Royal Caribbean has added an Izumi specialty restaurant to Adventure of the Seas, and we have a first look at this new style of Izumi experience.

Photo by Carl Luxford

Izumi on Adventure of the Seas is the first Izumi location to be positioned on the Royal Promenade, which means it will be unique in its offerings.

Since Izumi took over a space that was previously occupied by a sports bar, Izumi on Adventure of the Seas will offer simply sushi and sake/beer.

Photo by Travis Kamiyama

Photo by Travis Kamiyama

Photo by Carl Luxford

Izumi on Adventure of the Seas represents the 19th Izumi location to open across Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Royal Caribbean announced more changes to its scheduled itineraries due to Hurricane Irma.

Adventure of the Seas will depart as planned on Saturday, September 9, but will skip a port stop in St. Maarten due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irma.  Instead, the ship will replace this port with an overnight in Aruba.

The Enchantment of the Seas sailing scheduled for September 11th has been delayed and will now depart on Tuesday, September 12th and will sail a 3-night itinerary to the Bahamas. Given the unpredictability of Irma, Royal Caribbean will advise if there are any changes to the itinerary as soon as they know. Guests opting to sail on Enchantment will receive a refund of 25% of your cruise fare paid in the form of a refundable onboard credit.

Guests who are unable to travel and need to cancel their cruise can receive a 100% future cruise credit. Pre-booked shore excursions will be refunded to your original form of payment.

Royal Caribbean is still monitoring these sailings, and will provide an update at 6pm EDT:

• Anthem of the Seas: September 9 Bermuda cruise
• Majesty of the Seas (charter cruise): September 11 Bahamas cruise

Hurricane Irma is a category 5 storm with sustained winds of 180 mph. Irma passed just north of San Juan, Puerto Rico and is currently located just north of the Dominican moving west at 17 mph. The current forecasts suggest that Hurricane Irma is tracking towards southeast Florida and should arrive Sunday morning, and then proceed to Port Canaveral Monday morning. The storm should exit the Florida area late Monday, pre-dawn Tuesday.

The following sailings are departing as scheduled:

• Grandeur of the Seas: September 7 New England/Canada cruise
• Liberty of the Seas: September 10 Western Caribbean cruise
• Serenade of the Seas: September 10 New England/Canada cruise
• Vision of the Seas: September 7 New England/Canada cruise

The following sailings are canceled:

• Empress of the Seas: September 9 Cuba cruise
• Enchantment of the Seas: September 8 Bahamas cruise
• Majesty of the Seas: September 8 Bahamas cruise

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call 1-800-256-6649.

Royal Caribbean announced to travel partners that Adventure of the Seas will undergo a 30-day refurbishment to add new features and updates and complete work that was delayed last year.

Adventure of the Seas dry-dock will begin on January 31, 2018 and will include the addition of specialty restaurant Izumi Japanese Cuisine, new inside and oceanview staterooms and a Suite Lounge.

In order to accommodate the dry-dock, Royal Caribbean canceled the January 13, 2018 through February 10, 2018 sailings.  Guests booked onboard for the affected sailings will need to be reaccommodated.  As a gesture of good will, Royal Caribbean will be offering the following compensation package.

• Guests will receive $200 onboard credit per standard stateroom, $400 onboard credit for suites (category JS and above) when rebooking any Royal Caribbean sailing.
• Guests who incur a fee due to the change in their airline reservations will be reimbursed up to $200 per person, for Domestic Flights & $300 per person, for International Flights.

Guests may re-book on the select sailings below, in like accommodations, at the protected/lowest available cruise fare or any other Royal Caribbean sailing at prevailing rate. Price protection is limited to the cruise fare only. Taxes, fees, gratuities and other non-cruise fare items are subject to prevailing rates regardless of the sailing chosen.

• Adventure of the Seas – February 12, 2018
• Adventure of the Seas – March 10, 2018
• Adventure of the Seas – March 17, 2018
• Adventure of the Seas – April 7, 2018
• Adventure of the Seas – April 14, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – January 14, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – January 21, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – January 28, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – February 4, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – February 18, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – February 25, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – March 4, 2018
• Jewel of the Seas – March 11, 2018

The work scheduled is to complete upgrades that were originally scheduled for Adventure of the Seas' revitalization in November 2016, but had to be cut back due to Hurricane Matthew. 

Last week we posted about Royal Caribbean opening Chops Grille on Adventure of the Seas, and today we have photos from the new restaurant.

On Adventure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean opted to add Chops Grille on on Deck 4, across from the Schooner Bar. It is the same location Sabor Modern Mexican has been added on other ships.

In addition to the new restaurant, Royal Caribbean also opted to offer a new menu update to this Chops Grille location.  This is the first Chops Grille menu update since January 2014, when the Chops GrilleNavigator of the Seas received a menu revamp.

Among the menu changes, Chops Grille on Adventure of the Seas offers an angus filet mignon and grilled scottish salmon. Moreover, the French onion soup and dry-aged steak option (which carried an additional charge) has been removed from the menu. There is, however, a Chops Dry Aged Steak Burger option. The broiled Maine lobster remains the only up-charge entrée on the menu.

Royal Caribbean completed a major revitalization of Adventure of the Seas in late 2016, spending $61 million to add some great new features for guests to enjoy. Among the many changes and additions, the new dual racer water slides are something guests of all ages have become excited to try for themselves.

The water slides were added to the aft of the ship and are named Cyclone and Typhoon.  Similar to the racing water slides that were added to Liberty of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, the water slides on Adventure of the Seas offer guests a thrill ride experience onboard their ship.

Guests have the choice between riding the blue or yellow slide. To add to the thrill on the ride down, part of the slide is made of clear tubing and actually goes over the side of the ship.

Adventure of the Seas is the first Voyager class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet to receive water slides.

Hurricane Matthew may have dissipated weeks ago, but its impact is still being felt today, with an announcement by Royal Caribbean that Adventure of the Seas refurbishment plan has been modified.

Royal Caribbean sent an email to travel partners, indicating that "extensive damage" at the Freeport, Bahamas shipyard, as well as the global rerouting of cargo ships carrying equipment and materials, have causes a delay in getting the new changes implemented on the ship. Several cargo ships carrying essential materials were forced to bypass Freeport to circumvent the storm and, in turn, continued their predetermined route.

Adventure of the Seas will still exit dry dock on November 14, as previously planned, to embark on its scheduled itineraries.  Royal Caribbean was able to implement some of the changes as scheduled, such as updated design and décor, as well as newly renovated areas such as Boleros Latin lounge and the two-story mini golf course. However, there will be visible work going on during the next sailings.

• Work will continue on the Dual Racer water slides, FlowRider and Splashaway Bay aqua park with a new opening date of December 10, 2016.
• Chops Grille will now open early next year, while Izumi Japanese Cuisine is no longer part of the planned scope. Giovanni's Table, will offer select Chops Grille menu items until the steakhouse opens in early 2017.
• The introduction of new staterooms is no longer possible at this time. Guests booked in these staterooms will be contacted by a representative from Royal Caribbean's Customer Service team to discuss re-accommodation options on the same sailing.  Guests confirmed in a panoramic oceanview stateroom will be offered a complimentary upgrade to balcony accommodations and $100 OBC per stateroom to spend onboard.
• All guests on Adventure of the Seas sailings departing November 14 - December 3, 2016 will be offered a 25% Future Cruise Credit based on the cruise fare paid. 

The new timetable looks like this.

• Available as of November 14, 2016
  • Two story mini-golf course
  • Boleros Latin Lounge
• Available as of December 10, 2016
  • Dual Racer Water Slides
  • FlowRider
  • Splashaway Bay Aqua Park
• Coming in Early 2017
  • Chops Grille
  • Suite Lounge
• Removed from renovation plans
  • Izumi Japanese Cuisine

In addition to the changes previously announced for Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas, one more change coming to the ship is a two story mini golf course.

The new two story golf course will be at Adventure Dunes, and will be Royal Caribbean's first two story mini golf course.  

