Royal Caribbean has joined the growing list of cruise lines that will skip scheduled visits to Russia due to the Ukraine invasion.

The invasion of the Ukraine has generated a great deal of animosity towards Russia. Many see financial hits against Russia as an easy way to voice their displeasure with the invasion.

Less than a week ago, Royal Caribbean said it had a back up plan in case going to Russia was out of the question.

On Tuesday, guests booked on Voyager of the Seas were informed their ship will not visit St. Petersburg, Russia.

"The safety of our guests and crew is always our top priority," Royal Caribbean said in an online statement.

"With the recent events, we have made the decision to cancel our visits to St. Petersburg, Russia on all Summer 2022 itineraries."

"We are continuously monitoring events taking place around the world, including the situation in Ukraine."

Instead of visiting Russia, some of Voyager of the Seas' sailings will go to Germany and Poland.

Others are going to Sweden.

Voyager of the Seas is scheduled to launch her first season in the Baltic Sea in 2022, becoming the first Voyager Class ship to do so.

Baltic cruises are a popular European cruise itinerary, but many cruise lines are amending their plans to avoid Russia.

Royal Caribbean supporting crew members during the war

In addition to bypassing Russia, Royal Caribbean is also offering support to its crew members from the region.

Royal Caribbean employs over 500 crew members from the Ukraine, and 200 crew members from Russia.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted on Monday the company is offering these crew members assistance getting them home or close to home if they wish to leave their ship.

Other cruise lines skipping Russia

Royal Caribbean has joined many other cruise lines in bypassing Russia this year.

Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and a host of other brands have all said they will skip visits to Russia.

In light of the recent attacks by Russia in Ukraine, Carnival Corporation brands will be modifying our itineraries in the coming week once alternative ports can be confirmed. We stand for peace.

— Carnival Corporation (@CarnivalPLC) February 26, 2022

Carnival Corporation tweeted, "In light of the recent attacks by Russia in Ukraine, Carnival Corporation brands will be modifying our itineraries in the coming week once alternative ports can be confirmed."

"We stand for peace."

There is no question that dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise has become a major aspect of the cruise experience. The food available onboard ranges from simple and classic to extravagant and contemporary. In short, there are a lot of great dining choices available on Royal Caribbean.

With so many choices, often guests preparing for their cruise have many questions about what is included, which options are available and how it all works. What follows is our guide to understanding better the basics of dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Complimentary food

Simply put, there is plenty of great food included in the cost of your Royal Caribbean cruise. One can easily go on an entire cruise and enjoy nothing but food that has no additional cost from morning to night. After all, that is what the concept of a cruise has been for a long time.

Royal Caribbean ships have different names and venues for its dining options, but you will find some basic characteristics among them all to prepare you for what to expect.

Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room (MDR) is the stalwart institution upon which cruise ship dining was established. It has changed over the years, but the principles remain the same, and the Main Dining Room is available on all Royal Caribbean ships.

The MDR is a large, sit-down restaurant with waiter service that is included in your cruise fare. Guests may dine in the Main Dining Room for breakfast and dinner every day of their cruise. Lunch is served in the MDR on sea days only. 

For dinner, Royal Caribbean offers a traditional set dining time with assigned seating, or an alternative first-come, first-served option (My Time Dining). 

Both offer the same menu, which changes every night, and in both cases, there is the possibility that you will be seated with other guests. Passengers can contact their travel agent or Royal Caribbean before the cruise to ask to be assigned to a smaller table if they do not wish to sit with other cruisers

Dinner is the most popular and common time to dine in the Main Dining Room, as this is when there's a complimentary menu that features appetizers, entrees, and desserts to choose from. 

You may order as much (or as little) as you like, and it's all complimentary, with the exception of a few premium dishes that have an additional surcharge. Premium beverages, such as soda, alcohol, and specialty coffee, are also not complimentary in the Main Dining Room but can be purchased individually or as part of a beverage package.

Breakfast and lunch are less formal than dinner, with guests seated as they arrive. Make sure you check the posted hours of when the dining room is open. In both cases, the meals are served to you at your table. While the breakfast menu stays the same, the lunch menu changes daily. 

The Main Dining Room has a dress code. The dress code for dinner changes each evening, while breakfast and lunch are far more casual.

When guests hear the word, "dress code," they often ponder what's acceptable to wear. The reality is that on most nights, guests can easily wear what would be defined as "resort casual," which can mean a sundress or skirt for women and a collared shirt and slacks for men. "Nice" jeans are appropriate for both men and women too.

On formal nights, the suggested attire gets a bit fancier, with cocktail dresses or gowns for women and suits for men.

Windjammer

First-time cruisers often imagine a large buffet when they think of eating on a cruise, and the Windjammer is the closest thing to that concept.  

The Windjammer is a buffet restaurant that is included in your cruise fare and serves meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Windjammer locations are not open all the time but have long enough hours to cover nearly all the times guests would like something to eat.

The buffet has lots of seating and more food variety than anywhere else on the ship. You will find burgers, soups, sandwiches, ethnic dishes, salads, pastas, desserts, and much more every day. 

The buffet is self-serve, so guests walk up to the buffet station and use serving spoons or tongs to place food on their plates.

Guests can sit at a table to eat in the Windjammer but are also free to take their food elsewhere on the ship, like the pool deck. There are crew members who are responsible for clearing plates, cleaning tables, and bringing you beverages. 

Unlike the Main Dining Room, the dress code for the Windjammer is casual. It's a great alternative to any sit-down restaurant, including the Main Dining Room. In fact, some guests opt to eat exclusively at the Windjammer for dinner instead of the MDR.

After a long day in port or onboard, some guests do not want to get ready for a long sit-down meal and prefer a quick, casual dining experience.

Quick service restaurants

The bulk of complimentary food on a Royal Caribbean cruise is available from quick-service restaurants, which offer quick, grab-and-go food to guests.  

Quick-service restaurants offer sandwiches, burritos, snacks, pizza, and everything in between. Each Royal Caribbean ship will offer a number of these locations around your ship, so you are never too far away.

There is usually limited seating available at these locations, but most guests get the food and then bring it somewhere else on the ship to eat, such as in their stateroom or by the pool. It is designed for guests who want something quick to eat on their way to somewhere else.

AquaDome Market

Available exclusively on Icon Class ships, the AquaDome Market is Royal Caribbean's first-ever food hall. Inside, you'll find five different stalls that each highlight a different cuisine or type of food:

• Crème de la Crépe (Crèpes)
• GNGR (Asian)
• Mac's (Mac and cheese)
• Feta (Mediterranean)
• Toast & Garden (Sandwiches and salads)

It was purposely placed at the front of the ship to help alleviate the crowds present at the ever-popular Windjammer Marketplace. 

El Loco Fresh

El Loco Fresh is Royal Caribbean's grab-and-go Mexican joint where you'll find burritos, quesadillas, beans, rice, nachos, tacos, and more. There's also a toppings and salsa bar, so you can customize your food to your liking. 

It's a popular spot on sea days, so you shouldn't be surprised if you walk up to find a line! 

Mini Bites

Mini-Bites is your go-to spot for burgers, fries, hot dogs, salads, quesadillas, omelets, and more.

It's perfect to grab a quick bite to eat before returning to the action at the Pool and Sports Zone, which is home to the mini-golf course, zip line, and FlowRider Surf Simulator, not to mention some amazing views of the Boardwalk Neighborhood below!

Dog House

Craving a juicy frank on your afternoon at sea? Look no further than the Doghouse, which dishes up different links with a toppings bar. 

The Coney Island dog is a classic made with American beef. Alternatively, you can opt for The Smoke House, which is a pork bratwurst that's seasoned with traditional spices for a hint of heat! There's also a Chicken Sausage for those who don't eat red meat. 

Park Café

Park Café first debuted on Oasis of the Seas and is home to the legendary Royal Kümmelweck sandwich. If roast beef isn't your thing, you can craft your own salad or order one of their pre-made sandwiches. 

Park Café is open for breakfast, too, and you can come here for a quick breakfast featuring a bagel bar, fruit, oatmeal, and more. It's much more relaxed than the Windjammer Marketplace. 

Café at Two70

Café at Two70 is essentially Quantum Class' rendition of the Park Café. Located near the Two70 venue in the aft of the ship, you'll find various salads, soups, and sandwiches available in the afternoon. 

In the mornings, Café at Two70 serves bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and other light bites, all steps away from amazing aft views. 

Sorrento's

Sorrento's Pizza is a staple Royal Caribbean eatery that dishes up fresh pizza at nearly all hours of the day. 

It's not uncommon for it to be open daily until 2:00am or 3:00am, making it a popular spot for a quick grab-and-go lunch or late-night snack after enjoying some of the various onboard entertainment. 

Café Promenade

Café Promenade is a 24-hour venue that serves complimentary coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and fruit. You can also purchase specialty coffee here. Those who have a Royal Caribbean Deluxe or Refreshment Beverage Package won't have to worry about paying anything extra, though. 

Fish & Ships

Fish & Ships is an á la carte fast-casual restaurant, meaning that all menu options are only available to those who pay an extra charge. Prices range from $2 for a deep-fried candy bar to $10 for a lobster roll that's served with chips. 

Other options include fish & chips ($7), fried shrimp ($5), fried calamari ($5), battered sausages ($4), hand-cut fries ($3), and a sandwich filled with chips for $3. 

On Independence of the Seas, Fish & Ships is included.

Johnny Rockets Express

While some ships feature a sit-down Johnny Rockets, Johnny Rockets Express is for those who want to take their burger and shake to-go. The restaurant even features spiked milkshakes for those who are in the mood for something slightly more spirited. 

Note that this venue, like Fish & Ships, isn't included in the cost of your cruise fare. 

Room Service

Room service is available 24 hours per day on your Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 per order fee for room service. Whether you order one item or ten items, a $7.95 fee per room service order will be levied. There is a complimentary continental breakfast option, with menu items like muffins, bagels, oatmeal, and toast, that is free. 

Just like room service at a hotel, you can call room service and place an order to have a crew member deliver the food to your room. Royal Caribbean has also added a room service ordering option via the stateroom television, which simplifies the ordering process.

The room service menu does not change and is limited in scope.

Specialty Dining

In addition to all the food included in your cruise fare are specialty dining options. Specialty dining restaurants carry an extra cost to dine there. The exact amount will vary from restaurant to restaurant, and ship to ship.  

In most cases, the specialty dining options offer a greater variety of food choices than what is available at complimentary dining locations. Royal Caribbean has designed its specialty restaurants around themes or cuisines (Italian, steakhouse, sushi, etc).

Royal Caribbean recommends making a reservation in advance for its specialty restaurants to ensure there is seating available. Unlike the Main Dining Room, you will not be seated with other guests except for the Izumi Hibachi experience.

Specialty restaurants are priced in one of two manners: cover charge or à la carte pricing. With a cover charge, there is one price for all the food on the menu (except for beverages). There can also be a surcharge for ordering more than one entree, although this rule varies based on the specialty restaurant you happen to be dining at. 

À la carte dining charges you just for what you order, and is similar to how food is billed at a conventional land-based restaurant.

Specialty dining can be booked prior to a cruise via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner or once onboard the ship. Reservations made online for a specialty restaurant with a cover charge will charge the full amount to your credit or debit card at the time of booking, whereas reservations made onboard the ship will not be charged to your SeaPass account until you dine at the restaurant.

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi

Izumi is a Japanese restaurant that may either be a stand-alone sushi joint or feature an interactive teppanyaki experience. 

Both have separate menus, allowing passengers to choose from enjoying freshly prepared sushi or enjoying the excitement of watching a skilled tableside chef prepare hibachi. 

Those with a dining package will have to pay an upgrade for the teppanyaki. 

Chops Grille

Chops is Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse that's available on every ship in the fleet. 

Regardless of whether you're sailing on Grandeur of the Seas or the brand-new Icon of the Seas, you can indulge in prime cuts of meat and savory sides, from delicious mashed potatoes to creamy mac and cheese. 

Wonderland

Those seeking perhaps the most unique dining experience onboard any cruise ship at sea should elect to dine at Wonderland. Themed after Alice in Wonderland, your meal at Wonderland will take you on an adventure unlike any other. 

To reveal the menu, which was inspired by the five different natural elements, you must "paint" on a canvas provided by the wait staff. Expect to find dishes like liquid lobster, crispy crab cones, tomato water, and more. 

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade

Playmakers is Royal Caribbean's sports bar that features classic bar food like nachos, sliders, fries, and chicken tenders. 

Those craving a sweet treat cannot go wrong with the campfire cookie. Like Fish & Ships, everything at Playmakers is à la carte. Pile On Nachos, for instance, costs $8.99, while 12 wings can be purchased for $13.99. 

150 Central Park

150 Central Park is an elegant restaurant available exclusively on Oasis Class ships. As the same implies, the restaurant is situated in Central Park alongside Chops Grille, giving both specialty restaurants a serene setting. 

The menu focuses on dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. To kickstart the meal, you'll be given an assortment of bread, butter, and six varieties of salt. 

The Mason Jar

The Mason Jar is a southern-inspired restaurant that serves up classics like fried chicken and lobster and crawfish gumbo, as well as a separate brunch menu featuring the popular cinnamon roll. It's one of the newest specialty restaurants, first launching on Wonder of the Seas. 

Instead of highlighting a single Southern region, the restaurant encompasses dishes from throughout the American South, each with its own special touch.

Hooked Seafood

Like the Mason Jar, Hooked Seafood is relatively new, too. It first debuted on Symphony of the Seas and has since been added to other ships like Navigator of the Seas and, of course, the new Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. 

This seafood restaurant highlights dishes and popular flavors from the Northeast, including clam chowder and oysters. 

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is Royal Caribbean's newest Italian specialty restaurant allowing you to get a taste of Italy on the high seas. 

On the menu, you'll find everything from fresh pasta and pizza to classic Old World dishes like Veal Meatballs. They also have an extensive wine list to complement the menu. 

Giovanni’s Table

Before there was Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, there was Giovanni’s Table, a traditional Italian restaurant offering items such as Pasta Carbonara and Eggplant Parmigiana. 

It's a bit more upscale with a larger menu that has a reputation for its hearty dishes, whereas Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen has a more contemporary feel that focuses on shared dishes. 

Jamie’s Italian

Jamie’s Italian is Royal Caribbean's modern take on Italian cuisine that features the famous meat and cheese plank, along with homemade pasta. 

In mid-2023, Royal Caribbean and Jamie Oliver announced a new menu for Jamie’s Italian. On the lunch menu, you will no longer find the JI Burger, Calabrian Chicken, and Jamie's Caesar Salad. Instead, the Crispy Chicken Burger and Avocado Caesar Salad are available to order. 

Samba Grill

Samba Grill is your traditional, all-you-can-eat-meat Brazilian rodizio. It's only found on two ships in the fleet: Radiance of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. On the latter, it's located in the Solarium Bistro, which transforms into this unique specialty restaurant in the evenings. 

The meal includes a buffet and sit-down dining experience that features endless selections of freshly-carved meats. 

Sabor

Those who are a fan of Mexican fare will appreciate a visit to Sabor, which offers classic fare like tacos, quesadillas, empanadas, chips and salsa, and other small plates.  

Currently, it's only on three ships in the fleet: Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas. 

Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets isn't a Royal Caribbean-exclusive restaurant. The beloved diner-style chain was founded in 1986 and has over 90 locations throughout the United States. Though they're found in popular tourist spots like Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada, you will only find Johnny Rockets at sea on Royal Caribbean ships!

Whether you're craving a milkshake, juicy burger, or cheese fries, Johnny Rockets has you covered with all your favorite American diner classics.

Portside BBQ

Oasis of the Seas is home to the only Portside BBQ in the fleet. This à la carte venue dishes up delicious ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and even turkey legs! 

There are plenty of sides to complement the meat, too, including mac & cheese and home-style cornbread. Don't fill up without trying one of the desserts, though!

Chef's Table

Dining at the Chef's Table is more than your average specialty meal; it's the ultimate experience for foodies that's hosted by the chef and sommelier.

During this six-course meal, each of which is paired with the perfect wine, you will embark on a culinary journey like no other alongside a small group of other diners.  

Specialty restaurant costs

The cost of specialty dining varies considerably and the same restaurant can have a different price depending on the ship. The price of a restaurant can also fluctuate from sailing to sailing.

Most specialty dining has a flat-fee surcharge, ranging from $15 (Johnny Rockets) or $60 (Chops Grille) to $100 (Chef's Table).  Most specialty dining restaurant cover charges fall into the $20 to $45 range. Dining at a specialty restaurant for lunch can often be half the price of dinner while still providing the same menu.

The à la carte priced restaurants will have item prices ranging from just a few dollars up to around $20.

Some guests may wish to purchase a dining package before their cruise. By reserving an Ultimate Dining Package or 3-night Dining Package, guests can enjoy a variety of restaurants at a lower cost than purchasing meals at each restaurant individually.

Specialty restaurant hours

All Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants are open for dinner, with some open during breakfast and/or lunch.

Lunch meals at specialty restaurants usually are priced a bit lower and only on sea days. Breakfast is quite rare to be offered at Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants aside from an included breakfast for Pinnacle members. Some specialty venues, like Johnny Rockets on Oasis Class ships, transform to offer breakfast for no additional fee.

For breakfast or lunch, advanced reservations are not usually available or required.

Kids at specialty restaurants

Royal Caribbean welcomes children that are 12 years old or younger to its specialty restaurants (when accompanied by an adult) and even offers them special pricing.

Kids ages 6-12 can dine at specialty restaurants for a $10 cover charge. Kids 5 years old and under eat free.

In fact, some specialty restaurants have a special kids menu that offers kid-friendly favorites from the regular menu. Children under the age of 5 will have a menu similar to the kid's menu from the Main Dining Room.

Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, 150 Central Park, and Chef's Table do allow kids, but they are best enjoyed by children 13 years or older.

Dietary restrictions and special requests

Royal Caribbean is very accommodating when it comes to guests with special dietary needs. The cruise line can handle a number of requests, such as food allergies, gluten-free, Kosher, low-fat, and low-sodium.

Vegetarian meals (including Indian-style vegetarian) are available on all menus in the Dining Room and Windjammer every day. Guests do not need to make a special request for these meals.

Lactose-free milk, ensure, and kosher meals are available at no extra charge. All you have to do is notify Royal Caribbean at least 45 days prior to sailing (90 days for European/South American Itineraries).

A selection of non-dairy milk is available at coffee shops and at the Windjammer or Main Dining Room upon request.

For any and all dietary requests, contact your travel agent or Certified Vacation Planner and request that the remark be noted in your reservation details. If you made your reservation online at royalcaribbean.com, you may add your request to the "update personal information." section. You may also send an email request to [email protected].

Please include in the email the guests' names, booking number, ship name, and sail date. E-mails will receive an automated response. 

More Royal Caribbean food info

This blog post is just the beginning of the many options, choices, and tips about dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Here are a few more resources that will help you better understand what to expect once onboard:

• Top 10 insider tips for the main dining room
• Royal Caribbean's dining packages
• How to request your favorite foods be prepared in the Main Dining Room
• 5 ways to save money on food & drink on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Top 10 Royal Caribbean dining tips
• Royal Caribbean menus

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Royal Caribbean has released new cruises you can book to destinations in the Caribbean for the 2023-2024 season.

The new batch of itineraries were published to Royal Caribbean's website overnight into Tuesday, and include ships such as Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean has methodically announced new deployments week after week, and this week's batch is categorized under the "Long Caribbean" itinerary.

A notable change in this deployment is Harmony of the Seas will move from Florida to Texas in November 2023.

Harmony of the Seas will move from Miami and begin sailing from Galveston, Texas on November 1, 2023 with a 4-night cruise before changing to 7-night cruises through April 2024.

Symphony of the Seas will shift to Port Everglades after returning from Europe in November 2023. 

From Fort Lauderdale, Symphony will sail alternating 6- and 8-night cruises to the Caribbean.

Odyssey of the Seas will remain in Fort Lauderdale as well, sailing alternating 6- and 8-night cruises through April 2024.

Oasis of the Seas will move back to Miami after completing her summer cruises from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Oasis will start with a 4-night cruise on November 1, 2023 and then switch to 7-night alternating cruises from PortMiami through April 2024.

The biggest cruise ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas, will continue to offer 7-night cruises out of Port Canaveral through April 2024.

Brilliance of the Seas will begin offering 7-night cruises from Tampa. She returns to Tampa after her summer season and sail 7-night Western Caribbean cruises.

Voyager of the Seas will call Port Canaveral home and sail 6- and 8-night cruises around the Caribbean.

What about Icon of the Seas?

You may recall Icon of the Seas, the first ship in the Icon Class, is set to debut sometime in 2023 and she is conspicuously absent from the deployments.

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean releases sailings on a new ship in its own separate deployment. We've seen this with Wonder, Odyssey, and Symphony of the Seas when their initial sailings were put on sale.

Royal Caribbean has not said where Icon of the Seas will sail from yet, but we do know it will debut sometime in fall 2023.

Next deployments

More cruises will be announced over the course of the next few weeks.

Royal Caribbean's deployment schedule is as follows:

• Week of March 7: Short Caribbean
• Week of March 14: Los Angeles
• Week of March 28: Barbados & Panama
• Week of April 4: Australia
• Week of April 11: China
• Week of April 18: 7-night Caribbean
• Week of June 6: Singapore

Keep in mind that the deployment schedule is subject to change.

Planning on booking a 2023 cruise? These stories will help:

• 5 things to look for before you book a cruise
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• Should I take a short or a long cruise?
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• Why you should take a cruise to Bermuda

The next sale on cruise add-ons begins today.

Royal Caribbean kicked off the month of March with a new cruise planner sale, that could save you money on drink packages, wifi, excursions and more.

The sale runs between March 1 - 8, 2022 and is valid on sailings between March 5, 2022 - December 31, 2022.

Here is a look at the discounts you can expect to find:

Beverage: Up to 45% off

• Classic Soda Beverage Package: 15% off onboard prices.
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 25% off onboard prices.
• Spring Water Cans: 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: Over 30% off onboard prices.
• Refreshment Package: 45% off onboard prices. 

Shore Excursions: Up to 25% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship. 

Internet: Up to 50% Off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship.
• 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

Dining: Up to 55% 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

Photo Packages: Up to 70% 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: Picture This Private Studio: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: All Digital: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% off.

• Spa Packages: Discount varies by ship.

How to check for a discount

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?

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship is ready to begin sailing, and I'll be onboard for her first two sailings to share with what it's like to experience this amazing ship.

Wonder of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale later this week, marking the beginning of her career with Royal Caribbean. Each of the two first two sailings are 7-night cruises, with the first going to the Eastern Caribbean and the second to the Western Caribbean.

New cruise ships are always exciting, because it offers the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean has to offer.  Plus, the first sailing tends to be more of a celebration that has graduation, new baby, and homecoming vibes mixed together.

My cruise begins later this week, but here's a cruise preview to share with you what to expect on the trip!

The cruise

Wonder of the Seas begins cruising with a 7-night sailing on March 4 to Labadee, San Juan, Nassau & Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Being the inaugural sailing, I booked this cruise so that I could be onboard the first chance I could get to explore and show all of you what's new, different and the same.

In the interest of full disclosure, I had originally booked this cruise on my own, but Royal Caribbean later invited a number of media to come aboard as a guest of the cruise line. It's an honor to be invited to not only sail, but meet and speak to the many people that worked on making Wonder of the Seas a reality.

As of the writing of this post, I'm not certain which cabin type I have, but every media sailing I've ever been on has been a balcony room. More details later as to what additional opportunities I'll have to share stories and insight from Wonder.

I'll be cruising without my family on the March 4th sailing, although RoyalCaribbeanBlog writer and YouTube Editor Jenna will be onboard as well. We'll be tag teaming this new ship to bring you as much coverage of what is happening onboard as possible.

For the second sailing, my family will be joining me as it coincides with my kids' spring break.

We booked the 2 bedroom AquaTheater suite to accomplish two goals on this sailing: explore the new Suite Neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas, and penance to my wife for me going on a cruise by myself for a week while she stayed home with the kids. 

On the second sailing, it will be another 7-night cruise that visits Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan.

In the case of both sailings, this will be my first opportunity to cruise with the relaxed Covid-19 protocols, including optional mask wearing, no vaccine wristbands, and more.

