Royal Caribbean has cancelled a scheduled stop in Bali for Radiance of the Seas on Thursday, March 17, 2016, due to travel advisories that warn of a potential terrorist attack.

Instead of making the stop in Bali, Radiance of the Seas will remain at sea for an additional sea day.

Royal Caribbean issued a statement to guests that apologized for the change in itinerary.

"Our guests’ vacation time is precious and we did not take these decisions lightly. The safety of our guests and crew is always our foremost concern."

"We will continue to monitor the security situation in Indonesia and will notify guests or their travel agents if there are changes to future sailings that visit Indonesia."

Royal Caribbean has selected the first crew member to be a part of its "Royal Crew Life" series, as part of its broader Come Seek marketing campaign.  

Meet Zen, an onboard entertainer from South Korea. A crew member since 2011, Zen has been able to work on 7 ships across the Royal Caribbean fleet. In her off time, Zen loves to explore Asia, and is currently traveling with her shipmates on Quantum of the Seas. She takes every chance she gets to explore what each new port has to offer, and has captures some outstanding photos along the way. Follow @zenyoon for a behind the scenes look into the Royal Crew Life.

A photo posted by Royal Caribbean International (@royalcaribbean) on Mar 9, 2016 at 2:18pm PST

Zen Yoon is an onboard entertainer that has worked on seven Royal Caribbean ships since 2011. She is currently working on Quantum of the Seas.  

Yoon will provide the public with a behind-the-scenes look into what living and playing on a Royal Caribbean cruise is all about. 

Crew members, like Yoon, will become ambassadors and share content as they experience it on their cruises. Royal Caribbean indicated the public will be able to meet a new crew member each day next week.

My goodies have arrived! I've got chosen to be one of the very first crew social media ambassadors! Yay!! Thank you @royalcaribbean lots of fun photos are on the way! #GoPro #GoProSession #RoyalCaribbean #RoyalCrewLife #CrewSocialMediaAmbassador

A photo posted by Zen Yoon (@zenyoon) on Feb 28, 2016 at 4:46am PST

Royal Caribbean launched its Come Seek marketing campaign back in November 2015, and announced it would entail a great deal of non-traditional marketing techniques in an effort to reach those that never really considered a cruise. 

Royal Caribbean believes authentic experiences will be something guests really value and notice.

Did you know that Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas is going to launch in less than 99 days? To celebrate, each day we are posting something new about this ship for you to enjoy!

Wonderland in London

A photo posted by Neil Johnson-Eastcott (@neilejohnson) on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:24am PST

Royal Caribbean UK launched a one-night only experience, where one of the premier restaurants onboard Harmony of the Seas was available for Londoners to sample.

Ahead of the May launch of Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean hosted an evenin in Covent Garden that they called  "The dry run."

Guests were served an eight-course menu including crispy crab cones, Berkshire pork belly, halibut cooked in clear paper, and buffalo chicken eggs.

Royal Caribbean director of culinary operations, Michael Gilligan, talked about the experience, "The Dry Run will be as close to the real thing as possible. The waiting staff will be in their uniform, which is purple and very Liberace. The tables, the cutlery, will be there."

"The food is new and exciting, but I didn’t want the menu to all be Harry Potter food or molecular gastronomy for the sake of it. There is a real element of theatre — but it’s not too avant garde."

A photo posted by Ren Behan (@renbehan) on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:04am PST

A video posted by Neil Johnson-Eastcott (@neilejohnson) on Mar 8, 2016 at 12:44pm PST

A photo posted by Urvashi Roe (@botanicalbaker) on Mar 8, 2016 at 12:48pm PST

A photo posted by Urvashi Roe (@botanicalbaker) on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:16am PST

A photo posted by Urvashi Roe (@botanicalbaker) on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:31am PST

A photo posted by Urvashi Roe (@botanicalbaker) on Mar 8, 2016 at 12:27pm PST

Watch as Chopped Open Your Basket challenges the culinary masters onboard Anthem of the Seas. Royal Caribbean chefs vie for the top spot by creating unique dishes with Caribbean flair from their baskets of mystery ingredients.

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

Episode 136 is available for downloading, where we have an exclusive interview with Izumi Master Chef Travis Kamiyama.

Chef Travis is responsible for designing nearly every aspect of the Izumi restaurant experience and this week, Matt talks with the chef about how Izumi was created and they discuss what has made Izumi so succesful across Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 136. 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!

Royal Caribbean announced today a new program, where guests can create their own personalized shore excursions to immerse themselves in local culture, cuisine and adventure across 288 ports of call in 77 countries.

Private Journeys will allow guests to connect with one of nine concierge-style represenatives, known as Destination Insiders, to plan their shore excursions.

Destination Insiders will design personalized activities, programs and adventures for individual guests, couples, families and small groups.

To make a custom experience as part of an upcoming cruise, guests must complete and submit a Private Journeys request form online, at least 30 days before their sailing date.

Private Journeys bookings will require a $100 deposit applicable to the final cost of the destination experience.

