Cruise Guides > Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Don't let the name fool you. While Royal Caribbean certainly can take you to numerous ports of call throughout the beautiful Caribbean Islands, this cruise company has so much more to offer.

Certainly, the Caribbean has always been the company's specialty and few cruise lines know these islands better. Royal Caribbean Cruises will whisk you to some of the finest ports in this region of the world, like St. Kitts, Curacao, Belize, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Margarita Island, and Tortola. While there, you can mingle with the locals, go scuba diving, shop the outdoor markets, hobnob with native wildlife, enjoy off-road tours, or golf on some of the world's most stunning courses.

But if the Caribbean isn't your desired destination, Royal Caribbean can offer you a wide variety of additional itineraries, including trips to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, and the Panama Canal. Transatlantic cruises are popular as well, with eastbound trips occurring in the spring and westbound voyages in the fall. On these transatlantic voyages, you might stop in England, France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia in Canada.

Royal Caribbean Cruises also offer Cruisetours because, as they say, "there are some places a 900-foot cruise ship can't go." Cruisetours are combination land/sea vacations and Royal Caribbean offers 19 cruisetours to Alaska, four cruisetours to the Canadian Rockies, and four cruisetours to Europe, including two from Harwich (London), England and two from Barcelona, Spain.

However, if you're staying on the ship throughout your cruise, you'll find more than enough activities to keep you busy for days. Some of Royal Caribbean's ships have their own sports decks, featuring a basketball court, jogging track, a golf simulator and a golf course. Many, however, flock to the line's signature rock climbing wall. Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to have one onboard and passengers love the adrenaline rush of climbing this 30 foot high wall.

For the less adventurous, there's gaming at the casino, cooking demonstrations, ice skating (on some ships), karaoke, trivia contests, game shows, dance instruction, and pool games. Of course, you could do nothing at all, which is part of the beauty of cruising.

Royal Caribbean Cruises' fleet is impressive. Currently, 19 ships sail for Royal Caribbean and a 20th ship, Freedom of the Seas, is due to set sail in mid-2006. The Freedom will feature flat panel TVs in all rooms, extensive WiFi capabilities, both the rock wall and ice rink, and the amazing 14-guest Presidential Family Suite.

The Voyager Family of Ships (Adventure, Explorer, Mariner, Navigator, Voyager) are considered among the most innovative ships currently sailing on the waters of the world and the magnificent Radiance of the Seas boasts a 10-story glass-constructed Centrum (atrium), glass elevators facing the sea, and the highest percentage of outside cabins in the entire Royal Caribbean fleet.