Welcome to March! We hope you are having a great weekend and are ready to sit back, relax and catch up with all the latest Royal Caribbean news!

Coronavirus dominated the news this week (and last week, and the week before...) and Royal Caribbean announced it will allow cancellations up to 48 hours before sailing due to Coronavirus outbreak.

Guests will receive a full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing of the guest's choice in 2020 or 2021. The policy applies to both new and existing cruise bookings.

The policy applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020, and will be offered by the company's global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea. 

Royal Caribbean News

• A brand new cruise port destination is coming to Freeport, Bahamas.
• Former CEO Adam Goldstein has left the company.
• First look at the Giovanni's Italian Kitchen menu on Freedom of the Seas.
• Casino tournaments are now prebookable on the Cruise Planner site.
• Mandatory temperature screenings have been added to the cruise check-in procedure.
• Richard Fain shared a reassuring message about the Coronavirus.
• Royal Caribbean has added an option to add extra guests to cabanas.
• Using a cell phone onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Check out the new Coca-Cola souvenir cup design.
• Wondering what is the biggest Royal Caribbean ship?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 344th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which has Matt's top ten dining tips.

In this episode, Matt goes over ten ways to enhance your cruise and save money when it comes to eating on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

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: 10 Rookie mistakes you shouldn't be making on Royal Caribbean in 2020!

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 — 10 Rookie mistakes you shouldn't be making on Royal Caribbean in 2020 — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Cruise Critic is giving away 7-night cruise on Oasis of the Seas.

Cruise Tips TV shared money saving Royal Caribbean tips.

Royal Caribbean has added a variety of casino tournaments to pre-book via its Cruise Planner website.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Lorraine Steeves shared a screenshot of some of the options.

Options for blackjack, poker and slot tournaments now appear for some cruises.  Once on the ship, you have to visit the Casino Cashier on Day 1 to register for the tournament.

Casino tournaments are offered on most cruises, but it has historically been something to sign up for exclusively once onboard.

Let us know: Will you prebook one of these tournaments? Tell us in the comments!

Royal Caribbean announced its "Cruise With Confidence" policy allows guests on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea to cancel up to 48 hours before a sailing. 

Guests will receive a full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing of the guest's choice in 2020 or 2021. The policy applies to both new and existing cruise bookings.

The policy applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31, 2020, and will be offered by the company's global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea. 

All Cruise with Confidence Future Cruise Credits must be redeemed on sailings departing on-or-before December 31, 2021.

"Our previous policy set earlier deadlines for guests to cancel their cruises, and that added unnecessary stress," said Richard Fain, the company's chairman and CEO. "Trying to guess a month or more in advance where areas of concern about coronavirus might be is challenging for medical experts, much less a family preparing for vacation.

"When circumstances are as fast-changing as they have been recently, it's good to know you have the option to take a rain check," Fain said. "We think putting more control in our guests' hands helps them make informed decisions about whether to keep their existing vacation plans or trade out for a more convenient time or itinerary."  

Royal Caribbean announced yesterday it will conduct mandatory temperature screenings on embarkation day to better screen guests against the spread of Coronavirus.

Royal Caribbean has rolled out another Cruise Planner sale, with up to 30% off pre-cruise purchases.

The Set Sail & Save Sale runs between March 6, 2020 - March 12, 2020 and applies to sailings from March 12, 2020 - December 15, 2020.

It includes:

BEVERAGE: Up to 40% off on select sailings.

• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings & Spectrum)
• Dasani Water Cans: 30% off onboard prices. (Sailings 3/14/20 - 3/28/20, only on Vision)
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Spectrum)
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings & Spectrum)
• Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Spectrum)
• Evian Water Packages - 12 & 24 bottles: 30% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Spectrum &Vision)

SHORE EXCURSIONS: Up to 25% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Spectrum)

INTERNET: Up to 55% off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Charter Sailings, MJ & Spectrum)
• VOOM Surf & Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Devices(s): Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Spectrum)
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Devices. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Spectrum)

DINING: Up to 55% off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N - 9N sailings. Discount varies by ship. (Excludes Majesty & Spectrum)

ACTIVITIES: 10% off

• All Access Ship Tour: 10% off onboard prices. (Excludes Charter Sailings, Odyssey & Spectrum)

GIFTS & GEAR: Up to 20% off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)
• Happy Anniversary Decorations: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)
• Happy Birthday Decorations Bright Style: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake and Strawberries: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)
• Inky Travel Set: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)
• Red Wine and Cheese: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)
• White Wine and Cheese: 20% off onboard prices. (Excludes Odyssey, Quantum , Spectrum & Voyager)

