Royal Caribbean has been quiet about its next new class of cruise ship, but it looks like we're starting to get our first look at construction taking place, including something that I have no idea what it could be.

Ship blocks for construction of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas arrived recently to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

Tug boats brought these giant pieces of what will become the hull of Icon of the Seas to the shipyard so that they can be joined together.

Janne-Petteri Kumpulainen shared photos of the pre-assembled blocks being brought in on a snowy day.

Cruise ships are built in a module process, where engineers break down the ship into smaller pieces that they later assemble. The reason ships are built in this manner is so that different engineers and specialists can work simultaneously, which cuts down on overall construction time.

Once the blocks arrive at the shipyard, they will be joined and welded together.

In addition to Janne's photos, a source that wishes to remain anonymous sent in a photo from the shipyard of a large pearl-shaped object that is destined for Icon of the Seas.

What is it? Your guess is as good as mine. Share your guesses in the comments!

Over the past years, Royal Caribbean has looked to distinguish each new class of ship with an attention grabbing feature that instantly draws the attention of the public. The Ultimate Abyss, North Star, and Central Park are just some examples of signature features onboard.

Perhaps this dome is part of something completely different for Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean has hinted at Icon of the Seas being a "game changer" new ship for the cruise line.

Back in April 2021, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked briefly about the new ship, "We have the brand new Icon class coming, which is going to be a real game changer."

"When you think about what a game changer Oasis class was and is, Icon is the next generation the evolution of Oasis."

Not much else is known about the Icon Class, but according to Royal Caribbean Group SEC filings in April 2021, the unnamed Icon Class ships will have a capacity of approximately 5,600 passengers.

Each ship will be powered by a combination of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology.

Icon of the Seas is scheduled for deliver in the third quarter of 2023.

As the Omicron variant began to generate higher case counts on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean enacted stricter rules about face masks on its ships.

The new rules require all passengers to wear their masks indoors, even in vaccinated areas, and the question of how much these new rules impacted the cruise experience began to arise.

I sailed on Navigator of the Seas about a week after the stricter mask rules went into effect, and wanted to share my experience with these new protocols for anyone going on a cruise soon.

Keep in mind that my experience is not indicative of what your experience will or will not be. I hope it sheds some insight into what the written policy really means in practical terms.

What is the stricter mask rule?

On December 17, 2021, Royal Caribbean announced passengers on all sailings through January 5, 2022 will be required to wear masks indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking.

Before this change, fully vaccinated passengers could go maskless in designated areas.

This policy is in place for all sailings departing before January 5, 2022, at which point it will be reevaluated.

Masks are not required to be worn outdoors, in the pool, in your stateroom, or at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

My experience with the new rules

When Royal Caribbean announced the new rule, it sounded as if you would have to wear your mask indoors at all times, and possibly even between bites or sips of food.

In practice, the rule has not been quite that restrictive.

Both on my sailings and on others reported by RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers since the new rule went into effect, it seems the rule has changed two fundamental things that used to happen onboard:

• Eliminating the loophole of someone walking around with a drink as a way not to wear their mask
• Walking into a vaccinated zone and removing your mask without food or drink

While more crew members are reminding passengers to put on their mask or pull it up, they are not patrolling hallways looking for mask compliance. I believe there is a renewed emphasis on ensuring masks are being worn indoors, but not to the point it's overbearing.

My experience on Navigator was if you are seated in a bar, restaurant, or lounge, as long as there was food or drink in front of you, you were fine without masks and not asked to put the mask on between bites or sips.

Across my seven nights onboard, I spent lots of time in the main dining room, pub, Schooner Bar, and casino.  In all scenarios, masks were required upon walking in, but as soon as I sat down with food or drink, there was no issue with my mask down.

My observation was nearly every other passenger was compliant with the mask rules indoors.  Just like airports, supermarkets, and schools, you would occasionally find someone who was not wearing their mask, but it was extremely rare and I assume a crew member would remind them to put it back on.

The issue of masks below someone's nose seems to be an issue greater than the cruise lines can solve, but I did observe some crew members asking passengers to fix their mask, especially in the casino.

