Jenna sailed on Independence and Harmony of the Seas, and has a review of both cruises on this week's episode!
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Royal Caribbean is about to take ownership of its newest cruise ship.
Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship, and has been in Marseille, France since November 2021 to receive her final touches.
It now appears Royal Caribbean will take delivery of Wonder from the builder.
Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Nick Weir, tweeted on Wednesday the new ship will be delivered on January 27.
"Tomorrow the magnificent #WonderoftheSeas, will be delivered to Royal Caribbean," Mr. Weir stated proudly in his tweet.
Tomorrow the magnificent #WonderoftheSeas, will be delivered to @RoyalCaribbean @NewsfromRCgroup. One way to spot that she is still under the ownership of the shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique, is the floors of the elevators. Tomorrow it will be Thursday for the first time ever. pic.twitter.com/5uEeh3wjGw
— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) January 26, 2022
The delivery of a cruise ship is when ownership of the vessel is transferred from the shipyard to the buyer, Royal Caribbean.
The “Wonder” of a Mediterranean Sunset… pic.twitter.com/Q1b4TYVwhi
— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) January 25, 2022
Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, Nick Weir, shared a video clip of Wonder of the Seas in Marseille, France.
Mr. Weir recently flew to France to do work on the ship, and posted the clip as his plane went overhead the new ship.
He also shared a video of walking through the AquaTheater on the new ship.
Come and take a 60 second walk with me in the #AquaTheater on #WonderoftheSeas… (you might also get a sneaky “first listen” to an excerpt of music from our upcoming, all-action #Blockbuster #AquaShow, #inTENse!) pic.twitter.com/J8ZqEiAhCM
— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) January 26, 2022
At 236,857 gross tons, Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship and takes the title from Symphony of the Seas as the biggest in the world.
Wonder of the Seas is 1,188 feet in length and has a maximum passenger capacity of 6,988 passengers, in addition to 2,300 crew.
In fact, Wonder has 100 cabins more than Symphony of the Seas.
Not only is Wonder of the Seas bigger than her sister Oasis Class ships, she has an extra neighborhood onboard dedicated just to suite guests.
The eighth neighborhood offers Royal Suite Class guests private spaces, such as an exclusive deck with its own pool, bar and plenty of sun loungers, as well as nooks for lounging.
Read more: Wonder of the Seas tour
In case you're wondering, Wonder of the Seas is not the last Oasis Class ship.
A sixth Oasis Class ship that is yet unnamed is expected to have her inaugural cruise in the second quarter 2024.
The inaugural sailing of Wonder of the Seas is scheduled for March 4, 2022 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com will be there to share live reports from the sailing.
In May 2022, Wonder will then transition to the Mediterranean.
There's a smattering of Royal Caribbean news to share from this week of interest to most cruise fans.
Just halfway through the week, and I have news tidbits to share.
New partnerships, construction updates, and deployment changes are all changes that can easily be summed up in this post as a quick way to catch you up on what's happening.
If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!
Royal Caribbean has a new Covid-19 testing partner in Quest Diagnostics.
Royal Caribbean has incorporated Quest Diagnostics as a pre-cruise and return home testing option. Quest Diagnostics is a lab with over 1,800 locations throughout the United States available to support testing needs.
You can visit QuestCOVID19.com for information on testing options.
The cruise line says guests can expect Quest to provide test results for most Royal Caribbean guests electronically (via email or through Quest’s secure patient portal, MyQuest) in 48 hours or less.
Construction is continuing at Perfect Day at CocoCay on a new adults-only beach.
Hideaway Beach is a new expansion on Royal Caribbean's private island that is scheduled to open at the end of 2022.
RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader twangster shared photos while Odyssey of the Seas visited CocoCay on January 24.
Wonder of the Seas is scheduled to begin sailings on March 4, 2022 from Fort Lauderdale.
Singapore was the first place Royal Caribbean was able to restart cruises after the shutdown of 2020, but they've only been short sailings to nowhere.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said yesterday that Singapore is working with various governments of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to allow cruises to visit ports.
Up until now, cruises on Quantum of the Seas from Singapore have been limited to "cruises to nowhere" that have no port stops.
Royal Caribbean has cruises on sale for sailings from Singapore to Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam on board Spectrum of the Seas.
The Spectrum of the Seas cruises are scheduled to sail beginning on October 21, 2022, with the voyages between three and nine nights, subject to receiving the relevant governmental approvals.
Good news to share that Harmony of the Seas docked in Falmouth, Jamaica today.
