Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas was stuck in Progreso, Mexico, overnight due to technical issues. As a result, the ship's return to New Orleans, Louisiana, has been delayed. 

User cgbdpm shared the news to a Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum on Oct. 24, saying, "Currently on [Brilliance] of the seas in Progresso, Mexico. We should have left port 2 hours ago and captain said engineers said we should be underway hopefully soon. Sounds like engine issues."

CruiseGus later commented that the ship was just sitting in port with the casino closed. "Big revenue lost," they added. Not only that, but they mentioned that the bars were "slammed."

The issues come at the end of a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans, Louisiana. Progreso was the last port of call, following Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Cayman. 

As of 11:00am EST on Friday, October 25, the vessel's location has moved, indicating the ship has successfully departed Mexico. 

"We are moving.. I will update when they give us an arrival time for New Orleans," commented cgbdpm on the discussion forum. 

Brilliance of the Seas, a 90,090 gross registered ton ship launched in 2002, is due back in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 26. However, Brilliance was supposed to have a full day at sea en route back to Louisiana. Now, the ship is expected to arrive in NOLA around 5:00pm, delaying the next cruise's departure. 

The Radiance Class vessel is scheduled to depart on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Progreso on the 26th. However, Royal Caribbean emailed impacted guests informing them of a delayed embarkation process. 

"We’re excited to welcome you onboard Brilliance of the Seas for our October 26, 2024, sailing! Before you head to the terminal, we have an important update to share with you," the email reads.

"To ensure a smooth boarding process, all guests should plan on arriving at your new arrival time as listed below. All guests must be checked in and onboard by 11:00 PM and we'll now set sail at 11:30 PM.  Additionally, arriving earlier than your adjusted time will result in being turned away until your new check-in time. Please arrive no later than 10:30 PM."

Moreover, the email states that while no ports of call have been canceled, the times will differ because of the delayed departure. Additionally, Monday will be a sea day, with Cozumel's stop being moved to Wednesday. 

Brilliance will be docked in Grand Cayman from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Tuesday, Oct. 29, Cozumel from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Wednesday, and Progreso from 9am to 6:00pm on Thursday. Then, the ship will have one day at sea before returning to NOLA on Saturday, Nov. 2. 

As compensation, Royal Caribbean is providing guests with a refund of one day's cruise fare as onboard credit, as well as a pro-rated refund for prepaid daily packages and gratuities. Any unused credits will be refunded to the card on file up to 14 business days from disembarkation.  

Issues earlier this year

During her stint in Australia and the South Pacific, Royal Caribbean canceled a 5-night cruise onboard Brilliance of the Seas due to unexpected technical issues.

The previous 11-night sailing was also impacted, with the ship canceling its scheduled stops in New Caledonia, Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Luganville. Instead, the vessel returned to Sydney, Australia, 4 nights earlier than anticipated. 

Moreover, the April 4, 2024, cruise's departure date was pushed back to April 7. 

Brilliance of the Seas isn't the first Radiance Class ship to struggle with technical problems

Last September, Radiance of the Seas canceled two Alaska cruises because of unplanned technical problems with the ship's propulsion system. 

Passengers on the Sept. 1 sailing were informed on embarkation day that their cruise was canceled. As guests had already boarded the ship, Royal Caribbean let them stay onboard for two nights to give them time to adjust their travel plans. The Sept. 7 cruise was canceled as well. 

The issues continued into 2024, with Royal Caribbean altering a 4-night open-jaw sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Though passengers disembarked on April 26 as scheduled, all stops along the way were canceled, and Radiance arrived in Canada at around 9:00pm on April 25, spending the night in port. 

Subsequently, the April 26 cruise was canceled, too. Passengers found out after they had boarded the ship. Guests boarded as planned after being informed that their departure would be delayed by two days to allow ample time to fix the issue. 

However, around mid-day on Sunday, an announcement was made informing passengers that their cruise would have to be canceled to fix the ongoing technical problem. 

A Royal Caribbean guest is suing the cruise line and its former crew member, alleging she was filmed by a hidden camera in her stateroom bathroom. 

The class action lawsuit was filmed on behalf of the guest in the Southern District of Florida this Tuesday, as first reported by the Miami Herald.

The guest was only identified as Jane Doe, but the lawsuit was also filed on behalf of "all other similarly situated passengers."

In August, former crew member Arvin Joseph Mirasol was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. 

He was found guilty of filming guests, including children, with hidden cameras while they were naked, in addition to hiding under cabin beds on Symphony of the Seas.

Read more: "I will be checking under the bed now": Royal Caribbean crew member accused of hiding cameras to spy on guests

Federal authorities found images of women and children undressing on his electronic devices, "numerous videos of naked females," as well as child sexual abuse material.

During a post-Miranda interview, Mirasol admitted to pleasuring himself while watching the videos. He told authorities he "wants to control it...but can't." 

Mirasol was also charged with six pending counts of video voyeurism in Florida state court after the Broward Sheriff’s Office interviewed him.

According to the lawsuit, Mirasol captured images of Doe "while undressed and engaging in private activities" during a February cruise.

The guest, Jane Doe, also alleges that Mirasol uploaded images of her to the Internet, including the dark web.

“Upon information and belief, Mirasol transmitted and/or uploaded images of the Plaintiff while undressed and engaging in private activities, to third parties and/or to the world wide web, including, but not limited to, the dark web, without Plaintiff’s prior knowledge or consent,” the complaint states. 

