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Secret Royal Caribbean staterooms: Freedom of the Seas stateroom 6305

In:
28 Jan 2016

Across Royal Caribbean's fleet of cruise ships, there are some interesting and unique staterooms that are slightly different than the rest of the staterooms in the same category.

Today, we are looking at a very different Promenade stateroom on Freedom of the Seas that has a very unique look to it, the Ben & Jerry "Sweet".

Stateroom 6305 on Freedom of the Seas (and also sister ships Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas) is  the only inside stateroom on a Royal Caribbean ship to be considered a suite.

It is listed on deck plans as a normal cabin and not specifically mentioned in the catalog this "Ben & Jerry's" cabin is but one of the most unusual cruise ship cabins of all.

The stateroom sits directly above the Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop on the Royal Promenade and so, the room has a view of the two cows that are prominently displayed by the shop.  Thus, the view out the window is blocked.

Royal Caribbean decided to embrace the Ben & Jerry's motif by transforming this room into  the "Ben & Jerry Sweet". 

Throughout the entire room, there are cow sheets, pillows, pictures and other cow-related decorations.

The best part about this room are the perks you get for reserving it, which include

  • Daily complimentary Ben & Jerry's ice cream for each guest
  • Access to the Concierge Lounge
  • Reservations for the ice show

By far the free ice cream and concierge lounge access are the best part about this stateroom.  Concierge access is usually limited to guests staying in a suite.

Concierge access allows guests to enjoy

  • Use of the Concierge Club on deck 10
  • Continental breakfast served in the lounge from 8am to 10am
  • Hors d'oeuvres, petit fours and complimentary bar setup served in the lounge every evening before and after dinner from 4:30pm to 8:00pm
  • Daily menus displayed and pre-ordering for your dinner wine.
  • Reservations for any specialty restaurant, sports activities, shore excursions, salon and spa appointments.
  • Personalized port and shopping advice
  • Business services such as scan, copies, etc
  • Reservations for shows onboard

Would you want to book this stateroom? Tell us in the comments!

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - Listener Emails

In:
27 Jan 2016

Listen to the Show

I’ll open up the inbox this week and answer more of your questions about your Royal Caribbean vacation plans, tips, advice and more.

Some of the topics we’ll cover this week include: Crown and Anchor benefits, Brilliance of the Seas reviews, the best way to give Royal Caribbean your feedback, NextCruise booking bonuses and a whole lot more.

Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...

On this episode:
Running time:

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas will offer all-new programming and activities for family and children

In:
26 Jan 2016

Royal Caribbean announced today that one of its newest ships, Harmony of the Seas, will feature the DreamWorks Experience, all-new Adventure Ocean youth programming and new family amenities.

DreamWorks Experience

Harmony of the Seas will offer guests the DreamWorks Experience that other ships in the fleet have offered and many guests have come to enjoy.

DreamWorks Animation characters including Po of Kung Fu Panda; Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots of Shrek; and from Madagascar, Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, King Julien and the Penguins will be available for guests to meet during their cruise.

DreamWorks Experience activities onboard will include

  • A DreamWorks Character breakfast in the main dining room
  • 'Meet and greet’ experiences throughout the day
  • Photo opportunities with the characters
  • Adventure Ocean programming featuring DreamWorks Animation
    • Story time
    • Dance parties
    • Adventures rooted in the popular character stories

In addition, guests will have guaranteed seats on “opening weekend” of highly anticipated feature films such as "Kung Fu Panda 3,” which premieres onboard the same day it does in theaters on land. Year-round, guests can watch the latest and long-term favorite DreamWorks Animation films in the ship’s 3D movie theater and on a dedicated DreamWorks TV channel in their stateroom.

Enhanced Adventure Ocean Programming

New to be offered in Harmony’s Adventure Ocean Theater is Away We Go!, a black light puppet show created by Tony award-nominated actors and imaginative producers John Tartaglia by and Michael Shawn Lewis of Gable Grove Productions.

Additionally, programming by “Muffalo Potato” – the popular YouTube show, which teaches kids to draw anything in minutes using only letters and numbers – will round out Harmony’s lineup.

Muffalo Potato originally debuted aboard Anthem of the Seas and will expand fleetwide just in time for summer vacations, starting with Harmony of the Seas.

New family amenities for Central Park & Boardwalk staterooms

Starting in November 2016, Central Park and Boardwalk balcony staterooms will receive additional ammenities.

