Royal Caribbean announced today it has overhauled its options for groups that need corporate meetings, incentives and events at sea that will make the experience of meeting and event professionals seamless from start to finish.

Royal Caribbean has offered companies and groups the option to hold meetings, conventions and events onboard its cruise ships for years and took this opportunity to revamp its offerings that take advantage of the cruise line's best new features.

Royal Caribbean completed last week a redesign of its RoyalCaribbeanIncentives.com site that includes a fresh dynamic look, enhanced search functionality, streamlined site navigation, rich content and exclusive planning tools.

Featuring an inspiring look and feel, paired with a simplified user experience, the event and meeting planner hub now delivers a fully integrated process, including:

• Dynamic design: Leading with rich imagery, video and a bold, easy-to-navigate layout, the entirely new site allows planners to quickly pinpoint where they want to start, whether searching by destinations, ships and event venues or just browsing.
• Search widget: The new feature provides the ability to identify the ultimate event destination options based on a planner’s group size, for a customized experience.
• Responsive functionality: Planners can explore and use the website from a variety of mobile and tablet devices as well as desktop computers and laptops.
• Customization: Personalized and simplified searches and newly added content, including the Royal Caribbean “Event Customization Guide,” allow event planners to easily pull up the rich lineup of customizable options at their fingertips.
• Request a Proposal Form: Travel professionals have the ability to request a proposal from the cruise line based on their specific group criteria.

"Planning an unforgettable event at sea with us – no matter how intimate or grand – just became as intuitive and seamless as the world-class service we deliver to guests onboard our 25 ships 365 days of the year," said Lori Cassidy, AVP, Global Corporate, Incentive and Charter Sales, Royal Caribbean International. "With our reimagined website, we are thrilled to launch our latest investment in building new and stronger relationships with meeting and event professionals. As partners and brand experts, our job is to make the entire process as easy and valuable as possible, and this is further testament to that dedication."

For more information or to receive a quote to host a meeting, charter a ship and more, planners in North America can contact (800) 529 6916 and visit the new RoyalCaribbeanIncentives.com.

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

Episode 155 is available for downloading which has a review of a listener's experience on Navigator of the Seas last week.

Podcast listener Chris shares his first Royal Caribbean experience on Freedom of the Seas.  Chris talks about why he decided to try Royal Caribbean, his impressions of Freedom of the Seas and everything he did onboard Navigator of the Seas.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 155. 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!

Cyber Monday may still be many months away, but Royal Caribbean is offering a "Summer Cyber Sale" later this week with up to $200 instant savings plus 50% off the second guest.

The Summer Cyber Sale will run between July 21 - 25, 2016 and is valid on all sailings departing on or after August 21, 2016. Offer excludes China departures.

The deal offers

• Cruises 5 nights or less
  • Interior/Oceanview: $25 off per stateroom
  • Balcony: $50 off per stateroom
  • Suite: $100 off per stateroom
• Cruises 6 nights or longer
  • Interior/Oceanview: $50 off per stateroom
  • Balcony: $100 off per stateroom
  • Suite: $200 off per stateroom
• 50% off second guest booked in the same stateroom as the first guest
• 25% off cruise fare for 3rd and 4th guests booked in same stateroom as first two guests

Also, for eligible Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean holiday sailings, offer includes a per person onboard credit: $100 OBC per person up to 4 guests for holiday sailings 6 nights or longer departing 18-31, 2016, $50 OBC per person up to 4 guests for holiday sailings 5 nights or less departing December 22-31, 2016.

Offer is combinable with current standard/full fare rates, BOGO50, Resident Bonus, restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military) and Next Cruise offers. Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including but not limited to Group Standard, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, Net Rates, Crown & Anchor Discounts, and Shareholder Benefits.

Offer open to residents of the United States and Canada. 

It takes great knowledge and skill to manage the daily operations of the Engine Department on a mega cruise ship. See exclusive behind-the-scenes video of Chief Engineer, Marco Marzoochi, as he ensures that Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas runs safely and smoothly.

Royal Caribbean fans down under can look forward to two Voyager-class ships offering cruises to the South Pacific this summer on Explorer of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

Both ships where revitalized recently from bow to stern, costing a total of $180 million, and will offer 2016/2017 summer cruise itineraries to destinations like Mystery Island and Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Noumea, Isle of Pines and Lifou (Loyalty Islands) in New Caledonia.

In addition, both ships will offer more stops than ever to Fiji, which has proven to be a real favorite port of call. Royal Caribbean will more than double the amount of Fiji calls year on year, with 34 visits across the season to two destinations, Suva and Lautoka. There will even be two Fiji overnight calls, when Explorer of the Seas stays the night in Suva during her repositioning voyages between Australia and Seattle.

Royal Caribbean Managing Director for Royal Caribbean International in Australia and New Zealand, Adam Armstrong, thinks these two ships will offer guests a lot of fantastic cruise options, "Since we arrived in Australia some eight years ago, we have been delivering Australians with the style of cruising they had previously been traveling overseas for. With two Voyager Class megaliners now sailing from Sydney, there’s double the opportunity to cruise on Australia’s most feature-packed ships, and double the fun."