As a result, she has suffered extreme emotional distress, including physical symptoms like insomnia and dizziness.

The lawsuit places the blame on Royal Caribbean for failing to provide sufficient security, training, or supervision to prevent sexual assaults.

The cruise line did not warn guests about such crimes and allegedly did not notify passengers who stayed in cabins served by Mirasol.

According to the lawsuit, there may be up to 960 impacted passengers, who stayed on Symphony of the Seas between December 1st, 2023, and February 26th, 2024.

Royal Caribbean “knew or should have known sexual assaults were reasonably foreseeable considering the prevalence of sexual assaults aboard RCCL’s cruise ships," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit referenced a 2023 incident on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in which passenger Jeremy Froias installed a hidden camera on a 7-night sailing from Miami, Florida.

Froias was arrested after placing a hidden WiFi camera in the public bathroom between the FlowRider and a bar.

His camera, which was up for 24 hours before security removed it, allegedly depicted more than 150 individuals in various states of undress, including minors as young as four and five years old.

The number of sexual assaults onboard cruise ships rose in 2023, according to the US Department of Transportation. 

Onboard cruise ships embarking and disembarking in the United States, 131 sex crimes were reported to the FBI in 2023.

This is a significant increase from 2022, which saw 87 alleged sexual assaults.

However, the actual numbers could be even higher. 

According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, more than two out of three of all sexual assaults are never reported.

Of these alleged sex crimes in 2023, 75% were committed by cruise ship passengers (98 in total), and only 27 crimes were committed by crew members. Six of the incidents had an "unknown" perpetrator.

Jason Margulies, an attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., in Miami Florida, is representing the plaintiff in this case.

Margulies addressed the allegations that Royal Caribbean hasn't been informing affected guests who sailed on Symphony of the Seas.

“If you're a company that's looking out for the best interest of your passengers, and aren't acting in your own financial interests, then you would certainly be telling all these people that they could be potential victims, right?"

"I mean, that's the humane thing to do.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages, and a jury trial.

Royal Caribbean emailed a statement to USA TODAY: “The safety and privacy of our guests is our highest priority, and we have zero tolerance for this behavior."

“We immediately reported this case to law enforcement and terminated the crew member. As this is pending litigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

Changes coming to Royal Caribbean may offer you new ways to vacation, or shake up the cruise industry.

Royal Caribbean is never content maintaining the status quo when it comes to their product. I'm reminded of Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Richard Fain's comments about how there is no "new normal" when it comes to cruise.

"When we design our ships, we talk about a design formula of one third tradition, one third evolution and one third revolution," he said in a video a few years ago. 

"As I said, our mantra is continuous improvement. And it means just that everything gets better. Every chance we get."

To that point, there are four big changes that we know about already for Royal Caribbean in 2025 that you should be tracking now. 

The line will undoubtedly add other changes during the course of the year, but these are significant evolutions you can expect in the coming year.

Opening the first beach club

The first of three beach clubs in Royal Caribbean's portfolio will open in 2025.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in Nassau, Bahamas and be unlike a private island experience.  It will be limited to just Royal Caribbean guests, but there will be an admission cost to it and not every passenger will have the opportunity to go because there is a maximum capacity.

It's essentially a Royal Caribbean run shore excursion, built to the standards their customers expect from them.  It incorporates some of the best features from Perfect Day at CocoCay, along with some new improvements.

The beach club is conveniently located where the cruise ships dock.  It will offer three pools with swim-up bars, live music, two beaches, and four restaurants.

There is no official opening date, but Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said last month he expects the opening to happen sometime between October-December 2025.

Two more beach clubs will open in the next few years in Cozumel, Mexico and Vanuatu.

It's a bold plan to offer something no other cruise line has, separating it from other vacations.

Major upgrades to Allure of the Seas

After delaying improvements to Allure of the Seas in 2020, one of the biggest cruise ship's in the world is about to get some serious enhancements.

In March 2025, Allure of the Seas will take a break for a month and undergo significant changes.

The ship is getting all sorts of additions:

• Redesigned Caribbean pool deck
• Ultimate Abyss slide
• New waterslides
• Kids aquapark
• Pesky parrot tiki bar
• Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade (specialty)
• Mason Jar southern American food restaurant (specialty)
• El Loco Fresh Mexican restaurant (included)
• Escape room
• Laser tag
• Upgraded kids & Teens spaces
• New suites

The total cost of all this work is $100 million-plus, and it will breathe new life into Allure.

Cabin recategorization

Beginning with cruises in 2025, Royal Caribbean will implement its new cabin codes.

These became visible when the 2025-2026 deployment was released, but we'll now have new room codes for certain cabins.

Part of the reason to make this change is to simplify the choices for travel agents as well as add new room types meant to appeal to certain types of people that cruise.

The goals of the room recategorization are:

• More options & configurations for guests with large families
• Separated Triple and Quad occupancy interior & oceanview staterooms
• New high occupancy guarantee staterooms
• New Junior Suite & Balcony categories

What this really means is this will be the first year the new room categories are in effect as it relates to the actual cabins on a ship. Most of this is changing the cruise lexicon, but it's important to be aware of these new sorts of cabins, especially if you're used to booking a certain room.

A prime example of this are the aft balcony cabins.

