Royal Suite Class amenities

Star Class

• Royal Genie Complimentary
• Access to Specialty Restaurants
• Coastal Kitchen Access
• Ultimate Beverage Package 
  • Available for all guests within the suite 
  • Guests under 18 will receive the soda package instead
• Unlimited Voom
  • Each guest booked in Star or Sky Class suites will receive complimentary VOOM on one individual device of their choice
• Frette Linens
• Exclusive Concierge Service
• Suite Lounge
• Daily Gratuities
• Exclusive Signature Activities
• Exclusive Suites Beach Access
• Handcrafted Cocktails (with or without alcohol)
• Nespresso Coffee Maker
• 1 Complimentary Fitness Class
• 1-Day Thermal Room Access
• In-Suite Dining
• Bottled Water
• In-Suite Movies

Sky Class

• Coastal Kitchen Access
• Voom
  • Each guest booked in Star or Sky Class suites will receive complimentary VOOM on one individual device of their choice
• Exclusive Concierge Service
• Suite Lounge
• Exclusive Signature Activities
• Exclusive Suites Beach Access
• 1-Day Thermal Room Access
• Luxury Pillowtop Mattress
• Bottled Water

Sea Class

• Dinner Access to Coastal Kitchen
• Luxury Pillowtop Mattress

Royal Genie

Royal Genie is available for all suites within the Star Class tier.

Guests are unable to select a specific Royal Genie.

The Royal Genie can be reached 24/7 and will advise the best way for guests to stay in touch.

The Royal Genie Service is not a service that can be purchased. It is an amenity exclusive to all Star Class guests.

The Royal Genie will make all shore excursion plans for the guest. While guests are enjoying their time in port, they will be prepping for the guest’s arrival.

What happens after booking the Royal Suite Class?

For all guests booked on a Star Class Suite, they will receive a welcome email 8 days after booking and a final reminder 7 days prior to sailing.

For all guests booked on Sky and Sea Class, they will receive a welcome email 8 days after booking and a final reminder 7 days prior to sailing.

Activities and Entertainment

Every guest is encouraged to pre-book their activities through Cruise Planner as soon as they have been booked. For all Star Class guests, the Royal Genie will take care of any reservations onboard the ship.

Guests will be able to reserve dining, shore excursions and other activities 90 days prior to their sail date. For all Star Class guests, the Royal Genie will take care of any reservations onboard the ship.

Can a guest host a dinner party in their suite?

Guests are welcome to plan any sort of event in their suite. The Royal Genie and Concierge can help arrange such experiences onboard but additional charges may be incurred, depending on the request.

Can a guest invite their friends to specialty dining under their reservation?

Complimentary specialty dining is only available for the guests within the suite. Guests are encouraged to dine with family, friends or whomever they’d like but please know that guests not sailing in the suite will need to pay the cover charge.

Breakdown of specialty dining benefits for Royal Suite Guests

Star Class Guests receive complimentary specialty dining throughout their entire cruise as well as access to the exclusive suite restaurant, Coastal Kitchen for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Sky Class Guests receive access to the exclusive suite restaurant, Coastal Kitchen for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Sea Class Guests receive access to the exclusive suite restaurant, Coastal Kitchen for dinner only

Personally, I love to eat on a Royal Caribbean cruise and indulge in the amazing variety of food offered onboard. Royal Caribbean offers a lot to choose from and for someone who enjoys trying new foods, this is terrific.

What happens if you or someone you are cruising with (such as a young child) is a picky eater and hates trying new foods?  

You might think this could ruin your trip, but it doesn't have to!

Here are some good tips for how to deal with the pickiest eaters on a Royal Caribbean cruise that I have found over the years.

Best place for kids: Windjammer buffet

Children are notoriously picky eaters because they tend to judge food purely on its aesthetics instead of what it tastes like.  

You can try explaining to your kids how tasty broccoli really is, or just head to the "great equalizer at sea", the Windjammer.

The beauty of the Windjammer is the sheer variety of food offered.

You will find the widest selection of food in the Windjammer, including some really basic foods, such as grilled meats, cheeses, fruit, pasta and more.

In fact, much of the food served in the Windjammer is based on the idea of creating it yourself, so the pasta has no sauce on it and the grilled chicken comes out bare. There are plenty of sauces and toppings you can add right next to it, but for picky eaters, it is always best to keep foods simple and go from there.

In short, when it comes to appeasing a picky eater, you want as much choice as possible on your side.

Places offering picky eater-friendly choices

On any Royal Caribbean ship, you will find a lot of restaurants onboard that serve up food to guests. Each has their own menu and different options to choose from.

For picky eaters, we have found these Royal Caribbean restaurants offer a higher likelihood of making picky eaters happy.

Sorrento's Pizza

Any Royal Caribbean ship with a Royal Promenade or Royal Esplanade will offer a food that almost any picky eater can enjoy: Sorrento's Pizza.

