There are certain times I really love doing research for this blog, and when I get a chance to dine at Izumi on any Royal Caribbean ship, that would be one of those moments.

While on Navigator of the Seas I took the opportunity (okay, it was more like multiple opportunities) to dine at Izumi and try out a few different dishes. The reason why I relish returning to Izumi time and time again is because I am a self-diagnosed sushi fanatic and the sushi Izumi serves up has been consistently very, very good.

I also aspired on this trip to try something completely new (to me) on the menu and break out of my habit of ordering the same rolls.  How did I manage? How much sushi did I eat on one cruise? Read on to find out!

Atmosphere

Izumi is located on Deck 14 of Navigator of the Seas, adjacent to the Cosmopolitan Club in the Viking Crown of the ship.  Of all the specialty restaurants on Navigator of the Seas, it is probably the easiest to miss out on because there is not nearly as much foot traffic up there, compared to where other specialty restaurants are located.

Walking into Izumi, you will notice one of the best aspects of the restaurant experience that is not directly tied to food: the views!

Izumi overlooks the ocean and the pool deck, which makes lunch time or early evening seatings quite desirable because you have some of the best views on Navigator of the Seas to enjoy a meal with.

The restaurant is one large, slightly curved room with mostly tables, some half-booths along one wall and bar seating.

Walking into Izumi and you will definitely notice the magenta and black motif, along with some eye-catching pop art along the walls.  

Izumi is an interesting blend of traditional Japanese dining mixed with a contemporary feel.

Eats

As you might imagine, Izumi is well known for their sushi (I believe I mentioned their sushi a few times already in just this post), but they do offer some other great Japanese cuisine.

Dining at Izumi means you will pay for your items a la carte, instead of there being a cover charge.  If you are on a Royal Caribbean specialty dining package, you will get $30 per guest allocation for your meal. You can read the entire Izumi menu and get an idea of prices and what is available.

Every meal at Izumi starts with a warm towel that you wash your face and hands with and a complimentary bowl of edamame.

Edamame is a kind of soybean that comes in a pod that is steamed and served with salt.  You pop the soybeans in your mouth like peanuts, discarding the pod.  These are highly addictive!

I dined at Izumi a couple of times on my cruise and on one occasion I was glancing at the drink menu and noticed the "Call a cab! Sakirita" listed.  I am a sucker for cleverly named drinks, so I had to try it.

I was concerned it would be overly sweet, but the drink was surprisingly smoother than I was expecting and I did not feel like my blood sugar levels were going to shoot up either.  Very tasty and it certainly put a smile on my face.

Anytime I have sushi, I always start my meal with a bowl of miso soup.  Izumi makes a darn good miso soup and it is the perfect starter for everything else to come.

In terms of main courses, there is a lot to choose from. Izumi is not a "one trick pony" that offers just a few sushi rolls. There are salads, soups, hot rocks and of course, plenty of sushi.

If you like sushi as much as I do, the sushi combos really offer some tremendous value.  My favorite is the DX Sushi Combo: 8 pieces of nigiri, 2 tamago and 8 pieces of spicy tuna roll for $16. 

While the value is good, the sushi is even better and it has become my go-to sushi dish of choice.

As I mentioned earlier, I also wanted to try something brand new to me and something I have never had at Izumi before.

I picked the Ahi and Albacore Tataki Salad, partly because it sounded good and partly because it was listed on the menu as a chef's recommendation.

This is a great pick if you are looking for something low-carb (there is no rice) or like to combine sushi-grade fish with a great assortment of greens. I thought it was a terrific salad and quite a large serving.

I still had to order some sushi, and went with a great standard: yellowtail.

Overall

As someone that loves sushi and dines at plenty of Japanese restaurants on land, I really love what Izumi offers on Navigator of the Seas (and across Royal Caribbean's fleet in general). Great quality sushi at reasonable prices leave me happy and satisfied.

One of the advantages of Izumi being a la carte pricing is that you can drop in for a bowl of soup and a roll and not have to spend a lot of money.  Whether you want a full meal experience or just something quick, I have always found Izumi to handle what I need.

I really feel like their menu is varied enough to meet the needs of pretty much anyone that enjoys Japanese cuisine. There are the usual "starter" sushi rolls (California rolls, rainbow rolls, etc) as well as the more adventurous rolls.  There is no lowest common denominator and I think that really works to make the restaurant as popular as it has become with Royal Caribbean fans.

There is plenty to try at Izumi and it is a fantastic spot for lunch, dinner or something inbetween.

Izumi is open for dinner from 6:00pm to 9:30pm and for lunch on most sea days from noon to 1:30pm. We reviewed Izumi on Navigator of the Seas.

