Cruisers have an extra month to take advantage of Royal Caribbean's flexible cancellation policy.

As a result of canceling most May 2021 cruises, Royal Caribbean announced it would also extend its Cruise with Confidence program by a month.

Cruises booked on or before May 31, 2021 for a sailing departing through April 30, 2022 are now eligible for Cruise with Confidence.

Prior to this change, Cruise with Confidence only applied to bookings made through April 30, 2021.

Under Cruise with Confidence, guests can cancel a cruise for any reason up to 48 hours before a sailing is scheduled to depart in exchange for a 100% future cruise credit.

It also covers the expanded Best Price Guarantee, which allows for anyone to get a lower price after booking a sailing.

All active bookings confirmed on or before May 31, 2021 for Royal Caribbean sailings through April 2022 (excluding Chartered sailings) are included in the Cruise with Confidence program.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, informed travel agents of the extension during a webinar with travel agents, "Along with the suspension announcing, we have also extended our Cruise With Confidence program to allocate an additional month of reassurance for those considering a cruise vacation."

With each new round of suspensions, Royal Caribbean has followed up with an extension of the Cruise with Confidence program as a way to give consumers much more time to decide if they want to cancel or continue with a booking.

The Cruise with Confidence program was introduced at the beginning of the health crisis, and provides significantly relaxed rules concerning canceling a cruise if the situation changes for a guest.

Ordinarily, guests would incur a penalty for canceling a sailing beyond the final payment date, which is typically 90 days before a sailing commences. Cruise with Confidence provides a great deal more flexibility to change minds with no penalty.

How does Cruise with Confidence work?

Ever since Royal Caribbean shut down cruises in March 2020, it has offered guests increased flexibility in being able to change their minds due to the fluid nature of news and the global health crisis.

Essentially, Cruise with Confidence is the name of the program that allows guests to change or cancel a cruise up to 48 hours before their sail date with no penalty or change fees.

Guests can opt for a 100% Future Cruise Credit that is good for 12 months or more up until 48 hours before their sailing.

The program includes refundable and non-refundable cruise fares, and only excludes chartered sailings.

It is important to note that if you elect to cancel a cruise on your own with this program, and later Royal Caribbean cancels the sailing, you waive any right to receive any refund oft he cruise fare paid.

It is hard to believe, but Royal Caribbean's first Radiance Class cruise ship was launched 20 years ago this week.

The Meyer Werft shipyard shared some great photos of Radiance of the Seas being built to commemorate the occasion, so I thought it would be appropriate to share with all of you 20 secrets, tips, and tricks if you are sailing on any of the ships.

Whether you sail on Radiance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, or Jewel of the Seas, here are some helpful tips to know about these amazing ships.

Read more: 50 Great insider Royal Caribbean tips for an awesome cruise

1. Outdoor dining

Among the many unique features on a Radiance Class ship is the outdoor seating at the Windjammer buffet.

Typically, the Windjammer is indoors on most Royal Caribbean cruise ships, but Radiance Class ships have an outdoor option as well on the back the ship. This means you can enjoy a breeze and a view of the ocean as you enjoy your food.

To access the outdoor seating, simply walk all the way to the back of the Windjammer

2. Glass elevators

Another fun Radiance Class feature are the glass elevators.

The elevators in the Centrum area face outwards to provide views of the ocean around you.  This means you get to enjoy a great view on your way up and down the ship.

3. Self-leveling pool tables

Self-leveling billiards tables are something you will only find on Radiance Class cruise ships.

When they work, these tables will move along with the ship to provide a stable playing platform if the ship is rocking back and forth.

The secret to these tables are the gyroscopes that always keep the top of the table level so the billiards balls do not roll around.

4. There's a movie theater

Radiance Class ships actually have their own movie theater onboard.

The cinema is located towards the front of the ship on deck 6, and shows movies throughout the day at no additional charge.

Seating is limited, so check the schedule and arrive early if you want to be there for a screening.

5. Rotating bar

Did you know the bar at the top of the ship in the Viking Crown Lounge actually rotates?

In the evening, the bartenders can activate the spin feature which slowly rotates the bar area around in a complete circle.  This usually coincides with the DJ music playing, and it is a neat little feature.

