Royal Caribbean is offering a "Kids Tour Free" offer for its 2014 Europe cruises, where new reservations for 2014 Royal Caribbean European cruises will recieve free shore excursions for kids 12 and under when two adults in the same stateroom book the same excursion.   In order to take advantage of the Kids Tour Free offer, guests must purchase their Europe cruise from August 24 through September 30, 2013 and can book their shore excursion through December 15, 2013.  

In addition, Royal Caribbean is offering guests $1,000 off any balcony or higher stateroom when they book their seven-night or longer Europe 2014 cruise between August 24 through September 30, 2013 and theirair travel through Royal Caribbean’s ChoiceAir program from August 24 through December 15, 2013. Royal Caribbean is also giving vacationers the opportunity to book their cruise with a 50 percent reduced stateroom deposit.

Guests interested in taking advantage of the “Kids Tour Free” offer should visit RoyalCaribbean.com/KidsTourFree for more information.

Royal Caribbean Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Lisa Bauer, commented on the new sale, "As kids head back to school, it’s the perfect time for families to start planning their next vacation, especially when you can take advantage of a value driven offer like Kids Tour Free.   Europe cruise vacation is the ideal itinerary to bring text books to life as young minds explore one of our many educational and enriching ports and shore excursions. Plus, the best way for families to enjoy all that Europe has to offer is to combine it with a diverse array of onboard activities from the Flowrider surf simulator and rock climbing wall to a Broadway show and spectacular entertainment for an experience only found on Royal Caribbean."

Each week we invite our readers to send us their favorite Royal Caribbean cruise vacation photos so we can share it with everyone.  It's a showcase of the fun that can be had cruising with Royal Caribbean and an opportunity for a quick "fix" in our never-ending yearning for more cruises.

Let's look at this week's photos and get things started.

Our first photo is from Don Harlan, which was taken in Hilo back in June 2013.  Palm trees, beautiful ocean and a Royal Caribbean ship? I say perfect picture!

Next is a photo from John McCormack of Rhapsody of the Seas docked in Sydney harbor next to the Sydney Opera House. He says, "you couldn't ask for a prettier port."  Can't say I disagree.

In the "wish I was there for this photo" category, Shawn Holmes sent in this photo looking out over the pool deck on the Explorer of the Seas.

This photo by Harry A. Yerikyan from Oasis of the Seas that is looking down on the Boardwalk Carousel isn't bad either.

Next is Patricia Hall taken while cruising on the Brilliance of the Seas with a stop at Naples, Italy. She took the Amalfi Coast tour which included lunch and and of course glasses of wine.

Last, but not least, Don Donahue sent in this photo returning from the scenic CocoCay, heading towards Freedom of the Seas.

Thanks to everyone who sent in their photos this week.  Be sure to send your photos in as well by using this form.

This week hasn't been kind to Royal Caribbean's sister companies from the media front.  A passenger on Azamara Club Cruises was left behind in Turkey after breaking a hip and a Celebrity Cruises ship had to cancel the rest of its Alaska cruise season due to problems with its propulsion.  All this has the media foaming at the mouth and bringing up every catastrophe at sea since Titanic.  Frankly, in thise case I don't think it's justified.

The cruise industry is far from perfect and Royal Caribbean has made its fair share of mistakes but in this case, I really don't blame the company.  Because Azamara and Celebrity are owned by Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean gets lumped in with headlines like "Now It’s Royal Caribbean’s Turn To Make The Whole Cruise Industry Look Bad" or "Royal Caribbean strands injured American in Turkey".  

In each of these cases, I understand why what happened, happened and I think Royal Caribbean made the right decision.  In the case of Azamara, I know if I hurt myself or get lost, the cruise ship will leave without me.  It's why on any excursion I take I get back to the ship a few hours early so it's not even a remote possibility.  But when the unthinkable happens and this poor passengers breaks a hip, unfortunately the ship must go on but they did the right thing by leaving them in a hospital rather than a glorified nurse station onboard the ship.

In the case of Celebrity cruises, the ship cannot move and opted to stay in port to try to make repairs, but when that looked bad, the company decided to cancel the remainder of the cruises for the season in Alaska.  They didn't try to push the envelope and see what happened if the ship would leave and risk leaving the ship adrift.  Rather, they did the right thing by forgoing profit and making sure the ship got fixed.  But of course, the media quickly points to this is "another broken cruise ship".  

Let's not forget the media loves stories like this because it's a rating bonanza.  They put out ridiculously inflamatory headlines to get viewers/clicks and then scare everyone with these horror stories. And then they list every ship that's ever had problems at sea.  

Frankly, I think what we need to recognize as Royal Caribbean fans is that while the news affects our sister companies, it's still a blemish on the crown and anchor's reputation and blown out of proportion, as per usual.  This the kind of media hype that makes these stories seem far worse than they are and given the circumstances, I believe Royal Caribbean did the right thing.

The preceeding is an op-ed by Royal Caribbean Blog blogger Matt Hochberg.