The world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, made a stop in Vigo, Spain today on its maiden voyage from Southampton, with some 8,000 people on board, including passengers and crew.

The massive ship, which was build at STX France, made her first stop in the city earlier today.

To commemorate the occasion, the ship's captain and the President of the Vigo Port Authority met to officially welcome Harmony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's General Director of Spain and France, Bethlehem Wanguemert, has been estimated  an economic impact to Vigo of some 350,000 euros. 

Harmony of the Seas spent almost 12 hours in port, and as the ship sailed away from Vigo, about 200 blue balloons were released to celebrate the world 's largest cruise ship's presence.

Harmony of the Seas headed next to Malaga, Spain and from there to Barcelona, ​​where he is scheduled to arrive on Sunday.

It took a few extra days, but the latest Starbucks at Sea location as opened up on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas.

One change Royal Caribbean fans may notice is Starbucks on Harmony of the Seas is located in the Boardwalk neighborhood, instead of the Royal Promenade.

Inside, the new Starbucks location is very bright and colorful, with plenty of whites, teals and tans around the venue.

There is not a whole lot of seating in this Starbucks, but there is a walk-up bar that guests can use for casually enjoying the drinks, as well as some stools that line the wall.

Naturally, you may be wondering what is available to order at this Starbucks.  There is a fairly standard Starbucks menu available for guests to choose from.

Ordering your drinks at this Starbucks is very similar to ordering at any Starbucks location. The barista takes your order, as well as your payment.  You then step to the preparation area and pick up your Starbucks drink when it is ready.

Thanks to Rich Freudenberg for providing these photos!

Let us know what you think of this new Starbucks location in the comments below!

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas offers a lot of firsts, including being the first Oasis-class cruise ship to offer the RFID bracelets known as WOWbands.

What is a WOWband?

Let us begin with the basics of what a WOWband is before discussing how to use it on Harmony of the Seas.

WOWbands are essentially optional replacements for your SeaPass card. Imagine a bracelet you can wear that allows you to open you stateroom door, charge onboard purchases or check into shows and restaurants.

They are made of silicone and come in a variety of colors: white, yellow, black and blue.

WOWbands use Radio Frequency (RF) technology that can be read by Royal Caribbean's readers that are found at kiosks, tablets and mobile scanners that Royal Caribbean crew operate.

Your WOWband is linked to your SeaPass account and holds all of your information related to your cruise vacation such as your stateroom information, dining reservations and more.  

How much are they on Harmony of the Seas?

Photo by Rich Freudenberg‎

Guests on Harmony of the Seas can choose to purchase WOWbands for $4.99 each.

Guests can purchase one and re-use it on another Harmony of the Seas cruise, or on any other Royal Caribbean ship that has WOWbands.  

In fact, WOWbands from other Royal Caribbean ships can be used as well. You just need to go to Guest Services and have them re-programmed.

Where do I buy it on Harmony of the Seas?

WOWbands can be purchased from Guest Services on Harmony of the Seas.

WOWbands are complimentary for suite guests.

Should I get a WOWband on Harmony of the Seas?

WOWbands are an optional feature but once you try the WOWbands, you will likely be leaving your SeaPass card behind in your stateroom.

They are a neat option, but completely optional.  All guests will be issued SeaPass cards and those will continue to work, even if you get a WOWband

Happy Sunday and happy unofficial start to summer, as the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States marks the start of the season for many.

It was another exciting week for Royal Caribbean fans, as Royal Caribbean announced it had ordered a fifth Oasis-class cruise ship for delivery in the Spring of 2021.

Royal Caribbean signed a memorandum of understanding with STX France, and the order is contingent upon the completion of customary conditions, including documentation and financing.

"The Oasis-class ships have delivered beyond expectations each time," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Harmony of the Seas' warm reception is evidence that growing this class of ship will continue to drive exceptional performance for the brand."

We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in…

Royal Caribbean News

• Empress of the Seas arrived home in Miami.
• Details on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas refurbishment plans.
• Royal Caribbean added six more Ovation of the Seas Australia sailings in 2017/2018.
• Are Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages worth it? We tried to find an answer.
• Our full review of Sabor Modern Mexican on Navigator of the Seas.
• Photos from Grease on Harmony of the Seas.
• Speaking of Harmony of the Seas, here is a drone video of her sailaway.
• A look at Radiance of the Seas' refurbishment work that was recently completed.
• Our review of Izumi Express Sushi on the Go.
• A scientific look at how thrilling the Ultimate Abyss is on Harmony of the Seas.
• Shore excursion review of the two forts in Old San Juan.
• Another shore excursion review of the Caribbean scenic railway in St. Kitts.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 147th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we begin a mini-series of episodes focusing on cruises to Alaska.