6. Retractable roof Solarium

The adults-only Solarium is my favorite spot on any Radiance Class cruise ship because it seems to be just the right size, with a large and inviting pool.

The Solarium is also enclosed with a glass roof, which is actually retractable.

Admittedly, Royal Caribbean seems to rarely ever retract the roof, but theoretically they could open it up if weather conditions permit to allow a more open pool deck feel.

When the roof is closed, it keeps the Solarium the perfect temperature for enjoying the pool.

7. Sailaway from the helipad

Just like Voyager and Freedom Class cruise ships, guests can go down to the helipad anytime they want during the cruise (weather permitting).

The helipad provides arguably the best vantage point on the ship, especially for sailaway.

To access the helicopter pad, go outside on deck 5 and then walk forward, climb up a set of stairs and continue walking forward until you reach the helicopter pad.

8. Dining package value

While Radiance Class ships are no where near as large as Royal Caribbean's newer ships, there are still plenty of great specialty restaurants onboard.

Royal Caribbean added more specialty dining in recent refurbishments to offer more specialty dining options.

If you think you might eat at more than 1 or 2 specialty restaurants, a specialty dining package might be a very good investment to save money.

9. Water slide for kids

For many years, the Radiance Class was the only Royal Caribbean ships with an actual water slide, and they still have one just for younger kids.

The kids slide is complimentary and is the perfect size for younger children to get some rides in during the day.

There are limited hours for the slide, so be sure to look at the schedule for when it is open.

10. You can relax in the thermal spa

A great way to indulge while relaxing is to purchase a pass to the ship's thermal spa.

The thermal spa is a special part of the Vitality Spa which offers limited-access via passes that good for the duration of the cruise.

If you buy a pass, you can enjoy unlimited time at the hot stone chairs, rainforest shower room, infrared sauna, and steam room.

There are two thermal spa pass prices: single and couples.  Price will vary depending on sailing.

11. Park Cafe

One of the best recent additions to most of the Radiance Class ships has been Park Cafe.

Located in the Solarium, you can find made-to-order salads, toasted paninis, pizza, pastries and coffee to enjoy.

Despite being in the Solarium, kids are allowed to come in and get food from Park Cafe too.

Best of all, Park Cafe is complimentary.

12. Fun activities onboard

If you like physical activity on a cruise ship, Radiance Class ships offer plenty of it.

You can tackle the 200-foot tall rock climbing wall, challenge the family to mini-golf, or hit the sports court and shoot hoops, play soccer, or engage in one of the many activities offered throughout the day by the sports staff.

Read more: Free Royal Caribbean onboard physical and fun activities

13. You can book solo rooms

If you are a single traveler, the Radiance class are one of the few Royal Caribbean cruise ships to offer solo rooms.

Studio rooms are designed for a single traveler, and do not come with a hefty single supplement fee.

Each of the Radiance Class ships have 3 Studio Interior rooms available to book on any given sailing.

Read more: Guide to Royal Caribbean's Single and Studio staterooms

14. You can open the balcony dividers

If you happen to have connecting or adjoining balcony staterooms, you can open up the balcony dividers between the rooms.

Between each balcony is a divider that grants privacy for each guest, but if you know the person in the cabin next to you, you can ask the stateroom attendant to remove the divider.

Doing this little trick means you get to enjoy a much larger and open balcony.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Secrets: opening the balcony dividers

15. Look all the way down

I am not sure if all ships have re-opened this area, but at least on Brilliance of the Seas one of the coolest vantage points is open to guests again.

If you go to deck 12 in the Centrum, you can go to the Loyalty Ambassador area and peer all the way down the Centrum for some amazing views.

This area was previously closed when Royal Caribbean offered aerial shows, but those shows (and equipment) have been removed.

16. Must do: Sushi making class

If your Radiance Class ship offers the sushi making class, it is a must-do event.

As advertised, a sushi chef will instruct you how to easily make a few different sushi rolls, and then subsequently eat your creation!

You make enough sushi to constitute a meal, so come hungry and bring your camera. It is a fun activity that I really enjoyed doing.

Read more: Izumi sushi making class on Royal Caribbean

17. Best spot for evening drinks: Viking Crown Lounge

The Viking Crown Lounge at the top of the ship is beautiful, and worth taking the elevator ride all the way to the top.

