Freedom of the Seas rescued two sailors early this morning that were adrift at sea.

Cruise Critic reports the Royal Caribbean cruise ship found the two after the sailors shot a red flare to signal for attention.

Royal Caribbean Director of global corporate communications Cynthia Martinez issued this statement regarding the incident, "the rescue occurred today at approximately 5:30 a.m. as the ship sailed from San Juan to Philipsburg, St. Maarten. After sailing toward the red flare, the ship encountered a small boat with two passengers. Crew lowered a boat into the water and rescued the two men, both from the Dominican Republic."

After being rescued, Cruise Critic indicated that the Royal Caribbean crew gave the sailors food, water and medical treatment until they could be transfered to the United States Coast Guard in St. Maarten.

I was inspired by a friend, who wrote a blog post about what it would cost to do everything in Walt Disney World, to figure out how much would it cost to indulge and do everything on a Royal Caribbean cruise.  After all, Royal Caribbean is always looking for ways for its guests to spend money and there's a lot available to do on Royal Caribbean ships.

In order to figure this out, I need to set up this hypothetical experiment.  First, we have to define the parameters of our research.  We will assume this would be attempted on a single Royal Caribbean ship (sorry, trying to do everything across the entire fleet just isn't practical).  

Next, I have to come up with what constitutes "doing something".  If there's an excursion that offers cave tubing and a beach break and then there's another excursion with just a beach break, does that mean I need to do both or just one?  The all encompassing excursion sounds good to me.  

All the prices and assumptions you will see are assumed for one person.  It's easier to calculate for just one person and if by some miracle I could ever win the lottery, then I suppose I could bring someone else along.  Until then, this is a solo experiment (sorry wife and daughter).

Next is the ship.  Royal Caribbean has a lot of ships and what they offer on one ship may not be available on another.  I decided to pick Oasis of the Seas with the idea being it's their flagship class and thus, offers the latest and greatest and in my experience, has the most to offer its guests.

What about the stateroom? There are many different stateroom types on Oasis of the Seas. It would be all but impossible to stay in every one of them. To simplify things, I decided to price out the cost for my arbitrary cruise for what would allow me to credibly say that I had stayed at that hotel. Usually this meant I chose the cheapest balcony cabin. It's not as cheap as inside but not as crazy expensive as a suite.

For the specialty restaurants, the cover charge restaurants are the easiest since it's a flat fee.  For the a la carte restaurants, I decided to pay whatever cover charge there was plus one entree.  There isn't any more logic here than "sounded good at the time".

For everything else, I had to use my judgement for what to include and exclude.  

• In the case of ordering cakes, I decided one cake was all I needed.  
• In the case of spa treatments, if there were spa treatments with different times, I chose the longer one.  
• For shore excursions, I picked one shore excursion per port since you really can't do more than one per day, per cruise.
• I included no discounts or coupons in the prices.
• I haven’t factored transportation fees into my plan at all. I’d need a flight and certainly a rental car. Or possibly I’d drive down and then have gas expenses throughout.

The experiment

As I said, I picked Oasis of the Seas as my guinea pig.  I wanted to pick an "average cruise" so Christmas or other holiday cruises are way too expensive, as are hurricane season cruises.  I went with May since it's after spring break and before the real summer rush. 

Here is a link to the spreadsheet I used for figuring everything out.

The largest chunk of cost comes from the spa, which when you add gratuity to all the service costs comes out most expensive.  This is followed up by the basic cruise costs plus a few basic add ons.  Gifts are next up in terms of cost followed by excursions, restaurants and other miscellaneous items.

Relatively speaking, the specialty restaurants don't really add up and to me, that was a surprise.  The spa cost being the most expensive is eye opening but then again, I think most people realize the spa services are somewhat expensive to begin with.  

Adding it all up, the total for everything on this cruise is $11,840.75.  Our price does not include transportation, which would probably add a few hundred dollars or so for either a flight and a car rental, or auto wear and tear and gas.

Travel Weekly named Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line Overall in its 2013 Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.  Royal Caribbean picked up numerous honors, chief among them best Best Cruise Line Overall.

In addition, Royal Caribbean won the following four awards:

• Best in Sales and Service (sixth consecutive year)
• Best Domestic Cruise Line
• Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean
• Best Overall Individual Cruise Ship: Allure of the Seas

Winners were determined first by Travel Weekly readers who wrote in names of companies they believed best exemplified a particular category. The leader vote getters were selected from the bunch and voting on finalists took place this fall.

