Does Royal Caribbean offer Religious Services onboard?

Royal Caribbean ships offer one interdenominational service (for all faiths), per voyage.

A priest will also offer a daily mass if there is a priest onboard. We are not able to guarantee that a priest is onboard for all our sailings, but we do try to book priests for our Christmas and Easter sailings, and on repositioning sailings. These are subject to the cancellation of a priest during the festive season periods.

We try to book a rabbi onboard for Jewish holidays (Hanukkah and Passover). In the absence of a rabbi booked by Royal Caribbean, the ship will ask for volunteers to conduct the Seder service on the first night of Passover.

In the absence of visiting clergy, a crew member onboard will conduct the interdenominational service.

Services are held in an appropriate quiet venue, including but not limited to, the library, a secondary lounge, conference centre or a chapel.

When a priest is onboard, the priest will conduct a daily Catholic mass, as well as a separate interdenominational service, and provide counselling for passengers and crew members who may be in need.

Passover

Passover begins at sundown and will continue for 8 days. All ships organise a Seder service on the first night of Passover and all ships will have a rabbi or cantor onboard. In the absence of a rabbi booked by Royal Caribbean, the ship will ask for volunteers to conduct the Seder service on the first night of Passover. This function is usually held in the Windjammer.

Following the Seder service there will be a Seder Dinner – usually in the Windjammer. There will be a traditional meal prepared including brisket, potatoes, etc. The dining room will have baskets of matzo available upon request during Passover.

Information on the place and time of the Seder service and meal will be printed in the Cruise Compass.