Royal Caribbean has extended the date when you can book a cruise to take advantage of its double loyalty program points on 2021 cruises.

The Loyalty 2X Points benefit offers double the Crown and Anchor Society points per night, and was limited to 2021 cruises that were booked by December 31, 2020.

Instead, all bookings made through January 31, 2021 and departing between March 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 will qualify for the double points.

There is no change to existing 2021 cruises booked, as they already qualify for the benefit as well.

The change appears to be a result of Royal Caribbean cancelling cruises through the end of February 2021, which has resulted in a push back of when sailings might restart in the United States.

The Double Points offer has been extremely popular with cruisers who are eager to move up the cruise line's customer loyalty program faaster.

Instead of the usual one point per night, Royal Caribbean said it would double the points per night (including other staterooms as well):

• Standard room: 2 points per night
• Suite room: 4 points per night
• Solo guest in standard room: 4 points per night
• Solo guest in suite: 6 points per night

Loyalty 2X Points is available to Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members.

Crown and Anchor points will be applied once the guest has paid their booking in full and completed their sailing. 

Read more: Top 8 Royal Caribbean Double Points questions

Why getting double points matters

The reason why so many cruisers are excited about the Double Points offer is because Royal Caribbean rarely offers opportunities to earn more customer loyalty points.

When the cruise line has had extra points offers, they have been much more restrictive and has not been offered in quite some time.

By earning more points per night, it makes it easier to move up to the next tier of the Crown and Anchor Society. Higher tiers provide amenities such as priority embarkation, complimentary offers and discounts on the ship and much more.

Ever since Royal Caribbean started taking volunteer sign ups for test cruises, there has been an incredible amount of interest from guests.

Numbers from different sources point to somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 people that have signed up as a volunteer.

"The participation in and sentiment of the comments and conversations on the Volunteers of the Seas group has been incredibly motivating," Royal Caribbean said in a statement to Travel Weekly.

"It's refreshing to be reminded of all the people out there who are excited about the possibility of sailing and eager to come onboard a Royal Caribbean International ship again."

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has tasked the cruise lines with conducting an unspecified amount of test cruises to demonstrate new health protocols can work effectively.

The CDC also stipulated that test cruises must include volunteers who are not paying to be onboard.

In November 2020, Royal Caribbean set up a form for guests to sign up if they were interested in being a volunteer for a test cruise.

Read more: Top 14 things the CDC requires cruise ships do on test sailings

From the moment the form went live, interest spiked almost immediately. There has been a great deal of interest from cruising die hards who lament the loss of cruises this year and are eager to get back onboard.

Royal Caribbean has not announced how or when it will pick volunteers, or if any of the volunteers will be used at all.

Initially, Royal Caribbean said it would primarily use cruise line employees as volunteers for its test cruises, in a similar manner to how the cruise line has tested out new ships prior to their official debut.

There was so much interest from guests in being a volunteer that Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley had a sign up form set up.

Last week, Mr. Bayley hinted that Pinnacle members in Crown and Anchor Society and other high tier members might get the first shot at being a volunteer.

"Our top tier has the name of Pinnacle and they've cruised with us a gazillion times … they'll be amongst the first to receive the invitation."

"We haven't figured out our protocols yet for the volunteers but certainly loyalty status will be a key selector."

Read more: Here's how to sign up to be a volunteer for a Royal Caribbean test cruise

Royal Caribbean has set up a Facebook group for anyone interested in being a volunteer, but has conveyed very little information about how volunteers would be used, if at all.

In addition to there not being any information about how volunteers will be picked, when test sailings might actually occur is equally unknown.

There is speculation they could begin as soon as December or January, but there has been no official timeline released by the cruise line.

Short cruises to private island will be first

Regardless of if there are test cruises or the first revenue sailings, expect the first cruises back in North America to be short sailings to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean has mentioned that early sailings will start slowly, and include a stop at a private island where guest movements are more easily controlled.

