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Royal Caribbean has been around since 1969 and currently operates 16 ships. Royal Caribbean purchased Celebrity Cruises
in 1997, a premium line to appeal to an upscale audience, for a total fleet of 25 ships and a capacity of more than 40,000
berths. Royal Caribbean's rates vary by itinerary. A moderate priced cruise line, cruises can be booked through a travel agent,
or dircetly with the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean operates the largest ships in the world, the 142,000-ton Voyager
class that includes Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas offering a
wake of innovation with rock climbing, ice skating, in-line skating, a Johnny Rockets diner, a promenade shopping mall and
so much more.
The rock-climbing walls have proved to be so popular the line will add them to the entire fleet this
year starting in late May with Monarch of the Seas, which will be refitted before arriving in her new homeport of Los Angeles.
The remainder of the ships will be outfitted with rock-climbing walls by the end of the year: Majesty of the Seas (June);
Sovereign of the Seas (July); Rhapsody of the Seas (August); Enchantment of the Seas (August); Grandeur of the Seas (October);
Splendour of the Seas (October); Nordic Empress (November); and Legend of the Seas (November).
Royal Caribbean is
a good middle-America, middle-brow, choice particularly if you like active travel.
Radiance of the Seas, the first
of a new series of vessels in an "in-between" size: smaller than Voyager-class, but bigger than Vision-class. Radiance of
the Seas combines features found in previous RCI vessels: the sleek exterior of the Sovereign-class, the extensive use of
glass of the Vision-class and the wealth entertainment and activities amenities of the Voyager-class. Radiance of the Seas
has the most balconies of any RCI ship - of the vessel's 1,050 cabins, 813 have ocean views and more than 71 percent of those
have balconies. Radiance of the Seas is the first in the RCI fleet to have gas and steam turbines as the primary source of
power to reduce emissions, noise and vibration. Sister ship Brilliance of the Seas joined the fleet in summer 2002 with European
sailings.
You'll find a little of everything on Royal Caribbean ships. Food -- across the board, from the dining room to the buffet
to the 24 hour room service -- is amazingly consistent and well prepared, considering the capacity of the ships. And options
are pretty plentiful. Main dining rooms handle the traditional assigned seating dinners (they're open seating for breakfast
and lunch). A typical buffet, offering the usual range of choices (while-you-wait omelets, burgers, salads, pasta, etc.).
At dinner time, the buffet is a casual alternative to the dining room (and pretty much serves the same menu).
Specialty
eateries onboard Voyager-class ships include Johnny Rockets, the 1950s-style burger joint; passengers eat for free but pay
extra for beverages ranging from iced tea to chocolate malts. Alternative restaurants are available on Voyager class, Radiance-class,
and Vision-class ships that require reservations and charge a $20 per person cover. The menus do not change through the cruise,
however, you need to make reservations as early as possible in your cruise or you may get locked out. There is a limited room
service menu available round-the-clock and, at dinner time, you can order from the menu.
All staterooms come with
a twin-that-can-be-converted-to-queen bed, private bathroom, phone, closed-circuit television, mini bar and hair dryers. They're
decorated in festive Caribbean-esque colors, from mist-green to buoyant oranges and yellows.
There are two kinds of
entertainment -- the traditional style cruise productions -- singing and dancing shows -- and goofy passenger-inspired episodes
like "The Newlywed Game." Bar venues, of course, offer a variety of musical performances that are aimed to please just about
everybody at any time -- classical guitar, country/western, jazz. One nice touch: Royal Caribbean does not layer on a lot
of extra fees for equipment "rental" -- there is no charge for using everything from ice skates (you can choose between hockey
and figure models) to roller blades.
All ships offer an Internet cafe (50 cents per minute). Some ships have cabins
wired for Internet use -- a nice convenience; the cost is a $100 flat rate per voyage (and includes all necessary hook up
equipment).
Royal Caribbean typically appeals to couples and singles in their 30's to 50's as well as families of
all ages. The median age is in the low 40's on seven-night cruises and in the 30's on three-and four-night cruises, passengers
50-55 and over tend to dominate ten day and longer cruises. Royal Caribbean attracts passengers that are looking for an affordable,
active vacation.
Children's Programs: Adventure
Ocean is Royal Caribbean's kids' program. There are five categories: 3 - 5 years, 6 - 8 years, 9 - 11 years, 12 - 14 years
and 15 - 17 years. There are daytime activities, both while at sea and in port, as well as evening events. Also available
is baby sitting; group sitting is offered for parents who want to indulge in late-night revelry (cost is $5 per hour). In-cabin
sitting can be booked through Guest Relations and fees start at $8 per hour. In all cases except for in-cabin sitting, kids
must be potty trained (no diapers, no pull-ups). In-cabin sitting is limited to children at least six months old. The dining
rooms offer "Captain Sealy's Kids Galley Menu"
Crown
& Anchor: The multi-tiered past passenger program that offers a quarterly magazine called Crown and Anchor,
captain's cocktail party, onboard coupon books offering discounts on services at the spa and freebies, such as drink-of-the-day;
and cruise fare discounts. RCI offers four sailings annually that are geared to members. For more info: Click on the "Crown
and Anchor" link on Royal Caribbean's Web site or call 800-526-9723.
Accessible Seas Program: the company is adding Braille deck numbers to staircase
handrails on each of its 16 ships in 2003. Ships offer an extensive list of amenities from larger features like automatic
doors, hydraulic pool lifts and shore-side beach wheel chairs to smaller extra touches such as pull-down closet rods. Other
notable accessibility features onboard Royal Caribbean's Voyager- class and Radiance-class ships include: Staterooms with
32- to 34-inch doors, ramped bathrooms, roll-in showers,grab bars, raised toilet seats, lowered sinks and vanity areas, and
a five-foot turning radius in sleeping areas, bathrooms and sitting areas; Spacious corridors, pool lifts and ramps in terraced
public areas; Braille on menus, stateroom doors, service directories and elevators buttons; Portable kits for the hearing
impaired including TTY/TDD, Alertmaster and a strobe alarm; and Closed-captioned televisions, amplified telephones in staterooms
and public areas, and infrared systems.
Ships In Fleet
Adventure of the Seas Brilliance of the Seas Enchantment
of the Seas Explorer of the Seas Grandeur of the Seas Legend of the Seas Majesty of the Seas Mariner of the
Seas Monarch of the Seas Navigator of the Seas Empress of the Seas Radiance of the Seas Rhapsody of the Seas Serenade
of the Seas Sovereign of the Seas Splendour of the Seas Vision of the Seas Voyager of the Seas
Copyright 2004, The Independent Traveler, Inc. All rights reserved.
