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Posts Tagged ‘Royal Caribbean Cruises’

New to Cruise

Your complete guide

1st Time Cruising

IS IT YOUR FIRST TIME ….. ON A CRUISE?

OR….. NEVER BEEN AND THINKING ABOUT IT?

Taking a cruise is the IN thing in the holiday world – lots of people take their first cruise in trepidation with lots of misgivings only to find they are not true and wonder why they never cruised before. Many get the bug and end up taking a couple of cruises each year. Cruising is the fastest growing sector of the holiday industry with more than a million people in the United Kingdom taking a cruise each year.

Here‘s why:

CRUISES COST TOO MUCH

When asked – most non cruises expect Caribbean cruises to cost upwards of £1500 per person and Mediterranean cruises to anything from £1000pp. Also many people are not sure what is included in the cost – many think that flights and tax are additional. Here – at Jetline we have been at the leading edge of the cruise industry for the past 10 years bringing to the public new and innovative ways to enjoy a cruise holiday. Our collective expertise and contacts in the cruise industry mean that we can provide amazing cruise deals and great prices which are hard to match elsewhere. We pride ourselves in being the first to find incredible prices, exclusive offers and bespoke packages.

Cruises start from only £399 into the med for a week, Caribbean from £699 and the Nile from £399 including 10 excursions. These prices include stateroom accommodation, any flights that are required to take you to your port of departure, food virtually 24 hours per day and all port / air tax and fuel surcharges.

Also included are the majority of facilities and entertainment on board such as – theatrical shows every nights, nightclubs, variety shows, fitness centre, swimming pools, hot tubs and much more. Plus you will always find tea and coffee on tap 24 hours a day. Extras may include: tips foe the cabin crew, transfers ( in the case or our exclusive low cost tailor made cruise holidays), on board drinks that are served to you at the bar and at dinner, specialty restaurants, excursions and any additional service such as massages etc.

CRUISES ARE FOR SNOBS

Gone are the days of the Titanic with the first Class people on the upper deck and steerage passengers in the bowels of the ship. Cabins are priced from the bottom upwards and all passengers have access to all public areas of the ships. Cruises these days are a classless society.

CRUISES ARE FOR OLD PEOPLE

Cruises were traditionally the realm of the retired – but these days the average of the cruises if around the mid forties. Gone are the days of sedate cruises sitting in a deck chair under a tartan blanket, dressing up, ball room dancing and perhaps a game of shuffleboard for the energetic. Cruise ships have an incredible range of facilities and are built to appeal to all age groups. Perfect for families with a wide range of children’s clubs and facilities which far surpass the best land based resorts. Ideal for couple young and old and amazingly satisfying for the most energetic of holiday makers. After all you would not catch grandma in the video games arcade, scuba diving, rock climbing or ice skating … would you???

CRUISES ARE TOO FORMAL

Pardon – no way. Gone are the days of dressing for dinner every night and jostling for position at the captain’s table. Some cruise lines even go out of their way to market themselves as informal – one tag line sums it all up – “The cruise for people who don’t do cruises!”. During a standard 7 day cruise most cruise ships will hold only 2 formal nights in the main restaurant for dinner only. Formal could mean as little as a business suit for the gentlemen and trouser / skirt suit for the ladies. If you did not want to participate you could simple eat in one of the many other places on board. Throughout the day casual attire (as you would wear in any beach resort) is the norm. Even on Cunard you could get away with cruising without any formal clothes at all.

CRUISES ARE TOO CONFINED AND ORGANISED

Imagine standing outside a 14 storey office block that is the length of four football pitches. The building towers above you and stretches further than the eye can see without turning you head. This is the size of typical modern cruise ship above the water line – confined – I don’t think so. Ships are being built bigger and bigger – the average size of ships these days being twice the size of the Titanic and 1.5 times the size of the QE2. Quite often with so much to see and the different ports of call many people disembark without having seen the whole ship. As with any beach resort hotel there are organised activities – but equally passengers are free to do their own thing: many cruise ships having dining options at any time, pool areas that have no organised events and each port of call you do not have to book organised excursions – you simply get off and do your own thing. Also you can escape the crowds and find quieter parts of the ship and bars to enjoy some solitude if needed.

