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

Episode 109 is available for downloading where our friend Susan previews her upcoming back to back cruise on Independence of the Seas.

Susan is embarking on a back to back cruise on Independence of the Seas (yes, we are all jealous) and she talks about why she booked a back to back, how her large group plans impacted her planning and what her plans are for this cruise.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 109. 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!

When Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas debuts, she will offer a premier cruise experience, with lots of new innovations, things to do and ways to spend to your day.

Royal Caribbean prides itself on being a family cruise experience, so here is a look at what families can do when they get onboard the largest cruise ship in the world.

Ride on the carousel

It does not matter how young or old you are, a ride on the carousel in the Boardwalk neighborhood is timeless.

The carousel on Harmony of the Seas is hand-crafted and especially designed by Carousel Works for Royal Caribbean and is one-of-a-kind.

The inspiration for the carousel was taken from turn-of-the-century carousel designs. Even the original artwork scenery panels located on the carousel’s eight Rounding Boards feature custom painted scenes to highlight the wistfulness of life on the historic boardwalks.

Watch 3D Movies

Photo by Royal Caribbean

Onboard Harmony of the Seas, guests will be able to watch first-run movies by DreamWorks Animation and other studios in 3D.

Just like your local movie theater, guests will walk to the theater, where 3D glasses will be provided.

When you consider these 3D movies are included in your cruise fare, going on Harmony of the Seas is a great opportunity to catch up on movies you wanted to see or want to see again without the movie theater costs!

Teen activities

Photo by Royal Caribbean

For teenagers, Harmony of the Seas will offer a lot of activities to choose from.

The focal point for teens is in the back of Deck 15, where they'll find a teen-only hangout called the Living Room, a video arcade and the teen dance club.

Royal Caribbean also promises special events just for teens onboard such as pool parties, open mic nights and more.

The Cruise Compass provides a number of teen activities that offer teenagers events just for them,

Neighborhood just for kids

Kids are a big part of the cruise experience on Harmony of the Seas, and this ship will feature a central boulevard on deck 14 just for kids to make getting around for them simpler.

Kids Avenue will connect children with dedicated spaces for the Adventure Ocean program as well as various themed play areas.

Kids Avenue will include access to

• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Adventure Art
  • This studio for the future Picasso will give children the opportunity to explore the world of color and imagination
• Adventure Science Lab
  • A fully equipped lab where Einstein’s-in-the-making can expand their knowledge
• Adventure Ocean Theater
  • The first-ever children’s state-of-the art theater at sea. Children of all ages can learn about theatrical productions, take part in talent shows, or sign up for hip hop dance classes.
• Workshop
  • A space where families can come together and hone their scrapbooking skills and create personalized jewelry​​

Adrenaline filled fun

Photo by Royal Caribbean

For kids that want some thrills, they will find plenty of it on Harmony of the Seas.

Water slides, a zip line, FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall and more are available for kids to try while onboard.

These activities are included in their cruise fare and are sure to get their hearts pounding.

The zip line features a 10-deck high ride that takes them 120 feet above the Boardwalk.

Kids can also try the Perfect Storm water slides, that will take them down three decks through a series of twists and turns over the ship’s tree-lined Central Park neighborhood.

Also brand new to Harmony of the Seas will be the Ultimate Abyss, a 10-story dry slide.  It will be located on the aft of Harmony of the Seas and it is being billed as something to try for the super brave!

Splashaway Bay

Photo by Royal Caribbean

Harmony of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature Splashaway Bay, an interactive aqua park for kids.

Inside, kids will find sea creature water cannons, water slides, a gigantic drench bucket and a multi-level jungle gym.

Splashaway Bay was designed with kids and toddlers in mind and will be a brand new way for kids to cool down while having fun.

Royal Baby and Tots Nursery

Photo by Royal Caribbean

Parents that have toddlers 6 months to 36 months old will love the Royal Baby & Tots Nursery on Harmony of the Seas.

The nursery has become a favorite spot for parents on other Royal Caribbean ships, because it offers supervised care for young children during the day and night.

