Royal Caribbean reported a 5.4 percent rise in quarterly revenue in its third quarter 2015 financial results.

Caribbean and European demand and strong performance in Asia more than off-set further weakness in Latin America.  In addition, Anthem of the Seas joining the fleet, efforts to drive incremental Onboard Revenue, and a continued focus on cost efficiencies also contribute to a stronger end of the year.

Royal Caribbean's total revenue jumped to $2.52 billion from $2.39 billion a year earlier, in the third quarter.

"As we have reiterated throughout the year, we remain ahead on both pricing and volume versus same time last year," said Jason T. Liberty, chief financial officer. "While Latin America is stressing yields in the fourth quarter, strong year-over-year pricing in the Caribbean, and the addition of capacity in China, will solidify this fourth quarter as the best in our company's history."

Royal Caribbean also announced a $500 million share repurchase program, where the company will look to buyback its common stock. The company plans to begin with an accelerated share repurchase transaction of $200 million that should be completed by the end of January 2016. The company expects to complete the program by year-end 2016.

Travel Weekly China and Travel Weekly Asia voted Royal Caribbean the "Best Cruise Line Overall" in the first "Readers Choice Awards."

“It is a significant accomplishment to receive this accolade by our industry partners and peers in China and throughout Asia, extending our winning streak across the world,” said Michael Bayley, president & CEO, Royal Caribbean International.  “I congratulate my colleagues shore-side and across the fleet for this unprecedented recognition, and thank our travel partners for their unwavering support.” 

The Reader’s Choice Awards pay tribute to the best in the industry, recognizing travel companies and individuals for their outstanding achievements.  The winners are determined by travel professionals who are invited to vote for the best company, brand or destination in 31 categories representing the different segments of the travel industry. The segments include: airlines, cruise, resort, hotel, tour operator, destination, travel technology, attractions, airport, and car rental.

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

Episode 116 is available for download, where Matt talks all about the wonderful shows and entertainment onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Matt looks at the various shows you can expect to find on a Royal Caribbean cruise and explains why these shows are worth your time, as well as some of his favorite picks.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 116. 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!

It appears that the Cruise Director for Royal Caribbean's brand new Harmony of the Seas cruise ship will be Ken Rush.

Royal Caribbean Vice President of Entertainment, Nick Weir, posted on Twitter a message that Ken Rush will be the ship's cruise director.

At RCCL Studios today. Meetings abt Harmony Bway show. (news soon). Then dinner with Ken Rush, harmony Cruise Dir. pic.twitter.com/xmCxpGGTEs

— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) October 21, 2015

Ken Rush has been working at Royal Caribbean for over 30 years and has been Cruise Director on a number of new Royal Caribbean ships, including Allure of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.

As cruise director, Rush said he will head all entertainment for guests onboard. In doing so, Rush said he will manage a team of dancers, musicians, youth and activities staff.

It appears Royal Caribbean is providing life jackets for children to use in the pools on Oasis of the Seas.

Leigh Cormack from the Oasis of the Seas Cruisers...Past, Present, Future Facebook group took these photos of the new life jackets.

The sign reads, "Children's Swimming Pool Life Jackets are available for the safety all children.  They are to be used on the Oasis Pool Deck."

We have not spotted life jackets for pool use like this previously.

The life jackets for children could be a response to recent pool accidents involving drownings.

Do you think Royal Caribbean offering life jackets for kids in the pool is a good idea? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Royal Caribbean's next Quantum class cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, has reached a construction milestone that brings it one step closer to entering service.

Royal Caribbean Australia & New Zealand shared this photo of Ovation of the Seas to show that she is almost half way to being completed.

OVATION UPDATE: construction of #OvationoftheSeas is almost half way! pic.twitter.com/Pp9ZmWGXP8

— Royal Caribbean AUNZ (@RoyalAUNZ) October 16, 2015

It has been thirteen months since the steel cutting ceremony took place and if all goes well, she will be ready for conveyance down the River Ems for sea trials in the middle of March 2016.

Ovation of the Seas is under construction at the Meyer Werft ship yard in Papenburg, Germany.  Ovation of the Seas will be debuting in April 2016 and will be offering cruises in Asia and Australia.

Royal Caribbean will hold a conference call on October 23, 2015 at 10am to discuss its third quarter 2015 financial results.

The call will be available on-line at the company's investor relations web site, www.rclinvestor.com. To listen to the call by phone, please dial (877) 663-9606 in the US and Canada. International phone calls should be made to (706) 758-4628. There is no passcode or meeting number.

A replay of the webcast will be available at the same site for a month following the call.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas entered Victoria Habour earlier today in Hong Kong for the final time this cruise season.

From July to October this year, Voyager of the Seas has seen nearly 70,000 guests enjoy cruising on her during this season.

Voyager of the Seas will return for another season in Hong Kong in 2016. 

Royal Caribbean's private island of CocoCay is very popular with guests and on your next visit there, it may be slightly different than you remember.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Sean McLellan recently visited CocoCay over the weekend and sent us a report of some noticable changes.

Cabanettes have been renamed

The "cabanettes" that are available to rent now have a new name

Excursions desk indicates that they are now called "Beach Loungers" and it now runs just under $50 for 2 people for 2 big bottles of water, a fruit plate and towels.

New trams between Tender/Barefoot Beach

In the past, Royal Caribbean has provided a shuttle that is pulled by a tractor to get guests to help with the long distance walk involved.

There are now some new trams availabe to take guests.

Sean notes these new trams, "run quieter, a tad smoother, and taller so there's less chance of bonking your head on the way out. Oh, the driver gets a little fan."

New tram route

Previously, the tram ran on a path south of the nature trail that went past the island's barracks and ended up east of the Cabanettes.

There's now an entirely new tram path that is "shorter" according to the tram driver, which has newly been created that runs north of the nature trail and ends up east of the Cabanettes.

There's some big piles of sand marking the terminus that look new.

New shower at Barefoot Beach 

A new fresh water shower has been added to Barefoot Beach.

Sean indicated it is, "a nice addition that is just north of the Barefoot Beach Cabanettes/Beach Lounger bar".

Promise of a Barefoot Beach restroom facility

For the past year or longer an outhouse has been stationed on the previous tram route that is about a 2 minute walk from the cabanettes.

Sean's tram driver indicated that there are immediate plans to construct a restroom facility at the cabanettes, which would be a highly welcome change.
 

If you are a fellow sushi lover, then you will feel right at home at Royal Caribbean's premier sushi restaurant Izumi.

The next time you make a reservation at Izumi, be sure to consider these fun and tasty aspects of the restaurant that are worth trying!

5. Complimentary edamame

Some of the best things in life are free and when you eat at Izumi, you will get a great starter for no additional cost.

Izumi currently offers complimentary edamame (a preparation of baby soybeans in the pod boiled in water together salt, and served whole).

Not only is this a tasty choice for starting your meal off right, but they are priced right too!

4. Eating at the bar

Eating sushi is an experience and if you like a little show with your meal, try eating at the sushi bar.

Sitting at the sushi bar will get you a front row seat to the sushi chefs creating their masterpieces.

And let me tell you, making sushi is no pedestrian task.  Sushi is as much an art form as it is a kind of food and watching sushi being made is really entertaining!

3. Signature Rolls

If you consider yourself a sushi fanatic, then you will need to flip your menu over to the signature roll section.

The signature rolls often are larger and offer superior flavor than the other rolls on the menu.  It really is the best offering Izumi has.

In addition, be sure to inquire if there are any sushi specials.  From time to time, Izumi will offer certain rolls that are not on the regular menu and these special rolls can be terrific choices too.

2. Teppanyaki experience

In addition to just sushi, select Royal Caribbean ships offer teppanyaki style dining at the restaurant's hibachi section.

Izumi's hibachi is a fun and creative experience, where your chef cooks your food in front of you with a splash of entertainment thrown in.

Hibachi dining is a great way for family and groups to enjoy a meal together and if you want to have a memorable dining experience .

The hibachi meals have a cover charge of $25 for one choice of meat, or $30 two choice of meat. Choices include Beef, Chicken, Lobster or Shrimp.

Each meal includes soup or salad, edamame app, fried rice or lo mein noodles, cooked veggies and dessert.

1. Hot rocks

Whether you eat sushi or not, no trip to Izumi is complete without an order of hot rocks.

Hot rock (Ishiyaki) plates are rocks that are heated to 575 degrees °F, where guests take raw meat and vegetables and cook them on the rock, right at your table.

This ultimate-self serve meal is a really fun way to enjoy a Japanese delicacy.  Each plate comes with lemon ginger vinaigrette, sweet soy sauce and Thai sweet chili dipping sauces.

Guests have the choice of mixed seafood, chicken breast, chicken and beef skewer rock or beef tenderloin.

The hot rocks are perfect for those that do not enjoy sushi necessarily or just someone looking to try something different!