CRUISES ARE BORING

Imagine a hotel with the following : 13 bars, 9 restaurants, 3 swimming pools, 24 hour pizzeria (free), rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, 1400 seat theatre, mini golf course, in line skating, night club, shopping mall, casino; state of the art panoramic fitness centre, saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms, thalasso therapy pool, thermal relaxation lounges, sports court, surfing pools, 4 kids clubs, internet café, video arcade, and cinema. Plus when you walk out of your hotel you can visit a different set of beaches, local shops, historical sights and places of interest each day. Ask yourself again … Are cruises boring????

CRUISES TAKE TOO LONG

That’s the point – see more and do more whilst your floating resort cruises between destinations. Avoid travelling time in planes, trains and automobiles and enjoy all your floating resort has to offer as it takes you on to the next destination. Wake up at a different destination each day and take several holidays in one.

CRUISES ARE TOO COMPLICATED

You check – as you would a hotel. Drinks and excursions are charged back to your room – as you would in a hotel, the difference being that there is so much more choice on a cruise than the limited facilities of a hotel resort. Everything is at hand at no extra charge – unlike a hotel. No need to find other places to eat and drink unlike the limited choice at a hotel. No need to work out how far places are and what taxi’s cost to see different places of interest – unlike a hotel. What could be simpler than a cruise?

CRUISES DONT HAVE ENOUGHT TO DO

Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Cruises are actually floating luxury hotels and some of the larger ones have more facilities than your local town. Imagine Ice skating in the Caribbean, rock climbing in Alaska or catching a wave on their brand new surf simulator called the flow rider. These ships have everything on them from gyms, theaters, libraries, internet cafes and more bars and restaurants than you can imagine. If just sitting down reading a book is your thing then you can do as little or as much as you want. And remember nearly everything is covered in the price.

PEOPLE GET SEASICK

Yes they do – if they are ultra sensitive or crossing the Atlantic in a Force 10. The majority of cruise holidays cruise around sheltered waters such as the Med, the Caribbean or the Alaskan coastline. All modern ships have stabilisers on them which reduce the rocking motion and all public areas and passenger accommodations are on decks above the waterline. Quite often passengers do not realise the ship is moving until they look out of the window! If you are ultra sensitive – book a cabin in the middle of the ship on a low deck when any motion is minimal.

Seasickness – not an excuse!

….. GO ON TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH – BOOK YOUR CRUISE – YOU WILL GET HOOKED!

A recent survey by www.idealcruising.co.uk of it’s British customers on board a Royal Caribbean cruise around the Mediterranean revealed that the number one reason that they chose Royal Caribbean was because they perceived the cruise line to offer non-traditional cruises. When digging deeper it was clear that customers had been swayed by Royal Caribbean’s advertising campaigns that had featured product innovations such as a rock climbing wall, an ice rink, and flow-rider.

Royal Caribbean’s Flow Rider produces artificial waves that recreates a surfing environment on the deck of the ship. The flow rider which is features onboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas shoots waves at 30 MPH, and an incredible 60,000 gallons of water a minute. It’s a great feeling riding the waves on board a 150,000 tonne ship that is riding some even bigger waves below you. Falling off however in front of several hundred people watching you can be humiliating however!

 The rock climbing wall is a really popular feature, and all the safety aspects are covered. Royal Caribbean staff are there to supervise you in a one-to-one ratio, and they are there to support you if you are struggling. Helmets and special rock climbing boots are also provided, and the great thing is that this is all at no extra cost. You don’t have to have any previous experience and as long as you have reasonable fitness levels it is a great introduction to an exhilarating sport.

 Another popular aspect of Royal Caribbean the various whirl pools that are located on the main deck. These are open all day and also in the evening, and after dark they are a popular hang-out place for teenagers.

For those that prefer a more energetic cruise, Royal Caribbean have an amazing state of the art gym, with an array of cardiovascular exercise machines all of which face out towards inspiring panoramic views of the ocean when the ship is at sea. There are also a selection of aerobic, spinning and yoga classes taking place throughout the day.

Ice skating is yet another differentiating activity that is available, which defies the conventional thinking of what you can do on a cruise. For those however that prefer not to be inside on a sunny day, roller blading up on the main deck is a good alternative, and for those less energetic, the mini golf again on the main deck is great entertainment for all the family and even those not blessed with sporting acumen. 

 Those responding to the survey when probed about the priority that they put on the ship’s facilities and product innovations showed that it was not the individual product features that were important, but more the collective impact that they had in creating an image of a cruise that was a fun experience and pitched at a more youthful audience. Respondents also referred to on board activities such as karaoke, themed disco nights in the main concourse of the ship, and state of the art gyms as other examples of what made the experience on board a Royal Caribbean ship a positive one. When asked about if they would consider a cruise again with Royal Caribbean, over 90% replied positively, with value for money as the number one factor, followed by high customer service and then entertainment

 

There are many cruise ships now that have Freestyle Dining (Norwegian Cruises) or Choice Dining (Prince Cruise line) available. Or on Disney Cruise Lines they have what is called “Rotational Dining”. They have you and your tablemates rotate through the three restaurants each evening.

TIP: There is usually open seating for breakfast and lunch in the main dining room. Be adventurous with the menu because if you don’t like something you can send it back for a replacement. And if they have two things on the menu that you like ask for both of them. My husband, John, always orders the Filet Mignon and the Lobster Tail when they are served on the same night. Many times he tells the waiter to bring what the waiter recommends for that evening.

This means you don’t have to choose first or second seating. (First seating is 6:00 to 6:30 and Second seating is usually 8:00-8:30). There can be more than one restaurant where you just walk in when you are ready to dine. Every ship will ask for your dining preference when you book your cruise. You can indicate first, second or flexible dining, whichever will make you more comfortable. The newer ships have a 24 hour dining spot which is always casual so if you don’t want to do the formal nights you don’t have to, although I find dressing up to be quite fun.

You will have many options for each meal. You may have any meal delivered to your room, taken in the buffet restaurant or in the dining room. There is usually outdoor dining around the pool with hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza, salads, even Tacos.

There are also alternative dining rooms available on some ships that require an additional fee but the service and food are generally 4 to 5 star and worth it if you want to splurge.

In my experience families with young children and people who go to bed early usually dine in first seating. But if you don’t want to be on a schedule or want to meet new people every night, go for the alternative dining option. Of course you can always ask for a table for two, but be aware that there are only a few of them.

If you make a special request one night, John always asks for blue cheese, your waiter will bring it every night. They pride themselves on remembering your tastes. (This only happens when you choose traditional dining). On one cruise we asked for Melba toast, and you bet, every night we had Melba toast. There is one thing I always make clear to the waiter. I am not a big eater but I like to taste everything. I tell this to them the first night so they don’t think I am unhappy with the food. It is their job to keep you happy and they take it very seriously.

If you don’t want to eat in the main dining room almost all ships have a Lido café where it is casual but you order from a menu and are served by a waiter. It’s one of the many choices if you don’t want to participate in a formal night or if you just want to eat by yourselves. On Carnivals single cruises they encourage this style of dining so the singles can meet more people. There are exceptions to this but not many. On some of the newer ships the Lido is open 24 hours a day.

On most of the cruise lines they offer the food of the region that you are visiting. While on Hawaiian cruises expect to be served Hawaiian food. When on an Alaskan cruise you will be given the choices of salmon and Alaskan king crab legs. It makes more fun to dine on the local cuisine.

All of the cruise lines offer healthy alternative menus or what they call spa menus. So if you want low-fat, low-salt, low cholesterol, vegetarian or any other type of diet, they are available. It is best however to inform your travel agent of any special needs so they can notify the cruise line ahead of time. If you have special dietary needs make sure the cruise lines knows before hand. For example, Royal Caribbean cruises cater to food allergy, Kosher, Indian, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Diets.
To be really safe read all of the cruise reviews and cruise critics sites for each ships food and service ratings.

Happy Cruising, enjoy it, we do!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

There are many cruise ships now that have Freestyle Dining (Norwegian Cruises) or Choice Dining (Prince Cruise line) available. Or on Disney Cruise Lines they have what is called “Rotational Dining”. They have you and your table mates rotate through the three restaurants each evening.
CRUISE TIPS: There is usually open seating for breakfast and lunch in the main dining room. Be adventurous with the menu because if you don’t like something you can send it back for a replacement. And if they have two things on the menu that you like ask for both of them. My husband, John, always orders the Filet Mignon and the Lobster Tail when they are served on the same night. Many times he tells the waiter to bring what the waiter recommends for that evening.
This means you don’t have to choose first or second seating. (First seating is 6:00 to 6:30 and Second seating is usually 8:00-8:30). There can be more than one restaurant where you just walk in when you are ready to dine. Every ship will ask for your dining preference when you book your cruise. You can indicate first, second or flexible dining, whichever will make you more comfortable. The newer ships have a 24 hour dining spot which is always casual so if you don’t want to do the formal nights you don’t have to, although I find dressing up to be quite fun.
You will have many options for each meal. You may have any meal delivered to your room, taken in the buffet restaurant or in the dining room. There is usually outdoor dining around the pool with hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza, salads, even Tacos.
There are also alternative dining rooms available on some ships that require an additional fee but the service and food are generally 4 to 5 star and worth it if you want to splurge.
In my experience families with young children and people who go to bed early usually dine in first seating. But if you don’t want to be on a schedule or want to meet new people every night, go for the alternative dining option. Of course you can always ask for a table for two, but be aware that there are only a few of them.
If you make a special request one night, John always asks for blue cheese, your waiter will bring it every night. They pride themselves on remembering your tastes. (This only happens when you choose traditional dining). On one cruise we asked for Melba toast, and you bet, every night we had Melba toast. There is one thing I always make clear to the waiter. I am not a big eater but I like to taste everything. I tell this to them the first night so they don’t think I am unhappy with the food. It is their job to keep you happy and they take it very seriously.
If you don’t want to eat in the main dining room almost all ships have a Lido café where it is casual but you order from a menu and are served by a waiter. It’s one of the many choices if you don’t want to participate in a formal night or if you just want to eat by yourselves. On Carnivals single cruises they encourage this style of dining so the singles can meet more people. There are exceptions to this but not many. On some of the newer ships the Lido is open 24 hours a day.
On most of the cruise lines they offer the food of the region that you are visiting. While on Hawaiian cruises expect to be served Hawaiian food. When on an Alaskan cruise you will be given the choices of salmon and Alaskan king crab legs. It makes more fun to dine on the local cuisine.
All of the cruise lines offer healthy alternative menus or what they call spa menus. So if you want low-fat, low-salt, low cholesterol, vegetarian or any other type of diet, they are available. It is best however to inform your travel agent of any special needs so they can notify the cruise line ahead of time. If you have special dietary needs make sure the cruise lines knows before hand. For example, Royal Caribbean cruises cater to food allergy, Kosher, Indian, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Diets.
To be really safe read all of the cruise reviews and cruise critics sites for each ships food and service ratings.
Happy Cruising, enjoy it, we do!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Starting life in the late 1960’s the Royal Caribbean now stands as the world’s second largest cruise line and also one of the most popular. It started due to the fact a consortium of Norwegian ship owners wanted to get involved in the rapidly expanding American market and that is exactly what they have done. Its first ship debuted in 1970 and since then they have prided themselves on introducing new shipboard innovations. By the early 1990’s the Royal Caribbean moved into their next challenge, which involved designing ships for use outside its traditional cruising grounds in the Caribbean. This challenge was then met in 1995 with the introduction of Legend of the Seas, a spectacular new ship that brought Royal Caribbean into a whole new era.

