After months of delays, the Tidal Wave slide is finally open on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas.

The first Boomerang-style slide at sea is now open to all guests and features a steep drop that propels riders up a near vertical wall for a moment of weightlessness and into free fall.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Rena reported that the brand new slide opened the afternoon of June 3rd and was open all day yesterday.

Royal Caribbean refurbished Liberty of the Seas back in January, and added the Tidal Wave slide, but it never opened to guests in the sailings since the refurbishment work was done.

Evidently, there were additional issues with operating the slide safely, and Royal Caribbean opted to take additional time to perfect the slide experience and ensure it would be operating safely for all guests.

It is Sunday and with June here, temperatures and Royal Caribbean news are starting to heat up!

The big Royal Caribbean news this week is Royal Caribbean's announcement that it will sell Legend of the Seas to Thomson Cruises in the spring of 2017.

Legend of the Seas' final sailing will be on March 13, 2017 and all scheduled sailings from February 20, 2017 onward will be canceled. This includes the summer season cruises from Venice, Italy as well as the balance of the Brisbane itineraries.

Legend of the Seas first entered service with Royal Caribbean in 1995. The 69,130-gross-registered-tons ship carries 1,832 guests (double occupancy) and 726 crew.

There was plenty more Royal Caribbean news to read this week, check out these stories too.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is giving cruise credits to guests on pre-inaugural Harmony of the Seas cruises.
• Royal Caribbean's next promotion will offer free cruise nights and kids sail free.
• Vision of the Seas will replace Rhapsody of the Seas in Cape Liberty.
• Starbucks opened on Harmony of the Seas.
• Photo tour of the fitness center on Harmony of the Seas.
• An overview of Sabor restaurants across Royal Caribbean.
• Our full review of Izumi on Navigator of the Seas.
• A look at WOWbands on Harmony of the Seas.
• Harmony of the Seas made her maiden call to Vigo, Spain.
• 5 things we think are totally worth the extra cost.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 148th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we are talking about the ships, ports and stateroom choices for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

In this episode, we are continuing our mini-series of episodes that focus on an Alaska cruise, as we look at the Royal Caribbean ships that go to Alaska, as well as must-do activities in the ports and which stateroom choices make sense.

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.

How you can support Royal Caribbean Blog

So many of our readers have reached out to us to ask how they can help the blog and we are introducing the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders for just that reason.

The Insiders group is a way readers can contribute to Royal Caribbean Blog and help fuel some of the really amazing ideas, projects and new content that we have lined up.

As a way of saying thank you for your contribution, there are some fun rewards for being a member of the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders.

Becoming a member of the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders is completely up to you and you can cancel at any time. No questions asked! 

As always, thank you for visiting Royal Caribbean Blog and being a part of our community!

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Eat Sleep Cruise has a list of the top 25 Anthem of the Seas secrets.

In The Loop Travel has a list of 25 awesome little things on Harmony of the Seas.

It looks like Royal Caribbean is looking for ways to advertise beyond the traditional means, with this charger spotted in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. 

Photo by Michael Poole

The C Terminal has this phone charging station that subtly hints a cruise can recharge you, just like this station recharges your phone. 

If you find yourself in Atlanta, check out this little taste of Royal Caribbean!

Royal Caribbean is offering guests that were on pre-inaugural Harmony of the Seas sailings a future cruise credit to make up for the work that was being done on the ship.

Emails were sent to guests on the May 26, 2016 sailing on behalf of Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley.  The email reads as follows:

Each guest on the 3-night sailing is receiving a Future Cruise Certificate for 25% of the cruise fare paid for that sailing.  Guests on the 4-night sailings are receiving 50% of the cruise fare paid back in cruise credit.

It is unclear as of yet if guests from other sailings are also receiving similar offers.

The decision to offer guests future cruise credits appears to be a result of negative press in the UK, that highlighted work was still being done to the ship and allegations that the ship was not complete.

Staying fit and exercising are some of the many things guests can do on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas and today we have a photo tour of the Fitness Center.

Access to the Fitness Center is complimentary to all guests, with special classes that do have an additional charge.

Fitness equipment from Life Fitness provides guests with cardio and resistance training. 

In terms of classes, here is an example schedule of classes that include yoga, Ryde spin classes, Pilates, fab abs and more.