Photos by Wayland Hostetler
This is significant because Harmony is the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to visit the island since 2020.
At some point, everyone is a newbie to something, including going on a cruise. While we all have typical first-timer questions, there are some questions that make you scratch your head a little bit.
An Alaska cruise is a very different experience from a Caribbean sailing in many aspects of planning and sailing, so it's understandable experienced and new cruisers alike will have concerns.
In looking at some common internet searches for questions about an Alaska cruise, I ran across a few questions that I was not expecting because they seemed just a little bit far out there.
Far be it for me to skip over a cruise question, I wanted to share answers to these concerns just in case any of you are thinking about the same thing.
How cold does it get on Alaska cruise depends on the time of year, but yes, it will be cooler than any Caribbean sailing that in the summer.
That isn't to say you will be shivering in below-freezing temperatures. It is still summer, after all.
The reason Royal Caribbean sails to Alaska in the summer is because there are more temperate conditions. However, yes, it can get cold in Alaska during the summer.
Temperatures in Alaska will depend on the month you sail, and how far north or south your cruise goes.
Read more: What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
Keep in mind your ship will be hugging the southeast panhandle of Alaska, and not visiting the Arctic Circle.
On average, you can expect mild temperatures in the summer, with average highs in the 60s and lows in the high 40s and 50s.
With all of that said, rain is a factor that can make a mild day feel much colder than it is.
Rain is common in Alaska, but usually short lived. It is typical to see a day start out rainy, the sun come out and heat things up, and then an hour later another passing shower, before the sun returns. The bottom line is you should expect rain and pack accordingly so you don't get soaked and then feel colder.
Read more: What it's like to go on an Alaskan cruise at the end of the season
Every Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska will (attempt) to visit at least one glacier.
So what's the difference between a glacier and an iceberg?
A glacier is a giant sheet of ice that can extend for miles that cover vast areas of land and sea. Icebergs are smaller pieces of a glacier that have broken off.
So yes, you will very likely see icebergs in the water as your ship maneuvers in and out of the glacier area.
Typically these icebergs are small, although sometimes they can be a spot for seals to hang out on for a break.
The most common glaciers Royal Caribbean ships visit are Endicott Arm fjord and Dawes Glacier.
Tracy Arm Fjord extends over 30 miles alongside the wilderness of Tongass National Forest.
As you sail along this deep and narrow passage, you will see mountain peaks and waterfalls burrowed into evergreen-clad cliffs.
Dawes Glacier is known for the granite cliffs that surround the glacier, mountain valleys, and drifting icebergs. Not to mention the harbor seals, brown bears, bald eagles, moose and wolves you may see around it.
Read more: How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary
Depending on when you visit Alaska, mosquitoes can be a nuisance.
Mosquitoes are obviously not unique to Alaska, but just like in New Jersey, they're still annoying.
Typically, you will find "mosquito season" between the second week of June to the last week in July.
Despite what you may read about on the internet, the mosquitoes aren't really as bad as you may think. In fact, cruise ship passengers tend to spend most of their time in and around cities, which have a significant breeze that can deter the pests.
Mosquitoes tend to be found most commonly on near-windless evenings near a pond, interior forest, or moist tundra.
Read more: What Is an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise?
Just like in the Caribbean, once your ship enters international waters, the casino will open up.
The casino will be closed while your ship is docked in an Alaska port of call, but once it sails away from land and into international waters, it's game on in Casino Royale.
It will get dark at night, but only for a few hours at most.
Alaska cruises are too far south to truly experience why Alaska is known as "The Land of the Midnight Sun", but during the summer there can be up to 20 hours of sunlight.
How much day light versus night you experience will depend on the time of year you sail, as well as how far north your ship happens to be.
If you're an American, yes, your cell phone works while in port in Alaska.
As a state in the United States, Alaska is included in American cell phone plans and you can expect service while you are in and around the ports you visit.
Unlike the lower 48 states, once you stray from the city, coverage can drop rapidly due to the terrain and vast unpopulated areas.
Read more: Cellphone Use Onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise
The short answer is, no.
This question is rooted in the now famous quote from former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, but unless you are on Little Diomede Island, you cannot see Russia from anywhere in Alaska.
Just like the Caribbean, if your cruise sails roundtrip from an American port (i.e. Seattle) and you are an American citizen, you don't need a passport. But it's still a really good idea to have one.
Instead, United States citizens on cruises that begin and end at the same port in the United States can use a original government-issued picture ID (i.e. driver's license) and an original government-issued birth certificate or original Naturalization Certificate.