 The Royal Caribbean cruise line now visits over a hundred ports of call in some of the world’s most stunning locations. These locations include the rugged beauty that is so often associated with Alaska and Canada through to the appeal of Europe and the luxuriant landscapes of Mexico, the Caribbean and Hawaii as well as the Panama Canal, Bermuda and the Bahamas. This particular cruise line isn’t however only popular due to its vast list of locations it is also down to the diverse activities that they ships have to offer, so what are these activities? And is there something to suit all tastes?

 Rock climbing, mini golf and ice skating as well as swimming pools and FlowRider® Surf Park are just some of the activities that holiday makers are able to take part in. It is important to have variety when it comes to activities in order to cater for everyone’s needs, plus on top of this you also get to take part in shore excursions that occur across a vast array of destinations. These leisure facilities and entertainment also go on throughout the day and even late into the night

 Staying on the subject of entertainment, all good cruises need a decent selection of both daytime and evening entertainment. On a Royal Caribbean cruise you are generally presented with two main types of evening entertainment. The ships tend to put on glitzy Vegas style production shows, which have been named as some of the most impressive among cruise lines. As well as this they also host passenger participation games that allow guests to get a bit more involved. These two examples represent the main forms of entertainment but as I previously mentioned there needs to be variety, which is why there is also a wide range of musical entertainment available in a number of public rooms. These ships even have parades and “street performers” in the Royal Promenade, which is a unique entertainment feature that can’t be seen on any other ships.

 The ships that make up the Royal Caribbean cruise line were voted the best family ships available so what makes this particular line stand out from others? Well one factor is they are considered to be the most diverse as they cater the most for everyone, where as other lines tend to focus on a particular age group or section of people. For example the NCL line considers itself to be a ‘freestyle’ line. This generally means you will have to undertake aspects such as making dinner reservations every day. Another example is Carnival cruise. They are an example of a cruise line that is aimed at a particular crowd of people; they aim at a younger crowd as they have more of a party atmosphere, where as the Princess line leans more towards an older crowd.

 It is important that when you are considering this type of holiday that you look into the different cruise lines that are available to you, including the Royal Caribbean cruise line, who I genuinely feel you will find what you are looking for with.

Founded in 1969 by three Norwegian shipping companies, Royal Caribbean has grown to be one of the largest and richest cruise lines in the world.
Based in Miami, Florida, Royal Caribbean offer a fleet of twenty ships with three currently being built – one of which has been stated to include a New York style Central Park area, inclusive of walkways covered by growing trees and lush greenery, shopping boutiques, an art gallery, five restaurants and cafés and two separate bars – and that’s only in this 100m square area!
Aimed at young and old, groups and couples, there’s a Royal Caribbean cruise for everyone. On board any Royal Caribbean ship you can find bars, pubs, theatres, cinemas, sit down restaurants, buffet restaurants, cafés, swimming pools, gyms, health centres and not forgetting casinos and shopping centres! What’s more, on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there’s a Viking Crown Lounge – a bar at the very top of the ship offering breathtaking panoramic views. Further to this, Royal Caribbean manage to mix classic cruising with modern cruising – whilst there is the still the formal Captain’s dinner, it’s not compulsory – but well worth it!
The Royal Caribbean fleet is divided into six different classes – Oasis Class, Freedom Class, Voyager Class, Radiance Class, Vision Class and Sovereign Class – with each class having its own of fleet of ships. Each of these classes travels to different destinations and offer slightly different cruises experiences. For example, the ships in the Oasis Class are the biggest in the world, meaning more people, more restaurants and many more activities. Whilst the ships in the Sovereign Class are some of the smaller Royal Caribbean cruise ships, they are definitely not quiet or activity free!
All of the Royal Caribbean ships can be distinguished by their name, as they all end in “…of the Seas”. Whether you’re sailing on the Liberty of the Seas or the Majesty of the Seas, you can rest assured that you’ll receive quality all the way on your Royal Caribbean ship.
Royal Caribbean cruises travel to over 100 destinations, meaning there’s a destination for everyone. Whether it’s the natural, rugged beauty of Canada, the kangaroos and koalas in Australia or the crystal clear sea and white beaches of Hawaii, Royal Caribbean travel to somewhere for everyone.
One extra that Royal Caribbean has over other cruise lines is they offer two completely private destinations for its guests. Labadee, a beautiful coastal resort in Northern Haiti and Coco Cay, a private island in the Bahamas are exclusive to Royal Caribbean cruises. These two resorts provide totally private destinations for guests and feature stunning beeches with lush palm trees and shaded canopies.
With the number of people taking a cruise expected to top 12.8 million throughout 2008, there hasn’t been a better time to find a great deal for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Whether it’s a short, weekend cruise around Europe or a month long cruise in the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean will ensure you have the best cruise experience – both on board and off.

