The port of call for this cruise brings us to Costa Maya, Mexico.

Brilliance of the Seas was scheduled to dock right around 8am, and all aboard wasn't until 4:30, giving us a full day of fun on shore.

We docked on schedule and the gangway opened up shortly thereafter. 

Coming into this cruise, I had no plans for what to do in Costa Maya.  I usually visit Maya Chan beach resort, but I'll be going there next month when we visit on Wonder of the Seas.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Steve Wilson stopped at Costa Maya the day before us while sailing on Adventure of the Seas and was going to try an all inclusive beach resort in downtown Mahahual (that's the name of the village Costa Maya is near) that advertised itself as limiting the amount of guests.

Along with my friends onboard Brilliance, I decided to give this place a try.

To book a spot, you have to email Jamie via his website.  A few emails and a PayPal deposit, and we were all set.

Jamie's at The Blue Reef Hotel is a short 8 minute or so taxi ride from the port area.

The Blue Reef is a hotel situated on the beach, and Jamie's is essentially the restaurant's operation that extends onto the beach. Judging by the neighbors, a lot of other hotels seem to be doing the same thing.

We got to the beach a little after 9am, and were greeted by Martín, who took us to our beach chairs situated under a large tent/palapa. 

Much like every other all inclusive I've been to, there is a primary waiter you deal with that takes your drink and food orders.

Your admission gets you access to the beach, as well as everything on the drink and food menu. 

The hotel has a rooftop pool that Martín told me was also open for our use.

The ocean is quite shallow near the beach, which makes it ideal for wading. There are nets set up around the beach to limit the amount of sea grass that comes ashore, which has been a real problem over the years for Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Luckily, the sea grass was not bad today with very little washing ashore.

The service was great, although it did not hurt that there was just one cruise ship in port. We rarely had to wait to get an order.

The food had your typical Mexican fare of quesadillas, fajitas, tacos and more. 

There was also plenty of Mexican beers, margaritas, and beach-approved drinks.

Overall, I really liked the service and the food was great. It was the sort of relaxing beach day I think most people could hope for in a shore excursion visit.

In the afternoon, we struck up a conversation with Karla, one of the restaurant's partners, who also operated another bar and hotel closer to the cruise port.

Karla invited us to come check out her bar before we went back to the ship and even arranged for taxis to bring us over. 

Her bar is a very short walk from the cruise terminal, located just down the main street near the fake Mayan ruins you see as you exit the port area, and then a left turn.

We walked into Catrina and found a very large pool with lounge chairs, next to the bar and restaurant.

We topped off our afternoon with drinks and laughs before we had to head back to the ship.

In all, it was a very satisfying day in Costa Maya and I think a good time was had by all.

Back onboard the ship, all the fun in the sun required a shower and nap. There are few gratifying feelings as a post-shore excursion nap on a cruise ship.

We departed Costa Maya, although I can't tell you when or how it was since I was asleep.

After I woke up, I decided to go to the Windjammer for dinner.

After dinner, I spent a little time in the casino. I would have spent more time, but we must have left lady luck back in Costa Maya.

I rounded out the evening in the pub, listening to Jimmy play songs for a few hours. He's not only very talented, but goes hours without a break.

Tomorrow is our last day onboard and it's also Super Bowl Sunday!

Stray Observations

The casino is offering squares to bet on for the Super Bowl.

I couldn't have asked for better weather on our sea day, as we spent the first day on Brilliance of the Seas traversing the Gulf of Mexico.

I got up at 8am, and went right to the pool deck to grab a table where I could work on some blog posts.  There was just the right mix of sun, breeze, and temperature.

Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet shared a great forecast for our sea day.

As the day went on, the temperature started to climb a bit, but in the shade it could sometimes feel a little chilly. 

I had some toast and smoked salmon for breakfast from the Windjammer.

I had no plans for the day, so I walked around the ship a bit more to check out more of what was happening around it.

There were plenty of activities offered, from the water slide to rock climbing, bingo, a stretch class and more. 

For lunch, I thought about going to the main dining room, but I first went to see what the Windjammer had. Sure enough, I never left because it was a great mix of choices.

I especially liked the fajitas bar, as well as burger bar.  There was even turkey burgers and grilled barramundi if you wanted something other than beef.

I took my food to the outside seating in the Windjammer, which was glorious.

