Maybe you will be able to book shows for your Royal Caribbean cruise before the sailing begins after all.

Guests are reporting seeing the option to pre-book select entertainment on at least the Oasis Class cruise ships later this year.

Prior to the cruise industry shutdown in 2020, Royal Caribbean allowed passengers to pre-book stage shows before the cruise via the Cruise Planner website.

Pre-booking entertainment has not returned since Royal Caribbean cruises restarted in June 2021.

Reversing a change?

In late September, Royal Caribbean informed travel agents that they would not bring back the option to book shows before the cruise.

As we continue to shape the future of cruising, a few experiences may look a bit different to some of your clients. With this, we will no longer be accepting pre-bookings for onboard entertainment. All guests who would like to attend our entertainment onboard must book these at the Box Office or on the App once onboard.

There was no mention of exceptions.

Royal Caribbean has made no new announcement or confirmation of a policy change.

Some ships have option to pre-book shows

In the last week or so, many Royal Caribbean cruisers have reported being able to pre-book shows when visiting the Cruise Planner website.

Thus far, the option to pre-book as not appeared in the Royal Caribbean app.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers started to share the change on the RoyalCaribbeanBlog forums that the option has re-appeared once more.

Based on reader reports, the option is available on the Oasis Class cruise ships beginning for sailings in December 2022.

A notice on the Cruise Planner indicates the option is available for:

• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas isn't on the list, but plenty of cruisers have reported being able to book shows for December sailings.

Thus far, it appears to be primarily December 2022 cruises that have the option, but it's possible more sailings could be added later.

Reader reaction

The early reaction from readers has been a sense of surprise mixed with confusion as why the policy has seemingly changed so quickly.

CruzOnBye was able to take advantage of this option, "We’re on Odyssey in December and can now reserve The Book in Two70 and also the Zone Zero activity so that’s nice!"

"As a planner this is my biggest frustration of no longer being able to do. But hey, I save time not doing the old school muster drill, so that time is now taken up running around making reservations," said Vancity Cruiser.

"This is the kind of thing Royal really needs to improve," NotPayinExtra posted. "What is there problem with communication? Just tell us already. Limited time booking online or not? "

CruiseGus preferred not having this option back, "I for one really liked the you could not book until you got on board. The major problem with the way they do it, in the App is even if you cancel a show ahead of time because you want to change it, you are lock out from re-booking so you have to go to guest services or see someone"

We now know when Royal Caribbean will open up the first set of new 2024-2025 bookings.

While not complete, we have our first look at when Royal Caribbean will release new sailings to book.

Royal Caribbean typically releases new sailings twice per year: in the fall and again in the spring.

The partial deployment schedule will cover Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and Caribbean sailings.

• Week of November 7, 2022: Alaska & Hawaii
• Week of November 14, 2022: Europe
• Week of December 12, 2022: Year-round/Summer Caribbean

This is in addition to the Icon of the Seas sailings already released for 2024-2025.

Royal Caribbean promises more release dates will be announced soon for other Fall 2024 - Winter 2025 sailings.

All itineraries are subject to change without notice.

What is a deployment schedule?

The deployment schedule is the plan for when Royal Caribbean will open select sailings for sale.

There is no indication of which day, just the week the new itineraries will become available to book, but it could be on any day of the noted week.

Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.

When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.

What should you do now to prepare?

If you are in the market for a cruise during one of these new deployments, you will want to keep an eye out for once cruises go on sale.

Royal Caribbean typically allows Crown and Anchor Society members a 24 hour head start on the general public, but since anyone can sign up for Crown and Anchor Society, there is no excuse for waiting.

Talk with your travel agent in the days leading up to the new deployments coming online so you can jump on specific bookings and book them.  

One of the best strategies for the lowest prices is to book a cruise as soon as it goes on sale.  Hard-to-find staterooms are also available during this period, so now is the time to lock in a studio room or a suite.

Planning on booking a cruise in 2024-2025? These stories will help:

• What is the best time to cruise to the Caribbean?
• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?

Royal Caribbean's unlimited dining package won't be as unlimited as it has been in the past.

The terms and conditions for Royal Caribbean's unlimited dining package have been updated to add a daily limit to the a la carte restaurants where guests pay per item.

On the Cruise Planner website, some sailings now show an update for the a la carte pricing, "For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you’ll receive a $20 food credit, which can only be used once a day."

Prior to this change, there was no limit at a la carte restaurants and guests could return to any a la carte restaurant on the same day and get another $20 per person credit.

Examples of restaurants with a la carte pricing include Playmakers and Portside BBQ.

In the past, the $20 per person credit was determined by your seating. Once the check was closed out, you were free to return and start a new tab with another round of $20 credit.

There's been no change to Izumi sushi, which still carries a $34.99 food credit or the option to use the prixe fixe menu.

Similarly, there's been no change to specialty restaurants that have a cover charge, where guests can enjoy unlimited visits to specialty dining restaurants every night of your sailing and lunch on sea days.

Dining packages have become very popular with cruise fans, who enjoy the ability to dine at as many specialty restaurants as they like for a fixed price.  With Royal Caribbean rolling out new specialty dining concepts in recent years, the focus on specialty dining has been greater than in years past.

Read more: Is food included on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Izumi hibachi price change

In addition to the change in policy related to the a la carte restaurants, it looks like the cost to eat at Izumi hibachi is going up as well.

The policy now lists a $15 surcharge for dining package guests to eat at hibachi, instead of $10.

Teppanyaki dining at Izumi is one of the most popular specialty restaurants on any Royal Caribbean ship. Reservations often are sold out by the first day of the cruise, if not earlier.

Why did Royal Caribbean make this change?

There's no official word why Royal Caribbean added a limit of one use per day for the fixed price menu.

Based on my own experience with the unlimited dining plan, it's possible this change was made to cut down on guests overusing the package benefits at restaurants such as Playmakers.

Being a sports bar, often guests may linger at the bar to watch more than one game, or return later on for the evening game and order more food.

It's also possible this was meant to reduce crowding at these locations.

How the unlimited dining package works

Royal Caribbean introduced the unlimited dining package in 2019 to replace the Ultimate Dining Package and it allows guests to enjoy their meals at specialty restaurants as many times as they’d like, based on availability.

Guests are not able to make reservations for specialty dining before the cruise when they have a dining package. Instead, they must wait until they got onboard a ship to make reservations.

Once at the restaurant, all the guest has to do is inform their waiter that they have a dining package and the waiter can then verify it and charge it appropriately.

There are a few exceptions to what is included with the dining packages: Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $15 surcharge, and Chef's Table is included, with a $49.99 surcharge.

It's not included with premium dining experiences, such as Wine Pairings Dinners, Taste of Royal, Mystery Dinner Theater, Culinary Activities, and Holiday Celebration Dinners.

Dining packages do not include room service, mini bar, or restaurants at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Time is running out of 2022, but there are going to be plenty of cruises in November to look forward to before the month ends.

November marks the beginning of the peak Caribbean cruise season, with many ships beginning their repositioning to North America after a summer in Europe.

Hopefully this article shares with you what you need to know about going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the month of November, with important news, tips, and helpful information along the way.

November is a month dichotomies: the first half of the month is traditionally a less in-demand time to cruise, with some great cruise deals to be found, while the second half of the month transitions into higher demand with the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. Nonetheless, there can be excellent deals to be found, even at the last minute.

November is also the very end of hurricane season in the Caribbean. 

Technically, hurricane season ends on November 30, so there is still a chance of a tropical disturbance impacting your sailing. Storms this late in the season are rarer, but not unheard of, so keep tracking storms leading up to your sailing.

Ships sailing in November 2022

All of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships are back in service, and Royal Caribbean has returned for the first time to Australia since 2019.

Royal Caribbean's cruises down under this season will offer 2- to 12-night cruises to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Here's where you can find each ship this month.