In celebration of the new launch, Royal Caribbean is waiving the required deposit for all Private Journeys booked before March 31, 2016. Guests with confirmed cruise reservations can begin planning their Private Journey with a dedicated Designation Insider by calling (844) 571-7851 or (801) 666-3031.

 “Private Journeys is a natural evolution of Royal Caribbean’s renowned shore excursion program that allows us to offer guests the bespoke travel destination experience of their dreams, even if they don’t know exactly what that is yet,” said Roberta Jacoby, Managing Dirictor, Global Tour Operations, Royal Caribbean International. “As travelers continue to seek out more personalized and immersive destination experiences that can be intimately shared with only their family and friends, Private Journeys empowers guests to make that a reality and a seamless element of their Royal Caribbean vacation.”

Examples of Private Journeys

Misty Fjords & Crab Feast 
Ketchikan, Alaska

Explore Misty Fjords National Monument from a de Havilland Beaver float plane, followed by a sumptuous Alaskan fireside meal. After a narrated journey soaring above the Alaskan wilderness, guests will land either on an alpine lake or remote fjord. Then, sit by the fireplace, sip Alaskan Amber beer, wine, or champagne paired with smoked salmon, followed by steaming Dungeness crab.

Lunch at Belgium’s Michelin-Starred Restaurant Jardin 
Bruges, Belgium 
Go behind the scenes at one of the world’s acclaimed restaurants. The owner will show guests the kitchen, where Belgian recipes and the bounty of the North Sea come together. After the tour, savor a gourmet lunch served in Jardin’s exquisite dining room.

Yachting in the Dubrovnik Riviera 
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Journey by private yacht into the untamed and unspoiled reaches of Croatia’s Dubrovnik Riviera. Cruise down the rugged coastline and go ashore to explore the Old Town of Dubrovnik itself. Then, climb back aboard and set off exploring this archipelago of 14 pristine islands and islets. Go ashore to explore the 15th century ruins on the island of Kolocep. Swim in secluded lagoons and soak up the sunshine in five-star style.

Rostock by Vintage Auto
Berlin, Germany
Guests can settle into the seat of a vintage beauty and have a personal driver show them the German countryside. Rumble to the resort town of Heiligendamm for a snack of Canapés and champagne overlooking the Baltic Sea. Guests can even take the wheel on the scenic stretch to Rostock, and enjoy a guided walk through narrow streets lined with 15th-century gabled homes. Finally, board a sightseeing vessel and unwind on a lovely cruise back to port.

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!

2017-2018 Harmony of the Seas itineraries

Royal Caribbean has released its 2017-2018 Caribbean itineraries and we now have a better look at the itineraries available for Harmony of the Seas beyond her inaugural cruises.

Harmony of the Seas will remain homeported in Port Everglades, Florida and offer cruises to the Caribbean year-round.

Harmony of the Seas will offer several different seven night cruise options throughout the year

7-night eastern Caribbean: Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Labadee

7-night western Caribbean: Labadee; Falmouth, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico

7-night eastern Caribbean: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Labadee

7-night eastern Caribbean: Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Basseterre, St. Kitts

At the time of this posting, rates were as low as $808 per person (based on double occupancy, plus taxes, fees and port expenses).

Which itinerary do you want to sail on? Share your thoughts in the comments!

When we generally write about Royal Caribbean's private destination of Labadee, we often talk about things to do on the beach, but today it is all about showcasing the natural beauty of Labadee.

In addition to the fun and relaxing things to do in Labadee, the peninsula in northern Haiti features remarkable natural beauty.

Debby Smith was recently at Labadee and took some great photos of the natural beauty surrounding this paradise.

This area is available for all guests to enjoy on their own.  Head towards the spa and take a left. If you go past the zip line area, you will find the path leading to where these photos were taken.

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas is getting closer and closer to launching and we are counting down the days until she is here with a new blog post every day about this new ship.

Perfect Storm water slides

If you had to list the most exciting new features coming to Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, the new water slides have to be near the top of that list.

There will be three water slides onboard, with the names Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell.

These are the first real water slides on a Royal Caribbean ship and it promises to be a beacon for families looking for some high-paced fun.

The water slides will begin on a platform elevated above the ship’s bridge level, and end in runouts.

The slides descend three decks through a series of twists and turns over the ship’s tree-lined Central Park neighborhood 10 decks below.

One of the slides also will feature a champagne bowl that swirls guests around as they make their approach to the end of the ride.

What these new water slides represent is a brand new form of onboard activities that kids (and their parents) will absolutely love to do over and over again.  

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

Ever since Royal Caribbean launched the Izumi specialty restaurant on Oasis of the Seas, the concept of having high quality sushi on a cruise ship has really taken off with guests.

While on Allure of the Seas last week, we spotted a new sushi option in the Royal Promenade that is perfect for guests on the go.

This new sushi option was on the Royal Promenade on embarkation day, and featured three types of maki rolls that guests could purchase on the spot and take with them anywhere onboard.

• Salmon Lovers roll: $13
• Crispy Spicy Shrimp roll: $13
• Snow crab California roll $13

While onboard Allure of the Seas, we did not see any other times sushi to go being offered, but it was something different to see.

Would you buy one of these sushi to go options? Tell us in the comments!