Royal Caribbean Cruises
If ever a cruise line has embraced the adage 'big is beautiful' it is Royal Caribbean International. The company that never does anything by halves will add even bigger ships to its fleet of 18 super and megaships next year, when it launches the first in its Freedom-class vessels.
In 1999 it made headlines when Voyager of the Seas, weighing 142,000 tons, was launched in the Caribbean as the largest ship in the world.
The line moved quickly and launched a sister ship each year until it had five in the Voyager fleet, each just a little different from the other. And hand-in-hand with this frenzy of megaship building, Royal Caribbean International was busy launching its smaller class of vessel, which it called Radiance. But small to Royal Caribbean is big in everyone else's language. The Radiance group of four ships each weighed 88,000 tons.
Somewhere amidst all this activity Cunard launched the Queen Mary 2, an elegant ship that not only evoked a by-gone era of cruising but also managed to steal the 'biggest ship' accolade from under Royal Caribbean's nose.
Never to be outdone for long Royal Caribbean International retaliated and next year will reclaim the title with the launch of Freedom of the Seas. At 158,000 tons it has eclipsed the gigantic QM2 by 10,000 tons.
Some cruise lines like to brag about size, but does size really matter and is bigger really that much better? Royal Caribbean International says that size allows ships to offer more innovative, exciting and unexpected facilities and the cruise-experienced American market would certainly seem to demand something new.
The biggest RCI ships, the Voyager- and Freedom-class vessels, ply the calmer waters of the Caribbean. This is the company's mainstay destination. The majority of its huge fleet are deployed on seven-night itineraries in the Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean. This is the playground of the huge US market and it attracts a loyal band of cruise passengers who return year after year to soak up the fun and sun. For many passengers the ship is the destination and Royal Caribbean does not disappoint.
Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships
But while size has created the headlines, Royal Caribbean International is also known for its consistency across its huge fleet. Firstly all its 19 ships now have the same naming pattern, ranging from the smallest Empress of the Seas to the mighty Freedom of the Seas, with others such as Vision of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas in between.
Each class of vessel tends to have the same facilities (with some slight variations) and service and product delivery are said to be the same. Pricing is similar regardless of which class of vessel you choose, with fare variations occurring only when different destinations are chosen.
Big ships mean lots of passengers and Royal Caribbean International is only for those who like to experience the joys of cruising with thousands of others.
The five Voyager-class vessels carry 3114 guests in lower berth accommodation, which means there are likely to be more people on board if three- or four-berth cabins are also sold.
The new Freedom of the Seas will carry more (3634 passengers in twin-berth). So big and better also means busier and invariably longer queues.RCI executives say the ships never feel overcrowded as the many public areas and well-organized program of non-stop activities means passengers are spread out over a huge area.
But the question remains: apart from size what makes Royal Caribbean different? The answer is innovation. RCI has made its mark through constant innovation. It was the first cruise company to introduce an 18-hole miniature golf course when it launched Legend of the Seas in 1995. It has gone on to build onboard rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, in-line skating tracks, TV studios, concert arenas and horizontal (as opposed to vertical) atriums. Other amazing features include bars with massive salt-tanks filled with tropical fish, 1950s-style restaurants where the waiters sing and dance while you munch on hamburgers, and wedding chapels positioned at the highest point on the ship.
This non-stop urge to amaze its passengers will continue with the launch of Freedom of the Seas in May 2006. It will be the first ship ever to feature a 'surf park', where passengers can ride surfboards and boogie boards down a cascading wave. Known as a FlowRider, the 'wave' will descend from Deck 13 to Deck 12 and measure 12 metres long by 10 metres wide. Five to 10 passengers can ride the wave at the same time, either by standing up on their boards or lying flat. The design features a tensioned-fabric surface similar to atrampoline, which will act as a cushion to absorb the impact of falls.
The surf park will be one of four 'aqua environments' on the ship. The others will be an adults-only solarium with swimming pools, rainforest retreat area and two whirlpools that will hang out over the sides of the ship; a main pool area with two pools (one dedicated to sports such as volleyball, floating golf and synchronized swimming); and a children's water park with geysers, fountains and waterfalls.
Other innovations include flat screen televisions in many cabins, extra large family accommodation (for six and eight people) and extra climbing routes on the ever-popular rock-climbing wall. Not everyone will want to climb rocks or speed around an in-line skating track, but there are many unique Royal Caribbean features that have the 'wow' factor.
The Viking Crown Lounge is a feature of every ship in the fleet and is located at the very top of the ship (or just below the wedding chapel on some ships). It has 360-degree views and is the perfect place for an evening drink.
The Royal Promenade has been described as Main Street, USA and is located in the heart of the ship. It is a boulevard of shops and cafs, measuring two football fields long and four decks high. It is a feature of all five Voyager-class vessels and the new Freedom ship. It has round-the-clock dining in the caf, while outlets include an English pub, a Latin nightclub and a sports bar with satellite television. It's literally the centre of town and the venue for street theatre and dancing.
Johnny Rockets diner is described as 'Happy Days at sea' and is featured on Voyager and Freedom ships. It's a 1950s-style eatery with alfresco booth seating looking out over the ocean. Hamburgers and shakes are served while the bobby-socked staff put on a dance performance.
Portofino and Chops Grille are two speciality Italian and steak restaurants serving exceptional cuisine. One or both alternative restaurants will be found on most of the megaships and diners pay a surcharge of around US$20.
Most ships feature the Solarium, an indoor-outdoor relaxing pool and spa area away from the activity of the main pool and children's pool.The Main Dining Room on Voyager and Freedom ships is an enormous and stunning three-tier room adorned with towering columns and a huge crystal chandelier. These latest ships also feature inside cabins with balconies. This seemingly amazing feat is achieved by positioning the balconies over the Royal Promenade rather than the sea.
And children haven't been forgotten. The Adventure Ocean Program is acclaimed as one of the best children's programs of any cruise line, and is tailored to cater for five separate age groups from three-year-olds to late teens. Activities include pool parties, karaoke, hands-on science experiments, scavenger hunts, talent shows and lots more.
So it's easy to see why a Royal Caribbean cruise will appeal to passengers who love to be entertained, enjoy the latest innovations, revel in a wide choice of public rooms, bars and restaurants, and don't mind mixing with a few thousand other people. The ships are as far removed from a classic cruise ship as one can imagine. They have a big following in the US, are great for families but have enough facilities to appeal to a wider audience.Interestingly, the most popular Royal Caribbean International destination for Australians is Alaska. The ships cruising these waters are the Vision- and Radiance-class vessels, which carry 2000 passengers and 2100 passengers respectively in two-berth configuration.
Written by Caroline Gladstone - 22, Summer 2005-2006