Royal Caribbean has made a name for itself by offering fun things to do onboard its ships, especially things that are unique and new to the cruise industry.  When Oasis of the Seas was built, among the many innovations that WOW'ed guests, was something elegant and simple: a carousel.

Located in the Boardwalk neighborhood on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, is the first ever carousel-at-sea. Hand-crafted and especially designed by Carousel Works for Royal Caribbean International, this full-sized, traditional carousel is truly one-of-a-kind.

Given that the Boardwalk area is inspired by the nostalgic seaside boardwalks of the past, it's a modern tribute to a time gone by. The carousel uses turn-of-the-century carousel designs as its basis down to the very last detail.  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.

In addition to the great history, the carousel is just plain fun for kids and adults. Eighteen figures are suspended from stainless steel poles along with one ADA accessible chariot that were created from poplar wood populate the carousel.  There are eleven carousel horses that follow a tradition carousel design, including one intricately designed Royal Caribbean lead armored horse, that even features the crown and anchor logo.  Designers also included other animals such as a zebra, giraffe, jaguar elephant, lion and even a crowned frog prince. The stationary chariot on Oasis of the Seas is an elegant peacock, while the stationary chariot on Allure of the Seas is an elegantly adorned traditional carriage.

Be sure to also check out the carousel at night because like the fairs of the past, nighttime is when these rides really shine when they are all lit up.

No cruise on an Oasis-class ship is complete without at least one ride on the carousel, with perhaps an ice cream cone to compliment it.  Handlebar moustache and flapper skirt optional.

Royal Caribbean is among a number of bidders who are hoping to secure a contract to build a new cruise terminal in Lisbon, Portugal.

Three consortiums of companies have submitted bids to get the project.  The concept behind the project is to transform Lisbon from a cruise stop to a place where cruises start and end their cruises from.  In addition, increasing the number of tourists that cruise into Portugal.

This year, the port of Lisbon expects 561,000 tourists from cruise ships.  The new cruise terminal would look to raise that total to between 800,000 and 1 million tourists per year.  

The new terminal will be built in Santa Apolonia and will cost about 22 million euros.  The winning bidder will begin construction early next year so that the terminal can be ready sometime in 2015.  

Each of the bidders will be invited to meet with officials in early September to formally submit their proposals.  The contract will be awarded by the end of the year.

To celebrate the television drama "Greys Anatomy" completing 200 episodes, show creator Shonda Rhimes rewarded the crew with a free Royal Caribbean cruise.

Happiness is giving everyone on the crew at @greysabc a @royalcaribbean cruise. Blessed to have 200 episodes! … http://t.co/JieHdwbVhh

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) August 19, 2013

Along with Executive Producer Mark Gordon, the cast and crew of the show each received a free trip on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Not a bad way to celebrate!

We're going BIG on this week's podcast!

We're proud to release episode 3 of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast, which is now available and ready for downloading.

In this episode, we're discussing the cruise ship that has changed the world of cruising and arguably had the biggest impact on the cruise industry in recent years, Oasis of the Seas.  Joining me is Beci Mahnken of MEI-Travel, and we're talking about what makes Oasis of the Seas such an amazing ship to sail on.  We're also sharing tips for those who go on an Oasis of the Seas cruise along with more of your listener feedback.

Here is the podcast page for episode 3.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think!

Royal Caribbean is known for its amazing cruise ships but another Royal Caribbean creation is worthy of equal admiration, the private destination of Labadee.  Located in Haiti, this "island" (it's actually a peninsula) is a private retreat for Royal Caribbean guests who sail western Caribbean itineraries.  Featuring beautiful beaches, shopping and lots of activities, Labadee is a great beach destination.  

For those who will take their first trip to Labdee, here's a primer to get you ready for this beautiful island paradise.

Getting around Labadee

Labadee is fairly easy to navigate, but it helps to know what to expect before you arrive.  Your ship will dock at the pier, so getting on and off Labadee is quite simple.  

Once on shore, you will find Labadee broken up into a few different areas.

• Dragon's Plaza
  • This is where you enter/leave Labadee from the dock and is named after Dragon's Breath, a rocky cove near the ocean that sounds like a dragon when the ocean hits the rocks.
• Buccaneer's Bay
  • This where you go to embark on most acquatic excursions, such as jet skiing, parasailing and more.  You can also book excursions here.
• Barefoot Beach Club
  • Private beach for suite guests that features cabanas for rent.
• Town Square
  • Many of the restaurants, bars and other facilities are found in this area.
• Adrenaline Beach
  • Beach located underneath the zipline and in front of the roller coaster.  
• Columbus Cove
  • Beach area that has water toys, such as the floating mat and aqua park

The Beaches

By far, the number one reason to go to Labadee is to spend time at the beach.  Labadee has a number of beaches for you to try and there isn't any bad beach, but which beach you go to may depend on what you're interested in doing on your day.

In our experience, we've found the beaches to be swimmable but a little rocky.  It may be easier (and less painful) if you bring water shoes with you so you can avoid worrying about the rocks.  

Dragon Tail Beach

The largest stretch of beach is on the north shore of the peninsula and spans nearly the entire width of the peninsula.  This beach is fairly centrally located and offers good surf, swimming and snorkeling.  

