Royal Caribbean was busy last week at the US Trademark and Patent Office with three new video game characters being registered for a trademark.

The cruise line registered three different image trademarks, each indicating in the trademark registration that they are for use in "recorded interactive video game programs", as well as "RFID tags embodied in wristbands for use on cruise ships for personal identification, onboard navigation, room access, interactive video game access, and conducting financial transactions."

A child wearing a winged hat along with a pair of goggles and wearing a two-piece outfit with a back pack emblazoned with a crown and anchor symbol that is resting on the child's left hip, with the child's mouth closed in a smile.

An anthropomorphic creature wearing a fitted scuba suit accented with a series of lines and a chest plate emblazoned with a crown and anchor symbol with two flippers connected to the bottom of the legs of the scuba suit, and wearing a helmet that includes two parallel fins on top.

An oval bodied creature with two tiny arms, two small legs, two small ears and a cat-like tail, with its mouth open in a smile.

Each of the  trademarks were filed on June 13, 2020.

As is the case with all trademark registrations, there is very little information provided as to how or if Royal Caribbean will use them going forward.

Royal Caribbean recently rolled out a series of new video games on refurbished Oasis of the Seas in November 2019. These games were added primarily in and around Adventure Ocean for children to use at their leisure.

Games would allow kids to play by logging in with their RFID SeaPass card, and then logging their progress and high scores.

The technology upgrades and enhancements are part of the cruise line's collective effort known internally as "Project Excalibur", which aims to leverage new tech and innovations to enhance and simplify the onboard experience.

Project Excalibur has been the driving force behind the cruise line's new app, simplified check-in process, facial recognition and more. The next-gen tech is part of Royal Caribbean's Digital Experience team, which has been in place for almost 4 years.

Adventure Ocean on Oasis of the Seas was the first major overhaul that "rebooted" Royal Caribbean's children's programming. Its goal was to use the technology that the cruise line has partnered with other companies, as well as created in-house.

Puzzle Break has been the company behind the incredibly fun escape rooms on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and they just announced a new virtual escape room, "The Grimm Escape."

Since it is not practical to go to a physical escape room currently, Puzzle Break is now offering the same experience in a guided, virtual experience.

Beginning today, the new virtual escape room is available for companies, groups and teams of all sizes.

Puzzle Break’s The Grimm Escape is an online version of one of its most popular escape challenges. When a team signs on for the new game, they are greeted by an online guide (dubbed the fairy godparent), who introduces the story, begins players on their journey, and provides hints to teams that require assistance.

The Grimm Escape costs $25 per person, and so far virtual game slots are selling out within 12 hours of availability. Groups can range in size from five to 100 players.

The game is available to be booked for up to 6 players, and you can grab your tickets here.

To participate, you simply need a desktop or laptop computer that can run Zoom client for meetings, a webcam and microphone, and pencil and paper.

Digital Video Systems will provide expanded high-definition sports coverage on select Royal Caribbean ships, with more getting the additional offerings next year.

CRUISESAT will offer satellite direct-to-ship programming that features marquee programming from the United States, including coverage of:

• National Football League
• Major League Baseball
• National Basketball Association
• NASCAR
• Indy Racing League
• Golf and tennis Grand Slam events
• Major international (UEFA Champions League and other top soccer, cricket and more) sports from ESPN flagship networks
• SEC Network
• ESPN U

The expanded sports coverage is currently onboard four Royal Caribbean ships: Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

In November, the service will be expanded to Oasis of the Seas. The service will expand to Allure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas by spring 2020.

Royal Caribbean International manager of Entertainment Media, Jake McDaniel, spoke about the upgrade, "Royal Caribbean always strives to provide the very best entertainment experience possible, and that includes delivering high-definition sports that are essential to their guests. CRUISESAT makes it easy for Royal Caribbean to access quality HD sports entertainment content that their customers demand while they are enjoying their cruise experience."

HiRo, Royal Caribbean’s newest aqua show, features more high-flying feats, unexpected stunts and extraordinary acrobatics than ever before. Brought to life by the world’s best extreme-sport athletes, HiRo pushes the limits of a theatrical production with cutting-edge technology and choreography. With 3D flying technology used by aerialists as they literally soar above the crowd, plus acrobats and professional divers no two shows are the same, making it worth seeing twice.

Royal Caribbean came away with a few awards from the 11th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards.

Royal Caribbean was the winner in the following categories:

Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International

"Royal Caribbean continues to entertain with original Broadway-style productions, parades and now, laser tag. State-of-the-art technology, including drones, has enhanced new shows in the skating rink as well as with amusements like Sky Pad, a bungee-trampoline experience that also employs virtual reality. And as always, you can still surf, slide and fly (by zipline or skydive simulator) onboard many of Royal Caribbean's ships."

Best Ship Refurbishment: Mariner of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International

"Royal Caribbean invested $120 million into the refurbishment of Mariner of the Seas and the results are astounding. From the bright yellow globe at the top of the ship that houses the virtual reality trampoline experience Sky Pad to the addition of two restaurants, two bars, FlowRider surf simulators, the Perfect Storm water park and an escape room, Mariner's got plenty to keep you entertained."

Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International

"The lavishness of Royal Caribbean's top cabins as well as their inclusiveness and variety -- some ships offer up to a dozen suite categories -- can't be beat by any other mainstream cruise line. Just imagine, suites as deluxe as luxury penthouses. Royal Caribbean's got them. And this year, the line even introduced the Ultimate Family Suite, a visual marvel complete with a bedroom-to-living room slide."

With full-scale stage, ice, aerial and aqua productions on board Symphony of the Seas, high-tech and high-energy entertainment is at every turn. But what does it take to make it all come to life? Producing a lineup of shows befitting of the world's largest cruise ship takes plenty of time, dedication and rehearsal. From the AquaTheater, showcasing jaw-dropping stunts by acrobats and high divers against a backdrop of stunning projections, to a cast of 48 drones joining their human counterparts for ice shows in Studio B, watch as the team puts on the finishing touches to ensure that each show is ready for opening night.

Get a look at the real-life inspiration behind Royal Caribbean’s newest original show, Flight: Dare to Dream, a chronicle of the evolution of air travel and an imaginative take on what the future may hold. Follow the show's creators as they visit Space Center Houston in Texas to gather ideas and develop the vision for the first theater production to be set in space.

Guests on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas will have the opportunity to see brand new shows that were produced for the largest cruise ship in the world, including a headliner show that combines high-energy with high-tech.

Headlining the playbill will be the all-new show ‘Flight: Dare to Dream,’ a one-of-a-kind journey through the past, present and future of air travel and space exploration that will make history as one of the most ambitious stage productions to date. Guests take off on a spectacular adventure through time, chronicling key milestones in aeronautics, beginning with the first leisure voyage to Mars and ending with a stunning homage to the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk.

A Royal Caribbean Productions original, ‘Flight: Dare to Dream’ introduces cutting-edge 3D flying technology, video and automation to the 1,401-seat Royal Theater. Going where no stage has gone before, space and zero gravity will be simulated as actors “float” within a detailed replica of the International Space Station (ISS). The first theater set piece of its kind, the detailed design of Royal Caribbean’s ISS was informed by Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson, who lived 167 days in space and completed 38 hours and 28 minutes over 6 spacewalks in two separate missions.

“I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to relive my five months aboard the International Space Station for this out-of-this-world Royal Caribbean production,” said Clayton C. Anderson, U.S. astronaut, author & speaker. “I worked with Royal Caribbean to ensure the show’s zero gravity simulation, and appearance of the ISS replica were as true to life as possible to further enhance the show’s wow factor.”

Royal Caribbean Productions is the first team to consult with an astronaut that lived in space for a live theatrical production. Complex, high-impact choreography and production also take form in 3D flying with a custom built recreation of the Wright Flyer that will take off into the house; the set piece will have a 22 foot wingspan and single seat “cockpit.”

“We continue to push the envelope with high-tech, immersive entertainment at Royal Caribbean, and we couldn’t be prouder with how ‘Flight: Dare to Dream’ has brought to life the awe and wonder of flying,” said Nick Weir, Vice President, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. “Guests from 5 to 95 years old will not believe their eyes, as all our shows onboard Symphony of the Seas capture their imagination and create jaw-dropping I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened moments they won’t soon forget.”