Jason T. Liberty, executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer talked about this scenario recently, "Deployment of spring is expected to be highly focused on short sailings from key drive markets in both the U.S. and Asia-Pacific regions."

"We will also make the most out of our incredible private destination in the Bahamas. Perfect Day at CocoCay."

Cruise ship design is not simple, and far be it for me to claim I could do a better job, but there are definitely a few decisions made regarding Royal Caribbean cruise ships that make you scratch your head.

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships are marvels of modern engineering, and the New Build team at Royal Caribbean spends an incredible amount of time planning out every inch of the ship.

However, there are a few puzzling design choices on a few ships that some guests have wondered for a while why is that way?

Here is a look at the top five odd annoyances on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that you may have encountered yourself.

Elevators that don't go to every floor on Majesty of the Seas

While Majesty of the Seas is one of the oldest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, I think people in the early 1990s still expected elevators to go to every floor.

Unlike most other ships, Majesty's elevators only go to certain floors.

The aft elevators only go from Deck 5 to Deck 14.

Mid ship elevators only go from Deck 3 to Deck 7.

Forward elevators go from 1 to 11.

On other Royal Caribbean ships, an elevator not going to a certain deck is quite rare, but Majesty's are the exception.

No public bathrooms near Main Dining Room on Vision Class ships

If you are having dinner in the My Fair Lady dining room on deck 5 of a Vision Class ship, you will have to go down a deck to access the restroom.

The Main Dining Room on Vision Class ships encompasses Deck 4 and 5, but there are only restrooms outside the Main Dining Room on Deck 4.

So you will have to either go up to deck 6 or down to deck 4 to visit the restroom from the dining room.

Remote Concierge Lounge location Quantum Class ships

They say everything is relative, including how far of a walk you have to the Concierge Lounge.

The Concierge Lounge is the hub of activity for suite guests, where they can speak to the Concierge host or enjoy time chatting with other suite guests and enjoy complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres.

On most Royal Caribbean ships, the Concierge Lounge is located near an elevator, and more or less central on the ship.  On Quantum Class ships, the Concierge Lounge is located at the far end of Deck 12.

This means suite guests must traverse the entire length of Deck 12 to get to the Concierge Lounge, and then walk back when complete. 

Can't cross the ship on certain decks

This annoyance is one that always gets me because I usually remember I am about to run into a dead end by the time it is too late.

Certain decks on Voyager or Freedom Class ships are not passable between the aft and forward sections because of public venues that are in the way.

The most common one is on Deck 3, where Studio B essentially cuts that deck in half preventing going from one end to another.

The conference center on Deck 2 also makes getting across a problem.

Can't cross the deck on Deck 7 of Oasis Class ships

If you happen to be near the aft staterooms on Deck 7 of an Oasis Class ship, you cannot get from the port side to the starboard side of the ship.

The Boardwalk sign blocks access between port and starboard on deck 7. Instead, you have to go up/down a floor, cross over, and then up/down a floor back.

This means you have to choose wisley which elevator bank you select to get off on the same side as your room.

Your thoughts

What head scratching features, impediments, or funky ways to do things on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship have you noticed? Share your (un)favorites in the comments below!

It looks like Royal Caribbean's mobile app has gone from utility to must-have.

Guests who go to Royal Caribbean's website to complete online check-in are now seeing a large banner informing them, "You are required to download the mobile app prior to sailing."

With Royal Caribbean preparing to restart cruise operations, dependency on the smart phone app has never been greater because so many new features are being incorporated onto it.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog has confirmed that there will be assistance available for guests who do not have a smartphone or device, so you will not be denied boarding if you do not have the app.

Ever since Royal Caribbean debuted its app, the cruise line has added more functionality and made it a larger part of the overall experience.

