Royal Caribbean Group announced it has reached a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The deal will further enhance Crown Bay in St. Thomas, as well as a significant redevelopment of Frederiksted, St Croix in the future.

The agreement is the first step in a longer process of expanding the cruise line's visits to the islands, as well as looking at ways to expand the port facilities and guest experience at both islands.

Royal Caribbean Group will expand its presence in St Thomas and St Croix. The new deal will have specific targets for bringing guests to each island.

The MOU is a recommitment from Royal Caribbean Group to extend its existing 10-year, pier-use agreement for preferential berthing at VIPA’s cruise facilities in Crown Bay, St. Thomas and Frederiksted, St. Croix.

In addition to guaranteed minimum revenues to the Virgin Islands and increased cruise visits to both St. Thomas and St. Croix, Royal Caribbean Group has expressed an interest in developing enhancements to the cruise facility in Crown Bay and making landside improvements in the Crown Bay District and St. Croix to enhance the island’s tourism products.

In the short term, Royal Caribbean will bring more passengers to St. Thomas and St. Croix, but down the line, enhancing the piers is a big part of the deal.

A third pier will be added to Crown Bay in St. Thomas, which will mean there will be three berths there. Two of these berths will be capable of handling an Icon Class cruise ship.

In addition, Royal Caribbean will look to expand Frederiksted, St. Croix. This will include work on dredging the pier to accommodate larger ships.  Currently, the pier in St. Croix can only handle ships as large as a Voyager Class ship.

Jayne Halcomb, Royal Caribbean Group Director of the Caribbean/Americas, said they will focus on creating more opportunities for guests to explore.

Ms. Halcomb said community integration will be a big part of the project to ensure local businesses can prosper and grow due to new traffic. All of this work will have an eye on sustainable development.

Royal Caribbean announced a new a wearable technology partnership.

The cruise line signed a two year technology partnership with TraceSafe.

TraceSafe and Royal Caribbean developed the Tracelet contact tracing wearable bands, which can be used on cruise ships to easily identify close contacts in the case a passenger or crew member tests positive for Covid-19.

Both companies worked closely together to design and manufacture the wearable that can meet both Royal Caribbean's high standards for comfort and the cruise line's commitment to sustainability.

TraceSafe's bands rely on a location-aware Internet of Things (IoT) platform, which have been scaled for large-scale enterprise operations such as across a fleet of cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Product Innovation Officer, Jay Schneider, talked about the new agreement, "It was the willingness of the TraceSafe team to develop a custom Tracelet device that met our requirements for style and design that propelled the partnership forward

"We look forward to continuing this engagement with TraceSafe as we explore the many new opportunities for IoT Technology onboard our ships."

What is a Tracelet?

Royal Caribbean started working on the technology behind Tracelets even before the pandemic, but pivoted the technology for contact tracing in 2020 when the cruise industry shutdown.

Royal Caribbean trademarked the name in October 2020, and the first Tracelets began appearing on Quantum of the Seas sailings that restarted from Singapore in December 2020.

The Tracelet is a comfortable, water-resistant, hypoallergenic wearable worn by all guests and crew on some Royal Caribbean sailings.  

When offered onboard, all guests regardless of age, needs to wear it.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) actually went as far as to ask Royal Caribbean to share with them details on the Tracelet because of how intriguing an option it was.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told investors in February 2021 that the CDC asked the line to share the technology behind the Tracelet on early sailings from Singapore.

When will cruise ships get back to one hundred percent capacity is a hot question, and it could be as early as the end of this year.

While speaking at the Seatrade Global 2021 conference earlier today, Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Richard Fain was asked his thoughts on getting back to full capacity as early as next year.

"In terms of numbers next year, I definitely think so," Mr. Fain responded.

"In our core markets, we expect to be essentially there by the end of this year."

Mr. Fain did not elaborate what "core markets" exactly means.  