• Freedom of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Anthem of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
• Allure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas beginning November 13.
• Symphony of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Independence of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Adventure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
• Explorer of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles, California
• Spectrum of the Seas from Singapore
• Grandeur of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Enchantment of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland
• Radiance of the Seas from New Orleans, Louisiana
• Serenade of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
• Voyager of the Seas from San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Quantum of the Seas from Brisbane, Australia
• Ovation of the Seas from Sydney, Australia
• Oasis of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
• Wonder of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Odyssey of the Seas from from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Vision of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Rhapsody of the Seas from Bridgetown, Barbados
• Jewel of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida

Not only will ships begin sailing in Australia, but Royal Caribbean will commence cruises from Bridgetown, Barbados.

Another big change for Royal Caribbean will be the opening of its new cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas.

The $125 million, 161,334-square-foot Galveston Cruise Terminal significantly expands Royal Caribbean’s presence in the city, increasing its ability to welcome up to 630,000 guests each year.

The new terminal opens on Nov. 9, 2022, which also marks the arrival of Allure of the Seas. For the first time, Texas will be home to an Oasis Class ship, which are the largest ships in the world.

Health protocols for November 2022 cruises

Royal Caribbean's health protocols for November are fairly similar to the protocols from October.

Vaccinated guests do not need to take a test for sailings of 9 nights or fewer for cruises from North America and the Caribbean.

On sailings of 10 nights or longer, fully vaccinated guests age 12 and older will need to bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 test within 3 days before boarding day.

Guests age 12 and up who are not vaccinated have 3 days to take a test before their cruise, regardless the duration of the cruise.

Guests under the age of 12, do not need to take a test prior to cruising.

Cruises from Australia

All guests aged 2 and above, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative test result for a COVID-19  PCR test taken within 2 days before boarding day, or a self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 1 day before boarding, for sailings of any length.

Required testing for all guests can be completed using a PCR test administered at a private laboratory, or any self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Rapid Antigen Tests are not required to be administered under live video supervision.

You will be required to present the negative test result at the time of boarding.  You can show it in the form of a printout or email if taking a PCR test.  Or if taking a RAT, you can show a picture of your negative RAT test on your phone, or present the actual negative test itself.

Guests under 2 years of age do not require testing.

Cruises from Singapore

Unvaccinated guests age 5 - 11 must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day, for sailings of any length.

Fully vaccinated guests age 12 and older, do not have any pre-cruise testing requirements for sailings of 9 nights or less. On sailings of 10 nights and longer, fully vaccinated guests must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day. Kids age 11 and younger who have been vaccinated may follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.

Guests ages 12 and older who are not up-to-date must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day.

Required testing for all guests can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. It can be professionally proctored at your doctor or drugstore, or it can be a test you administer to yourself at home without supervision.

Guests who are not up to date with their vaccination, must ensure they have a valid medical reason for the exemption and must be approved by a medical provider. The validity of the exemption is also subject to ship Medical Doctor approval. Handwritten medical exemptions will not be accepted.

Guests under 5 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.

Everyone should review the full list of protocols related to where and when you need to wear a mask, vaccinated-only guest areas of the ship, and more on Royal Caribbean's website.

November weather on a cruise

While it may start getting chilly where you live, temperatures in the Caribbean remain steady, with a range in the 70s-80s.

The end of the rainy season comes in November, so storms are not unheard of, especially since hurricane season does not end until the end of the month.

According to data from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, for the years from 1851 to 2018, 47 total hurricanes have formed in November and only five of those made landfall in the United States.

Of course, Mother Nature does not follow a calendar, so there are no guarantees when bad weather could or could not occur.

Just like other times of the summer and fall, your best bet is to assume a passing shower or storm, but not an all-day rain out. Packing a poncho or rain coat/windbreaker would allow you to quickly adapt to a storm. 

Thanksgiving on Royal Caribbean

If your cruise happens to sail over the Thanksgiving holiday, you can expect the celebration to extend onboard as well.

Royal Caribbean gets into the spirit of the holiday with fall color decorations around the ship on Thanksgiving sailings, and even a few special events such as Thanksgiving trivia games, and special cocktails.

Of course, there will be plenty of turkey offerings. The main dining room menu will have its regular menu, as well as a special Thanksgiving menu you can order from that has the traditional foods available.