Keep in mind you would need a passport if you chose a shore excursion that visited Canada.
If your cruise sails out of Vancouver, then you would need a passport to enter Canada.
My recommendation is get a passport regardless of where your cruise sails from.
Read more: Do you need a passport for a cruise?
Planning an Alaska cruise? Check out these articles:
There are many ways to plus your visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, such as renting a bed bed for the day.
Beach beds are an optional rental you can purchase to use while visiting Royal Caribbean's private island for the day.
RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com reader Shannon Ford tried one out on a recent Freedom of the Seas cruise, and shared her thoughts on what to expect if you get one.
My family and I recently rented a Beach Bed at Chill Island at Perfect Day at CocoCay. This was a last minute decision that we booked 3 days before we set sail. The price is typically $199, however, about 2 weeks before our sailing, the price dropped to $149, which is the price we paid.
There are two areas with Beach Bed Rentals. The first are the Chill Island Day Beds, which is where we were. When looking at the map of CocoCay, these are at the bottom lefthand corner.
The second area are the Breezy Bay at Chill Island Day Beds. These are behind the Oasis Lagoon near the Floating Cabanas.
Upon arriving to the area, there was a stand where we checked in and received our wristbands. Each Day Bed receives 4 wristbands, and yes, children count.
We were given a quick lay of the land and were on our way. The Day Beds are pre-assigned and we were given Bed #12, which was a perfect location.
Of the 30 Day Beds in this area, 21 had been rented and they were accepting walk-ups for the remaining beds. With two ships in port, 15 beds were allocated per ship. Beds 1-5 were for Freedom of the Seas, Beds 6-10 were for Harmony of the Seas and so on and so forth.
The beds have a roof but no walls, however there are white curtains on two sides for privacy (and shade). They proved very helpful for our nap later in the day.
The rental also includes 2 loungers, 2 floating mats and a cooler filled with ice and 4 cans of spring water. Your name is also written on a chalkboard on your assigned day bed. I think this is done for two reasons. One, so you can easily find your bed and two, so crew know which beds are not rented.
We did see a couple lay out in the bed directly behind us (#29) which had not been rented. A crew member came over and politely inform them that the day beds needed to be rented in order for them to be used.
Bartenders typically walk the area and will serve you at your day bed. However, due to Covid, we were told upon check-in that they were extremely short-staffed and not to expect them. We never saw a bartender in the area. This was not an issue for us. If you do plan to drink, the closest bar is The Wacky Seagull and is fairly close.
Unlike the cabanas, the day beds do not have a safe to store any personal belongings. However, you can store any items you like in the lockers nearby, free of charge. We never felt the need to do this and just let down the curtains when we went to get food and left whatever we had on the bed. With that said, we didn’t leave anything of real value either.
That leads us to the food. Unlike the cabanas, no one is there to serve you lunch, you need to go and get it yourself. Again, this was not an issue for us. Our original plan was to bring our food back to the day bed to eat, but it’s a good walk, so we decided just to eat at the picnic tables at the Chill Grill. Considering what a messy eater my 6 year-old is, this was a wise choice.
And finally, the beach area for this section of Chill Island was perfect. Our son enjoyed building sand castles (more of a sand house), playing in the water and lounging on one of the floating mats.
It also seemed to be the area for snorkeling, as we saw many many snorkelers in the area. If you have young children, this is a great area as there are no waves. My son who absolutely loves the Splashaway Bay on CocoCay, never wanted to leave the beach, so we never made it over to that area.
We finished off our time at the Day Bed with a family nap. It was amazing! I had set my alarm to make sure we didn’t miss the ship, but there was also a crew member checking each of the beds to make sure everyone was awake.
We had to be back on board by 5pm and we left the area around 4:20pm. There are nearby showers and bathrooms which we all visited before heading back to the ship.
So do you need to rent a Day Bed? Absolutely not. Loungers were plentiful all around the island. Will we rent a Day Bed again. Absolutely!
Having the day bed just made our day at CocoCay better and simply Perfect (pun intended). We currently have an Oasis Lagoon cabana booked for our March cruise that we booked on Black Friday, but we are considering switching to a Day Bed Rental if they become available. Currently, they are sold out.
We paid $149 which was an excellent value, but would I purchase it at $199? I think so. It just makes the day easier, especially with a child and I’ve spent $200 on stupider things.
When you also factor in, the dedicated loungers, the two floating mats and a cooler, it all adds up.
In my opinion, the Chill Island day beds are a great choice for smaller families that want a private, dedicated area with easy access to the beach.
Check out Shannon's YouTube channel for lots more travel information & tips.
Hope you had a great week and are staying safe out there. Hopefully you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.
Royal Caribbean announced it has extended its stricter mask rules once again.
Due to the Omicron variant, anyone sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise between now and February 14, 2022 can expect to wear their face mask while indoors, even in vaccinated-only areas of the ship.
In addition to the stricter mask rules, smoking in the casino will also remain prohibited through February 14, 2022.
The 438th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt dedicates this episode to answering as many cruise questions as he can.
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.
Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Rookie cruise mistakes you should not be making in 2022! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
Are y'all ready for a new kind of specialty restaurant?
The Mason Jar is the name of a new Southern American food restaurant that will be launched on Wonder of the Seas.
The menu will feature Low Country classics, Bayou staples, and BBQ. Not only that, but there will be a brunch menu available.
Going on a cruise ship definitely has some changes to the experience, and I wanted to know what our readers are thinking about the most before they get onboard.
I polled Royal Caribbean cruisers on Facebook to see which issues cruise fans thought about, and which concerns were less important.
In less than 24 hours, 2,893 people participated in this unscientific poll and the results were a bit surprising in some cases.
Jenna sailed on her first Oasis Class cruise ship, and shared her thoughts on how one of the biggest cruise ship's in the world compares to her previous sailings.
She sailed on a 7-night Harmony of the Seas cruise this past week, and got to experience an Oasis Class ship after trying out Quantum, Voyager and Freedom Class ships.
Jenna wanted to see how going on a big ship stacks up compared to (relatively) smaller ships.
Are you wondering about the onboard experience on Grandeur of the Seas?
We had so much fun answering questions about what it's like to sail on Harmony of the Seas this week, that RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Keeley reached out to volunteer to answer questions about sailing on Grandeur of the Seas.
Keeley is on a Southern Caribbean cruise on Grandeur of the Seas, and answered questions about her experience sailing so far on this itinerary.
You can follow Keeley on her blog, which she describes as focusing on great food, even better booze and balanced travel.
Our flight from the UK arrived at the same time as 3 other flights so there was a bit of a wait at the first check point at Barbados airport with no air conditioning, so it was a little uncomfortable but not unbearable. The queue moved steadily for the vaccination/test staff to check our documents. We were then given a coloured wrist band depending on our test information.
After this, our suitcases were already waiting for us and we went straight through immigration. Onto the bus to go to the port and we were there in 30 minutes.
At the port we had already booked a time for our pre-boarding antigen tests, so we waited 10 minutes and then 30 minutes for the results.
From getting off the plane to being in our cabin, was around 2.5 hours.
There are 630 passengers onboard.
There has been some technical difficulties with the silent disco so this hasn't happened. Roki rokie karaoke was cancelled 2 nights for the same reason.
Last night's tango show was cancelled due to potential Covid symptoms amongst the dance team, but it was replaced by the guest act, who were fabulous!
There are very few kids onboard this Grandeur of the Seas sailing, but it is open. An Adventure Ocean crew member described the current situation as follows:
Adventure Ocean is open, although there are only 11 kids in total onboard (5 are registered for Adventure Ocean). For these kids, all sessions are there 9:30-12:00, 14:00-17:00, 19:00-22:00 + Late Night Party Zone for parents who want to leave their kids until midnight.
The Teens Club is not open because there is only one teen onboard. The staff indicated they offered the teen other forms of entertainment.
The nursery is not open all day because there is just one toddler onboard. In fact, the Adventure Ocean manager has informed parents that they can book nursery any time they seem fit, which they did a couple of times.
Smooth!
From arriving at port to boarding, was around 45 minutes. After the antigen test, we were advised that we would receive our result by email. I didn't get mine but they checked their system and were able to confirm my results with no issue.
There was ample space for people to wait with seating and water should people want it whilst waiting.
Before leaving the UK, we had Trinidad and Tobago changed to St Lucia and Dominica. St Lucia was further changed to Antigua.
On boarding we were advised that Colombia had been removed and changed for a sea day, so only the 1 stop to be removed completely.
Not itinerary changes but we have had a few trips cancelled, so it is worth asking excursion services which trips are the most popular to prevent this from happening.
I'd recommend booking the antigen test required for boarding ahead of travelling as you will need to complete the same request whether you do it at the port or before, so it definitely saves time!