Not only were guests doing a good job of wearing their masks indoors, but I noticed many passengers wearing their masks outdoors.  Granted, the low humidity and cooler temperatures of a December cruise on the West Coast make wearing a mask outdoors far more tolerable than if this was June.

In summary, I thought the new rule was not that much of a departure from what it had been before, especially in bars or restaurants when eating or drinking.

Casino

Speaking of the casino, another change Royal Caribbean made was to ban smoking in the casino.

Previously, the casino was designated a vaccinated-only zone and you could take your mask off. In an effort to keep masks on, smoking was banned in the casino.

As a non-smoker, I certainly welcomed the change and while seated at a table or slot machine, masks were worn.

Unlike the bars or restaurants, I would put my mask on between sips of a cocktail, especially at table games where passengers and the dealer were close to each other.

Passenger reactions

My experience is going to vary from others, so I wanted to share other comments from folks that cruised over the last two weeks.

Neesa summed up her thoughts on the new rule by thinking about the bigger picture, "It is humbling on board, I am interacting with staff and feel compelled to comply as I want them to feel comfortable,  they are important and looking in their eyes I can agree, I'm doing it for them. I respect them and the job they are doing."

Flowrider was also on Navigator of the Seas and shared their mask rule observations, "Just got off the Navigator.  Mask was indoors the whole time, not outdoors.  When we were in line to be served food at Johnny Rockets or El Loco Fresh they asked us to put it on.  No mask required at the pool."

"Once we got off the ship in Mazatlan/Cabo/Puerto Vallarta we took masks off.  Nobody ever asked us to put the on except for obvious indoor settings, i.e. in a store/shop."

"MDR or Windjammer you wear it like before.  Sitting at the table the mask is off.  Walking around to buffet mask is on."

tonyfsu21 sailed on Oasis of the Seas last week, "masks indoors on ship. You can remove while dining and drinking at restaurants and bars. You DO NOT need to wear a mask outdoors on pool deck and other areas. Outdoor in ports (no mask) inside vehicle on way to an excursion you must be masked."

tonyfsu21 also talked about his experience in the casino, "I played the machines all night with a beer in hand and a lowered mask. In between beers walking around casino I had my mask on. Not really sure about the tables but I’m assuming the same. At the end of the day, there are no police and this is not like a prison it’s vacation and the staff knows that."

ChessE4 voiced their support of the new change, "With the explosion of COVID cases in Florida, I can see why masks would be required on cruise ships and elsewhere.  Things will get better, but we need to take note of our current situation."

Over the past week, Omicron variant news has dominated the news cycle and there's already been a number of changes in the cruise industry, but the exact news has been misconstrued in a few cases.

Between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning vaccinated passengers to not go on a cruise ship, and news reports about missed port calls making the rounds on social media, a lot of misconceptions about where cruising is right now have emerged.

Not everyone follows the daily changes in the cruise industry, so it can be difficult to keep tabs on what has or has not changed. And certainly a government warning gets a lot of attention, even if it's just a recommendation.

Before you read what Aunt Sally posted on Facebook as something she heard, here are three really important untrue myths about going on a cruise right now that are totally untrue.

Cruises are being cancelled again

When the CDC announced it had raised the warning level for going on a cruise ship back up to its highest level, that got some folks thinking cruises were cancelled again.

The CDC warning is just that, a recommendation and nothing has changed in terms of mass cancellations. In fact, not one scheduled Royal Caribbean cruise has been cancelled.

Example of incorrect reporting of the CDC's warning

This is not the first time the CDC has changed its warning level for the cruise industry, but just like its warnings for visiting different countries, these are just suggestions it offers to the general public.

No cruise line has made any hint of cancelling cruises, so ships are definitely still sailing.

Cruise ships can't visit any ports

Some Caribbean ports have denied entry to certain cruise ships due to some passengers having tested positive for Covid-19 onboard.  While that fact is true, the amount of ships and port calls affected has been quite small.

So how many ports have denied ships?

