Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The big cruise news this week

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're taking a look at what else is happening in the cruise industry outside of Royal Caribbean on this week's episode.Share with me your thoughts, qu...

Tips for flying to Nassau

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With cruises from Nassau starting soon, many people (including myself) are trying to figure out the logistics of flying to the Bahamas. This week, som...

What's going on with the CDC?

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The road to cruise ships restarting goes right through the CDC, and there have been a lot of public statements and announcements lately.  This we...

Planning a summer 2021 cruise

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There will be at least a few cruises sailing this summer, so this week I have a look at planning a cruise this summer.Share with me your thoughts, que...

Trying out Liberty

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story looks at a family cruise on Liberty of the SeasShare with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therc...

Cruises to sail on this summer!

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The last couple of weeks has seen a flurry of cruise news all about Royal Caribbean restarting cruises outside the United States, and I've got a break...

Guide to Mexican Riviera

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With Royal Caribbean announcing it will sail from Los Angeles again, this week we have a look at what each of the Mexican Riviera ports has to offer.S...

State of Australia cruises

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I take a look at where Australia cruises are and what the latest is with their restart plans.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comm...

Things I wish more cruisers knew about going on a cruise

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here are 7 suggestions I have for anyone going on a cruise that wants to enjoy their cruise to its fullest.Share with me your thoughts, questions and ...

A new trend in homeports?

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The first Royal Caribbean cruise ships to restart sailings are all from less than typical ports. Is this a trend or a big coincidence?Share with me yo...

Navigating to the ABC Islands

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story takes us on Navigator of the Seas to the ABC islands.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: ...

First back to back cruise

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Teresa shares her first time trying a back to back cruise.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclblogFacebook:...

Anniversary in Alaska

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hayley went to Alaska to celebrate her fifth anniversary for a cruise of a lifetime!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter:...

Unconfirmed cruise ship rumors that get repeated a lot by cruisers

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Having seen so many of these discussions on social media, there seems to be a few of these "predictions" that are passed around as the truth. Here is ...

Jason tries Harmony

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to our first cruise story of 2021! This week, Jason shares his experience going on Harmony of the Seas for the first time.Share with me your t...

New cruises from Barbados announced

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Did you hear about the new cruises from Barbados that Royal Caribbean just announced? This week's episode breaks down the announcement and what these ...

Talking cruise with Sheri

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're starting off the new year on the right foot by catching up and talking cruises with Sheri from CruiseTipsTV!Share with me your thoughts, questio...

How do you plan a 2021 cruise?

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How the heck do you plan a cruise in 2021? I share my thoughts on how to approach it.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter...

Good cruises come to those who wait

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

They say good things come to those that wait, and this week’s cruise story is about how Bryan had to endure a lot of issues leading up to his Freedo...

Remembering Majesty and Empress

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Royal Caribbean announced it has sold two cruise ships, and this week, Ken Rush and Raimund Gschaider join me to say farewell to Majesty and Empress o...

First Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing again

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One Royal Caribbean cruise ship has restarted cruises, and that’s a really big deal. This week, I talk with Chris Gray Faust about the significance ...

Cruise wishes for 2021

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, Billy and Matt reflect on their wishes for cruising in the past year and offer new wishes for the year to come. Share with me your th...

Cruises, COVID, and crossroads of travel

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It feels like we're at a crossroads right now with travel, and this week Len Testa joins me to discuss what the future may hold for travel and cruises...

The story of Central Park

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode features the inside story of how Royal Caribbean designed and engineered the Central Park neighborhood on Oasis Class shipsShare with ...

What you need to know about the CDC's Conditional Sailing Requirements

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I'm taking a break from the Cruise Stories this week to look at the big news in the cruise industry, which is the CDC's lifting of the No Sail Order.W...

35 Years of Enchantment

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Diana celebrated her 35th wedding anniversary on Enchantment of the Seas, and shared her fun cruise escape on this week's cruise story!Share with me y...

A Royal first in Europe

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story is a double batch of firsts: first Royal Caribbean cruise and first European cruiseShare with me your thoughts, questions and...

Family reunion on Adventure of the Seas

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chris shares his family tradition of going on a cruise as a way not only to cruise as a family, but reconnect with his big family.Share with me your t...

Jeff's biker cruise

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff booked a cruise on Freedom of the Seas and had no idea half the ship was booked by a large biker group!Share with me your thoughts, questions and...

A Royal wedding

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Getting married on a Royal Caribbean cruise is not only a wonderful way to celebrate someone's big day, it's also a very affordable ceremony as well. ...

Back to Bermuda

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story is about Joe returning to Bermuda on Anthem of the Seas.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitte...

The importance of being flexible

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

James shares a cruise story from Freedom of the Seas where things did not go as planned to start off with, but with a positive attitude, he and his fa...

An adventure on Adventure of the Seas

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Josh sailed on Adventure of the Seas and it ended up being a life-changing cruise, thanks to the new friends he made onboard during a repositioning cr...

Joy's anniversary cruise

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Joy shares a memorable 25th anniversary cruise on Freedom of the Seas.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @therclb...

Second time's the charm

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jose tried Royal Caribbean and didn't love it, but gave it another try and learned an important lesson for any first-time cruiser.Share with me your t...

A cruise "twofer" on Grandeur

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story features Jeff Mapson sharing how he went on Grandeur of the Seas two times over the years, with vastly different results.Shar...

Sharla cruises to Alaska

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cruise stories are back this week, with Sharla's first time to Alaska during a Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise!Share with me your thoughts, question...

Future Cruise Credits

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Something so many of us are now dealing with are future cruise credits, and how to deal with getting them, redeeming them, and of course waiting for t...

Cruising in the Perfect Storm

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's Cruise Story features Pascale's 2004 sailing on Jewel of the Seas that sailed around what ended up being referred to as "The Perfect Storm...

Are cruise lines being treated fairly by the CDC?

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Since cruises shutdown, many people have been critical of how cruise lines are being treated by the CDC in terms of being able to resume cruises.This ...

A memorable (and expensive) trip to St. Maarten

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's Cruise Story is about how Steve and his group of friends spent the day in St. Maarten on an Oasis of the Seas cruise.Share with me your th...

Winner winner, chicken dinner!

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story is about how Steve won big three times in the casino on one Royal Caribbean cruise!Share with me your thoughts, questions and...

Making cruise friends

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Donal shares on this week's podcast one of the best byproduct of a cruise: making new friends!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via....

Third time is the charm

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's always a good idea to try to "roll with the punches", but sometimes that can be difficult when you run into a few problems. This week's cruise st...

Should you take your kids out of school for a cruise?

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Every parent's conundrum and eternal debate: should we take kids out of school for a family cruise vacation?Going on a cruise during the school year c...

Ryan proposes

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story is about how Ryan proposed to his girlfriend on Oasis of the Seas!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...T...

Pippa takes the kids

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The first time Pippa cruised with kids, followed years of working on cruise ships and even cruising as a guest with husband. She shares her cruise sto...

Family olympics

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Going on a cruise means you can vacation anyway you see fit. Some like to take it easy and sleep in, some like to burn the candles at both ends, and t...

Bro cruise!

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re anything like me, you look for any opportunity to go on a cruise. So when choosing to get away from it all with your brother, a cruise vac...

Bryan's family cruise on Allure of the Seas

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We're back with another cruise story this week! Bryan took his family on an Allure of the Seas cruise that instantly became not just a great family va...

Discovering a love for cruising online

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As cruise fans that found the internet as an outlet to share our passion for cruising, this week's cruise story should hit close to home. Vania shares...

Brent's first Royal Caribbean cruise

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

First cruises are always memorable, especially if you are trying out a new cruise line. Brent took his family on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas...

Ron's Caribbean cruise

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We all do things for family, including changing plans in order to be there for the birth of a grandchild! Ron Lodowski joins me this week to talk abou...

Cruising for a good cause turns into great cruises

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Michael shares how a cruise for a good cause has turned into his family's annual tradition that he looks forward to each and every year!Share with me ...

Sorority sister reunion

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cruising is about the memories we make onboard, and the stories that live on for years after we step off the ship. It’s these fond memories that com...

Paul's very memorable day in St. Thomas

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story is certain to bring a smile to your face as we share a memorable day in St. Thomas from a Freedom of the Seas cruise.Share wi...

Honoring his mother in Bermuda

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week's cruise story focuses on paying tribute to a shore excursion in Bermuda with John's mom.Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments...

How cruising changed Kat's life

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The world has changed, and so has this podcast. Given the state of affairs, we have a new concept for the podcast to share that provides a glimpse int...

Freedom of the Seas Amplification Review

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Prior to the cruise shutdown, Freedom of the Seas completed a major upgrade that added a bunch of new features and enhancements.  Don from EatSle...

Takeaways from my cancelled cruise because of coronavirus

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I was scheduled to go on Harmony of the Seas this week, but unfortunately my sailing was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak.Looking back at wha...

Top 5 restaurants

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are so many great dining options on Royal Caribbean, and this week, Matt lists his top 5 favorite places to eat on a Royal Caribbean cruise.Shar...

Top 10 dining tips

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There's lots to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, including eating! I'm sharing my top 10 dining tips with all of you on this week's episode!Share with ...

A look back at the Coronavirus scare on Anthem of the Seas

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks ago, Anthem of the Seas was delayed multiple days due to a false report of guests on the ship infected with Coronavirus. The attention it ...

What to pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Packing for a cruise is a great source of anxiety for some. To help simplify the packing process, this week's episode is dedicated to helping spell ou...

Listener Emails

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is doubling down on answering the emails that listeners have sent in this week, including answers to reputable third party shore excursion option...

Coco Beach Club live review

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt visited the brand new Coco Beach Club and recorded this week's episode live from this new exclusive area of Perfect Day at CocoCay.Share with me ...

Embarkation Day tips & advice

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The first day of your cruise is filled with excitement, plenty of anticipation and lots to see and do.  This week, Matt offers advice on how to t...