In this episode, Matt looks at the times of year someone could take a Royal Caribbean cruise, as well as consider the departure ports available and what the weather is really like in Alaska.

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 Blog Reader Finds

If you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise and spot something cool, new or just fun, share a photo with us on Facebook or Twitter so we can add it to our Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds each Sunday!

#ExploreroftheSeas leaving #Seattle yesterday. #Alaska #cruise pic.twitter.com/1EsgmkT3pn

— Scott Clifton (@Dsclifton) May 21, 2016

Too pretty to cut into! #harmonyoftheseas pic.twitter.com/tnOKZlgJCH

— Colleen McDaniel (@CruisingColleen) May 26, 2016

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Autism on the Seas has a look at the amazing work they do on Royal Caribbean cruises with kids with Autism.

In The Loop Travel has a new video of their ride on the Ultimate Abyss.

Royal Caribbean UK spoke with Independence of the Seas Godmother.

Shermans Cruise posted their full review of Harmony of the Seas.

Cruise Miss also shared her full review and thoughts on Harmony of the Seas.

Strawberry Squeeze has yet another review of Harmony of the Seas.

Porthole Magazine has a humorous look at the ship's daily newsletter.

Exploring a port of call's history can be just as interesting and fun as spalshing at the beach or enjoying local cuisine.  In Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, history comes in spades and among the most popular historical spots tourists can see are the two old Spanish forts that guard the city,  Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) and San Cristóbal.

These two forts are among the most popular historical sites to see in Old San Juan, and they offer an intriguing look back at the island's rich history as well as provide amazing views of the surrounding area.

Description

The two Spanish forts are located on the north side of Old San Juan, and are within walking distance of each other.

El Morro is the more famous of the two forts, as it guards the entrance to the harbor, while San Cristóbal was built to defend the city itself.

The city of San Juan provides a free shuttle from the cruise area up to the forts, although the distance is walkable by most people and there is a lot to see and do along the way.

Starting with El Morro, the fort is set opposite a rather large grassy area, where you will often spot locals and tourists flying kits, taking dogs for walks and otherwise enjoying the wide open space.

Like San Cristóbal, once inside the fort, guests are able to tour the fort on their own and explore every aspect of it. The park staff do offer guided tours at certain times that narrate the experience. Nonetheless, you should feel free to explore the fort on your own, as there is plenty of signs to help tell the fort's story.

There are many areas of the fort to explore, as El Morro is rather large and offers views of the entrance to the harbor, the ocean and the surrounding areas.

Admission to El Morro gets you admission to San Cristóbal as well (and vice versa).

After a walk to San Cristóbal, you will find a fort similar in nature to El Morro, but this fort offers better views of the city and harbor.

San Cristóbal was built to defend the city against land based attacks and is larger than El Morro. In fact, it is the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World.

Like El Morro, San Cristóbal provides a self-guided tour of the facility and there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

If your Royal Caribbean ship happens to be in port during the evening, El Morro is lit up quite nicely and provides even more beautiful photo opportunities.

Comments

The two Old San Juan forts are among the most famous historical sites in Old San Juan and they are to Old San Juan what the Statue of Liberty might be to New York City.

There are two good tips we can offer for seeing the forts: try to go there early in the day before the temperatures rise and take the complimentary trolley from the cruise ship terminal.

Since Puerto Rico is in the tropics, it tends to get quite hot and humid in the afternoon, especially between the months of March through November.  Given that the fort is almost entirely outdoors, ideally you will visit it in the morning before it gets too hot outside.

If you are wondering about which fort to see if you only have time or energy for one, El Morro tends to be the better choice for its photo opportunities and slightly smaller footprint. Keep in mind that admission to one fort gets you into both (for up to 7 days), so there is no financial reason not to see both.

Be sure to bring your cameras to either fort, because the views offered are really quite impressive.  

Both fortifications can be explored everyday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm either on your own or on one of the ranger led programs held throughout the week.

Cost: $7 per adult. Children 15 and under are free.

Lots of Royal Caribbean fans relish a stay in a Junior Suite (JS) and today, we have a look at one of the Junior Suites from Independence of the Seas to give you an idea of what to expect if you book a similar stateroom.

Brian Robinson took photos of his stateroom on Independence of the Seas while on a sailing in February 2016.

Junior Suites on Independence of the Seas offer guests 297 square feet of space and a balcony that is 94 square feet.

Junior Suites on Independence of the Seas include minibar, vanity area, hair-dryer, TV, phone, vanity table with an extendable working surface for laptop computers and 110/220 electrical outlets. Some have sofa beds and can accommodate 3-4 guests.