Royal Caribbean Group provided an update that as of December 30, 2021, 16 scheduled visits had been cancelled out of a total of 331 visits.

Certainly each country has the right to refuse a ship to visit, but these are being handled on a per-ship basis.

The company expects these disruptions to continue in the near term and then decline as the world adjusts to the current trends. 

Most importantly, cruise lines have arrangements with their departure ports that a cruise ship sails from and how the port, health district and cruise lines plan to respond in the event of an outbreak with medical care, transportation and housing, if needed. This was set up before any ship restarted cruises in 2021 as part of the CDC's Conditional Sail Order.

The important takeaway is that cruise ships are not being locked out of every port and stuck at sea.

Can't visit their own private islands

This rumor was based in some truth, that has since snowballed into false information.

On December 30, guests on Freedom of the Seas reported their ship was unable to dock at Perfect Day at CocoCay because Bahamian officials refused to let passengers off the ship.

Similarly, Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic was also held up from docking at Castaway Cay in The Bahamas.

In the case of both ships, Bahamian officials allowed the passengers to disembark later that day.

It appears that this was some kind of a paperwork mistake on the side of The Bahamas, but nothing has been confirmed.

Regardless, since that day, other cruise ships have had no problems visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Where to get reliable cruise ship updates

Certainly this post should help get everyone up to date, but what about tomorrow or next week? How do you avoid this false information entirely?

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean will always convey updates to your sailing via email when a change has been officially made. Your travel agent is also a reliable source of information to ensure nothing has changed.

I'm generally a fan of Facebook groups for sharing tips and experiences, but unfortunately there can be false or misleading information shared in some groups. Take any updates you get on social media with a grain of salt, unless there is printed evidence to the contrary.

You can also reach out to Royal Caribbean via social media as a way to double check something you may have heard about.

Read more: My favorite Royal Caribbean cruise hacks

Lastly, you can check with the folks on the RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards (yes, this is a self-serving tip). Our community is good at helping direct cruisers with questions and expectations.

Welcome to the first week of 2022, and here is your look at all of the Royal Caribbean news you might have missed in the past week.

Unfortunately, this past week was dominated by Covid-19 related news and the impact of the Omicron variant on the industry.

The major headline came from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raising the warning level for going on a cruise ship back up to its highest level.

Based on the increase in Covid cases due to the Omicron variant, the CDC made a recommendation against going on any cruise ship, regardless of vaccination status.

According to the CDC, the virus that causes Covid-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting Covid-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if you are fully vaccinated and have received a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean sets expectations for impact Omicron can have on cruise ships with email to passengers
• Royal Caribbean says Omicron variant fears have only had a short-term effect on bookings
• Why you need to be flexible if you want to go on a cruise right now
• Oceanview vs Balcony staterooms on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• CDC investigation of Royal Caribbean cruise ship with Covid-19 cases on it reveal only mild symptoms
• Royal Caribbean will cover cost of international passenger Covid tests in January
• 'Glad we decided to stay on this cruise' says passenger on Royal Caribbean ship this week
• Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 435th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring a look ahead to what Billy and Matt want to see happen in 2022 for the cruise industry.

Matt and Billy try their best to make predictions at a few things that they want if they could wish for it in the coming year.

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.

New RCB Video: How to do the at-home Covid-19 test Royal Caribbean accepts!

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 — How to do the at-home Covid-19 test Royal Caribbean accepts! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Navigator of the Seas Live Blog

In case you missed it, Matt was live on Navigator of the Seas for a 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise.

Everyday of the cruise, Matt shared a look at what happened onboard and onshore.  This was also the first full sailing with Royal Caribbean's stricter new protocols.

You can catch up on what it's like to be on a cruise ship with all of the updates:

• Navigator of the Seas Live Blog - Day 1 - Embarkation Day
• Navigator of the Seas Live Blog - Day 2 - Sea Day
• Navigator of the Seas Live Blog - Day 3 - Cabo San Lucas
• Navigator of the Seas Live Blog - Day 4 - Mazatlan
• Navigator of the Seas Live Blog - Day 5 - Puerto Vallarta
• Navigator of the Seas Live Blog - Day 6 - Sea Day
• Navigator of the Seas Live Blog - Day 7 - Sea Day

The last day of our cruise is another sea day as we travel back to Los Angeles.

The weather today was not nearly as nice as yesterday, with cooler temperatures, clouds, and on and off rain showers.

I woke up and spent some time in the Solarium while catching up on the cruise news from yesterday.

Eventually, I met up with my family for breakfast in the Windjammer.

Mid-morning, there was an event for Top Tier Crown and Anchor members featuring the entertainment staff in the Royal Theater.

This is a Q&A type event, where the Dance and Ice Captains, along with the tech leads explain what it takes to put shows together on a cruise ship.

After I got back to my cabin, I found a casino voucher waiting on my bed, which is the first time I've gotten one of these.

When lunch rolled around, we had hoped to go to Playmakers but it was full with people actually eating there and overflow from Cafe Promenade. Instead, we went to the main dining room.

I enjoy sea day lunches in the dining room, mostly because there is a different menu and I usually find something I like.

I had hoped the weather might improve, but the best we got was a few peeks of the sun before clouds returned.

Frankly, I was content to just relax in the cabin.  We grabbed Starbucks coffee and then chilled out in the room.

I went up to the pool deck in the afternoon just to mix things up, but it was still chilly.

Dinner was back in the main dining room, where we said goodbye to our wait staff and thanked them for a great week.

Overall, I loved this itinerary.  There is so much to see in each of the Mexican Riviera ports, that I think it's worth flying over to see it all.

Certainly the Omicron concerns were an extra layer to this cruise that even a week before I'm not sure we anticipated being an issue. 

As the cruise went on, I adopted a "que sera, sera" mentality. I took all the precautions I could, including wearing my mask many more places than I might have otherwise, such as sometimes outdoors and keeping my mask on in restaurants until I had food.

Ultimately, I wasn't going to let Covid stop me from enjoying my vacation, but I wasn't going to be too cavalier about it either. As I write this on the final morning while waiting to disembark, everyone feels fine and no common signs of Covid.

I have far more concern about going to the airport and on my flight with little to no health protocols than I did at any point in this cruise.

Many thanks to everyone for following along.  I wish everyone a very happy new year and my deepest gratitude for all of your support reading Royal Caribbean Blog.

As we head north from Mexico, we had the first of two sea days on the return journey home.

The last three days has had lots of fun on shore, but today we decided to take it easy and relax.

I got up before the family and hung out in the Solarium for a bit.  The sun was shining, but there was a strong breeze that made it feel chillier.

Something nice offered is you can borrow blankets from the towel station.

Eventually the family woke up and got going, so we headed to the Windjammer for breakfast.

Being a sea day, we just took things easy. A lot of the indoor activities were busier than normal because the cooler temperatures outside forced more inside.

I managed to get my first nap of the day in the late morning.

While the wind may have made the pool deck a little chilly, our balcony felt great with the abundant sunshine and protection from the breeze.

For lunch, my kids got El Loco Fresh while my wife and I went back to the Windjammer.

By this point, I needed another caffeine fix, so I grabbed Starbucks.

Something neat about the Starbucks location on Navigator is the not-so-well-known seating area behind the bar. It has large windows that look out to the ocean and promenade deck.

A few readers have wanted to know about the gym situation, so I took a walk up there.

I couldn't find a crew member to ask directly, but it appears as though face masks are required while working out. There was signage indicating it, and every guest I saw in the gym had their mask on.

When I got back to the room, my kids reminded me I had promised them milk shakes at some point in the cruise, and like any dad, I told them I don't recall promising anything fun like that. They didn't buy it.

Johnny Rockets on Navigator of the Seas is a counter-service location, where you order and go.  Most other ships have Johnny Rockets as a sit down restaurant.

I got the kids milk shakes and onion rings for my wife and I to share.

Back to the room, I started watching a documentary and ran right into the second nap of the day!

I woke up to a lovely sunset right off our balcony.

Dinner tonight was the last of our 3-night specialty dining package, and we went to Jamie's Italian.

The kids love the pasta here, and I decided to try the Jamie's Burger just to mix things up.

We were unable to get the kids into Adventure Ocean, so we left them in the cabin for a little bit to play on their devices.

We rounded out our evening with guitar music in the pub.

Tomorrow is one more sea day.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new warning against going on a cruise ship, raising its warning level to the highest again.

The CDC changed the warning because of the Omicron variant and the increase in cases onboard cruise ships. It recommends to avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status.

The warning level has gone from level 3 to level 4.

The CDC's 4-level system categorizes destinations, including international destinations and United States Territories, into the following four levels:

• Level 4: Very high level of COVID-19
• Level 3: High level of COVID-19
• Level 2: Moderate level of COVID-19
• Level 1: Low level of COVID-19

This is not the first time the CDC has issued such a high warning. It did so in November 2020 before lowering it to level 3 in June 2021.

According to the CDC, the virus that causes Covid-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting Covid-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if you are fully vaccinated and have received a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose.

The CDC recommends people who go on a cruise should get tested 1–3 days before their trip and 3–5 days after their trip, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms.

Unvaccinated passengers should not only test, but self-quarantine for a full 5 days after cruise travel.  Royal Caribbean does not allow anyone above the age of 11 to sail on its ships if they are unvaccinated.

The CDC's warning

The basis for raising the warning level stems from the Omicron variant and an increase in cases onboard ships.

"Since the identification of the Omicron variant, there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among cruise passengers and crew reported to CDC. Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of cruise ships meeting the COVID-19 case threshold for CDC investigation."

According to the CDC, cases reported on cruise ships have increased 31 percent over the last two weeks.

This compares to the overall rate of infection in the United States, which has increased 153 percent over the same time period, although it is likely a steeper difference as we know that testing rates are far higher on cruise ships than in the general population.

Cruise ships have strictest Covid protocols

Since restarting cruises in June, Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry have implemented the strictest health protocols of any private business.

Royal Caribbean has gone above and beyond measures enacted by any other industry to ensure guest and crew member safety.

Here is a short list of the protocols required by Royal Caribbean:

• Mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for passengers 12 years and older
• Mandatory mask wearing in all indoor venues unless seated and actively eating or drinking
• Social distancing
• Mandatory pre-cruise test of every single passenger
• Weekly testing of every single crew members
• Unvaccinated children get tested multiple times, including on embarkation day
• Hospital-grade HEPA filter of air circulation on cruise ships

While Covid-19 cases on Royal Caribbean ships have increased recently due to Omicron, none of the Omicron cases have been severe or needed to be taken to a hospital.

Cruise industry reaction

Almost immediately after the CDC raised the warning, the cruise industry fired back.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) issued this statement defending the cruise industry's work to keep crew members and passengers safe.

"The decision by the CDC to raise the travel level for cruise is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard—far fewer than on land—and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore."

"No setting can be immune from this virus—however, it is also the case that cruise provides one of the highest levels of demonstrated mitigation against the virus. Cruise ships offer a highly controlled environment with science-backed measures, known testing and vaccination levels far above other venues or modes of transportation and travel, and significantly lower incidence rates than land."

"While we are disappointed and disagree with the decision to single out the cruise industry—an industry that continues to go above and beyond compared to other sectors—CLIA and our ocean-going cruise line members remain committed to working collaboratively with the CDC in the interest of public health and safety."

Royal Caribbean Group told investors on Thursday that Omicron variant fears have seen an increase in cancellations and reduced bookings lately, but it has thus far only had a short-term impact.

The business update was issued by Royal Caribbean International's parent company as a way to explain what they are seeing as it relates to the bottom line.

Here's a look at the important takeaways from the update.

Omicron

Across the brands of Royal Caribbean Group, the Royal Caribbean Group has carried since June 2021 1.1 million guests with 1,745 people testing positive – a positivity rate of 0.02%. 

As it relates to Omicron, none of the Omicron cases on its ships have been severe or needed to be taken to a hospital. The company believes this is a result of almost everyone onboard having been vaccinated and having a negative test before boarding.