Vicki Freed, senior vice president of Sales, Trade Support and Services for Royal Caribbean, commented on the awards, "We are extremely honored to be voted Best Cruise Line Overall by travel agents for as long as the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards have been held.  We also thank our valued travel agent partners for naming Royal Caribbean as the Best in Sales and Service for a sixth consecutive year, reaffirming our ongoing Loyal to You Always! commitment to the travel agent community. Travel agents play an important role in delivering unforgettable vacations and Royal Caribbean is proud to support them in every way."

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

Episode 20 is available for downloading where we look at why you might want to book a transatlantic cruise.

Matt is joined by podcast listener Ron to review his recent transatlantic cruise.  Transatlantic cruises are the sort of cruise that people either think would be really fun or not fun at all, so Matt and Ron talk about the appeal of a transatlantic cruise as well as who might find transatlantic cruises enjoyable.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 20. 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!

Simulation tests have proven that Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship that is currently under construction, Quantum of the Seas, is too big to be able to dock in Bermuda.  

The Bermuda Sun reports the tests revealed the existing North and South Channels were not big enough to safely accommodate the vessel, especially in high winds.  If Bermuda wants to be able to host Quantum of the Seas, then dredging will need to begin soon.

A Government spokesman told the Bermuda Sun: "The principle dimensions of the vessel, in particular, its predicted draft at 8.5M, was an early indication and evidence that modifications to either channel would be required to ensure safe transit of the vessel.

"The recently completed simulation exercise provided real-time information on the vessel’s performance, maneuvering and handling characteristics under various wind and speed conditions.

"The simulation exercise also provided critical data on channel depth and width requirement in specific areas.

"Technical officers from the Ministry of Public Works in consultation with the Department of Marine & Ports will analyze the simulation report and trial run data, and then provide recommendations that will be considered by Cabinet."

As we reported last month, Royal Caribbean launched an expanded selection of unlimited alcohol packages, and starting today guests can pre-purchase their unlimited alcohol packages online.

To help expedite the process of getting the new package, as well to help break up the cost of your cruise, guests can now purchase these unlimited alcohol packages as well as the other unlimited alcohol packages before their cruise.

The package can be purchased via the Royal Caribbean website by logging in and going to "My Cruises" and then finding the "Alcoholic Beverage Packages" link.  Alternatively, guests can book by phone by calling the pre-cruise planning specialists at 1-800-398-9819. Guests should be able to purchase these packages approximately 2 months before sail date.

All three of the unlimited alcohol packages are available for purchase.  

• The select package costs $45 per person, per day and includes all beers, house wines by the glass (up to $12 value), non-alcoholic cocktails & fountain soda and juices, fountain soda with souvenir Coca-Cola cup and 20% discount on purchases of bottles of wine.  
• The premium beverage package costs $55 per person, per day and includes all well, call, and premium brand cocktails (up to $10 value), all beers, frozen cocktails, house wines by the glass (up to $12 value), non-alcoholic cocktails & fountain soda and juices, fountain soda with souvenir Coca-Cola cup and 20% discount on purchases of bottles of wine.  
• The ultimate package costs $65 per person, per day and includes all beers, cocktails (up to $10 value), house wines by the glass (up to $12 value), premium coffee & tea, bottled water, sparking water, still water, fresh squeezed orange juice, fountain soda with souvenir Coca-Cola cup and 20% discount on purchases of bottles of wine

The other signifigant change to the unlimited alcohol packages is that you do not have to purchase the package for all adults in the same stateroom.

In addition, the unlimited beverage packages (non-alcoholic) are available for pre-purchase online.

• The Royal Replenish Package costs $20 per person, per day and includes premium coffee, premium tea, bottled water, sparkling water (375ml), still water (500ml), fresh squeezed orange juice, non-alcoholic cocktails & fountain soda with souvenir Coca-Cola cup.

Baby it's cold out there... But here, we're talking about warm Caribbean cruises and time spent by the pool deck.  We've gone through and hand-picked some fun articles for you to take a look at in case you missed any of it.

The big news this week is it appears Royal Caribbean will be sending Jewel of the Seas to Los Angeles in 2015.

It's not clear how much time Jewel of the Seas will spend on the west coast, but it is a step forward to bringing cruise ships back to an area that has been devoid of cruise ships for a few years now.  The port schedule lists three stops in 2015, which could very well be part of a Panama Canal cruise itinerary.

