Family Cruise Holidays with Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International Family Holidays

Travel Agents voted Royal Caribbean the number one cruise line in 2013 for both families with young children and families with teens. 

On top of that, after recent surveys from Royal Caribbean, they found that 9 out of 10 of their guests would recommend them to friends. So here are just a few reasons why Royal Caribbean cruises are so highly recommended for families.

Activities:

There is something for everyone on board, no matter what their age - face painting, story time, science experiments, breakfast with Shrek, fashion design with Barbie, karaoke, exclusive spaces for teens only with DJ mixing decks and lots more.

Dining:

Where do I start? Guests can dine in the fantastic Main Dining Room as well as a selection of complimentary cafes. The famous Windjammer Buffet is open 24 hours for late night munches. If you fancy something a little more special, there's a massive range of speciality dining encompassing world-cuisine and casual options.

Family Favourites:

Royal Caribbean are working with some world famous brands such as Dreamworks, Barbie, Universal Studios Resorts, Fisher Price and Crayola, to make the on board experience second to none for families.

Kids Club:

Whether your children are 6 months or 17 years, or any age in-between, they will find a dedicated youth facility to suit them.

Parents:

Parents also need to have fun. So when kids are away having fun, parents can find lots to do. Royal Caribbean offer "sitters at sea" service so parents can make the most out of their holiday.

Rooms:

Due to the vast variety of cabins on offer with Royal Caribbean, they are able to cater for all families needs. From a cabin for 4 people to a suite for 16, they have much choice for families whether it be big or small.

Included in the Holiday Price:

All Meals*

Adventure Ocean Kids Club

Flowrider

The Dreamworks Experience

Ice Skating Rink

Theatre Shows

Mini golf course

All-you-can-eat Ice cream

Rock wall

Pools

Ice Spectaculars

Whirlpools

Nightclub

Boxing Ring

En Suite bathroom

Cinema/Screening room

Golf Simulator

Dance Classes

Running/Jogging track

steam room

Enrichment programme lectures

Chapel

Live music

Comedy Shows

Art Auctions

24 Hour Snacks

Gaming Lessons

Sports Court

Sauna

Fitness Centre

Centrum

In-line skating track

Library

Solarium

Teen Disco

Viking Crown Lounge

Room Service**

Parades

H2O Zone

Quizzes

Table Tennis

Pool Towels

Cooking demonstrations

Bingo

Tea/filter coffee

Karaoke

Art Gallery

Selected Soft Drinks 

* Main dining and Windjammer Cafe included - a supplementary fee is charged at other venues

** There is a small charge for this service after midnight.

Adventure Ocean for Kids:

When kids sign up to Adventure Ocean they'll be divided into one of three age groups, with activities and games tailored especially for each. Opening times are:

At Sea days 9am - 5pm, 7pm - 10pm

In port 30 minutes before the first excursion - 5pm, 7pm - 10pm

Aquanauts (3 - 5 years old)

- Finger Painting

- Here come the Dinosaurs

- Music Activities 

- Fun on the Farm

Explorers (6 - 8 years old)

- Pirate Night

- Backstage tour

- Pyjama Night

- Carnival Games

Voyagers (9 - 11 years old)

- Karaoke

- Sports Tournaments

- Pool Parties

- Scavenger Hunts

Teen Programmes:

Open until 1am

Age 12 - 14

- Sports tournaments

- Pool parties

- Karaoke and dance parties

- Video games

- Nintendo Wii activities 

Age 15 - 17

- Pool parties

- DJ training

- Nintendo Wii games like Guitar Hero

- Mixology classes

- Beginners guitar lessons 

TOP TIPS

• Always sign the children up for Adventure Ocean at the start of the Cruise, even if they're not sure if they want to go to begin with

• Before you go, get the kids involved with all the activities that can be done on board, so that they will have an idea of what interests them the most before they arrive

• Use the hand Cruise Compass daily newsletter (delivered to your stateroom daily) to find out about everything that is happening on board the next day

Download the new ipad app for children and adults to play. Penguinahoy is available to download from the app store now.

 

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Holland America Line - A Signature of Excellence

Holland America Line - A Signature of Excellence

They attract millions of passengers each year, both past and new passengers of Holland America Line, and here is why....

Their spacious, mid-sized ships accommodate far fewer guests than most cruise lines. On board Holland America ships you feel a sense of elegance and history...gleaming brass, precious art and antiques, sweeping staircases... all combined with state of the are modern amenities.

Guests relax in Large, comfortable staterooms, most with ocean views and many with private balconies; Dine in restaurants that sparkle with chandeliers, crystal and conversation - including the intimate "Pinnacle Grill" and the Informal Italian Canaletto.

All guests boarding a cruise ships expect the very best. Holland America Line delivers MORE, with a "Signature of Excellence" that enhances every aspect of the experience.

• Fleet of mid-sized ships accommodating 835 - 2,106 guests
• Elegant Public spaces adorned with fine art and fresh floral arrangements
• Fewer guests - more personal space
• Spacious Staterooms, many with private balcony
• Nearly one crew member for every two guests
• Fine dining with casual to formal options
• Culinary Arts centre, presented by Food & Wine magazine
• Greenhouse Spa and Salon
• Enrichment at sea and explorations ashore
• Full days ashore and overnight stays in some ports

Holland America Line - Five Pillars

Pillar One: Gracious Service

At the heart of Holland America Line experience is a team of dedicated staff that is adept in anticipating guests' desires. Their Indonesian and Filipino staff members are friendly yet courteous, attentive yet non-intrusive. 

• Personal concierge for Pinnacle and Neptune Suite guests
• More than 140 years of polished performance
• Enjoy your stateroom as soon as you board with Stateroom Direct Service
• Never in the way, Never out of reach

Pillar Two: Sophisticated Dining

With a choice of elegant restaurants, cafes and eateries - from casual bite poolside, a complimentary iced-tea on deck to a formal five-course affair served with true panache, guests will enjoy the delicious dining as they want.

• "As you wish" dining with flexible times and seating
• "Culinary Council" of acclaimed chefs providing innovative signature recipes and menu design
• Elegant main Dining Room for breakfast, lunch and brilliant five-course dinners.
• Intimate "Pinnacle Grill" including "An evening at Le Cirque"
• Relaxed Dining in Lido Restaurant 
• Classic Italian at Canaletto
• Pan-Asian Tamarind on board ms Eurodam and Ms Nieuw Amsterdam
• 24 Hour in room dining

Pillar Three: Spacious Staterooms

Holland America Line promote their staterooms as being 25% larger than most premium ships - even standard staterooms measure 197 square feet against an industry average of 147, and most ocean view accommodation offers both bathtub and shower, plus touches like hair dryers, fresh fruit and plush bathrobes for guest use on board.

• Elemis Aromapure's "Time to Spa" miniatures in each stateroom.
• Complimentary fresh fruit assortment and stainless steel ice buckets
• Flat panel Televisions with DVD Players
• Lighted magnifying mirrors and salon quality hair dryers
• Large, extra fluffy Egyptian cotton towels and plush bathrobes
• Luxurious Euro-top beds and premium linens
• Ocean View staterooms feature bathtub and shower
• Spacious staterooms, elegantly appointed and many with private balcony

Pillar Four: Inspired Activities 

The completion of their £350 million "Signature of Excellence" programme means that Holland America Line can now offer guests, what they claim to be one of the most enriching and exciting environments at sea - whatever their age or interests.

• Digital Workshop powered by windows
• Culinary Arts Centre, presented by Food & Wine magazine
• Award Winning Greenhouse Spa & Salon
• Explorations Cafe powered by the New York Times
• Club HAL for children and 'tweens; The Loft and The Oasis for teens
• Self guided I-Pod art tours of the precious paintings that adorn public areas
• Award Winning Shore excursions
• On Location programme, offering regionally inspired cuisine, events and entertainment

Pillar Five: Worldwide Destinations

Holland America Line cruise to all five continents across the globe. Wherever you want to go, chances are you can see it with Holland America Line - Here are some of their destination highlights:

• Mediterranean & Baltic
• Alaska & Canada
• Caribbean & Panama Canal
• Asia & Pacific
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America & Antarctica
• And beyond: Bermuda, Hawaii & Mexico
• Voyages: Sail to Asia and Africa direct from the UK.

I wont say too much about the destinations as I will be detailing more on destinations on a blog I will write soon - Keep checking for this!!

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Oasis of the Seas - My Experience

Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

Ever since taking my first cruise on the Freedom of the Seas back in March 2009, I have become a big fan of Royal Caribbean Cruises. I have been lucky enough to cruise with them 6 times since then, on board the Freedom Of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas and the Oasis Of the Seas. 

The Oasis of the Seas was Launched December 2009 becoming the largest ship in the world. They then Launched the Allure of the Seas one year later in December 2010 which was inches bigger than the Oasis, making the Allure the largest ship in the world and the Oasis second largest.

I was lucky enough to cruise on the Oasis in May 2010 in the Caribbean. We embarked our cruise in Fort Lauderdale which was an absolute breeze. There was no long queues to check in or at security, everything ran very smoothly and embarkation seemed quicker than I have experienced on smaller ships. This was quite surprising as there was nearly 2,000 more passengers than on something like the Freedom of the Seas.

Upon embarking the ship, you enter into the Royal Promenade where you are greeted by the sound of the 'Shooting Fountains' and the smell of freshly made cakes and sandwiches. The 'Rising Tide Bar' is a small bar that moves between the Royal Promenade and Central Park and this is always up on central park for the embarkation period, so guests can view the shooting fountains that are located beneath the bar.

Like most people, I like to have a dabble in the Casino whilst I am away on Holiday and I was blown away by the scale of the casino on board the Oasis. There are lots of slot machines and plenty of tables to cater for the 5,400 passenger capacity.

I was quite worried about the sun bed situation on board, as I was presuming it would be extremely difficult to locate a free sun bed on days at sea, when the pool deck is at its busiest. How wrong was I - I had no problem at all on all 4 sea days, and as always Royal Caribbean had their fantastic entertainment staff to keep us entertained all day long.

The speciality restaurants on board are brilliant! I recommend the Sea Food Shack located on the Board Walk for any sea food lovers out there. For a $10 surcharge, it is simply fantastic! Also, the famous Chops Grille is located in Central Park, be sure to check it out. This is slightly more expensive than the Sea Food Shack, but if you fancy that special meal with a loved one or friend, then this is the place to go.

On board the Oasis they have plenty of things to do for all ages, including free activities such as:

* Two Flowriders

* Mini Golf Course

* Zip Line

* Table Tennis

* Basketball/Soccer

* Ice Skating

* Boardwalk Carousel

* Boardwalk - Aqua Theatre - Big Screen and Shows

* Central Park - with 4,000 live plants on board, you would really think you were in the real place.

Around 6pm each evening, they play a 'Dive-in' Movie on the pool side Big screen. They play classic movies such as Grease and new movies such as Harry Potter. They do have the on board cinema so you catch a film there if you prefer.

Dream Works is on board this ship, I got to have some great pictures with some of the characters from Madagascar and Shrek.

Shows on board are as brilliant as ever, they put on a show stopping performance each night, showing most shows twice nightly.

Be sure to get involved in the Party Night they have on board. It was British Themed last time I was on board. This consists of the staff dressing up in Big red and white wigs with music from some brilliant English Artists such as the Beetles, Queen, Rod Stewart, and much more. The entire Royal Promenade becomes a big party place for all on board. This is filmed and shown on the RCTV (Royal Caribbean Television) on board the ships so be sure to practise those dancing moves before filming!!

I enjoyed this ship very much, so much so, I went back and cruised the Oasis in May 2011.

I am yet to try the Allure of the Seas which I am booked on for August 2014. Keep an eye out on my blog as I will blog my experience on the Allure.

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Oceania Cruises Completes $50 million refurbishment across their Fleet

Oceania Cruises Completes $50 million refurbishment across their Fleet

This week, Regatta has made its return to the Oceania Cruises fleet, concluding a fleetwide dry dock. The ship joins sister ships Nautica and Insignia as part of the $50 million renovation that took place over only six weeks. This includes a number of new design elements and features.

All Cabins on board Oceania Cruise Ships have been upgraded with new decor. Updates to the Owner's and Vista Suite bathrooms include marble and granite materials. The Penthouse Suites received all-new furnishings.

The cruise line's main casual dining option on board, has been completely renovated to include all new furnishings, flooring and lighting to accompany the floor-to-ceiling windows. Also, the cook-to-order grill will feature menu items such as chops, steaks and lobster tail. Something new on board the Regatta, is Baristas coffee bar which offers complimentary cappuccinos and espressos to passengers.

Some of the other changes on board include:

Sports Deck: Located at the top of the ship, the Sports Deck has received new golf putting greens, shuffleboard courts, and other deck games. The main pool area has been refitted with mosaic tile.

Canyon Ranch SpaClub: The newly renovated Canyon Ranch SpaClub features steam rooms, renovated changing areas and mosaic-tile design details.

Lounges: All of the ship's main lounges have been refurbished. Horizons bar and Martinis received new furnishings, while Regatta Lounge was refreshed with new carpeting, chairs and upholstery.

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Virgin Atlantic Announce New Route

Virgin Atlantic Airways have confirmed they will be operating a daily flight from London Heathrow to Atlanta...

