If there's a type of Royal Caribbean stateroom that gets more questions than any other, it's probably the junior suite.  This stateroom category is available on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships and we thought it would be useful to look at what this stateroom does (and does not) include and why you might want to consider booking it for your next cruise.

Junior suite on Freedom of the Seas. Photo by Royal Caribbean

What is a junior suite?

The junior suite stateroom is the first category of suites Royal Caribbean offers.  The layout and decorations of junior suites vary by ship, but at its core it's a large cabin with private balcony.

In most cases, you will find in a junior suite two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, a sitting area with sofa bed, private balcony and a private bathroom with a bathtub.

The exact size of a junior suite varies from ship to ship, anywhere from 221 square feet on Majesty of the Seas to 299 square feet on Brilliance of the Seas.  Most junior suites are about 290 square feet.

The size of the balcony ranges as well, from 61 square feet on Majesty of the Seas to 94 square feet on Freedom-class ships.  When Quantum of the Seas launches later this year, junior suite balconies will be 161 square feet in size!

Oasis of the Seas Junior Suite - Photo by boynup

What are the benefits of booking a junior suite?

There are two main benefits to booking a junior suite. First and foremost, is the space this category of stateroom gives you.  Compared to regular balcony staterooms, junior suites give much more living space as well as balcony space on average. 

The other main benefit to booking a junior suite is you get double the Crown and Anchor Society points.  All suites are eligible for double Crown & Anchor Society points.

Of course, junior suites are the least expensive of the suite category and often priced competitively with standard balconies.  For many, booking a junior suite does not require much more money to upgrade yourself to.  

Junior suites also include tea and coffee service ensuite and terry bathrobes (for use onboard).  In addition, junior suite guests receive silver SeaPass cards to distinguish themselves as suite guests to Royal Caribbean staff.

Independence of the Seas Junior Suite bathroom - Photo by David & Cheryl M

What are the disadvantages of booking a junior suite?

Despite the word "suite" being in its name, junior suites do not receive the benefits associated with being a suite guest on Royal Caribbean.  Specifically, this means no access to the concierge lounge or the concierge service.

Summary

Junior suites are spacious staterooms that for many people are an affordable way to splurge without breaking the bank.  

The increased living space makes a big difference when compared to smaller staterooms. It allows for much more comfortable living and avoids the whole "get by your roommate shuffle".  The full tub is also a big deal for many guests, especially many women we hear from.

Granted, you do not get the suite perks that many aspire to get access to, but the double Crown and Anchor Society points are still a good way to move yourself up in the system.

Starting today, January 1, 2014, Royal Caribbean has eliminated the $25 (per towel) fee for unreturned towels.

Previously, you could rent towels from the pool deck but would be charged $25 per towel if you did not return it before the end of your cruise.

The change is being cited as a result of guests feedback and Royal Caribbean wanting to offer guests "greater convenience and help them enjoy their Royal Caribbean vacation even more."  

Here is the full statement by Royal Caribbean as to why they decided to get rid of the penalty fee.

"We think this policy adjustment will offer guests greater convenience and help them enjoy their Royal Caribbean vacation even more.  We’re constantly evaluating our policies and implementing feedback. This is just one of many ongoing changes and improvements we’ve made to ensure Royal Caribbean International is giving guests the Royal Advantage - the most innovative cruise ships, exciting itineraries to popular destinations, and world-renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service. "

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

Episode 22 is available for downloading where we look at going on a Royal Caribbean cruise with kids

Family cruising is as popular as ever so this week Matt looks at what Royal Caribbean offers for families that want to cruise with kids, young and old.  There's a lot of options in terms of programs and activities, staterooms and dining options.  

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 22. 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!

Authorities in the Cayman Islands are looking for a Royal Caribbean passenger who was reported missing from Independence of the Seas early Tuesday morning.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Force said a 65-year-old  passenger from Canada was reported missing by his wife before Independence of the Seas docked in Grand Cayman. 

A search of the 15-deck Independence of the Seas and closed-circuit camera footage has turned up nothing so far.

Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Tracy Quan said the missing 65-year-old Canadian was last seen entering his room on the Independence of the Seas just before midnight.

According to police, the man’s wife said they went to bed at about 1 a.m. Tuesday but when she awoke some seven hours later he was gone.

If the man is missing, it's the second passenger to be reported missing this week after a different passenger jumped off Adventure of the Seas and was pronounced presumed dead.

A survey by Cruise Holidays says Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas is the most anticipated cruise ship of 2014.

Travel Weekly reported that of the 133 franchisees in the survey, the "overwhelming" response to which cruise ship they were ancitipating the most for the new year is Quantum of the Seas.

The other cruise ships that were included in the survey were the Costa Diadema, Regal Princess and Norwegian Getaway.

The United States Coast Guard has ended its search for the 26 year old Canadian that jumped off Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas on Saturday.

The Coast Guard released a statement that its 3-day search for Tien Phuoc Nguyen has concluded despite efforts by Royal Caribbean and the Coast Guard to rescue him.

