Royal Caribbean Blog

If your cruise is headed to The Bahamas next year, you'll probably need to pay a bit more for your vacation.

Royal Caribbean informed passengers booked on cruises to The Bahamas that due to a change in Bahamian taxes imposed on cruise passengers, the cost will go up.

The Bahamian government has implemented a change to their departure tax amounts for all cruise guests visiting the Bahamas on or after January 1, 2024.  As a result, Royal Caribbean will be updating reservations with the new amount.

An email was sent with the update, indicating the exact amount you'll be charged extra will depend on a variety of factors:

"Your adjusted taxes and fees will reflect on your booking before your final payment due date. Your tax amount may have changed from $1 to $14, depending on the itinerary you booked, and your travel partner has been notified of this update. Bookings are being updated in phases based on the sailing date."

What do you have to do?

If you have a 2024 cruise that visits The Bahamas, there's nothing to do right now.

Royal Caribbean's email is simply to inform passengers of what to expect if the price for final payment goes up a few dollars.

Sizeable impact to Royal Caribbean cruises

It's likely a lot of cruises will see a change in the taxes given how often Royal Caribbean visits The Bahamas.

Nassau has always been a traditional port stop for many cruises, and the development of Perfect Day at CocoCay has driven many more millions of passengers in recent years.

In fact, more than half of the cruise line's Caribbean sailings visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told Wall Street earlier this year that CocoCay receives approximately 11,000 cruise passengers per day.  Once the new adults-only beach opens, they will be able to add another 2,500, 3,000 guests per day.

Impacting Celebrity Cruises too

Sister brand Celebrity Cruises will also feel the pinch with the new tax.

For the first time, Celebrity Cruises ships will call at Perfect Day at CocoCay in 2024. Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Reflection have visits to Royal Caribbean's private island from April through November 2024.

Both ships will sail from Fort Lauderdale, with Beyond's visits to CocoCay will be included across 40 Caribbean itineraries. Reflection will begin sailing short weekend cruises.

New Nassau port upgrade

While no one likes to pay more in taxes, at least there's some comfort in the fact The Bahamas is taking its port experience more seriously.

Nassau spent $300 million upgrading their cruise port, with the first phase of this redevelopment opened to the public on May 27, 2023. 

The revamp includes a new terminal building, Junkanoo museum, 3,500-person amphitheater, living coral exhibit plus more entertainment, food, beverage and retail space. Once complete, the port’s capacity will jump to more than 33,000 passengers per day. It has been around 20,000 a day.

Read more: Nassau, Bahamas opened the first phase of its cruise port revamp. Here's what's new and different

Last year the island had 2 million cruisers visit it, and Mr. Bayley expects to send around 2.5 million passengers to CocoCay this year.

The port is now able to accommodate up to six cruise ships per day, including three Oasis or Icon Class ships. 

Nassau set a record on February 27 when 28,554 passengers visited in one day.

The upgraded port is expected to bring in 4 million passengers by the end of 2023 and 4.5 million in 2024.

Onboard Royal Caribbean's newest ship, you will find a larger, wider, longer, and higher Royal Promenade.

The second you step foot on Icon of the Seas, you will be greeted by sweeping ocean views and the first-ever multi-sensory super structure called "The Pearl." 

"The Royal Promenade is a classic with Royal Caribbean and has evolved significantly. It's an amazing hub for the entire community onboard the ship," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean."

"...it always has been this place where people meet and have fun together, and that is certainly true for Icon." 

At 362 feet long, the Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the seas is longer than a football field, and for the first time, it brings ocean views into the ship's main thoroughfare through floor-to-ceiling windows and the 4100 Lobby Bar the connects the neighborhood to the outdoors. 

Related: The Ultimate Icon of the Seas Dining & Lounges Guide

"The number of the hull on every ship is unique to that ship," explained Linken D'Souza, Vice President of Food & Beverage for Royal Caribbean International. 

"On Icon of the Seas that number was 4100, and so the 4100 Lobby Bar is a tribute to all of the hardworking folks who built this amazing and iconic ship." 

During the day, you'll find delicious tropical juice-based drinks. In the evening, the menu will feature pre-prohibition cocktails in the evening, focusing on classics like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. 

In order to fully open up the Royal Promenade, though, Royal Caribbean had to navigate numerous structural changes and come up a creative solution: The Pearl. This three-deck high sphere is a multi-sensory experience built with 3,000 kinetic tiles. 

"When guests walk onboard, they will see a massive structure that we call 'The Pearl.' They may not know what it is, but the scale of it alone is enough to take your breath away," remarked Jennifer Goswami, Director or Product Development for Royal Caribbean International.  

On Deck 6 behind The Pearl, guests will find the Pearl Cafe in place of Cafe Promenade. In addition to the familiar grab-and-go bites, the Pearl Cafe will serve up freshly toasted croissants, hot chocolate croissants, croissant sandwiches, sweets, and other specialty desserts. 

