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Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: March 7, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
07 Mar 2021

Welcome to March! We hope you are having a great weekend and are ready to sit back, relax and catch up with all the latest Royal Caribbean news!

Royal Caribbean made headlines this week when it announced its newest cruise ship will be redeployed to Israel.

Odyssey of the Seas will enter service in May 2021 with cruises from Haifa, Israel on a variety of 3- to 7-night sailings that visit the Greek islands and Cyprus.

These cruises are only available to be booked by residents of Israel, and all guests above the age of 16 will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 396th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which takes a deeper look at where Royal Caribbean will be sailing from first.

In this episode, Ashley and Matt talk about the first ships to restart cruises are all from non-traditional cruise ports. Is this a coincidence or new trend?

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Where are Royal Caribbean's cruise ships right now?

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Where are Royal Caribbean's cruise ships right now? — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean updates new cruise ship delivery schedule

Perhaps nothing is as exciting in the cruise industry as when new cruise ships are built, and we have an updated look at what Royal Caribbean has planned.

One of the big questions throughout the cruise industry shutdown has been what impact will there be on new cruise ship orders.

As part of Royal Caribbean Group's fourth quarter 2020 earnings filing, the company included an updated schedule for new cruise ship deliveries.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: February 28, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
28 Feb 2021

Happy Sunday, and I hope you had a great week. It was a busy week of Royal Caribbean fun, and I have a round-up of all of it in this hand-dandy blog post.

We might finally be getting close to test sailings beginning.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told Wall Street investors during an earnings call an update on where things stand with the CDC.

Mr. Bayley said that Royal Caribbean has been in "regular communication" with the CDC and expects to get technical instructions on what each ship needs to do in order to prepare itself for test cruises.

"We're literally expecting the technical specifications any day soon," Mr. Bayley told investors.

Royal Caribbean News

New RCB Video: How to get a FREE Royal Caribbean cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — How to get a FREE Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 395th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available featuring a look at Bronwynn's sailing to the ABC islands and Labadee.

In this episode, we have a cruise story from Navigator of the Seas in 2017 on a fantastic itinerary to the Southern Caribbean.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Royal Caribbean releases Short Caribbean 2022-2023 cruise sailings

Royal Caribbean has released its Short Caribbean sailings for Summer 2022 - Winter 2023, which are now available for booking.

These new getaway cruises have more ships sailing with more frequent sailings in 2022-2023 across eight ships from Florida and Texas.

The most noticeable change for these short sailings is all three Freedom Class cruise ships will sail from Florida.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: February 21, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
21 Feb 2021

Hope you are having a great weekend.  Here is all of this week's Royal Caribbean cruise news.

The contract you agree to when you book a cruise now includes additional disclosures regarding COVID-19.

Royal Caribbean has updated its Cruise Contract with new language related to the current global health crisis at some point in the last few months.

Section 4 of the contract used to cover simply "medical care and other personal services" has been updated to now cover "public health, COVID-19 policies and procedures, knowing acceptance of the risks".

Royal Caribbean News

New RCB Video: What is the WORST Royal Caribbean ship?

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — What is the WORST Royal Caribbean ship? — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 394th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available featuring a look at Teresa's first back to back cruise.

In this episode, Teresa shares her cruise story from Allure of the Seas trying two cruises in a row.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Coast Guard wont fine you for not wearing a mask on a cruise ship, but you will get kicked off

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires people on public transportation to wear masks, but what is the penalty if you don't comply?

If you don't wear a face mask on an airplane, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will fine you, but the Coast Guard will not do the same for cruise ship guests violating the new Federal rules.

A spokesperson for the Coast Guard provided a vague explanation that they intend to ensure cruise ships are enforcing the rules, but stopped short of saying they would fine passengers caught breaking the rules in a similar way that the TSA does.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: February 14, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
14 Feb 2021

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope your day is filled with chocolate, flowers and a Royal Caribbean cruise! We are spreading the Royal Caribbean love with our look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week.

It looks like Royal Caribbean will work to give all of its crew members COVID-19 vaccines.

