Happy Sunday! We hope you’re enjoying a day filled with friends and family. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on the latest Royal Caribbean news!

Royal Caribbean's 24th ship was welcomed into the fleet this week, as Ovation of the Seas was delivered by shipbuilder Meyer Werft in an official handover ceremony.

Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain took delivery of Ovation of the Seas from Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Ovation of the Seas will now sail to Southampton, U.K., where the ship will offer a series of short getaways before she sets sail on her 52-night “Global Odyssey” culminating in the arrival to her homeport in Tianjin, China.

Royal Caribbean News

• First photos from inside Ovation of the Seas.
• Royal Caribbean is offering multi-day shore excursions on select sailings.
• Ovation of the Seas will return to Australia in 2017/2018.
• We answer when is the best time to book a Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Royal Caribbean announced it will combat wildlife trafficking.
• 5 things you will love about 150 Central Park.
• We have a Liberty of the Seas pool deck photo update to share.
• Six beautiful photos of Royal Caribbean ships in Port Everglades.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 140th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we answer your Royal Caribbean emails this week.

In this episode, Matt digs into the email inbox and reads emails about all aspects of taking a virtual cruise.  We talk dining, shore excursions, stateroom options and more!

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.

99 Days of Harmony

To celebrate the countdown until Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas debuts, we kicked off a brand new blog series, 99 Days of Harmony, that looks at what makes this new ship so amazing.  

Each day we are posting a new blog post all about Harmony of the Seas, so here's what you might have missed this week.

• Luckey Climber
• Harmony of the Seas' Captain
• Royal Caribbean creates the Ultimate Abyss
• Where to watch Harmony of the Seas sail away

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Cruiseline has 5 annoying things that aren't the cruise line's fault.

From the Deck Chair is sharing a first-look at Harmony of the Seas.

Cruise Maven Travels has a look at the Ben & Jerry Sweet.

With Royal Caribbean taking delivery of Ovation of the Seas, we are starting to get photos from inside this magnificent ship.

Photos shown here were posted by Royal Caribbean UK, Travis Kamiyama and Luis Rodriguez.

Ovation of the Seas is headed to Southampton, where she will offer a series of short getaways before she sets sail on her 52-night “Global Odyssey” culminating in the arrival to her homeport in Tianjin, China.

Royal Caribbean has packed Ovation of the Seas with quite a number of intriguing onboard activities, restaurants and amenities.

Later this year, Ovation of the Seas will reposition to her new home in Australia to begin her maiden Australian season in December.

Ovation of the Seas is the third Quantum-class cruise ship and is labeled as one of the most technologically advanced cruise ships ever.  

When the calendar (or your smart phone) tells you that it is Friday, that means it is time to share with everyone our readers favorite Royal Caribbean photos! 

Each week, we ask our readers to send us their best Royal Caribbean photos, so that we can showcase them right here.  

Enjoy this week's batch of great photos!

We will begin this week's photo showcase with this photo of Anthem of the Seas docked in St. Kitts by Jorge Toache.  I love getting these kinds of photos when docked in port.

Bob Carpenter sent us this photo of the AquaTheater on Allure of the Seas, while waiting for the evening Aqua Show. Beautiful lighting and the evening sky!

Here is Radiance of the Seas leaving Darwin, Australia by Ross & Pam.  Great perspective!

Donna Donovin sent us this photo of Adventure of the Seas, while she was docked in St. Croix. Love those Southern Caribbean itineraries!

I never get tired of this view on Oasis of the Seas.  Ken Slusser sent this photo from his June 2013 cruise and it is just as beautiful today as it was back then!

Let's head back down under, with this photo by Murray of Voyager of the Seas sailing out of Sydney harbor.  Hard to deny the amazing Sydney skyline, especially when seen from a cruise ship!

Last, but not least, is this photo of Serenade of the Seas by Zoltán Marton's brother, taken in Oslo, Norway. Old world meets beautiful ship!

That will wrap up this week's edition of Friday Photos.  If you would like your photo showcased here, just fill out this form and send it in!

There is a new Royal Caribbean ship officially in the fleet, as of today.

Royal Caribbean took delivery of its 24th cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, in a ceremony held today in Bremerhaven, Germany.  Ovation of the Seas is the third Quantum-class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain took delivery of Ovation of the Seas from Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer at the official handover ceremony.

“Ovation of the Seas is magnificent,” said Richard. “Our thanks to the Meyer Werft team for their ongoing partnership in designing and building awe-inspiring ships with us.”

“It’s wonderful to welcome Ovation of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family of ships,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We have once again introduced yet another one of the most technologically advanced cruise ships and the very first that has been built for the China market – a market we continue to demonstrate our commitment to expanding. Quantum Class has redefined the status quo, and we are excited for our guests in China and Australia to enjoy their extraordinary vacations onboard this stunner.”

It doesn't get more "#livetweet" than this. Billion dollar hand shake. #OvationOfTheSeas is ours! pic.twitter.com/eWEaCpuEBN

— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) April 8, 2016

Ovation of the Seas will now sail to Southampton, U.K., where the ship will offer a series of short getaways before she sets sail on her 52-night “Global Odyssey” culminating in the arrival to her homeport in Tianjin, China.

She will begin her first homeport sailing season in China from Tianjin in June 2016. Ovation, together with Quantum of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, will make up the largest fleet of any cruise line sailing in China.

We're counting down the days until Harmony of the Seas debuts later this year with our 99 days of Harmony blog series. Each day we will post something about Harmony of the Seas to share with all of you!

Luckey Climber

What do you get when you combine art and function on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas? The lucky climber!

Harmony of the Seas will be the first ship to feature the Luckey Climber play area, located at the end of the Boardwalk.

Luckey Climber is a brand of rather large clibming structures that are surrounded by a net, designed for kids to jump on and explore.

Photo by Luckey Climbers, LLC

These innovative playgrounds are part art and part jungle gym that feature some very bold colors.

From the looks of it, Luckey Climber ought to be a great spot for kids of many ages to hop in and engage in the kind of climbing all kids love, while their parents enjoy a milk shake from Johnny Rockets and watch the fun ensue!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Harmony!

Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships offer so many amazing dining opportunities, with the premier experience being 150 Central Park.

150 Central Park is the creation of James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in Miami.  Chef Schwartz created 150 Central Park with a commitment to sustainable and seasonal food sourcing that offers the freshest, most distinct ingredients.

Whether you dine on Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas or Harmony of the Seas, here are five things that are sure to please at 150 Central Park.

5. The setting

Any good chef knows that presentation is as important to a meal as the food itself, and 150 Central Park follows that rule with its picture-perfect home in the Central Park neighborhood.

Set among the beautiful layout of Central Park, guests will walk past towering Cuban laurel and Black Olive to clusters of calla lilies and rabbit foot ferns to get to the restaurant.

With dinner in the evening, it is an undeniably beautiful backdrop for dinner.

4. Upscale dining experience

A meal at 150 Central Park is more than just great food.  It is about every aspect of the meal, from when you set foot in the restaurant to when you leave.

Royal Caribbean designed 150 Central Park to offer guests an intimate dining experience that is unlike anything else offered onboard. That means not only dressing up for the occasion, but a wait staff trained to make your meal as personal as possible.

Your waiter will explain each menu choice for you and customize the experience to meet what you want. 

For guests seeking a chic night out, 150 Central Park is the place to go.

3. Seasonal tasting menu

Chef Michael Schwartz offers guests at 150 Central Park an innovative dining concept with 150 Central Park.

The menu is seasonal, which means it is regularly changed to offer the freshest and most distinct ingredients.

The 150 Central Park menu features rotating six-course menus per voyage highlighting fresh produce from small Florida farms.

No matter when you dine at 150 Central Park, you are sure to find responsibly- and locally-sourced ingredients that are in season.

2. Wine pairing

When you talk about any kind of upscale dining experience, wine pairings with your meal are common place, including at 150 Central Park.

Royal Caribbean offers guests the choice of reserving a meal at 150 Central Park with or without a wine pairing, or simply choosing select wines to enjoy with their meals.

At $75 per guest, the wine pairing option includes a glass of wine to match each serving during the course of the meal.

The wine accompaniment is chosen to compliment the evening's menu and serves to enhance the flavor of the food.

Wine lovers will consider this option a must-do.

1. Cucumber martini

In addition to the great food served at 150 Central Park, the restaurant features a signature cocktail that is a must-try: the cucumber martini.

As the name implies, there is a hint of cucumber to a classic martini concoction that is light and very refreshing.