Having a place onboard Harmony of the Seas to bring your children to so that parents can enjoy a quiet dinner together or some time doing one of the many activities onboard gives everyone involved a great way to have fun.

Parents are never far away from their children, as the nursery provides wireless phones for parents to use in case they want to check in on their little ones or the nursery needs to get a hold of them.

Adventure Ocean

Royal Caribbean's signature and award-winning Adventure Ocean supervised kids program is available on Harmony of the Seas, where kids can play, explore and learn with other children.

Adventure Ocean is available for kids ages 3 to 11 and is included in your cruise fare.  

Once inside Adventure Ocean, kids will have the opportunity to take part in a number of daily activities during the day and night.  Adventure Ocean is a safe place for your children to spend their time onboard and make lots of new friends.

The Aquanauts (3-5 years old) will enjoy do magic tricks, dress up like pirates and pretend to be super heroes.  Explorers (6-8 years old) can take part in hands-on science experiments, try their hand at art and theater, as well as dancing and ice cream.  Voyagers (9-11 years old) will be able to do science experiments, backstage tours and new sports like Gagaball.

What is your family excited to do on Harmony of the Seas? Tell us in the comments below!

Leonardo Da Vinci was a visionary with ideas that far surpassed his time. With the technology available inAnthem of the Seas’ Two70, Royal Caribbean is able to bring many of his dreams to life in a dazzling display of digital technology.

About 300 passengers from Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas had to be forcibly removed because they were upset about an itinerary change.

Quantum of the Seas was slated to make stops in three Japanese cities, but concerns about Typhoon Goni forced the ship to make stops in South Korea instead.

The passengers were upset about the change and wanted to receive compensation for the change in their route.

When Quantum of the Seas returned to the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Baoshan District, the angry passengers refused to disembark until 1pm, when the final few were removed by crew members.

Royal Caribbean had given passengers free Wi-Fi and lobster dinners during the voyage to try to make up for the change.

Royal Caribbean took the upset passengers to a nearby hotel, where negotiations reconvened.

Royal Caribbean said it was willing to communicate with tourists based on international and Chinese regulations.

However, it said it would not accept “irrational and illegal behavior,” including threats affecting other tourists’ vacation.

Royal Caribbean conducted new research among people from Northern Ireland that found 73% of Northern Irish vacation planners value spending qualit time with their immediate family as the number one reason they consider booking a vacation.

In addition, the research found 31% of respondents also like spending time with their extended family, including in-laws and grandparetns.

About a quarter of those in the survey said they enjoy participating in physical activities, such as rock climbing, hiking and swimming compared to just over a fifth of English and Scots (22%) and only 18% of the Welsh.

Where do these Northern Irish vacationers prefer to go? 39% said they list the USA as their dream destination, followed by 18% who said the Caribbean was tops for them.

Royal Caribbean UK & Ireland sales director Ben Bouldin commented on the results, "Northern Ireland is a key market for us and we pride ourselves on knowing what our customers want, so it’s great to see this research reinforces our proposition. We want to ensure all our guests have the very best Royal Caribbean holiday possible."

Royal Caribbean's private peninsula of Labadee is a small piece of paradise that guests sailing on select Caribbean itineraries will be able to enjoy.

Over the years, Royal Caribbean has added quite a bit of activities and fun opportunities to this private enclave.  

Here are ten things to keep you busy on your next at Labadee.

8. Take the tram

Once you get to Labadee, there is quite a lot to do and many beaches to choose from.  Guests can easily walk to any of these spots but when the sun is shining brightly or you need a break, consider using the tram.

Royal Caribbean provides complimentary tram service that will take you all around the peninsula and for those looking for a quieter beach experience, the tram is your ticket to reaching the furthest beaches.

The trams make continuous circles of their route and so the wait is never that long once the trams start running.

Feel free to hop on the tram and take a "grand circle tour" of the island for fun and get a chance to see all the different spots on Labadee without exhausting yourself with all that walking.