Some fitness classes have an additional charge, while others are complimentary.

To sign up for any class, just write your name down on the sign up sheet, located in the fitness center.

Harmony of the Seas' Fitness Center features many exercise machines, treadmills, free weights and more.

The Fitness Center on Harmony of the Seas is normally open from 6am until 1am.

Special thanks to Rich Freudenberg for providing these photos.

This week's batch of beautiful Royal Caribbean photos is here and it's always fun to share with all of you the great photos our readers take while on their cruise vacation.

The photos we have to show this week are fun and of course anyone can send us their Royal Caribbean photos to use as well!

Our first photo this week is from Marcus of Ovation of the Seas in Barcelona.  I really love how Royal Caribbean lights up their ships at night.

Matt sent in this photo of the Celebrity Constellation leaving from San Cristobal in San Juan Puerto Rico in February. Sure, this isn't Royal Caribbean International, but I thought it was a very pretty view.

Speaking of San Juan, here is a shot by Patrick Weldon sailing away from San Juan on Grandeur of the Seas. I never get sick of seeing this view.

It seems to be Puerto Rico day, as we have this great photo by Timothy Griffin.  Old San Juan is among my favorite port stops.

Let's go over to the Bahamas with this photo by Dave Rimington of Nassau, as seen from Enchantment of the Seas. Great composition!

I love sunset photos, and we have a great one by Earl McGrath.  It was taken on Allure of the Seas as they left Falmouth.  Perfect!

We will round things out with this photo by Shannon of Liberty of the Seas in Labadee.  The black and white effect is quite nice!

Thank you to everyone that sent in their photos this week and if you have Royal Caribbean photos, well, we want to see them!  You can use this form to send us your photos and we will feature them on an upcoming Friday Photos blog post!

Royal Caribbean will roll out a new deal in June, that offers every third night of their cruise is free, and if booked by June 20, kids 12 and under sail free on select sailings. 

1-2-Free Promotion

Cruise must be booked between June 7 and July 6, 2016 and is valid on all sailings on or after July 8, 2016, excluding China departures

•  3-5 Night Sailing – 1 Free Night
• 6-8 Night Sailing – 2 Free Nights
• 9-11 Night Sailing – 3 Free Nights
• 12-14 Night Sailing – 4 Free Nights
• 15-17 Night Sailing – 5 Free Nights
• 18-20 Night Sailing – 6 Free Nights
• 21-23 Night Sailing – 7 Free Nights
• 24 Night Sailing – 8 Free Nights

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.

This 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.

This offer is combinable with NextCruise offer, Crown & Anchor discounts and rates, Future Cruise Certificates and Letters of Credit.

Offer available to residents of the United States and Canada. 

Kids Sail Free

Kids Sail Free with June 7-20, 2016, guests 12 and under sail free on 5 nights or longer Caribbean, Bermuda, Dubai and Europe sailings departing September 6, 2016-March 9, 2017.

Kids are defined as being 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 select sailings. 

Kids Offer 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.

This 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.

This offer is combinable with NextCruise offer.

Offer available to residents of the United States and Canada. 

One of Royal Caribbean's newest and most popular specialty restaurants is Sabor, which serves up a modern take on what Mexican cuisine can be.

While you will find favorites like tacos, quesadillas and margaritas there, Royal Caribbean also offers contemporary dishes, including ceviche, flautas, seafood and more.

There are two kinds of Sabor experiences on Royal Caribbean ships.

Sabor Modern Mexican was the original implementation, and is found on select Voyager- and Freedom-class cruise ships on Deck 4, near the Schooner Bar.

• Navigator of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas

Guests dining at Sabor Modern Mexican will pay a cover charge and have access to all the food on the menu (drinks are excluded).

In addition, there are hand-crafted margaritas at Sabor Modern Mexican.

Sabor Tacqueria & Tequila Bar is a newer form of Sabor, that is found on Oasis-class cruise ships and located in the Boardwalk neighborhood.

• Oasis of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas

At Sabor Tacqueria & Tequila Bar, there is a cover charge just like at the other ships.  A meal at Sabor will cost $19 per person and that includes all the food on the menu (excluding drinks).

Sabor for lunch

Sabor is open for both lunch and dinner on most days.