The aft facing balconies and Junior Suites are now going to be separated out as new categories new categories, starting with the Sunset Junior Suite.

Royal Caribbean says they are making the change so that guests can quickly and easily find these cabins.

Star of the Seas launch

It doesn't get more exciting than welcoming a new cruise ship, and the second Icon Class ship joins the fleet in 2025.

Star of the Seas will begin offering cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida in August 2025.

Star is the follow-up to Icon of the Seas, and considering how popular Icon has been, this will be Royal Caribbean's attempt to match their success.

While the ship will be more similar to Icon than not, there are a few tweaks, updates, and changes we can expect on Star.

There will be a couple revamped and new dining choices. Pier 7 is getting completely replaced, while Empire Supper Club is getting a new motif.

It also looks like Star will have a Broadway show onboard, with Back to the Future: The Musical.

The launch of Star of the Seas has a side effect, in that it will shift Wonder of the Seas to offer short cruises from Miami. This is significant, because Wonder will become the second Oasis Class ship to sail weekend cruises.  And with Icon and Star offering weeklong cruises, and Utopia and Wonder doing short cruises, it sets up Royal Caribbean's proverbial chess pieces exactly where they want to be.

From sick passengers, to happy kids, and a strike looming, there's been a lot of cruise news worth catching up on.

On any given week, there's a lot of Royal Caribbean news you should know about, and our team wanted to make sure you didn't miss any of these important updates.

Over the weekend, there were a few bits of cruise news that came out and this post provides a quick digest of what you need to know.

Gastrointestinal illness outbreak on Alaska cruise

Update: 180 167 people onboard a cruise ship were sick in gastrointestinal illness outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The passengers were on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas during its September 20, 2024 sailing in Alaska.

In addition 3 crew members also reported being sick.

That constitutes a little over 8% of the passengers and 0.3% of crew members reporting getting sick. Cruise lines are obliged to report the incident of sick cases to the CDC when it affects more than 3% of the ship's total population.

The CDC report says symptoms included diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and muscle aches.

The CDC did not list what caused the illnesses in its report.

Royal Caribbean took action immediately by increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan.

While gastro illness on a cruise ship gets a lot of media attention, it's important to remember only 1% of all reported outbreaks occur on cruise ships.

Longshoreman strike won't affect cruise ship passengers

While a US port strike by 45,000 dockworkers looms, don't worry about it impacting your cruise vacation.

The strike is scheduled to start on Tuesday and affect ports on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. It would be the first coast-wide ILA strike since 1977, affecting ports that handle about half the nation's ocean shipping.

According to a statement made by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), cruise ship operations will continue to be serviced by the ILA as to not inconvenience those tens of thousands of passengers who have booked cruises.

Royal Caribbean helps make over 20 wishes come true for kids with critical illnesses

Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF worked with Make-A-Wish to bring a bright day to kids who have life threatening illnesses.

A four day experience was held in South Florida for 23 kids that traveled from South Florida to Texas and Canada to Israel. The event was held between between Saturday, Sept. 21 – Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Their wish? To meet Inter Miami captain and football legend, Lionel Messi.

Prior to meeting Messi, Royal Caribbean hosted the kids on Icon of the Seas in an effort to bring joy and normalcy to the kids and their families.

The families enjoyed look up close at the first theatrical rendition of “The Wizard of Oz”, time on the water slides at the Category 6 waterpark, and plenty of snacks and food on the ship.

Later in the week, the kids went to Chase Stadium to meet Messi and other members of his team on the field.

Update on the travel item ban

In case you missed it, Royal Caribbean updated exactly what it means when it said it banned "multi-plug outlets" on its ships.

The cruise line has banned "Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips," but that lead to a lot of confusion among cruisers.

With the new update, you can bring a USB outlet extender onboard and/or a single plug device.

"We do allow consumer type power conversion device USB charger (multi-plug blocks on which the outputs are for USB cables)."

This confirms a USB hub would be acceptable since it adds just USB outlets, and no power outlets. (Contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).

Two famous influencers are facing harsh backlash for leaving their two young children unattended during their recent Royal Caribbean cruise.

The couple - Matt and Abby Howard - are known for their online presence, as the two are the hosts of a popular podcast called The Unplanned Podcast. In addition, the couple has a large following on Instagram and TikTok, where they chronicle their lives as parents of two young children to millions of followers. Their children include two sons, a 1-year-old named August and a 2-year-old named Griffin.

The controversy comes after Abby shared on her Instagram story about their recent cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. The mom of two shared with her 1.3 million followers how she and Matt decided partway through their 5-night cruise to leave their children unattended in their stateroom during dinner.

In the now-deleted Instagram story, Abby said, “So, we ended up taking them for 5 nights and it became apparent that they weren’t enjoying it and therefore we weren’t either.”

“So, THEN we switched our dinner time to AFTER their bedtime and we FaceTimed the [baby] monitors while we ate,” she continued. Further, Abby shared how their baby monitors wouldn’t work onboard Navigator of the Seas unless they were within 10 feet of the device.

Abby stated, “And that worked out muchhhh better for everyone!”

According to online reports, Abby had shared that the parents had tried to leave the children with the onboard childcare services, but their baby was too upset by the ordeal. Moreover, Abby shared in an Instagram story how they tried to reserve slots for their children, but struggled to find availability.

