Happy Friday and welcome to our weekly showcase of our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean photos. Each week, we invite our readers to send in their favorite Royal Caribbean photos so that we may show it off to the world.

Our first photo this week is by Justin Dudek from entering Nassau.

Nicholas Hadjiyiannacou took a photo of a large bottle of champagne on Jewel of the Seas near the Champagne Bar.

Cindy McWilliams took a photo of her young adult son while enjoying the sunset.

Here is a look at Symphony of the Seas from the shore of Perfect Day at CocoCay by Bob Carpenter.

Here is a look at Serenade of the Seas in Barbados, taken by mojomannny.

Our next photo is of Explorer of the Seas, taken by Dan Palmieri while spending another beautiful day in Labadee.

Our last photo this week is by Michael Sword, and it is the view from his Aqua Theater suite on Symphony of the Seas while departing Miami.

Thank you to everyone who sent in photos this week.  If you would like your Royal Caribbean photo included in a future Friday Photos post, be sure to send them to us with this form. Have a great weekend!

Liberty of the Seas has become a favorite cruise ship of so many cruisers, especially those who live close to the ship's homeport of Galveston, Texas.

There is so much to like about this ship, and I have a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about Liberty of the Seas.

Is Liberty of the Seas a good ship?

A very common question from people new to cruising is if they have selected a "good ship" for their vacation. 

Liberty of the Seas is a fantastic cruise ship for families that are looking to not only visit some lovely ports in the Caribbean, but also offer fun onboard activities.

The ship is one of the larger ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and offers plenty of activities and things to do. Water slides, specialty dining, pools, ice skating, a Broadway show and more await you on this ship.

When was the Liberty of the Seas refurbished?

Liberty of the Seas was last refurbished in 2016.  Like all Royal Caribbean ships, they receive upgrades about every 5 years.

During the drydock, Royal Caribbean added:

• Perfect Storm water slides
• Tidal Wave, first Boomerang style slide at sea
• Splashaway Bay aqua park for kids
• Sabor Modern Mexican
• Giovanni's Table
• R-Bar
• 26 new Panoramic Ocean View staterooms
• Additional 53 staterooms throughout the ship

Liberty of the Seas is scheduled for another refurbishment in 2021 as part of the Royal Amplified program.

How big is Liberty of the Seas?

Liberty of the Seas is a 15-deck ship that can accommodate 3,634 passengers, and is served by 1,360 crew.

It is 1,112 feet long and weighs 155,889 GT.

What class ship is the Liberty of the Seas?

Liberty of the Seas is a Freedom Class cruise ship.

Other Freedom Class ships include Freedom of the Seas & Independence of the Seas.

Where is Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas?

Liberty of the Seas sails 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas.

She sails year-round from Galveston and visits destinations in Belize, Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Roatan and Cozumel.

What is included in Liberty of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean cruise fare includes quite a lot of activities, dining and things to do.  Here is an overview of what you get included with your cruise fare on Liberty of the Seas.

Dining

• Windjammer
• Main Dining Room
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrento's Pizza
• Sprinkle's Ice Cream

Activities

• FlowRider surf simulator
• Miniature golf
• Rock Climbing Wall
• Perfect Storm water slides
• Tidal Wave slide
• Splashaway Bay
• Pools and hot tubs
• Library
• Entertainment in Royal Theater & Studio B
  • Saturday Night Fever Broadway show
• Live music around the ship
• Ice skating
• Outdoor movie screen
• Sports court
• Adventure Ocean kids programming

Is Johnny Rockets free on Liberty of the Seas?

No, Johnny Rockets has a cover charge for admission to the restaurant.

It costs $9.95 per guest to enjoy unlimited food from the Johnny Rockets menu.  Beverages cost extra.

Is there a movie theater on Liberty of the Seas?

There is not a movie theater on the ship, but there is an outdoor movie screen by the main pool.

