The 137,000 tonne Voyageur of the Seas, is among the 10 largest and most innovative cruise ships in the world and she will begin her inaugural Asian season in May 2012. The ship will offer a wide variety of itineraries from three and four night sailings in the region to 14 and 18 night cruises.
Dr. Zinan Liu, Group Managing Director of China and Asia for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, said: "We have a leading market position in China. Customer demand is strengthening and we’re responding by increasing our commitment to the region with an additional, bigger ship, to offer a wider range of itineraries to even more ports."
"Voyager of the Seas deployment to Asia is another milestone for Royal Caribbean International, and a mark of our confidence and commitment to the region’s potential, as well as part of our global growth strategy," says Michael Bayley, executive vice president of International, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Royal Caribbean's strategic relationship and chartering of the Legend of the Seas to the Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises highlights the growth of the Chinese cruise market in recent years.
Dr. Zinan Liu said: "This is an incredible opportunity for Royal Caribbean International, the Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises, and is truly unique to the fast growing cruise industry in Asia. We are the first cruise brand to bring together the support of the government and local private industry."
George Buge Zhang, President of China World Cruises explained: "We believe Royal Caribbean International is the right cruise brand to work with in developing the cruise industry in China. In just a few years, they’ve established themselves as the market leader and proven they understand local market conditions and Chinese guests’ needs and preferences."
Combined, Voyageur of the Seas and Legend of the Seas will offer 49 sailings out of China in 2012, with Xiamen becoming Royal Caribbean's fourth home port in the region after Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong.
Written by Troy McGuire
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"The Royal Advantage revitalisations takes many of the best features that we have created in recent years and introduces them across our fleet, offering our guests enhanced vacation choices around the world," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. "We never stop trying to make the experience even better, and no other cruise line can offer the same high quality vacation experience with such an array of choices that cater to every guest."
The Royal Advantage will see Radiance of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas join the revitalisation program that has already seen Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas benefit from similar upgrades.
"We are thrilled that the ongoing Royal Advantage revitalisations will result in a virtually brand-new fleet that offers the most contemporary experience, no matter which ship or itinerary vacationers choose," said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International. "From new dining concepts to cutting-edge entertainment to technological advancements, we are raising the bar across the fleet to offer guests our signature Gold Anchor Service and the world’s most innovative cruise ships that sail to exciting destinations worldwide."
The ships will benefit from new innovations and upgrades that include Wi-Fi, interactive flat-screen TVs in staterooms and oversized video screen on the pools decks. There will be new staterooms, including those ideal for families will be added and a new Royal Babies and Tots Nursery will feature on the ships.
New Dining Options:
Written by Troy McGuire
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Lisa Bauer, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International, said: "The Royal Advantage comprises some of the industry’s most innovative onboard amenities, programs and Gold Anchor Service that make up the most contemporary cruise vacation. By introducing almost all of the same specialty restaurants that can currently be found onboard Allure of the Seas as well some of the Oasis-class ships’ most popular concepts to Radiance of the Seas, guests can enjoy a variety of brand new onboard experiences."
The ships revitalisation includes several new facilities, from great dining venues to improved childcare venues — Royal Babies and Tots Nursery. The ship includes 12 new accommodations, including new family, interior and outside staterooms, a new Concierge Lounge for suite guests and a new Diamond Lounge for Crown and Anchor Society members. The ships also includes ship-wide Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs in all the staterooms.
Dining options onboard Radiance of the Seas have almost doubled and the ship also boast a new lounge bar, the Quill and Compass Pub. The new dining options offer everything from hot dogs and sushi to fine dining and the Chef's table:
Radiance of the Seas is the third ship to enjoy the Royal Advantage treatment after Liberty of the Seas in January and Freedom of the Seas back in March, with one more ship, Splendour of the Seas due for the upgrades and a polish this coming October. Now she is out of drydock Radiance will return to Alaska for the summer, where she will be offering seven night alternating Northbound and Southbound itineraries, before heading to Australia and New Zealand for the winter 2011 season.
Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
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The cruise line prepared a statement regarding the incident yesterday, which we received this morning:
"Today [31/05/2011], at approximately [15:37], as Independence of the Seas was docked in Gibraltar there was an explosion on the pier. Immediately after the explosion, the ship retracted the gangway and moved a safe distance from the dock.
Ten guests sustained minor injuries and have received medical treatment onboard. Two guests were still ashore when the incident took place and were not injured during the explosion. Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to our guests onboard.
Independence of the Seas is currently on a 14-night itinerary that departed Southampton on Saturday, May 28."
Written by Stephen Adam
©Iglucruise
The cruise line has come up with a three tired system that they will offer onboard the Grandeur of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. The packages will be available from 13th March 2011 on the Grandeur of the Seas and from 14th March on the two other ships.
The packages must be booked for the duration of the cruise and any passengers who wish to add any of these great drinks deals to their stay after the first day will still have to pay for the duration of the cruise, for example a ten night cruise with the Beer Package will cost $290 regardless of when it is purchased. Passengers who book the packages will also enjoy a 25% discount off the non house wines.
Soft drinks and specialty coffees are not included, though there is also the onboard soda package for the fans of fizzy drinks. Drinks ordered from room service and the stateroom's mini bar are not included in the package.
The move into drinks packages offers great value with the prices of onboard drinks often discussed in cruise forums, and also adds to the ease of mind when collecting your bill at the end of the cruise, especially as the 15% gratuity is included in the price.
Written by Troy McGuire
© Iglucruise
Two weeks ago we uncovered the story that a new class of ships was in the pipeline and today Royal Caribbean have announced a few more details. The ships are expected to house 4,100 passengers, costing an estimated average of €170,000 per berth. Royal Caribbean said the ship’s design "incorporates new and exciting features that take advantage of the best of Royal Caribbean's experience and imagination’ and ‘is a result of over a year of dedicated research and development".
Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's Chairman and CEO, said: "Royal Caribbean has worked hard to earn a reputation of offering the most innovative ships in the cruise industry and this next generation will not disappoint... While we continue our policy of keeping our newest ideas and features under wraps during the early stages of construction, I can say that I am very excited about the passion and imagination that our teams have devoted to the project."
"Project Sunshine builds on the best ideas of our existing ships and adds exciting new activities and entertainment concepts... It will offer features for everyone: from grand, spectacular spaces to small intimate settings; from active, invigorating activities to the serenity of more personal space and from a plethora of dining alternatives to a cornucopia of opportunities for families."
"I am also excited about the energy efficiency and environmental technologies which have been incorporated. Our existing ships are some of the most energy efficient in the world and Project Sunshine takes this one further step."
This is not the first time Royal Caribbean have worked with Meyer Weft, with the ship yard responsible for several of their current ships that include the Brilliance of the Seas and Celebrity Eclipse. The first ship has been pencilled in for autumn 2014 with Royal Caribbean holding the option for a second in spring 2015.
Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
© Iglucruise
He said: "We have been considering our next new building project and we feel that the time may now be right for such a move. It would also probably be the start of new series of ships, which would incorporate our latest learnings about efficiency and about guest amenities. We have been working intensively on developing a design that reflects our innovative spirit, but in an efficient package and we think that we are near to an acceptable outcome."
Royal Caribbean had previously stated that they would not be expanding their Oasis class ships and currently don't have any ships on order. After the launch of the world's two largest ships, that are so big they use neighbourhoods opposed to deck numbers, what can we expect from Royal Caribbean? Surely they can't build anything larger, or offer even more choice in entertainment, dining and accommodation? Well not unless they are building a floating island.
When quizzed for further details on the plans for the new ships Fain wasn't keen to give anything away: "I am a little reluctant to get too specific about it because we don't have a final deal. We are still working on that, and we don't like to talk too much of it in advance. I think we're talking about it for Royal Caribbean. Our tendency in the past has been to build a series of ships, and while nothing is final that is probably the direction we would go in here."