The best part of the Viking Crown Lounge on Radiance Class ships is you get a fantastic view with your drink.  Grab a seat, and enjoy a view while the bartender prepares it.

As a bonus, during the day when the bar may be closed, the lounge is open and a very relaxing and quiet spot to read, or enjoy views of the ocean.

18. Aft balcony rooms

People that go on cruises a lot will wax poetically about the virtues of an aft balcony, and the Radiance Class ships are the perfect ships for these rooms.

Aft balconies refer to the balcony cabins on the back of the ship that face backwards, instead of to one side of the ship.

In many cases, these aft balconies provide expansive views around you, which is especially important if you are cruising on a Radiance Class ship in Alaska or Europe.

Aft balcony rooms book up quickly, so be sure to snag one before they sell out.

19. Best spot for evening fun: Schooner Bar

The Schooner Bar is an institution on all Royal Caribbean ships, but the layout of the Schooner Bar on Radiance Class ships might be the best yet.

LIke all Royal Caribbean ships, tthe Schooner Bar has a nautical theme that features a piano and views of the ocean.  Each evening, you will find plenty of live music to enjoy throughout the evening.

The bar area has stool seating that extends all the way around.

20. GTV

You may notice on the side of Radiance Class ships the letters "GTV", which you won't find on any other Royal Caribbean ship.

GTV stands for gas turbine vessel, which is an environmentally-conscious approach to ship propulsion.

The Radiance Class was the first ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet to have a General Electric gas and steam turbine as its primary source of power.  The power plant is more efficient and cleaner than traditional diesel-powered engines on most cruise ships employ.

England sees the global health crisis improving, and has announced domestic cruises could begin in May.

At a meeting of the  All Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group, UK Maritime Minister Robert Courts announced domestic cruises in England could restart on May 17.

Mr. Courts indicated the option for cruises to restart from England would coincide with opening up vacation options for residents of England.

He indicated the decision would still hinder on certain factors remaining favorable, such as the current cases, vaccine rollout, and other factors.

A statement by the Department of Transport confirmed the news in a statement, "We are committed to restarting cruise travel when it is safe to do so, and we are working closely with the sector to prepare for a safe and successful restart."

"The restart of domestic cruises in England will be aligned with the wider resumption of the domestic tourism and indoor hospitality sectors."

"As set out in the Prime Minister’s road map, the earliest possible date for this step is May 17."

Andy Harmer, Director of Cruise Lines International Association UK & Ireland issued this statement, "We strongly welcome the announcement that cruise will be included alongside the restart of other domestic tourism in the UK."

"The industry has long planned a phased restart for cruise, with domestic cruises representing the first stage of this plan. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Government, including through the Global Travel Taskforce in order to ensure the safe restart of international cruise in time for the summer season."

According to the Independent, crew members will be tested and then required to undergo two weeks' quarantine onboard the ship before any cruise departures.

Cruise expert Gary Bembridge pointed out that this news applies only to England currently, and other parts of the United Kingdom will need to adopt the policy change too.

In very positive news the Maritime Minister says cruising will most likely be opening in May in England along with other travel. It is not all UK yet. They are now engaging with Scotland, Wales and NI. So, hopefully more good news to come on that front pic.twitter.com/hdVANxo3KB

— Gary Bembridge (@garybembridge) March 9, 2021

Royal Caribbean has not announced any potential sailings yet that would be able to take advantage of domestic cruises around England, although Royal Caribbean's UK Boss did say he thought they had "limited appeal".

Read more: Royal Caribbean UK Boss: UK only cruises have "limited appeal"

Israelis can now book the newly announced Odyssey of the Seas cruises from Israel.

The new sailings have been loaded into Royal Caribbean's website, and are available between June and October 2021.

Sailing from Haifa, Odyssey will offer sailings ranging in duration between 2- and 7-nights to destinations in Cyprus and Greece.

Ports visited include:

• Limassol, Cyprus
• Rhodes, Greece
• Mykonos, Greece
• Athens (Piareus), Greece
• Santorini, Greece

Interestingly, inside and oceanview rooms are not currently bookable.  Only balcony rooms and suites are offered as bookable options.