After lunch, I took a walk through what used to be Rita's Cantina.

Brilliance of the Seas used to have a Mexican specialty restaurant called Rita's Cantina, located to the side of the Windjammer. It served your basic Mexican food, and also had a bar to enjoy various Mexican drinks, such as margaritas.

The first time I sailed on Brilliance I ate here, and was disappointed with it, so it never was much of a favorite for me.  Over the years, it faded away, and is now just a Mexican themed part of the Windjammer seating.

I stopped by guest services onboard, and they told me there are 1190 passengers on this sailing.

Right around 1pm I contemplated what to do next, and taking a nap won out. 

I headed back to the pool deck to check out cocktails trivia, where all the questions were about drinks and cocktails.

Tonight was "dress your best", so I went back to my cabin to change.

There was a general trivia event at the Schooner Bar. Here's a question to challenge yourself: how many hearts does an octopus have?

At 5pm there was a top tier Crown and Anchor event for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members.

I always try to attend these events, because I think it's important to attend events Royal Caribbean does to recognize loyalty.

Dinner tonight brought me to Izumi.

I had originally gone to take advantage of my Diamond Plus buy one get one offer, but I learned Izumi wasn't included with it. Oh well, you don't have to twist my arm to enjoy a meal at Izumi.

During the meal I walked outside to enjoy another perfect sunset at sea.

After dinner, we headed up to the Viking Crown Lounge. On Radiance Class ships, the bar actually spins.

We rounded out our evening in the pub enjoying Jimmy, who I've usually seen performing at Captain Jack's at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Tomorrow we will be in Costa Maya.

Stray Observations

Brilliance of the Seas has self leveling pool tables, but the seas have been so smooth it's impossible to tell if they are operational or not.

Guest Services told me there are 1190 passengers onboard.

I stopped by Adventure Ocean and they said reservations were not required since there are not many kids on this sailing.

Have a future cruise credit from a cancelled cruise? Royal Caribbean will give you extra onboard credit if you book a cruise this month.

At any given time Royal Caribbean has a myriad of promotions running, but I was surprised to see an offer for redeeming future cruise credits.

While Royal Caribbean has been cruising since June 2021 in North America, there are still quite a few unredeemed future cruise credits out there.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Rich Triplett alerted us to this offer.

The "Future Cruise Credit Kicker" runs the entire month of February, and will give you $100 onboard credit per stateroom if you book a cruise departing between March 1 – December 31, 2022.

This offer is combinable with all rates and promotions, meaning there are no blackout rules with it.

Onboard credits will be added to up to two weeks after the FCC has been redeemed on all valid bookings determined by booking creation, FCC redemption and sailing dates. 

More offers in February

In addition to the onboard credit offer, there are a few other promotions Royal Caribbean has running during February.

30% savings off cruise fare for all guests in the stateroom

30% Off Every Guest offer must be booked between February 1 – 28, 2022 (“Offer Period”). 30% Off Every Guest offer applies to select sailings departing on or after March 1, 2022. 

WOW Sale

WOW Sale applies to new bookings made between February 9 – 14, 2022. WOW Sale offers up to $400 USD to spend at sea (“Onboard Credit” or “OBC”) per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after March 9, 2022.

OBC amounts are per stateroom and determined by category booked and sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $50 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $75 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $400 for Suites

2022 Kicker

2022 Kicker applies to new bookings made between February 1 – 28, 2022. 2022 Kicker provides instant savings of up to $150 USD per stateroom on select sailings departing between March 1 – December 31, 2022.

Savings amount determined by category booked and sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $50 for Balconies and $75 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies, and $150 for Suites

Crown and Anchor Bonus

Applies to new bookings made between February 1 – 28, 2022 to Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members.

CAS Bonus provides up to $50 USD to spend at sea (“Onboard Credit or “OBC”) per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after March 1, 2022.

OBC amount is determined by sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 to spend at sea
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 to spend at sea.

OBCs are not redeemable for cash and are non-transferable. When reserving, a valid Crown & Anchor Society membership number must be included in the reservation.

Our live blog is back with a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas for a 4-night sailing from Tampa, Florida.

Brilliance of the Seas restarted cruises from Tampa in December 2021, and I've been eager to get back onboard a Radiance Class ship. I really enjoy the layout of these smaller ships. I'm often asked which is my favorite small ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and Brilliance is always my answer.

