I got a chance to preview the new Royal Railway Utopia Station restaurant coming to Utopia of the Seas and wanted to share with you my early thoughts!
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
It appears a case of food poisoning on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas has resulted in sick passengers and a delay in the ship not allowed to disembark at one port.
According to posts on Reddit, guests sailing on the 4-night cruise began reporting feeling ill on Allure of the Seas on social media. Many different people posted on Reddit that a case of food poisoning resulted in the ship undertaking drastic measures to combat the spread of illness onboard.
Allure of the Seas is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, and is sailing a 4-night cruise to Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
These reports say this is not a case of norovirus, but instead the result of undercooked pork tacos served on the ship in the Main Dining Room on Tuesday. It's not clear yet what the source of the illness is.
friedyolk posted, "It’s been confirmed not norovirus from the Captain. Everyone that was sick ate pork tacos."
Creative-Craft-2370 wrote, "On the Allure now defo pork tacos had them Tuesday evening and ill all night, table next to us husband had same as me ended up in medical centre."
According to BradW91, the tacos were the issue, "200 cases of food poisoning , pork tacos is the underlying problem every person with the issue has said they had the tacos."
It appears crew members have implemented new protocols to stem the spread of anyone else getting sick. Dr-Bison posted, "They are being protective of customers touching bar menus, Windjammer entrance line being enforced, and Windjammer self service is now roped off so only staff can serve guests one at a time."
No matter what the source of passengers getting sick, Royal Caribbean has health protocols in place to enact once a certain percentage of guests report symptoms.
Royal Caribbean's protocols include:
In addition to passengers not feeling well, Bahamian officials delayed entry of Allure of the Seas to Royal Caribbean's private destination of Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Much-Evening-4301 wrote, "I'm on Allure right now, we are docked at Coco Cay but they aren't letting us off the ship."
A bit later, Allure of the Seas was cleared to disembark passengers, and Royal Caribbean added an extra hour to its visit to make up for the roughly 90 minute delay earlier.
Having unlimited drinks on your Royal Caribbean cruise isn't as cheap as it used to be.
Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink package that includes alcohol is now priced regularly at least $100 per person, per day when purchased onboard. The cruise line uses dynamic pricing, so it's not a standard fleetwide price, but our team has consistently observed that the advertised onboard price is regularly in triple digits.
On Freedom of the Seas this week, the price for the Deluxe Beverage Package was listed at $110 per person, per day for the 4-night cruise. On this week's Liberty of the Seas 5-night Bermuda sailing, it's at $105.
On Icon of the Seas, the price was recently $115 per person, per day for a 7-night sailing.
That price is before the automatic 18% gratuity that is added on top of the drink package price which covers the bartenders that serve any drink ordered with the package.
Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package includes almost every drink served onboard, minus super top shelf liquors. This includes a fruity cocktail, beer, some wines by the glass, premium coffees, sodas, smoothies, bottled water and sports drinks, milkshakes, and fresh squeezed juices. It's pretty much any beverage that is $14 or less.
You can even choose from top shelf liquor, like Buffalo Trace, Jack Daniel's, Johnnie Walker Black, Grey Goose, Captain Morgan, and Patron too.
It also comes with 40% discount on bottles of wines under $100 and 20% discount on wines over $100.
While it does not include drinks from in-room minibars or room service, they do work at its private destinations of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti.
It's also important to note that when you buy a drink package, you must buy it for every day of your sailing. You cannot "cherry pick" days you want to use it.
In addition, Royal Caribbean has a rule in place if one adult purchases the Deluxe Beverage Package in a cabin, all other adults in the same cabin must buy it too. This rule is prevent sharing drink package benefits with friends or family. This rule doesn't apply to kids, or if you opt for the non-alcoholic drink packages.
Read more: 9 Ways That People Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package
To be fair, the onboard price is a bit misleading because Royal Caribbean offers a significant discount of half off for the second person. There are also Crown and Anchor Society discounts offered to some tiers to help with that price as well. In short, you can pay much less for a drink package by pre-purchasing.
