The weekend is here and every Friday, we share our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean photos so that we can all enjoy a quick "virtual trip" back on a cruise.  If you want to share your Royal Caribbean photos, use this form to send them in!

Our first photo this week is by Ken, taken on Freedom of the Seas from deck 4. This is a great spot for walking, and Ken really enjoys this area too.

Here is a photo of Thomas Lemmer from Wonderland on Anthem of the Seas.

Pascal Everard shared with us this photo of Radiance of the Seas in Moorea, an island in French Polynesia.

Jenn Ullram took this photo of the aft of Anthem of the Seas from Cafe Two70.

Here is a great shot of the FlowRider on Independence of the Seas, taken by David Donnelly. 

Gary Lorenz took this photo of sunrise on Liberty of the Seas, as the ship was on her way back to Galveston.

Our final photo this week is from Robert Young of Rhapsody of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas side by side in Cozumel.

Thank you to everyone that sent in their Royal Caribbean photos and if you want your photos featured here, be sure to send us your favorite photos with this form!

Royal Caribbean's Pre-Sail Save on Faves Sale is offering up to 30% off select pre-cruise purchases made via the Cruise Planner.

The weekend sale is available for guests on select sailings, and offers discounts on services, such as unlimited drink packages, internet packages and even some shore excursions and spa treatments. 

The exact discount available will vary from sailing to sailing.

Based on the countdown clock, it appears this promotion ends at midnight on August 20, 2017.

To check what items are on sale for your sailing, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site to see any available offers.

If you have already prepurchased something on the Cruise Planner that is now less expensive, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same service under this promotion.

Royal Caribbean has announced it is teaming up with actress and traveler Shay Mitchell to be the cruise line's Adventurist, which is an adventure adviser and storyteller for the world’s most adventurous cruise line.

Known for her role in the TV drama, "Pretty Little Liars," Shay has made a name for herself visiting some incredible destinations around the world, from hot-air ballooning over Morocco to skydiving in Dubai.  In addition to embarkarking on trips with the cruise line and sharing her experiences as they happen, Shay will collaborate with Royal Caribbean experts to develop a series of destination experiences for the ultimate Caribbean cruise, to be revealed this fall.

Shay will personally set sail on board one of Royal Caribbean’s ships this month to begin shaping the new, Shay-recommended adventures.

“I’ve always had a love for travel, and am fortunate to have been able to explore some of the most amazing places around the world, learning quickly that the journey is as important as the destination,” said Shay. “I’m thrilled to take what I have learned from my own travels and dive in with Royal Caribbean to develop the ultimate Caribbean adventure for travelers like me, who are always seeking something new and craving deeper connections to the destinations they visit.”

You can follow Shay's adventure with Royal Caribbean this year on her Instagram, Snapchat (@officialshaym), Facebook and YouTube channel, and by following the hashtags #ComeSeek and #Shaycation.

Following a slew of itinerary updates for upcoming Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has scheduled the ship to enter a dry dock in January 2018 to fix the issue(s) slowing the ship.

Royal Caribbean confirmed on Twitter that Allure of the Seas will enter dry dock on January 21, 2018.

Hi, Michael. Yes, Allure will enter dry dock on January 21, 2018. -Vero

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) August 18, 2017

All this week, many guests have received email notifications from Royal Caribbean alerting them to a "speed restriction" that forced the cruise line to change scheduled port stops.

Royal Caribbean has not indicated the nature of the issue exactly. 

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Brian Davis shared the Captain of Allure of the Seas indicated a few weeks ago that there was damage to one of the three propellers.

Royal Caribbean is offering a new weekend sale, where guests can get extra money to spend during their cruise on top of the current promotion.

Cruise must be booked between August 18, 2017 through August 22, 2017 12:00 AM EST and applies to sailings departing on or after September 18, 2017. Offer excludes China departures.

The Caribbean Escape Sale offers

• 50% off cruise fare of second guest who must be booked in the same stateroom as a first guest who books at full fare
• 25% cruise fare savings for 3rd guests and higher booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests
• Kids Sail Free offer
  • Provides free cruise fare of third and higher guests who are 12 years or younger as of cruise departure date, booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad occupancy stateroom
  • Kids Sail Free offer is valid on 4–night or longer Europe, Bahamas, and Caribbean Sailings departing September 18, 2017 – May 15, 2018 excluding holiday sailings departing November 17, 2017-November 27, 2017, December 17, 2017–January 8, 2018, February 15, 2018-February 20, 2018 and March 10, 2018 – April 1, 2018
• Deck the Holidays Deals offer
  • Provides savings for guests who book a holiday sailing departing from December 19, 2017 through December 31, 2017 and December 18, 2018 through December 31, 2018.
  • Includes an instant savings determined by category booked and sailing length:
    • $25 off per stateroom for interior and oceanview on sailings 5 nights or less
    • $50 off per stateroom for balconies and suites on sailings 5 nights and less
    • $50 off per stateroom for interior and oceanview on sailings 6 nights and longer
    • $75 off per stateroom for balconies and $100 off for suites on sailings 6 nights or longer

