Royal Caribbean operates one of cruising's most intriguing fleets. Ships range from mid-sized, middle-aged ships which -- like Majesty of the Seas, for instance -- have received major updates, and state-of-the-art and on-the-cusp mega-ships, such as Freedom of the Seas, with its surf park and boxing ring.
While not gourmet, Royal Caribbean's food is usually good enough to please most of their passengers. Royal Caribbean ships offer the choice of traditional two-seating dining schedule or flexible dining for dinner, with open seating in the dining room for breakfast and lunch. Passenger who opt for "My Time Dining" have to pre-pay gratuities. Passengers can now pre-book tables in the main dining room online before they cruise.
The Windjammer Cafe aboard all the line's ships offers the popular breakfast and lunch buffets, and a casual alternative for dinner. On some ships, Jade, a special section of the Windjammer, offers Asian-themed dishes during the day and fresh sushi at night.
Most Royal Caribbean ships (exceptions are all the Vision-class ships but Enchantment of the Seas) have at least one alternative restaurant, the Italian-themed Portofino; many also have the Chops Grille steakhouse. In all cases, the cover charge is $20 - $25 and the food and service is a notch above those in the line's standard dining areas. Reservations are required.
The Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, as well as Majesty of the Seas, also have a seagoing branch of the Johnny Rockets fast-food franchise, with a $4.95 cover charge (and some menu items are priced on an a la carte basis). The Cafe Promenade on the Voyager- and Freedom-class ships offers Continental breakfast and around the clock sandwiches and other snacks; the Seaview Cafe aboard Radiance-class ships offers fast-food items like fish and chips at lunchtime and late at night. Sorrento Pizza and Compass Deli are new entries into the RCI brand name game. Compass Deli sandwiches/wraps carry a $3.50 price tag. Sorrento pizza is consistent -- never meant as a gourmet meal, it is fast and fairly good.
Daytime activities aboard Royal Caribbean ships tend toward the active. Every Royal Caribbean ship has a rock-climbing wall; the Freedom-, Voyager- and Radiance-class ships and Legend and Splendour of the Seas have mini-golf courses. All ships have vast main pool areas; the luxurious adults-only Solarium is featured on all Freedom-, Voyager-, Radiance- and Vision-class ships. All ships have a wide variety of spa and fitness facilities. You'll find ice skating on the Freedom- and Voyager-class ships.
Evening entertainment on Royal Caribbean comes in two types: splashy Vegas-style production shows that are among the most impressive at sea, and passenger-participation favorites like the "Newlywed and Not-So-Newlywed Game." There's also a wide range of musical entertainment in a variety of public rooms; the new Latin-themed Boleros on many of the newer (and more recently refurbished) ships is especially popular. If you're sailing on a Freedom- or Voyager-class ship, don't miss the ice show: it's one of the most spectacular and unique performances you'll ever see on a cruise ship. These ships even have parades and "street performers" in the Royal Promenade -- another unique entertainment feature not found on any other ships.
Accommodations range from standard inside and oceanview cabins, to standard balcony cabins (on most ships), with a wide range of suites, from mini-suites to huge Royal Suites with bars and grand pianos. On most ships, suite passengers gain access to a private concierge lounge (concierge privileges are also accorded to the line's most frequent passengers, Crown & Anchor Diamond Members). Freedom- and Voyager-class ships also have unique "promenade view" cabins overlooking the Royal Promenade; their inhabitants have a birds-eye view of the "city life" along this virtual indoor street, and of course the parades that occur several evenings per cruise. These unique cabins cost more than insides, but less than oceanview cabins, and along with the suites are often the first cabins to be booked up on each cruise.
Nobody should have trouble "connecting" on a Royal Caribbean cruise. All RCI ships feature Wi-Fi hot spots (cabins included), and the Freedom-class vessels have Wi-Fi throughout the ship. This CyberCabin service costs $70 for a four- to five-night cruise, $100 for a one-week cruise, and $130 for nine- to 10-night sailings. In addition, for 55 cents a minute, passengers can connect at Internet Cafes equipped with one to two dozen terminals, and at the more private business centers on the Freedom-, Voyager- and Radiance-class ships.
Fellow Passengers
Royal Caribbean attracts a wide variety of mostly North American passengers, mostly between the ages of 30 and 55 on the seven-night and shorter cruises, and 50 and over on cruises longer than seven nights. Cruises from the U.K. and Brazil -- as well as Mediterranean, Asia and Australia cruises -- attract a significant number of locals, as well as Royal Caribbean's usual North Americans. Seven-night and shorter cruises are also very popular with families, especially during American school vacation periods when the ships will often be filled to every upper berth.