Read more: 13 Beautiful photos from Odyssey of the Seas conveyance

Royal Caribbean is working with Israel’s health and tourism authorities to offer the first to offer fully vaccinated sailings, where both crew and guests above the age of 16 will be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Details on the additional health and safety measures to be implemented by Israel and Royal Caribbean will be announced at a later date.

Royal Caribbean's website noted at the bottom of the page that its health protocols are subject to change depending on the destination and time the cruise sails.

Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, and regional travel restrictions vary by ship and destination, and are subject to change without prior notice. Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. These may not be available on your booked voyage, and are subject to change without prior notice.

Odyssey of the Seas is currently scheduled to be delivered to Royal Caribbean from Meyer Werft on March 24, 2021.

In addition to releasing the new sailings, Royal Caribbean has added Odyssey of the Seas to its app.

Odyssey now appears in the list of supported ships that can be found from within the app.

The app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

Royal Caribbean has officially cancelled its May cruises, further extending its voluntary shutdown until at least June.

Royal Caribbean made the announcement that none of its May cruises will be able to sail in order to provide more time to prepare to restart cruise operations.

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

There are few exceptions:

• Quantum of the Seas from Singapore
• Odyssey of the Seas sailings from Israel
• China Spectrum of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas sailings from April 30 through May and beyond

The decision to cancel cruises by Royal Caribbean matches other cruise lines that have cancelled their May sailings already, including Carnival Cruise Line,  Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.

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

Read more: What you should do now that Royal Caribbean cancelled your cruise

Compensation

Guests affected by the cancelled cruises between May 1 - 31,  2021, have three options for compensation.

Lift & Shift: On or before March 23, 2021, move to a qualifying 2022 sailing on the same itinerary, sailing length, embarkation port, stateroom category and departing within 2-weeks of the original sail date and your client's cruise fare/promotion is protected.

125% Future Cruise Credit: To account for the inconvenience this has caused, guests are eligible for a 125% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) that is based on the total cruise fare paid at the guest-level if neither of the other options is selected. This will be automatically issued on or before April 16, 2021 if no other option is selected.

Taxes and fees, as well as any pre-purchased amenities or onboard packages, will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment within 45 days from the cancelation date.

Additionally, if you redeemed your Cruise with Confidence Future Cruise Credit on a sailing that is now cancelled, their original FCC will be reinstated, plus 125% of any amount paid by the guest on the cancelled reservation.

Refund: If you prefer a cash refund, you can do so by requesting this option on-or-before June 30, 2021.

You can expect their refund to the original form of payment within 45 days from the cancellation date. 

If you redeemed a Cruise with Confidence Future Cruise Credit on an impacted sailing and would now prefer a refund instead, Royal Caribbean will process this request in the amount of any new funds paid above the original certificate and, in turn, will reinstate the Cruise with Confidence FCC for future use.

Cruise Planner Purchases: If you had purchased any cruise add-ons, such as shore excursions, drink packages, wifi and more, you could opt to convert your Cruise Planner purchases  to an Onboard Credit valued at 125% of the total amount paid. This offer expires on March 23, 2021.

Still more time needed

Why are cruises being cancelled still?

There are a few reasons, but the most visible rationale is cruise lines are still waiting to begin test sailings.

Before Royal Caribbean can start offering cruises again, it needs to hit all of the steps outlined by the CDC.

The CDC added all of these requirements to allow the cruise lines to test out its proposed new protocols, while protecting the health of the public in the interim period.

The three phases of getting permission to restart passenger cruises are:

1. Testing crew members
2. Simulated cruises to test out new protocols
3. Apply for a Conditional Sailing Certificate

It is unknown how long it will take Royal Caribbean to complete all of the necessary steps and subsequently obtain permission to cruise again.

On February 22, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told investors 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.

He also added that they were expecting instructions from the CDC soon, "We're literally expecting the technical specifications any day soon."

RoyalCaribbeanBlog has reached out to the CDC for an update on technical instructions but has not received any response.

Hope for the future

While May cruises seemed like an inevitably they would be cancelled, there is a lot of optimism among cruise fans that we are closer to cruises restarting that not.

Mr. Bayley's comments about the CDC provided a boost to many that the cruise lines are not getting the "cold shoulder" from the CDC.  While "any day" did not specify exactly when technical instructions might arrive, the sentiment echoed by him points to a fruitful relationship.