Football games will be available to watch in the bars and screens around the ship.

And in case you are wondering, Christmas decorations start going up around this time, but it varies by ship.  Some ships don't start putting them up until after Thanksgiving.  This can vary by ship and year-to-year.  Some ships doing early December. 

Royal Caribbean Group will release its third quarter earnings later this week, which is an opportunity to gain insight into what the cruise giant has planned next.

Royal Caribbean Group will release its third quarter 2022 earnings on Thursday, November 3, 2022. They'll subsequently hold a conference call with Wall Street analysts to discuss the results in greater detail.

There will be a lot of data and figures shared on Thursday, including tidbits of information of interest to cruise fans. The earnings report and call are meant for investors, but there will be things talked about during the call that cruise fans may care about because it speaks to the future of the cruise line.

The earnings call is held with Royal Caribbean Groups' top executives, including Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley.

In the past, executives have talked about policy changes, new projects, and updated work that has otherwise not been publicly talked about. This is often one of the best times to get updates and answers without having them directly asked by cruisers.

It's impossible to know in advance which questions will get answers, but here is a wish list of questions cruise fans are eager to hear about during this week's earnings call.

Return to profitability?

At the last earnings call in July, it seemed the third quarter would be a turning point in terms of making some real money again and beginning to erode the debt accrued during the last two years.

Executives said they expected to be profitable by the third quarter.

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz said back in July, "For the third quarter, and based on current currency exchange rates, fuel rates and interest rates, we expect to generate $2.9 to $3 billion in total revenues."

"Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of $700 to $750 million and adjusted earnings per share of $0.05 to $0.25."

That is of course a forecast and things could change, but Wall Street will be hyper focused on how profitable (or not) the company was this quarter.

Certainly Royal Caribbean Group has had the benefit of having all of its ships back in service and they've said they planned to ensure as many passengers as possible could be onboard, expanding margins, and managing their balance sheet.

"When our business is fully operational, it generates significant cash flow. We are confident in our ability to continue on our recovery as we build the future of the Royal Caribbean Group," said Mr. Holtz during the last call.

How full will cruise ships will be this winter?

Royal Caribbean has been sailing with its ships at full capacity for months, so will that trend continue into the winter months?

Capacity is critical to Royal Caribbean's profitability, and how full their ships are is an indicator of the overall health of their business.

Mr. Holtz talked about how busy the third quarter was expected to be in last quarter's call, "Overall, we expect load factors of approximately 95% for the third quarter and triple digits by the end of the year."

"We have been sailing at above 100% in the Caribbean since mid-June, and most of our other North American base itineraries are now averaging about 100%."

The Caribbean market has been incredibly strong for Royal Caribbean Group, although other markets have been a bit softer, such as Europe. A combination of the Ukraine war and Covid reduced demand in the second quarter and Mr. Holtz it pushed their recovery of 100% fleet wide occupancy to the fourth quarter of 2022.

Nonetheless, customer deposit balance as of June 30th was $4.2 billion, a record high for the company. Investors will want to know where that figure stands today.

Any updates on expansion projects?

Many initiatives were paused since 2020, and with numbers bouncing back, could this be an opportunity for Royal Caribbean to resume them?

From the CocoCay adults-only beach, to Perfect Day at Lelepa, to a beach club in the Bahamas, there are plenty of question marks about when and where we will see new ways to go on vacation.

From a business perspective, the company has sometimes provided updates on these sort of capital spending projects because it helps reinforce the notion that demand for a cruise will be even higher with new offerings.

New ship updates?

I would expect there to be some discussion of Icon of the Seas and how well it sold out of the gate last week, but will we get more information about Icon or other new ships?

Utopia of the Seas will also debut in late 2024, and there are orders for two more Icon Class cruise ships beyond that.

Since new cruise ships attract so much attention (and come with a heft price tag), will we get any hints as to what the future of the cruise line looks like going through the rest of this decade.

The company tends to be cagey with details related to new ships that have not been announced yet, but timelines and expectations are sometimes shared at these calls. 