Royal Caribbean has not made any announcement about returning to Los Angeles, but in the past port schedules have been good indicators of what Royal Caribbean intends to do.

Royal Caribbean News

• U.S. News and World Reports listed Royal Caribbean as the top cruise line for the money.
• Check out our guide to getting to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades).
• Royal Caribbean could return to Dubai in 2015.
• Have you tried the savory bites in the main dining room?
• Serenade of the Seas' maiden cruise took place from New Orleans earlier this week.
• Royal Caribbean is going to build a new training facility at a South Florida University.
• Bringing an infant on a Royal Caribbean cruise?  Here are our tips to prepare you.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The nineteenth episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is available and we're discussing Royal Caribbean's dress codes.

This week, Matt looks at what to pack for your cruise during the day, what to wear to dinner and what you can do if you don’t want to get dressed up at all.  We've also saved some time to answer listener emails, posts and tweets.

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

Our friends at Cruize Cast have a new podcast episode all about their group cruise that they are planning.

Kuki has a new blog post about being attached to technology at sea.

Cruise Currents reports Medevaced three guests from a Freedom of the Seas cruise.

It's been a few years since Royal Caribbean had a cruise ship on the west coast of the United States but there may be indications Royal Caribbean plans on returning in the coming years.

According to the Port of Los Angeles cruie ship schedule web site, Jewel of the Seas will be making stops there in September and October 2015.  It isn't clear if the cruise will begin and end in Los Angeles, but for at least 3 weeks the Royal Caribbean ship is on the schedule.

Royal Caribbean has not made any announcement about returning to Los Angeles, but in the past port schedules have been good indicators of what Royal Caribbean intends to do.

Royal Caribbean hasn't had a cruise ship based out of Los Angeles since 2010 when Mariner of the Seas left due to violence in Mexico.

Royal Caribbean is investing more and more cruise ships in Fort Lauderdale these days so if you're looking to get to Port Everglades (the cruise ship terminal in Fort Lauderdale), here's a quick guide to getting there easily.

Royal Caribbean currently operates a few cruise ships out of Port Everglades including Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Vision of the Seas.

Photo by Marc-Andre Mireault

Driving

Port Everglades is pretty easy to get to via car thanks to a number of major roads that connect to highways. 

If you're driving from outside of Fort Lauderdale (elsewhere in Florida or out of state), you can get easily to the main entrance of Port Everglades via U.S.1, I-95, State Road 7 (441), Florida's Turnpike, Sawgrass Expressway and I-75.

You just need to look for an exit to I-595 East straight into the port (I-595 becomes Eller Drive once inside the Port).

From Fort Lauderdale International Airport (5 miles):

• Exit the airport and follow signs for I-595 East/Port Everglades. Continue to the last exit on I-595 East and follow the signs to Port Everglades.
• This will automatically take you to the Port Everglades security entrance.
• From there, follow the directional signs for your designated ship's pier terminal.

From Miami International Airport (30 miles):

• Take 836 East to I-95 North.
• Exit I-95 North at 595 East.
• Follow 595 to the end; then follow the Port Everglades signs.

From Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

If you are flying into Fort Lauderdale and want to go straight to your cruise ship there are a few options for you.  The airport is very close to the cruise terminal via U.S. 1.

The quickest and arguably simplest option is to take a taxi from the airport and have them drive you to the port.  Taxi fare will cost you about $10 to $15.

There are also other shuttles and private car/limousine services available to purchase.  Shuttle services can be cheaper, especially with larger parties but may take longer.  Private sedan/limousine service will be more elegant than a taxi but cost more.

From an area hotel

If you are staying at a hotel near Port Everglades, many hotels and resorts near the port offer complimentary shuttles to the port.  Check with your hotel about if one is available and how to sign up for it.  

Some hotels require advance sign up and/or a specific pick up time to be brought to the airport.  

In addition, many area hotels offer parking for the duration of your cruise for a fee or included in your hotel price.

Royal Caribbean Transfers

Royal Caribbean offers a bus service of its own (called transfers) to bring you to the port from Fort Lauderdale Airport as well as Miami International Airport.

Royal Caribbean offers transfers in one way increments (you can book two one-ways to create a round trip).  At last check the cost was $29 per person, each way for a transfer from either Fort Lauderdale or Miami airports to Port Everglades.

To purchase a Royal Caribbean Guest Transfer or for additional information consult your travel agent or the Royal Caribbean reservations department at 1-800-327-6700.