Fares for a seven night roundtrip sailing on Voyager of the Seas start from AUD$1,009 for the first guest and AUD$549.50 for the second, when booked before 30 July 2016. The cruise departs Sydney 1 November 2016 and includes calls to Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia.

Royal Caribbean will begin its newest sales promotion on July 19, 2016, with a new BOGO offer, with additional savings for one day only on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas sailings.

In addition to the benefits of the normal BOGO deal, 50% off second guest and their deposit, guests can save up to an additional $250 off the cruise fare.

Offer details

• Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 50% Off
• 25% savings for 3/4 guests
• 50% reduced deposit
• On Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas
  • Interior/Oceanview: $75 off per stateroom
  • Balcony: $150 off per stateroom
  • Suite: $250 off per stateroom

Also, for eligible Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas holiday sailings departing December 18-31, 2016, offer includes a per person onboard credit: $100 OBC per person up to 4 guests for sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 OBC per person up to 4 guests for sailings 5 nights or less.

The one day bonus sale for Oaiss and Allure of the Seas is valid on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas sailings departing between August 19, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

One Day Sale is combinable with adjoining BOGO, 25% Savings for 3rd and 4th guests, Holiday OBC, Crown & Anchor discounts and NextCruise offers. BOGO and 3rd and 4th Guest Savings are not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military). One Day Sale and Holiday OBC are combinable with each other and restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military) and NextCruise offers. One Day Sale and Holiday OBC are not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts. One Day Sale is not combinable with any other Dollars Off promotion. All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, Net Rates, Shareholder Benefits.

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada.

Royal Caribbean is celebrating a double win at the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards 2016, which marks the first time the cruise line has taken home both honors.

Royal Caribbean was awarded Best Cruise Operator – International, and Best Cruise Operator – Domestic. 

Since 2005, Royal Caribbean has been the proud recipient of Best Cruise Operator award wins five times. 2016 marks the first time the line has secured both the international and domestic prize, a particularly special achievement, according to Adam Armstrong, Royal Caribbean’s managing director in Australia and New Zealand.

“These awards are significant because they demonstrate recognition from the travel industry. Our travel agent partners play a huge role in the success of our cruise brand sailing here in Australia and around the world.

“It’s a great honour to be recognised and solidifies our commitment to delivering our style of innovative and international holidays at sea. We are truly grateful to the industry for their ongoing support.”

“Our congratulations go out to all other finalists and winners of the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards,” Armstrong concluded.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas will skip a scheduled port stop in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey this week following the news of the attempted coup in the country.

Royal Caribbean issued a letter to guests, informing them that the scheduled stop in Ephesus on Wednesday, July 20, will be canceled.  Royal Caribbean is working to find an alternative port of call to replace the stop.

"Since we became aware of the incident, we have been in close contact with our Global Security Team in Miami, as well as our local contacts in Turkey.  After taking all of their intelligence and advice into consideration, we have decided to cancel all port calls to Turkey, including our scheduled call to Ephesus (Kusadasi) on Wednesday, July 20.  We are currently working to find an alternative port of call and will let you know as soon as one is confirmed.

We truly regret having to take this action, but feel it is in the best interest of all guests.  The safety and security of our guests and crew members is always foremost in our minds."

All shore excursions purchased through Royal Caribbean International will be refunded to the form of payment used.  

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog reader Jacob Holness for alerting us to this change.

Happy Sunday! We hope you’re having a wonderful weekend and are ready to catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from this week!

Royal Caribbean added new Empress of the Seas sailings, offering cruises through the end of September 2016.

The new sailings visit destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

The new sailings are available for booking immediately and are 4- and 5-night itineraries.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean cancelled a scheduled stop in Nice, France because of the recent terrorist attack.
• Royal Caribbean's next sales promotion is a BOGO deal plus more.
• New video of the 1887 ice skating show on Harmony of the Seas.
• Here are 4 dining hacks to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Restaurant review: La Sucrière in St. Martin
• A look at the Royal Caribbean shore excursions to Walt Disney World.
• Everything you need to know about Dynamic Dining Classic.
• The differences between the balcony stateroom categories.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 154th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we are answering your Royal Caribbean emails

In this episode, Matt and Michael read the emails our listeners sent in about lots of Royal Caribbean topics and share the answers to them.

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 Around the Internet

Skift interviewed Royal Caribbean's CIO about the direction of the company.

Business.com interviewed Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed.

Cruise Fever reports on which Royal Caribbean ship got a perfect score from the CDC.

Royal Caribbean's next sales promotion offers guests 50% off second guest and 25% off third and fourth guests.

This BOGO offer is valid between July 18 and August 3, 2016 on all sailings departing on or after August 7, 2016. Offer excludes China departures.

The promotion gives guests

• Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 50% off
• 25% savings for third and fourth guests booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests
• 50% reduced deposit

BOGO is combinable with 25% Savings for 3rd and 4th guests, Holiday OBC, Crown & Anchor discounts and NextCruise offers.

BOGO and 3rd and 4th Guest Savings are not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military). All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, weekly Sales Events, Net Rates, Shareholder Benefits. 

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada.