Royal Caribbean has signed a 10 year maintenance and technical support agreement with Wärtsilä to support the cruise line's fleet of ships.

Wärtsilä will provide services to Royal Caribbean such as condition monitoring of the engines, individualized technical support, the development and design of new components as well as spare parts supply agreement. 

Wärtsilä has subcontracted with ABB Turbocharging to cover 142 Wärtsilä engines and 170 ABB turbochargers in 36 Royal Caribbean vessels, 32 already in operation and four newbuilds, with an option to add more vessels in the future.

ABB Turbocharging will work with Wärtsilä to provide a customized service package for the turbochargers on the vessels, including scheduled and unscheduled spare parts and labor at ABB workshop.

Royal Caribbean announced its lineup of entertainment for its newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas during a live event on the Internet.

Royal Caribbean reviewed some of the entertainment we already knew about for Quantum of the Seas as well as pulling the curtains back even further to show off other shows.

Much more detail was revealed about Two70°, the multi-purpose venue that will offer Vistarama, which transforms its expansive floor-to-ceiling windows into any scene, real or imagined, by combining 18 projectors to create an ambient surface over 100 feet wide and over 20 feet tall. Across this expanse, impromptu digital shows come to life in stunning 12K resolution, a pixel-perfect industry first. In addition, Two70°’s troupe of six agile Roboscreens stage surprise performances throughout every cruise. Each measuring over seven feet high and controlled by powerful robotic arms, the Roboscreens are delightfully nimble, as they create scenes while soaring and twisting solo, or uniting as one.

Other shows announced were

Starwater – created by Moment Factory, this original Royal Caribbean production is a highly visual, theatrical spectacle of video mapping, special effects and human artistry that combine to create an awe-inspiring experience designed to appeal to universal human emotions.

Virtual Concert – a world-class concert experience featuring premier musicians, groups and bands that is masterfully captured and projected across Vistarama and all six Roboscreens to transport guests to a virtual experience as impressive as the real thing.

Sonic Odyssey – an original Royal Caribbean Production, conceived and created by William Close, Under The Radar Chicago and Art House Live, is inspired by musician and innovator William Close and his variety of one-of-a-kind majestic instruments. This unbelievable production includes his signature Earth Harp, a unique Drum Wall consisting of 136 drums, a Vocal Percussion Jacket, Violin Dress and more. Sonic Odyssey is an original, theatrical masterpiece that weaves together a nine-piece live orchestra with a cast of singers, dancers, aerialists and gymnasts to envelop the audience in a spectacular show that must be seen and heard to be believed. 

MAMMA MIA! After Party – when MAMMA MIA! ends in the Royal Theater, the party is just beginning in Music Hall, where guests can dance the night away during a red carpet, Broadway-style after party with featured cast members from the show 

Tribute Band Program – an extensive line-up of incredibly talented live musical acts pay homage to timeless entertainers from every era, from The Beatles and Bee Gees, to Journey and Bon Jovi 

Wink – a premium late-night show with class and sass, featuring the Royal Theater cast in an adults-only showcase.

Gatsby - Guests are transported to one of Jay Gatsby’s infamous roaring twenties parties through this high-energy themed event that combines a DJ and live music and features specialty cocktails inspired by the era.

Quantum Experience Advisor Kristin Chenoweth and Royal Caribbean's VP of Entertainment Nick Weir give us a sneak peek into the exciting entertainment updates planned for Quantum of the Seas.

The live event begins at 4pm eastern

We've got a brand new Royal Caribbean Blog podcast for everyone to enjoy!

Episode 45 is now available all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise during hurricane season.

This week, Matt discusses the good and bad about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise during hurricane season as well as what you should expect if a storm impacts your particular cruise.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 45. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Royal Caribbean announced yesterday that it will end cruises from the Port of New Orleans next year.

Janet Diaz, Royal Caribbean spokeswman, made this comment regarding the decision, "At this time, we do not have any ships planned for New Orleans in the winter 2015-16 season once Serenade of the Seas departs in April 2015."

The move comes despite higher cruise passenger traffic in the port in recent years.

Serenade of the Seas had been Royal Caribbean's ship serving the port since it replaced Navigator of the Seas.  Serenade of the Seas offered seven-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

According to Port president and CEO Gary LaGrange, Royal Caribbean had signed a two-year agreement with two one-year options to renew in 2011. That contract will expire at the close of the 2014-2015 season, he said.

For fans of cruising Royal Caribbean from New Orleans, it's worth mentioning Royal Caribbean previously pulled out of New Orleans in 2010 but returned a year later.

