Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

Few topics create as much confusion or contention among cruisers as what to wear on your Royal Caribbean cruise. What to pack and what to wear when has become a source of great debate among Royal Caribbean cruisers. Between dress codes for dinner, specialty restaurants and the clothing you will wear during the day, there is a lot to consider. There are plenty of choices, so let’s jump into what yo...

It is hard to beat that feeling when you know your cruise is just days away, and this week, I’ve got that loving feeling again because my next Royal Caribbean cruise is coming up and I will preview my upcoming adventure of the amazing Harmony of the Seas. In this episode, I will discuss my plans for the cruise, why I picked this ship and talk about the many friends that are joining us for it....

Embarkation day is a very exciting day for any cruiser, and being prepared for what to expect when it is time to get onboard makes for a smooth experience. On this episode, Matt talks about what you need to know in those first few hours leading to getting onboard your Royal Caribbean ship. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter:  @therclblog Facebook:  /royalc...

If you have taken a few Royal Caribbean cruises, you have probably found yourself in the situation of trying to convince friends and family to take a Royal Caribbean cruise as well. After all, you enjoy the experience and it makes sense to want to get others to join in too. This week, I’ve brought two friends of mine on the podcast with me to talk about their very first Royal Caribbean cruise afte...

Much has changed in the cruise industry over the past number of years, including how Royal Caribbean prices its cruises. The dynamic of how cruise lines price their product, plus the ever-present drive for guests to find a deal go hand-in-hand with looking holistically at the price of a cruise. This week, we take a deep-dive into the economics of cruise pricing and compare and contrast how Royal C...

Food, glorious food! This week’s podcast episode is dedicated to discussing the ins and outs of food available on your Royal Caribbean cruise. From what’s included to extra cost options, we break down what first time Royal Caribbean cruisers can expect to find to eat and drink during their cruise vacation. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter:  @therclblog Facebo...

Have you ever wondered if paying a little bit (or a lot) more for a bigger, larger stateroom made good financial sense?  On this week's episode, we debate a few upgrade scenarios and decide if we would spend the extra cash in that situation. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter:  @therclblog Facebook:  /royalcaribbeanblog Periscope:  @therclblog Em...

There are lots of ways to make a Royal Caribbean cruise more affordable, including leveraging credit card reward programs.  When used responsibly, credit cards can rack up points that can be used towards all sorts of aspects of the cruise experience, including even paying for the entire cruise.  This week, we look at Royal Caribbean's credit card, as well as other credit card options, an...

Every port Royal Caribbean cruise ships visit offer so much to see and do, and in St. Thomas, guests have the option and opportunity to check out a true Caribbean paradise: St. John. St. John is located nearby and this week, I share with everyone my experience visiting St. John and talking about what you need to consider if you want to see it for yourself too. Share with me your thoughts, question...

While we often advocate the benefits of planning your cruise months and years in advance, sometimes you just have to get away, and take advantage of a Royal Caribbean cruise at the last minute. Last minute cruising isn’t for everyone, but it is an option for those who want or have to book late in the game and still have a great cruise. This week, we share what to consider for finding a last minute...

I just wrapped up a wonderful 7-night adventure on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and this week, I am sharing with you my thoughts and review from my time aboard. We will discuss every aspect of the cruise, including my stateroom, dining, ports we visited and a lot more. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter:  @therclblog Facebook:  /royalcaribbeanblog...

Having a change of heart can happen anywhere, including as it pertains to taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. As we cruise, our ideas of cruising evolve and with time, we get the opportunity to try out new experiences and discover new favorites. This week, we take a look at ways in which our own cruising tendences have shifted over the years. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via......

The time of year you cruise has many implications, but summer and fall tend to evoke one common theme: hurricane season. There are a lot of questions about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise during hurricane season, and what it really means to someone going on a cruise. This week, we take a deep dive into cruising during hurricane season and what you need to know before taking a cruise during this ti...

When it comes to planning a cruise, perhaps the one resource every guest will use the most is Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site.  The Cruise Planner allows for reserving a number of experiences, packages and options before your cruise and it is a major part of the planning process.  This week, we will discuss what the Cruise Planner offers, and what strategies you can use to make the...

The time of year you cruise has many implications, but summer and fall tend to evoke one common theme: hurricane season. There are a lot of questions about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise during hurricane season, and what it really means to someone going on a cruise. This week, we take a deep dive into cruising during hurricane season and what you need to know before taking a cruise during this ti...

Have you ever been asked, “what’s your favorite part of a Royal Caribbean cruise?” Surely you went on to describe different part of the cruise experience that you really enjoyed, and odds are, many other guests share that opinion. But this week, we’re discussing the parts of a Royal Caribbean cruise that many people enjoy, but we just don’t agree with. Everyone has their own favorites, and on this...

To celebrate our 200th episode, we recorded this episode live with the Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders , and shared our best tips for someone who is new to cruising and wants to try Royal Caribbean. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter:  @therclblog Facebook:  /royalcaribbeanblog Periscope:  @therclblog Email:  matt@royalcaribbeanblog.com Leave a voi...

We often feature cruise reviews from our listeners on this podcast, and this week, we are lucky enough to have a cruise review by the Godmother of Harmony of the Seas. Brittany Affolter shares the story of how she became the Godmother to Harmony of the Seas, and a review of her recent 7-night cruise aboard Harmony. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter:  @therclbl...

The onboard entertainment available on Royal Caribbean ships is astounding when you consider the array of options and offerings to choose from. Recently, Royal Caribbean partnered with Puzzle Break to bring the escape room experience to a few Royal Caribbean ships. What is an escape room, how does it work and what does it take to bring something as engaging and exciting as an escape room game to R...

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Cuba? Royal Caribbean has begun offering cruises to this once off-limits Caribbean country, and that raises a number of questions of what it’s like to take a cruise to Havana. This week, we talk with a listener who just returned from the first Royal Caribbean cruise to Cuba, and discuss what’s different about a sailing there, what to expect in Cuba, and other tips...

The opportunity to enjoy Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants without paying a fortune sounds like it might be too good to be true, but dining packages offer guests the opportunity to enjoy the best dining choices available on your Royal Caribbean cruise at a significant discount. Dining packages are a relatively new option for guests, and this week, we will talk all about why the dining packag...

Sometimes you just have to indulge a little bit and reward yourself, and one of the best ways to do just that on a Royal Caribbean cruise is by staying in a suite. Suites offer the most space, best benefits and incredible service while onboard. If you are considering moving on up to a suite for a future cruise, I’ll be sharing some of my experiences in a suite and what you should consider before d...

Have you ever wanted to try something new or different in a cruise port but struggled to find a tour that met your exact needs? Or perhaps there is shore excursion that Royal Caribbean does not offer, but you are uncomfortable with going through a third party. On this week’s podcast episode, we will discuss a relatively new option by Royal Caribbean to offer guests exactly the kind of shore excurs...

Royal Caribbean offers cruises around the world and one of the hottest cruise markets these days are cruises from Australia. Cruising down under has become a red-hot market for Royal Caribbean, and this week we are shifting our focus to South Pacific cruises to share with you tips and advice for taking a cruise from Australia. Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via... Twitter:&nbs...

When it comes to the sort of questions people typically have about a Royal Caribbean cruise, one of the biggest of them all is getting the lowest price on their vacation. The price we pay for the cruise fare is the single largest cost, and this week I am sharing five rules for getting the best possible price. There is tremendous value in cruising today, and with these ideas, you might be able to k...