Guests with views of Central Park will enjoy

  • Lunch for two at Jamie’s Italian
  • A complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival
  • Special perks in the Casino Royale. 

Guests with Boardwalk views will receive

  • Lunch or dinner for four at Johnny Rockets
  • A soda beverage package for two
  • Private time on the cruise line’s iconic 38-foot tall rock wall.

Royal Caribbean offering complimentary perks for neigborhood balcony staterooms on Oasis class ships

In:
26 Jan 2016

Beginning in November 2016, guests staying in Boardwalk or Central Park view balcony staterooms will be able to enjoy complimentary amenities such as free food, drinks and more.

The new EAT • DRINK • PLAY complimentary amenities offer guests in Boardwalk balcony staterooms

  • Complimentary meal for four at Johnny Rockets.
  • Complimentary Royal Refreshment soda package for two guests.
  • Exclusive rock climbing wall experience for the entire family.

The new EAT • DRINK • PLAY complimentary amenities offer guests in Central Park balcony staterooms

  • Complimentary lunch for two at Giovanni's Table.
  • Complimentary bottle of red wine in your stateroom.
  • Private casino gaming lessons from an onboard expert.

The new EAT.PLAY.DRINK complimentary amenities for Neighborhood balconies on Oasis Class ships are available for sailings beginning in November 2016.

Royal Caribbean extends 100 hour Caribbean sale

In:
26 Jan 2016

Royal Caribbean announced today it has extended its current 100 hour Caribbean sale through the end of the month.

The 100 hour sale was set to end today, but Royal Caribbean has decided to extend the promotion through January 31, 2016. During this promotion, guests can take advantage of BOGO offer, 25% off friends and family and 50% reduced deposit. They'll also get an extra $50 bonus for up to $350 to spend at sea.

Special 100 Hour Sale up to $350 onboard credit total per stateroom on 6-9 night Caribbean sailings departing April 1-Dec 31, 2016 excluding Harmony of the Seas. All other offers apply to all sailings excluding China departures.

The offer includes

  • 50% off cruise fare for second guest booked in the same stateroom as first full fare guest
  • 50% reduced deposit
  • Onboard credit
    • Interior: $75
    • Oceanview: $250
    • Suite: $350
  • 25% cruise fare savings for 3rd and 4th guests booked in the same stateroom as first two qualifying guests

Cruise must be booked Jan. 27-31, 2016.

BOGO is combinable with the adjoining OBC, 3rd and 4th Guest Savings, Crown & Anchor discounts and NextCruise offers; BOGO and 3rd and 4th Guest Savings are not combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military). OBC Offer is combinable with restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military, BOGO) and NextCruise offers. OBC is not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts. All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, weekly Sales Events, Net Rates, Shareholder Benefits. 

Offer available to residents of United States and Canada.

Royal Caribbean resumes visits to private destination of Labadee

In:
26 Jan 2016

Royal Caribbean was able to resume stops at its private destination of Labadee, following three cancelled scheduled stops due to local protests.

Allure of the Seas was able to dock in Labadee earlier this morning, and its guests were able to disembark and enjoy the activities onshore.

Good morning Haiti #royalcaribbean #labadee #haiti

A photo posted by Brittany (@_brittnaynay_) on

Royal Caribbean has been working closely with local and government officials in Haiti to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of its guests.

Photo tour of Loft Suite on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas

In:
25 Jan 2016

We love to show off various stateroom categories that guests can enjoy on Royal Caribbean ships and today we have one of the most impressive suites available on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas: the Loft Suite.

Tracy Pearce shared these photos from her cruise, while staying in stateroom 1702.

Loft Suites are Category L1 staterooms and span two decks, with a staircase and floor-to-ceiling full wall windows, giving you an amazing panoramic view of the land and sea.

Crown Loft Suites feature a master bedroom on the second level with two twin beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, and a master bathroom with his and her showerheads.

The main level is home to the living room, an entertainment center with large flat-screen LCD television, stereo, and DVD/CD player, dining area, double sofa bed, guest bathroom, and entrance to your private verandah.

The Loft Suite measues 540 square feet inside with an additional 98 square feet of balcony space.  A Loft Suite can accomodate up to 4 guests.

Royal Caribbean partners with World Wildlife Fund to create global partnership to support ocean conservation

In:
25 Jan 2016

Royal Caribbean and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced today a five-year global partnership to help ensure the long-term health of the oceans.

The partners will set measurable and achievable sustainability targets that will reduce Royal Caribbean’s environmental footprint, raise awareness about ocean conservation among the company’s more than five million guests, and support WWF’s global oceans conservation work..