PHOTO PACKAGES: Up to 40% off

• All Digital + Prints: Discount varies by ship. (Brilliance, Enchantment, Freedom, Rhapsody, Serenade)
• All Digital: Discount varies by ship. (Adventure, Allure, Anthem, Brilliance, Enchantment, Explorer, Freedom, Harmony, Independence, Liberty, Mariner, Navigator, Oasis, Ovation, Odyssey, Quantum, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Symphony, Voyager)
• All Prints: Discount varies by ship. (Brilliance, Enchantment, Freedom, Grandeur, Jewel, Majesty, Empress, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Vision)

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.

Royal Caribbean sent an update to travel partners that it will add mandatory temperature screenings to the cruise check-in process in order to better protect guests and crew against the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.

Beginning on March 6, 2020, all Royal Caribbean International ships will conduct mandatory temperature screenings for all guests and crewmembers on embarkation day.

If your temperature is above 100.4°F or 38° C, you and those in your party will undergo a secondary health screening. Temperatures will be taken with a digital, no-touch thermometer.

If you require a secondary screening, this is what you can expect:

• Your temperature will be checked again.
• You'll undergo a pulse oximetry reading. This means, a small device will be placed on your finger to measure your oxygen level.
  • If you happen to have a chronic lung illness, like asthma, please bring a letter from your medical practitioner that indicates your normal baseline oxygen saturation levels. This will help ensure you are not denied boarding if you are healthy otherwise.
• Then, a medical professional will check you for flu-like symptoms, respiratory illness, etc., and would make a final assessment to understand if you're fit to sail.

If it is decided that we must unfortunately deny you boarding, you'll receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit for your cruise fare paid, and any precruise Royal Caribbean International purchases and taxes and fees will be refunded to your original form of payment.

In addition to these protocols, Royal Caribbean is also taking additional steps to stem the spread of coronavirus on its ships, including:

• Thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing

• Special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard multiple times a day

• Adding extra medical staff on each sailing

• Providing complimentary consultations with medical experts for all guests & crew

• Plus, the Captain will make two daily announcements during your cruise reminding everyone of how to stay healthy onboard

Royal Caribbean has confirmed that its Vice Chairman Adam Goldstein has left the company.

A spokesman from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. confirmed that Mr. Goldstein has departed the company.

A statement to RoyalCaribbeanBlog thanked Adam Goldstein for his contributions:

Adam Goldstein has made countless contributions to our company since the day he came to RCL in 1988. Adam worked his way up through various roles at the company to eventually serve as president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, president and COO of RCL, and most recently as vice chairman.
 
Every step of the way, our company was growing, strengthening and becoming more successful – and the parallels between Adam’s achievements and the company’s are no accident. Adam will always be family to us and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Adam Goldstein served as President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International from 2007 to 2014. From 2014 to 2018, he served as President & COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 

Credit to Seatrade Cruise News for first reporting the departure.

Royal Caribbean has updated its cabanas at Perfect Day at CocoCay to allow additional guests to be added beyond the cabana capacity for an added price.

The description of the private cabanas at Perfect Day at CocoCay now lists an added option to go beyond the maximum capacity for $50 per person, up to 2 additional people.

The new option shows up for Chill Island cabanas, Oasis Lagoon cabanas & South Beach cabanas on the Cruise Planner site.

Thanks to RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader CGTLH for alerting us to this change.

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 344 is available for downloading, and Matt is sharing helpful dining tips for anyone going on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

When it comes to dining, there is plenty of it on Royal Caribbean, and Matt has his top tips for making the most of your dining onboard.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 344. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Among the many changes Royal Caribbean has made to Freedom of the Seas in the ship's $116 million amplification, is the addition of the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is Royal Caribbean's new take on its Italian specialty restaurant. It features authentic Italian dishes with a contemporary flair, including made-to-order pizzas hand tossed front and center, and baked in the new, in-house pizza oven. 

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader (and avid Flowrider and roulette spinner) Nick Vitani spotted the menu for the new restaurant in Royal Caribbean's app.

Appetizers

Entrees

Pizza

Desserts

Kids Menu

The app lists dinner cover charge at $34.99 per guest.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen will debut on Freedom of the Seas when she returns to service this month.  It will also be added to Allure of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas during their upcoming amplifications later this year.