This is a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise with just one port stop in Costa Maya.

Since the cruise departs from Tampa, I'm able to drive to the port in just about an hour travel time from my home in the Orlando area.

Of course, I took my pre-cruise Covid test two days ago and it came back negative.  I used the at-home test that Royal Caribbean accepts, and it couldn't be easier. No waiting, and the entire process took 20 minutes from start to finish, and I never had to leave my desk.

Since I booked this cruise only a few weeks ago, check-in times were limited by the time I went to get one.  At first I had a 1:30pm check-in time, but I managed to subsequently get a 1:00pm check-in time.

Read more: 7 things worth checking again on a Royal Caribbean cruise

The drive to Tampa was uneventful and I parked via the valet parking option. $80 total, and I get to drive right up to the terminal and hand my keys to the attendant and be on my way.

As expected, they were enforcing the check-in times and I entered a line for the 1:00 check-in time.  Luckily, it moved very quickly and I completed the entire check-in procedure in under 30 minutes.  In fact, I spent more time waiting to get through the line outside than the actual check-in procedure.

I boarded Brilliance of the Seas and headed right away to the Windjammer for lunch.  I hadn't eaten lunch yet, so I figured for the benefit of the entire ship it was a good idea to eat before I got hangry.

I love the outdoor seating in the Windjammer on Brilliance of the Seas at the back of the ship.

The staterooms opened up right around 1:30pm, so I went down to my room to drop off my stuff.

For this cruise I'm booked in a Category 2M - Spacious Ocean View Stateroom.

I haven't stayed in an ocean view cabin since Majesty of the Seas in 2017, and I was pleasantly surprised how much living space there is inside.

The distance between the couch and the bed is substantial. The room is anything but cramped.

After catching up on some blog posts, I realized I hadn't finished the muster drill, so I went to complete that.

I had done the first two steps (watch the safety video and listen to the emergency siren) while I was still at home, so all I needed to do was go to my muster station to check-in.  

I then walked around Brilliance of the Seas a bit to explore a bit. Being back on a Radiance Class ship, it was an adjustment after so many significantly larger cruise ships, but it felt like being home and the ship looks great.

Sail away was at 5pm, and I headed to one of my favorite Brilliance of the Seas secrets: the helipad.

We had a beautiful day to sail out of Tampa, with temperatures in the low 70s, no clouds, and a very light breeze.

We even saw a few dolphins as we departed.

When your ship departs Tampa, it takes a few hours to exit the harbor, as you travel towards the ocean and finally make it to the ocean when you pass under the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

In the time before we made it to the bridge, I decided to stop at Izumi for "pre-dinner" and get some sashimi to hold me over until dinner.

I was able to walk in without a reservation when they opened and get a table.

After I finished my sushi, I enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the pool deck.

Roughly two hours after we set sail, our ship passed under the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

Dinner brought me and some friends onboard to Giovanni's Table.

Food was great, and the pasta of the day had a spicy flavor to the sauce.

We concluded our evening with music in the King & Country pub.

Tomorrow is a sea day.

Stray observations

The water bottles on Brilliance have these aluminum water bottles with a screw top. 

The stricter face mask protocols are still in place on Brilliance of the Seas. One policy I noticed that I had never seen before was you had to mask up when ordering at the bar outdoors.

I had heard from other guests they were expecting around 1300 passengers on this sailing, but I'll need to go to Guest Services and verify the number.

If you're interested in sailing on part of Royal Caribbean's first world cruise, today is your first chance to book it.

Royal Caribbean is opened up the ability to book part of the epic 274 world cruise, beginning today for Crown and Anchor Society guests and friends and family of our ultimate world cruise guests.

Beginning February 20, these segments will open up for sale to everyone else.

The world cruise will take place on Serenade of the Seas and visit 11 world wonders across more than 60 countries.

Prior to starting the world cruise, Serenade of the Seas will undergo a revitalization in 2022 that include cosmetic updates.