Clayton Anderson & Nick Weir. Photo by Nick Weir.

Three additional headline shows across three distinct stage venues on Symphony of the Seas, include:

• 1977 in Studio B is the continuation to “1877,” the ice-skating show introduced on sister-ship Harmony of the Seas, featuring the time-traveling hero, Tempus. In his latest adventure, Tempus heads to London where a mysterious jewel thief with special powers has stolen the Queen’s crown jewels on the eve of her Silver Jubilee. Timing is everything in this imaginative original ice show, featuring high-tech projection mapping images that bring the ‘70s to life on the ice.
• Hairspray, a guest favorite, gets a makeover for Symphony of the Seas with new choreography and staging of the Tony Award- winning musical. The larger-than-life, Royal Caribbean Productions’ original introduces revolutionary set design, taking the story of loveable teen Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore, to the next level.
• HiRO raises the bar on Royal Caribbean’s aqua shows with more high flying feats, unexpected stunts and extraordinary acrobatics than ever before. Brought to life by the world’s best extreme-sport athletes, HiRO pushes the limits of a theatrical production at sea with cutting-edge technology and choreography and. No two shows are the same, making it worth seeing twice. The show features 3D flying technology used by aerialists as they literally soar above the crowd, plus acrobats and professional divers. 

Royal Caribbean entertainment spans beyond the stage and onto the ice at the cruise line's signature Studio B ice rink. Home to productions unlike any other, the venue pairs state-of-the-art technology features, like jaw-dropping projection capabilities, lighting and sound, with highly skilled entertainers to bring show-stopping performances to life.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise offers some great live shows to enjoy onboard.  Musicals, ice skating performances, and comedy shows are just a few of the performances to enjoy on Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean has created a number of impressive shows for its cruise ships, as well as reached out to some very talented performers to round out the entertainment on every ship in the fleet.

Planning for shows

One thing several people have ask is whether it is worth it to see the shows. Our answer is always a qualified “absolutely.” We absolutely recommend the shows because these are a big part of what separates Royal Caribbean from the rest of the industry.  In recent years, Royal Caribbean has invested heavily in its onboard shows, and the result has been a number of must-see performances.

Our thought process goes like this: entertainment on your Royal Caribbean cruise is included with your cruise fare, so why not see a couple of shows.  Not only is it very likely to be a fun time, it is a great way for family and friends to enjoy high quality entertainment together with little risk other than your time.

The big impediment you might have in seeing all of these shows is dinner. Often trying to balance show times with your dinner times can be difficult to time properly.  The rise in popularity of specialty dining and My Time Dining has resulted in some scheduling challenges. Depending on your dinner schedule, this may or may not be an issue. Those who are on traditional dining typically have less of a problem making show times work since many shows are scheduled opposite traditional dining schedules.

We have some recommendations if you potentially run into one of these planning risks: The key is to check for additional performances that work better for your schedule, or be prepared to make alternate dining plans.  Changing dining plans is not a major hassle, but something to be aware of to ensure you see as many shows as possible. Consult a prior Cruise Compass, as show times rarely change much (if it all) between sailings on similar itineraries. Once onboard, you can often get a entertainment schedule from Guest Services and better coordinate dining changes at that time.  Making dining changes is always easier early in the cruise, than later on, because reservation spots tend to fill up quickly.

Booking shows before your cruise

A common question among those new to Royal Caribbean is about when can they begin to reserve shows tickets prior to their cruise, and the answer is it depends on which ship you are sailing on.

Currently, only Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships offers guests the ability to get a virtual ticket for select shows and they are available via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. All other ships, will have seating available on a first-come, first-served basis and/or complimentary tickets once guests are onboard.

If entertainment is available to reserve for your cruise, we have typically seen shows become available for booking around 75-60 days prior to the sail date, but your experience may vary. The truth is, there is no rule about when these kinds of activities become available for booking, and every sailing can be different.

The best reason to book certain activities, entertainment and dining in advance is to guarantee a spot for you and your family, as well as break up the total cost of the cruise. There is limited capacity for shows, dining and other activities and Royal Caribbean tends to offer guests the option of reserving them prior to their cruise. By booking these activities early, you can ensure you have the time and day that you want all lined up.

Live shows

The exact lineup of entertainment will vary from ship to ship, but there are some common genres that span certain classes of ships and some are even fleet-wide. 

The theater performances are arguably the flagship entertainment on any Royal Caribbean ship. Royal Caribbean invests heavily in Broadway-inspired performances, with some ships actually offering full Broadway shows. Classic shows such as Grease, Mamma Mia, CATS and more grace the stage of Royal Caribbean's newest ships.

Royal Caribbean has made a name for itself with the high-diving shows on its Oasis Class ships that are held in the Aquatheater.  This space is an outdoor amphitheater, which features acrobatic and high diving stunts in the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea. 

Royal Caribbean also offers ice skating shows on ships that have an ice skating rink (Oasis, Freedom and Voyager Class ships). Each ship has its own unique ice skating show, which matches incredible ice skating performances with music and a loose story line.  These shows are not only a means to see some very talented skaters perform some of the most difficult ice skating moves, there is also a great story to enjoy.

In addition, Royal Caribbean's entertainment staff will host their own live shows onboard, including fan-favorites such as the Love and Marriage Game Show, Battle of the Sexes, The Quest, and more.  These shows involve select members of the audience, and have been a staple of the cruise industry for years. 

Most Royal Caribbean cruises also feature comedians, magicians, and/or entertainers that offer family-friendly and adult-oriented shows onboard.  These performers put on their act to augment the regular entertainment line up, and can offer something a little different than stage productions.

Another popular activity is taking in a newly released or classic film.  Royal Caribbean mixes up the offerings, but will show multiple films each day of the cruise, usually on the large screen by the pool.  On the larger Royal Caribbean ships, there are even 3D films shown in the Royal Theater for no additional cost. Regardless of venue, these films can be the perfect way to finally see that new movie you have been meaning to watch, or a fun movie to see again while you enjoy a swim.

Dancing and singing

If your idea of fun is live music, with or without you dancing along to it, then you will plenty of that on a Royal Caribbean cruise.  Each ship offers multiple venues each evening that offer live music, sing alongs, dance parties and more.

Each evening, your Cruise Compass will list a multitude of venues that offer live bands playing.  There will be shows at the ships' pubs, lounges, night clubs and even by the pool.  Walk in, and take a seat (or find a spot on the dance floor) and take it all in.  As mentioned, there are often many different live musical opportunities around the ship, appealing to different styles of music.  Guitar sing alongs at the pub, salsa dancing in Boleros lounge, DJ spinning, and more.

On select evenings of your cruise, there are themed parties held, where guests are invited to join in on the fun.  Some parties are themed to the 1970s or 1980s, Caribbean themed nights, and more.  These are essentially large dance parties, where the entertainment staff dress up for the occasion and guests are encouraged to do the same.  

Naturally, you may be wondering how to know which themed nights will be on your sailing and when, but Royal Caribbean does not publish that information in advance.  Your only option is to consult a prior Cruise Compass and see what was offered on previous sailings.  In our experience, the themed night lineups do not change much.

Teens & Kids

Younger travelers will find lots for them to do onboard as well.  Royal Caribbean has significantly invested in the dedicated space and entertainment options for the under 18 age set over the last decade or so.

Kids 3 to 11 years old have daily programming provided for them in the Adventure Ocean program.  Adventure Ocean is more than just a day camp experience. Kids will find classes, parties and activities offered each day of the cruise.

On select ships, younger kids will love the DreamWorks Experience, where they can meet their favorite characters from Madagascar and Shrek, watch 3D movies, and enjoy themed breakfasts and parades.

Teenagers also have their own rooms onboard to hang out, play games, listen to music... or whatever it is teenagers enjoy doing.  Royal Caribbean also schedules private sessions of popular onboard activities just for teens, such as time on the FlowRider surf simulator.