Royal Caribbean International today announced seven dining packages for those who plan to dine in specialty restaurants ranging from $50 to $120 per person. The cruise line says the packages offer savings of “at least 25 percent” compared to the sum of the individual restaurants cover charges.

Additionally, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are offering exclusive reservation-only, themed parties for guests to join in a special onboard celebration. The dining packages and special parties aboard Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas are ideal to help celebrate an anniversary, birthday or milestone. .

Aboard Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, guests have a choice of three dining packages. The Central Park Dining Package, at $65 per guest, includes Giovanni’s Table Italian Trattoria, 150 Central Park fine-dining restaurant and Chops Grille steakhouse, all located in the ship’s lush Central Park neighborhood. The Chef’s Dining Package, at $120 per guest, includes the five-course, gourmet Chef’s Table and wine pairing, 150 Central Park and Chops Grille. The Choice Dining Package includes Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table and a choice of Izumi Asian Cuisine or Solarium Bistro aboard Oasis of the Seas ($50 per guest) or Samba Grill Brazilian steakhouse aboard Allure of the Seas ($55 per guest.)

Guests aboard Radiance of the Seas may choose the Radiance Dining Package, which includes Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi and Samba Grill for $70 per guest. The Radiance Chef’s Dining Package adds the Chef’s Table, offering an opportunity to experience every onboard specialty dining venue at $120 per guest. Splendour of the Seas also offers a Chef’s Dining Package for $105 per guest, which includes the Chef’s Table, Chops Grille and Izumi.

Additionally, guests can opt to join in special reservation-only parties aboard the two ships that share the title of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships. In the evenings, guests can enjoy ‘Rita’s Fiesta’ in Rita’s Cantina on Allure of the Seas’ Boardwalk, which feature the restaurant’s most popular dishes and up to three non-alcoholic beverages for a $10 cover charge per guest, or $20 for up to three alcoholic beverages. The ‘Surf’s Up Party’ in the Seafood Shack on Oasis of the Seas’ Boardwalk also features the restaurant’s most popular dishes and three non-alcoholic beverages for a cover charge of $15 per guest, or $25 per guest for up to three alcoholic beverages.

Allure of the Seas also offers guests a 1920s-themed ‘Prohibition Party’ on every fifth night in the Jazz on 4 lounge in Entertainment Place. Guests are invited to don their favorite Jazz Age outfit and step back in time. This event is only open to guests ages 21 and older and has a cover charge of $35 per guest, which includes alcoholic beverages.

All specialty dining packages and celebration parties can be immediately reserved at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/PreCruisePlanner, as well as aboard the select ships.

Bookmark to:

Royal Caribbean International is offering vacationers up to $200 on board credit and 50 percent reduced deposit during a special two-day “WOW! Sale”.    The offer is applicable for all new individual bookings made on October 4 and 5, 2011, for all cruises and cruise/tours sailing on or after January 1, 2012, and includes sailings on the cruise line’s newest and most innovative ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Vacationers can receive $50 on board credit per stateroom for three- to five-night itineraries; $100 for six to nine nights; and $200 for 10 nights or longer. Guests can apply their on board credit toward spa services, specialty dining, and even beverages to help make their Royal Caribbean vacation even more special.

“Our two-day WOW! Sale will help drive traffic to our valued travel agents, whose expertise is important to the vacation planning process,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president of Sales, Trade Support and Services, Royal Caribbean International.

Vacationers can take advantage of the two-day WOW! Sale and choose among a variety of  itineraries, including seven-night Caribbean cruises from New Orleans aboard Voyager of the Seas during Royal Caribbean’s first season back to the Big Easy. Fares start at $499 per guest, double-occupancy.

Alternatively, Northeast U.S. vacationers can choose a new seven-night Bermuda itinerary, which conveniently sails roundtrip from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ in September and October 2012. Guests will enjoy three days and two nights in port at Kings Wharf with ample time to explore the island. Fares start at $599 per guest, double occupancy.

There also are two 12-night Arctic Circle cruises aboard Brilliance of the Seas, departing June 9 and 21, 2012, sailing roundtrip from Amsterdam that combine the best of the Norwegian fjordlands and the Arctic Circle with the comforts and amenities of one of the world’s most innovative cruise ships. Fares start at $1,999 per guest, double occupancy.

The on board credit offer for Royal Caribbean’s two-day WOW! Sale is applicable for all new individual bookings with 50 percent reduced deposit paid on October 4 and 5, 2011. The WOW! Sale may be combined with other offers and is not available for bookings made in Australia and New Zealand, China, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Visit Royal Caribbean’s website for 2012 itineraries and your travel agent to make reservations and additional information.

