Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas Arrives in Port Canaveral

Posted on 14 November, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Following a full summer program in Europe, Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas is debuting in Port Canaveral today.

Returning to the United States after first debuting in March, the Royal Caribbean International vessel is wrapping up a 14-night trans-Atlantic.

Ahead of its first complete season in the Caribbean, the two-week repositioning cruise sailed from Barcelona. It included visits to four additional ports in Spain: Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Cartagena and Malaga.

Before arriving in Florida, the vessel also paid a visit to Nassau, the Bahamas.

Now set to sail from Port Canaveral on a weekly basis, the Oasis-Class ship will offer a year-round schedule of cruises to both the Western and Eastern Caribbean.

For its first sailing from Central Florida, the Wonder offers a seven-night itinerary to the Eastern Caribbean.

In addition to three full days at sea, the voyage features visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

A highlight of the deployment, the Royal Caribbean International private island in the Bahamas is set to be featured on most of Wonder’s cruises.

Other destinations set to be visited by the 5,448-guest ship include Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, Labadee, San Juan, Falmouth and more.

Built-in 2022, the Wonder is the latest vessel in the company’s Oasis Class and debuted as the world’s largest cruise ship.

Following the 2009-built Oasis of the Seas, the 2010-built Allure of the Seas, the 2016-built Harmony of the Seas and the 2018-built Symphony of the Seas, the vessel debuted new features, such as a lineup of more than 20 dining venues that include the all-new The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar.

With a menu of Southern staples and new twists on classics, the venue offers live music, a collection of more than a dozen American whiskey and more.

Completing the ship series, a sixth Oasis-Class vessel, the Utopia of the Seas, is set to debut in 2024.

Royal Caribbean has reported its single largest booking day in its 53-year history

Posted on 28 October, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s new Icon class

It comes a week after the 7,600-passenger vessel was unveiled in Miami, the ship’s soon-to-be homeport, where it will sail a range of eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.

“The enthusiasm and excitement for Icon are undeniable in more ways than one,” said Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International.

“The incredible response we have received from our loyal guests, vacationers new to cruising, crew members and travel partners continues to come in, and this is just the beginning.”

The new ship features a range of firsts for the brand across eight “neighbourhoods”, giving it the line’s “biggest-ever” focus on families.

The icon will sail year-round on seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. Each cruise will visit the line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and a mix of destinations such as Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, Saint Maarten; and Basseterre, Saint Kitts.

Mask Requirement Dropped for Vaccinated Guests on Royal Caribbean

Posted on 21 February, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Independence of the Seas Photo credit for Spacejunkie2

Face masks are soon to be optional for fully vaccinated guests sailing from the U.S. on cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International.

The cruise line made changes to the Healthy Sail Center section of its website following the news it will participate in the CDC’s new voluntary program for cruise ships,.

The mask mandate becomes optional on sailings from the U.S. and Puerto Rico on Feb. 25.

The company said it expects unvaccinated children to continue wearing masks indoors and in crowded settings. Masks are required for all children while at the Adventure Ocean youth program. Guests under 2 do not have to wear a mask at any time.

Masks are also optional at the company’s private destinations, Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee. Royal Caribbean said that at other ports, guests are advised to follow local regulations. Masks should also be worn at the cruise terminal during the boarding and screening process, as well as during disembarkation. Guests under 2 do not have to wear a mask at any time.

As for sailings in Europe, which are set to start this spring, Royal Caribbean said it has yet to determine its health and safety protocols for cruises in that region, with news coming soon.