An email was sent to crew members to inform them that Royal Caribbean expects to vaccinate its crew once sailings restart.

The cruise line does not yet know how or when the vaccine would be distributed to crew members, as it may depend on the country of residence, the timing of the next contract and whether the crew is already on board or traveling. 

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 393rd  episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and we're talking about Royal Caribbean's Royal Promenade

In this episode, Hayley shares her cruise story celebrating her wedding anniversary in Alaska.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Reacting to "You Should Forget 2021 Cruises" advice

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Reacting to "You Should Forget 2021 Cruises" advice — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Here are the two port projects Royal Caribbean intends to complete

The global health crisis has wreaked havoc on Royal Caribbean's plans for the next few years, but at least two projects will still continue.

Port of Galveston Port Director Rodger Rees confirmed the two projects Royal Caribbean told him will move ahead in 2021.

Despite the major setbacks financially, Royal Caribbean remains committed to the Port of Galveston cruise terminal project, as well as the Freeport, Bahamas port expansion.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: February 7, 2020

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
07 Feb 2021

Happy weekend! We hope you are in the midst of a wonderful weekend full of things to do to pass the time between cruises.  We have a summary of all of this week's Royal Caribbean news in case you missed any of it!

The cruise world was surprised when Canada announced a year-long ban on cruise ships from its waters.

Canada's Minister of Transport announced all cruise vessels are banned from Canadian waters until February 28, 2022.

According to Canada's government, cruise ships, "pose a risk to our health care systems."

Not only does the ban affect Alaska cruises, but New England cruises in the fall visit Canadian ports as well during the popular leaf peeping season.

Just like Alaska cruises, New England cruises rely on a stop in Canada to make the visit legal under U.S. law.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 392nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and this week, Matt talks about cruise ship rumors he hears all the time these days.

Having seen so many of these discussions on social media, there seems to be a few of these "predictions" that are passed around as the truth. Here is a list of some commonly shared cruise ship rumors that have not been verified or announced by Royal Caribbean.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Unwritten rules of going on a cruise ship

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Unwritten rules of going on a cruise ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO admits he still doesn't know when cruises will resume

Not even the head of Royal Caribbean Group is sure when cruises will restart in great numbers.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain provided a new video update where he talked about the current state of affairs related to the global health crisis, as well as addressing cruises resuming.

Towards the end of this new video update, he tackled the question he is most commonly asked: "when cruising will resume in strength?".

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: January 31, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
31 Jan 2021

Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.

Many Royal Caribbean fans were happy to hear that the cruise line will offer more time to take advantage of extra customer loyalty points.

Royal Caribbean announced it has extended the Loyalty 2X Points benefit so that it applies to bookings made between now and June 30, 2021 for cruises sailing through September 30, 2022.

Double points means guests earn twice the amount of points per night than usual in the Crown and Anchor Society.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 391st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Jason tells us about his first cruise on Harmony of the Seas.

This week's cruise story is of Jason's first time checking out Harmony of the Seas and what he thought of going on this Oasis Class ship.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Wall Street thinks no cruises until late 2021!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Wall Street thinks no cruises until late 2021! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Which Royal Caribbean cruise ship will you never sail on again?

Is there a cruise ship you have sailed on that you just would not go back on again?

Not every ship will necessarily be everyone's cup of tea. Luckily, the fleet of cruise ships is large enough that there is bound to be a good fit for just about anyone.

I reached out to our readers on our Facebook page to ask: is there a cruise ship you’ve been on that you would never go back on again? If so, which one and why?

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: January 24, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
24 Jan 2021

Hope you had a great week and are staying safe out there. Hopefully you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain shared a new video with travel partners that answers the question of how can he be hopeful for the near-term future when we are inundated with terrible news every day.

"We are approaching the point where we can run out the clock on this terrible disease."

Mr. Fain has been releasing video updates every few weeks that share his thoughts on what is happening currently with the global health crisis, as well as providing hints at cruises being able to restart.

This week's video focuses on projections of estimated infections, and how over the course of the spring and early summer, a combination of vaccine rollout and other rule changes could bring the daily count down.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 390th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and we take an in-depth look at cruising from Australia.

