This weekend only, Royal Caribbean is going to offer up to an additional $100 onboard spending money on top of Royal Caribbean's current offer.

New Royal Caribbean bookings made between June 10 and 14, 2016 on Caribbean and Bahamas sailings departing July 11, 2016 through March 31, 2017 are eligible for the offer.

Offer details

• Interior stateroom: $25 onboard credit per stateroom
• Oceanview stateroom: $50 onboard credit per stateroom
• Balcony stateroom: $75 onboard credit per stateroom
• Suite: $100 onboard credit per stateroom

This offer is on top of the 1, 2, Free and/or Kids Sail Free deals that debuted this week.

Offer is combinable with current standard/full fare rates, 1,2 Free, Free Children, 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. 

These days, the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean ships are the Oasis and Quantum class cruise ships and if you are trying to choose between them, it can be difficult to know which is the best choice.

Royal Caribbean has put so much into these amazing new ships, so here is what you need to know about both classes of ships and how they differ.

Quantum class benefits

Royal Caribbean's Quantum class ships are the newest class of ships and have been largely associated with being the most technologically advance cruise ships.

There are three Quantum class ships in service, with two more on order.

• Quantum of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Unnamed Quantum class ship (to debut in 2019)
• Unnamed Quantum class ship (to debut in 2020)

The Quantum class ships are best known for excelling in two specific areas: entertainment and dining.

The Quantum class ships offer a great variety of entertainment on its ships. Impressive shows, amazing venues and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Royal Caribbean designed the Quantum class ships to offer some impressive new experiences that stand out.

North Star

North Star is an observation pod that is attached to a giant arm on top of each Quantum class ship. North Star takes passengers 300 feet above the sea to see area around them.

Guests enter the observation pod and then are raised up in the air provide views all around the ship.  Whether in port or at sea, North Star offers the best views on any cruise ship.

Ripcord by iFly

You know what is a lot of fun? Sky diving. You know what is incredibly scary? Jumping out of an airplane.

Ripcord by iFly is the perfect solution, offering a sky diver simulator for guests to enjoy without the risk of jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft.

After a short orientation, guests take turns entering a wind tunnel, where they will experience the sensation of sky diving.

Two70

Royal Caribbean built a brand new venue not available on any other ship with Two70.

Located on the aft of the ship, Two70 offers a sweeping two hundred and seventy degree view of the ocean.  That alone might be a great area to enjoy the view, but there is much more to see here.

Throughout the day, different shows and events will take place.  Chief among them are the Roboshows that feature amazing robot screens that move, dance and synchronize together to provide the kind of show you have never seen.  

Then there's the premier evening show in Two70, which offers a multi-sensory show that combines music, visual effects, acrobats and more to deliver a one-of-a-kind show.

Oasis class benefits

Royal Caribbean's Oasis class redefined what a cruise ship could be and are the world's largest cruise ships in the world.

Everything about the Oasis class is big, and there is a ton of, well, everything to do onboard. 

Like the Quantum class, there are also three Oasis class ships in service with two more on order.

• Oasis of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Unnamed Oasis class ship (to debut in 2018)
• Unnamed Oasis class ship (to debut in 2021)

In short, the Oasis class ships offer a lot to see and do.  These ships are the biggest in the world and are packed with entertainment, dining, activities and more.

These ships are divided up into neighborhoods to help guests navigate easily around the ship and feature distinct visual areas of the ship. There is a boardwalk, an entire park in the middle, pools, and a whole lot more.

If your definition of a fun cruise is having plenty to do, then you will love the two FlowRiders, zip line across the Boardwalk, Royal Promenade shopping area, AquaTheater and now water slides.

Slides

While only on Harmony of the Seas, the water slides and Ultimate Abyss slide are truly impressive (and fun) ways to spend your cruise.

Dubbed "The Perfect Storm," three water slides are a beacon for families looking for some high-paced fun.

If that was not enough, there is the tallest slide at sea.  It is 10 stories tall and is an epic adventure. Spontaneous audio effects within each tunnel create a multi-sensory thrill for daring guests willing to test their mettle while traversing 216 feet through the one-of-a-kind slide duo.

AquaTheater

The AquaTheater is a venue on the aft of Oasis class ships that shows original Royal Caribbean productions that will take your breath away.

The AquaTheater shows feature distinct high diving, acrobatic performances with two 10-meter high platforms and hydraulic-floored pool and the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea.  It all combines to serve as podiums for high-diving, hair-raising aerobatics that AquaTheater audiences have come to love.

It is hard to put into words what AquaTheater shows are all about, but rest assured they are fun and tantalizing entertainment.

More than 20 dining venues

If you love to eat and try lots of different kinds of food, the Oasis class ships offer more dining venues than you can probably dine at in one cruise.

Royal Caribbean stuffed these ships with a great assortment of complimentary and specialty dining that offer something for everyone.

Italian, Hibachi, dry-aged steaks, fresh salads, Mexican are just a whole a few of the great options available.

Royal Caribbean may have added so many restaurants to Oasis class ships as a means of offering enough places for guests to eat, but the class has become a foodie's dream.

Picking the one for you

We think those new to cruising, or at least new to Royal Caribbean, will really love the Oasis and Quantum class ships because of everything they offer.

The reality is you cannot go wrong picking either class, but there are certain advantages each class offers that might have appeal for certain guests.

You should lean towards Quantum class if...

Cruising with teens

Bumper cars, Ripcord, dance clubs and more make the Quantum class a great choice for teens and older kids.  

There are a lot of great activities onboard and it seems to favor older children who want to do it all.

Where you live

If you live in the Northeast United States, Anthem of the Seas is in your backyard and not having to fly is a big deal. Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas serve China and Australia.

Not only does cruising from the a port near your home save money on airfare, but it allows for year-round escapes to the warm and exotic destinations.

Love tech

Quantum class ships offer RFID bracelets, robot bartenders, smart phone planning app, virtual balconies and other "gee-wiz" innovations.

In short, Quantum class ships are about packing in the latest technology that enhances the guest experience instead of defining it.

On the other hand, you should lean towards the Oasis class if...

Want more to do than you can do

The sheer amount of activities and events on Oasis class ships are staggering.  They even have a day time and night time edition of the Cruise Compass, because they cannot fit all the events in one Compass, like on other ships.

If you love variety of activities and want lots of choices, then the Oasis class ships are good for you.

Love getting physical

For those that like to "get out there" and do a lot, then the Oasis class is a great fit.  Two FlowRiders, two rock climbing walls, ice skating, zip lining, mini-golf, running tracks and more are available for those that need a good physical challenge.

The sports facilities on Oasis class ships are truly impressive because of many options there are and the unique opportunities available only on an Oasis class ship.

Need (or want) lots of dining choices

While the Quantum class ships are no slouch in offering great dining, the Oasis class ships just offer a ton of dining choices that cannot be overlooked.

Bars, restaurants and lounges are found all over the ship and that means plenty of variety.  Foodies or just those that are hungry will enjoy the great selection of restaurants that are in all likelihood too many to sample in just one cruise.

Your thoughts

Have you ever set sail on the a Quantum or Oasis class ship? What do you think of it? If you’ve sailed other ships, how do you think it stacks up to those? Any other tips to add or recommendations? If you have questions or thoughts, please share them below and we’ll try to respond!

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas is a truly impressive looking cruise ship, but aerial photos really give you the perfect perspective for appreciating her grandeur.

Royal Caribbean shared these new aerial photos of Harmony of the Seas, taken during her recent inaugural sailings.

Aerial of Ultimate Abyss

Aerial of water slides and pool decks

This week's podcast episode is ready to go, as we present episode 149 of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast for your downloading pleasure.

This week, Matt tries to answer the always tricky question of, "How much does a Royal Caribbean cost?".  There are a lot of aspects that contribute to the total cost, and we take a look at it all.

There's also lots of reader emails to share this week about everything Royal Caribbean.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 149. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS 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!

Beginning today, Royal Caribbean is offering a deal for families where children 12 and under sail free on select sailings when travelling as the third or higher guest in a stateroom.

From June 7 through June 20, 2016, Royal Caribbean is giving free cruise fare to third and higher guests who are 12 years or younger as of cruise departure date, booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad occupancy stateroom on a 5 nights or longer Caribbean, Bermuda, Dubai, and Europe sailing that departs Sept. 6, 2016-Mar. 9, 2017.

Kids sail free offer is for new bookings and excludes sailings departing between 11/17/16-11/24/16, 12/15/16-1/05/17, 2/16/17-2/23/17 and Harmony of the Seas.

All other charges, including, but not limited to, taxes, fees and port expenses, are additional and apply to all guests.

1-2-Free Deal

In addition, Royal Caribbean is allowing the Kids Sail Free deal to be combined with another new promotion, where Royal Caribbean is offering every third night of a cruise for free.

The longer you cruise, the more free nights you get:

• 1 night free for 3-5 night cruises
• 2 nights free for 6-8 night cruises
• 3 nights free for 9-11 night cruises
• 4 nights free for 12-14 night cruises
• 5 nights free for 15-17 night cruises
• 6 nights free for 18-20 night cruises
• 7 nights free for 21-23 night cruises
• 8 nights free for 24 night cruises

The 1-2-Free deal is available o night cruises booked June 7-July 6, 2016 and applies to cruises that depart on or after July 8, 2016 (excluding China departures). 