Bookmark to:

Royal Caribbean International today announced the redeployment of Navigator of the Seas for the 2011-12 winter season; the ship will now reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and sail a range of five- to nine-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries beginning November 20, 2011. Navigator of the Seas also offers a 14-night, trans-Atlantic itinerary from Rome to Port Everglades, departing November 6, 2011, and a 15-night return cruise to Rome on April 14, 2012. Sailings for Navigator of the Seas’ winter 2011-12 cruises are open for sale.

Navigator of the Seas will alternate a six-night Western Caribbean with an eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Ports of call on the six-night sailings include Grand Cayman, the newly opened Historic Falmouth Port, and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination on the north coast of Haiti. The eight-night sailing features calls at St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Labadee.

Additionally, a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, departing on January 8 and 22, 2012, subtracts a call at St. Kitts from the eight-night itinerary, while a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, departing January 15, adds a call to the six-night itinerary at Cozumel, Mexico. A special nine-night New Year’s cruise, departing December 30, 2011, adds a call at St. Thomas to the eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

Bookmark to:

According to the Jamaica Observer,  Royal Caribbean passengers are returning to the ship early and complaining about being harassed by locals at the new port facility of Falmouth.

Located on north coast of Jamaica, the Falmouth port facility was developed by the Jamaica Port Authority and Royal Caribbean for around $170 million.   While ships visiting Jamaica have docked in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay,  Royal Caribbean wanted a larger facility so its largest ships can dock, including Oasis of the Seas.  The first ship to arrive in Falmouth was Voyager of the Seas on February 17.

According to the Jamaica Observer, “Mayor of Falmouth Colin Gager said he was informed during a meeting last week with representatives of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and the Port Authority of Jamaica that cruise passengers were bitterly complaining of harassment from vendors.”

Last week Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett warned residents against the threat of tourist harassment even as he challenged them to capitalize on the business opportunities accompanying the arrival of cruise ships.

“The one thing that will destroy Falmouth as the potentially best cruise port in the region is harassment. I want to ask my friends in the media to noise it abroad that harassment is the single most debilitating disease in the cruise industry…indeed in tourism. Because harassment signals a feeling of insecurity on the part of visitors and leads them to feel that they are unsafe,” Bartlett said.

I hope Jamaica and Royal Caribbean can iron out these problems in Falmouth.  It would be wonderful to have one hassle-free port in Jamaica where cruisers don’t have to immediately jump on a tour bus the moment the ship docks as is the case in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.  .

Bookmark to:

Mexican authorities have charged a 24-year old national with the murder of Monika Markiewicz.  The 32-year old victim was a crew member aboard the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, Allure of the Seas.

Ms. Markiewicz did not report back to the ship before it departed Cozumel on February 4.  Her body was discovered the next day in the water off of a remote beach in Cozumel. Royal Caribbean International has been informed that law enforcement in Cozumel has identified and charged a local resident and bartender, 24-year old Nelson Perez Torres, with themurder.  Reports indicate that Torres andMs.Markiewiczwere casually acquainted for several months and he followed her for a period of time before killing her along the roadway on her way back to the ship.  Royal Caribbean’s Global Security Department fully supported and assisted Mexican officials in their investigation of this isolated and uncharacteristic crime for Cozumel.

“We thank the Mexican authorities for their commitment to quickly solving the murder of our crew member, Monika Markiewicz.  Her untimely death is tragic and has saddened all of us at Royal Caribbean. We have informed Monika’s family in Poland of today’s news update and we will continue to be in contact with them and to support them during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

Bookmark to:

Giant waves, loosing power, broken down cruise ships …. with three mishaps in the last few weeks you may think this is a new trend.   But it really isn’t.  Things happen in threes?  I don’t know.  If you follow the cruise industry for any length of time you’ll know that “ship happens” and the tab will be much higher that it is when your car breaks down.

Here’s an update on ships that have suffered damage and, in some cases, have to be laid up.

1.  Carnival Splendor made world-wide headlines when, as a result of a fire, the ship lost power 200 miles from San Diego and hand to be towed into port.   Not so much as a sprained ankle and passengers disembarked in a pretty upbeat mood.   The reason:  while it was a drag sitting on a ship in the ocean for four days, Carnival refunded everyone’s money and Carnival gave everyone credit for a future cruise.  However, Carnival Splendor will be out of service even longer than expected and five more cruises have been canceled.   Now she’ll be back in service February 20, 2011.

2. Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Sea had serious problems when a large storm caused damage to the ship and injuries to 30 people (two with broken arms).   The ship was off Alexandria, Egypt and the worst of the storm was the middle of the night:  beds slid across rooms, furniture went flying.   This mishap is the reason why the vast majority of cruise ships don’t sail in the Mediterranean from October through mid-April.  Of the cruise lines Americans are familiar with only Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel brave the elements.Huge storms aren’t all that uncommon.   The ship’s Captain said it was the worst storm he’d encountered in 35 years (click here for video interview)

3. Clelia II, a former 100-passenger Renaissance II, is leased by Travel Dynamics for cruises in the Antarctic.   A large storm broke glass on the bridge resulting in the vessel loosing power.  The passengers and crew were very, very lucky:  in this part of the world a mishap can turn into a disaster quickly.  A spokesman for the company said Clelia II encountered waves six meters high.  When I sailed in Antarctica aboard the Hanseatic we had 30 ft. seas through Drake’s Passage which the captain said was pretty normal.

While pitching and rolling with no power, the ship was spotted National Geographic Explorer, another cruise ship.   After establishing communications with  Clelia II, , the Explorer stood by for much of the day, while crew members repaired the engine and managed to get the damaged ship limping back towards South America once again.

*** Equally disturbing, on December 26, 2009,  Clelia II hit rocks while preparing for a passenger landing at Petermann Island, Penola Strait, Antarctic Peninsula. In that incident, the ship suffered damage to the starboard propeller and resulted in the shutdown of the starboard engine and the loss of electrical power. The ship subsequently returned to Ushuia under escort and was pulled from service for propeller repairs.

Sorry, I don’t believe in coincidences, especially in Antarctica, the most dangerous place on earth for ships.   See this  hair raising video for dramatic footage of the ship without power.

It’s your call.

Bookmark to:

If you’re sailing on any Royal Caribbean ship you’ll find a sharp increase in the suggested tipping rate that the cruise line charges to your credit card.    Cruises booked this week will include the suggested $11.65 per person, per day, a 20% increase from the previous rate of $9.75

According to a story on USA Today’s Cruise Log, Royal Caribbean says that while  gratuities are voluntary, passengers who elect to prepay gratuities at the time of booking (a majority, according to a spokesperson) and those who select the line’s “My Time Dining” flexible dining program automatically will be levied the higher rate.”

The same gratuities are charged for all passengers, including children.   A family of four sailing on a week-long cruise will now pay $326.20 in gratuities — $53.20 more than in the past.

Bookmark to:

A major storm that struck Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas resulted in injured passengers and a lot of on board damage as the ship sailed off Alexandria, Egypt today.   Passengers report seas so rough that beds slid around in staterooms, smashing into walls.

According to a report in AOL News passenger Michael Solin said that being on the ship in the storm “felt like the end of the world, I mean everything was flying, the bed was flying, the night tables were flying.”

The 2100-passenger Brilliance of the Seas was on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise when the storm hit, around 2:15 a.m.

Bookmark to:

Royal Caribbean is adding several Oasis & Allure of the Seas‘ alternative restaurants to Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas.  Earlier RCI announced that in 2011 Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas will also be upgraded.

In mid-2011, Radiance of the Seaswill renovated with additional specialty restaurants (which come with a surcharge) including the Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, Mexican-themed Rita’s Cantina, and the Italian Giovanni’s Table, as well as the Park Café deli-style restaurant and the exclusive Chef’s Table dining experience. Other enhancements to the ship will include the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery programs, interactive flat-panel televisions in all staterooms, and Wi-Fi throughout the ship. Splendour of the Seas will receive two new specialty restaurants, and the Park Café, the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, a Diamond and Concierge Lounge, flat-panel televisions, and Wi-Fi throughout the ship. Additionally, there will be new balcony staterooms added, select stateroom enhancements and upgrades to public areas, including a refreshed Windjammer Marketplace.

Earlier in 2011, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will introduce new dining, entertainment, children’s programming and other enhancements made popular on the Oasis-class ships, including the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, The Cupcake Cupboard, the groundbreaking Wayfinding navigation system for guests, and an oversized outdoor video screen in each ship’s main pool area. In addition, the DreamWorks experience, 3-D movies and complimentary guest service kiosks

Bookmark to:

Royal Caribbean officially took possession of 225, 282-ton Allure of the Seas and she now begins the 13-day transatlantic crossing to her new home-port, Fort Lauderdale, expected to arrive November 11.   While there are a few new features, she is virtually identical to the 6300-passenger sister ship Oasis of the Seas and is scheduled to sail year-round on seven-day Caribbean itineraries.

On Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean will debut a new production show, “Chicago: The Musical”, 3-D movies, the first Starbucks at Sea plus a new Mexican restaurant and hot dog venue named the Boardwalk Dog House.   For more in-depth information I suggest reading the review of sister ship Oasis of the Seas.

The ship’s inaugural cruise departs December 5 when the ship sails on her first eastern Caribbean itinerary stopping in Labadee, Haiti; Costa Maya and Cozumel. On alternating weeks, Allure of the Seas will visit Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

Bookmark to: