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Royal Caribbean will offer 60% off a 2nd guest, plus 30% off 3rd and 4th guests

In:
27 Apr 2016

Royal Caribbean will unveil a new deal that will offer 60% off a 2nd guest, plus 30% off 3rd and 4th guests.

The BOGO60 deal applies to sailings departing on or after June 2, 2016, excluding China departures.

Offer includes

  • Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 60% off
  • 30% off for 3rd and 4th guests

This new deal is valid on new bookings made May 2, 2016 – June 6, 2016.

The 60% off second guest discount offer is not combinable with restricted rates including Seniors, Residents and Military or 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.

This offer is combinable with NextCruise offer, Future Cruise Certificates, Letters of Credit. and Crown & Anchor Society savings benefits.

Live Blogging from Navigator of the Seas - Preamble

In:
26 Apr 2016

As a parent, I am keenly aware of the saying that you do not have favorite children, but when it comes to Royal Caribbean ships, it is a completely different story.

This week, we are heading back for our second cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas, which I am unabashidly call my favorite Royal Caribbean ship.

 

I sailed on Navigator of the Seas back in 2014, following her refurbishment that added a lot to the ship.  You can read the live blog I did from that cruise here.  We are returning to Navigator of the Seas largely in part because of the great experience we had the first time.

I think it is insightful to share why people book the Royal Caribbean cruises they end up going on, because it reveals the thought process in picking between the 24 ships in the fleet and what compels us to pick one ship over another.

In booking this cruise, I engaged in some pro spouse strategy.  I figured my wife would be somewhat hesitant to book a cruise around this time of year, so I did the sensible thing: I told my wife I was booking a cruise for her birthday!

Despite some eye rolling and that look wives give their husbands when they know there is scheming going on, she went along for the ride and we started looking for cruises.

We had some requirements when booking this cruise: it had to be on or around her birthday, it had to be reasonably priced and it would be nice to get a special stateroom category to make this cruise more memorable.

The issue with cruises in late-April is Royal Caribbean is about to move many of its ships over to Europe for the summer season, so the inventory of possible cruises to choose from is somewhat varied.

We ended up picking this eight night eastern Caribbean cruise on Navigator of the Seas because it meant a return to a ship we really enjoyed, a somewhat different itinerary than we had done in the last few years and we managed to snag a junior suite.

First and foremost, I really liked the idea of going back on Navigator of the Seas.  I thought the 2014 refurbishment added a lot of great amenities that breathed new life into the ship.  I really liked the assortment of specialty restaurants added and the ship in general was a lot of fun.

We also booked a Junior Suite, which is something we have not done since our honeymoon cruise on Mariner of the Seas.  With 2 kids, we should have plenty of space and a balcony that faces the ocean (my wife loves these).

Our itinerary is also interesting to us, because we get to visit some favorite ports and a new one too.

  • Labadee
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • St. Kitts
  • St. Maarten

Labadee will naturally be a beach day. No cabana this time, but I did reserve a beach lounger because it was something I have never seen available on Labadee previously.

In San Juan, we are there from 2pm - 9pm, and that is some odd timing.  Nonetheless, our plan is to leave the kids in Adventure Ocean and my wife and I walk around Old San Juan.

We have never been to St. Kitts before and because I love exploring new ports, I cannot wait to see what St. Kitts offers.  We were going to book an old time train tour of the island, but it was no longer available to book online.  Our plan is to try to book it onboard or just get off the ship and see where we end up.

In St. Maarten, we will be using the services of a taxi driver that we have used many times, Leo Brown, and will likely do a few different things.  I would like to go to Marigot first and then end up at the beach, rather than beach first and then take tired (and wet) children to try to eat.

Onboard Navigator of the Seas, we made reservations at Sabor Modern Mexican on Cinco de Mayo, because... why not?  We also aspire to try as many of the specialty restaurants as we can.  My wife has requested we hit up Chops Grille, because we did not go there on Allure of the Seas.

Otherwise, this should be a great family cruise and we are all super excited to get onboard and start our adventure.  Follow along right here for a new blog post every day all about what we did that day.  I will also be sharing the experience on Twitter and Instagram, if you enjoy lots of photos.

Hope you will follow along with us and please feel free to post questions and thoughts in the comments of this and any post.  I want this live blog to be an interactive experience, so please join in and don't be shy!

Our next update will be on Saturday, April 30, when we board Navigator of the Seas!

Live Blog Index

99 days of Harmony: Carousel installation

In:
26 Apr 2016

One of the most beloved forms of entertainment on a Royal Caribbean Oasis-class cruise ship is the carousel in the Boardwalk neighborhood and we have a photo update of it to share today!

The installation of the carousel is underway on Harmony of the Seas, as shown in this photo provided by Carousel Works.

The carousel on Harmony of the Seas is hand-crafted and especially designed by Carousel Works for Royal Caribbean and is one-of-a-kind.

The inspiration for the carousel was taken from turn-of-the-century carousel designs. Even the original artwork scenery panels located on the carousel’s eight Rounding Boards feature custom painted scenes to highlight the wistfulness of life on the historic boardwalks.

Video: Royal Caribbean's Newest Crew Members Make Their Debut on Ovation of the Seas

In:
26 Apr 2016

Meet the newest crew members on the newest and world’s most technologically advanced ship, Ovation of the Seas. A mother and her baby panda have made the ship their home as it makes a global odyssey to China. “Mama and Baby” are part of Royal Caribbean International’s 11,000-piece art collection displayed on the ship and together weigh approximately six-and-a-half tons. Mama is 10 meters/approximately 33 feet, from the ship deck to the top of the sculpture, while Baby is approximately three meters, or ten feet tall.

Royal Caribbean celebrates end of Australia cruise season

In:
25 Apr 2016

Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas made her final call to Sydney on Saturday, officially marking the end of the summer cruise season for Australia.

Between Royal Caribbean and sister brands Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, the three brands carried over 250,000 guests throughout the season from October 2015 to April 2016, an increase in passengers of 27 per cent year-on-year and representing an injection of more than $140 million in passenger spend into the Australian economy.

Two Royal Caribbean ships were introduced to the region in the 2015/2016 cruise season: Explorer of the Seas to Sydney and Legend of the Seas to Brisbane.

Explorer of the Seas made a dramatic arrival in Sydney for her inaugural season, reuniting with Voyager of the Seas in a historic harbour rendezvous – a meeting of the two most feature packed ships based in the region. Combined, the ships carried 10,000 passengers and crew and injected almost $1.6 million into the Sydney economy in passenger spend in one day alone.

Together with Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, home-ported in Brisbane for her inaugural season down under, the four locally-based ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet sailed 72 itineraries, making 371 port calls in Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia.

“With our three brands and their six locally based ships in Australia, this was our biggest and most varied season to date. The substantial growth demonstrates the success of our strategy in delivering the newest, most feature-packed and the most technologically advanced ships to our doorstep,” said Adam Armstrong, managing director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd Australasia.

Royal Caribbean adding Voom to Navigator of the Seas and Vision of the Seas

In:
25 Apr 2016

Royal Caribbean will be adding its high-speed internet service to Navigator of the Seas and Vision of the Seas at some time in May 2016.

Royal Caribbean UK confirmed via Twitter that the service, known as Voom, will be coming to both ships at sometime in May 2016.

No word on which sailings will be the first for either ship that it will have Voom, but there is now confirmation these two ships are getting it.

Royal Caribbean rolled out new tiered internet plans last week for its Voom service and with that change, more Royal Caribbean ships are now offering the Voom service than were previously offered.

Voom has been spotted for sale on other Royal Caribbean ships that did not previously offer Voom, including Liberty of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas.

First look photos from Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas refurbishment

In:
25 Apr 2016

Royal Caribbean just wrapped up a $30 million bow-to-stern refurbishment of Jewel of the Seas and we are starting to get photos of what the changes look like.

Photos of the Centrum

Movie screen added to pool deck

Pool deck

Champagne Bar

Izumi has been added. Photo by Travis Kamiyama

Royal Theater

Thanks to Nick Vitani and @RKSister for providing some of these photos.

From May through October 2016, Jewel of the Seas will cruise round-trip from Rome on an array of itineraries showcasing the best destinations of Italy, Greece and Turkey. These 7, 8, and 9 night itineraries mainly sail through the Greek Isles.

Jewel will complete her European itinerary in October 2016 after which she will return to her home port of San Juan, Puerto where she will sail 6, 7, 8 and 9 night Southern Caribbean itineraries.

Review: Johnny Rockets on Allure of the Seas

In:
25 Apr 2016

There are so many great places to eat at on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas that it is easy to overlook some of them.  Johnny Rockets has been a staple of Royal Caribbean cruise ships since they debuted on Voyager of the Seas in 1999, and on Allure of the Seas, guests can enjoy a burger, hot dog or other classic American fare for just a few dollars.

Johnny Rockets on Allure of the Seas is a specialty restaurant with a cover charge, that includes all food on the menu (excluding beverages).

The Johnny Rockets menu on Allure of the Seas is virtually indistinguishable from Johnny Rockets on other Royal Caribbean ships, but there are some Oasis-class differences that make it a different kind of experience.

Atmosphere

Johnny Rockets has become a fan favorite across all Royal Caribbean ships and on Allure of the Seas (and other Oasis-class ships), the Johnny Rockets experience is much larger (just like everything on this ship).

Unlike Johnny Rockets found on other Royal Caribbean ships, Johnny Rockets is set in the Boardwalk neighborhood and has a fairly large footprint.

The iconic 50's-style diner is still there, but there is a significant amount of outdoor seating that greatly expands the restaurant's guest capacity.

The outdoor seating area features basic metal tables and chairs that surround the entrance to the restaurant.  

Dining outdoors gives guests the option of not just extra space, but a view of the Boardwalk and being able to enjoy the weather.

Inside Johnny Rockets, you have that classic diner feel that Johnny Rockets is well-known for and guests have come to expect.

There is seating inside Johnny Rockets in booths and at the bar, and more often than not, this is the most popular areas to sit inside.

The nostalgia factor that Johnny Rockets brings is what many guests have come to enjoy about dining here.  The music of the 1950s and 1960s, the red and chrome motif and the wait staff that breaks into a dance every so often are all endearing parts of the Johnny Rockets experience.

Eats

Johnny Rockets on Allure of the Seas has two menus: breakfast and the day menu.

For breakfast, Johnny Rockets is complimentary for all guests, but lunch and dinner have a cover charge to them.

Breakfast is actually a great choice at Johnny Rockets because it is usually far less crowded than other places onboard and you can get a sit down meal here.

The breakfast menu consists of eggs cooked to your liking, breakfast sandwiches, French toast, pancakes and more.

Johnny Rockets is one of the few places on Allure of the Seas where guests can get custom made omelettes and that is a big deal (to me), because Royal Caribbean's mass-produced eggs are virtually inedible. 

The rest of the breakfast menu offers some good choices and it is classic American breakfast foods.  They may not be the best pancakes or French toast I have ever had, but they certainly taste good and considering they are complimentary, it is not a bad choice at all.

When the clock reaches the lunch hour, Johnny Rockets changes over to its more well-known menu and the $6.95 per person cover charge kicks in.

The cover charge includes the food only, with beverages costing extra.  However, it seems that getting a milk shake or cherry vanilla Coke is a must-do at Johnny Rockets.  Why? Well, it just compliments the food so well and is part of the experience.

Every table is served a plate of French fries and onion rings to start their meal with.  Royal Caribbean figures you are likely to want them anyway, so they just bring them out before you even order as a pseudo-appetizer.  

The service at Johnny Rockets can be somewhat slow, so these fries and rings are often a good way to avoid getting really hungry waiting for your main courses.

If you have been to a Johnny Rockets on land, the menu is similar to what you find there.  The Johnny Rockets at sea menu is not quite as large in terms of options, but all your favorites are there.

All of the food here is cooked to order, and for those looking for the best burger on Allure of the Seas, it is hard to beat these choices.

The burgers, hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches are all solid bets and given that all the food is included, this may be a great opportunity to try a few different options out to see if you like them.

Overall

Johnny Rockets is just a fun spot that has earned its rightful place as a favorite among Royal Caribbean fans because it serves up really tasty American food that hits the spot as a snack or quick meal.

It is always interesting to eat at Johnny Rockets across various Royal Caribbean ships, but meals here tend to remain fairly similar and I think that is actually a good thing.

By far, if you are looking for a good breakfast spot, Johnny Rockets is a no-brainer considering it is complimentary. It is rarely busy for breakfast and the price is right.

Going to Johnny Rockets for lunch, dinner or something inbetween is never a bad idea. The worst thing I can say about Johnny Rockets is when they get busy, the service can take a long time.  Lunch on sea days are especially susceptible to this kind of situation.

If you are looking for arguably the best burger onboard Allure of the Seas, Johnny Rockets is the place for you. 

The thing about comfort food is it may not be the best thing you ever ate in your life, but sometimes you just need to indulge and Johnny Rockets is great for that.

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: April 24, 2016

In:
24 Apr 2016

Spring is here and it is also Sunday, which means we are celebrating warm(er) temperatures and Royal Caribbean news from this week!

Royal Caribbean made headlines this week when it canceled seven more Empress of the Seas sailings.

The cruise line had to push back Empress' return to the fleet by more than a month, marking the second occasion in which Royal Caribbean canceled scheduled sailings on Empress of the Seas in just the last few months.

Many guests are more upset with the fact the cancelations were announced just days before their cruise than the cancelations.

Royal Caribbean explained they had to cancel the sailings because all the galleys need to be fully replaced, at a cost of $10 million.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 142nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we answer your Royal Caribbean emails this week.

In this episode, we share a guide to Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class cruise ships and what to expect if you have ever been on one previously.

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.

99 Days of Harmony

To celebrate the countdown until Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas debuts, we kicked off a brand new blog series, 99 Days of Harmony, that looks at what makes this new ship so amazing. 

Each day we are posting a new blog post all about Harmony of the Seas, so here's what you might have missed this week.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Royal Caribbean posted about the thrills on Harmony of the Seas.

Kidz Cruises has a review of the Royal Babies and Royal Tots Nursery.

Royal Caribbean also has a look at their fuel efficiency software.

TravelPulse shares a recent shipyard tour of Harmony of the Seas.

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