Everyone knows that Royal Caribbean Cruise offer more than just a Caribbean Cruise; their ships are the most innovative cruise ships at sea, including the Voyager class of cruise ships that introduced a rock-climbing wall, an ice-skating rink and a bustling boulevard lined with shops and cafes to the cruise world. It is a perfect place for people-watching while cruising. Another feature of the boulevard (known as the Promenade Deck) is that on each side of the Promenade deck, there are cabins that are technically internal cabins but have windows offering a view onto the Promenade deck.
Currently there are five classes of ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, the Freedom class ships, the largest cruise ships in the world at 160,000 tons are basically larger versions of the Voyager class ships and the first to offer a flow rider machine, where you can practise your surfing many stories above sea level. The Voyager class ships at 138,000 tons as stated earlier introduced many new innovative activities and features. The Radiance class at 90,000 tons reportedly has more open space, balconies and glass (proportionately) than the other cruise ships and are many peoples favourite class. The Radiance class appears to be a mixture of a smaller version of the Voyager class ship and a larger version of the slightly older Vision class. The Vision class of ships are 79,000 tons and have so much glass that they are often considered the best ships where viewing is paramount. The last class is the 73,000 ton Sovereign class, first built in 1988.
Brief History of Royal Caribbean Cruise
Royal Caribbean Cruise received widespread global recognition when in 1982 it launched the Song of America, over twice the size of Sun Viking and at the time the third largest passenger vessel afloat (after the Norway and the QE2). With the launch in 2006 of Royal Caribbean Cruises Freedom Family class of ships and the Freedom of the Seas they now hold the title of the largest cruise ships in the world, first held by them with the launch of Voyager of the Seas. This title will be further sealed in 2008 with the launch of Royal Caribbean cruises 220,000 ton Genesis of the Seas, a ship so massive it will carry some 5,400 passengers.
The innovations of Royal Caribbean Cruise do not start just with their ships; in 1986 they purchased coastal property in Haiti for use as a private destination for its guests on a Caribbean cruise, it is now called Labadee. In the same year Royal Caribbean purchased its second private destination, Little Stirrup Cay, one of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, which they rechristened Coco Cay. Royal Caribbean is one of a few cruise lines that match an abundance of onboard activities and entertainment with spectacular cruising destinations.
Royal Caribbean Cruise' CEO Richard Fain visited London on February 26, 2007 to make a "major news announcement" about a "major increase in European deployment and new-build ships". There had been speculation for some time as to what is going to happen to Independence of the Seas, the third of the Freedom class ships, at the time under construction at the Aker ship yard in Finland and due to enter service in May 2008. Previously Royal Caribbean Cruise, had signed a 10 million, seven-year deal with the Port of Southampton to enlarge the port's City Cruise Terminal. Associated British Ports (owners of Southampton's Cruise Terminal) said at the time, the agreement to expand the terminal was "so it can accommodate the new generation of large cruise ships." With Navigator of the Seas imminent arrival, one could imagine, this was why the agreement was signed. However it now seems that the expansion was so that the Independence of the Seas could cruise out of Southampton after its inauguration.
Royal Caribbean Cruise are now set to have 6 ships in Europe for 2008, Independence and Jewel of the Seas offering Cruise Holidays out of the UK, with Voyager and Navigator of the Seas out of Barcelona, Splendour of the Seas in Venice and Legend of the Seas ported in Rome.