“Our game plan was to play all day with the kids and then let them hang out in the kids club while the adults went to formal dining, as long, nice dinners [are] not a setting designed for them,” Abby said.

“Well, you need to book ahead if your child is under 3 and pretty much all of the dinner slots were already booked before I could get to the nursery (an hour after boarding),” she continued. As a solution, the parents opted to put their children to bed before dinner, relying on their phones to FaceTime a baby monitor to watch the kids.

As a family-friendly cruise line, Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas provides nursery care for children under 3 years old for an additional cost. The cruise line states on their website, "If you’re cruising with a baby or a toddler, you’ll be pleased to know that Navigator of the Seas offers an abundance of childcare options for little ones, like the cruise line’s award-winning Adventure Ocean Youth Program and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery. That’s in addition to convenience-boosting amenities like cribs brought to your stateroom and babysitting services run by qualified, caring professionals."

According to Royal Caribbean’s website, Royal Babies and Tots has an additional cost based on an hourly rate. Parents need to register their children and reserve slots for the nursery, which is fully equipped with staff to supervise young children safely.

Unsurprisingly, the Instagram story has brought the parents under scrutiny for leaving their young children alone in their stateroom to have dinner. The story, which was shared to r/royalcaribbean on Reddit, garnered more than 200 comments. The original post on Reddit was captioned, "Influencers leave their kids in their room unattended… y'all, do NOT DO THIS!!"

Social media users and cruisers alike were outraged by the incident, calling the parents “neglectful,” "insane," and “irresponsible.” Moreover, many questioned how the parents would reach their children in the event of an emergency, such as an onboard fire.

“They could have easily had their dinner brought to their room and ate there. So irresponsible and selfish,” states one commenter.

Another cruiser stated, “I mean, I’ve cruised a lot and there is always something crazy that happens. A rogue wave. A lockdown. Storm. Lost child. The ocean is wild and to leave your 1-year-old and 2-year-old alone on a boat at any time is so so so so so so stupid.”

“If you can’t stay with your kids at all times or have appropriate adults watching them, then don’t bring them!”

Another user shared, “I expected to see a bunch of overreacting, assuming the kids were a bit older. 1 and 2? One is entirely helpless and the other is self-destructive. Yikes.”

“Wow, this is insane. I just took my 2-year-old and 11-month-old on a cruise and I never thought to myself, I should leave them alone in our room,” writes another commenter.

One person commented, “I was thinking that maybe they were older kids since I’m not familiar with these TikTokers. This information makes it so, so much worse.”

Others compared the incident to the story of Madeleine McCann, in which the British parents of the 3-year-old toddler left her unattended in a resort-style apartment to have dinner with their friends nearby. Other children were in the apartment at the time of the incident as well.

Although the parents took turns checking on the kids during dinner, the young Madeline was gone from her bed around 10PM that night - and she remains missing to this day.

“Clearly, they’re too young to know the story of Madeleine McCann. That’s exactly what happened in their case and I am sure those parents regret that choice to go have dinner when the kids are sleeping every single day,” writes one commenter.

Similarly, another person commented, “Dude. No way. Older little kids can leave the room without you stopping them. [For] babies, [it's] basically criminal neglect to leave like that. Madeleine McCann, anyone?”

“I guess they’ve never heard of Madeleine McCann?” commented one user on social media.

Another echoed this sentiment writing, “This seriously reminds me of the Madeleine McCann. Like many years ago, a couple on holiday left their child in the room for dinner and she was kidnapped. I mean that’s a worse case scenario but like literally a billion things can happen."

Abby and Matt have not responded to the criticism publicly, although the couple did remove the story from Abby's Instagram following the backlash. 

Overtourism is a rising issue around the world, but Royal Caribbean's CEO thinks cruise ships are being unfairly targeted.

Cruise ships have long been singled out for overtourism, particularly in Europe. However, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean's President and CEO, argues people underestimate the value cruise ships bring to the tourism industry. 

Each year, over 20 million people take a cruise, sailing to countless destinations around the globe, from the Caribbean to Europe, Australia, Asia, Alaska, and Hawaii. 

Recently, many ports have begun to reevaluate the impact of the cruising industry in their communities, especially as passenger numbers break pre-pandemic levels. 

A few weeks ago, for instance, protestors in Amsterdam prevented cruise ships from safely docking in port, demanding an immediate cessation of the "destructive cruise industry." 

During a Q&A session onboard the Ultimate World Cruise, Bayley said cruise ships sometimes become targets of the anti-tourism movement because of misinformation. While acknowledging the concerns, he highlights the positive effects of the industry, stating they're always striving to improve. 

Overtourism fueled by misinformation

Cruising makes up just 2% of all international travel, yet the cruise industry specifically is targeted as contributing to overtourism by transporting hundreds of thousands of guests to destinations and trying to do "something negative" when it comes to the environment. 

In Europe, for instance, Airbnb is a massive driver of tourism in cities like Barcelona, resulting in protests earlier this summer. Guests dining al fresco in Las Ramblas were soaked with water guns, while locals chanted, "Tourists go home," CNN reported. 

By November 2028, Barcelona plans to end short-term rentals by revoking all 10,101 apartment licenses approved as short-term rentals to help ensure residents aren't displaced by "overtourism." 

Additionally, the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth) published 13 proposals to reduce the number of visitors and create a new tourism model, which includes the closure of cruise ship terminals. 