There are two other Royal Caribbean drink packages that do not include any alcohol, the Royal Refreshment Package and the Soda Package.
Royal Caribbean's drink packages have been quite popular since they first debuted, and the price has steadily climbed over the past few years. It's likely that strong demand for drink packages is a factor in driving up the price. Royal Caribbean Group executives have repeatedly pointed to strong demand by its customers for add-ons, such as the drink package, in its quarterly reports.
Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty said in April 2024 the significant uptick in onboard spending was a factor for the company's success., "Strong ticket and onboard revenue and favorable timing of expenses contributed to the better-than-expected earnings performance."
If a $100 per day price tag gives you pause, the good news is there's no reason to pay that price.
Royal Caribbean regularly offers pre-cruise discounts on its drink package when you buy it before the cruise begins. In fact, the line just kicked off it's Memorial Day sale on pre-cruise purchases. Guests can expect up to 35% off savings on purchases.
Depending on the promotion offered, you can usually get the Deluxe Beverage Package for around $60-$80 per person. It varies from sailing to sailing, but the price offered in the Royal Caribbean app or website is always cheaper than buying it onboard.
Read more: When is the best time to purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package?
For example, on the Icon of the Seas June 29 sailing, the Deluxe Beverage Package is on sale for $76.99 instead of $110 per person, per day. Royal Caribbean says its 30% off savings.
Moreover, you can always re-price the drink package in the months leading up to your cruise by cancelling and rebooking if the price drops. Its a significant advantage for consumers.
It's my recommendation to never wait to buy the drink package on the ship because of the higher price tag.
No matter the price, the top reason many cruisers buy a drink package is for the convenience of having a fixed price for all their vacation drink needs.
While not cheap, an often cited reason for buying a drink package is to not have to worry about running up a big bar bill during their cruise.
A cocktail can cost $14, plus gratuity. After 3 or 4, you've already spent over $50 that day, and that doesn't include specialty coffees or juice.
RoyalCaribbeanBlog user WAYNO wrote, "The drink package is so convenient. And I was able to experiment with drinks that I normally would never buy. Or if a drink became warm or stale, or even boring, I could push it aside and order another."
aubtfan added, "Having drinks prepaid is worth it to us. So convenient."
FrogFanatic wrote, "I love the feeling of freedom knowing that if I chose to try something that I wouldn't try at home and don't like it, then no big deal, just order something else. It's the peace of mind that is part of what I am paying for and that is big for me."
Royal Caribbean quietly introduced a faster embarkation process at one of its cruise ports, and it promises to get you on the ship as fast as possible.
Express Boarding first showed up in November 2023 on Freedom of the Seas as a test to prepare it for the arrival of Icon of the Seas in January 2024. When I sailed on Icon, I did not get the Express Boarding option, but I finally was able to get it for my 4-night Freedom of the Seas cruise.
There's no cost or "catch" to getting Express Boarding, but you'll need to complete a few pre-check-in steps in order to qualify for it.
If you do manage to get it, then expect the simplest terminal check-in process possible.
Royal Caribbean's check-in has always been quite easy, so why is it necessary to even have an express option? Essentially, it rewards those that do everything they're supposed to do before the cruise begins and keep those people moving through the cruise terminal faster. That keeps lines shorter for those that didn't complete the steps, and rewards those that did.
For the time being, Express Boarding is only available for Royal Caribbean cruises sailing from Terminal A in PortMiami.
When I completed my health questionnaire the day before my cruise, I was alerted by the Royal Caribbean app that I had qualified for Express Boarding.
The app made a big deal of it, showing virtual confetti and updating my SetSail pass to show I have Express Boarding.
The instructions in the app was to bring all my travel documents and follow the signs for Express Boarding.
Once you get to the cruise terminal, look for the Express Boarding line. It's one of the three "special" lines you can enter, in addition to the regular line.