With new features and capabilities coming to Royal Caribbean's app as a result of ensuring health and safety are the top priority. This includes a variety of new changes:

• Enforced check-in times at the cruise terminal
• Muster 2.0 enhanced safety drill
• Digital Key and stateroom controls
• Guest to guest chat feature
• Wellness check and health questionnaires 

You can download the Royal Caribbean app from the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

It is important to note that you do not need to purchase internet access in order to use the app features in the app. In fact, you can use the app on a tablet or other non-cellular device.

On the first cruises back on Quantum of the Seas in Singapore, guests have been informed the app is required of all guests before the ship sails.

In Singapore, guests who do not show up on time for their check-in may experience a delay in waiting, "Your check-in appointment is dedicated to your screening, so arriving earlier will have you turned away until your time."

For guests that do not elect to get the app, they are missing out on the ability to make onboard plans and avoid crowds, track their own expenses and better plan their day.

The app will be how you conduct the onboard safety drill. This must be done before the ship sails and is required of all guests.  It can be completed through your stateroom television as an alternative to the app.

The app will also be how you make reservations for all dining, shore excursion, activity, and entertainment.

Royal Caribbean believes the app is just as much about convenience as it is providing contactless means to conduct daily cruise life activities.

Phones on a cruise?

The role of smart devices on a cruise has been a long-standing debate among cruise fans.

While most guests own smart devices, the question of if they prefer to use them or not on a cruise is a point of contention for some.

There are some cruisers who prefer to disconnect and leave their smart devices off while on a cruise because of a preference for simplicity.

kontraxed posted on the RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards he always puts his phone away when he gets onboard, "Normally, the first thing I do when I get on a cruise ship is turn off my cell phone and put it in the safe...For me, that's bliss! "

Many other guests keep their phones with them and use them either sparingly, or avoid work-related functitons while on vacation.

Happy December! We cannot believe that we are already one full week into the month – there is so much going on with holiday preparation and shopping and baking!

The big news this week was the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship in almost nine months successfully completed her first revenue sailing in Singapore.

Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas completed its first cruise after careful planning with Singapore's health and tourism authorities.

This is the first cruise ship to be able to resume operations, and it is limited to residents of Singapore. Quantum sails 3- and 4-night cruises with no port stops, which Royal Caribbean calls "ocean getaways".

You can check out our live blog from onboard Quantum of the Seas to see all the changes:

• Embarkation 
• Day one
• Day two
• Disembarkation

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean canceled cruises through February 2021 while preparing to restart
• Odyssey of the Seas floated out at shipyard
• Royal Caribbean Group Chairman: "we still don't know" when cruises will resume sailing
• Will Royal Caribbean pick volunteers for its test cruises based on loyalty status?
• New show announced for Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean lowers age for children who have to wear masks on a cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean's UK boss talks about plans to restart cruises
• 7 things I wish more cruisers knew about going on a cruise
• Top 5 unique 2022 Royal Caribbean cruises you can book now
• Royal Caribbean wants Australians to give up their tortoiseshell products

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 383rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available to enjoy, which is a discussion of where travel is today and what the short-term future holds.

It feels like we're at a crossroads right now with travel, and this week Len Testa joins Matt to discuss what the future may hold for travel and cruises in the coming year.

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

New video: How To Pick A Perfect First 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 Pick A Perfect First Cruise! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

New Europe summer 2022 cruises are available to book

Royal Caribbean has released its Europe 2022 cruises, which are available to book now.

There are new ways to explore Europe in summer 2022 with a fresh mix of ships, new itineraries and destinations across the region – from Italy and Israel to the British Isles and the Arctic Circle.

Guests can experience culture-rich adventures on board ships new to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe with Brilliance of the Seas sailing roundtrip from Venice, Italy and Voyager of the Seas launching her first season in the Baltic Sea – the first in the Voyager Class to do so. A game-changing lineup of guest favorites, Anthem, Allure and Odyssey of the Seas – Royal Caribbean’s second Quantum Ultra Class ship debuting in 2021 – will return to their respective homeports in Southampton, England; Barcelona and Rome to create a summer of memory-making in Europe’s most sought-after destinations.

