Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: April 11, 2021

In:
11 Apr 2021

Spring is here and it is also Sunday, which means we are celebrating warm(er) temperatures and Royal Caribbean news from this week!

The state of Florida on Thursday sued the federal government in order to get cruise ships started up again.

Florida Governor Ron Desantis announced on Thursday the state is filing a lawsuit against the federal government, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CDC, demanding cruise ships be reopened immediately.

The CDC has been blocking most cruise vessels from sailing in U.S. waters since the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic in March of 2020, citing COVID-19-related risks.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 401st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring a listener's recent cruise on Allure of the Seas.

James shares his cruise story from Liberty of the Seas, where he tried out a new ship after finding a great deal.

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: 10 mistakes cruisers make & how to fix them!

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 — 10 mistakes cruisers make & how to fix them! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean will start West Coast cruises earlier than planned, beginning in November 2021

Royal Caribbean will start its West Coast cruises earlier than expected.

Instead of beginning cruises from Los Angeles, California in June 2022, Royal Caribbean has moved up the start date to November 2021.

Navigator of the Seas will operate short three- and four-night sailings calling on Ensenada, Mexico, and Catalina Island. There will also be several five-night sailings that will also include a stop in Cabo San Lucas, and select weeklong voyages will include an overnight stay.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: April 4, 2021

In:
04 Apr 2021

They say April showers brings May flowers, but Sundays bring you a round-up of all of this week's Royal Caribbean news!

Odyssey of the Seas was delivered this week to Royal Caribbean, and we have our first look at some areas around the ship.

During a virtual ceremony, Royal Caribbean executives joined executives from the Meyer Werft shipyard to formally take ownership of the new vessel.

The new ship weighs 169,000 gross tons and measures 1,138 feet (347 meters) long and 135 feet (41 meters).

More Odyssey of the Seas news:

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 400th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, all about Royal Caribbean's announcement it will restart sailings outside the USA.

In this episode, Matt breaks down the announcement that Adventure of the Seas and number of other ships will start sailing again this summer from new homeports outside the U.S.

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: Why you shouldn't book a flight on same day of 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 — Things I'll never do again on a Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Test cruises are the next phase of the CDC's plan for restarting cruises

While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) release of technical instructions this week left many cruise fans less than enthused, the good news is test cruises are theoretically next on the agenda.

The CDC confirmed that the next phase once ships complete the new technical instructions is to conduct simulated (trial) voyages that will demonstrate the new protocols and health rules.

There is no timeline given when that may occur, but the possibility of test cruises on the horizon gives hope change is on the horizon.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: March 28, 2021

In:
28 Mar 2021

This was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

Ready to go on a cruise this summer?

The new Adventure of the Seas sailings from Nassau, Bahamas are available to book via Royal Caribbean's website, phone, or through a travel agent.

The new bookings are available to book immediately, beginning with the June 12 sailing. Sailings between June and September 2021 are open for booking.

Be sure to also check out these 20 Adventure of the Seas tips, tricks & secrets!

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 399th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring a look at the Mexican Riviera ports.

In this episode, Sheri gives us a preview of what to expect in all of the west coast cruise ports you can visit, and what there is to do in each one.

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: Things I'll never do again on a 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 — Things I'll never do again on a Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean announces Vision of the Seas will sail from Bermuda

Royal Caribbean announced its second cruise ship to restart North American cruises will be Vision of the Seas from Bermuda.

Vision of the Seas will sail from outside the United States so that it can offer cruises sooner and without approval from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Just like Adventure of the Seas, sailings on Vision of the Seas will require all adults above the age of 18 to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: March 21, 2021

In:
21 Mar 2021

This was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

This week we finally got the news we have been waiting for. Royal Caribbean announced it would restart Adventure of the Seas this summer from the Bahamas.

Adventure of the Seas will offer 7-night cruises from her new homeport of Nassau, Bahamas between June and August 2021.

All crew and guests above the age of 18 will need to be full vaccinated in order to come onboard. Children under the age of 18 with proof of negative COVID-19 test results are able to sail as well.

The new cruises on Adventure of the Seas will go on sale beginning March 24, 2021.

Read moreWhat you need to know about Royal Caribbean's new cruises from The Bahamas

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 398th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, focusing on where Australia cruises are right now.

In this episode, we take a look at what is holding up Australia cruises from restarting and the latest cruise news from down under.

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: Why the cliché about cruise ships is totally wrong!

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 — Why the cliché about cruise ships is totally wrong! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean will sail from the West Coast again!

Royal Caribbean will finally return to offering cruises from California for the first time in over a decade.

Navigator of the Seas will sail from Los Angeles in summer 2022 to offer sailings to the Mexican Riviera.

The new sailings will vary between 3-, 4- and 5-night itineraries to Catalina Island, California and Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – plus, select winter holiday 7-night sailings will feature overnights in the popular resort city.

Royal Caribbean’s new year-round adventures from LA will open for sale the week of March 29, 2021.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: March 14, 2021

In:
14 Mar 2021

Happy weekend! We hope you remembered to Spring Forward! Here’s all the Royal Caribbean news this week!

Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean canceled nearly all of its May 2021 cruises.

The new round of cancellations means cruises will not be able to restart until at least June.

This means its voluntary cruise shutdown extends through May 31, 2021.

Cruise operations had been suspended through the end of April 2021, but will now be extended an additional month.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 397th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which has the top things I wish more cruisers knew about going on a cruise.

In this episode, I have seven suggestions for anyone going on a cruise that wants to enjoy their cruise to its fullest.

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: 5 Costly lessons learned on a cruise (and how to avoid them!)

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 releases Long Caribbean cruise itineraries for Winter 2022-2023

Royal Caribbean has released a new round of 2022-2023 itineraries for sale.

This week, the "Other/Long Caribbean" for Winter 2022-2023 went on sale, encompassing five cruise ships. These new sailings are available to book immediately.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: March 7, 2021

In:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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?".

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