I showed the port agent my boarding pass, which had the Express Boarding icon on it and he admitted me in.
When you get to the primary check-in area, there's a special line for those with Express Boarding. The idea is it's more of a checkpoint to verify you have everything.
The agent scanned my Set Sail Pass and my passport, verifying everything was correct.
Read more: Do you need a passport for a cruise?
I was surprised she took my photo again, but I breezed through check-in with no line.
After being check-ed in, you essentially rejoin the regular flow of guests. I went through security and then went to the boarding area. Freedom of the Seas had already begun boarding, so I never stopped walking.
The process was very easy, and I went from being dropped off at the terminal with my luggage at 10:37am to boarding Freedom of the Seas at 10:43am. A total of 6 minutes, and that includes a quick check of my carry-on bag for a non-existent extension cord.
Even if you don't have Express Boarding, the check-in process is pretty quick. The difference is you waste less time re-verifying things. Plus, your check-in line may be shorter with this option.
The only people that probably wouldn't care if they got Express Boarding are anyone staying in a suite, as there's a special line and check-in area for them.
There's no cost to get Express Boarding, you just need to complete a few key steps.
First, you must use the Royal Caribbean app to complete all steps of your check-in. You cannot use the Royal Caribbean website. Keep in mind it's only available right now at Terminal A, so only Freedom of the Seas and Icon of the Seas offer it.
Once in the app, you need to complete all the steps including scanning your passport. You cannot manually enter information.
You won't see the Express Boarding option until you complete the health questions. Assuming you did everything else, you should get confetti and a notification in the app that you qualify for Express Boarding.
It's being widely reported Captain James MacDonald passed away.
Cruise ship Captains are a select few, and people that cruise a lot certainly have their favorites based on personality.
On April 30, it was reported from passengers on Harmony of the Seas that Captain MacDonald had to depart the ship in order to seek medical attention in Cozumel, Mexico.
The ship had to make an unscheduled stop in Cozumel, where Captain MacDonald disembarked. Guests were informed via the ship’s public address.
On Thursday, various reports came that Captain MacDonald had passed away. On Radiance of the Seas, the ship made an announcement and blew the ship's whistle as a mark of respect to Captain MacDonald.
An internal email in the company confirmed the passing of Captain MacDonald while in a hospital in Miami.
"A valued team member for 34 years, Capt James was an exceptional leader known for his dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our company. His contributions have left a lasting impact on our team and the company as a whole."
"Over the years he was instrumental in the development of thousands of our crew including many sailing Captains. He was also key to leading our success in Texas cruising where he will be missed by crew and guests alike."
All Royal Caribbean ships will fly their flags at half mast on Friday, May 17 in honor of his passing.
RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers shared photos of the flags at half mast.
Oasis of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas
Cruisers shared their memories of Captain James across social media, recalling fond memories.
Shirley Arredondo posted on Facebook, "My husband and I sailed with Captain James during Hurricane Harvey on the Liberty of the seas and we absolutely fell in love with him. He was funny and loved to walk around and talk to everybody."
Michael Gould added, "Maybe others will remember this: during his daily announcements, he’d always make a point to say, we’re doing a great job staying healthy, washin’ those hands, keep it up! My wife and I often use that line. I’m in healthcare and she’s a teacher; it’s both useful and always makes us smile about happy memories onboard."
"Captain, thanks for the smooth seas and fond memories. You’ll do a great job watching over the fleet from above."
Kevin Kuehlwein wrote on Facebook, "Seemed very down to earth and was very good at his job. May he rest in peace."
Doug White shared his memories of him, "Captain James was a special guy; he was the Captain of the Jewel when I became the Mayer, and he had the upmost respect for everyone that he dealt with. I remember a lot of great times with Captain James on the Jewel including gatherings in his cabin for cocktails then going on the bridge to top the evening. He will be sorely missed."
Nicole Pugliese wrote, "This is so sad to hear. We had the privilege of sailing with Captain James on the Liberty and he very quickly became our favorite for his laid back demeanor and great sense of humor."
Most cruisers knew Captain James as representing Texas. He was quite often in command of ships that were based in Galveston.
He joined Royal Caribbean in 1990 and was the first captain of Radiance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas.
Most recently Captain James was the Master of Harmony of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas while the ships were based in Texas.
Calista is back from her first sailing on Icon of the Seas and gives her review of this brand new ship.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
I go on a Royal Caribbean cruise just about once a month, and it provides me with the privilege of experiencing so many different ways to enjoy a cruise.
Whether I'm on the newest and biggest cruise ship in the world, or enjoying a classic cruising experience on a smaller, older vessel, it remains my favorite way to travel and see the world.
On any cruise I go on, there's always a majority of cruisers who are brand new to cruising. Or it's their second or third sailing ever, with large gaps of time between each voyage.
New cruisers are fun to talk to, because I get to see their approach to Royal Caribbean, and what they like to do. I try especially hard not to have a jaded "been there, done that" attitude towards cruising, and new cruisers reinforce what makes a cruise a fun choice for a vacation.
Read more: 5 things people that cruise a lot would tell first time cruisers if they could
But someone new to cruising could easily overlook some of the best activities that are totally underrated.
I thought of five things to do on a cruise that are worth considering that I see newbies missing far too often.
While I love the cruise ship buffet, there are often so many other great alternatives to explore for breakfast or lunch.
The Windjammer is a staple, and I'll go there at least once every cruise. But new cruisers often overlook the other choices they have.
Considering the Windjammer can get very busy, it's a good idea to embrace alternatives. Depending on the ship you're on, there can be other complimentary choices at Solarium Bistro, Aquadome Market, Park Cafe, Sorrento's, or Cafe Promenade.
If your ship has them, my top three alternatives are:
Use the Windjammer as a backup, and try out these other places. You might find your new favorite restaurant.
If your cruise has a port stop you just cannot find a fun shore excursion that really jumps out at you, consider staying on the ship. On port intensive cruises, a day off from touring may sound like the perfect day.
By staying on the ship, you'll be able to take advantage of a significantly less busy ship. This is the perfect time to hit the water slides, pools, and hot tubs because there will be barely any other passengers around.
When you choose to sail on one of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships that are packed with so many cool things to do, be sure to make time for them all without the crowds.
Read more: 5 best reasons to stay onboard the ship while in Perfect Day at CocoCay
While I've never played pickleball, it's become a smash hit among veteran cruisers.
Royal Caribbean has been known for offering lots of activities on its ships, and pickleball has joined the ranks of the rock climbing wall, FlowRider, and ice skating.
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, ping pong, and badminton.
You can find pickleball games ready to go on the ship's sports court in the morning hours. Refer to the Royal Caribbean app for specific hours. There's usually an open play session every morning, where the equipment is provided for you, and it's first-come, first served for court space.
There's no cost to playing pickleball, and it's a fun opportunity to meet other people.
This tip is really for someone that has taken a few cruises, but there may be large gaps between sailings. Maybe you went as a kid and are now trying it again as an adult.
If you're at least Platinum tier (30 cruise points) in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, you can on attend the Top Tier event on sailings 5 nights or longer.
At the top tier event, you will get a speech from the Captain, Hotel Director, and Cruise Director, while enjoying a complimentary glass of champagne. They recognize new Pinnacle members and top cruisers onboard.
The free booze is a nice touch, especially if you don't have a drink package.
But the real value in the event is the cruise line takes time to thank you for your patronage, and the speeches by the ship's Captain and Hotel Director can provide interesting anecdotes and insight into what's happening on the ship and within the fleet.
It's a quick event, usually 30 minutes long, and you could leave at any time if you were utterly bored.
Royal Caribbean offers behind-the-scenes tours that have an extra cost, but are really worth it.