In a similar vein, I'd recommend bringing a printed copy of vaccination documents so they are to hand easily to show.
Check the itinerary carefully as some ports currently do not allow you to get off the ship without a trip booked through Royal Caribbean.
Here at RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com, we love to cruise, just like you. We book as many sailings as our work and spouses will tolerate, and are always on the hunt for the next tip that makes our sailing easier.
Getting back on a ship this past year has come with its own challenges, but thanks to a lot of trial and error, we find something that just works.
I asked our writers and moderators for which cruise tips they used in 2021 that really helped them out. I wanted to know which cruise tips they found really helpful in their own experience.
One unexpected change since cruises returned is Royal Caribbean has not brought back the ability to pre-book entertainment via the Cruise Planner site.
As a result, writer Marcy Miyar was adamant it's important to book all of your shows as soon as you board, "The vaccinated ice shows seem to fill up especially quick so I like to get that done right away."
You can easily do this by connecting to Royal Caribbean's wifi network once onboard the ship and pulling up the Royal Caribbean app.
Don't worry, you don't need an internet plan to use the app. Once you connect, you can click the option to just use the app, and it will allow you to book the shows.
Read more: A Royal Caribbean to-do list after you board a cruise ship
Staying on top of all the policy changes, cancellations, and new options is no easy task. Working with a good travel agent is an easy way to make it all simpler.
Chantal McPhee is one of our writers from Canada. While she was not able to sail yet, she found a travel agent invaluable, "I did not get to cruise in 2021 as I switched my Christmas cruise to May 2022."
"Having a good travel agent really pays off as she handled cancelling flights and hotels as well as dealing with Royal Caribbean. Saved me tons of time."
Writer Allie Hubers also found tremendous value in using a good travel agent, "The last year, I have really grown to appreciate having a travel agent. It's a great resource that doesn't cost you (as a cruiser) anything additional."
Read more: Top things you didn't know travel agents can do for your cruise vacation
Marcy also shared a way to enjoy embarkation day more by slowing down with lunch.
"My favorite tip that I use on every cruise is to do a specialty restaurant for lunch on embarkation day."
"The crowds on embarkation day stress me out so to avoid the mayhem in the Windjammer, we always head straight to Playmakers when we board and have a nice, relaxing lunch to ease in to vacation mode."
Chantal also shared there is a lot of speculation these days, so don't assume everything you read is necessarily true.
"Keep up with what's going on with cruising and protocols from trusted sources and not just internet gossip. It put things in perspective."
Writer Haley Mills thinks it's super important to research the ship before you sail so you know what to expect.
"Watch YouTube videos, TikTok, read blogs. It really helps to know the lay of the land before embarkation so I don't feel so overwhelmed."
Haley also writes up a plan so she doesn't forget anything once she gets onboard, "I usually make an embarkation to do list, so we can get those little but necessary items out of the way.
"For example, scheduling specialty restaurants or any shows we want to see."
Listen: Podcast episode 256 - How to learn everything about your ship before you sail
There are great deals on cruises out there, and one of the best ways to ensure you have the best price is to re-price.
Video editor and writer Jenna DeLaurentis loves the enhanced Best Price Guarantee, which allows re-pricing of cruises up to 48 hours before the cruise departs, "My travel agent repriced my cruise on Mariner of the Seas several times before I set sail."
"By the time I boarded the ship, I had over $400 of onboard credit that I used to purchase specialty dining, drinks, and souvenirs throughout the cruise."
Message board moderator Lovetocruise2002 added it's a good idea to not only track prices, but look for upgrade opportunities, "Keep checking the site if you are looking to upgrade especially with all the cancellations lately."
With the unknowns and last-minute changes, Allie thinks getting travel insurance is a must-do.
"Travel insurance is very important during the pandemic, although Royal really seems to have great policies in place that other cruise lines don't have."
If you've been on a cruise in 2021 or 2022, then you know how much harder the crew members have been working to make your vacation fun.
Between the added demand of filling in for fellow crew that have contracted Covid-19, and trying to make up for lost wages during the shutdown, it's clear the crew are doing everything they can to deliver on the promise of a great experience for guests while balancing their own sanity.
Jenna advocates taking care of the crew too, "Being generous about tipping the crew is a good one too maybe since there is limited capacity so they have less guests tipping onboard."
Read more: 8 cruise ship tips from a former employee
A mantra of travel during the pandemic has been to go with a certain amount of flexibility and understanding given the realities of travel right now.
Allie said to go into a cruise vacation with the right mindset, "Be prepared for flexibility. I never dreamed of traveling to Alaska but the opportunity presented itself and we just wanted to cruise. Policies and itineraries change - you can't expect to board a cruise and it will be the same experience that you had pre-pandemic."
To that point, having contingency plans is not a bad idea either, according to Allie, "I think it's important to know your rights and have a plan in place when there's a change in travel plans, such as cancellations, testing positive onboard or beforehand, changing itineraries, refund vs FCC, etc."
Read more: Why you need to be flexible if you want to go on a cruise right now
Want to get your vacation started as soon as possible? Then get a check-in time as soon as you can.
Jenna shared she always tries to check in for her cruise as early as possible to get an early boarding time.
Read more: 22 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2022
Royal Caribbean will keep its Omicron variant-induced face mask rules for its cruise ships through at least mid-February.
The cruise line informed passengers with cruises coming up that the new mask rules will remain in effect through February 14, 2022.
Since mid-December 2021, Royal Caribbean tightened its face mask rules due to the Omicron variant.
In an email, Royal Caribbean once again attributed the extension of the mask rules to Omicron, "With the recent uptick of COVID-19 in the world and added Omicron variant concerns, we feel it prudent to temporarily tighten our onboard health protocols to require masks indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking while seated."
Read more: What it's like to go on a cruise with Royal Caribbean's stricter mask rules
The policy requires cruise ship passengers to wear face masks while indoors, regardless of vaccination status except while eating or drinking.
In addition to the stricter mask rules, smoking in the casino will also remain prohibited through February 14, 2022.
"We're sorry for any disappointment that this may cause," Royal Caribbean told passengers with a cruise coming up, "but hope you understand that health and safety come first.
"Despite the new requirement, we know you will still have a great time onboard."
At the end of the email, Royal Caribbean said, " If you prefer to not sail as a result of this change or would like to reschedule your cruise, we are glad to assist. Looking forward to seeing you onboard!"
This is the second time Royal Caribbean has extended the stricter mask rules since it was first implemented.
Masks are NOT required to be worn:
Masks ARE required to be worn:
Read more: Face masks on Royal Caribbean: What you need to know
Other cruise lines have added similar rules to combat the rise in Omicron variant Covid cases.
Carnival Cruise Line requires its passengers to use masks on all sailings until at least the end of January 2022. Carnival also banned smoking in its casinos until further notice.
Holland America matched Carnival's stricter mask rules and indoor smoking policy.
Norwegian Cruise Line also added a face mask rule for sailings through the end of January.
Another week of Royal Caribbean news is here to share, with a look at some recent changes worth noting.
Since there's so much happening these days, sometimes it's easier to provide a more concise update from across the fleet of changes, interesting options and more good to know information.
If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!
Cyprus welcomed cruise ships in summer 2021, and Royal Caribbean will homeport a ship there again for the next two summer seasons.
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Limassol, Cyprus, in 2022 and 2023, where she will offer itineraries that visit ports in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
There are 7-night Greek Isles cruises that sail roundtrip from Limassol in August and September 2022.
In May-August 2023, Rhapsody will return to the city to set sail on new 7-night Israel and Egypt cruises as well as Greece and Turkey itineraries. Afterwards, Rhapsody moves to Haifa as a homeport in early November 2023 to offer a mix of 2- to 7-night itineraries to Greece, the Greek Isles and Cyprus.
Royal Caribbean was forced to cancel all of its January 2022 cruises from Hong Kong on Spectrum of the Seas due to a short-term government ban on cruises.
The Spectrum of the Seas sailings scheduled for January 21, 23, 26, 28, and January 31, 2022 are now cancelled.
In a statement, the sailings were cancelled in an effort by Hong Kong officials to contain Covid-19, "The sailings were canceled following an update to local COVID-19 prevention policies by local authorities on January 14, which requires a 14-day suspension of all cruise operations; details can be found on the official government website."
"Royal Caribbean will continue to monitor the evolving situation and work closely with relevant local authorities on our return to service. We fully expect to welcome back our guests onboard Spectrum’s February 4 cruise."
Royal Caribbean is slowly phasing in a new look to its Cruise Planner website, which allows guests to pre-book packages, dining, entertainment and more before the sailing.
Here is the dates when the new look will appear for each ship:
If you're booked before these dates, you will continue to see the old Cruise Planner interface.
Royal Caribbean says it plans to steadily expand My Royal Cruise to additional ships and sailing windows at a later date.