There are no water toys here, so it's best for those who want to relax and enjoy what the beach has to offer.  Because it's centrally located and fairly close to the pier, it tends to be the most crowded.

Loungers and sun shelters are available for rent.

Barefoot Beach Club

This beach area is reserved for guests who have booked cabanas, which is usually available to guests who are suite guests.  We have had luck in the past showing up to the beach early and requesting to rent a unbooked cabanas.

The beach is fenced off from the rest of Labadee and in addition to the open-air cabanas, offers waiter service to each cabana.  In addition, there is private beach access for guests admitted to the Barefoot Beach Club area.

The cost of a cabana at Barefoot Beach is $225-250, depending on location.  Each cabana can accommodate four to five guests. The daily rental fee includes a dedicated cabana attendant, complimentary bottled water, complimentary floating mats and snorkeling equipment, a beverage menu (prices charged accordingly), and an upgraded lunch menu at the private BBQ facility.

Nellie's Beach

Located adjacent to Barefood Beach, Nellie's Beach is a small cove that also has cabanas (16 at last count) for rent.

The daily rental fee for cabanas on Nellie’s Beach is $175-200, depending on location.

Columbus Cove

If you want to water toys with your beach day, then this is the place for you.  Columbus Cove features the Arawak Aqua Park along with Dragon’s Splash Waterslide.  

Columbus Cove runs along the the southern part of the peninsula. The beach water is sheltered and there is a white sandy beach with trees that go down to the water's edge. This area has its own bar and dining facility.

Adrenaline Beach

If you want a more secluded beach experience, Adrenaline Beach generally has the least guests because it is the furthest beach from the ship and has no water toys.  

Unlike nearby Dragon Tail Beach, there are no barrier rocks to block the ocean so the surf here can be stronger. As such, Royal Caribbean lists this beach more for sunbathing than swimming.

Loungers and sun shelters are available for rent.

Eating on Labadee

Like onboard Royal Caribbean's ships, there is complimentary food offered on Labadee, although the availability is limited to certain hours.  In addition, waiter and bar service is available throughout the island.

Lunch is available at a number of locations throughout the island, although the food is mostly the same barbecued meats and salads.  Lunch is served buffet style.

Since your cruise ship is docked, getting back on the ship is relatively easy and we suggest going back to the ship for lunch because of the better quality food available there, as well as shorter lines.

We would be remiss if we did not mention the labadoozie.  You will see and hear references to this drink all over.  The labadoozie is the official drink of Labadee and is a frozen alcoholic drink that features a number of fruit juices and rum, served in a sports drink bottle.  You can also order the drink without alcohol.  Haing a labadoozie while in Labadee is a must-do!

Things to do on Labadee

Royal Caribbean offers a number of activities for its guests to try on their cruise and there's usually something to suit each taste.

Dragon's Tail Roller Coaster

Located 680 feet up on Santa Maria’s lookout mountain, you will find the Dragon's Tail roller coaster, which is an alpine coaster.  You may have seen these sort of rides at some ski resorts during the summer months. 

Essentially it's a single car vehicle that races down a track at 30 miles per hour and features 360-degree turns as well as dips, waves and curves, you can catch glimpses of the ocean.

Minimum age to be a single rider is 12 years old. Children between the ages of 5 and 11 may ride in the same cart with their parent/guardian. Maximum occupancy per cart is 2 persons with a maximum combined weight of 360 pounds. Total ride time is approximately 3-5 minutes.

Dragon's Breath Zip Line

If you want to soar above Labadee and get a spectacular view in the process, then the Dragon's Breath Zip Line is for you.  The zip line takes you 500 feet above the beach as you reach speeds of 40-50 miles per hour.

The zip line is 2,600 feet long and begins atop lookout mointain.  The zip line is advertised as one of the longest zip lines in the world, and will take you above the ocean and land.  Your flight lands at Dragon's Breath Rock.

Arawak Aqua park

For kids, it's touch to beat the water park available at Columbus Cove.  Floating trampolines, pyramids and water slides await you as you jump, climb and splash to your heart's content.

Admission to Arawak is limited by times, which helps keep crowding issues down. We've generally found the cost here to be fairly inexpensive and a great way for kids to burn off extra energy.

Dragon's Breath Point

Not everything in Labadee requires an adrenaline rush, and a prime example of this is Dragon's Breath Point.  As the water flows in and out among the rocks, you hear a "hissing" noise that sounds like "dragon's breath".  What's happening is the air is compressed in small caves under the rocks and is forced out through cracks in the rocks. It is worth the walk to hear it.

The surrounding area is quite beautiful and you should bring a camera to snap a few photos of the beautiful vistas you will find here.

We geeks are a passionate bunch, and one geek in particular decided to combine his passion for Royal Caribbean with his passion for the video game Minecraft.

Essentially, Minecraft is a building game similar to Legos, where people construct anything they can dream of with bricks.  Just like Legos, you have to do it one piece at a time.  A user named "Dasbouwer" built a 1:1 scale replica of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas in the game.

A thumbs up for the geeky cool factor!