Referred to as the "All Access Tour", you can book it before your cruise on the Royal Caribbean website.
The All Access Tour is a 2-hour walking tour of many areas of the ship, and costs extra. It's eye opening how much work occurs to keep the ship functional and optimal.
You'll visit areas such as the ship's kitchen (referred to as a galley), the bridge, engine room, theater, and more.
This tour showcases how much a ship is more like a floating city than hotel, and it's really interesting to see it all.
Cruises are go for restart in the Port of Baltimore.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore occurred on March 26 when the cargo ship Dali smashed into the bridge.
The collision brought down the 1.6-mile long steel structure, killed six construction workers on the bridge and severed access to critical shipping routes in and out of the Port of Baltimore.
According to the Port of Baltimore, cruises will be able to resume beginning with a Royal Caribbean ship.
"Get ready…the Port of Baltimore is ready to cruise once again! Royal Caribbean International's Vision of the Seas will depart on May 25th for a fantastic 5-night voyage from Baltimore to Bermuda," is what the port shared on their social media channel on Wednesday.
"This marks the first cruise departing Baltimore since the Key Bridge incident."
The May 25th sailing is a 5-night cruise that spends two days in Bermuda, with a sea day before and after.
Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas sails out of Maryland, offering cruises to the Bahamas, Southern Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canada/New England. Other cruise lines, such as Norwegian and Carnival, sail from Baltimore, too.
On March 26, a cargo ship, weighing about 213 million pounds, had lost engine and electrical power shortly before hitting the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
A 24-page report by the National Transportation Safety Board explains the ship had a pair of catastrophic electrical failures minutes before the crash.
According to the report, the two power outages occurred three ships’ lengths from the bridge and were triggered by the tripping of two critical circuit breakers, which caused several pumps required for the ship’s single propeller and its single rudder to stop working. The emergency generator was not configured to power the ship.
An NTSB preliminary report does not conclude a probable cause. Those findings will be part of a final report that could take investigators up to two years to complete.
Meer moments after the collision, the bridge collapsed, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River. Six construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge were killed in the disaster.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore indicated the bridge's collapse has had a substantial effect on the region's infrastructure. The wreckage of the bridge has clogged the port, a major shipping channel for the sugar and automotive industries. In addition, the Key Bridge was a critical thoroughfare, with 30,000 commuters relying on it every day.
Officials have vowed to rebuild the bridge – but the exact cost remains unclear. A spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute has estimated the bridge alone could be worth more than $1.2 billion.
Royal Caribbean will have a big musical act for anyone sailing on its annual President's Cruise.
The cruise line hosts a sailing each year where it invites its fans to sail and enjoy a cruise together, along with top executives.
The 2024 President's Cruise is going to be held on the June 23, 2024 Oasis of the Seas sailing from Barcelona, Spain.
It usually hosts a big musical act for one of the many events held onboard, and for the 2024 sailing, the '80s band Culture Club was announced on Tuesday as the top performer.
Culture Club is best known for songs such as, "Karma Chameleon", "I'll tumble 4 ya", and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me".
Last year's cruise included a live performance by ten-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan.
They're one of the top bands of the 1980s decade, and have sold more than 50 million records.
On past President's Cruises, the featured musical act performs on one or two occasions in a specific venue. Tickets are given to Top Tier Crown and Anchor Society guests onboard, but the concert is televised to be seen anywhere else on the ship.
The 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise will depart from Barcelona, Spain and visit Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Naples / Capri, Italy.
The President's Cruise is not a charter sailing, but is in fact a a regular sailing that was chosen by the cruise line as its President's Cruise. Anyone can book the cruise, and it's a celebration of Royal Caribbean for its biggest fans.
The cruise is hosted by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.
Royal Caribbean's website describes it as, "The annual President’s Cruise is one of the most spectacular Royal Caribbean adventures. Set sail with President & CEO Michael Bayley on a special voyage filled with surprises and unique moments at every turn. We’re talking celebrity guest entertainment, customised shore excursions, exclusive parties, unforgettable events and so much more. No matter where in the world the President’s Cruise takes you, once-in-a-lifetime memories are always on the itinerary."
Essentially, it is a fun celebration of the cruise line for all loyal guests.
Additionally, there are usually surprises on the sailing, like giveaways, special events and commemorative opportunities.
Some of the most loyal Royal Caribbean fans can be found onboard President's Cruises, making them a kind of reunion amongst fans.
Oasis of the Seas is the namesake ship of the Oasis Class, which has held the world record for the largest cruise ships in the world since her inaugural cruise in December 2009. The title for largest cruise ship class in the world will be taken by the highly-anticipated Icon of the Seas in January 2024.
Oasis Class ships are some of the best for large family vacations, as they offer an extensive amount of amenities and activities to appeal to travelers of all ages.
She was the first ship in the world to feature interior facing balconies, as well as the beloved neighborhood concept. For the first time, guests could book balconies that overlooked the ship's Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods for less than a traditional oceanfront balcony.
Additionally, she was the first to introduce the one-of-a-kind AquaTheater. Located in the aft of the ship in the Boardwalk neighborhood, this entrainment venue is home to high diving spectaculars the feature dancers, acrobats, and, of course, divers who take the plunge into the deepest pool at sea.
In 2019, she underwent the cruise line's Royal Amplification program, receiving $165 million in enhancements, including the Ultimate Abyss, Perfect Storm waterslides, upgraded Caribbean-style pool deck, and new dining venues, one of which -- Portside BBQ -- is exclusive to Oasis of the Seas. This specialty restaurant serves a variety of barbecued meats and comfort food.
Expect a change in how you see Royal Caribbean prices in the future.
California's new consumer protection law will change how Royal Caribbean advertises its cruise fares in the United States going forward.
Beginning July 1, 2024, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises will include taxes and fees as part of the advertised price that were previously left out until the checkout process.
The California legislature passed the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) in 2023, and was signed into law by the Governor.
The change in the law is meant provide consumers with a clear price upfront, rather than leave them surprised by additional fees later on during the booking process. By making it the same across the United States, Royal Caribbean feels it will reduce confusion, "Treating California differently than the rest of the United States could
have created confusion and introduced unnecessary complexity."
The change is simply meant to enhance transparency. It neither impacts the total price of the cruise nor the portion of the fare that's commissionable to travel agents.
Silversea Cruises will not need to make any changes, because its prices already include all required taxes, fees, and port expenses.
This change was sent in an email to travel agents by Royal Caribbean to inform them of the policy change that will impact both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Carnival Corporation announced a similar change in April for its brands of cruise ships that include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Cunard North America.
For example, if Royal Caribbean's website advertises a fare today that's $646, the fees will be broken disclosed and added to the total the final stage of the booking process. In this example, the Taxes and Fees amount to $201.48.
The idea is to not surprise consumers at checkout, especially with some port fees amounting to hundreds of dollars per person.
The changes take place as of July 1, 2024.
Port fees are charges imposed by each port of call to allow the ship to dock, and these fees are passed on to passengers by the cruise line. Regardless of whether you're staying in a luxurious two-bedroom suite or a standard inside cabin, everyone onboard pays the same amount.
Unlike gratuities, port fees are included in your total cruise fare and must be paid in full by the final payment deadline.
Typically, these fees are a combination of several charges, including the per-passenger (head tax) fee, docking fee, and pilot fee. The pilot fee covers the costs associated with the local harbor pilot who guides the cruise ship into port. The head tax helps offset the expenses of guests using local infrastructure.
Lastly, the docking fee is what the local authorities charge the cruise line for the right to dock and for the services required.
Royal Caribbean also added that the calculation of your commissionable earnings will not be altered.
This means there's no change to how travel agents make money either.