Ships cruising to, from or within Australia in 2012-13
(Source Wikipedia)
Royal Caribbean International is a
Norwegian and American
cruise line brand based in
Miami, Florida and owned by
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. With 22 ships in service under, it controls a 17% share of the world cruise market.
[2] All ships under the Royal Caribbean International brand have names ending in "of the Seas" since 1991. Sister brands are Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Pullmantur and CDF Croisières de France.
Royal Caribbean International was founded as Royal Caribbean Cruise Linein 1968 by Anders Wilhelmsen & Company, I.M. Skaugen & Company, andGotaas Larsen, Norwegian shipping companies. The newly created line put its first ship, the Song of Norway, into service two years later. The next year, the line's capacity was doubled with the addition of the Nordic Prince to the fleet. Continuing to expand, the line added the Sun Viking in 1972. After four years of successful operation, Royal Caribbean's Song of Norway became their first passenger ship to be lengthened. This was accomplished via the insertion of an 85-foot (26 m) section to the vessel's severed center. Following the success of this procedure, Nordic Prince was stretched in 1980. Royal Caribbean finally received widespread global recognition when in 1982 it launched the Song of America, over twice the size of Sun Viking and at the time the third largest passenger vessel afloat (after the Norway and the Queen Elizabeth 2)
Royal Caribbean innovated once again with its 1986 lease of a coastal property in Haiti for use as a private destination for its guests.[3] This destination is now called Labadee. After a corporate restructuring in 1988, the line launchedSovereign of the Seas, the largest passenger vessel afloat at the time. Two years later, Nordic Empress and Viking Serenade entered service for the line, continuing a rapid growth trend within the company. In the same year Royal Caribbean purchased its second private destination, Little Stirrup Cay, an island in the Bahamas, which they rechristened "Coco Cay."
Monarch of the Seas, the second ship of the
Sovereign class, entered service the next year. The third ship of the Sovereign class,
Majesty of the Seas, was delivered one year later. With a large passenger capacity and a growing market share, Royal Caribbean finally went public on the
New York Stock Exchange in 1993. Over the next two years the company experienced extreme growth. A new corporate headquarters in Miami, Florida was completed, and the
Nordic Prince replaced by a new vessel, the
Legend of the Seas.
The next year brought more growth. Two more
Vision class vessels entered service, the
Splendour of the Seas and
Grandeur of the Seas. Also in 1996, the company finalized its contracts for 130,000-ton vessels with
Aker Finnyards in Finland. The trend of growth and change continued into 1997. The line's oldest ship,
Song of Norway, was sold, and two new Vision-class ships entered service as
Rhapsody of the Seas and
Enchantment of the Seas. The company also merged with the
Greek cruise line
Celebrity Cruises and changed its name from "Royal Caribbean Cruise Line" to "Royal Caribbean International." The next year marked a transition to a more "strictly modern line", when the last of the company's older vessels,
Song of America and
Sun Viking, were retired. In 1998,
Vision of the Seas came into service, the last of the
Vision Class Ships. In 1999 the
Voyager of the Seas, the line's newest and world's largest cruise ship entered service with much attention from the news media. The next two years saw the delivery of
Voyager's sister ship,
Explorer of the Seas, and the first of a new class of more environmentally friendly cruise liners,
Radiance of the Seas, as well as the introduction of Royal Caribbean's "cruise tours
Alaska", featuring glass-domed train cars to scenic destinations within the state and Canada. During
Adventure of the Seas' christening ceremony in November 2001, Royal Caribbean made a $50,000 contribution to the
Twin Towers Relief fund.
[4]
2002 saw the debut of the
Navigator of the Seas, as well as the
Brilliance of the Seas, the second ship of the
Radiance class.
Serenade of the Seas and
Mariner of the Seas were introduced the next year, and
rock-climbing walls were made a feature of every Royal Caribbean ship.
Jewel of the Seas followed in 2004, and the line's ship
Nordic Empress was refurbished and re-christened as
Empress of the Seas, which was later sold to
Pullmantur Cruises in 2008. Construction commenced on
Freedom of the Seas, the line's newest ship, at
Aker Finnyards in 2005 and the vessel launched the next year as the largest passenger vessel in the world. In 2005, Royal Caribbean made history again with the massive refurbishment of
Enchantment of the Seas, cutting the ship in half and adding a 74-foot (23 m) midsection.
Grandeur of the Seas was rumored to be the next to have the massive refurbishment sometime in early 2008, but that never took place.
Royal Caribbean International has used the services of
The Boyd Company, Inc., for its coverage of corporate location trends and the economy.
[edit]Royal Caribbean cruise ships
Each Royal Caribbean ship includes a top-of-ship lounge called the
Viking Crown Lounge offering sweeping panoramic views, onboard rock climbing walls, bars, lounges, spas, gyms, a main dining room and alternative dining venues. The line has a special kids and youth program known as
Adventure Ocean.
[edit]Oasis class
The first ship of this class,
Oasis of the Seas surpassed the
Freedom-class ships as the world's largest cruise ship in December 2009. It is able to accommodate up to 5,400 passengers, has a registered tonnage of 225,282 tons and cost the line around US $1.4 billion. It is anticipated that the
Oasis-class of vessels will primarily sail the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but Royal Caribbean may also choose to deploy these vessels in other parts of the world. A second
Oasis-class ship was ordered on April 2, 2007, and was constructed at
STX Europe's
Finland Yards (formerly Aker Finnyards),
Turku, Finland. It was delivered on October 28, 2010 and went into service December 1, 2010.
[5]
Royal Caribbean International, in conjunction with
USA Today, sponsored a contest to name the vessels.
[6][7] [8
[edit]Freedom class
Freedom of the Seas left Aker Finnyards shipyard in Turku, Finland on April 24, 2006. With gross tonnage of 154,410 tons, they surpassed Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 as the largest ships in the world even though they are five meters shorter than theQueen Mary 2. Freedom of the Seas includes two new features, the Flowrider and the H2O Zone for kids. The Freedom of the Seas continues the traditions of the Voyager-class ships with a 400-foot (120 m) mall named the Royal Promenade, featuring pubs, shops, arcades, bars, and a 24 hour Cafe Promenade.
| Ship | Year Built | Entered service
with Royal Caribbean | Gross tonnage | Current Home Port | Notes | Image |
|---|
| Freedom of the Seas | 2006 | June 4, 2006 | 154,407 | Port Canaveral, Florida | Largest cruise ship in the world, 2006-2009 |
|
| Liberty of the Seas | 2007 | May 19, 2007 | 154,407 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Barcelona, Spain beginning late April 2012 | Largest cruise ship in the world when built, originally supposed to be namedEndeavour of the Seas |
|
| Independence of the Seas | 2008 | May 2, 2008 | 154,407 | Southampton, England | Largest cruise ship in the world when built |
|
[edit]Radiance class
Radiance class ships have a gross tonnage of 90,090 gross tons. All ships have environmentally friendlier gas turbine engines. The Radiance class ships have over 3 acres (12,000 m2) of glass, glass exterior viewing elevators, over 700 balcony staterooms, two-level glass windowed dining rooms, alternative restaurants, a retractable glass roof over a pool, an outdoor pool, as well as the first self-leveling billiard tables at sea. The Radiance class ships were constructed at Meyer Werft, Papenburg,Germany.
| Ship | Year Built | Entered service
with Royal Caribbean | Gross tonnage | Current Home Port | Notes | Image |
|---|
| Radiance of the Seas | 2001 | March 10, 2001 | 90,090 | Sydney, Australia | First cruise ship to feature pool tables that are stabilized by a computer-controlled gyroscope |
|
| Brilliance of the Seas | 2002 | July 19, 2002 | 90,090 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
|
| Serenade of the Seas | 2003 | August 1, 2003 | 90,090 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
|
| Jewel of the Seas | 2004 | May 8, 2004 | 90,090 | Tampa, Florida | |
|
[edit]Voyager class
The fifth largest passenger ships at sea (behind the Oasis class, Freedom class, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic andCunard's Queen Mary 2), the Voyager class ships were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards' (now STX Europe) facility in Turku, Finland. They have a gross tonnage of around 137,000 tonnes. These ships include a 350-foot (110 m) indoor mall known as the Royal Promenade, featuring indoor pubs, shops, cafes, and bars. Activity options on board include: basketball courts, skating rinks, at least 3 pools, a mini-golf course, and a rock wall.