Having cruised without masks back in early summer 2021, it will be nice to get back to a more open cruise experience.

Three things I am excited to try

3. Mason Jar

Anytime Royal Caribbean launches a new restaurant concept, I want to try it.

I remember when Royal Caribbean announced Oasis of the Seas would have a BBQ restaurant and I was not that excited because I don't each that much BBQ.  

Then I tried it.

On Wonder of the Seas, a new southern American comfort food restaurant is available.

Looking at the menu, there's fried green tomatoes, po'boys, brisket, fried chicken and more. I can't wait to eat here a few times to sample as much of the menu as I can.

2. Take my kids to the Wonder Playscape

As a parent, I get a lot of satisfaction in taking my kids to places that they can't get enough of, and I think the new Wonder Playscape will be one of those places.

Royal Caribbean says this area will be an open-air kids’ play area that has slides, climbing walls, games, puzzles, and an interactive mural activated by touch.

I hope the kids enjoy the experience and it becomes a fun sea day activity for them that they want to do a few times.

1. Explore the suite Neighborhood

While I don't consider myself a "suite guy", I do appreciate how nice it is to stay in a suite when the chance presents itself.

Royal Caribbean has dedicated the most amenities yet to suite guests on Wonder of the Seas, and I'm excited to see how that differs from the suite experience on other ships I've sailed.

What's next

Our Wonder of the Seas cruise begins on Friday, March 4th, and I will be sharing the details on the blog, as well as across my social media channels.  Be sure to follow me on Facebook & YouTube for live updates throughout the day.

I invite you to share in this experience with me, by posting in the comments for any blog post questions and comments you may have.  I try to make these live blogs as interactive as I can, so I want everyone to feel welcome to share their thoughts.

Thanks for reading all of this and welcome aboard our next fun live blog experience!

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has elicited all sorts of support for the people of Ukraine, and the cruise industry has been quick to respond.

The geopolitical issues of the conflict are one aspect, but the people behind the invasion are another aspect that have a deep connection, especially those that work for the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean hires crew members from all over the world, including the Ukraine. Royal Caribbean employs over 500 crew members from the Ukraine.

In a post on social media, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley responded to questions the company has received about those crew members.

"Understandably they are extremely concerned and anxious about their loved ones at home," Mr. Bayley wrote.

Royal Caribbean is offering its Ukrainian crew members various forms of assistance, "We have made available all communication channels that we have so they can access their families.

"[We] Have offered assistance getting them home or close to home if they wish to leave their ship and we are trying to expedite any Ukrainian crew who wishes to join any of our ships earlier than scheduled."

Mr. Bayley added that support is not just limited to the Ukrainian crew. Royal Caribbean's 200 crew members are not being ignored, as they too are dealing with questions about what is happening back home.

"We also have over 200 Russian crew who also are concerned and anxious over these events and we are offering them the same support."

"The Royal family is here for all our crew and our thoughts and prayers go out to all impacted by these events"

Port stops in Russia could change

Prior to Mr. Bayley's comments, Royal Caribbean informed guests booked on Baltic cruises in 2022 that visits to Russia could be skipped.

In an email to guests booked on Voyager of the Seas sailings that visit St. Petersburg in summer 2022, Royal Caribbean said it has, "secured alternate ports" just in case.

"We’re continuously monitoring events taking place around the world, including the situation in Ukraine. With the recent events, it is increasingly uncertain if we can visit St. Petersburg, Russia, as scheduled. For your peace of mind, we want to share our plans."

"At this time, our intention is to sail to St. Petersburg; however, we have secured alternate ports, should we feel that changing our itinerary is the best path forward."

In addition, Royal Caribbean said it would allow anyone booked on a Baltic cruise in 2022 to change their cruise and would waive change fees.

Happy Sunday, and I hope you had a great week. It was a busy week of Royal Caribbean fun, and I have a round-up of all of it in this hand-dandy blog post.

Royal Caribbean revised its health protocols to reflect the relaxed requirements by the U.S. government.

Royal Caribbean issued new health protocols that apply to all cruises sailing from the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Barbados between February 25, 2022 and April 14, 2022

Changes include optional mask wearing for vaccinated guests, removal of vaccinated venues, and the elimination of vaccine wristbands.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean releases 2023-2024 cruises sailing from Northeast US
• Royal Caribbean will offer cruises from Panama in 2023
• Royal Caribbean pushes back final payment for June 2022 cruises
• Royal Caribbean has backup plan for Russia calls after Ukraine invasion
• Royal Caribbean updates: Galveston terminal progress, Grand Cayman, 1 million passengers & more
• Royal Caribbean cruises in March 2022: What to expect
• Photos: Wonder of the Seas arrives at Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Here's Royal Caribbean's new optional mask policy
• Where to stay before your cruise: AirBnBs

New RCB Video: 7 things Royal Caribbean changed that I like!

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 — 7 things Royal Caribbean changed that I like! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 443rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available with a review of Matt's Independence of the Seas cruise.