While the Royal Promenade will be full of firsts and unlike any other Promenade it in the fleet, it will be home to many fan-favorites, too, such as Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Usually, specialty restaurants are in quieter areas onboard the ship. On Oasis Class vessels, for instance, you could find the majority of them in the Central Park neighborhood. Placing this venue in the Royal Promenade will allow guest to be in the middle of the action. If you want a quieter experience, there will be intimate seating in the back of the restaurant. 

Related: Royal Caribbean will offer swanky supper club and food hall on new Icon of the Seas when it launches

There will also be Sorrento's that will feature antipasti on a rotational basis and beer on draft. 

In addition to the restaurants, this neighborhood will be a lively hotspot thanks to the other bars and lounges that can be found here, including Boleros and Schooner Bar.

To enhance the overall experience, both of these Royal Caribbean classics will have a more open layout, so the music and energy are able to spill into the Royal Promenade. 

Similarly, Point and Feather, the onboard pub, will pull the bar into the center space of the neighborhood. 

Another first for the cruise line will be the Dueling Pianos bar on Deck 6. This is not your average piano bar. Each night, two pianists will take requests and go key-to-key in a friendly competition. 

Directly below Dueling Pianos is Spotlight Karaoke, which debuted on Oasis of the Seas after an extensive $165 million revitalization in 2019. Onboard Icon, though, you will find the best karaoke stage in the fleet! Plus, there will be private rooms for those who want a more intimate karaoke experience. 

Since Icon is meant to be the ultimate family vacation, it makes sense that Adventure Ocean can be accessed from the Royal Promenade, too.

Located in the heart of the ship, there are dedicated venues for children and teens, such as the brand-new Social 020, which offers teens an escape from parents that features state-of-the-art video game systems and movie room. 

For younger guests between the ages of 6-months and 12-years-old, Royal Caribbean is bringing back (and upgrading) their Adventure Ocean facilities.

Here, they will find age-appropriate rooms and activities, including a workshop that incorporates arts, crafts, and fun science experiences. There will even be an Adventure Ocean theater! 

In terms of entertainment, the Royal Promenade will be home to the largest ice arena at sea -- Absolute Zero -- with over 2,850 square feet of ice. It is different from other ice rinks on older Royal Caribbean ships, too, as it has been redesigned in an oval space that has two hidden entrances, allowing performers to enter the rink at high speeds and get right into the action! 

When not being used for shows, guests will have the opportunity to go skating. It can also be converted into a laser tag arena. 

Located in the forward of the ship is the Royal Theater. All of their past developments with technologies have been integrated into this space, allowing for the ultimate storytelling experiences at sea. 

"The Royal Promenade has been a staple of ours since the Voyager Class ships," said Jason Liberty, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

"Watching it grow not only in size but experience through the Freedom Class, Oasis Class, and now onto Icon Class is really remarkable. So you're going to see a larger, wider, longer, higher Promenade that's going to have a lot more experiences."

How much longer until Icon of the Seas sets sail?

In June, Icon of the Seas successfully completed her first round of sea trials.

During these tests, she traveled hundreds of miles, during which the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels were all tested. 

Related: 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the cruise industry

Between preparing for the trials and the tests themselves, there were over 2,000 specialists who put in more than 350 hours of work in helping Icon of the Seas pass this important milestone. 

There's around round of sea trials scheduled for later in 2023 to make sure that Icon of the Seas is in tip-top shape before she is delivered to Royal Caribbean prior to her January 27, 2024 maiden voyage. 

After having to pause its cruise ship upgrade program in 2020, Royal Caribbean hinted they're re-thinking those improvements.

In 2018, the Royal Amplified program was announced to bring new enhancements to the Oasis, Freedom and Voyager Class cruise ships.

Many cruise ships received upgrades, but a number of vessels did not because the cruise industry shutdown in 2020 and the company had to shore up its finances by cutting costs.

The company hasn't announced a resumption of those upgrades, but executives tip-toed around the idea they might spend more on ship upgrades on vessels that missed their upgrades in 2020 and 2021.

During Royal Caribbean Group's second quarter earnings call with investors, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz talked about an increase in spend on dry docks next year as it relates to costs.

"We are now in the planning process obviously for '24 and we're considering all the the dry docks that we we need to do next year. And that could be more elevated than than than this year, which obviously will will impact some of the costs and a little bit on the yield."

That alone wasn't much of a hint, but then Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty jumped in with an additional comment that seemed to point in the direction of more upgrades.

"The elevation on the dry dock is just a reflection of ships that came out of Covid that had missed those windows. And so it will be a little bit more elevated in 2024."

Mr. Liberty did not refer to the Royal Amplified program by name, but he certainly talked about the ships that missed their opportunity to get enhancements. This would likely refer to possibly four ships:

• Explorer of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas 
• Liberty of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas was scheduled to undergo a 58-day, $165 million transformation that would have added new features, including 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.

Similarly, Explorer of the Seas was planning to get a $110 million amplification that would have added a number of changes from bow to stern.

Specific upgrades were never announced for Liberty or Adventure.

The important takeaway for guests is Royal Caribbean may finally be reconsidering finishing those upgrades.