| Ship | Year Built | Entered service
with Royal Caribbean | Gross tonnage | Current Home Port | Notes | Image |
|---|
| Voyager of the Seas | 1999 | November 21, 1999 | 137,276 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Voyager of the seas was the first vessel ever to have an ice skating rink onboard. |
|
| Explorer of the Seas | 2000 | October 28, 2000 | 137,308 | Bayonne, New Jersey | |
|
| Adventure of the Seas | 2001 | November 18, 2001 | 137,276 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
|
| Navigator of the Seas | 2002 | December 14, 2002 | 138,279 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | First of the second generation of Voyager-class vessels |
|
| Mariner of the Seas | 2003 | November 16, 2003 | 138,279 | Galveston, Texas | Due to dry dock April 2012 |
|
[edit]Vision class
Technically speaking the Vision class consists of three pairs of sister ships and is not a "class" of ships in the same sense as the Radiance, Freedom, Voyager, or Oasis classes. Legend and Splendour, built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, France have a gross tonnage of approximately 70,000 and are the only ones which have a golf course. Grandeur andEnchantment were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Helsinki, Finland and have a tonnage of approximately 80,000 gross tons (after lengthening). The final pair, Rhapsody and Vision were also built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and have a tonnage of 78,000 gross tons. All ships of this class feature over 2 acres (8,100 m2) of glass.
| Ship | Year Built | Entered service
with Royal Caribbean | Gross tonnage | Current Home Port | Notes | Image |
|---|
| Legend of the Seas | 1995 | May 16, 1995 | 69,130 | Asia | Legend is the most-traveled ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, having been based in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Alaska, Central America, Caribbean, the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Middle East during her 14 year career at sea |
|
| Splendour of the Seas | 1996 | March 31, 1996 | 69,130 | Santos, São Paulo | |
|
| Grandeur of the Seas | 1996 | December 14, 1996 | 73,817 | Colon, Panama,Cartagena, Colombia | A collision occurred in 2005 where a long hole was torn in the hull of the ship |
|
| Rhapsody of the Seas | 1997 | May 19, 1997 | 78,491 | Singapore | |
|
| Enchantment of the Seas | 1997 | July 13, 1997 | 82,910 | Baltimore, Maryland | In 2005, a 74-foot (23 m) midsection was added to Enchantment of the Seas, allowing for the addition of a pool, suspension bridges, specialty restaurants, additional staterooms, and expanded areas for guest comfort. |
|
| Vision of the Seas | 1998 | May 2, 1998 | 78,340 | Santos, São Paulo | |
|
[edit]Sovereign class
At approximately 73,000 GT (gross tonnage), these were the first "mega-ships" in the industry (with the exception of the SSNorway, an ocean liner converted into a cruise ship), built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The first one, Sovereign of the Seas, was launched in 1988. The Sovereign-class ships were the first ships ever to have an open atrium area.[citation needed] Like larger Royal Caribbean ships, the Sovereign Class ships have pools, open bars and lounges inside, and grand theaters.
| Ship | Year Built | Entered service
with Royal Caribbean | Gross tonnage | Current Home Port | Notes | Image |
|---|
| Monarch of the Seas | 1991 | November 17, 1991 | 73,937 | Port Canaveral, Florida | Retrofitted in 2005 and again in 2011 with new features such as enhanced staterooms, public areas, Compass Deli, Jade, addition of rock walls, re-painted pool floors, new carpeting and more spaces enhanced for guest comfort. She will leave the fleet in 2013. |
|
| Majesty of the Seas | 1992 | April 26, 1992 | 74,077 | Miami, Florida | Retrofitted in 2007 with new features such as enhanced staterooms, public areas, Compass Deli, Jade, addition of rock walls, re-painted pool floors, new carpeting and more spaces enhanced for guest comfort |
|
[edit]Future fleet
Features and Amenities
Stateroom Amenities
In-Stateroom Internet Access
Dining
Traditional Assigned Seating
Specialty/a la carte Venues
24 Hour Food Service Available
Children and Families
Organized Age-Specific Programs
Organized Parties and Events
Organized Sporting Activities
Environmental Awareness Programs
Meetings and Conferences
Special Programs/Services
Weddings/Honeymoon Packages
Guest Lecturers/Educational Programs
iPod and/or iPhone Rental
Special Dietary Needs (Advance Notification Required)
Sports and Fitness
Weights (free weights and/or machines)
Discover SCUBA /Resort Course
Golf Driving or Simulator
Spa/Wellness
Full Service Beauty Salon
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