Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) $70 million Royal Advantage program, which is somewhat similar to the “Solsticizing” of sister company Celebrity Cruises’ fleet, will extend some of the line’s most popular recent innovations to more ships in the RCI fleet.
Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales at RCI, said that the Royal Advantage program gives consistency among RCI ships and allows agents to offer their clients features found on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas at different price points and on different itineraries.
Enhancements have already been made to Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas. Radiance of the Seas will see upgrades in June, and enhancements for Splendour of the Seas are slated for October.
In drydock, the ships will be given impressive new technology, from enhanced Wi-Fi to interactive televisions and electronic mustering. Other favorite features, including outdoor LED video walls and 3-D movie screens, are expected to help spread the excitement from Royal’s newest vessels to Liberty and Freedom.
In addition, a DreamWorks Animation partnership will add shows, character breakfasts and parades in the Royal Promenade of Liberty and Freedom as well as Oasis and Allure.
Clients will find the following on Liberty of the Seas:
· DreamWorks Experience
· 3-D movie theater
· Outdoor movie screen
· ‘ImagineOcean! Puppet Show’
· Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
· Cupcake Cupboard
· Enhanced Wi-Fi
· Digital Wayfinder System
· Interactive flat-panel televisions
· ‘Saturday Night Fever: The Musical’ (Available as of April 21)
· Pre-cruise reservations for shows and FlowRider lessons
· Electronic mustering tracking system
· Cashless vending machine in the fitness center
Freedom of the Seas will have all the same features except for “Saturday Night Fever: The Musical” performances. The ‘ImagineOcean! Puppet Show’ — conceptualized and produced by Emmy- and Tony Award-nominee John Tartaglia, exclusively for RCI — will debut in May with glow-in-the-dark underwater puppets.
All ships involved in 2011 will be receiving oversized outdoor video screens. However, all of the Royal Advantage enhancements for Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas have not been decided on. We do know, however, that Radiance will be getting the following features, among others:
· Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
· Enhanced Wi-Fi
· Diamond Lounge
· Concierge Lounge
· Stateroom Revitalization
· New restaurants
· New balcony staterooms
In addition, RCI has declared the month of April Travel Agent Appreciation Month and launched a new Royal Advantage module within the University of Wow! to provide travel agents with ways to leverage the cruise line’s multi-ship revitalization program and find new sales opportunities. Agents who complete the new module will be entered into a drawing to receive a gift, which includes an office makeover or a personal consultation with a senior RCI executive.
RCI also is providing agents with the opportunity to offer consumers Royal Incentive Rewards certificates throughout Travel Agent Appreciation Month. At noon on April 20, agents may log onto the University of Wow! for a special training webinar where they can learn about expanded travel agent rates, a Royal Incentive Rewards limited-time offer and a Group Amenities Plus (GAP) offer.
The Details
Royal Caribbean International
800-327-2056
www.cruisingpower.com