7. Dragon's Breath Flight Line

Photo by Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean heralds the Dragon's Breath Flight Line as the world's longest zip-cable over water and it is as impressive to ride down as it is to look at from the ground.

If you are looking to do the shore excursion that Labadee is known for, then this zip line is perfect for you.

Royal Caribbean says guests will reach speeds of 40-50 miles per hour as they soar over the beaches of Labadee and the view you will get is unparalleled.

You will have a chance to practice on a smaller zip line first before taking a truck up the mountain to the flight line starting point.  Odds are your palms will get a little sweaty in anticipation but it's an amazing experience all the way down!

6. Cabanas

If you ever get the chance to try the cabanas at Labadee, they are a must-do!

Royal Caribbean offers Cabanas at two of its beaches on Labadee: Barefoot Beach and Nellie's Beach.

Each cabana offers up to six guests a number of amenities including lounge chairs and a sofa, complimentary bottles of water, floating beach mats, snorkeling gear, towels and more.

In short, the cabanas are a great way to have a private beach experience in a gorgeous setting.

Cabanas are available to suite guests, however, many non-suite guests have had success in reserving cabanas on a first-come, first-served basis by going to the Explorations (shore excursions) desk onboard their Royal Caribbean ship and putting their name down on a list.

5. Beach Beds

Photo by Royal Caribbean

For a less expensive way to relax on Labadee, try the new beach beds.

At the end of Adrenaline Beach, you will find beach beds that offer guests the opportunity to relax with the utmost comfort while remaining on the beach.

These beach beds offer guests the opportunity to relax on the beach in a lot of comfort.  In terms of napping spots, it does not get much better than this.

4. Visit the Artisan's Village

Photo by Franco Caruzzo

Bringing home a little piece of Labadee is a great souvenir and the Artisan's Village has a lot of locals selling various hand-made creations that you can purchase.

You will find wood carvings, neclackes, paintings, t-shirts and more available to purchase.

Whether you buy something or not, looking at the various gifts for sale can be a nice break from the beach.

3. Dragon's Breath Point

For something a little off the beaten path, try Dragon's Breath Point.

Located on the far left side of Labadee (if you are on the dock), Dragon's Breath Point is an area to hang out and watch the zip line but there is also a near natural effect to enjoy.

 As the water flows in and out among the rocks, you hear a "hissing" noise that sounds like "dragon's breath".  It may just be air being compresed in small caves under the rocks, but it's a neat spot to enjoy.

In fact, the area surrounding the rocks is quite beautiful as well and is a great spot for some photos.

2. Dragon's Tail Roller Coaster

The alpine coaster found in Labadee is something unique to any cruise line's private island.  

Guests can ride the Dragon's Tail Roller Coaster from 680 feet above sea level and race down the mountain at speeds of 30 miles per hour.

Like the zip line, Drago's Tail offers some great views of the beaches below.  It's also a much longer ride down the zip line, so there is time to enjoy the views you will get as you dip and curve around the mountain.

If you are considering going on Dragon's Tail, invest in the all-day pass that costs a little bit more money, but will get you plenty of opportunities to get a glimpse of Labadee as you zip down.

1. Labadoozie

My absolute favorite thing about Labadee has to be enjoying their signature drink, the Labadoozie.

The Labadoozie is a frozen alcoholic beverage that is served in a cup or souvenir mug.  It's a combination of a few fruit juices, rum and ice that combine to form the perfect concoction for a day at the beach.

You can purchase Labadoozies from any of the bars, but often you will spot Royal Caribbean waiters walking around the beach selling these drinks.  

For kids, you can order the Labadoozie without alcohol so the whole family can enjoy the experience!

What are your favorite things to do on Labadee? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Royal Caribbean named Michael Giresi new senior vice president and chief information officer. 

Giresi will report directly to Adam Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Goldstein commented on Giresi's hiring, "Michael's background and experience implementing leading edge technology, combined with the skills of our seasoned management team, will be vital as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. continues to innovate and accelerate its global expansion.  His broad experience and proven leadership will provide the company with the necessary tools to marry technology solutions that will continue to differentiate us."