Why amplified cruise ships matter

In comparing cruise ships that were amplified versus those that were not, there is a noticeable experience difference.

The purpose of upgrading these ships was to add back in features and amenities newer cruise ships already had so that the guest experience was more consistent and enjoyable across the fleet.

Amplified ships drove up revenue as a result of higher guest satisfaction with the changes.

In 2019, former Royal Caribbean Group CEO Richard Fain talked about how lucrative the changes were, "Our vessel modernization program is driving strong results. These upgrades are expensive, but our guests love them and reward us accordingly."

What Royal Caribbean changed on other ships

It remains to be seen what changes ships going into drydock in 2024 would get, but other ships that were upgraded ended up with quite a number of features.

Royal Caribbean did not apply the same changes to all the ships that were upgraded between 2018 and 2020. It seemed the cruise line took an opportunity with each ship to look at what features and changes would most benefit that particular vessel.

Read more: What was added to each Royal Caribbean ship during its Royal Amplified refurbishment

The program focused on three key areas:

• Pool deck & attractions
• Bars & nightlife
• Dining

Depending on the ship, there could be new specialty dining added, revamp of the pool deck, new water slides, or completely new retail venues added.

Water slides were one feature every ship received as part of its upgrades. Royal Caribbean adopted water slides as a must-have feature on its ships in recent years. In fact, they managed to add water slides to Explorer of the Seas as part of a regularly scheduled dry dock earlier this year.

Royal Caribbean Group reported its second quarter earnings on Thursday and reported stronger than expected earnings that forced the company to pump up its guidance for the year.

The company had total revenues of a record $3.5 billion, with net income at $458.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA was a record $1.2 billion and Operating Cash Flow was $1.4 billion.

Why the fantastic results? Demand was better all around.

The cruise giant is seeing higher prices for cruise fares for North America and European itineraries, along with a lot of its customers spending on extras, such as drink packages, wifi, shore excursions and more.

Consumer spending onboard, as well as pre-cruise purchases, continue to significantly exceed 2019 levels driven by greater participation at higher prices.

The better-than-expected results compelled the company to make a significant increase in the company's full year outlook for revenue and earnings.

Royal Caribbean Group CEEO Jason Liberty celebrated the results, "Our brands continue to fire on all cylinders, resulting in record yields and second quarter earnings significantly exceeding our expectations."

"Demand for cruising and our brands is exceptionally strong and we have seen another step change in booking volumes and pricing, leading us to now expect double-digit net yield growth for the full year. We also expect to achieve record Adjusted EBITDA per APCD and Return on Invested Capital this year and are well on our way toward achieving our Trifecta goals."

Breaking down the second quarter

Net Income for the second quarter of $458.8 million compared to a Net Loss of $(0.5) billion for the same period last year.

Higher Caribbean and European cruise fare pricing along with higher shipboard revenue drove the higher revenue. The average capacity for the second quarter was 105%.

Booking volumes in the second quarter remained significantly higher than the corresponding period in 2019 and at record pricing levels. 

"Demand for 2023 sailings has significantly exceeded expectations and bookings for 2024 sailings are up significantly versus all prior years at record prices. Demand from the North American consumer has remained incredibly strong throughout the year, and booking volumes from European consumers who are booking European cruises this summer have accelerated."

Cash situation

Between 2020 and 2022, Royal Caribbean Group took out a number of loans to keep the company going during the cruise industry shutdown.  Here's an update on paying them back.

As of June 30, 2023, the Group's customer deposit balance was at a record-high $5.7 billion.  

As of June 30, 2023, the Group's liquidity position was $3.7 billion, which includes cash and cash equivalents and undrawn revolving credit facility availability.

During the second quarter, the company generated $1.4 billion in operating cash flow and repaid $1.6 billion of debt

As of June 30, 2023, the scheduled debt maturities for the remainder of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 were $1.0 billion, $2.0 billion, $3.3 billion, and $2.8 billion, respectively.

New cruise ships

Royal Caribbean Group has plans to spend $4.2 billion on capital expenditures, which usually are related to new ships or new construction projects.

The Silver Nova cruise ship was delivered to Silver Sea, and Icon of the Seas and Celebrity Ascent will be delivered later this year. All ship orders have committed financing in place.

Non-new ship related capital expenditures are expected to be $0.5 billion.

With five months left in 2023, there is still plenty of time to plan another cruise vacation. 

The fall months bring cooler temperatures and lower prices than peak summer cruises. Plus, even if the cruise itself is fully booked, there are less land-based travelers, meaning that there will be fewer crowds in port. 

You might even be able to find a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary that is not offered throughout the year. 

Here are the best 2023 fall cruises that you should take. 

Alaska

Royal Caribbean's Alaska's season wraps up in September, and this month just so happens to mark the region's transition from summer to fall. The earlier you cruise, the better weather you have have, including more daylight. 

On September 3, Brilliance of the Seas is departing on a roundtrip "Multi Glacier Experience Cruise" from Vancouver, Canada, with prices starting at $966 per person for an interior cabin. If you want to upgrade to a balcony, expect to pay a minimum of $1,842 per person. 

During this 7-night voyage, the ship will dock in Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska. You will also have three different sightseeing opportunities in Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord, and the Inside Passage. 

In comparison, the 7-night Alaska Glacier onboard Quantum of the Seas that departs on September 11 only has one glacier viewing: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. This does, however, mean that you will have more time in port, visiting Sitka; Icy Strait Point; Juneau; and Victoria, British Columbia. 

Pricing is similar, with an interior cabin starting at $906 per person. 

Asia

Currently, most cruises onboard Spectrum of the Seas are only 3-5 nights. This fall, however, there are two 12-night cruises that sail from Singapore to Tokyo and vice versa that are each unique in their own way. The itineraries for both sailings are different, with the first cruise visiting fewer ports than the second. 

The first sailing departs on September 19 and sails from Singapore to Tokyo, making stops in Nha Trang, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; and Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, Japan before arriving in Tokyo. Currently, pricing for this cruise currently starts around $1,800 per person for either a balcony or interior stateroom.  

The latter sailing is more expensive visits one more port of call. Throughout the 12-night voyage, the ship will visit Mt. Fuji (Shimizu), Kobe, Okinawa (Naha), and Ishigaki, Japan; Hong Kong, China; and Hue / Danang (Chan May), Vietnam.

Bahamas and Caribbean

While fall is still part of the Atlantic hurricane season, you are less likely to be impacted by inclement weather in late October and November.

In those two months, Royal Caribbean has twenty ships deployed here, meaning that you have a variety of different itineraries to choose from from embarkation ports ranging from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Galveston, Texas and even San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

If you are looking for a quick getaway, consider sailing on Allure of the Seas. She begins making 3- and 4-night voyages out of Port Canaveral on October 30 to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The fall is also one of your last chances to sail on Wonder of the Seas while she is the largest cruise ship in the world, a title no other Oasis Class ships will ever hold again once Icon of the Seas launches in January. 

In October and November, she will be making 7-night roundtrip cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, all including a stop at CocoCay. 

With twenty ships, though, you don't have to sail on some of the largest in the fleet. Some of the smallest, such as Vision of the Seas, will be sailing on unique and longer itineraries to the Southern Caribbean, visiting ports like St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Kitts & Nevis.

You will find better rates on the older ships, too. A 12-night cruise on Vision of the Seas starts at $1,199 per person, while a 7-night cruise onboard Wonder of the Seas starts at $1,246 per person.

Bermuda

September is a good month to visit Bermuda, as daily highs will still peak into the 80s. This means that you will be able to enjoy the warm summer temperatures with fewer crowds. 

Liberty of the Seas sails to Bermuda from Cape Liberty through October. In September, there are three 5-night sailings, each has two days at sea and two days docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard. 

While not the largest ship in the fleet, this Freedom Class ship offers plenty of activities and things to do, including water slides, a FlowRider surf simulator, an ice skating rink and Broadway show, specialty dining venues, pools, and more. 

Currently, the cheapest sailing departs on September 30 and costs $609 per person. 

Canada and New England

Fall foliage cruises are popular because they allow passengers to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the changing hues of the trees of Canada and New England. 

This year, Royal Caribbean is offering four "fall foliage" cruises onboard Jewel of the Seas. For the best chance of seeing the most transformation, take one of the earlier two, as you are more likely to experience peak foliage through mid-October. 

The first is an 11-night northbound cruise from Cape Liberty to Quebec City on September 28 that starts at $949 per person. This itinerary focuses on Canadian ports of call, visiting Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; and Sept-Iles and Saguenay, Quebec. 

The following 10-night southbound cruise from Quebec City to Cape Liberty is more port intensive, with only three days at sea. Additionally, you will dock in Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. This sailing starts at $749 per person for an interior room. 

And while not advertised as fall foliage cruises, there are two sailings onboard Liberty of the Seas where you are likely to experience some of the northeast's fall magic: October 5 and 19. Both sailings start at under $650 per person. 

The ports of call include Boston, Massachusetts; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick. 

Europe

Unlike the Caribbean, you can expect to spend long days in port exploring European cities, rather than lounging on the beach. In the peak of the summer, it can get to be miserably hot. In the fall, you will be greeted with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds in port. 

In July, for instance, it is not unusual for the daily high to reach the high 80s and 90s in places like Rome, while in October, the daily temperatures range from the high 60s to mid 70s. 

For a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise onboard Symphony of the Seas, the sailings range from $1,295 to $1,755 per person for an interior room in October. You can sail from either Barcelona, Spain or Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; however, the cheapest port of embarkation is Barcelona. 

During your voyage, you will visit Naples/Capri, Italy; Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy. If you sail from Barcelona, you will have a day in Rome, and if you sail from Rome, you will be able to explore Barcelona for a day. 

Mexico

October and November are two of the best months to visit the Mexican Riviera, as you will find pleasant weather compared to the summer months.