How to listen to the call

There will be full coverage of anything intriguing that comes out of Royal Caribbean Group's third quarter 2022 earnings call right here on RoyalCaribbeanBlog, but if you would like to listen on your own, here's how.

The call will be available on-line at the company's investor relations website, www.rclinvestor.com.  The call begins at 10am Eastern Time on Thursday, November 3, 2022.

You will be able to listen via the link provided close to the start of the call.

Happy (almost) Halloween! I don't have any bad Halloween themed puns to include here, just the latest Royal Caribbean news to catch up on before you hit up the neighborhood for candy.

You can now book a cabin on Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship.

Icon of the Seas sailings from Miami are now available for booking on Royal Caribbean's website.

It appears the maiden voyage in late January 2024 is already sold out, but you can book other cruises through April 2025.

Icon of the Seas will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami. Every cruise will visit Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean News

• 7 of the most cutting-edge features coming to Icon of the Seas
• More people just booked Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship than ever before
• Royal Caribbean updates: first ship uses renewable fuel, Galveston & more
• Allie live blogged her Odyssey of the Seas Mediterranean cruise 
• Save up to 35% on pre-cruise purchases with Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner sale
• Get up to 25,000 rewards points from American Express with this new offer

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

One of the most common questions asked is if someone that has only done big ships will enjoy a smaller ship.

This week's podcast episode is a dive into what you should know about venturing away from Royal Caribbean's biggest ships and trying a small ship.

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 RCB Video: 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise

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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 — 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Is Allure of the Seas the "worst" Oasis Class ship?

Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class cruise ship that doesn't have waterslides, the Ultimate Abyss, and many other ship wide enhancements, so does that make Allure a bad choice?

Often there are comments posted online about how Allure of the Seas feels outdated, so is that really the case?

Jenna sailed on Allure of the Seas to see for herself how the ship stacks up.

The secret crew-only areas on a cruise ship

Have you ever wondered what the crew areas of a crew ship look like?

Guests aren't allowed to ever go to these areas of the ship, which leaves a lot of people wondering what it's like there.

Bryan James works on Wonder of the Seas and shared a glimpse of what his cabin and crew restaurants, laundry, and stores look like.

How to communicate with other friends and family on your cruise

Whether your kids, siblings, friends, or neighbors on the same cruise as you, there's going to be a need to send a message while on a ship. So what's the best way to do communicate with someone on a cruise ship?

We've got a list of common and useful ways of doing being able to easy contact someone, with each method coming with pros and cons. 

How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget

Royal Caribbean cruises are affordable vacations for guests of pretty much any budget, which makes them an attractive way to vacation.

Whether you are going all out, counting every last penny, or looking for a reasonable value, there are options that should fit into any family spending plan.

Here is a look at tips and tricks for how to plan a memorable cruise vacation on a low, moderate, and high budget.

While Icon of the Seas may have dominated the cruise news cycle over the last week, there's other Royal Caribbean news you should know about!

Given how large a company Royal Caribbean is, there's plenty of moving parts and we wanted to make sure you were up to date with all of this week's remaining Royal Caribbean news.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

First U.S. cruise ship begins using renewable diesel fuel

Navigator of the Seas is the first major cruise line in the United States to use a renewable diesel fuel.

Not only is Navigator the first ship, but Royal Caribbean Group is now the first major cruise line operator to sail a cruise ship from a U.S. port with this new kind of fuel.

The renewable fuel being used by Navigator of the Seas contains less carbon than traditional marine fuels. While this fuel is produced from renewable raw materials, the production process for this fuel makes it molecularly identical to traditional marine gas oil — creating a "drop in" fuel that can be safely used with the ship's existing engines.

Royal Caribbean will continue using lower carbon fuel to meet part of the Los Angeles-based ship's fuel needs as it evaluates the feasibility for long-term use. The cruise line's goal is to expand its usage to other ships across the fleet. 

For the trial, Royal Caribbean Group has partnered with World Fuel Services to supply the renewable fuel to Navigator of the Seas. The Jankovich Company will deliver the fuel on behalf of World Fuel Services to the ship while at the Port of Los Angeles. Once fueled, Navigator of the Seas will set sail to Mexico.