With Royal Caribbean offering some of the most innovative ships, entertainment and accommodation at sea it will be interesting to see what they come up with next.
Written by Troy McGuire
© Iglucruise
The first notable change is the change from cruise credits to Cruise Points. The new system awards passengers one point for each night spent onboard one of Royal Caribbean's ships, with double points awarded for passengers staying in suites.
The new point system has led to two new status levels being introduced. The Emerald tier, will take its place between the current Platinum and Diamond Status, and a new top level, the Pinnacle Club. The newly introduced Emerald status level will provide all the Platinum level benefits, plus higher member savings for balcony and suite category staterooms and a personalised welcome gift on every cruise. Pinnacle Club members will receive the benefits of the entire program as well as complimentary cruises at certain cruise-points milestones. Guests who have a minimum of 100 cruise credits before 21 January 2011 will be the first to be invited to join the new top Crown & Anchor Society member tier.
Betsy O’Rourke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International said: "These latest enhancements to the Crown & Anchor Society will further help recognise our loyal guests when they sail with us... We continuously listen and respond to our members’ feedback and have updated our loyalty programme to provide a more equitable way for our members to advance to the next level. This programme evolution is part of the Royal Advantage, our dedication to innovate our ships and offer guests the best cruise holiday. It’s important to understand that Crown & Anchor Society members will continue to enjoy all of their current programme benefits and status, plus have the opportunity now to advance to the next tier even faster than before."
The new details will be added to the Iglu Cruise Crown & Anchor page shortly with full details on the past passenger benefits.
Written by Troy McGuire
© Iglucruise
"It’s never easy choosing the right godmother, but we realised we had the perfect candidate right in front of us. Princess Fiona is not only a Royal, but we felt such a unique ship deserved a unique godmother and Princess Fiona symbolizes the fun and entertainment that is so extraordinary on Allure of the Seas," said Fain - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s Chairman and CEO.
Having Princess Fiona as the Allure of the Seas' godmother is testament to Royal Caribbean's reputation for entertainment, along with their partnership with DreamWorks Animations. The ship will be showing the latest DreamWorks 3D films along with character based entertainment in the kids clubs.
The naming celebrations were attended by 3,500 guests, as part of a one night inaugural cruise and fundraiser, benefitting the United Way of Miami-Dade & Broward counties' Haitian relief efforts, along with other charities. The ceremony took place in Allure's Amber Theatre and was both broadcast onboard and streamed online.
Written by Troy McGuire
]]>According to Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing at Royal Caribbean International, "The Royal Advantage is our commitment to continuously contemporise and innovate our vacation offering and deliver the highest standards of guest satisfaction through our Gold Anchor Service... The planned enhancements of five ships in 2011 will help expand some of the most successful programs that we have launched on our incredible Oasis-class ships to deliver these new ‘wows’ to more ships in our fleet. With November 7th marking our 40th anniversary, we are proud to continue to deliver more to see, do, and love than ever before to our guests."
Early 2011 will see Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas introducing their new dining, entertainment and children's programs and the two latest ships set for upgrades are due to be ready later in the year.
Radiance of the Seas will benefit from new specialty restaurants, including the Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, Mexican-themed Rita’s Cantina, and the Italian Giovanni’s Table, as well as the Park Café deli-style restaurant and the exclusive Chef’s Table dining experience. Other additions to the ship include a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members, as well as the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, interactive flat-panel televisions in all staterooms and Wi-Fi throughout the ship.
Splendour of the Seas is set to receive similar enhancements including two new specialty restaurants and the Park Café along with a Diamond and Concierge Lounge. The childcare programs Royal Babies and Tots Nursery will be introduced as will flat-panel televisions and Wi-Fi throughout the ship. Additionally, there will be new balcony staterooms added, select stateroom enhancements and upgrades to public areas, including a refreshed Windjammer Marketplace.
Royal Caribbean's face-lift to its most popular ships is welcome news and helps keep the whole fleet in line with the standards set by the new Oasis class ships.
Written by Stephen Adam
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