The world cruise has been divided up into 4 segments that you choose from:

• Round the Horn: Americas & Antarctica Expedition: December 10, 2023 – February 11, 2024, 64 Nights, 36 destinations
• Wonders of Asia & the Pacific Expedition: February 11, 2024 – May 9, 2024, 87 Nights, 40 destinations
• Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Med Expedition: May 9, 2024 – July 10,2024, 63 Nights, 44 destinations
• Capitals of Culture Expedition: July 10, 2024 – September 10, 2024, 63 Nights, 40 destinations

All guests participating in the Ultimate World Cruise, or one of the segments, will receive the an unlimited drink package for each guest, wash and fold laundry service for up to three bags per state room per week, Gratuities and Voom surf and stream for two devices per stateroom.

Exclusively for Crown and Anchor members platinum and above, guests on the Ultimate World Cruise will also receive business class airfare from the guests home, a two-night pre-cruise hotel and gala dinner party at the Intercontinental Miami, premium transportation and seven new world wonders shore excursion.

Royal Caribbean Senior Manager of Onboard Cruise Sales Abundance Boekestein said demand for the world cruise has been incredible, " Our Ultimate World Cruise opened in October and has such a positive response from our guests that we've been holding on to our expeditions to give our ultimate world cruise guests the extra time they were looking for to secure their spots."

World Cruise segment prices

Round the Horn: Americas & Antarctica Expedition

Wonders of Asia & the Pacific Expedition

Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Med Expedition

Capitals of Culture Expedition

Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional and are subject to change at any time. All starting prices listed are per person, in USD, cruise only, based on double occupancy and are subject to change at any time.

Which world wonders will each segment visit?

Round the Horn: Americas & Antarctica Expedition: December 10, 2023 – February 11, 2024

Chichen Itza: via Cozumel Dec 13, 2023
Christ the Redeemer: via Rio de Janeiro Dec 31, 2023
Iguazu Falls: via Buenos Aires Jan 5, 2024
Machu Picchu: via Lima Jan 29-30, 2024

Wonders of Asia & the Pacific Expedition: February 11, 2024 – May 9, 2024

Great Barrier Reef: via Airlie Beach and Cairns March 13-14, 2024
Great Wall of China: via Beijing April 7-8, 2024
Taj Mahal: via Cochin May 1, 2024

Middle East Treasures & Marvels of the Med Expedition: May 9, 2024 – July 10, 2024

Petra: via Aqaba May 17, 2024
Pyramids of Giza: via Alexandria May 21-22, 2024
Temple of Artemis: via Ephesus May 28, 2024
Colosseum: via Rome July 1, 2024 

Capitals of Culture Expedition: July 10, 2024 – September 10, 2024

There are no World Wonders visited during this expedition.

Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships are known for packing in lots of fun activities onboard a proven ship design.

Once the largest cruise ships in the world, these Royal Caribbean ships can accommodate slightly less than 4,000 passengers at double occupancy. All those passengers can look forward to plenty of specialty restaurant choices, and even Broadway shows on two of the ships, such as "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease."

While Freedom-class ships are no longer in the top 10 of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships, they remain a great combination of value and things to do. In fact, Royal Caribbean upgraded Freedom and Independence of the Seas as part of its Royal Amplified program.  All Freedom Class ships have received updates over the last few years to add new features and amenities onboard.

Between all of the Royal Caribbean ship classes, here's everything you need to know to help you decide whether the Freedom Class is right for you.

What are the Freedom Class ships?

There are three Freedom Class ships:

• Freedom of the Seas is the first ship of the class and sails from Miami, Florida
• Liberty of the Seas is the second ship of the class and sails from Galveston, Texas
• Independence of the Seas is the third ship of the class and sails from Port Canaveral, Florida

Their gross tonnage ranges between 154 - 156,000 GRT.

What is there to do on Freedom Class ships?

Freedom Class ships are known for all the fun activities on the pool deck, including cantilevered hot tubs, a FlowRider surf simulator, water slides, and a vibrant pool deck.

Freedom of the Seas' $116 million of upgrades in early 2020 added a resort-style Caribbean pool deck, along with its set of water slides.

Independence of the Seas also features new water slides, as well as the Sky Pad virtual reality bungee trampoline experience.

While Liberty of the Seas did not get her dry dock upgrades as originally scheduled in 2020, she did receive pool deck enhancements in 2016 that added a collection of waterslides including the first ever boomerang style slide at sea, Tidal Wave. New as well is Splashaway Bay, an aqua park featuring an interactive kid’s play area with water cannons, geysers and much more. 