Some can also accommodate a rollaway bed or Play Yard. (Junior Suites located in the aft of the ship cannot accommodate a rollaway bed.) 

Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas is due for a refurbishment in November 2016 and we are now getting details on what work will be done.

Royal Caribbean is planning on adding these changes and additions to the ship

Cyclone and Typhoon waterslides

These two water slides were first added to Liberty of the Seas, and have also found a home on Harmony of the Seas.

Adventure of the Seas will be the first Voyager-class ship to get water slides.

FlowRider surf simulator

The FlowRider has proven to be one of the more popular activities across Royal Caribbean's fleet. Guests can choose between learning to stand-up surf or boogie board throughout their cruise.

Royal Caribbean has been adding FlowRiders to many of its ships, including other Voyager-class ships.

Slashaway Bay aqua park

Splashaway Bay is an aqua park featuring an interactive kid’s play area with water cannons, geysers and much more.

Like the water slides, it too was first introduced on Liberty of the Seas and was also added to Harmony of the Seas.

Izumi

Fans of Japanese cuisine will relish meals at Izumi.  The restaurant is famous for fresh, quality made sushi as well as other traditional Japanese dishes.

Izumi has been added to many other Royal Caribbean ships over the years, and has become one of the most proliferated and popular specialty restaurants.

Addition of dry-aged steaks to Chops Grille

Royal Caribbean is capitalizing on the dry-aged steak fad, which is the process of hanging the meats and letting time and microbes do their magic to enhance the flavor of the beef.

Dry-aging beef takes time, usually 21-28 days, and as a result costs more money because the restaurant ties up cash in inventory that’s just sitting around, losing water weight and literally shrinking. The benefit is the flavors get concentrated, similar to how a reducing sauce becomes richer. It's become a big fad among steakhouses these days and Royal Caribbean wanted in on the action.

Adventure of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship and is home-ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

It seems as though sushi has become more popular than ever, and while Royal Caribbean has been adding the wildly popular Izumi restaurants to its ships over the last few years, there is now another way to get your sushi "fix" while onboard.

While onboard Navigator of the Seas, we spotted the Izumi Express option, where guests can enjoy fresh and premium sushi that is freshly made, on the go.  Essentially, this is take-out sushi.

You might be wondering, "Why would I want take-out sushi?" and we thought about that too.  There are at least two good reasons Izumi Express makes sense to us:

• You have kids and a full sit-down meal is not in the cards, but you still want sushi
• You want to enjoy sushi somewhere else on the ship, like your balcony

The process of ordering Izumi Express is fairly simple. Simply call Izumi from any phone on your Royal Caribbean ship (I did from the comfort of my stateroom bed) and place your order. You can also go up to Izumi and order there, if you prefer.

You can order any sushi from the regular menu during the hours Izumi happens to be open. The staff will take your order and provide a time window when you can come up to Izumi and pick it up.

We placed an order and within about 10 minutes, it was ready and the staff even called back our stateroom to let us know it was ready.

Picking up the sushi is similar to any take-out restaurant experience you have likely encountered. It is prepared in a to-go container and bagged up for easy transport.

I opted to bring my sushi back to my stateroom and enjoy it on the balcony.  

I have to say, it was really fun having a favorite meal with my own personal view of the ocean.

We are not certain which other ships offer Izumi Express, but it should be available on ships that have an Izumi.

All in all, I really enjoyed the Izumi Express option, because it was a convenient option to enjoy sushi without having to bring my kids with me or leaving my wife with them.  For families, I can see this being a popular option, because it will provide great sushi without the formality of a full-fledged meal.

Will you be trying the Izumi Express on your next Royal Caribbean cruise? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

Royal Caribbean announced today it has signed  a memorandum of understanding with STX France to build a fifth Oasis-class ship for delivery in the Spring of 2021.

This order is contingent upon the completion of customary conditions, including documentation and financing. Final contracts, which include the definitive payment schedules, are expected to be completed within the quarter. Capacity increases for 2016 through 2020 remain unchanged.

"The response to the arrival of Harmony of the Seas is staggering, eliciting excitement from eager cruisers from markets on both sides of the Atlantic," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 

"The Oasis-class ships have delivered beyond expectations each time," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.  "Harmony of the Seas' warm reception is evidence that growing this class of ship will continue to drive exceptional performance for the brand."

"We are extremely pleased with the recent success of Harmony of the Seas and take great pride in our partnership with Royal Caribbean," said Laurent Castaing, Managing Director of STX France.  "It is especially exciting to collaborate on such diverse projects from Oasis to Edge, both marvels in their own space."

A fourth Oasis-class ship is also being built at STX France, with a delivery date of 2018.