With an 11,000-piece art collection on Ovation of the Seas, guests can experience a wide variety of contemporary works by artists from across the world. Iconic pieces - from the playful “Mama and Baby,” featuring larger-than-life pandas on the top of the ship, to the high-tech “Sky Wave,” the first ever kinetic sculpture at sea - are a source of inspiration to international guests.
Last night, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved Royal Caribbean's proposal to build a new cruise terminal at PortMiami.
Royal Caribbean announced plans to build the new terminal last week and the $247 million terminal was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
I am pleased the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved @RoyalCaribbean’s partnership & expansion @PortMiami.
— Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) July 6, 2016
The Miami Herald is reporting that under the agreement, Royal Caribbean will fully finance the construction of the terminal, minus $15 million that the county-owned port will pay for some road work. Royal Caribbean will pay $7.5 million in rent to the county.
The new Terminal A facility will be able to handle a ship that is 1,300 feet long. Terminal G, where Royal Caribbean currently operates, can only handle ships that are about 1,000 feet long.
The new cruise terminal will be open in 2018. Royal Caribbean has indicated it will homeport an Oasis-class cruise ship once the new terminal is fully operational.
A Boston cab driver returned a bag full of $187,000 in cash to a fare that accidentally left it in the car earlier this week, which has compelled Royal Caribbean to reward this selfless gesture.
The Boston Globe reported Raymond “Buzzy” MacCausland picked up a passenger who was moving from a homeless shelter to a local hotel. The passenger exited the cab but accidentally left a backpack behind. When MacCausland opened the bag to look for identification, he only saw large bundles of cash instead—and he headed straight to the local police station.
Royal Caribbean felt the selfless act deserved more than the $100 tip he received, and the cruise line surprised the driver, Boston-based Raymond “Buzzy” MacCausland, with a “Ticket to Adventure” for a free 7-night Caribbean vacation onboard one of the world’s largest cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas.
Should he accept, MacCausland and a guest will set sail on a cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to sunny ports of call in their choice of the Eastern or Western Caribbean.
Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons, and graduations, among other things, on a Royal Caribbean cruise is extremely popular, and for good reason. Not only is a Royal Caribbean cruise a great vacation idea, but it is a great place for a celebration!
If you’re celebrating during your Royal Caribbean vacation, there are a lot of special activities and add-ons that can make the trip even more special, but the overall “regular” atmosphere itself is pretty conducive to celebrations. You don’t have to spend a ton (or any) extra money to have great trip celebrating a special event…unless you want to do so.
Celebratory fun on a Royal Caribbean cruise can come both from pre-planned activities and via the spontaneous acts of crew members. Obviously spontaneity cannot be planned, but here are some of our recommendations for celebrating your special event on Royal Caribbean.
If you are a planner and want your celebration to be as special as possible, there are a few things you can do. First, when booking your Royal Caribbean cruise, note on the reservation that you are celebrating an event. This is easiest done with your travel agent or with the reservation agent on the phone. Telling someone and having them acknowledge your information seems to go a long way.
Other things that should be planned in advance are add-ons like cakes, gifts, flowers and other surprises. These can all be ordered via the Royal Gifts web site, which offers access to pretty much everything you can pre-order. Orders are accepted up to 48 business hours before debarkation (with the exception of flowers and packages containing flowers). There are a ton of options to choose from and seems to cover most special occasions we hear about. This is the best option if you want to have something delivered on a specific day.
The only other advance planning to speak of is booking any add-on experiences described below in advance. You cannot (and likely should not) ask for something special, but often just mentioning it is your anniversary/honeymoon/birthday will get someone thinking about a way to make the event more special because of that.
The degree to which you celebrate the occasion is entirely up to you. Royal Caribbean cruises are usually a celebration unto themselves, so if you only want to do a little to acknowledge the celebration, that’s pretty easy. If you want the trip to revolve around the celebration, that’s possible, too!
Decorate - A very easy way to make someone feel special and inform others that this is a special cruise, is to decorate your stateroom door. As you walk around the ship, you may spot others who have decorated their stateroom doors as well, and this time-honored tradition involves appending streamers, photos, print outs and pretty much anything else that can be attached via a magnet to the door. It is important to know that guests may not use tape or another adhesive to decorate their doors, so be sure to purchase plenty of magnets to use instead.
Surprises - Try to spice things up with some surprises unique to the person for whom you are celebrating. If you just got engaged, a bottle of champagne in the room is great. Same goes for a honeymoon…you can use your imagination for some other in-room honeymoon options…this is a family friendly blog. For a kid celebrating a birthday, consider an onboard scavenger hunt leading them to a present “from” their favorite DreamWorks character.
For example, if they are a Shrek fan, buy some Shrek toy(s) on eBay or your local retailer and have the clues lead to somewhere on the ship that someone in your party can be at with the gift waiting. Just remember that there are a few thousand other guests on the ship with you, so plan appropriately when it comes to hiding clues and/or gifts and expecting them to remain there.
Guests can also reserve private rides on North Star. Special events like proposals -- and even wedding ceremonies -- can take place during private rides on the North Star.
Spa - Man, woman or child generally have a tough time resisting the amazing and relaxing experiences of the Vitality Spa. Reserving a special treatment for someone as a means to indulge is usually quite popular, and a great way to let them really enjoy their special day. Whether it is a massage, facial, shave or other pampering, the spa is a great way to celebrate because often people overlook the spa services. Prices at the spa will vary from the inexpensive to full-on pampering.
Drink around the ship - Royal Caribbean is well known for creating some wonderful cocktails and it designed its bars and lounges around its ships to offer different experiences at each one. Doing a bar crawl around the ship is a really fun way to explore the ship, celebrate a special occasion and have an incredibly fun time. The special person should drink for free, while the group picks up his/her tab. You could get custom-made t-shirts for the occasion, too!
Special dinner - In addition to the great specialty restaurants offered on all Royal Caribbean ships, there are a few select dining options that are above and beyond the norm, which can be the perfect way to celebrate.
There are several special dining options to choose from, and which you can pick from will depend on your ship and sailing. Some of the best ones include:
These restaurants offer special menus that focus on elegance and a different kind of experience than the usual dining fare. We think these kind of private dining choices are perfect for couples that want some romance. These are the epitome of a special dining experience, but if you want something a bit more pedestrian in nature (and less expensive too), try these dining options:
You can also speak to your head waiter in the Main Dining Room and inform them about the special occasion you are celebrating. The head waiter is your best friend when it comes to anything above and beyond the norm. They can arrange for cakes, singing and other ideas to make for celebrating. Plus, in most cases, the services of the head waiter are complimentary.
Private shore excursions - Depending on what you want to do, there are a ton of shore excursion options to choose from. We love the offerings that Royal Caribbean has, but if you want to do something extra special, consider booking a private tour that allows the tour operator to focus on your group and what will make your celebration extra special. The price and subject of the excursion will depend on what you want to do, but a private tour of the port you are visiting, a trip to the spa on shore, renting a yacht or maybe private lessons with a surf instructor are just a few ideas we have run across.
Do your research to find the perfect shore excursion that will fit what you are looking to do, but picking one port for something extra special can be a great way to accentuate an already fun vacation.
Fun for the kids - If you have kids celebrating something special, there are some great choices for them too. Girls of a certain age will enjoy the Barbie Experience available on many ships. There are also packages available for Sweet 16's, Quinceañeras and Bar & Bat-Mitzvahs via Royal Caribbean's Gifts site.
If your Royal Caribbean ship has a FlowRider, you could reserve private lessons so that they can get a better chance at learning how to really surf (or just stand up without immediately falling down).
What have you celebrated on a Royal Caribbean cruise Do you have any tips or additional suggestions for celebrating? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!
Episode 153 is available for downloading, where we are discussing Explorer of the Seas' inaugural Alaska season.
Explorer of the Seas entry to the Alaska cruise season is a BIG change, considering she is the first ship of her size that Royal Caribbean has deployed to Alaska. Beci Mahnken joins us to give everyone a first-hand look at what cruising to Alaska on Explorer of the Seas is all about.
Here’s the podcast page for Episode 153. 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!
Royal Caribbean UK is offering free flights to selected 2017 UK and European sailings for the first & second guest including free transfers or enjoy free port parking in Southampton on sailings departing from the UK.
The Free Flights promotion is applicable only to new bookings made between 5th July & Monday 5th September 2016 on selected sailings of 6 nights or more departing from selected airport gateways to the 1st & 2nd guests in the booking only. Additional passengers will pay the full airfare applicable at the time of booking.
The Free Flights promotion is applicable to departures with a duration of 6 nights or more from a range of UK & Ireland airports on selected UK & European 2017 itineraries onboard Brilliance of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas & Vision of the Seas.
Existing bookings will not receive the promotion benefits. Guarantee stateroom bookings are excluded.
Flights are economy, inclusive of taxes and standard transfers. Direct flights are not guaranteed.
The full terms and conditions of the deal can be found here.
Whew, boy! Hottest Fourth of July we've had in years, and that means it is the perfect excuse to enjoy some great Royal Caribbean drinks in the comfort of our home.
Having a cocktail on a Royal Caribbean cruise is something many guests relish doing every cruise, and if you cannot be on a cruise this summer to enjoy one, then do the next best thing and make one at home.
Here are a few of our favorite Royal Caribbean drink recipes that are sure to "hit the spot" during your summer.
Ingredients:
At least a few hours in advance (preferably overnight), pour watermelon juice into an ice cube tray and freeze. Combine gin, Aperol, St. Germain, lime juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled and pour into a glass over watermelon ice cubes. Optional: Garnish with an herb, slice of watermelon or lime or an edible flower.
Ingredients (Makes one cocktail):
Toss all the ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth. Then pour the potion into a cocktail glass and dress it up with a fresh wedge of pineapple.
Ingredients (Makes one cocktail):
Blend all the ingredients above. Strain and pour into your favorite glass. Then garnish with a fresh slice of orange and a cherry.
Ingredients (Makes one cocktail):
Blend all the ingredients together with crushed ice, transfer to your favorite frosty glass and toss in an orange slice and a cherry.
Ingredients (Makes one cocktail):
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Then pour in a tumbler, garnish with a fresh wedge of pineapple, and top with whipped cream and a cherry.
For the adults, you can add rum!
Happy July 4th and Canada Day Weekend to everyone out in blog land! Many of you are enjoying a relaxing and long weekend, and I hope this week's round up of all the Royal Caribbean news makes it even better!
Royal Caribbean made a lot of folks smile this week, when they announced they would be building a brand new cruise terminal in Miami, Florida.
The new terminal, Terminal A, will be able to handle even Oasis-class cruise ships and open in Late 2018.
Terminal A would house an angular glass center and a parking garage with about 1,000 parking spaces at the northeastern side of the port, designed by England-based global architecture firm Broadway Malyan.
In addition, Royal Caribbean has promised an Oasis-class cruise ship will be based at the new terminal when it opens.
The 152nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where countdown our favorite bars and lounges across the fleet.
In this episode, Matt and Michael talk about their favorite spots on a Royal Caribbean cruise to enjoy an adult beverage and why they stand out from the rest.
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.
Thrillist thinks Harmony of the Seas will, "blow your mind."
Royal Caribbean has a look at its new tech boss.
Cruise Hive has a list of 3 Royal Caribbean ships you should try.
Harper's Bazaar has 10 reasons cruising is chic again.
Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas had its first preview of Columbus The Musical yesterday, and we have photos from the premier performance.
Columbus, The Musical! is a new Royal Caribbean original production that tells the tale of Christopher’s luckless distant cousin, Marvin, on a madcap voyage to the Caribbean.
Marvin Columbus is the very, very, very, very, very distant relative of Christopher and spent his entire life ‘neath Chris’ shadow. Marvin’s disappointed nobleman father, sends him on a voyage to find his destiny. Storms, pirates, and even flying sharks – all lead Marvin to his greatest discovery; himself. Romance, adventure, and ‘happy ever after’ are on the map, as Marvin Columbus finally finds his destiny.
The musical was created in the spirit of “Spamalot” and “Something Rotten."
Usually, we select a Broadway Show and we bring it to the high seas. Maybe we will reverse the process this time! pic.twitter.com/fmqysymphN
— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) June 30, 2016
Happy July 4th to all of our American readers! Whether you are celebrating today or not, it's Friday and that means it's the weekend and it's time to share Royal Caribbean photos our readers sent in! You can send in your favorite Royal Caribbean photos with this form, and we will include it in an upcoming post!
We begin this week's photo batch, with this shot of Coco Cay from Angela Middleton. Wish I was spending my holiday weekend here!
Here is a creative shot of Empress of the Seas, as seen by Bob Carpenter while in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Great perspective!
Speaking of Grand Cayman, here is a photo of the island paradise by Blake Baldwin, taken from Independence of the Seas. Sign me up for a visit here!
Adrian Chan sent us this photo of Independence of the Seas docked in Labadee. Look at the contrast between the ship and the water. Great colors!
If you thought to yourself, "I would love to see more photos of Independence of the Seas," well, your wish has been granted! Here is a photo by Suzanne of her 10-year-old daughter, Rebecca, climbing the rock climbing wall. It is probably safe to say she is better at the wall than I am.
Next, is a photo of Enchantment of the Seas by Christopher Simone. This photo was taken on Coco Cay, when Christopher and his family took a walk to a point toward the far east end of Barefoot Beach. They found a pile of sand nearly 20 feet high, which got them a great view of the ocean and Enchantment of the Seas apparently plowing through the lush foliage of the inner island toward the north.
Mary sent us this photo of Adventure of the Seas, while they were visiting St. Thomas. Looks like another day in paradise!
Thank you to everyone that sent in their photos. Would you like your Royal Caribbean photo to be showcased? Submit your photo via this form and we will use it in a future post!