Giresi joins Royal Caribbean after serving as senior vice president and CIO for Tory Burch, where he was responsible for the implementation of new infrastructure and technology initiatives for one of the fastest growing fashion brands in the world.  Throughout his career, he has held various management positions, including executive vice president and CIO for Direct Brands, Inc, CIO for Godiva Chocolatier and director of information technology for the Campbell Soup Company.

"I am looking forward for the opportunity to join Royal Caribbean, a company that stands for excellence in the travel industry," said Giresi. "Working with the IT team, we will create the infrastructure necessary to move the company to the next level."

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas features two glass enclosures for either side of the ship's upper-deck pool, patio and bar area that was made by OpenAire and it has become a popular spot on the ship.

Photo by OpenAire

The retractable roof retracts into a central core and wall panels that slide down to railing height that allows the space to go from indoor to outdoor easily and quickly.

When it's cold outside or the weather does not cooperate, both of these 3,706-square-foot structures close automatically and silently, letting guests continue enjoying all of the ship’s amenities. The design has brought extremely positive reviews for both Anthem of the Seas and OpenAire.

Anthem of the Seas is the second collaboration between Royal Caribbean and OpenAire.  OpenAire created a similar retractable roof for sister ship Quantum of the Seas.  The work done on Quantum of the Seas made the work on Anthem of the Seas much easier.

Photo by OpenAire

The retractable roof will also create significant future operational savings for Royal Caribbean, as the thermally-broken aluminum framing is maintenance-free and resistant to corrosion caused by an outside atmosphere of salt air and the moist chemical aquatic inside environment. By allowing the ocean’s sunshine and breezes into the pool area, it also reduces HVAC energy use by 27% compared to a traditional enclosure.

OpenAire will complete work on a retractable enclosure for Royal Caribbean’s upcoming Ovation of the Seas ship this fall.

Summer is coming to an end, but there is still plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share from this week!

Royal Caribbean gave us another peek at the construction progress being made on its third Oasis class cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean released a few new photos of Harmony of the Seas under construction at the STX shipyard in France.

Harmony of the Seas will begin service in spring 2016.

Royal Caribbean News

• Tropical Storm Erika changed itineraries for a few Royal Caribbean ships this week.
• Royal Caribbean adjusted the unlimited drink package pricing.
• Royal Caribbean has made changes to prepare Quantum of the Seas for China.
• Today is the last day for a Weekend WOW sale.
• Check out our photo tour of the Royal Suite on Oasis of the Seas.
• 6 of the best ways to celebrate a special occasion on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
• 10 tips for an amazing Royal Caribbean wedding.
• 6 of the best reasons to stay in an inside Royal Caribbean stateroom.
• 7 surprising facts about Freedom of the Seas.
• 11 of the most amazing Royal Caribbean moments.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 107th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and this week, Matt is reading your emails.

In this episode, Matt digs into the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast email inbox and dedicates this week's episode to our listeners.  Matt reads questions about going with a group, Grandeur of the Seas, shore excursion ideas and more.

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.

Join us aboard the largest cruise ship in the world!

We're so excited to announce the next group cruise for readers and staff of RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com aboard Allure of the Seas!  This is an exclusive group where we are inviting you, our readers, to join us on a fantastic Allure of the Seas sailing on an 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean.

This Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise is all about enjoying a fun Royal Caribbean cruise along with other fans who are big fans of Royal Caribbean.  Don't miss this opportunity to check out the amazing ship as well as be a part of exclusive events for those that book with our group!

For more details on booking the cruise, the itinerary and prices, check out the Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise page and if you have any questions, email me!

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

The Street has a look at the over-the-top world of cruise ship vacations.

In The Loop Travel has a look at the activities that will be available on Harmony of the Seas.

Cruise Law News reports Vision of the Seas rescued migrants near Greece.

Eat Sleep Cruise has a list of the top 10 cruise gadgets for 2015.

Maketh-The-Man shares his experience on Anthem of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean has a list of their 9 favorite things to do in Alaska.