After being reported he was overboard, Adventure of the Seas' Captain immediately stopped the ship and began searching.  This was followed by the Coast Guard's effort as well.

Meanwhile, the FBI is trying to determine what caused Nyugen to go overboard.

"We are looking into whether he jumped, or whether it was an accident, or whether he committed suicide, or whether someone pushed him," Moises Quinones, public information officer for the FBI's San Juan Office, told ABC News.

Adventure of the Seas security cameras have video of Nguyen going overboard.

A cruise passenger on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas who apparently jumped overboard, is the subject of a US Coast Guard search operation.

CTV News reports Royal Caribbean Cynthia Martinez said Sunday that the captain of the Adventure of the Seas stopped the ship, turned around and alerted authorities after a passenger reported seeing the person going overboard late Saturday. In a Sunday email, Martinez said footage of the incident was also captured by the ship's cameras.

A cruise passenger aboard Adventure of the Seas, known only to us as Laura, tweeted us a first-hand report.  The man is presumed dead. Adventure of the Seas spent 6 hours with the coast guard doing rescue boat missions and helicopters fly above. 

The Royal Caribbean ship was finishing a seven-night trip and returning to San Juan.

Happy New Year to all of our friends in blog land!  It's almost time to welcome a brand new year and once again I'm reminded by how lucky this site is to have so many supportive readers like all of you.  From our family to yours, we wish you a happy new year and hope that 2014 is better than ever!

Christmas week was a slow news week but it ended on a high note with the news of a new specialty restaurant coming to Navigator of the Seas.

As part of Navigator's planned refurbishment in January, Royal Caribbean will add Sabor Modern Mexican to the ship on deck 4 where the Dungeon nightclub used to be.

Royal Caribbean describes the restaurant as, "Sabor Modern Mexican provides guests an opportunity to enjoy creative yet recognizable modern Mexican cuisine and beverages with polished casual service in a contemporary setting."

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean will end its partnership with Fisher Price as of January 1, 2014.
• A Grandeur of the Seas passenger was flown back to the United States due to health reasons.
• Here are 10 ways to save money on your Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Rock star Alice Cooper will headline a Rock Legends cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship.
• We're sharing how to plan an excursion in Belize City.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The twenty first episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available for downloading and we're previewing Royal Caribbean's upcoming year in 2014.

This week, Matt looks at the big changes comign to Royal Caribbean in 2014 and which events happening this year should be on your radar.  There's new ship refurbishments, a brand new ship launching and big news for Europeans too.

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.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Cruise Law News is reporting a possible Norovirus outbreak on Oasis of the Seas.

Beyond Ships has a photo guide to Labadee.

CruiseLine.com has 9 Questions for Kristin Chenoweth, Godmother of Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean will end its partnership with toy manufacturer Fisher Price as of January 1, 2014.

The ending of this deal doesn't mean the end of Fisher Price onboard. Rather, Royal Caribbean will augment the Fisher Price toys with toys from other brands as well.

A statement from Royal Caribbean summarizes the change, "As of January 1, 2014, Fisher Price will no longer be the official partner of the Nursery or our Babies and Tots program.  Our guest may still find Fisher Price product onboard but it will be complimented by various other brands."

Royal Caribbean will discontinue the following programs as a result of the end of the deal.

• Fisher Price Playgroups
• Royal Babies & Tots Nursery Décor 
• Fisher Price Curriculum
• Little People Birthday Party
• Hot Wheels Race Track on CocoCay
• Dining Room Kid's Menus
• Fisher Price Toys in Adventure Ocean
• Décor on Labadee and CocoCay
• In-stateroom television content
• Toy Lending Program​

Guest with kids under 3 years old will still be able to enjoy the following experiences to compliment their family cruising experience:

• Adventure Art for Tots
• Maritime Music (on select ships)
• Royal Bedtime Stories

Royal Caribbean isn't done adding new things to Navigator of the Seas before she enters drydock next week for her refurbishment.  New Navigator of the Seas deck plans show she will get a new specialty restaurant called, "Sabor Modern Mexican".

The Mexican restaurant is a departure from Royal Caribbean's previous Mexican specialty restaurant that first debuted on Allure of the Seas, Rita's Cantina.  

The new restaurant will be located on deck 4, where The Dungeon night club used to be.

The new restaurant addition comes with this description about why the cruise line opted to develop a new offering, "Royal Caribbean International is furthering its commitment to total guest satisfaction by introducing a new specialty restaurant on Navigator of the Seas®.  Sabor Modern Mexican provides guests an opportunity to enjoy creative yet recognizable modern Mexican cuisine and beverages with polished casual service in a contemporary setting."

The cover charge for this new specialty restaurant is expected to be $25 per person.

The addition of Sabor Modern Mexican is another unique upgrade coming only to Navigator of the Seas first, including virtual balconies and a WiFi networking upgrade.

Navigator of the Seas will begin a month long refurbishment in January 2014 to receive upgrades and amenities that will breathe new life into the ship.  Her first cruise back will be on February 5, 2014.  Royal Caribbean Blog will provide live coverage of her first week long cruise after refurbishment on February 9, 2014.