Moreover, October marks the end of the region's rainy season; August and September have higher rainfall averages. Temperatures will still be in the 80s, meaning that you can sunbathe and enjoy other water activities in port. 

Consider a 7-night cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta onboard Navigator of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship that received $115 million in renovations in early 2019, and visit beautiful beaches, try the local cuisine, and see world-famous landmarks, including the El Arco rock formation in Cabo.

Due to less overall demand, you will find some great deals, too. All dates in October begin under $700 per person for an inside stateroom. 

Read more: What it's like to cruise on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas in 2023

Panama Canal

The fall is one of two times throughout the year that Royal Caribbean offers sailings through the Panama Canal. This year, there are three cruises that you can choose from, all of which are on Radiance Class ships. 

The first is a 16-night cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas that departs on October 7 and sails from San Diego to Tampa. The next two are not until November, and they are both 14-night cruises onboard Serenade of the Seas. 

On November 7, Serenade will depart from Miami, arriving in Los Angeles on November 21. That same day, she will leave on another Panama Canal cruise to return to Miami. 

Pricing varies greatly, with the most expensive being the 16-night cruise onboard Radiance. This cruise starts at $1,646 per person for an interior room. At the time of writing, all ocean view, balconies, and suites were sold out. 

The cheapest Panama Canal cruise in Fall 2023 is the 14-night sailing on Serenade of the Seas from Los Angeles on November 21. An interior room begins at $936 per person.  

After these three sailings, there will not be another opportunity to cruise the Panama Canal onboard a Royal Caribbean ship until April 2024. 

Transatlantic and transpacific cruises

The fall is also a common time for transatlantic and transpacific cruises, as ships are being redeployed after cruises in seasonal regions, such as Europe and Alaska. 

The larger the vessel, the more you will have to do onboard during the long stretch of sea days. Symphony and Odyssey of the Seas will offer the most to do, with the latter visiting more ports of call. 

When Symphony of the Seas departs on her transatlantic cruise on October 29, she will only stop at two different ports in Europe -- Valencia and Seville (Cadiz), Spain -- before crossing the ocean. Before docking in Fort Lauderdale, she will visit Nassau. Currently, the price for this cruise begins at under $740 per person. 

Odyssey of the Seas' return to the Americans will begin on October 27. On this sailing, you can visit Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), France; Palma De Mallorca and Valencia, Spain; Ponta Delgada, Azores; and Bermuda. The price for this cruise is substantially more than Symphony, though, with interior cabins starting at $1,750 per person. 

In total, there are nine transatlantic and transpacific to choose from in October and November 2023. If you want a transpacific cruise that visits Hawaii, you will want to skip these itineraries in the fall. They only depart from Honolulu, rather than island hopping like spring voyages from Honolulu to the Pacific Coast. 

Transpacific sailings on October focus more on the islands of the South Pacific, such as Vanuatu, French Polynesia, and Tahiti. Upon arrival in Australia, the ships -- Brilliance, Quantum, and Ovation of the Seas -- will begin their seasonal deployments in the South Pacific, where they will remain until Spring 2024. 

Royal Caribbean isn't done revealing new features coming to Utopia of the Seas.

Its potentially last Oasis Class cruise ship is about a year away, and we know of a new dining concept coming to the ship.

While aboard the President's Cruise sailing on Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider, gave a presentation about Utopia of the Seas.

According to Mr. Schneider, Utopia of the Seas will feature The Spare Tire, the line’s first food truck-style eatery.

It will be located on the pool deck, and Royal Caribbean previously disclosed it would serve up, "handheld favorites".

Royal Caribbean's plan for the pool deck is to create a resort-style experience that draws guests to a relaxing day. The five pools on Utopia provide both lowkey and upbeat fun.

There will be resort-style and sloping beach-entry pools, including the three pools and three Lime & Coconut bars at the center of the pool deck. 

This is second all-new dining experience revealed coming to Utopia of the Seas.

Previously, Royal Caribbean announced a new immersive dining experience that will create a classic train car motif that serves meals.

Inside the faux train cars, which will be decorated and built to the specifications of actual train cars, diners will encounter a handful of tables placed next to windows with digital displays, where footage of destinations will flash by.

It will be located on deck 4 where Izumi is located on other Oasis Class ships.

More Utopia of the Seas dining

We also know about a number of other restaurants coming to Utopia of the Seas. In fact, Utopia will have more than 20 dining options.

Izumi and Izumi in the Park will be located in Central Park, featuring a convenient, new window that serves up fresh sushi and Japanese-inspired sweets. Next door is a reimagined Izumi restaurant, with double the teppanyaki tables and new al fresco seating.

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar spans two stories and has a menu of authentic Italian dishes. There's even a new outside terrace – Gio’s Terrazza – that overlooks the Boardwalk neighborhood.

El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca will have Mexican-inspired street food and drinks.

Solarium Bistro is a returning restaurant concept open for all meals that serves up Mediterranean food and salads.

More returning favorites on the menu include The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, Windjammer buffet, Hooked Seafood, and Chops Grille.

Launching in July 2024

Utopia of the Seas will debut in July 2024 and enter service offering short cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Royal Caribbean will change its traditional playbook by starting off a new cruise ship with just short cruises, which the line hopes will capitalize on the short cruise market.

The inaugural voyage is scheduled for July 22, 2024.

Two kids were photographed sitting on the balcony of their cruise ship.

The blatant breaking of safety rules for cruise ships demonstrates how passengers doing things they're not supposed to do has the greatest potential for injury.

The unidentified kids are seen sitting on top of the balcony in their cabin, having climbed up on the balcony railing first.

The photo was posted on Facebook in a cruising group, with the photo attributed to Liz Pride.

The Carnival Cruise Line Miami blog posted the caption, "Where are the parents?" inferring a lack of supervision.

It's not clear which cruise ship this photo was taken from, but it certainly resembles Royal Caribbean's Radiance Class ships.

One reader believes it is from Serenade of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's guest-conduct policy says, "Sitting, standing, laying or climbing on, over or across any exterior or interior railings or other protective barriers, or tampering with ship's equipment, facilities or systems designed for guest safety is not permitted." 

Breaking the rules can result in being kicked off the ship at the next port.

In past similar incidents, guests have not only been kicked off the ship but also banned for life from the cruise line.

A woman that stood on her balcony railing in 2019 was banned for life.

Cruise fans incensed

As soon as the photo started making rounds online, cruise fans were outraged at both the behavior of the kids, as well as the lack of supervision by the parents.

Kelly Hatfield-Lampton wrote, "And THAT is how people fall overboard."

Lisa Babcock wrote, "OMG!! Hello!! Where are the parents??"

Many could barely look at the photo because it made their scared just thinking about the possibilities, "I am getting anxious just looking at this picture," said Danielle Benton.

Tanya Walker said, "Perfect example of how you go overboard in a ship!"

Major potential for harm

What the kids did in this photo was incredibly dangerous, and the sort of reckless behavior that gives the cruise industry a bad name.

Cruise ships are designed to have balcony railings at such a height that prevents someone from accidently slipping and falling over. These railings are right around chest height on the average person on open deck areas and cabin balconies. They are placed intentionally to ensure passenger safety.

The risk of fall only occurs when someone is doing something they're not supposed to, such as climbing on furniture to access the top of the railing.

Accidental overboard situations occur when the safety precautions are bypassed. This can occur because someone is inebriated, or simply attempts a stunt.

In other situations, some people choose to jump off a ship purposefully in order to cause themselves intentional physical harm.

Given how close it is to the major cruise ports, The Bahamas is a very popular cruise year-round destination. Ships visit tropical ports as well as cruise line private islands.

Deciding the best month to cruise to the Bahamas is dependent on a few factors, such as weather, price, and crowds. You might also want to know will it be too crowded in the summer or rainy in the winter? When is the cheapest time to sail to the Bahamas?

Even if you are not taking a cruise specifically to The Bahamas, there is a good chance that you spend at least one day of your 7-night Caribbean cruise here. Often, Royal Caribbean will include a stop at their private island Perfect Day at CocoCay on their longer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries that sail to ports like Cozumel, Roatán, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.  

Best time to cruise based on weather

Since The Bahamas is located further north than most Caribbean ports (think Jamaica and St. Maarten), the islands are more prone to temperature fluctuation. In fact, The Bahamas is not even located within the Caribbean. 

The driest weather can be expected between November and April, with the wettest months being June through September, which is also Atlantic hurricane season. 

While hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, you are most likely to encounter storms in August and September. Do not let this stop you from booking a cruise during this time, though. If a storm does pop up, the cruise ship captain will do everything they can to ensure smooth sailing, meaning that it is more common for itineraries to be changed instead of being flat out cancelled. 

If cruising in the winter -- think December and January -- you might be subject to colder temperatures due to the possibility of a cold front. When this occurs, the seas will get a little rougher than usual, and temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s. 

In January, for instance, the average high in Nassau is in the high 70s, while the average low drops to the mid 60s. 

Earlier this year, I sailed to CocoCay twice in January. Both times, the weather was not as warm as I would have preferred. Once I got in the water, I had to stay submerged, otherwise the wind chill made it uncomfortably chilly!

When I returned mid-February, though, it was pleasant, and I did not mind sitting in my swimsuit, rather than feeling like I had to bundle up in a towel to hang out on the beach. 

The weather is subject to change; however, the months of March, April, May and November are the most likely to see comfortable temperatures with the least chance of rain. 

Best time to cruise based on crowds 

The Bahamas is a popular cruise port and tourist destination year-round. On February 27, 2023, Nassau set a new single-day record with 28,554 cruise ship passengers in port in a single day!

Regardless of when you choose to sail, you are likely going to be in port with more than one ship. In fact, thanks to Nassau's recent port expansion, they are now able to accommodate 30,000 cruise passengers per day. By the end of 2024, it is estimated that Nassau will see four million cruise visitors.

The busiest times of year coincide with American school holidays. Not only will ships be sailing close to maximum capacity, but the island's themselves (excluding CocoCay) will also see more tourists. These holidays include spring and summer break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Three day weekends, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, are subject to seeing more crowds, too.