Royal Caribbean plays films throughout the day and evening by the pool, including recent releases and classic films.

There is no additional cost to watch movies at the pool.

How many pools does Liberty of the Seas have?

There are 4 swimming pools on Liberty of the Seas, along with 7 Jacuzzis (2 are cantilevered).

Does Liberty of the Seas have a water slide?

Liberty of the Seas features two water slide options.

The Perfect Storm water slides a duo of racing water slides that twist and turn on their way to a final splash down.

Liberty of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship to offer the Tidal Wave slide, which is the first boomerang style slide at sea.

Both the Perfect Storm and Tidal Wave slides are complimentary and open every day of the sailing.

Does Liberty of the Seas have Starbucks?

There is no Starbucks kiosk on Liberty of the Seas, however, the same style of beverages are available to purchase at Cafe Promenade.

Cafe Promenade serves lattes, espresso, macchiatos and more every day.  These premium coffees are included with a Deluxe Beverage Package or a Royal Refreshment package.

What is there to do on Liberty of the Seas?

Liberty of the Seas is best known for offering a wide variety of activities onboard.

There are many events, entertainment and options onboard, but here are the most notable and highly-desired things to do on Liberty of the Seas:

• Water slides: Liberty of the Seas not only offers the Perfect Storm water slides, but also the only ship to have the Tidal Wave boomerang style slide.
• FlowRider: Grab your board and try to surf with the surf simulator.
• Rock climbing wall: Another great challenge, the rock climbing wall allows families to see if they can get all the way to the top.
• Saturday Night Fever: The hit Broadway show is included with your cruise fare, and performed only on Liberty of the Seas.
• Splashaway Bay: This kids aqua park includes a giant drench bucket, slides, geysers and more.
• Specialty restaurants: Beyond the great food included with your cruise fare, you can opt to enjoy Chops Grille, Giovanni's Table, Johnny Rockets or Sabor.
• Ice skating at sea: Free skate time, along with a production ice skating show, are available to experience.

Does Liberty of the Seas have an ice skating rink? 

Studio B is home to the ice rink on Liberty of the Seas. 

Encore! An Ice Spectacular is performed onboard the ship, and features incredibly talented skaters.  Many of the performers are former Olympic and professional skaters.

In addition, free skate time is available for guests to put on a pair of blades and hit the ice for a few laps around the rink.

Does Liberty of the Seas have bumper cars?

Bumper cars are not available on Liberty of the Seas. They are a feature only available on Quantum Class Royal Caribbean ships.

Who is the captain of the Liberty of the Seas?

At the time of this post, Captain James MacDonald is the Master of the vessel for Liberty of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean rotates its Captains around the fleet regularly, so this can change.

Going on a cruise to Alaska means seeing incredible scenery, spotting wildlife, and trying to pack for three seasons in one vacation.

Many first time cruisers to Alaska struggle with what to bring on their cruise, so here are the important things to bring along for a cruise to Alaska.

And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

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So check out the video and then let us know: What is on your must-pack list for an Alaskan cruise?

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 339 is available for downloading, where Matt goes over the do's and dont's of your first day on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Embarkation day is what we all dream of when it comes to a cruise finally coming around, and there is plenty of things to keep you busy.  Matt takes you through the first day onboard and what he recommends checking out.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 339. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Cozumel is known for a great many fun ways to spend your day, including time relaxing at the beach or pool with a drink in hand.  The El Cozumeleño resort is one such offering, and it has quickly risen to the top of my favorite places in Cozumel for a beach break.

After first visiting over a year ago, I wanted to check back in to see how well it stacks up these days.

Overview

El Cozumeleño sells day passes [link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra!] to its resort that can be purchased online, and it offers guests unlimited access to the resort grounds, food, drink and activities.

The hotel is located on the north end of Cozumel, and is about a 10-15 minute taxi ride from where Royal Caribbean docks its cruise ships at the International Pier. The posted price for 1-4 people to get to El Cozumeleño is $16.