Both new and experienced cruisers will enjoy the luxurious and extraordinary amenities which are available onboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise. All of Royal Caribbean’s ships have a variety of restaurants, bars, casinos and scheduled evening entertainment as well as a whole host of the expected daytime amenities such as pools, spas and fitness centres.
What makes Royal Caribbean Cruises stand out from its competitors are the additional exciting amenities for children and the more adventurous which include ice skating, a rock climbing wall and a Surfinder!
Royal Caribbean Cruises also have Adventure Hosts who are there to ensure your cruise lives up to your every expectation and more.
A five night ‘Spice of Southeast Asia’ cruise on the ship ‘The Legend of the Sea’ departs from Singapore and includes onboard accommodation, the majority of meals, some drinks and most of the onboard entertainment. This exotic cruise takes in a wide variety of spectacular sights and fantastic opportunities for duty free shopping.
This cruise is also sold to guests from Asia and the onboard food, drinks and entertainment are focused on Asian cultures and preferences. English is spoken onboard, however, it should be noted that the local language will be spoken by the majority of the crew. These cultural differences makes this cruise ideal for those who wish to sample and be part of the wonderful Asian way of luxurious life.
The cruise begins in Singapore and sets sail during the evening to begin cruising the Andaman Sea. Day two is spent at sea relaxing onboard, making new acquaintances or packing the day full of exciting activities. The ship docks in Phuket, Thailand at breakfast time and remains in port for a whole day, giving more than ample time to explore the whole island, as it is only just over one hours drive from north to south. There are a number of optional excursions available including rain forest trekking through the Khao Phra Taew National Park or a ride on an elephant. Phuket also has glorious beaches which has some amazing snorkelling opportunities for those who adore the beach.
Passengers rejoin the ship to sail through the night arriving in Langawi, Malaysia first thing in the morning. These magical ninety-nine islands are surrounded with myths, legends, ancient geological wonders, caves and mist shrouded mountains which provide some for the most spectacular scenery in the world. This tropical paradise is a perfect holiday destination for those who relish experiencing the unusual and impressive landscape. The ship leaves this spectacular area in the late afternoon and continues to cruise overnight before docking in Port Kelang. This fascinating and breathtaking area is a blend of Malaysian, Chinese and European influences offering a whole host of optional excursions for optimum sightseeing experiences as well as fantastic shopping in vibrant Kuala Lumpar. Passengers rejoin the ship in the early evening to spend their final night onboard a truly luxurious liner before disembarking in Singapore the following morning.
Royal Caribbean Cruises operate in the traditional way of cruising with gratuities expected and not all amenities included in the price, however, they do offer the ultimate of luxurious cruising experiences.