Best time to cruise based on price

While you should never book the cheapest cruise you can find without doing additional research, you can find great deals on cruises to The Bahamas, especially those that are only 3- and 4-nights. The price per night will be more expensive than longer cruises, but the overall cost will be lower.

At the time of writing, a 3-night sailing on Allure of the Seas is advertised at $282 per person for The Bahamas cruise that leaves on November 1, 2024. In comparison, a 7-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas starts at $565 per person. This amounts to a difference of roughly $15 per day, before taxes, port fees, and gratuities are even added, for the shorter cruise. 

You are more likely to find a cheaper sailing if you cruise during the following times: 

• January (with the exception of New Years' week and Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend)
• February (with the exception of Presidents' Day Weekend)
• May 
• September

• October
• First two weeks of November
• First two weeks of December 

March and April see an increase in pricing due to spring break, while three day weekends (i.e., Presidents' Day) are popular since they require one less day off of work.

A 4-night cruise onboard Allure of the Seas that departs on February 19, 2024 (Presidents' Day) is currently priced at $543 per person for two guests staying in an interior cabin. If you sailed two weeks earlier on February 5, you could book a balcony cabin for roughly the same price!

Other factors that will impact your price include the stateroom category you choose, as well as the age of the ship. Sailings on the brand-new Utopia of the Seas, for instance, will be more expensive than those on Allure of the Seas. 

Of course, the best way to ensure that you are getting the best price on your cruise vacation is to book it as soon in advance as possible. If you notice that the fare does drop, you can either consult your travel agent or call Royal Caribbean, and they will honor the lower price. If you book after a price increase, however, there is no way for you to get price that you missed out on. 

Related: How to get the best cruise deals: 15 easy tips

What is the best time to take a cruise to the Bahamas?

When taking into consideration the weather, crowds, and cost of the cruise fare, the most ideal time to sail to The Bahamas is either May or early November. 

In regard to the weather, the average high and low in Nassau during the month May are in the mid-80s and mid-70s. November tends to be similar, with the average being a few degrees colder than in the spring. Either way, you will avoid the peak humidity and high temperatures that accompany sailing in the summer months. 

Similarly, both May and early November fall outside of the peak season for crowds. While neither the cruise nor port of Nassau will be empty, there will be fewer travelers than in the summer since the majority of American families will be preoccupied with school and other obligations. 

Fewer crowds means that there is less demand, too. Less demand means a decrease in cruise fares, which is great for those looking to sail on a budget or stretch their vacation fund as far as possible. 

You cannot go wrong with a cruise to The Bahamas, though, regardless of when you are able to sail! Just make sure you do your research in advance, so you know what to expect. 

Celebrity Cruises revealed the dining experiences for its next new cruise ship, Celebrity Ascent.

Ascent will launch later this year and be the next in the Edge Class of cruise ships.

While this will be the fourth in the class, Celebrity will have some culinary differences from other ships.

Celebrity Ascent will feature redesigned restaurants, immersive dinners, expanded food and drink menus, including a new whiskey tasting, and a plant-based multi-course dinner.

Here's a look at the dining choices you can expect on Celebrity Ascent when she launches.

Le Voyage

The second installment of Le Voyage will be opened on Celebrity Ascent.

Le Voyage is the creation of world-renowned-chef Daniel Boulud, and it provides guests with fine dining from his favorite places around the world. 

There will be an all-new design to the restaurant featuring a new chandelier, captivating neutrals, plush banquet seating, and gold tones throughout.

Guests will experience a global menu crafted by Chef Boulud himself that offers dishes from his personal travels and favorite places around the world.

There is also a Chef's Table option to rent out a private, 6-seat dining room that treats diners to a multi-course tasting dinner complete with exceptional wine pairings. 

Eden

The iconic Eden venue found on all Edge Class ships will have three levels of sensory experiences completely wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows. 

You'll find a casual lunch café, a cocktail bar, an entertainment space, an outdoor terrace and a signature restaurant in just one venue.

The signature restaurant will have a new seven-course plant-based tasting menu. Each dish features ingredients that have been sourced from their original place of origin and presented in the most natural state.

Menu highlights include dishes like the Golden Beet-Tomato Ceviche, Ajoblanco Panna Cotta, Roasted and Glazed Celeriac Steak, and Dry Rose Petals Masala Curry. Enjoyed as a tasting menu, or a la carte, diners can also opt for organic and vegan wine pairings. 

Main Dining Rooms

All Edge Class ships have four main dining restaurants instead of one main dining room, with each offering a different style of cuisine and signature dishes.

Ascent will have these dining rooms:

• New American cuisine at Cosmopolitan restaurant
• Mediterranean at Cyprus
• French contemporary at Normandie
• Italian at Tuscan

The Cosmopolitan will have a new design inspired by the culture of champagne, featuring a new layout and seating throughout. 

Combined, the four main dining restaurants offer travelers more than 84 different dishes to choose from. 