Once you arrive at the resort, you will check-in and receive a welcome drink.  It should be noted that a form of payment and identification will be kept at the front desk during your stay.

Towels are available to rent for an additional charge ($5 per towel).

The resort itself is sprawling, with two pool areas, a long beach, and multiple dining venues to enjoy.

One of my favorite features of the resort are the hammocks near the beach, which are not only extremely comfortable, but a prime napping spot.

During our visit, a storm had passed through the area the night before, so the ocean was a bit more stirred up that on my previous visit. The result was the surf was quite strong and the beach a bit worse for wear.  Throughout the day, the resort staff worked to clean and reticulate the beach.

By far, the pool area is the primary focus of the resort.  While many visitors enjoy time at the beach, the resort's pools are as massive as they are lovely to see.

The pool has a variety of depths, and the north end pools are much shallower and welcoming for younger children.

Your day pass is good from morning through the afternoon and into the early evening, so breakfast and lunch are part of the admission fee.

Your day pass includes:

• Beach access
• Pool access, with swim-up bar
• Chairs & Lounge Chairs
• Unlimited food
• Unlimited drinks (alcohol & non alcohol)
• Non-motorized water sports including snorkeling equipment & Kayaking
• Children ́s activities center
• Children’s wading pool
• Complimentary Wi-Fi service in lobby

There is a large buffet dining venue between the two pool areas that serves meals and snacks throughout the day. 

In the morning, the buffet features typical breakfast fare, along with an omelet station.

At lunch, the offerings change to a traditional Mexican lunch with grilled meats and vegetables available on demand. 

In addition to the sit down options, waiters are happy to bring food and drink to your chair by the pool or beach as you need it. The wait staff roam the grounds and regularly check if you need anything else.

The food menu is a mix of Mexican favorites and American food.  Ceviche, pizza, salsa, guacamole, quesadillas and more are available and unlimited too.

Likewise, there is a good assortment of beverages to enjoy. The selection of beer and liquors is limited in terms of brands (Dos Equis beer, and typically one type of liquor).

Comments

When I visited El Cozumeleño in 2018, I loved the balance of price, offerings and service, and it seems like the resort maintains that equilibrium quite well.

There are no shortage of great day pass resorts in Cozumel, so what makes El Cozumeleño stand out is the ample space, good food and drink, along with attentive service.

The resort looks great, and it feels like a step above your average resort.  It is no Ritz Carlton by any means, but the staff do a great job maintaining it.

Some of our readers have reported during busier times of the year (popular holidays), chairs go quickly and are often claimed by resort guests earlier in the day.  While I have not experienced this in my two visits, it is worth noting if you plan a visit over a holiday season.

At the time of our visit, the price was $69.00 per adult and $40.00 for children aged 3-11 years old (2 and under are free). 

Royal Caribbean released a new statement on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and announced a third Spectrum of the Seas sailing cancellation.

In addition to the two cancelled sailings previously announced, the cruise line has cancelled an additional sailing of Spectrum of the Seas through February 8th.

"As has been widely reported, China has moved aggressively to contain the spread of the virus.  As a result of these measures, and after consultation with national and local health authorities, the company has cancelled three sailings through Feb 8th, on the high yielding Spectrum of the Seas, currently its only ship homeported in China."

Royal Caribbean only has Spectrum of the Seas based in China during the winter sailing season, with two additional ships are scheduled to join in May and July 2020, respectively.  For all of 2020, China represents about 6% of the company's capacity.

The company estimates that this (which included the Chinese new year's cruises) will impact 2020 financial results by approximately $0.10 per share.  If the travel restrictions in China continue until the end of February, the company estimates that this would further impact its results by an additional $0.10 per share.