Moreover, the rollout of the vaccine to Americans has been impressive, and case numbers are down across the board. With the global health crisis heading in the right direction, this adds more clout to the notion that perhaps the public's appetite for things to open back up is increasing.

Just yesterday, Royal Caribbean sent an email survey to many guests asking about their comfort level with going on a cruise given the current situation.

Royal Caribbean sent out a survey to a large collection of guests with a cruise booked in the future to get a better sense of their comfort level given the current global health crisis.

Throughout Monday, many Royal Caribbean cruise fans reported receiving a survey in via email that asked many questions about a specific upcoming cruise they have booked, and their thoughts on why they booked, as well as expectations for the cruise.

Many of the questions asked guests about their feelings on if they will be vaccinated, why they booked, protocols onboard and more.

Royal Caribbean uses guest surveys quite a lot to get feedback from guests.  This particular survey seemed to be sent to a very wide range of guests, as opposed to many surveys in the past which were far more targeted.

There were many questions, but here is a look at the ones that were specific to the Covid-19.

First, they wanted to know what compelled you to book a particular cruise.

The survey also asked what level of Covid-19 protocols do you feel will be in place on the cruise.

Then the survey went into greater detail to determine which health protocols you expect to find onboard.

The role of the vaccine came up in the survery, asking if you plan to get the vaccine.

As well as if you plan to get the vaccine as soon as you can.

Lastly, the survey wanted to know if you expect to be vaccinated by the time the cruise sails.

The survey also asked questions about general travel plans coming up in the next year, as well as what someone looks for in a cruise.

The survey did not ask any questions that hinted at protocol changes. Rather, it seemed to be geared towards "taking the temperature of the room".

The survey comes after it was revealed the Healthy Sail Panel is re-evaluating its health protocol recommendations.

Perhaps no single change has provided as much optimism that cruise ships might be able to sail again than the rapid roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine, and it looks like the rules might be changing as quickly as the vaccine gets into the public.

It now appears the group of public health experts assembled by Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings may be re-thinking their protocols.

According to an article by CruiseCritic, Royal Caribbean's vice president EMEA, Ben Bouldin, said the impact the vaccine has had prompted the cruise line to ask the Healthy Sail Panel to go over their recommendations.

"We have asked the Healthy Sail Panel to go back and revisit their findings in light of the improvements and the encouraging news vaccines provide."

"I think for all of us we'd like to get to a world where we don't have to wear masks, and for sure, on a cruise vacation, I think everyone would feel the same."

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reached out to the Royal Caribbean Group for clarification on what, if any, revisions are being made to the Healthy Sail Panel recommendations but have not received a response yet.

The Healthy Sail Panel crafted its protocols back in the summer of 2020 and they did not take into account the impact of vaccines, because at that time no one really knew what to expect.

When the Healthy Sail Panel released its 74 recommendations, it acknowledged their protocols were meant to provide guidance at that time, rather than wait for the vaccine later.

Read more: Royal Caribbean new cruise ship health protocols include masks, social distancing, testing and more

"The Panel acknowledges that its recommendations regarding testing may change over the coming months as the testing landscape evolves, and particularly once an effective vaccine is widely available. However, given the uncertainties around the timing, availability, and performance of a vaccine, the Panel recommends waiting until there is more certainty about these issues before recommending changes to the testing protocols based on vaccine availability."

Just last week, Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said no decision has been made yet if passengers will be required to get the Covid-19 vaccine to sail.

"Whether we will require vaccines of all of our guests on all of our ships hasn't been decided yet, but we are prepared to go where the science leads us."

Read more: 5 things you've probably overlooked with the new cruise protocols

Meanwhile, at least one Royal Caribbean cruise ship will require the vaccine for its adults.  Odyssey of the Seas will begin sailing from Israel in May 2021, and everyone above the age of 16 will be required to be vaccinated from Covid-19 in order to sail.

The vaccine requirement comes from the State of Israel, as opposed to a new policy crafted by Royal Caribbean.

In conjunction with Israel’s health and tourism authorities, Royal Caribbean will be the first to offer fully vaccinated sailings. Details on the additional health and safety measures to be implemented by Israel and Royal Caribbean will be announced at a later date.