Sabor will be open for dinner on all evenings, and is usually open for lunch on sea days.

Additionally, Sabor is sometimes open for lunch on embarkation day.  It will depend on the ship and sailing, but usually the Oasis-class ships that have Sabor are open for lunch on embarkation day.

Reservations are not necessary for lunch.

Sabor tips

• The freshly made guacamole is arguably the best thing on the menu. Do not miss out on having it made for you.
• Chips and salsa are complimentary at all Sabor locations.
• On Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, there is a bar outside Sabor, where you can order drinks and some food without going formally into the restaurant.
• Do not miss out on the dessert tray.  The banana chocolate empanadas especially are divine.

Royal Caribbean announced today it has changed deployment plans for which ship will be based in Cape Liberty, New Jersey, by replacing Rhapsody of the Seas with Vision of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean had announced in April that Rhapsody of the Seas would be based in the New York City area with Anthem of the Seas, but all of these previously announced Rhapsody of the Seas sailings have been canceled.

From May 20, 2017 through the end of October, Rhapsody will offer a variety of exciting 7-night round trip sailings from Venice, Italy.

At the conclusion of the Mediterranean season, Rhapsody will return to Tampa, Florida as planned and begin sailings on November 19, 2017.

On August 22, Vision of the Seas will offer a 16-night Transatlantic sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark to Cape Liberty, New Jersey with several calls in Denmark, Norway, Scotland and Iceland.

On September 7, Vision will offer a 13-night open jaw sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Quebec City, Canada.  The sailings departing from Cape Liberty on September 20, October 1, and October 11 will replace the previously planned sailings offered on Rhapsody and include calls in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as multiple ports in Maine and Nova Scotia.

Vision’s current fall Europe itineraries, including those departing from Venice, Italy from August 22, 2017 through November 17, 2017 will be canceled.

To accommodate guests booked on the affected sailings, Royal Caribbean will provide vacationers with a full refund of their cruise fare, the opportunity to re-book on another Royal Caribbean ship as well as an onboard credit to use during the newly booked sailing. In addition, vacationers who purchased airfare through Royal Caribbean will receive a full refund. Guests purchasing their own airfare will be given a refund for their airline change fee. All refund transactions will be automatically processed back to the original form of payment within four to six weeks. Commissions for travel agents will be protected for all cruises that are fully paid.

Guests requesting more information are asked to contact Royal Caribbean International’s customer service team at 1-800-256-6649 or their travel agent.

Royal Caribbean announced today it will sell Legend of the Seas to Thomson Cruises in the spring of 2017.

Legend of the Seas first entered service with Royal Caribbean in 1995. The 69,130-gross-registered-tons ship carries 1,832 guests (double occupancy) and 726 crew.

"Since its inaugural sailing, Legend of the Seas has created many wonderful memories for hundreds of thousands of guests, and we expect this successful history to continue as she transitions to Thomson Cruises," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.  "While she will be missed, her transition supports Double-Double and our objective of moderate capacity growth."

Legend of the Seas' final sailing will be on March 13, 2017, with the officers and crew remaining with Royal Caribbean.

The current round trip Brisbane, Australia sailings departing on January 6, 15, 29 and February 8 will operate as scheduled.

All scheduled sailings from February 20, 2017 onward will be canceled.  This includes the summer season cruises from Venice, Italy as well as the balance of the Brisbane itineraries.

A series of three repositioning cruises will be offered beginning on February 20 from Brisbane.  This will include an 11-night sailing from Brisbane to Singapore, as well as a 10-night cruise from Singapore to Dubai and a 13-night sailing from Dubai to Barcelona.

To accommodate guests booked on the affected sailings, Royal Caribbean will provide vacationers with a full refund of their cruise fare, the opportunity to re-book on another Royal Caribbean ship as well as an onboard credit to use during the newly booked sailing. In addition, vacationers who purchased airfare through Royal Caribbean will receive a full refund. Guests purchasing their own airfare will be given a refund for their airline change fee. All refund transactions will be automatically processed back to the original form of payment within four to six weeks. Commissions for travel agents will be protected for all cruises that are fully paid.

Guests requesting more information are asked to contact Royal Caribbean International’s customer service team at 1-800-256-6649 or their travel agent.