The company also commented on the long-term impact of the virus on the cruise business:

"There are still too many variables and uncertainties regarding this outbreak to calculate the overall impact on the business.  For example, we expect an erosion of consumer confidence in China could have an additional impact on load factor and rate in the region until the market normalizes.  If these travel restrictions continue for an extended period of time, they could have a material impact on the overall financial performance of the company."

Royal Caribbean International’s first barbecue restaurant, Portside BBQ, debuts on the newly amplified Oasis of the Seas with an authentic, meat-packed menu inspired by the best-in-class barbecue across the United States. Offering a variety of options, from smoked marbled brisket, pulled pork and turkey legs, to beef ribs and burnt ends, the casual eatery on the pool deck ties it all together with classic sides – think mac and cheese, homestyle cornbread, baked beans and coleslaw – and down-home desserts like the Banana Dream and a brownie-cookie mashup known as the Brookie.

There is a fair amount of Alaska cruise lingo, and you are very likely to hear about something called the Inside Passage.

The Inside Passage is usually what people refer to when they talk about an Alaska cruise.

Alaska’s Inside Passage is a water route between the Gulf of Alaska and Puget Sound.  It is a common route for cruise ships that depart from Seattle or Vancouver, and offers stops along Alaska's panhandle.

The term "Inside Passage" is commonly used to refer to the entire region of Southeast Alaska, as well as British Columbia. This area spans 500 miles of shoreline, with the of the best wildlife and landscape viewing you can see from a ship.

Nearly all Royal Caribbean's Inside Passage sailings are 7-nights, although the cruise line does offer land-tours that you can add onto your cruise to expand your exploration inland.

In addition to the ports, the Inside Passage features fantastic animal viewing opportunities, with whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, eagles, bears, raptors and more along the way.  This is usually why many people that have cruised to Alaska before recommend bringing a good pair of binoculars to be able to see it all from your ship.

Of course, this area is also know for its glaciers and quiet towns your ship may visit. The ports of Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka and more are along the Inside Passage, and known for the natural beauty and incredible history you can discover.

In addition, you may have the opportunity to visit some well-known state and national parks and preserves, including Tongass National Forest, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Misty Fjords National Monument, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Cruises to the Inside Passage are available between May and September. The best time to take an Alaska cruise is somewhere between those months, depending on a your budget and availability.

Inside Passage Tips

Bring a sleep mask: During the summer, Alaska enjoys up to 19 hours of daylight, which means it is light out most times of the day and night. A sleep mask is a necessity if you want it dark when you sleep.

Best time to spot bears: According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game there can be as many as one grizzly bear per square mile in parts of southern Alaska.

Your best bet for seeing a bear is in the spring and summer, primarily around dawn and dusk, when they hunt for food. It’s also common to see them along the shoreline, scouting fish and other food that may have washed ashore.

Buy an all-weather jacket: The weather in Alaska will change throughout the day, from chilly to rainy to warm to rainy and chilly again. You want to invest in a waterproof, breathable jacket that can handle all of these weather changes, while keeping you comfortable.

There is no best side of the ship for an Alaska cruise: A lot of readers are curious if the starboard or port side is a superior choice for viewing glaciers, animals, scenery or anything on a cruise. 

There is fantastic scenery to see on both sides of the ship while sailing the Inside Passage.  When your ship enters the fjords, you will find equally good viewing from either side of the ship.  In short, you will see scenery from both sides of the ship.

Best port for hiking: Juneau offers more than 250 miles of hiking trails, with a variety of skill levels. You can see the beauty of  Nugget Falls, the gleaming face of Mendenhall Glacier, or sweeping views of the Inside Passage islands from the summit of Mount Juneau.

Best time to spot whales: June and July are the best months to see the humpback whales when they migrate to Alaska’s Inside Passage. 

With so many cruise tips and advice out there, which ones are the best of the best to trust and use?

Our readers recently shared their number one, favorite cruise tip that they always use, and we're sharing them all in our brand new video!

And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: What is one cruise tip that you always use when cruising?