Matt sailed on a 3-night Independence of the Seas cruise and shared what it was like, and what stood out from his weekend sailing.

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.

Royal Caribbean will bring back some Crown and Anchor loyalty program benefits

More loyalty benefits are coming back to Royal Caribbean's repeat customers.

Beginning with sailings on March 15, Royal Caribbean announced a number of Crown and Anchor Society benefits that were temporarily removed due to Covid-19 will make a return.

The reason these were suspended was to promote social distancing and the result of other Covid-19 related protocols.

Wonder of the Seas arrives in U.S. for her first sailings

Wonder of the Seas has arrived in the United States!

The newest ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet sailed into Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in advance of her first sailing scheduled for March 4, 2022.

Wonder of the Seas measures 1,188 feet and has a gross tonnage of 236,857.  At double occupancy, she can handle 5,734 passengers along with 2,300 crew members.

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. 

It's been a busy week of cruise news, and I wanted to catch you up on all the cruise news also happening beyond the major headlines.

Between all the big happenings in the cruise industry, there's plenty of other changes and developments you should be aware of from this past week.

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

Galveston cruise terminal progress

Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal in Galveston is under construction, and we have a new photo update of what it looked like this week.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader twangster shared photos of the progress as Adventure of the Seas departed Galveston.

Terminal 3 is where Royal Caribbean's new $125 million home for Allure of the Seas will be located, and it's set to open in fall 2022.

Royal Caribbean says it will be a state-of-the-art building that will measure 161,300 square feet.

The new terminal is located at Pier 10 for exclusive use by Royal Caribbean.

Grand Cayman will reopen to cruise ships in March

While most of the Caribbean has reopened to cruise ships, Grand Cayman has left its borders closed to cruise ship traffic.

It now appears Grand Cayman will change that policy. The Cayman Compass reports Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan announced on Friday that cruise ships will be able to start visiting the island as of March 21st.

Initially, Grand Cayman will limit arrivals to a maximum of 40% of previous passenger volumes.

Grand Cayman will evaluate how the first month of operations work and make any changes necessary.

The decision, which is pending Cabinet approval, is expected to be confirmed early next week when formal changes to the COVID control regulations will be made.

One million guests and counting

Royal Caribbean's restart is hitting all sorts of important milestones.

In the year since Royal Caribbean restarted operations, their 21 cruise ships have carried more than one million passengers.

In a post on social media, Royal Caribbean celebrated this achievement, "On the anniversary of The Royal Comeback, we’re excited to celebrate welcoming one million guests onboard our ships since our return to sea."

"Thank you for navigating new challenges with us, creating new memories, and remaining loyal to Royal."

Street parties coming back?

One form of entertainment that has not yet made it back to Royal Caribbean's cruise ships are street parties on the Royal Promenade.

Pre-covid, street parties were a popular event where the ship's entertainment staff would gather together with guests for a Times Square on New Years Eve kind of party.

There would be balloon drops, 70s dance parties, and more.

Royal Caribbean suspended this activity since restarting cruises in an effort to promote social distancing, but it now appears these parties might be coming back.

#WonderoftheSeas #FamousStreetParades #RoyalPromenade #AnchorsAweigh! #Rehearsals #Check ✔️

(yeah, they will be back, hopefully soon…) pic.twitter.com/xdVzMbtbwh

— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) February 25, 2022

Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, Nick Weir, posted on Twitter a video of a street party rehearsal that took place recently.

In the tweet, he added, "yeah, they will be back, hopefully soon…"

With Covid-19 cases dropping and health protocols relaxing on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean is going to bring back some benefits.

When Royal Caribbean restarted cruises in mid-2021 following the Covid-19 shutdown, it paused certain benefits and amenities in its customer loyalty programs.

These changes were meant to be temporary, and now five of them are coming back for guests to enjoy.

In an update on the Crown and Anchor Society website, Royal Caribbean listed the benefits coming back.

Reinstated benefits beginning on sailings departing March 15, 2022 and onward:

• Private Departure Lounge and Continental Breakfast (Gold and above)
• Top Tier Event (Platinum and above)
• Chef’s Choice Gift (Diamond and above)
• Personalized Gift/Amenity (Diamond Plus and above)
• Priority access to dedicated seating at theater, ice shows and AquaTheater events (Diamond Plus and above)

The reason these were suspended was to promote social distancing and the result of other Covid-19 related protocols.

Back in July 2021, Nancy Ramos, Royal Caribbean International's Director of Onboard Branding, Communications & Loyalty, said the company hoped to bring back benefits as soon as they could, "as soon as we can lift this restriction and this capacity limit, we will and it will be like it was pre pandemic."

Suspended benefits

Not all Crown and Anchor benefits will return quite yet.

Three benefits remain suspended or modified:

• Meal with an Officer — This experience, for our Diamond Plus (340 points and above) and Pinnacle Club members, has evolved to a Cheers with an Officer. This event will still take place in the Main Dining Room.
• Entertainment Tour — This tour has been reimagined, allowing our valued Diamond and above members to learn more about the amazing Royal Caribbean productions and entertainment team.
• Behind-the-Scenes Galley Tour — This benefit for our Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members has been temporarily suspended to ensure the health of our guests and crew.