When looking at all variants of Covid-19, Royal Caribbean Group has carried 1.1 million guests with 1,745 people testing positive – a positivity rate of 0.02%.

"Omicron is having a big short-term impact on everyone, but many observers see this as a major step towards COVID-19 becoming endemic rather than epidemic," said Richard Fain, Chairman & CEO.

"We don’t like to see even one case, but our experience is a fraction of the comparable statistics of virtually any other comparable location or industry. Few businesses are subject to such intense scrutiny, regulation, and disclosure requirements by so many authorities, and we welcome that scrutiny because of our commitment to safety. We intend to maintain our goal of delivering the safest vacation on land or sea and will constantly adjust our procedures to accomplish this even in the face of Omicron’s amazing transmissibility."

Impact on reservations

While Omicron has been front page news, so far its impact on bookings has only had a short-term impact.

Right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Royal Caribbean Group, "experienced a decline in bookings and increased cancellations for near-term sailings but to a lesser degree than that experienced with the Delta variant. "

Load factors for sailings in the first half of 2022 remain below historical levels, as expected. However, sailings for the second half of 2022 continue to be booked within historical ranges, at higher prices with and without Future Cruise Credits (FCCs), with strong demand from the critical U.S. market.

Onboard experience

Royal Caribbean also addressed the impact Omicron has had on passengers and crew.

Just like all aspects of travel, the labor supply is being hit hard by Omicron because of the increase in workers testing positive, which means less employees to work.

Similar issues are impacting the company’s onboard service capabilities.  

In addition, the company is experiencing service disruptions at selected destinations and to date has cancelled or significantly modified 16 destination calls out of 331. The company expects these disruptions to continue in the near term and then decline as the world adjusts to the current trends. 

Fain concluded, “We are constantly learning and adjusting as Omicron appears to be ushering in a new phase in the fight against COVID-19."

"We expect these factors to have a negative impact in the short term but are optimistic they will lead us to a more pervasive but less severe health environment. Taken together, this should enable us to produce a strong transitional year in 2022 and a very strong 2023.”

With the cruise industry being targeted by the media for Covid-19 cases onboard its ships, Royal Caribbean sent an email to passengers booked on a cruise over the next few weeks to give them realistic expectations.

A number of cruise ships have reported Covid-19 cases onboard, as well as had to skip ports of call due to the country denying entry, and even cancelling shows onboard its ships because of cases among the performers.

Royal Caribbean sent an email to passengers booked on a cruise between now and January 17, 2022 to inform them that unexpected changes are likely and should be expected.

In the email, Royal Caribbean said the increase of Covid-19 cases from the Omicron variant has caused many changes, "with the increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, our public health guidance continues to evolve and we want to let you know what to expect as we prepare to welcome you onboard."

Royal Caribbean also pointed out that its crew members are fully vaccinated and boosted, along with its vaccine mandate for passengers, "All our crew members are fully vaccinated, have received booster shots when eligible, and are tested on a weekly basis with high contact front of house service staff tested every three days.

"All your fellow guests 12 and older are fully vaccinated and tested before boarding. And the small number of children sailing who are 11 and under get a second test at the terminal and are increasingly vaccinated. Typically, your onboard cruise community vaccination rate is in the 95% range."

While the cruise lines implement health protocols that no other form of travel comes close to matching, nothing is foolproof and Covid can still be spread onboard, "Even with such a high onboard community vaccination rate and enhanced protocols in place, there is a possibility of positive cases arising during your sailing, just as there is an inherent risk of COVID-19 anywhere people congregate or gather. "

In terms of ports not allowing cruise ships, Royal Caribbean talked about the collaborative effort they have with these countries, "We also work with local governments in all the ports of your itinerary who are informed of the ship's public health status before arrival and together, we decide if we can debark in their country."

"When we make these decisions, we consider the number of COVID positive cases onboard, and also the number of cases in the destination community along with factors such as the community vaccination status. Should we need to cancel a port of call, we will always do our best to find an alternate destination or work through a resolution for our missed port."

