Royal Caribbean International Cruises
The Royal Caribbean International is a cruise operator where innovation and imagination reign supreme. Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas present many at-sea “firsts” such as: an open-air Central Park, an AquaTheatre with spectacular high diving performances, the first carousel at sea on the Boardwalk and much more. It is without a doubt that guests on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, two sister-ships will be introduced to a vacation experience unlike anything you can find in one place, on land or at sea.
With 42 ships in service under 5 different brands and one more under construction, Royal Caribbean controls a 26% share of the world cruise market. With more than 280 destinations in 81 countries on six continents, and an amazing array of exciting shore excursions and cruise tour options, the Royal Caribbean gives you the chance to try something new – why not go glacier-trekking in Alaska, cave-tubing in Belize, biking through the vineyards of Dubrovnik, Croatia; experience the wonders of China or do nothing at all? The choice is yours.
Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian / American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. All ships since 1991 have names ending in “of the Seas.”
Royal Caribbean International fleet
The Viking Crown Lounge is a signature design element of every Royal Caribbean International cruise ship. It is a top-of-ship lounge called that offers 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.The current fleet consists of different classes:
- Oasis class: The first ship of this class, Oasis of the Seas, was surpassed by Allure of the Seas – the world’s largest passenger ship. Allure of the Seas is actually two inches longer than her sister ship, which technically makes Allure the largest passenger ship ever constructed, despite the fact that both ships have identical superstructures. Oasis of the Seas was joined by her sister ship Allure of the Seas in December 2010. Both vessels cruise the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Each of them is able to accommodate up to 5,400 double-occupancy passengers (up to 6,296 when third and fourth passengers are included), has a registered tonnage of over 225,000 tons and cost the line around US $1.4 billion. Both ships were constructed at STX Europe’s Finland Cruise Yards in Turku, Finland.
- Freedom class: Freedom of the Seas left shipyard in Turku, Finland on 24 April 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 the Queen 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 (120m) mall named the Royal Promenade, featuring pubs, shops, arcades, bars, and a 24 hour Cafe Promenade.
- Voyager class: The fifth largest passenger ships at sea (behind the Oasis class, Freedom class, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, and Cunard’s Queen Mary 2), the Voyager-class ships were built in Turku, Finland. They have a gross tonnage of around 137,000t. These ships include a 350-foot (110m) 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.
- Radiance-class ships have a gross tonnage of 90,090 gross tons. All ships have more environmentally-friendly gas turbine engines. The Radiance-class ships have over 3 acres (12,000m2) 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.
- 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 and Enchantment 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 (8,100m2) of glass.
- Sovereign class: At approximately 73,000 gross tonnage, these were the first “mega-ships” in the industry (with the exception of the SS Norway, 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. Like larger Royal Caribbean ships, the Sovereign Class ships have pools, open bars and lounges inside, and grand theaters.
Private resorts
Royal Caribbean operates two privately owned resorts that are used as stops on some Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. They are Labadee, a resort on the northern coast of Haiti; and Coco Cay, a private island in the Berry Islands region of the Bahamas. Each resort features beaches, canopies for eating, lounge chairs, palm trees, and white sand beaches.Royal Caribbean International in 2012
Royal Caribbean International has unveiled its 2012 Europe cruise season, upping the ante with 12 ship fleet to sail European waters. Highlights for the 2012 Europe season include:- Independence of the Seas will be positioned year-round from Southampton; Amsterdam will debut as a home port (new for 2012).
- Serenade of the Seas will make its European debut from Barcelona (new for 2012).
- Brilliance of the Seas will operate a brand new series of Northern Europe itineraries out of the new homeport of Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
- Mariner of the Seas will add new Holy Land cruises and seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Rome.
- Liberty of the Seas will offer new five-night Western Mediterranean itineraries.