There's no shortage of great dining options on the Freedom Class ships. Each has Chops Grille, Johnny Rockets, and Giovanni's Table specialty restaurants.  Freedom of the Seas features an updated version of the Italian restaurant and new menu, known as Giovanni's Italian Table. Independence of the Seas has an expansive Playmakers Sports Bar area to watch the game from, as well as a very large Izumi Hibachi room. Liberty of the Seas is the only ship in the class to have a Mexican cuisine restaurant at Sabor.

If you like shows, Liberty of the Seas features the Broadway show "Saturday Night Fever", and Independence of the Seas has "Grease." All three ships have production shows and featured entertainment as well throughout the cruise.

Each of the ships has an ice skating show in Studio B, along with the opportunity for passengers to skate during designated free skate sessions.

Each of the Freedom Class ships has a nursery for children between 6 - 36 months old, which has an additional fee. 

Freedom Class highlights

• Aqua park
• Rock-Climbing Wall
• Ice-Skating Rink
• Basketball court
• Royal Promenade
• British-Style Pub
• Designer Shopping
• Adults-only Solarium pool area
• Outdoor Movie Screen
• Panoramic staterooms
• Flow Rider Surf Simulator
• Water slides

Differences between the Freedom Class ships

When the Freedom Class ships first debuted, they were virtually indistinguishable from each other, but upgrades and enhancements have added features and amenities available on individual ships.

Freedom of the Seas was the most recent Freedom Class ship to be upgraded, and she is the only one of the three to offer these options:

• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
• Upgraded Adventure Ocean and teens club area
• Resort-style pool deck

Independence of the Seas was upgraded in 2018 and offers these exclusives over her sister ships:

• Sky Pad
• Grease, the Broadway musical
• Puzzle Break escape room 
• Fish & Ships, a poolside eatery where guests can grab quintessentially British seaside treats.
• Sugar Beach candy shop, a wondrous world of delicious delights, along with a few exciting surprises.

Liberty of the Seas may not have gotten a Royal Amplification, but she still has her own unique features among the class:

• Sabor Mexican restaurant
• Tidal Wave boomerang style slide

Who should sail on a Freedom Class ship?

The Freedom Class ships were designed for families that want a lot of things to do onboard.  These days, another compelling reason to pick a Freedom Class ship is the value they offer.

Since Freedom Class ships are no longer the newest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, the cruise line tends to price them a bit lower than newer and larger ships. Think of it like buying a leftover new car: you get a better price because it's not as new.

Both the Freedom and Voyager Class ships are very close in size, look, and amenities, but the Freedom Class's extra size gives it more room for more fun with plenty of activities.

Forget the age of these ships, there's lots to do for every age, from the sports court, to the ice rink, to the rock wall. These ships feature plenty of live music, a mini-golf course, surf simulators, and more.

These are big ships, and are great for a special occasion, group of friends, or first time cruiser. 

The one area you might prefer to move up to an Oasis Class ship, like Symphony of the Seas, is for the suites. The Freedom-Class cruise ship does not include the Royal Suite Class amenities that offer more included with the suite experience.

Another reason to skip the Freedom Class would be if you prefer smaller size cruise ships.  The Radiance Class or Vision Class ships would be a better choice in that situation.

Freedom Class tips and secrets

The helipad is open any of the Freedom-class vessels, which means you can walk all the forward on the outside deck of deck 4 and access the helipad for great views during sailaway.

Book reservations for all the shows once you get onboard the ship. Reservations for Grease and Saturday Night Fever are available via the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you connect to the ship's wifi. You can also book other show reservations too.

If you have younger children, be sure to sign them up for Adventure Ocean youth program on the first day during the open house in the afternoon.

Don't miss the Viking Crown Lounge for the views.  Located on Deck 14 via the aft elevators, the lounge is a great place to enjoy sweeping views of the ship.

The cruise industry is lashing out at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their latest guidance against cruise ship travel.

On February 9, the CDC updated the notice to clarify the modifications of CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters.

Despite Covid numbers falling precipitously on ships (and on land), the agency continued to urge the public against cruise ship travel for the fully vaccinated because in their view, the chances of getting COVID on a cruise ship is "very high".

In a statement by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry rejected this notion and called out the CDC for being "unnecessarily discriminatory against
cruise to maintain that the chances of getting COVID-19 on a cruise “is very high” even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines."

Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have adopted highly effective protocols for passengers and crew members on its ships that that test all persons boarding, have medical, isolation and quarantine facilities on site, implement extensive response plans using only private shoreside resources, and have created an environment where almost every single person is fully vaccinated.

According to CLIA, the result has been has been a dramatic drop in the number of COVID-positive cases, with hospitalizations being extraordinarily rare – in fact 80 times
lower than on land in the U.S. 

This data was backed up by Royal Caribbean Group's CEO Jason Liberty when he said over the last several weeks, cases onboard have been "declining rapidly."

Despite these facts, the CDC continues to maintain even if you are fully vaccinated, the chances of getting COVID on a cruise ship is very high.

"Regrettably, upon initial review, the latest CDC guidance appears out of step with the actual public health conditions on cruise ships and unnecessary in light of societal trends away from more restrictive measures.

"We are confounded by the CDC’s imposition of even more complex and unwarranted measures which ignore empirical evidence that the industry’s protocols have provided a greater level of COVID mitigation than most any other setting.

CLIA says misleading statements by the CDC on the state of Covid on a cruise ship creates confusion for consumers, and creates potential problems within the different sectors of travel the cruise industry operates.

In short, CLIA feels the CDC is targeting the cruise lines in its recommendations, "It seems unnecessarily discriminatory against cruise to maintain that the chances of getting COVID-19 on a cruise “is very high” even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines."

CLIA even went as far as to say the CDC's actions against cruise ships are counterproductive to promoting the importance of Covid-19 vaccines to the general public, "This discounts the importance of what the CDC has otherwise promoted as the single most important touchstone for public health and safety."

"The vaccination rate on cruise ships is close to 100%, whereas on land it is only about 63%."

You can read the full CLIA statement here:

Why does the CDC not warn against other travel and entertainment?

Often the CDC has been accused of holding the cruise lines to a double standard when compared to other forms of shoreside travel and entertainment settings (such as restaurants, bars, and theme parks).

On the CDC's website, it now explains that cruise ships are "congregate residential settings" with high risk of COVID-19 transmission among travelers (passengers and crew).

In case you're wondering, this means the CDC thinks examples of "congregate residential settings" are prisons, nursing homes, schools, and shelters.

Source: CDC

"Cruise ships have thousands of travelers living for multiple days (or months for crew) on the same ship—eating, sleeping, and participating in activities together in one location. These factors are not typically found in other shoreside travel and entertainment settings (such as restaurants, bars, theme parks). Data from the pandemic suggest COVID-19 spreads quickly in group settings, including on cruise ships. Hence, CDC developed COVID-19 THN criteria specific to cruise ships to inform the public regarding COVID-19 conditions on cruise ships."

It then went on to pass the buck of saying those other shoreside travel and entertainment settings in the United States are regulated by public health agencies on a state and local level.

With Omicron cases on cruise ships plummeting, Royal Caribbean will not extend its stricter face mask rules and will allow them to end.

In mid-December Royal Caribbean tightened its face mask protocols due to the increase of Covid-19 cases around the world due to the Omicron variant.

Specifically, face masks were required to be worn indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking. This included vaccinated-only zones.

Beginning February 15, 2022, the stricter mask rules will go away and that means guests will not have to wear face masks at venues designated for vaccinated guests only, such as select bars, lounges, restaurants, shows and Casino Royale. 

During a webinar with travel agents, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, told travel agents the policy was changed yesterday, and beginning February 15, 2022 the stricter mask rules will go away.

"One thing that changed yesterday is we have now announced that in our casinos you will not be required to wear masks and you can smoke again in the smoking areas of the casino," Ms. Freed told travel agents.

Royal Caribbean International Assistant Vice President of Guest Experience, Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, told travel agents protocols will go back to the way they were before the stricter mask rules were added due to Omicron, "After February the 15th, we'll now allow smoking in the casino again. That is actually aligned, with us going back to protocol the way they were before, where you don't have to wear a mask in vaccinated areas."

"We'll go back to the way it was before on Omicron."

"As of right now, we did not push that additional mask restriction and casino smoking out to guests beyond the 15th. So hopefully we're in a good spot."

Masks are NOT required to be worn:

• In open-air areas of the ship, unless you are in a crowded setting.
• In the pool or any activity where they may become wet.
• At venues designated for vaccinated guests only, such as select bars, lounges, restaurants, shows and Casino Royale. NOTE: For cruises departing through February 14, 2022, masks must be worn in vaccinated-only venues
• In your stateroom when you are with your traveling party.
• While visiting our private destinations, unless you are in a crowded setting.
• By any guest under the age of 2.

Masks ARE required to be worn:

• While indoors in public areas of the ship, unless seated and actively eating or drinking.
• While visiting public ports of call, where local regulations may require them.

Falling Covid cases on ships

The change in protocols coincides with Covid cases onboard falling back to pre-Omicron levels.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty told investors last week that ship cases are significantly lower than the last two months, "In the last several weeks, cases on board our ships have been declining rapidly and we now have returned to exceptionally low pre-Omicron levels."

Over the last seven days, Royal Caribbean Group has averaged only "a handful of positive guest cases per cruise."

Other cruise lines relaxing protocols

Royal Caribbean's announcement comes a day after Norwegian Cruise Line said it would end its Omicron protocols as well.

NCL said beginning March 1, masks will no longer be required while indoors. Instead, they will be recommended.

Another change is NCL will now allow children under 5 years old to sail if they are unvaccinated, beginning on March 5.

In addition, NCL will require its passengers to test once at home before the cruise begins in an effort to speed up the check-in process.

You might be able to save extra money on booking a new cruise or a pre-cruise add-on, such as a drink package, excursion or wifi.

Royal Caribbean's WOW Sale begins today, which offers new discounts on cruise fares and items purchased via the Cruise Planner website.

Whether or not either of these sales saves you money will depend on the ship and sailing you pick, but here's what you should know about the promotion.

WOW Sale

WOW Sale applies to new bookings made between February 9 – 14, 2022.

It offers up to $400 USD Onboard Credit per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after March 9, 2022. 

OBC amounts are per stateroom and determined by category booked and sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $50 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $75 OBC for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $400 for Suites

Onboard credit does not apply to China departures.

Combinability: 30% Off Every Guest, 2022 Kicker, CAS Bonus and FCC Kicker are combinable with each other as well as promotional OBCs, Next Cruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. WOW Sale is combinable with 30% Off Every Guest, 2022 Kicker, CAS Bonus and FCC Kicker as well as with promotional OBCs, Next Cruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Shareholder Benefits, but not combinable with Ultimate World Cruise and Crown and Anchor discounts. Resident rates apply to select states on select sailings; valid state of residence must be provided at time of booking. 30% Off Every Guest, 2022 Kicker and CAS Bonus is not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Ultimate World Cruise, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates. FCC Kicker is combinable with all rates and promotions. Promo Code driven offers are based on select ships and sail dates and must be applied at time of booking; limit one promo code per booking.

Offer available to residents of United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and select countries in the Caribbean. 

Cruise Planner WOW Sale

The new sale offers up to 35% off pre-cruise purchases made between February 9 – 16, 2022 on sailings departing between February 13, 2022 – December 31, 2022.

Here is what is included during the sale:

Beverage: Up to 40% off

• Classic Soda Beverage Package: 30% off onboard prices.
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 35% off onboard prices.
• Spring Water Cans: 40% off onboard prices.
• San Benedetto Water Cans: 40% off onboard prices.
• Evian Water Bottles: 40% off onboard prices.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 30% off onboard prices.
• Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices.

Shore Excursions: Up to 30% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship.

Internet: Up to 50% Off

• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.
• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.

Dining: Up to 55% Off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 9N sailings: Discount varies by ship.

Gifts & Gear: Up to 20% Off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Chocolate Cake & Strawberries
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake & Strawberries
• Inky Beach Set
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe)
• Inky Travel Set
• Red Wine and Cheese
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel
• Strawberries with Champagne
• White Wine and Cheese

Photo Packages: Up to 70% Off

• Photo Packages: From 5 – 100 Print and/or Digital Options: Discount varies by ship..
• Photo Package: Private Photo Session: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: Picture This Private Studio: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: All Digital: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% Off

• Spa Packages: Discount varies by ship.

Can I save money with this sale?

Each Royal Caribbean sale adds the potential to save money on the cost of these purchases, but the price does not change for every single sailing and item available to purchase.

Some prices may change, but there is not a flat discount applied across all sailings.  Some people will notice better prices, while others may not see any change.

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

More helpful information

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?