This drink is a mix of cucumber, basil,Monin lemon grass syrup, sweet and sour mix and Grey Goose Vodka.

Many Royal Caribbean fans claim this is among the very best cocktails Royal Caribbean offers, so give it a try!

Each day we are getting closer to the launch of Harmony of the Seas and we "celebrate" with a new blog post, all about this amazing ship!

The Captain

One of the most important and recognizable roles on any cruise ship is her Captain and Royal Caribbean has already selected who will be in control of this magnificent ship when she debuts.

Royal Caribbean has actually selected two of its Captains to be the ship's Captain.

Captain Gus Andersson will take Harmony of the Seas out, which means he will be in charge of the ship once it is delivered from STX France shipyard and command her as she makes her way to her first sailings.

Captain Andersson has been with Royal Caribbean has some recent experience with new ships. In May 2010, he went to Turku, Finland as Staff Captain to be part of the Newbuild and Start Up team for Allure of the Seas.

He also served as part of the Newbuild and Start up team for the Quantum and Anthem of the Seas. After the initial start up period, he took command of each of the ships for their inaugural seasons.

He also served as Captain of Enchantment of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

Eventually, Captain Johnny Faevelen will take over Harmony of the Seas and be the ship's Captain for the foreseeable future.

Like Captain Andersson, Captain Faevelen has been a Captain with Royal Caribbean for a while too.

Since 1994, has been a Captain and previously served as Captain onboard the Nordic Prince, Sun Viking, Sovereign of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Harmony!

For someone new to Royal Caribbean, one of the most common questions that is often asked is when exactly is the best time to book a Royal Caribbean cruise.

It is a simple question, but has major ramifications.  We all want to get a deal on our cruise vacations, or at the very least, save money where we can.

Here are some helpful guidelines to help you plan the right time to book your first (or next) Royal Caribbean cruise.

Book early

If there is one mantra everyone taking a Royal Caribbean cruise should know, it is to book cruises as early as possible.

In general, the best prices are found the earlier one books a cruise.

Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on the concept of supply and demand. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a stateroom yet. As time progress, more and more staterooms are reserved and stateroom inventory drops, so the price increases conversely.

The earlier you can book, the best chance you will have at getting a good price on your cruise.

When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can.  Royal Caribbean puts its itineraries on sale as much as two years in advance of the sailing, and while that may be too far in advance for many to plan vacations, the earlier you can book the cruise, the better for that bottom line price.

Reprice when possible

Booking your cruise early not only lets you lock in a good price, but it gives you the maximum opportunity to ensure you have the lowest price.

Throughout the year, Royal Caribbean offers various cruise sales: BOGO deals, 72 hour sales, WOW sales, leap day sales and more are offered and each promotion comes with it different pricing and booking incentives.

From when you book your cruise until the final payment date of your cruise, North American guests can cancel and rebook under the new promotions without any penalty (residents of other parts of the world need to check local laws and policies).

Since Royal Caribbean pricing can change daily, or even hourly, re-checking the price of your cruise often is a good way to ensure you are getting the lowest price possible.

When it comes to re-booking (and booking in general), we are big fans of using a travel agent for the services they provide.  A good travel agent will not only be knowledgeable about Royal Caribbean, but take the time to re-book the cruise for you and even notify you when new promotions come out that you can benefit from.

Not when you book, but when you cruise

If you are wondering if there is an ideal time to book a cruise for the best price, it is not so much about when you book as when you want to cruise.

While there are times of the year that offer deeper savings than others (Cyber Monday has been a good time), finding the lowest fares has more to do with when you are actually going on your cruise.

In general, you will find lower fares if you are willing to cruise during the "shoulder seasons" and/or when school is usually in session.

This includes

• January (minus New Years holiday)
• Most of February
• May
• September
• October
• First two weeks of November
• First two weeks of December

Picking Royal Caribbean cruises that sail during these times of year often net the lowest fares because it is when less people have the opportunity or inclination to cruise.

What is your best tip for the best time to book a Royal Caribbean cruise? Share it in our comments!

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

Episode 140 is available for downloading where I will be reading more of your questions this week all about Royal Caribbean.

Matt is diving into the email bag this week to answer your emails all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise, including booking shows, what to do in Roatan, Liberty of the Seas changes and a whole lot more.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 140. 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!