Passengers of Royal Caribbean International (RCI) can look forward
to new itineraries and onboard enhancements of the existing fleet
in 2005. And, bookings are set to open in the spring 2005 for RCI’s
Freedom of the Seas. Currently under construction, the
much-heralded ship will be the world’s largest cruise ship when she
enters service in April 2006. The 158,000-ton ship will sail
7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami year
round. More details about the ship’s amenities will be released by
RCI throughout the year.
In the “extreme makeover” category, the line’s Sovereign of the
Seas completed an extensive refurbishment at the end of 2004. The
update transformed all public areas of the ship, and added 62 new
balconies. Also added were a new Latin lounge, called Boleros; a
new coffee and ice cream shop and three lounges for exclusive use
by teens. Sovereign is the third RCI ship to undergo renovations in
the past few years. The ship will continue with year-round 3 and
4-night sailings from Port Canaveral.
Also in the works this spring is an enhancement to Enchantment
of the Seas. The ship will receive a 73-foot midsection insert, new
suspension bridges, a splash deck for kids, and bungee trampolines
that will send guests soaring into the air. Enchantment will return
to service in July 2005, with a series of summer and fall
Canada/New England sailings from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in
Bayonne, N.J., as well as from Philadelphia and Boston. The ship
will then return to her year-round Caribbean sailings from Fort
Lauderdale.
There’s news about RCI’s Northeast departures, as well. Voyager
of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas will sail alternating
five-night Bermuda and nine-night Western Caribbean itineraries
from May through November 2005 from Cape Liberty, in Bayonne, and
Baltimore respectively. RCI’s newest ship, Jewel of the Seas, will
sail a new 10-night Bermuda/Caribbean itinerary beginning in
September 2005. The ship will call in Tortola, B.V.I.; Philipsburg,
St. Maarten; King’s Wharf, Bermuda, and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s
private destination in Hispaniola.
The Caribbean continues to be RCI’s mainstay, with 16 ships
positioned there this winter. Empress of the Seas will offer an
exotic Southern Caribbean itinerary through April 2005. The ship
will depart from San Juan, with stops in St. Maarten, St. Barts,
St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados, Venezuela, Aruba and Curacao.
Empress will also sails 3-night cruises to St. Thomas/St. Maarten
and St. Kitts/St. Maarten.
In Europe, RCI is offering a series of exclusive cruisetours
that offer passengers the chance to explore historic regions of
England, France and Spain. RCI will deploy Brilliance of the Seas
and Splendour of the Seas in the Mediterranean; Jewel of the Seas
in Northern Europe. The Land-tours range from 3 to 5 days, and are
escorted by local tour directors who are experts in the region. The
tours include stays in four and five-star hotels, guided tours of
the area’s top cultural attractions, and ample free time for guests
to explore, shop and enjoy the wonders of their European
destination.
Alaska and Canada cruisetour packages allow guests to make the
most of their Alaskan cruises. Vision of the Seas sails one-way
Gulf of Alaska itineraries between Vancouver and Seward. Guests
have 19 cruisetours to choose from, with options that include
travel by deluxe motorcoach and RCI’s luxurious glass-domed
railcars, the Wilderness Express. Adventurous land excursion
options include white-water rafting, glacier flight-seeing and
heli-hiking. Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas sail
roundtrip Hubbard Glacier itineraries from Vancouver. Guests on
those ships can choose cruisetours of the Canadian Rockies and
Whistler.
And, in news from the Gulf of Mexico, Splendour of the Seas will
return to Galveston in November 2005, sailing 4 and 5-night
itineraries to the Western Caribbean during the 2005-06 winter
season.
www.royalcaribbean.com