"...sometimes, cruise ships have a target based upon very little information or misinformation...I think it's incumbent on us to improve as an industry, and as a company, our communication over the impact, both positive and negative, on communities," Bayley explains. 

"There's always two sides to a coin," he continues, "And in relation to the impact, there are some incredibly positive attributes that come from our business." 

Many countries' GDP relies heavily on tourism

According to Bayley, the economic value of tourism goes unrecognized.

"In the Caribbean, for example, which is kind of the center of cruise activity...over 50%, pretty much, of all tourists that travel through the Caribbean come on [a] cruise," he says. 

The Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) 2024 State of the Industry Report revealed the economic contribution from the cruise industry to the economy is "enormous," despite cruising making up a small percentage of international travel. 

In 2022, cruising contributed $138 billion to the global economy. Additionally, the industry supported 1.2 million jobs and $43 billion in wages. 2023's results are expected to be published this month; however, the impact is predicted to be even greater because of the increase in passengers sailing in 2023 compared to 2022. 

Read more: The demand for Royal Caribbean cruises is hot

Crew members from 100+ countries

On any Royal Caribbean vacation, crew members are important because they're not just friendly faces you see throughout your voyage. Their dedication and expertise help transform cruises into memorable experiences, ensuring that every detail of the guest experience, from dining to entertainment to guest relations, is handled with professionalism and care.  

"We have generations...of crew members who work with Royal Caribbean," remarks Bayley, "There [are] many onboard the ship today who've sent their kids to college, have made investments, have built a family life, have taken care of their elders, [and] have lived a good life through their association with the cruise industry and with Royal Caribbean." 

Read more: 7 most important crew members to meet on your cruise ship

Advanced technology

"We've got some of the most incredible technology that we've invested in," says Bayley about Royal Caribbean's environmental initiatives, "[It allows] us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with pretty much any community anyone here lives in." 

The amount of garbage, for example, transferred from cruise ships to landfills is actually tiny thanks to waste management systems. 

He continues to talk about the work that's going into future fuels: "What is the future fuel? Our new ships are what's called 'hybrid ships,' which means they're capable of using traditional marine oil or [liquefied natural gas]." 

Read more: Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships will convert waste to energy

When Royal Caribbean began developing today's newest ships, the future fuel was LNG. 7-10 years later, however, he brings up current concerns about LNG, including slippage, which is when gaseous methane escapes into the atmosphere. 

Still, though, LNG's carbon footprint is significantly lower than that of traditional marine fuels, and the concerns are working on being addressed. 

"We are committed to a bright future. We are putting a lot of time and energy and resources into not only our environmental impact but also as it relates to our impact with tourism," Bayley says. 

Royal Caribbean has contributed to local communities 

Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to visit Haiti. Located on the northern peninsula, Labadee offers a stunning blend of natural beauty and adventure—exclusively for guests sailing with Royal Caribbean. 

The private destination helps contribute to the local economy, with a controlled group of merchants given the right to sell souvenirs to cruise passengers in the secured resort area. 

In addition to revenue from cruise ship guests, Bayley said Royal Caribbean built a local school in the community, helping to educate thousands of children. They also built a freshwater and sewage system in the area. 

Similarly, Nassau's Royal Beach Club is being constructed as a public-private partnership between Royal Caribbean and The Bahamas, allowing Bahamians to hold up to 49% equity in the project. 

This initiative is expected to generate hundreds of jobs for local Bahamians, both during the construction phase and once in operation. Over a decade, the venture is expected to have an economic impact of around $1 billion. 

Greece will begin taxing cruise ship tourists

Greece plans on imposing a 20-euro levy on cruise passengers visiting Santorini and Mykonos during the peak summer season to help with overtourism, Reuters reported. 

Though the country relies heavily on tourism, some of the most popular destinations have faced challenges with overtourism, which strains the local infrastructure. 

"Cruise shipping has burdened Santorini and Mykonos and this is why we are proceeding with interventions," said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. 

There are also plans to regulate the number of cruise ships that arrive at the same time in certain ports to help further balance the economic benefits of tourism while preserving the quality of life for residents. 

Read more: Ultimate Greek Isles cruise guide

Royal Caribbean has announced some exciting changes and updates this week.

From a free WiFi initiative to environmental monitoring at Paradise Beach Club, we have a look at everything you need to know.

Updated Pinnacle specialty dining benefits

An email sent out to Pinnacle members this week announced an update to the top tier specialty dining benefits.

Members of the Crown and Anchor loyalty program who’ve reached the highest level—the Pinnacle—are rewarded with a $25 specialty dining coupon on sailings 5 nights and longer.

These cruisers can use the coupon at any specialty dining venue during 5+ night sailings on Oasis and Quantum Class ships.

Previously, the new Icon Class wasn’t included in the cruise line’s marketing materials, and some guests were told Icon of the Seas wasn’t included in the discount.

Effective from August 30th, 2024, and onward, the Icon Class is now included in the specialty voucher.

Royal Caribbean has also added more specialty restaurants to the stipend.

The voucher is valid at the following specialty venues:

• 150 Central Park
• Empire Supper Club
• Chef's Table
• Celebration Table
• Royal Railway
• Hooked Seafood
• Giovanni's Table
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
• Jamie's Italian
• Chops Grille
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Izumi in the Park
• Izumi Omakase
• Teppanyaki
• Samba Grill
• Sabor
• The Mason Jar
• Wonderland
• Wonderland by Da Dong
• Playmakers
• Fish and Ships
• Hot Pot
• Johnny Rockets
• Noodle Shop 
• Sichuan Red
• Pier 7 
• Portside BBQ

Free internet in Alaska

Royal Caribbean Group is partnering with Goldbest, an Alaskan Native corporation based in Juneau, to bring free WiFi to the area.

The cruise line was the first in the industry to start using Starlink, the world’s first and largest low-orbit satellites.

“Royal Caribbean Group greatly values its longstanding partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau. We are constantly striving to find innovative solutions to support our communities and enhance the travel experience for residents and cruise guests alike," said Preston Carnahan, Associate Vice President, West Coast Destination Royal Caribbean Group. 

"Our new pilot program aims to alleviate internet congestion and provide additional bandwidth for locals while providing internet connectivity for our guests from ship to shore."

The high-speed Internet will help the residents of Juneau while also enhancing the experience of vacationers and cruisers visiting the region.

Starlink installation will begin this week.

Environmental development at Royal Beach Club

Royal Caribbean announced it will be working with Bahamian-owned and based SEV Consulting Group, an environmental consulting firm.

The cruise line is committed to providing local, independent environmental monitoring for its new private beach club, Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. 

The 17-acre beachfront club is set to open in late 2025 and will meet Royal Caribbean's environmental commitments, Bahamanian law, and international standards.

Royal Caribbean's new private beach club will come at an extra cost for passengers, providing a day pass to experience pools, food, games, and private cabanas.

Partnering with a global loyalty currency

Royal Caribbean also announced that it will be partnering with IAG Loyalty, a currency that provides loyalty rewards across flights, travel, leisure, shopping, and financial services.

Cruisers who book with Royal Caribbean through the U.K., Spain, and Ireland websites will gain 3 Avios per $1 or Euro spent.

They can then redeem or join loyalty programs with British Airways ExecutiveClub, Aer Lingus AerClub, Iberia Plus, and Vueling Club.

Gerard Nolan, vice president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Royal Caribbean International said: “This partnership is introducing yet more ways holidaymakers can add phenomenal value to their holiday."

"Between enjoying the variety of dining experiences, show-stopping entertainment and the stunning destinations we visit around the world, now travelers can also earn Avios – and save – while making memories."

Royal Caribbean boosting tourism in Vanuatu

South Pacific Nation Vanuatu and Royal Caribbean Group have formalized an agreement to boost cruise tourism in the area.

The agreement allows Royal Caribbean to share research with the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO), a significant step in developing tourism and economic growth for Vanuatu.

Gavin Smith, Vice President and Managing Director for Royal Caribbean International AUNZ, said: “We are delighted to support Vanuatu’s economic growth through cruise tourism. We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the Vanuatu Government and are excited to deepen our collaboration with the Vanuatu Tourism Office.”

Unique Camperi experience on Oasis of the Seas

The 2024 President's Cruise on Oasis of the Seas hosted a first-of-its-kind experience with Campari.

A major player in the global spirits and liquor industry, Campari hosted an Aperol Pool Party including giveaways and DJ Sets.

The summer, Caribbean-inspired party featured orange decorations, exclusive gifts, and Aperol Spritz.

The event then transformed into a Campari evening, complete with negronis, gifts, and photo ops.

Dutch environmental protesters have prevented and delayed two Royal Caribbean cruise ships from docking in Amsterdam. 

On August 10, Extinction Rebellion blocked the locks needed for Jewel of the Seas to safely pass through to the port. Instead, the ship was forced to disembark in Ijmuiden about 25 miles from Amsterdam.

The activist group took responsibility for the protest on their website, stating they demanded an immediate cessation of the destructive cruise industry because of the harm it causes to the environment and its impact on human health. 

According to Travel Market Report, they delayed Regent's Seven Seas Mariner by about three hours one day later. 

Most recently, Extinction Rebellion returned and delayed Serenade of the Seas' arrival. Footage shared to their live stream channel shows the 90,090 gross registered ton ship attempting to dock. Unsuccessful, the mooring ropes were retracted before Serenade of the Seas backed out of the port into open water. 

Carlijn van Essen, a spokeswoman for the Port of Amsterdam, confirmed the Radiance Class ship could eventually resume its route, as Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. 

The article continued to explain how police arrived on the scene around 5:00pm to remove eight protestors. They were taken into custody but have been released. A police spokesperson confirmed no arrests were made. 

Serenade of the Seas was initially scheduled to arrive in Amsterdam on August 19. However, amidst the disruptions caused by the environmental group, the ship canceled its call at Bergen, Norway, and headed to Amsterdam on August 18. 

"We are on Serenade OTS anchored in open water today. The port of Bergen Norway was cancelled on the 'Ultimate Fjords Cruise' so we could attempt to get to Amsterdam and dock early," shared Doug_Texas on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum. 

"The climate change protesters are [gluing] themselves to the docks and shutting everything down. Already Jewel OTS was blocked as well as Regent Navigator...This is sad to see"

TikTok user @LittleRatBrain shared footage captured onboard Serenade of the Captain's announcement, in which he explains the goal of arriving before noon and giving passengers an overnight stay. 