The targets announced today focus on supply chain sustainability and emissions reductions through 2020. Royal Caribbean and WWF also are working together to develop targets aimed at strengthening the company’s sustainable sourcing strategy and its destination stewardship and sustainable tour operations platforms.

Royal Caribbean and the WWF have developed a new 2020 environmental sustainability target that includes

  • Carbon Emissions 2020 Target
    • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2020.
  • Sustainable Seafood 2020 Target
    • Responsibly source 90% of its wild-caught seafood by volume from MSC certified sustainable fisheries, fisheries in full assessment for MSC certification, comprehensive Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), and/or sourced from International Seafood Sustainability Association (ISSA) member companies.
    • In North America and Europe operations, responsibly source 75% of its farmed seafood by volume from ASC certified responsible farms, farms in full assessment for ASC certification, and/or comprehensive aquaculture improvement projects.
    • In addition, by June 30, 2016, RCL will set specific traceability goals with targets for obtaining MSC and ASC chain of custody.

In addition, Royal Caribbean and WWF have agreed to develop and announce new targets by June 30 that will address destination stewardship. As part of this, WWF and RCL will collaborate to strengthen RCL’s destination sustainability assessment and selection process.

Royal Caribbean also will financially support WWF’s global ocean conservation work through a $5 million philanthropic contribution during the partnership, and will collaborate with WWF to build global awareness about ocean conservation issues among its millions of passengers.

The organizations made their announcement at an event in Donsol, Sorsogon, Philippines that is home to a model community-based ecotourism program. At the event, RCL also made a separate, $200,000 donation to WWF Philippines in support of conservation programs in the Donsol area.

Photo by John Roberts

Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain commented on the partnership, "Our mantra at Royal Caribbean is ‘Continuous Improvement,’ and this partnership with WWF represents a great opportunity to make a big step forward in meeting our special responsibility to protect the oceans. It is also gratifying to see that our determination to make a meaningful difference is shared by our employees and our guests. This new partnership aligns all of us at RCL with WWF’s mission to conserve the world’s oceans. Together we are setting aggressive goals and together we will start implementing them right away."

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas to be featured in new Australian television show

In:
25 Jan 2016

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas will be featured in a new television show on the Nine Network in Australia as part of a new commercial partnership.

The one-hour primetime special, "Australia's Mega Cruise Ship" will show off Explorer of the Seas and will air on January 28 at 7:30pm in Australia.

The show will air on Nine Network and be hosted by Natalie Gruzlewski and will look at what a typical sailing offers its guests.

Gruzlewski will take guests into all corners of the ship, showcasing many of the stateroom categories and public features including the restaurants, theatre and Flowrider surfing simulator. Viewers will also check-in regularly with a family of four and an experienced cruise couple as they enjoy their real-life holidays, looking at many of the activities suited to each demographic.

Royal Caribbean Australia launches 5 day "Mega Ships Mega Sale"

In:
25 Jan 2016

Royal Caribbean is celebrating Australia Day by launching a new cruise sale for five days, the Mega Ships, Mega Sale, on sailings throughout Australia and the South Pacific.

Guests booking cruises on select sailings can pick from 'guarantee' staterooms (category Z, Y and X). The exact stateroom grade, number and location on the ship will be allocated at the discretion of Royal Caribbean International. 

The offer is valid on new bookings made between January 25 - 29, 2016 for the following ships

  • Explorer of the Seas voyages departing 14-Feb-16 & 21-Mar-16.
  • Legend of the Seas voyages departing 18-Feb-16 & 26-Feb-16.
  • Radiance of the Seas voyage departing 12-Mar-16.
  • Voyager of the Seas voyages departing 19-Feb-16, 27-Feb-16 & 05-Mar-16 only. 

Offer is applicable to Interior (category Z), Oceanview (category Y) and Balcony (category X) staterooms only.

Please ensure that promotion name ‘MegaSale’ is listed in the reservation at time of booking.

A limited number of staterooms are available at the prices shown. Once sold out, prices may be increased, withdrawn or further reduced without notice. Any eligible booking that is cancelled and then reinstated after 29 January 2016 will no longer be eligible for the promotion. Any booking that is modified after the promotion has ended will result in the loss of the promotion. Examples of changes that will result in the promotion being forfeited include, but are not limited to: change of ship, sail date, category booked, amending the travel agency ID or selecting an alternate price/promotion. 

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