The "Free night(s)" issued in the form of a savings applied to the total stateroom cruise fare. The savings amount for each free night is calculated by dividing the total stateroom cruise fare by the number of cruise nights. Savings is deducted from cruise fare at time of booking.

1-2-Free Offer is combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts and rates, Next Cruise offers, and Shareholders benefits. Any dollar-off discounts or promotions, such as Crown & Anchor discounts, are applied first, followed by 1-2-Free Offer, which is applied to final balance.

Offer is not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military) or any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, prior promotions, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, weekly Sales Events, Net Rates.

Offer available to residents of the United States and Canada.

Royal Caribbean International is the first cruise line to feature fully licensed, Tony Award-winning Broadway productions, and now the line is bringing Grease to Harmony of the Seas. Get a glimpse of the show's opening night and how it is thrilling audiences.

Royal Caribbean Blog writer Michael Poole is on Allure of the Seas this week and is LIVE blogging his experiences right here. Check back every day for a new post, all about what he did onboard.

Pre Cruise – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Over the years it’s become tradition of mine to fly down early and water the ships leave Port Everglades.

We had two ships leave today one Carnival and the Oasis of the Seas. I was so excited to see the Oasis up close; even if you have seen it many times it’s still very impressive.

If you are wondering how to get out to the rocks I wrote a full blog post on how.

After the beach we had dinner at Boatyard restaurant. The restaurant is very nice, mostly seafood options and on the water, however it’s very expensive if you are looking to keep it on a budget.

Cruise Day – Allure of the Seas

This morning, we all had a pre-arranged shuttle through our hotel to take us to the ship at 9:30am. I know, I usually don’t arrive at the terminal this early but in a group you just go with the flow.

When we arrived around 9:45AM the porters where standing curbside to help us. However, once we went inside the terminal the security lines don’t start taking guest until 10am.

Once it reached 10am we were right though with no issues, actually very fast. I mention we have a group of 35, around half of us are Diamond or Diamond Plus and we were all able to sit together in the Diamond lounge. The boarding process started at 11:15am, and we were on board at 11:25am.

Once on board, we all rushed straight to Park Café for lunch and it wasn’t opened yet! That kind of seams to be the theme today, they did open at 11:35am.

I will say, the line here was unlike I’ve ever seen before, I think the secret is out about having lunch here on day one.

Sail away

On the Oasis class they don’t put you outside under the lifeboats for the muster drill, rather in large venues.

My location was in the Aqua Theater, so it’s much more enjoyable than the method on ever other Royal Caribbean ship.

For the sail away party we decided to meet in the Wipeout Bar in the aft.

his bar is between the two FlowRider facing the very back. If you are looking for a location without a lot of people I would suggest this area. They had great bar service here and it’s a different kind of view than you are usually used to poolside.

Pre-Dinner

Tonight, my group decided to meet in the Champagne lounge for pre dinner cocktails.

I must report, they were out of the two champagne that were included in the premium drink package. So needless to say the champagne lounge didn’t have any champagne. They said, by tomorrow they should restock on the bottles so we will see what they have.

I notice the limit on the drinks for the premium package is now $13 vs the $12 limit they have had in the past.

I went with the Cucumber Martini, which is good, but the real one is down in 150 Central Park.

Dinner / Aqua Show

Dinner tonight was in the main dining room, on deck 4. We went with second seating at 8:30pm.

My favorite meal all week was tonight the famous prime rib!

We also brought a bottle of wine for the table to share, if you are wondering there is no cork fee for your own bottles.

Around 10:15pm, we forgot we had the aqua show in 30 minutes so we quickly left dinner, to change for the show. Even though you have reservations for this show you want to arrive at least 20 minutes early for a good seat.

They have a little pre show in the crowd that helps pass the time and it’s funny too.

For those of you that have seen both Oasis and Allure aqua show, I think the Oasis on is far better. However, the show on Allure is still very enjoyable and I recommend everyone going to this show over all of them.

Few Random Thoughts

• Voom didn’t work great the first few hours still in port, but it works great now.
• Always a line at the freestyle coke machines.
• Next Cruise office now on deck 5 on the promenade.
• Haven’t been in the windjammer yet, and I don’t miss it.
• Staff on board very friendly, bar staff fairly fast.

What questions do you have? Please comment below. Next up, sea day!

Royal Caribbean posted new photos from many of the restaurants and bars aboard its newest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas.

Guests on Harmony of the Seas can enjoy a mix of casual venues, comfortable sit-down eateries and upscale dining.

The world's largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas features a $6.5 million art collection of more than 3,000 works.  Inspired by the theme “The Wonder of Our World, The World We Live In”, artists from around the world – more than 60 countries, from Argentina and Australia to  Greece and Morocco – created unique pieces to intrigue Royal Caribbean guests and crew, alike.