While Sorrento's may not win any culinary awards for the pizza it offers, the pizza available here is always a hit with kids and picky eaters alike.

At any given time, guests can enjoy a few different varieties of pizza, but plain cheese and pepperoni pizza are almost always available. And it's complimentary!

Wipeout Cafe or El Loco Fresh

Royal Caribbean figured if kids are going to be spending a lot of time near the amazing onboard activities, such as the FlowRider, Rock Climbing Wall, or Teen Club, then they should put somewhere to eat that appeals to them nearby.

Wipeout Cafe has hot dogs, burgers, fries, and ice cream - not much else. But for picky eaters, this must be heaven.

In terms of easy-to-please food that is near the pool decks, Wipeout Cafe is a great choice and usually features very short lines.

On newer Royal Caribbean ships, you may find El Loco Fresh on the pool deck. Picky eaters will love the nachos, cheese quesadillas, or tacos offered here.

Main Dining Room

Royal Caribbean designed its main dining room to be able to accommodate thousands of guests and almost as many tastes.

Whether you are a super picky eater, have dietary restrictions or just do not like wet and dry foods touching, the staff at the main dining room is there to make your dining experience perfect.

Ask to speak to the head waiter and explain what you would like, even if it is not on the menu. With advanced notice, the chef can create something perfect that should satisfy the pickiest of eaters.

Johnny Rockets

For a small charge, picky eaters can do quite well at Johnny Rockets, where you will find classic American food prepared to your liking.

Burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, chicken sandwiches and more are available at Johnny Rockets. You really cannot beat the quality of food served here when it comes to this classic fare.

While the burgers, dogs and sandwiches served elsewhere onboard are complimentary, the quality of the food at Johnny Rockets is top-notch and always seems to hit the spot.

Get your picky eater involved in planning

When you have picky eaters in your group, one important step you can take to ensure a smoother dining process is to involve them in the decision making.

Empowering them to help with planning not only helps alleviate anxiety about what they are about to eat, but it also helps get them onboard with the plans.

When planning where to eat, encourage your picky eaters to help with the planning and take a look at Royal Caribbean menus in advance.

After all, eating on a Royal Caribbean cruise is more than just about getting sustenance to fuel your body. Dining is a big part of the cruise fun!

The secret menu: side dishes

Just because you have a picky eater does not mean you cannot eat at restaurants without burgers or hot dogs on the menu.

On this blog, we love to dine at Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants such as Giovanni's Table, Sabor, Chops Grille and more, but picky eaters may not be thrilled about the menu choices there.

An overlooked aspect of all these restaurants are the side dishes, which are often basic options that can easily be turned into entrees (especially for kids).

In most specialty restaurants, the side dishes can be ordered in as much quantity as you like, so picky eaters can use those options as a basic part of their meal without having to venture out to the main dishes on the menu.

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We want to hear from you! What are your best tips for dining with picky eaters on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Leave a comment and share below!

Did you know that Royal Caribbean allows its guest to bring wine on their cruise? Not only is this a great way to save money, but it allows guests to enjoy their favorite wines while onboard.

Before you go on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, all wine lovers should consider these guidelines to ensure a great Royal Caribbean cruise complimented by your favorite wines.

How many bottles of wine can you bring on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean allows its passengers to bring one (1) 750 mL bottle, per adult of drinking age, per sailing on embarkation day.

Each bottle of wine may be up to 750ml in size and should be brought on in your carry-on luggage. Do not put the wine in your checked luggage.

No beer or hard liquor may be brought onboard for consumption. Guests may only bring the wine onboard on embarkation day.

What is the corking fee?

Since June 2017, guests who consume their personal wine and champagne in public areas, will incur a $15 corkage fee per bottle.  The corkage fee only applies to personal bottles brought onboard on embarkation day.

This means, guests bring their wine to any specialty restaurant, main dining room or bar to have it opened for them will be charged the $15 corkage fee.

What if I do not finish the bottle?

If you do not finish the bottle of wine, Royal Caribbean can store the wine for you and deliver it another restaurant at that time.

Whether you buy a bottle of wine onboard your cruise or bring your own, if you do not finish that bottle in one night, have your waiter store it for you.

And if the next night you choose to have dinner elsewhere, like the Windjammer or a specialty restaurant, just tell your new waiter you have a bottle of wine stored for you. They will ask your stateroom number and within a few short minutes your wine will appear.

Can I bring more wine if I am on back to back sailings?

For consecutive sailings, guests of drinking age are allowed to bring one (1) 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each individual sailing.

Additional bottles will be stored by the ship and delivered, one bottle at a time, to the stateroom on the first day of each new voyage. Guests bringing more than one bottle at the start of the first sailing should have documentation for any consecutive sailings available to share with security.

Royal Caribbean notes that guests bringing four bottles at the start of the first sailing should have documentation for both sailings available to share with security.

Are you planning to bring wine onboard your next Royal Caribbean cruise? Tell us about it in the comments!

Hi Royal Caribbean Blog readers, its Michael Poole here for another live blog from Enchantment of the Seas.  This is going to be a short three-day cruise, but I’m excited to take you along with me. 

As many of you already know, Enchantment of the Seas is my favorite ship in the fleet, and this will be my 7th time sailing on her. 

This sailing is going to special for a few reasons, she is headed down to her new home in Miami this year, so I’ll likely visit Majesty of the Seas more often.  Also, I have some Royal Caribbean Blog fan’s joining me on this cruise! 

Finally, this cruise is going to be over Super Bowl weekend, so I’ll be able to watch the big game while at sea! 

The Group

For the past year, I’ve been active on twitter with Royal Caribbean Blog and started conversation with some other blog readers.  Since then, we have always talked about doing a cruise together, but never really found a time that works. 

Well, my friends we have finally found that time!  I’ll be going with my brother, Jason Poole and his husband Caleb Jones.  From Florida our good friend Nick Vitani, who can be found on the Enchantment a few times a month!  Also my good from Atlanta, Shawn Wallace and his wife Michelle are coming along; Shawn also has a deep love for the Enchantment. 

I will mention my brother Jason and Caleb have never sailed on any cruise less than 7 days or a smaller ship, so I’m excited for their feedback as well. 

Pre – Cruise

My group of six will be leaving Atlanta, GA. Thursday night and staying at Holiday Inn in Valdosta, GA. 

This is only three hours south of Atlanta, but due to work, and others traveling from Tennessee, we won’t be hitting the road until 8:00PM Thursday night. 

I’ve stayed at this hotel a few times over the years, and I’ve never had any issues.  The rates here are also very reasonable, usually a little under $100/night. 

Friday morning

Our plan is to be on the road by 7:00am, from Valdosta, GA.  We have around 4 hours to be on the road before we arrive in Port Canaveral, Florida. 

Before the cruise we have planned a small meet and greet at a restaurant beside the port. 

We have a few friends that live in the area, which can’t join us, so we are going to visit with them until noon.  I picked the restaurant Grill’s because it’s right beside the Enchantment, and we can look at the ship while enjoying some morning mimosas.  They also have a great patio on the water, and often have live music in the afternoons, but we will be on board by then. 

Port’s of Call

Our first stop Saturday is in Nassau, Bahamas from noon until midnight.  I enjoy this day the most, because you have a sea morning, poolside bbq lunch, and then a full day in Nassau.  It’s like the best of both worlds all in one day. 

I don’t have any plans here yet, might walk over to Junkanoo Beach for a few hours, and then stroll over to Starbucks to use their fast wifi ($3.00) to upload my Day 1 blog post! 

Sunday we are in Coco Cay, which is my favorite port of call in the Caribbean.  I love Coco Cay, because it feels like paradise to me.  I’ve cruised here during this time of year a few times before and often miss Coco Cay, so my fingers are crossed that doesn’t happen. 

That wraps up my preamble for my 3-day Cruise on Enchantment of the Seas! 

Be sure to follow me on Periscope, Instagram, and Twitter for up to the minute updates.  I’ll be doing a full ship tour on Periscope and uploading pictures on Instagram all weekend. 

I hope you enjoy the post all weekend and feel free to ask any questions you may have on the Enchantment of the Seas.  

Live Blog Index

• Live blog introduction
• Day 1 - Embarkation Day
• Day 2 - Nassau
• Day 3 - CocoCay

Royal Caribbean offers its guests that are fans of specialty dining the opportunity to purchase dining packages that promise to save guests money on the total cost of the restaurant experience.

Photo by Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of dining packages based on the number of nights you want to take advantage of the offer.  These packages can save guests up to 40% off the price if they were purchased individually.

There are dining packages for

• 1 night (referred to as First Night Done Right)
  • Only available on first night of the cruise
• 2 nights (referred to as BOGO package)
  • Only available on first two nights of the cruise
• 3 nights
• 4 nights
• 5 nights
• Ultimate dining package (good for the duration of the sailing)
  • The ultimate dining package includes lunch on sea days

Photo by Royal Caribbean International

Via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, guests may select their dining party and preferred dining time and a courtesy dinner reservation will be made on your behalf in a pre-selected restaurant on day 1 or day 2.

On Day 1, guests will receive a reservation confirmation in their stateroom. If you would like to amend or to complete your additional dinner reservations, simply visit a Hospitality Desk or any specialty restaurant.

Guests then can make additional reservations on your first day onboard to guarantee preferred dining time and restaurants.

Kids ages 6-12 now dine at our specialty restaurants for only $10. Ages 5 and under eat free.  Royal Caribbean's staff can add children to your existing reservation at kid's prices once onboard.

For restaurants with a la carte pricing, package includes a $30 credit towards the food portion of your bill.

The main advantage of the dining packages are the cost savings compared to booking the individual specialty restaurants individually. 

Will you book one of these dining packages for your next Royal Caribbean cruise? Tell us in the comments below!