Surprisingly, many of the comments support Extinction Rebellion. "I don't blame them," wrote TofuNinja, "It's a beautiful place being ruined by large cruise ships." 

"Much as I enjoy your account, I completely support these protesters," added lolantherosa. 

Katie b said, "I support these protestors. Cruises are disgusting and pollute the ocean."

The protests come a little over one month after the City of Amsterdam announced they'll cap cruise ship visits to just 100 per year (down from 190) starting in 2026. By 2035, the city will end all ocean-going cruise visits. 

According to Cruise Mapper, the next ship scheduled to arrive in Amsterdam is Jewel of the Seas on August 22, with Norwegian Prima arriving the following day at 7:00am local time. 

Anti-tourism protests aren't new in Europe 

Earlier this summer, thousands of protestors marched through Barcelona, soaking vacationers with water guns while they dined al fresco in Las Ramblas. The angry locals were chanting "tourists go home," CNN reported. 

The Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth) has published 13 proposals to reduce the number of visitors and create a new tourism model, including more regulation for tourist accommodations and the closure of cruise ship terminals. 

By November 2028, Barcelona also plans to end short-term rentals to help ensure residents aren't displaced by "overtourism." Reuters reported that the city will revoke all 10,101 apartment licenses approved as short-term rentals. 

In April, a protest took place in the Canary Islands. Locals blamed visitors for increasing the cost of living, pricing them out of their homes, and causing environmental damage. 

Before that, 15,000 people demanded affordable housing while protesting mass tourism in Málaga, as reported by Euronews. 

"Now the city centre is a theme park for tourists,” one of the protestors, Jose, 60, told the news outlet, "What was once ‘El Café Central’ in Málaga’s main square...is an Irish pub full of tourists.”

“I’m not against tourism, but there has to be a limit and control," he says. 

Serenade of the Seas is nearing the end of its 274-day Ultimate World Cruise

Serenade of the Seas set sail from Miami, Florida, on December 10, 2023, on an epic 9-month journey. There's less than one month to go, with the cruise concluding on September 10. 

The cruise was slated to sail to over 150 destinations in 65 countries, visiting 11 Great Wonder of the World including the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and Great Barrier Reef. 

While inclement weather and political disruptions have caused them to adjust the itinerary, most notably to Africa to avoid the Red Sea, it's been a memorable experience for those onboard. 

In addition to changes in the itinerary, the Ultimate World Cruise has seen its fair share of drama, from an unexpected passenger death to a TikTok user-made bingo card with scenarios that could happen onboard (including a pirate takeover, COVID outbreak, and a minor mystery to solve). 

Though nothing's been confirmed regarding dates or ship, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International's President and CEO, said they'd do another Ultimate World Cruise, despite the challenges associated with planning one. 

Read more: A passenger on the 9-month cruise is halfway done and lists what they like and don't like about the trip so far

Ready to catch up on what's happening with Royal Caribbean cruises?

With a fleet of 28 ships, there are always going to be things happening and in an effort to keep everyone up to date, here's a quick run through of the latest news from this week.

Think of these as quick hits of changes and news that you should be aware of that changed in the last few days.

Royal Caribbean backs new Seward cruise port purchase agreement

Image courtesy of The Seward Company

Plans were approved this week for a new $137 million cruise ship port in Seward, Alaska that should be ready for the 2026 cruise season.

The Alaska Railroad board voted to approve the purchase of the soon-to-be-built dock that can handle larger ships.

Royal Caribbean's role is to act as the anchor tenant, which gives Royal Caribbean preferential docking rights.  Other cruise lines can still use the port.

Image courtesy of The Seward Company

Plans are for a 68,000 square foot terminal building, which includes a 150-foot transfer span to connect cruisers to an Alaska Railroad train and other ground transportation.

The 750-foot, two-berth floating dock will be the largest floating pier in the state.

The deal is for 30 years and the vote allows the railroad to enter into agreements with the project developer.

Construction on the terminal is scheduled to begin this autumn after Seward’s cruise season ends.

New environmental director named for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Royal Caribbean appointed Stacy Lubin as director of environment and sustainability for its new beach club project in Nassau, Bahamas.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open next year to offer a 17-acre beachfront experience in Nassau.

Ms. Lubin brings her 20 years of experience to oversee all environmental initiatives for the beach club.

Royal Caribbean has been adamant since the inception of the project for its commitment to protecting the environment, as well as supporting the people of the Bahamas by employing Bahamians.

The company outlined six key environmental pillars for the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island:

• Zero waste to landfill
• 100% renewable energy by 2030
• No dredging and no overwater cabanas 
• Best-in-class wastewater treatment
• Protecting the island's natural habitat
• Local environmental monitoring 

Ms. Lubin will work with The Bahamas’ Department of Environmental Planning and Protection to ensure the club’s environmental practices meet both Royal Caribbean standards and local regulations.

Once completed, the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will have a public-private partnership, meaning that Bahamians will be able to own up to 49% equity and local businesses can take part in managing the majority of the experience.

More Royal Railway reservations available

If you have a cruise in fall 2024, there's a good chance you can now book Royal Caribbean's hottest new restaurant.

Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas appears to have more reservations available to book in September, October and November.  Guests booked on sailings in these months reported being able to reserve a time.

Something else guests noticed is the price has gone up from $79.99 per adult to $119.99 per adult. Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing for its restaurants, and it also typically uses prices to help manage demand.