Brilliance of the Seas Cruise Review

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from a 4-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas and shares a review with someone who also cruised on this ship for thei...

What is a group cruise?

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard about the RoyalCaribbeanBlog group cruises organized on this site and wondered what they are all about and how to join in? This we...

Freedom of the Seas Group Cruise Review

08 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt is back from the Freedom of the Seas group cruise and has a podcast all about their time onboard. Ken joins Matt on this week's episode to discus...

Three Wishes

01 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year! A new year is a new opportunity to take some time this week and wish for the sort of changes to Royal Caribbean we want to see in...

Freedom of the Seas Group Cruise Preview

25 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With less than a week until my next Royal Caribbean cruise, I’m excited to record this episode because this is the beginning of our next RoyalCaribb...

5 things I'll do differently in 2020

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With the new year here, I wanted to share 5 things I hope/think/want to change in how I cruise in 2020!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comm...

Adventure of the Seas listener cruise review

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adventure of the Seas sails a variety of routes, including some to the Southern Caribbean. This week, Kurt recaps his recent 8-night cruise on Adventu...

Oasis of the Seas cruise review

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I’m back from over a week onboard Oasis of the Seas, where I got to experience so many of the new changes and enhancements Royal Caribbean just made...

Email questions

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week's podcast episode was recorded live on Oasis of the Seas, and Matt is here to answer your cruise questions with a variety of questions that ...

Oasis of the Seas cruise preview

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Beginning this weekend, Matt is sailing on Oasis of the Seas and on this week's episode, he shares a preview of what he has planned for this sailing.S...

Getting married on Royal Caribbean

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought of getting married on a Royal Caribbean cruise? This week, Michael shares his experience tying the knot while on a Royal Caribbe...

A look back at 50 years of Royal Caribbean dining

05 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The 50th anniversary of Royal Caribbean’s founding is this year, and the cruise line is celebrating a rich tradition of cruising achievements, miles...

What to do in your embarkation city before the cruise

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Trying to figure out what to do in the city your ship leaves from in the day(s) before your cruise? Matt shares some good ideas in popular North Ameri...

Email Questions

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's time once again to tackle the ever-growing email inbox and answer as many emails as I possibly can in this episode!Share with me your thoughts, q...

Things I don't recommend

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We talk a lot on this podcast about best practices, do’s and don’ts and share plenty of tips in between.  To that point, it got me thinking, ...

Harmony of the Seas listener cruise review

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve been lucky enough to make a few cruise friends along the way, and when one of those friends decided to give Royal Caribbean another try, I had ...

Reaching Pinnacle Status

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Few cruisers ever reach Pinnacle Club status in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, but this week we talk with a listener who just hit this il...

Wedding cruise review

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt recently cruised on Mariner of the Seas to attend a friend's wedding, and is back to talk about what a Royal Caribbean wedding is like onboard a ...

Tips for choosing a cruise

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you are looking to find that perfect first cruise for you, here are the things to think about to help find the perfect first cruise.Share with me y...

What we miss the most

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Coming back from a Royal Caribbean cruise, the transition back to "civilian life" isn't easy, and often we think back about how much we enjoy being ba...

Hurricane season redux

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt shares the lessons he learned from what happens when a hurricane directly impacts your cruise plans.Share with me your thoughts, questions and co...

Listener Emails

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt answers as many of your emails on this week's podcast episode! Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @ther...

Top 10 tips I use on every cruise

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise is a great family vacation because of all the great things to see and do onboard.  Swimming, fine dining, kids cl...

Travel Insurance 101

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps no concept in cruising is as difficult to know the “how’s”, “what’s” and “why’s” as travel insurance. It is a complicated to...

Royal Caribbean's ship classes

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard of ship classes? Are you trying to figure out what the difference is between Royal Caribbean’s ships? I’m going to break down the d...

Dollar store shopping for a cruise

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought of doing your pre-cruise purchases at a dollar store? There is a surprising amount of great choices available, and this week She...

Radiance of the Seas listener cruise review

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cruising to Alaska is one of the premier itineraries Royal Caribbean offers, and this week, we have a cruise review with a listener that not only crui...

Anthem of the Seas group cruise review

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

While onboard Anthem of the Seas, Matt and Annette recorded a podcast episode to discuss the 2019 Anthem of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise...

Listener Emails

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Matt answers questions sent in by podcast listeners on this week's episode!Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...Twitter: @th...

Anthem of the Seas group cruise preview

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The next Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise is almost here, and this time I’m going with my fellow blog readers and podcast listeners on Anthem of th...

Balcony staterooms

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you are looking to book a balcony stateroom on Royal Caribbean, you might be surprised by how many different kinds of balcony rooms there are. This...

Mariner of the Seas cruise review

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not deja vu, we are back with another cruise review on Mariner of the Seas.  I took the family on a 3-night sailing to Nassau, Bahamas and...

Interview with Paul Thornton

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Believe it or not, there’s a lot of people out there that love cruising so much that it has changed their lives.  I certainly fall into this ca...