If you are among the many that dream of Royal Caribbean returning to the West Coast of the United States, there is a brand new juicy rumor perfect for you.

The Port of Los Angeles website shows regular sailings for Navigator of the Seas in November and December 2021.

Mostly three and four night sailings are listed (with at least one 7-nighter in late November), with sailings beginning October 29, 2021 and going through the end of December 2021.

The Port of Los Angeles schedule does not have the 2022 schedule online yet.

Royal Caribbean has not made any announcement about returning to Los Angeles, but the schedule might shed light onto what could be coming.

Furthermore, Navigator of the Seas has been conspicuously absent from any of the new 2022-2023 itineraries that Royal Caribbean has released thus far.

Want more circumstantial evidence?

Royal Caribbean tweeted out a photo on March 1 of El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, on Mexico's west coast.

Some places just hit different. pic.twitter.com/DX6JiHQJWs

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) March 1, 2021

It has been 10 years since Royal Caribbean offered regular sailings out of Los Angeles. Mariner of the Seas was the last Royal Caribbean cruise ship to be based in Los Angeles, and she was repositioned in 2011 due to bigger profits elsewhere and violence in Mexico.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves, this is not the first time the Port of Los Angeles website has shown a Royal Caribbean ship on the schedule.

Back in January 2020, Voyager of the Seas appeared on the schedule beginning in June 2021 and running through December 2021.  Those sailings have since been pulled down, and Royal Caribbean never confirmed plans for Voyager to call Los Angeles home.

Why isn't Royal Caribbean cruising from the West Coast?

It has been 10 years since Royal Caribbean offered regular cruises from somewhere in California, so why is that?

There are a few reasons, but it mostly has to do with logistics and profits.

During the 2017 Royal Caribbean's President Cruise, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley answered this exact question about returning to California.

He talked about the challenges of offering cruises from the west coast.

"When you look at, for example, consumer research on how people view some of that, some of these destinations, which we do, then there's a little bit of concern over going to some of the destinations that we can go to if we sailed out of L.A."

"To move the ship through the canal around South America, leaving it in California to sail out of, say San Francisco going north, we don't think there's enough demand for that."

"We think it would work for one or two cruises. But you've got to move the ship back. And, you know, we've got big ships. So they believe the costs of operating these ships is phenomenal."

The cruise industry remains shutdown, but regular maintenance continues for ships to keep them operational when cruises do begin again.

Ovation of the Seas is in dry dock currently in the Tuas Shipyard in Singapore for her routine refurbishment.

Unlike amplifications, this is a "technical dry dock", where the ship undergoes maintenance work to ensure she can continue to operate normally. Every five years, cruise ships go in for this sort of maintenance.

Ovation of the Seas was launched in 2016, so it is her turn to undergo work now.

Our friends at Singapore Cruise Society found photos of Ovation of the Seas entering dry dock and shared a glimpse of Ovation in position to get work done.

Pictures By Vincent CLS and shared by Singapore Cruise Society

No changes have been announced for the ship as part of this refurbishment, and I expect this will be just "under the hood" type maintenance, similar to when you bring a car in for a tune-up.

While Royal Caribbean has put all Royal Amplifications on hold indefinitely, scheduled maintenance work continues on its cruise ships.

So far Anthem of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Explorer of the Seas all had their five year dry docks take place while the cruise industry was shutdown.

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 announces its 7-night Caribbean Winter 2022-2023 cruises
• New bill introduced allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska without stopping in Canada
• Allure of the Seas will be homeported in Galveston beginning November 2022
• Royal Caribbean Group CEO says no decision yet if passengers will need to get vaccine to cruise
• Royal Caribbean UK Boss: UK only cruises have "limited appeal"
• Royal Caribbean expands senior rates on select fall 2021 - spring 2022 cruises
• Why you should be thinking about booking a cruise for 2023 now
• Odyssey of the Seas completes journey to the sea
• Odyssey of the Seas scheduled for delivery to Royal Caribbean on March 24
• Comparing the biggest cruise ship in the world vs. Titanic
• What’s the difference between a large and small cruise ship?
• 13 Beautiful photos from Odyssey of the Seas conveyance
• How do cruise lines make money?
• Mailbag: Why can't cruise ships sail from other countries instead?

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.