Ever since Royal Caribbean announced it would take sign ups for its test cruises, everyone has been wondering how they would pick volunteers.

It looks like the elite of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program might get the first chance.

According to a report by unofficial cruise reporting site CruiseCritic, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley seemed to confirm the higher your status in Crown and Anchor Society, the better your chances.

Mr. Bayley spoke at the International Cruise Summit and said its Pinnacle members would be first.

"Our top tier has the name of Pinnacle and they've cruised with us a gazillion times … they'll be amongst the first to receive the invitation."

"We haven't figured out our protocols yet for the volunteers but certainly loyalty status will be a key selector."

Royal Caribbean began taking sign ups for its test cruises about a month ago, but the cruise line has remained quiet about how it would determine which volunteers would actually be able to be among the first to get back onboard for a simulated voyage.

Read more: Here's how to sign up to be a volunteer for a Royal Caribbean test cruise

These test cruises are necessary in order to practice the new health protocols and demonstrate to the CDC that cruises can be conducted in a safe manner.

Thus far, only Royal Caribbean has opened up a public sign up for volunteers, and has netted at least 100,000 people to sign up for simulated cruises. Mr. Bayley said in his comments that number was now almost 200,000.

Royal Caribbean has set up a Facebook group for anyone interested in being a volunteer, but has conveyed very little information about how volunteers would be used, if at all.

Furthermore, there has been no announcement of when test cruises might actually begin.

Royal Caribbean has released its first batch of summer 2022 cruises, and I hand picked five itineraries that stood out as something different or intriguing.

Every year Royal Caribbean will offer a full compliment of cruises, and many of these sailings are tried-and-true itineraries that guests love.  In addition, a few new or somewhat different sailings get added in and many cruise fans love to look for something distinctive.

I went through each of the releases for summer 2022 in Caribbean, Alaska and Europe to find the top 5 Royal Caribbean cruises worth taking a look at if you want something special from the rest of the cruises.

Bermuda cruises from Florida

Traditionally, if you wanted to go on a cruise to Bermuda, you had to sail from the Northeast United States.  In summer 2022, Royal Caribbean will offer cruises to Bermuda from Florida.

Select sailings of Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral will offer 8-night sailings to Bermuda, which include two days in Kings Wharf, before heading to Nassau for a late night stay and then a full day at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

There are six of these Bermuda cruises available to book between May and October 2022.

Read more: Royal Caribbean will finally offer cruises to Bermuda from Florida

Double glacier sailings

Serenade of the Seas is no stranger to offering cruises to Alaska, but in 2022 she will offer a 7-night Multi Glacier Experience cruise.

Basically, Royal Caribbean is introducing new itineraries that showcase twice the glaciers for one sailing.

Serenade of the Seas will sail roundtrip cruises from Vancouver with an itinerary that features both the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, and the Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America.

If that is not enough Alaska for you, you can always extend your stay with Royal Caribbean’s signature CruiseTours, a series of 2- to 6-night pre- or post-cruise land tours led by local experts.

Read more: How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary

12-night Arctic Circle sailing

If you are looking for the combination of different sort of cruise and a European getaway, then check out the Arctic Circle cruises on Jewel of the Seas.

In June 2022, Jewel of the Seas will offer a pair of 12-night cruises to as far north as Royal Caribbean typically goes.  These sailings sail up the coast of Norway and proceed briefly into the Arctic Circle.

Read more: Royal Caribbean releases new Europe summer 2022 cruises to book

Holy land cruises

Cruises to Israel are a rarity for Royal Caribbean, and in 2022 you can visit holy sites and experience Israeli culture with new Odyssey of the Seas cruises to the middle east.

Odyssey of the Seas will return to Rome in summer 2022 to offer 12-night Holy Land sailings.

These cruises will visit Haifa and Jerusalem, Israel. New in 2022, Holy Land itineraries will call on Limassol, Crete, a bustling city designated in its entirety as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Read more: 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise

Oasis of the Seas sailing from the northeast

While Oasis of the Seas highly anticipated arrival for summer cruises never materialized in 2020, she will give it another try in 2022.

During summer 2022, Oasis of the Seas will offer 7-night cruise vacations to Florida and The Bahamas from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Nearly every sailing on Oasis from the Big Apple will include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

For residents of the Northeast, having an Oasis Class ship sail from New Jersey makes for a very convenient option in their backyard.

Read more: Royal Caribbean releases 2022 7-Night or Longer Caribbean sailings

Are you an Australian that has tortoiseshell products? You can do your part to save the Hawksbill Turtle by giving them up.

Royal Caribbean Australia is parterning with the WWF and Australian Museum in a new campaign that seeks to save the Hawksbill Turtle by asking Australians to give up their tortoiseshell products so vulnerable populations can be traced through extracted DNA.

The new effort is called "Surrender Your Shell", which hopes to use cutting-edge technology to extract DNA from products to track the illegal trade of tortoiseshell.

Researchers will use this DNA to trace tortoiseshell products back to the turtles’ nesting beach and develop a database or “ShellBank” for the first time in the Asia-Pacific. This information will help identify vulnerable turtle populations, so WWF-Australia can work with local communities, governments and the tourism industry to improve turtle protection.

In order to facilitate this effort, the Australian Government has introduced a six month period of leniancy where Australians can send historically purchased tortoiseshell products to WWF-Australia, along with details of where and when they were purchased, without the risk of facing prosecution.

To participate, Australians just need to track down any tortoiseshell products they’ve collected, or been gifted, over the years.

Real tortoiseshell items are brown, orange, amber and yellow in colour and feature irregular patterns.

If people suspect a product is real, they can take the following steps to support the project:

1. Visit www.wwf.org.au/surrenderyourshell to enter your details, including when and where the item was purchased, to retrieve a unique identification number. 
2. Attach the unique identification number to your tortoiseshell product, package appropriately and either post through the Australia Post eParcel Returns portal or visit a Post Office with your surrendered tortoiseshell and post to WWF-Australia.
3. Ensure you post your item between 1 December 2020 and 1 June 2021.

The first 100 items sent through the Australia Post eParcel Returns portal will be paid for by WWF-Australia.

“We’re proud to support the crusade to save this precious species, and to raise awareness with Australians, and our guests, on the part they can play in bringing these turtles back from the brink,” says Gavin Smith, Royal Caribbean International VP and managing director, AUNZ. “The ocean is our lifeblood and we are committed to preserving it — through our own innovation, our Save the Waves programme, and through important collaborations like “Surrender Your Shell.” 

It is estimated nearly 9 million hawksbill turtles have been traded for their distinctive shells over the past 150 years, bringing the species close to extinction. The Pacific Ocean's population has declined by more than 75% and now just 4,800 breeding female hawksbills are thought to survive.

Royal Caribbean completed its first cruise in Singapore, and announced its first health protocol change.

Guests booked on upcoming Quantum of the Seas sailings have been informed the minimum age for wearing a mask on a cruise ship has been lowered to 6 years old.

Emails sent to guests explained the change, "To prepare for our return to service, we are continuously working closely with the Singapore Authorities to ensure that our health and safety measures are equal or better to those on land. It is now required for guests 6 years of age and older to wear masks on board."

The rule had been guests 7 years old or younger were exempted from the rule.

Masks are required to be worn by guests and crew onboard and even during signature experiences like skydiving in the RipCord by iFLY simulator and riding the North Star glass observation capsule.

Royal Caribbean successfully restarted cruises with one ship this week, having gotten the go-ahead to cruise in Singapore with Quantum of the Seas.