Royal Caribbean added a similar golf course to Liberty of the Seas, known as Liberty Dunes, but Adventure of the Seas will feature a two-story version.

Photos of Liberty Dunes from Liberty of the Seas

Adventure of the Seas is undergoing a $61 million refurbishment in November 2016 and will add new staterooms, dining locations, a FlowRider, waterslides and more.

Another Royal Caribbean ship has changed itineraries due to the anticipated path of Invest 97L, which is likely to become Tropical Storm Matthew.

According to Cruise Critic, Royal Caribbean has changed the itinerary for Adventure of the Seas as follows:

• September 28: St. Maarten
• September 29: St. Croix
• September 30: St. Thomas

Adventure of the Seas had been scheduled to visit St. Lucia and Barbados, and spend a day at sea.

This is the second Royal Caribbean ship to have its itinerary changed due to this storm. Allure of the Seas also had to change her course.

Weather.com says Invest 97L is spreading rain and gusty winds into the Windward Islands, and is still likely to become Tropical Storm Matthew soon, eventually posing a threat early next week in the Caribbean basin and potentially parts of the U.S. later next week.

Royal Caribbean confirmed plans for Adventure of the Seas to undergo a $61 million refurbishment in November 2016.

Adventure of the Seas will receive all-new thrills and enhancements, including new dual racer waterslides, Cyclone and Typhoon, the popular FlowRider surf simulator, and a children’s aquapark, Splashaway Bay. In addition, guests will enjoy a new lineup of culinary and entertainment venues with Izumi Japanese Cuisine, the brand’s signature steakhouse, Chops Grille and Boleros Latin Lounge. The ship also will receive more than 100 new staterooms, a refresh of all existing staterooms and a brand new Suites Lounge for the luxury traveler.

We first reported this news back in May 2016, but this announcement confirms the news.

The reinvented Adventure is Royal Caribbean’s fifth ship to undergo revitalization, and at $61 million this will be the brand’s largest investment yet. The massive project will introduce some of the trademark innovations the cruise line is known for, bringing the best of Royal Caribbean onboard.

"We're thrilled to debut an array of new enhancements to one of our guest’s most beloved ships,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The name Adventure says it all; this ship is packed with action, featuring a mix of signature features and innovations, including thrilling new waterslides and VOOM, the fastest internet at sea."

Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas is due for a refurbishment in November 2016 and we are now getting details on what work will be done.

Royal Caribbean is planning on adding these changes and additions to the ship

Cyclone and Typhoon waterslides

These two water slides were first added to Liberty of the Seas, and have also found a home on Harmony of the Seas.

Adventure of the Seas will be the first Voyager-class ship to get water slides.

FlowRider surf simulator

The FlowRider has proven to be one of the more popular activities across Royal Caribbean's fleet. Guests can choose between learning to stand-up surf or boogie board throughout their cruise.

Royal Caribbean has been adding FlowRiders to many of its ships, including other Voyager-class ships.

Slashaway Bay aqua park

Splashaway Bay is an aqua park featuring an interactive kid’s play area with water cannons, geysers and much more.

Like the water slides, it too was first introduced on Liberty of the Seas and was also added to Harmony of the Seas.

Izumi

Fans of Japanese cuisine will relish meals at Izumi.  The restaurant is famous for fresh, quality made sushi as well as other traditional Japanese dishes.

Izumi has been added to many other Royal Caribbean ships over the years, and has become one of the most proliferated and popular specialty restaurants.

Addition of dry-aged steaks to Chops Grille

Royal Caribbean is capitalizing on the dry-aged steak fad, which is the process of hanging the meats and letting time and microbes do their magic to enhance the flavor of the beef.

Dry-aging beef takes time, usually 21-28 days, and as a result costs more money because the restaurant ties up cash in inventory that’s just sitting around, losing water weight and literally shrinking. The benefit is the flavors get concentrated, similar to how a reducing sauce becomes richer. It's become a big fad among steakhouses these days and Royal Caribbean wanted in on the action.

Adventure of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship and is home-ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.