Royal Caribbean International ships have been sailing at reduced capacity since they restarted operations, and there have been no public announcements as to how full any ship or sailing would be going forward.

Mr. Fain said he believes misinformation about the restart process has been an issue for customers, travel agents, and industry professionals.

"I think a key issue here is there's so much misinformation out there on so many topics."

"It's been a difficult year for all of our partners here in the audience who have also had to deal with this and our travel advisory partners. But one of the things that's caused a lot of confusion is we've canceled cruises. Do you get your rebate? You take a future cruise credit. That's very confusing."

Mr. Fain echoed sentiments he shared last week in a video update that the upcoming booking season in early 2021 will be an important time to step up and show the public cruise ships are ready to sail.

"What we really want to do is make sure that when we start that key booking period, our ships are operating."

"They can see they're operating, they can see the protocols are working, they can see people are taking cruises, they're not going to worry about cancellations and this or that. So we really need to get back to a period of stability."

Last week, Mr. Fain said he wanted nearly all ships back in operation, "By the end of this year, we want virtually all of our ships to be operating and operating seamlessly in our core markets."

Is the cruise industry's newest cruise line, Virgin Voyages, competition for Royal Caribbean? Maybe not.

Speaking at Seatrade Global 2021, Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain was asked how he viewed his newest competition in the cruise industry, and he said he thinks the new cruise line is actually a good thing.

Virgin Voyages is a joint venture between Bain Capital and Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, and their first ship has finally made her U.S. debut after many pandemic-related delays.

Scarlet Lady is the first ship for Virgin, and she offered sailings around Britain this summer, and is now in North America to begin sailings from here.

Mr. Fain was asked if he is worried about this new cruise line represents a new threat to Royal Caribbean's bottom line, but he thought it was actually the opposite.

"Actually, no," Mr. Fain responded quickly to the question. "I also think it's important to look at the industry and say that new players are actually are a big benefit to us because they attract attention."

Mr. Fain compared Virgin Voyage's entrance to the industry to when Disney started its cruise line in the 1990s.

"I do remember I was asked that question when Disney got into the cruise business. Oh, my goodness, isn't that going to be a terrible thing because Disney has come in and there's such a powerful brand name?"

In the case of Disney Cruise Line, the new line brought new customers to cruising.

"They added two percent to the supply in our industry, and they added 10 percent to the demand because it showed the important thing about our industry is getting the message across that we are an amazing vacation, just an amazing even on my competitor friends here."

"Having Virgin come in, I think all of that adds to the to the the impact of the cruise industry has."

"The important thing is they're adding more to the demand than they are to the supply. And so I think overall, I welcome them."

Mr. Fain said the real competition to Royal Caribbean isn't other cruise lines, but other forms of travel.

"We don't compete with each other as much as we compete with all the other activities that that compete for our dollar, whether it's a hotel or resort or a travel somewhere else."

Royal Caribbean announced a new ship will sail from Singapore, as well as an extension of other cruises.

Singapore was the first place that Royal Caribbean International restarted sailing during the global cruise shutdown, and it remains a focus for the Asian cruise market as the rest of the region struggles to reopen.

Spectrum of the Seas will move to Singapore, beginning October 21, 2022.

She will sail 3- to 9-night sailings from Singapore, and her new sailings are available to book immediately.

Spectrum of the Seas was designed for the Asian cruise market, and has been not offered any cruises since early 2020.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has extended Quantum of the Seas sailings yet again, this time offering more sailings from Singapore on Quantum through April 7, 2022.

"We are thrilled to introduce a whole spectrum of new adventures with Spectrum of the Seas, which features groundbreaking escapades exclusively designed for the Asian market, a testament to Royal Caribbean’s confidence in the potential of the cruising industry in the region. We have seen a surge in repeat cruisers, as well as a significant number of new to cruise guests, and look forward to bringing the best of the Royal Caribbean experience to our guests," said Angie Stephen, vice president, Singapore, Royal Caribbean International.

"At the same time, we are excited to extend Quantum’s ultimate ocean getaways once again through early next year to continue catering to the strong demand for sailings from Singapore."

Another change for Singapore sailings is the requirement for passengers to be fully vaccinated.

In addition to robust onboard ventilation systems, enhanced cleaning and sanitization as well as having its crew vaccinated, the cruise line will also require all guests to be fully vaccinated for all new bookings made from October 1, 2021, and onwards.

What makes Spectrum of the Seas different

Spectrum of the Seas is not only a new ship to Singapore, she is one of the newest ships in the fleet.

Royal Caribbean designed the ship to be an innovator, that offers plenty of innovations and touches of eastern culture infused with the ship.

Here are some of the major things to do on Spectrum of the Seas:

• Asia’s first Sky Pad, a virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure
• Royal Caribbean’s first and exclusive Suite Enclave, which features the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area supremely positioned at the forward end of the ship. Guests booked in these luxury suites have exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants, and a dedicated lounge area.
• Cutting-edge and transformative venues such as Two70. Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theater by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals. 
• Star Moment, a lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends can belt out and sing like stars.
• The signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own ensuite slide and cinema, which also doubles as a karaoke stage.
• A bold lineup of signature activities, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass capsule that ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.
• Nineteen distinct dining options serve up flavors from around the world, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of authentic oriental flavors cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of authentic spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, top-notch, aged beef at Chops Grille, and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian.

There is now a new option to get your pre-cruise Covid-19 test at the cruise terminal.

Royal Caribbean announced it will offer boarding day test at the port on a limited basis.

Royal Caribbean said the new pre-cruise tests are "a last option if you simply can't find a pre-cruise test or could not secure results in time."

The terminal tests are only available for fully vaccinated passengers and available by appointment only.

The test will start at $99 per person, and guests will wait up to an hour for results outside of terminal. 

To book a test, schedule your appointment 30 minutes prior to sailing check-in time, 24 hours in advance.

These test options are for guests in the U.S. — international guests can use them only once they have arrived in the U.S.

Adding the new tests at the terminal is seemingly in response to guest feedback that getting a pre-cruise test is sometimes difficult due to overwhelming demand for Covid tests around the United States.

Royal Caribbean states it prefers guests use the at-home test kits, which can be ordered in advance of the cruise and are cheaper than the terminal testing.

Two at-home tests can be ordered for $69.99 USD; 3 tests for $99.99 USD.

You can order your test kit at RoyalCaribbean.com/HomeTestKit

Of course, guests can still opt to get a test done at a local pharmacy, lab, public test site, or doctor's office. 

Royal Caribbean's pre-cruise testing requirement

Regardless of which test you get, all passengers must get a pre-cruise Covid-19 test done within a few days of the cruise.

Guests age 12 or older must 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 or antigen test taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. Kids’ pre-cruise test cannot be taken on boarding day, because that may affect the sample taken during the kids’ test at the terminal. Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.

Kids will take a complimentary PCR test when checking in at the terminal.”

Happy weekend! We have a look back at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week to share with all of you.

Royal Caribbean released its health protocols for sailings departing in the second half of October 2021.

These protocols apply to any Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing from a U.S. homeport between October 16-31, 2021.

It includes rules on vaccinations, masks, shore excursions and more.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group CEO looks to 2022 for when cruise bookings to really take off
• Royal Caribbean now accepts cruise ship passengers with mixed series of mRNA vaccines
• Royal Caribbean surveys guests on possible ideas for Perfect Day at CocoCay expansion
• Less than one week left to get double points on a Royal Caribbean cruise booking
• New bill introduced to Congress so cruise ships can skip Canada on Alaska cruises
• Royal Caribbean Group will build new cruise terminal in Ravenna, Italy
• Royal Caribbean Group met or exceeded nearly all of its 2020 sustainability targets
• Cruise industry welcomes U.S. plan to welcome back international travelers
• Royal Caribbean starts new Cruise Planner sale with up to 35% off pre-cruise purchases
• Dan shares his experience of what it's like on a cruise right now
• How I reached the top of Royal Caribbean’s Loyalty Program
• 5 reasons cruising isn't just for older travelers

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 423rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Josh shares how a cruise on Adventure of the Seas changed how he cruises forever.