More specialty dining

You'll still find other great dining choices at Le Petit Chef, Fine Cut and Blu.

At Le Petit Chef, each dinner features a multi-course menu that is brought to life by colorful and fun animations of a tiny chef who tells the story behind each dish. Each course’s animation ends with a digital version of the dish, followed by the real-life dish placed seamlessly in front of the diner for a wow-worthy experience.

Some new to Ascent will be an all-new four-course dining show told in the style of a fairytale as the tiny chef comes across a mysterious magical cookbook with whimsical recipes full of surprises. 

At Fine Cut Steakhouse, there will be a new dish – the Lemon Poached Lobster Tail with melted leeks, shiitake mushrooms, lobster ravioli and a house made beurre Blanc sauce.

Guest staying in Aqua Class can dine al fresco for breakfast or dinner in Blu’s new outdoor terrace space.

New Drink Offerings

Ascent will have a new exclusive partnership with WhistlePig Whiskey. Ascent will feature two hand-selected barrels made exclusively for Celebrity Cruises. A

vailable at Craft Social, guests can enjoy a Special Bespoke Barrel Aged 12 Years and Special Single Barrel Aged 10 Years, either as a la carte options or as part of a tasting flight that also features WhistlePig PiggyBack 100 Proof Bourbon (Aged 6 Years), WhistlePig 10, and WhistlePig 12. 

Wine aficionados will be happy to know three of Celebrity Ascent’s venues were recognized at the 2023 Wine Spectator Awards, with Le Voyage and Tuscan being recipients of the “Best Of” Award of Excellence, and Fine Cut becoming an Award of Excellence winner.

The Grand Plaza Martini Bar is situated under The Chandelier, a breathtaking light fixture-meets-art installation that comes alive each night during the iconic Flair Bartender Shows.

The Martini Bar on Ascent will feature an expanded new menu, offering classic martinis, fruit-infused creations, and tantalizing desert martinis. 

Sailing in November 2023

Celebrity Ascent will hold 3,260 passengers at double occupancy. 

Celebrity Ascent will begin cruises at the end of November 2023 from Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades for its inaugural Caribbean season. 

There will be a 4- and 3-night preview sailing on November 22, 2023 and then November 26, 2023.  Ascent will then begin with her maiden 7-night Caribbean sailing on December 3, 2023.

One of the most intriguing questions out there is if Royal Caribbean will ever build a smaller cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean is known for its big ships, and the line has steadily been building bigger and bigger cruise ships over the last two decades.

While the new massive ships certainly garner a lot of attention because of how big they are, there is still a role that smaller cruise ships can play.

Speaking at the the President's Cruise event on Allure of the Seas on Monday, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley answered a question from the audience regarding a smaller ship.

Haley Evans from Living Adventures Travel Agency, shared a video clip of Mr. Bayley being asked about a smaller ship.

"We are excited about Icon, but we were wondering the other ports where you can't have these large ships at, are you going to make other smaller ships."

Mr. Bayley was quick to admit that the smaller vessels in the fleet are starting to show their age.

"We recognize that we have classes of ships now that are, you know, getting a little up there in the years," he responded.

While he didn't mention them, the Vision Class and Radiance Class cruise ships are the smallest of Royal Caribbean's ships and usually get sent to ports that can't handle big ships.

The first Vision Class ship was launched in 1995 and can accommodate around 2400 - 2700 passengers. Depending on the ship, they range between 73,817 GT and 82,910 GT.

The Radiance Class can also handle around 2400 - 2700 passengers and are 90,090 GT.

As for if Royal Caribbean had plans to replace these ships, or simply build new smaller ships, he was non-committal. 

"It is something that's certainly deeply in our consideration and our planning at the moment that we have a lot of conceptual work going on."

"I think when we're ready we can we can announce steps that will take to to do just that."

He went on to talk about the fact Royal Caribbean is always looking to the future, and new ideas are constantly being considered.

"The brand has always been in kind of growth mode and we've always been building and engineering and designing new classes of ships," Mr. Bayley explained.

He then was sure to say nothing is confirmed at this time, "It's very much in the forefront of our minds. We understand that we need to think and act on this."

"But we're in no position to make any statements or comments about it for obvious reasons."

Royal Caribbean's official order sheet only has the three Icon Class cruise ships and Utopia of the Seas ordered.  There are no other orders placed for Royal Caribbean International ships according to Royal Caribbean Group filings with the  U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Discovery Class rumor

Mr. Bayley's comments seem to indicate they are at the very least thinking about what the future may hold, but he certainly did not comment or allude to a long-running rumor for a new smaller ship.

For years, cruise ship passengers have heard from crew members on Royal Caribbean vessels refer to a new class of smaller ships, known as the Discovery Class or Project Discovery.

It's been a rumor circulating among cruise fans for years. As late as May 2023, the Captain of Radiance of the Seas said a new ship and class similar in size to the Radiance was being planned to be named Discovery of the Seas.

Whether or not these rumors come to fruition of not, the idea of a smaller ship coming in the near future is of great interest to cruise fans.