Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class of ships continues to break records with bigger and better ships, appealing to cruisers of all ages.

Whether it be the traditional buffet or upscale dining, relaxing by the pool, rock climbing a 43-foot wall, enjoying a Broadway-style show, listening to jazz music, or testing your luck in the casino, there is a dizzying array of ways to enjoy a vacation onboard one of their five different ships. 

Two cruise lines announced they will change vaccination policies to meet the new rules announced by The Bahamas.

Last week, The Bahamas announced it will require all cruise lines visiting any port, including private islands, to ensure all guests above the age of 12 be fully vaccinated.

Since that announcement, Royal Caribbean and Carnival both announced new changes to their vaccine policies for guests.

The cruise industry's restart has so been slow and steady, and while there have been positive Covid-19 cases on ships sailing from the United States, the numbers have been limited and contained quickly.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted on Facebook an update about the low numbers of Covid cases among passengers, providing an honest take on how many cruisers are testing positive for Covid-19 on ships.

There are 13 ships sailing again, and the fleet is averaging around one or two passengers a week on ships with over 1,000 people.

Royal Caribbean is one of the few major cruise lines to do test cruises as a prerequisite to restarting cruise ship sailings from the United States.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires cruise lines that do not mandate at least 95% of its guests be fully vaccinated to complete a test cruise for each of its ships in order to receive permission to sail again.

I have been lucky enough to go on two of Royal Caribbean's test cruises. One on Mariner of the Seas and the other on Allure of the Seas.

Flush from its successful U.S. cruise restart, Royal Caribbean has announced that all of its 26 ships will be sailing with passengers by spring 2022. Yesterday, the line revealed return-to-cruise plans for 13 ships, including fan-favorite Oasis of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean has added a new requirement for passengers to bring a negative Covid-19 test result to the cruise terminal on U.S. cruises longer at least 5-nights in length.

Regardless of vaccination status, all guests over the age of 2 sailing with Royal Caribbean for all sailings five nights or longer will need to bring provide proof of negative COVID-19 test at embarkation.

The cruise line will accept a PCR or antigen test.

The first cruise ship with paying passengers is sailing to Alaska again.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas departed Seattle on Monday to begin a 7-night cruise to Alaska, marking the return of cruise ships.

Like the rest of the world, cruises have been shutdown to Alaska, but Alaska's economy relies on cruise ships far more than other traditional cruise destinations.

Australia's continuing ban on cruise ships means the longest ever deployment for a Royal Caribbean ship in Singapore.

Royal Caribbean International today announced the extension of the Singapore season for Quantum of the Seas through February 2022. 

This is the third time Quantum has had her season season extended since initially arriving in December 2020.

Freedom of the Seas departed Miami on Friday, July 2, marking two milestones. It’s the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to set sail from a U.S. homeport since the CDC issued its pandemic no sail order. It’s also the first U.S.-based ship to get approval to sail with unvaccinated passengers after complying with the CDC’s simulated voyage requirement.