BOGO does not apply to third and higher occupancy guests. BOGO and Kids Sail Free Offers are combinable with NRDB OBC, promotional OBCs and instant savings, NextCruise offers, restricted discounts (for example, Senior, Resident, Military), Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. Deck the Holidays sale and Caribbean Escape Sale are combinable with NextCruise offers, NRDB OBC, and restricted discounts (for example, Senior, Resident, Military) but are not combinable with Shareholder benefits and Crown and Anchor discounts. All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, Net Rates.

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada.

Guests with sailings booked on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas are receiving emails from the cruise line that their itinerary has changed due to a speed restriction.

Emails similar to this one that Royal Caribbean Blog reader scottvfl shared, were sent to guests informing them of the itinerary change.

Royal Caribbean has not indicated the nature of the issue exactly.  Based on emails sent to guests, it appears the changes mostly affect Eastern Caribbean itineraries, with St. Thomas often being replaced with San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Propulsion problems are not uncommon among cruise ships, resulting in slower speeds until the issue can be addressed in port. Anthem of the Seas had a similar issue in March 2017, Liberty of the Seas in 2015, Freedom of the Seas in 2014, and even Allure of the Seas back in 2013.

There is no indication yet as to how soon the issue will be resolved.

Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist shared a forecast for what eight cruise ships can expect to see when the Great American Eclipse occurs later this week.

James Van Fleet provided an update on when guests on eight Royal Caribbean ships can witness the eclipse. Not all eight ships will be able to see the full eclipse, but at the very least a partial view is possible.

In addition, Van Fleet shared on his Facebook page a weather forecast for August 21, which has Oasis of the Seas placed in a clear-skied position.

Royal Caribbean has been planning for Oasis of the Seas to follow the eclipse route and provide a perfect viewing angle of the meteorological phenomenon.  In fact, the Oasis of the Seas sailing has been themed around the event, with special events and performances by Bonnie Tyler and DNCE.

With this latest forecast, guests can plan on when they can be on deck to view the eclipse when it happens.

This week's podcast episode is ready to go, as we present episode 211 of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast for your downloading pleasure.

This week, Matt walks new cruisers through what to expect when it comes to the food they can enjoy on a Royal Caribbean cruise.  From what is included, to the specialty dining options available, this is the perfect primer for a (hungry) first time cruiser.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 211. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS 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!

Guests aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas Total Eclipse Cruise will be able to have a very meta experience, with pop singer Bonnie Tyler singing her hit song during an actual eclipse.

Time is reporting Tyler, who sang the 1983 hit song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," will be featured aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas special sailing centered around the upcoming Total Eclipse Cruise.

Tyler is a special guest on the Oasis of the Seas for a few days of the week-long cruise, which departs from Port Canaveral on Aug. 20. Her performance is in addition to pop-rock band DNCE.

In addition to these performances, guests on Oasis of the Seas will be treated to other eclipse-themed activities, including dance parties, trivia, interactive science fun for kids and their families, and tasty cocktails and dishes.

UPDATE: Royal Caribbean will stream Bonnie Tyler's performance on Instagram on Monday 8/21, 1pm EST.

Turn your bright eyes to our IG Live to witness Bonnie in all her Eclipse glory. Monday 8/21, 1pm EST. https://t.co/ZVFZL4vzfH

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) August 16, 2017

Royal Caribbean has a new pre-cruise purchase option on select sailings that combines the deluxe beverage package and the ultimate dining package in one.

The Deluxe Beverage and Ultimate Dining Package offers a bundle of the Deluxe Beverage Package and Ultimate Dining Package for one price.  With this package, you will enjoy

• Unlimited beverages
  • coffee
  • juices
  • sodas
  • bottled water
  • beer, wine
  • spirits
• Discount of 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles above $100 while dining in specialty restaurants
• Dine at specialty restaurants every night and
• Dine at specialty restaurants at lunchtime on sea days

For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you will receive a $50 food credit.

Thus far, we have spotted this option on Oasis class ships.

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog reader Andrew Punch for alerting us to this new offering.