Written and credited by cruiseindustrynews.com
Royal Caribbean International today unveiled its 2010-11 year-round Caribbean season, comprising of 243 sailings aboard five of the world’s most innovative cruise ships. Twenty-four distinct itineraries, ranging from five to nine nights, will include visits to 25 captivating ports of call and offer virtually unlimited choices–onboard and on-shore–for family and adventurous vacationers. Serenade of the Seas will expand from seasonal to year-round service at San Juan, Puerto Rico, while Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will continue regular sailings from Port Canaveral and Miami, respectively. Together, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will offer vacationers a choice of a Saturday or Sunday departure for an unparalleled cruise experience from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. General bookings for Royal Caribbean’s 2010-11 year-round Caribbean cruises are now open. Additional seasonal Caribbean deployments will be announced in the near future.
Royal Caribbean shore excursions also will offer guests an expansive variety of optional diversions to complement their days in port. Guests can snorkel in Barbados on Tiami Five Star Catamaran & Turtles; visit ancient Mayan ruins from Cozumel on Tulum Mayan Ruins Express; zip-line through the trees of Jamaica’s Laughland River Gorge on the Chukka Canopy Experience; delve into the Yucatan Peninsula’s jungles and beaches at Costa Maya on ATV Jungle & Beach Adventure; or simply take in the sun on balmy, breezy Orient Beach during a call at St. Maarten on St. Martin Beach Rendezvous. On itineraries featuring a call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach paradise on Haiti’s northern coast, guests will be able to race each other on the Dragon’s Tail Coaster, an alpine coaster to open in summer 2009 that winds down the adjoining mountainside.
Having sailed seasonally from San Juan since 2003, Serenade of the Seas will begin year-round service in April 2010 from the Puerto Rican city-port with two alternating seven-night Southern Caribbean itineraries through December 2010. No port of call is repeated on the two itineraries, presenting vacationers the option to combine two consecutive cruises into a grand 14-night Southern Caribbean odyssey. One itinerary will call at Curacao, Aruba, Dominica and St. Thomas, while the other at Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Croix.
From May 2010, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will continue alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries departing respectively on Saturdays and Sundays. On January 30, 2011, Liberty of the Seas will begin alternating a six-night Western Caribbean, departing every other Sunday, and an eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, departing every other Saturday. The two ships feature the cruise line’s exclusive onboard amenities, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the H2O Zone water park, a boxing ring, cantilevered whirlpools, an ice-skating rink, and the four-bedroom, four-bath Presidential Family Suite. With eight restaurants and more than 15 bars and lounges, these Freedom-class shipsoffer guests more ways to enjoy a memorable Caribbean cruise vacation.
From Port Everglades, vacationers can choose a Saturday or Sunday departure aboard one of the world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ships in the industry, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. In 2010, Allure of the Seas will cruise its inaugural season, mirroring Oasis of the Seas’ alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries. Oasis of the Seas also will sail two special holiday cruises, a five-night voyage departing December 18, calling at Labadee and Falmouth, Jamaica; and a nine-night voyage departing December 30, calling at Labadee, Falmouth, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, debuting in November 2009 and 2010 respectively, will feature Royal Caribbean’s new neighborhood concept, seven themed areas throughout the ship that offer different experiences for guests to choose, based on their personal styles, preferences or moods. Inspired by seaside entertainment esplanades, Boardwalk will engage the entire family – whether young or young at heart – with eateries, retail outlets, carnival games, and an original, handcrafted carousel – a first at sea. Nine decks above, the first zip-line at sea will whisk guests from end to end on a thrilling aerial adventure. Boardwalk will lead to the AquaTheater at the stern of the ship, where the amphitheater – another first at sea – will offer a guest pool area by day and a performance venue at night, featuring dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet, professional high-diving, and elaborate fountain shows synchronized to music and lights.
Onboard every Royal Caribbean ship, guests enjoy the cruise line’s award-winning Broadway-style musical revues from Royal Caribbean Productions, acclaimed Adventure Ocean kids and teen programming, world-class gaming in the Casino Royale, and Royal Caribbean’s renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service from every staff and crew member.