Other benefits remaining

With some benefits coming back, other enhanced benefits are still here to stay.

According to the Crown and Anchor Society website, benefits added or improved in 2021 will remain in place:

• Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members beverage vouchers for drinks up to $13
• Flexible Arrival for Pinnacle Club and Suite guests
• Pinnacle Club members can eat meals in Coastal Kitchen. However, reservations are required and can only be made with the Maître d’ once onboard.
  • Pinnacle Club members sailing on Oasis and Quantum Class ships will also receive a $25 dining voucher per member, per sailing to enjoy at any Specialty Restaurant of their choice.
• Reimagined Events & Access
• Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members priority access to dedicated seating in venues up to 45 minutes prior to showtime.

In regard to the Pinnacle Club Lounge, Royal Caribbean says it is "working through the Suite and Concierge Lounge access for Pinnacle Club members," and will "share more details in the days to come."

In the meantime, Pinnacle Club Lounge access will remain.

Welcome to March, and the unofficial start of spring! This month sees lots of families heading for a cruise vacation to get a break from the chilly temperatures up north.

If you have a cruise in the month of March, this article aims to provide you helpful information & tips for what to expect on a cruise.

March is the beginning of the spring break cruises, which means families and college kids take cruise vacations in greater numbers because of time off from school.

Every school has a different week for spring break, so spring breakers can be on various sailings in March or April.

If you're looking to get a deal on a cruise, the first week is usually safe from spring break, which means lower demand. Likewise for the very end of the month, when anyone who didn't take a spring break cruise earlier will wait for April.

Ships sailing in March 2022

• Freedom of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Anthem of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
• Odyssey of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Allure of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• 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
• Oasis of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Liberty of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
• Adventure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
• Explorer of the Seas from San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles, California
• Quantum of the Seas from Singapore
• Grandeur of the Seas from Bridgetown, Barbados
• Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
• Enchantment of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland
• Jewel of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Wonder of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida beginning March 4.
• Vision of the Seas from from Fort Lauderdale, Florida beginning March 7

The big news this month is Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship starts sailing on March 4th.

Wonder of the Seas will sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and offer 7-night cruises for just March and April before heading to Europe.

Wonder of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world and has a lot of new features and enhancements.

In addition, Vision of the Seas should return to service on March 7 from Port Everglades.

Vision was one of four ships to have cancelled cruises due to the Omicron variant.

Serenade of the Seas remains out of service until April, and Spectrum of the Seas is also out of action until she can restart in Singapore in April.

Health protocols for March 2022

There is a big change for Covid-19 protocols for cruises in March.

With the Omicron variant fading and Covid-19 numbers falling on land, Royal Caribbean has been able to relax a great many protocols.

As of February 25, 2022, Royal Caribbean will require a 95% vaccination rate among crew and passengers.

• All Royal Caribbean guests age 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. 
• Royal Caribbean does not require kids younger than 12 to be vaccinated

The biggest change is cruises in March will not require passengers that are fully vaccinated to wear masks while indoors.

Children will likely have to wear masks indoors and in crowded settings, and masks are required for all children while at the Adventure Ocean youth program. 

Guests under 2 do not have to wear a mask at any time.

Vaccinated guests must show a negative COVID-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day. 

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. This test cannot be taken on boarding day for unvaccinated kids.

Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test. 

Keep in mind there are different health protocols for Grandeur of the Seas sailings from Barbados, so you should review those if sailing from there.

March weather on a cruise

If you like warm, but not hot temperatures with clear skies, then March is the month for you.

The Caribbean sees some of the best weather in the month of March, thanks to comfortably warm temperatures.

You will find warmer temperatures in places like The Bahamas, and if you take a Southern Caribbean cruise, expect average high temps to reach the low 90s.

March is still the dry season in the Caribbean, so you should not have to worry too much about getting soaked from a rainy day.

If you happen to take a Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles, you can expect a very dry month of sailings.

Historical data indicates the average rainfall in March for most of the major destinations in Western Mexico approaches zero.

Catalina Island averages about two inches of rain in March, and Ensenada averages about one inch of rain in the month of March.

While the rain is consistently absent in March, the temperatures can vary greatly. 

Northern destinations will feel the effects of cooler spring weather while southern destinations will be warmer because they are closest to the equator.

Ensenada and Catalina Island have an average high temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but you'll find an average high temperature in Mazatlán in the upper 70s and low 80s in Cabos San Lucas.

Spring Break

As mentioned, March is when the first spring break cruises begin, but don't assume your ship will be turned into a wild party.

Spring break runs from first week in March to last week in April. Since every school has different calendars, you will find spring breakers spread out over the course of these two months.

Spring break is not just for college kids. You will find plenty of families with kids of all ages on spring break and looking to get away for a few days.

If your goal is to avoid spring breakers, longer sailings tend to have less college-aged cruisers.  They tend to favor the less expensive 4-night cruises.