Royal Railway is arguably the most popular restaurant in the fleet right now, as the hype surrounding its launch on the new cruise ship has garnered a lot of demand to book it.

This is the first immersive dining experience Royal Caribbean has developed, and it's a dining experience that simulates a train journey.

There are to full size rail cars guests enter that has booths on both side of the car. Each booth has a large digital display that acts as a virtual window.

Read more: Trying out Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas

Port of Tampa monitoring Tropical Storm Debby

While Tropical Storm Debby isn't expected to be a major storm, it is still a concern for the Port of Tampa Bay and the cruise ships that sail from there.

A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of Florida because future  Tropical Storm Debby has a chance of further development prior to making landfall this weekend.

In a public statement, the Port of Tampa Bay said they are monitoring the track of the storm for any impact to operations.

"Port Tampa Bay is coordinating closely with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the maritime community to prepare for and respond to potential impacts of Tropical Depression #4."

According to the port, the United States Coast Guard has set Port Condition YANKEE, indicating the possibility of gale force winds (34-47 knots) entering the Bay in the next 24 hours.

So far the only change to schedule is for Margaritaville at Sea's Islander ship.  Instead of returning to Tampa on Sunday, the ship will be delayed and come back on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. Additionally, the Islander's Aug. 4 departure was rescheduled to Aug. 5. 

There are two Royal Caribbean ships that operate out of Tampa currently.  

Grandeur of the Seas will depart Tampa on Saturday, August 3 to begin a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing.

Enchantment of the Seas will also embark on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing on Saturday as well.

When you book your next Royal Caribbean cruise, prices may appear higher than in the past. 

On July 1, Senate Bill 478, also known as the "Honest Pricing Law," went into effect. Rather than create confusion with different booking systems, cruise lines—including Royal Caribbean—have changed how they advertise cruise fares in the United States. 

Now, the advertised price will include a breakdown of fees to help give consumers more transparency when budgeting for their vacations, regardless of whether they reside in California, Florida, New York, etc. However, it neither impacts the total price of the cruise nor the portion of the fare that's commissionable to travel agents. 

Read more: New law forces Royal Caribbean to change advertised price for cruises

If, for example, you find a 7-night sailing aboard Wonder of the Seas advertised for $1,282 per person, you won't be surprised with added fees later on. Instead, you can estimate how much the fare will cost. In the past, passengers had to prepare for the cruise fare to increase once port fees and taxes were added. 

Though the total price is the same, the $1,282 cruise on Wonder of the Seas may have been advertised at around $1,120 per person in the past, with taxes & fees added once the cabin selection was made. Now, the $325.18—or $162.59 per person—of taxes & fees are included in the price, simplifying the booking process by providing transparency. 

Taxes & fees are included regardless of whether you're sailing to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Australia, or Asia. With port fees notoriously higher in Alaska, potential cruisers aren't left shocked by the $300+ in fees added to the cruise fare. 

Note, however, that the law doesn't apply to bookings made from Canada. 

A sailing onboard Wonder of the Seas in July 2025, the price starts at $1,672 CAD, with taxes and fees listed as an extra $203 CAD. However, the same sailing on Royal Caribbean's Australian and United Kingdom websites includes taxes and fees. 

Port fees are charges imposed by each port of call to allow the ship to dock which are passed on to passengers 

It doesn't matter whether you're staying in a multi-level suite or a tiny interior stateroom, as everyone onboard pays the same amount in port fees. 

They're a combination of several charges, including the per-passenger fee (head tax), docking fee, and pilot fee, which covers the costs of bringing the local pilot onboard to help guide the ship into port. 

Unlike gratuities, you don't have the option to pay them onboard. Instead, they're part of the cruise fare that must be paid in full by the final payment date. 

Though the new advertised prices include taxes & fees, passengers will still have to budget for gratuities

As of November 2023, the daily gratuity for passengers in standard staterooms (i.e., interior cabins to Junior Suites) is $18.00 per person, per day, and $20.50 per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above.

If you're going on a 7-night cruise in a balcony stateroom, gratuities will amount to $126 per person. Unlike discounted rates for third and fourth guests, they're still subject to the full gratuity rate, so a family of four can expect to pay around $500 in tips for a weeklong sailing. 

This is upsetting to many who are fans of the updated pricing model. 

"Just need to include the gratuities in the headline cost and we'll all understand the basic cruise fare before we start the booking process," Mike Shad commented on a Royal Caribbean Blog post. 

"Good, now we just need gratuities in there too, because that's another $200-$300 that they don't disclose," added Tiffany Miller. 

When it comes to gratuities, passengers have the option to prepay them or have them added to their onboard account during the sailing to be settled at the end of the cruise. If you choose to prepay them, they must be paid in full by the final payment date.

Royal Caribbean isn't the only cruise line impacted

The advertised fares for Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean's upscale sister line, are also subject to California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act, as fares for sailings with Carnival, Virgin Voyages, Princess, and Holland America Line. 

"The prices displayed for Carnival cruises are now inclusive of taxes and fees. The total price has not changed due to this update, and by showing the total price while shopping you can now see the total cost before completing your booking," reads Carnival's website. 

Read more: After 6 Royal Caribbean cruises this year, my wife and I tried Carnival for the first time, and here’s what we liked and didn’t like