Royal Caribbean is offering two new sales in one. Book any Royal Caribbean cruise (excluding Quantum of the Seas) departing from September 1, 2014 and December 15, 2014, and choose one of two offers:

• Buy One, Get One 50% Off deal
  • 50% off cruise fare of second guest booked in the same stateroom as a first guest who books at full fare
• Buy Two Get 3rd & 4th Guest Free deal
  • Free cruise fare of third and fourth passengers booked in a triple or quad occupancy stateroom

Both deals run between June 9 and 30, 2014.

Offer available to residents of the United States or Canada.

Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Photos, where we share our readers' Royal Caribbean photos with all of you.  

To me, this weekly feature is an opportunity to enjoy a quick "mental escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation.  Let's get started with this week's batch!

Our first photo is from Kyle, who sent us this photo of Turtle Cove snorkeling excursion in St. Thomas. On a pirate ship! This be a fun excursion, says I!

Next is a photo from Ken Slusser from his January 2013 Allure of the Seas cruise.  It's a night shot that shows off how the Boardwalk area really lights up so incredibly when it's dark out.  Beautiful!

Alison sent us this photo of Voyager of the Seas in Sydney, Australia earlier this year.  Sydney harbor is such a beautiful backdrop for these Royal Caribbean cruises.

How about another Sydney photo this week? Wes Brown sent in this photo of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and Fort Dennison as seen from stern of Radiance of the Seas as she departs Sydney.  Great shot Wes!

Here's a photo of my new found favorite Royal Caribbean ship, Navigator of the Seas, while she was docked in Roatan, Honduras in May.  Jennifer Bever took this photo on her Maya Key shore excursion.  What I wouldn't give to be there right now!

Next up is a photo from Matt Carrera of his son Colton watching the sea roll by on their Jewel of the Seas cruise.  I don't care how old you are, watching the ocean pass by never gets old.

I love this photo of Oasis of the Seas docked in St. Thomas that Mary sent in.  Sweeping photos like this really put in perspective how beautiful the island is and how big Oasis of the Seas is!

Last, but not least, Michael Poole sent in this photo of the R Bar on Brilliance of the Seas.  Michael noted he wishes he was having a drink right now there, and I couldn't agree more.

That wraps up this week's post but we want your Royal Caribbean cruise photos too!  Send them to us by using this form and we will be sure to include it an upcoming post!

Royal Caribbean announced today that Quantum of the Seas' godmother, Kristin Chenoweth, will also serve as Quantum Experience Advisor for Entertainment.

Chenoweth joins a lineup of Quantum Experience Advisors who are working with Royal Caribbean to ensure the amenities and activities onboard Quantum of the Seas are nothing short of amazing, including HGTV-star and interior designer Genevieve Gorder, athlete and adventurer Dhani Jones, and James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz. 

As advisor, Chenoweth will participate in an executive review committee, previewing the concepts for all of the shows, productions, and themed events in development for Quantum of the Seas, and giving feedback on every aspect ranging from sets and music, to costumes, casting and more.

“It has been such a wonderful experience to be the godmother for this incredible ship, and I am delighted to make my contribution as the Quantum Experience Advisor for Entertainment,” said Chenoweth. “I have been blown away by what I’ve seen so far from the entertainment onboard Quantum of the Seas and am just so impressed, and that’s not easy to do. This is the real deal, and audiences have a lot to look forward to.”

Kristin Chenoweth, alongside Nick Weir, Royal Caribbean’s Vice President, Entertainment, will be hosting a live Google Hangout on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 4p.m. (EDT), to reveal the lineup of entertainment offerings onboard Quantum of the Seas. The Google Hangout can be accessed at http://bit.ly/1j6EH6S.

Chenoweth's first webisode of her work on Quantum of the Seas' entertainment is available to view now as well.

One of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships that is under construction, Anthem of the Seas, had a fire break out that caused about $68,000 in damage according to CruiseCritic.

Anthem of the Seas is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany when a fire broke out on deck 3.

The production area was immediately evacuated and the fire was controlled and extinguished by onsite and regional fire services.

A Royal Caribbean statement said the only injuries were two people who were treated for "slight smoke poisoning".

There is no indication yet what started the fire or if the fire will affect delivery of the ship to Royal Caribbean.

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

Episode 44 is available for downloading where we are discussing a first Royal Caribbean cruise on Allure of the Seas.

Author Len Testa and Laurel Stewart join Matt to preview their very first Royal Caribbean cruise.  Len and Laurel wrote the Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line and they are taking a Royal Caribbean cruise to see "how green the grass is on the other side of the fence".

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 44. 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!