Did you hear about the new cruises from Barbados that Royal Caribbean just announced? This week's episode breaks down the announcement and what these new sailings mean.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Cruise questions first time cruisers are too shy to ask!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Cruise questions first time cruisers are too shy to ask! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

4 futuristic ideas Royal Caribbean has for cruise ships

Technology innovates constantly, and Royal Caribbean has never been one to shy away from leveraging new advances to improve the guest experience.

Most recently, the cruise line rolled out a virtual muster drill that not only solves a social distancing problem, but also addresses a negative guest experience that has been an issue for decades.

Royal Caribbean has plans for other next generation transformations to the cruise ship experience, and some have already been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Whether or not these products ever see the light of day is another question, but here are some of the more intriguing and futuristic ideas that might be coming to a cruise ship near you sometime soon.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: January 17, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
17 Jan 2021

Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.

Unfortunately, there was a new round of cancelled cruises announced this week.

Royal Caribbean announced it has cancelled all of its March and April sailings, with two exception: Quantum of the Seas sailings from Singapore and China sailings on Spectrum of the Seas, February 16-28, are suspended.

It also means there will officially have been no Royal Caribbean cruises from the United States for exactly one year, as the global cruise shutdown began in mid-March 2020. 

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 389th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt catches up with Sheri from CruiseTipsTV.

We're starting off the new year on the right foot by catching up and talking cruises with Sheri.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: 7 things I wish more cruisers knew about going on a cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 7 things I wish more cruisers knew about going on a cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: January 10, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
10 Jan 2021

Welcome to this week's round-up of all the Royal Caribbean news and happenings.  Hope you are staying warm and are ready to cozy up to some great Royal Caribbean fun.

A new bill proposed in the Florida Legislature could overrule Key West's cruise ship ban.

Florida Senate Bill 426: State Preemption of Seaport Regulations, filed on January 5, 2021 by Senator Jim Boyd, aims to give the State of Florida oversight of Florida’s seaport regulations such as the regulation of commerce in state seaports, and to provide exceptions. Boyd’s bill includes language preventing a local government from restricting or regulating commerce in a Florida seaport.

This bill sounds like it could get around Key West's recent ban of cruise ships, which was voted on by Key West residents during the November 2020 election.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 388th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt talks about how to plan a cruise this year.

There are so many challenges to planning a cruise in 2021, so Matt breaks down what you need to know about preparing for a potential cruise this year.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: Should you make final payment for your cruise?

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Should you make final payment for your cruise? — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Things I've done that I'll never do again on a Royal Caribbean cruise

There are so many things you can do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but there a few activities or offerings I'll skip next time I'm onboard.

While the vast majority of what the cruise line offers is terrific, there are a few things that I personally did not care for. 

The good news, is I have since learned from these experiences and wanted to share what I came up against to help you decide what to do on your sailing.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: January 3, 2021

In:
Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up
03 Jan 2021

Welcome to the first week of 2021, and here is your look at all of the Royal Caribbean news you might have missed in the past week.

A group of cruisers on Quantum of the Seas are being investigated by Singapore after they posted photos of themselves not wearing masks onboard.

A number of photos show the group posing for photos without wearing a mask and standing less than 1 meter apart, which is a breach of the stringent rules for cruise ships in the region.

Royal Caribbean has received permission from the Singapore government to conduct these sailings, which are pilot cruises that must meet all requirements and guidelines for safe cruising.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 387th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring a cruise story about Bryan's Freedom of the Seas cruise.

A lot of things can happen on a cruise, and in some cases a series of unfortunate events can start things off poorly.  Bryan shares how a few early setbacks did not ruin his cruise vacation.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: 15 amazing facts about Royal Caribbean cruise ships

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 15 amazing facts about Royal Caribbean cruise ships — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Quantum of the Seas Live Blog

Check out a live report from the only Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing right now, Quantum of the Seas!

Each day since Christmas, the Singapore Cruise Society have shared with us a live look at what is happening on Quantum of the Seas.

You can catch up on what it's like to be on a cruise ship with all of their updates:

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