With cruises back in service for a few months, what should you know about what it's like to go on a cruise ship right now?

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: I Just Went on Royal Caribbean and Here's What I Learned

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 —  I Just Went on Royal Caribbean and Here's What I Learned — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean

Balcony staterooms are at the top of many cruiser's favorite type of cabins because of the private outdoor space for a reasonable price.

Royal Caribbean offers more balcony rooms on its ships than ever before, with its newest cruise ships offering the most balcony rooms. 

If you are thinking about booking a balcony stateroom on your Royal Caribbean cruise, check out this guide to balcony rooms for everything you need to know.

A number of Royal Caribbean guests have received an email survey asking their thoughts on possible ideas for the next phase of the CocoCay expansion.

Royal Caribbean announced a few weeks ago it would expand Perfect Day at CocoCay with a new area, called Hideaway Beach.

The announcement had no additional details, but perhaps this new survey could shed some light onto what to expect.

Earlier this week, many Royal Caribbean cruise fans reported receiving a survey in via email that asked many questions about what they thought about potential ideas for what the cruise line might add to the area.

Royal Caribbean commonly uses surveys to get feedback from guests. It is not necessarily an indication of anything they may or may not do.

The first part of the survey asks what sorts of areas would you like to see added to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Then they ask how appealing an adults only area would be for guests 18 or older.

The survey also asks guests to share which vacation scenes appeal to them, and which do not.

The second part of the survey wants feedback on the idea of a southern BBQ restaurant on its ships.

The menu would include smoked brisket, rubs, fried chicken and plenty of appetizers, sides and desserts.

Respondents were asked which name of the restaurant they preferred.

I love sharing Royal Caribbean photos that our readers send in because they are so much fun to look at.  

Every Friday, I share Royal Caribbean cruise photos sent in by readers so we can all enjoy an end of the week mental escape to a cruise.

If you have some really good cruise photos to share, send your best Royal Caribbean photos so I can post them in a future Friday Photos update.

Sit back, and let's take a look at this week's batch of photos!

Our first photo is from Jeff Diaz.

Jeff celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary this past July onboard.  Happy anniversary!

This incredible photo was snapped by Tony Oleszczuk on Oasis of the Seas.

Tony says he took this photo while the ship was headed to CocoCay on the first sailing of Oasis of the Seas this year.

Next up is a photo of the Ultimate Abyss at dusk.

Victor Martin shared this photo, adding that it was "impressive".

Here is a look at Mariner of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas docked at CocoCay.

Gabrielle Owens took this photo while enjoy a Labor Day weekend visit to Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas.

Lisa Armstrong took this photo of Anthem of the Seas from the North Star.

This photo was taken in July 2021 on a British Isles cruise.

This photo was taken from David Pastrana's balcony as Mariner of the Seas departed Perfect Day at CocoCay

According to David, leaving CocoCay is sadder than disembarking the ship after the cruise is over. Do you agree?

Here is a look at Brilliance of the Seas sailing into Port Everglades, taken by karl_nj.

This photo was taken from Karl's balcony on Celebrity Edge in September 2021.

Our final photo this week is by Kyle Thompson of Liberty of the Seas docked in Cozumel.

Kyle was lucky enough to be onboard Liberty for her test sailing.

If I didn't include your photo this week, then that means you need to send it in to us for use on a future Friday Photos post.  We want to see your favorite Royal Caribbean cruise photos and you can use this form to send it in.