Quantum of the Seas is the first ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet to restart operations in almost nine months and offers 3- and 4-night cruises with no port stops to only residents of Singapore.

The rules and health protocols on Quantum of the Seas were developed with expert guidance from the Healthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean Group’s Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer and the Singapore Ministry of Health. 

Rule changes to Royal Caribbean's comprehensive health protocols are not unexpected, as the cruise line has said the policies would be adjusted.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain has talked about the importance of continuously learning from these early sailings to improve overall, "We will proceed cautiously and we will learn from our experiences."

"And unquestionably, we will invest in all these areas more than most of our guests will ever fully see or know."

The first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to return to service just wrapped up its first sailing in Singapore, marking a major achievement for the cruise line that has worked for months to get to this point.

Royal Caribbean announced on Thursday that Quantum of the Seas completed its first revenue sailing after careful planning with Singapore's health and tourism authorities.

This is the first cruise ship to be able to resume operations, and it is limited to residents of Singapore. Quantum sails 3- and 4-night cruises with no port stops, which Royal Caribbean calls "ocean getaways".

Angie Stephen, Royal Caribbean's Managing Director of Asia Pacific told the press the cruise line is incredibly proud of this momentous day, "We are thrilled to once again welcome guests aboard Quantum of the Seas and offer Singapore residents the opportunity to get away, relax, and start enjoying the travel experiences they’ve been missing for so many months."

"We are grateful to the Singapore Government for their partnership in making these pilot cruises a reality and pledge our commitment to providing our guests with the safest possible cruise experience."

Cruising safely

How can a cruise ship sail during the middle of a pandemic?

Royal Caribbean implemented a series of comprehensive, multilayered health and safety measures that were derived from science, data driven and developed with expert guidance from the Healthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean Group’s Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer and the Singapore Ministry of Health. 

Before a guest boards the ship, the new protocols begin with pre-departure health screenings, and meet all regional requirements and guidelines, including the CruiseSafe Certification standards jointly developed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and DNV GL.

Quantum of the Seas has a reduced capacity onboard, and has implemented mandatory universal testing during embarkation and debarkation, and enforced mask wearing, physical distancing and enhanced cleaning practices across the ship, among other required practices. 

In addition, all guests will need to scan their SafeEntry QR code required by Singapore upon embarkation and debarkation and have the Singapore Trace Together Bluetooth app or Token at all times during the cruise.

In addition, Royal Caribbean cruise ships have a new HVAC system that continuously supplies 100% fresh, filtered air from outdoors to all indoor spaces. There are also upgraded medical centers to handle any situation.

Read more: Easy guide to Quantum of the Seas new health protocols

New changes to cruise favorites

Royal Caribbean has made sweeping changes to Quantum of the Seas so that it could be ready for the new health challenges of the public.

The cruise line calls its collection of new health protocols, "The Royal Promise", and it encompasses all the new changes onboard to protect guests from the current health crisis.

New to the cruise experience is Royal Caribbean’s Tracelet, a custom wearable required for all guests and crew on board Quantum of the Seas. The technology helps monitor physical distancing and the cruise line’s contract tracing procedures.  

Quantum of the Seas 18 restaurants, bars and lounges have been thoughtfully transformed for healthier and safer dining. At Windjammer Marketplace, previously a self-service experience, dedicated crew now serve guests and offer a greater variety of grab-and-go items.

 For a healthier and safer adventure for all, guests and crew must wear masks on board and during signature experiences like skydiving in the RipCord by iFLY simulator and riding the North Star glass observation capsule.

 Royal Caribbean believes this combination of safety and a fun cruise create vacation getaways that are very appealing for residents of Singapore.

See the changes for yourself

Quantum of the Seas completed its first cruise back, and you can see all of these changes in action with our photo updates.

I posted a new update for each day of the first sailing to share a look at what going on a crusie in 2020 looks like.

• Embarkation 
• Day one
• Day two
• Disembarkation