Royal Caribbean also warned guests that changes in onboard activities can occur, including:

• ice skating
• rock climbing
• laser tag
• production shows
• Adventure Ocean

Under the media microscope

Royal Caribbean's email comes in the wake of a great deal of news reports about Covid on cruise ships.

Just like in 2020, many mainstream media outlets are reporting on every single case of Covid on a cruise ship.

Unlike 2020, Royal Caribbean is armed with a slew of protocols and strategies that no other form of domestic travel uses.

Aaron Saunders, the News & Features Editor for CruiseCritic pointed out the stark reality of the lengths the cruise lines go to in order to keep customers safe, unlike airlines, trains or any other form of domestic travel.

To those slagging off cruise ships: ships have vaccine requirements. Testing protocols. Masking rules and HEPA-filtered HVAC systems.

US domestic travel is the Wild West by comparison. Your flight crew may now even be able to return to work only five days after having COVID. 🤦‍♂️

— Aaron Saunders (@deckchairblog) December 28, 2021

Ashley Kosciolek, a travel writer for The Points Guy, feels not only has the media been unfair in its reporting of Covid on cruise ships, but they lack proper knowledge of what the lines are doing, "I've been on 10 since June and would gladly do 10 more."

"I challenge any of the people whining about it to take a cruise. I guarantee they'd eat their words.

Our last port of call on this cruise brings us to Puerto Vallarta.

Interestingly, we changed time zones again and are essentially on Central Time, even though we are still on the west coast of Mexico.

Navigator docked right on time at 8am. Our tour didn't begin until 11, so we let the kids sleep in a bit before getting everyone ready to go.

I had arranged a tour through Royal Caribbean's Private Journeys program for today, which means we have a private shore excursion booked through the cruise line. The plan was to visit Sabal Playa, a beach resort on the north side of Puerto Vallarta.

I went through Private Journeys because at the time, I wasn't sure if my kids would be vaccinated or not. Royal Caribbean doesn't allow unvaccinated people to go on their own tours, so by booking an excursion through Royal Caribbean, I was able to get around the problem.

We walked down to the Royal Theater, just like any shore excursion, and they took us right off the ship to meet our guide in the port area.

The tour included a driver for the day that spoke fluent English, an air conditioned van, and admission into Sabal Playa. The tour did not include food or drinks.

Sabal Playa didn't open until 11:30, so our guide took us on a tour by car of Puerto Vallarta to burn up time.

Along the way, we stopped at a Mexican shopping mall and treated the kids to gelato while I got a coffee.

Back on the road, we headed to Sabal Playa.

Sabal is a combination pool and beach resort, similar in setup to Paradise Beach in Cozumel: pay an admission fee, and get access to the facilities. Food and drink are a la carte.

The grounds were lovely, and their infinity pool was plenty large and heated.

The staff set us up on the beach, which is a short walk beyond the pool on the "lower" level. They gave us chairs and umbrellas to use.

This was our opportunity to go for a swim in the Pacific Ocean, and the sea water was a little chilly, but you got used to it quite quickly.

The views around were stunning with mountains surrounding much of the area. 

There is a good assortment of food and drinks, with mostly Mexican food to choose from. During our stay, we had a couple beers, some drinks for the kids, guacamole, two orders of tacos, and quesadillas and spent $50 for it all.

The food was pretty good as well and freshly prepared. 

Overall, I really liked our visit, and the kids wanted to stay longer when we told them it was time to go.

At the pre-arranged time, our driver took us back to the ship.

The port area in Puerto Vallarta is close to Costa Maya as being the most annoyingly long path to get you through as many shops as possible.

Back on Navigator of the Seas, we showered and got changed for dinner.

For dinner, we went back to the main dining room. They had my favorite variety of Indian curry this evening, aloo gobi.

We dropped the kids off at Adventure Ocean, and then discovered that while the ship departed Puerto Vallarta around 6, the casino did not re-open until 8:15. 

We spent some time in the Schooner Bar to wait the casino out. Eventually it re-opened, and me and my money were quickly separated.

We finished out our evening in the pub.

Tomorrow is a sea day.