In addition to testing the use of biofuel aboard Navigator of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Group is set to debut the cruise industry's first hybrid-powered ship in summer 2023, as part of Silversea Cruises newest class of ships, the Nova class.

Royal Caribbean Group is also working to reduce emissions while at port by investing in shore power on its ships and collaborating with key cruise ports for its use.

This is in addition to a previously announced deal to bring shore power to PortMiami and a new zero-energy cruise terminal in the Port of Galveston, Texas.

Royal Caribbean Group schedules third quarter business update

Royal Caribbean Group announced it has scheduled a conference call with investors to discuss its third quarter results and provide a business update.

The call is scheduled for 10am Eastern Time on Thursday, November 3, 2022.

The call will be available on-line at the company's investor relations website, www.rclinvestor.com.

Local artist partners with new Royal Caribbean cruise terminal

When Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal in Galveston opens next month, you'll see art sourced from local artists.

Royal Caribbean wants to celebrate local art and culture, so they teamed up with Houston-based Piper Faust Public Art to assemble a slate of Texas artists to consider for this unique opportunity. They picked a design concept by the husband-and-wife team of Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin of Brad Oldham Sculpture.

The Galveston Beach Trio sculpture, which is forged in stainless steel and lost-wax bronze, will welcome guests at the cruise line's new terminal facility.

The larger-than-life sculpture depicts a musical trio inspired by the rich musical heritage of the historic port city. Galveston has been home to musicians like Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone singer and songwriter Barry White, as well as local artists like Joyce Fields, who played piano for nearly 20 years at Sunday brunch at the historic Hotel Galvez, and Joe Pena, the guitarist known as the Granddaddy of Galveston Rock and Roll.

Joshua Carroll, vice president of Destination Development at Royal Caribbean Group, talked about this new deal, "Our passion lies in sharing the world's incredible destinations with our guests, allowing them to experience cultures from around the world, including the places from which their travels begin."

"Showcasing the history and culture of Galveston was our top priority in establishing this art installation in our new terminal, and we're thrilled to partner with Brad Oldham Sculpture to bring this vision to life."

Royal Caribbean's new terminal opens on November 9, 2022.

A lot of people want to sail on Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship. So much so, it broke the cruise line's high water mark.

Royal Caribbean just set a record for how many cruises people booked in a single day when it put Icon of the Seas on sale.

The cruise line reported the single largest booking day in its entire history when reservations opened for the the first Icon Class ship.

As of the publishing of this article on Thursday, all of Icon's inside, balcony, and suite cabins were all listed as sold out for the inaugural sailing. The only category left was ocean view cabins, and I could only find one cabin to choose from.

The inaugural Icon of the Seas sailing is a seven-night cruise from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on January 27, 2024.

Royal Caribbean has been riding a wave of excitement for its new ship ever since they revealed what Icon of the Seas will look like and what sort of features guests can enjoy onboard.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley was astonished by the high demand, "The enthusiasm and excitement for Icon are undeniable in more ways than one."

"The incredible response we have received from our loyal guests, vacationers new to cruising, crew members and travel partners continues to come in, and this is just the beginning. We can’t wait to share more of what Icon has in store in the coming months."

Royal Caribbean wants to lure families away from land vacations

Icon of the Seas is more than just the new biggest cruise ship in the world: it's a shot across the bow to all the typical family vacation destinations on land.

Icon of the Seas will be the first in a new class of cruise ship that has placed a greater emphasis on family travelers.

The ship will break records along the way with its 250,600 gross ton size, making it larger than the current holder of that record, Wonder of the Seas.

Part of why Icon will be bigger is to allow more families to enjoy the ship. You'll find more cabins that have extra capacity to accommodate third or fourth passengers in the room so that parents with children can sail together.

Moreover, the ship has an entire neighborhood dedicated to young families with the Surfside neighborhood, which is an outdoor pool and splash area.

Royal Caribbean wants Surfside to be a destination for families that they can spend most of their day at, with splash areas for babies and kids, pools and lounge spaces for parents, family-friendly eateries and shops, and a bar with "mommy and me" matching mocktails for kids and cocktails for grownups.

While speaking to reporters last week, Mr. Bayley said the ship is all about moving deeper into the family market, "We’re really focused on family and as you move into Icon, our focus on family is probably at the highest level it’s ever been."

"We know that every single week, throughout the whole year, we have a significant percentage of young families that sail with Royal Caribbean. It skews on the big Caribbean cruises and it skews on products that are connected to a drive-in home market, but that market is quite powerful."

"Young families is a big market and we think it’s an under-served market."

To that point, Icon of the Seas is a move to attract people who like to take the kind of family vacation where everyone of all ages can have a good time while being together.

Mr. Bayley talked about this importance when designing the ship, "The beauty of Icon is that its size, scale and the totality of the combination of the neighborhoods and the experiences that we offer fit all of our demographics within what we call the multi-generational family space."

Big spaces and new features

While the Surfside family neighborhood has garnered a lot of attention, Royal Caribbean did not spare on innovation.

There are eight neighborhoods across the ship, which Royal Caribbean thinks will offer something for guests of all ages.

Chill Island has a variety of pools to consider, including the first swim-up pool and bar at sea.

Nearby Thrill Island features the largest water park ever built on a cruise ship, with a record six waterslides.

Adults can find solace in the new Cloud 17 area reserved just for guests 16 and older.

And then there's The Hideaway, which has a suspended infinity pool that aims to offer a resort pool vibe.

Launching in January 2024

Whether you were part of the record setting day or are considering booking now, you're still going to need to wait a while before Icon of the Seas enters service.

Icon of the Seas is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

She is expected to be delivered to Royal Caribbean sometime in late 2023, and then engage in a series of trials before prepping the ship to welcome customers onboard.

Royal Caribbean will base the new ship in Miami until at least mid-2025.

Looking for more information on Icon of the Seas? Check out our latest articles on this new cruise ship:

• Ultimate guide to Icon of the Seas cabins & suites
• Royal Caribbean reveals spectacular design for new Icon of the Seas cruise ship
• 7 of the most cutting-edge features coming to Icon of the Seas

Before you head out to trick or treat, you might be able to save money on a drink package or shore excursion.

Royal Caribbean will routinely offer sales on pre-cruise items every few weeks in an effort to bump sales, while at the same time offering potential discounts on popular items.

In almost all cases, buying a package or add-on before the cruise will save you money compared to waiting to book it onboard. It's quite rare for the price onboard to be cheaper than if you had pre-purchased.

It's a good idea to check the final price rather than looking at what percentage off is being advertised.

The Halloween Sale is valid on purchases made between October 26, 2022 – Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

It applies to all sailings between October 30, 2022 – August 31, 2023 (excluding Spectrum of the Seas and charter sailings).

Here is what is included during the sale:

Beverage: Up to 40% off

• Classic Soda Beverage Package: 30% Off onboard prices
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 30% Off onboard prices
• Water Bottle Pacakage: 40% off onboard prices.
• San Benedetto Water Cans: 40% off onboard prices.
• Evian Water Bottles: 40% off onboard prices.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship.
• Refreshment Package: Discount varies by ship.

Shore Excursions: Up to 25% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship.

Internet: Up to 50% Off

• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.
• The Key: Discounts varies by ship

Dining: Up to 50% Off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 9N sailings: Discount varies by ship

Gifts & Gear: Up to 20% Off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Chocolate Cake & Strawberries
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake & Strawberries
• Inky Beach Set
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe)
• Inky Travel Set
• Red Wine and Cheese
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel
• Strawberries with Champagne
• White Wine and Cheese
• Anniversary Decorations
• Happy Birthday Bright Style
• Winter Blanket

Photo Packages: Up to 65% off

• Photo Packages: From 5 - 100 Print and/or Digital Options: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: Private Photo Session: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: All Digital: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% Off

• Spa Packages: Discount varies by ship.

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

More helpful information

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?