Delta Airlines, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic, currently operate three daily flights from London Heathrow to Atlanta. As of 26 October 2014 Virgin Atlantic will be operating one of these three flights.

The new services will provide a greater choice for travel between UK and North America. Both carriers will be expanding their award winning service and will codeshare on each other's operated services.

And that's not all....... In return, Delta will operate one of the two daily flights from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, currently operated by Virgin Atlantic. This new Delta Service will become the first nonstop flight between Los Angeles and London Heathrow for the Airline and will be their Seventh nonstop destination between London and the United States.

This development shows how the partnership, launched earlier this year, is increasing the network of both carriers. Virgin Atlantic will now have access to Delta's Atlanta Hub, the busiest airport in the world! They will be providing their customers with expansive and unprecedented access to connect to points throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Virgin Atlantic will now be able to offer over 100 additional international and domestic connections to its customers. This brings the total number of onward connections available through this partnership to over 200.

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Royal Caribbean agree $55 million expansion

It's a BIG year for Royal Caribbean with the Launch of their new ships and things are set to get even Bigger....

It has to be said, when Royal Caribbean set out to do something, they cut no corners. They have now agreed to a $55 million expansion of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey, adding a new terminal, more parking and pier improvements.

The project is set to be completed November 2014, in time for the debut of their newest ship, Quantum of the Seas. Ground Breaking has already occurred on the project, which is adjacent to the current terminal at the port.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, yesterday released the news, merely making it official.

The new terminal will have 125,000 square feet of space for check-in, customs, immigration and luggage processing.

The car parking garage at the port will handle 900 cars which is important to this port as it is convenient for many passengers in heavily populated mid-Atlantic states who live within driving distance.

Royal Caribbean already use Cape Liberty for Explorer of the Seas and the Celebrity Summit. As of September 2014 Legend of the Seas will run New England and Canada cruises from the port.

The Quantum of the seas will use Cape Liberty as a homeport from November 2014 through May 2015 before it heads to Shanhhai.

And, Last but not least, as of 2015, Liberty of the Seas will sail year-round to the Caribbean and Anthem of the Seas will arrive in November after an inaugural season in Europe.

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Godmother Duties - Quantum Of The Seas

The launch of the new Royal Caribbean Ships - The Quantum Class, is much anticipated by all and to keep them in the spotlight, Royal Caribbean have taken the duties of its latest godmother one step further.

Godmother of the Quantum of the Seas, Kristin Chenoweth, will also serve as entertainment advisor for the line's latest class of Ships.

Most will recognise the high-profile Broadway Star from Films and TV Programmes such as The Pink Panther, Bewitched, Annie, You Again and much more. Kristin will oversee costumes, sets, casting and she will collaborate with an executive review committee to offer insight on all shows, productions and themed events on board.

Chenoweth joins Quantum Experience Advisors Genevieve Gorder, interior designer and HGTV personality; athlete Dhani Jones; and Chef Michael Schwartz, a James Beard Award winner.
Along with Nick Weir, Royal Caribbean vice president of entertainment,

Today Kristin will host a Google Hangout during which they will reveal much-anticipated information about the Entertainment on the Quantum Class Ships.

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Calling all Single Travellers

Queen Elizabeth 

New Single Staterooms On Sale 4 June

Queen Elizabeth's NINE new single staterooms will be on sale from 13:00 on the 4th June 2014. These are available for departures from 16th December 2014

 The nine new single staterooms on Queen Elizabeth consist of eight Ocean View rooms and one Inside, each offer spacious and comfortable accommodation for the single traveller and boast single beds with a generous width of 120cm. 

The Ocean View rooms benefit from especially large windows giving plenty of natural daylight and excellent views of Queen Elizabeth's many wonderful destinations. 

The rooms are centrally located midships on Deck 2 and are amongst the very best located staterooms on Queen Elizabeth, being so close to the social hub of the ship including the Royal Court Theatre and the Queens Room.

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Disney Cruises - The Magical Way to Cruise

Who said Disney was just for Kids.....

As a big fan of Walt Disney, I am very excited about their itineraries that they have on offer throughout 2015. There is something and somewhere for everyone, take a look below.

Disney Cruises will return to Hawaii for a Limited time in 2015. This is the first time the company has sailed there since 2012. They will also offer a series of departures from San Diego and Galveston, Texas. All sailings will be aboard the 83,000-ton, 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder Cruise Ship.

The first one-way 10 night Hawaii sailing will depart from Vancouver in September 2015 and spend two nights in Honolulu, Oahu.

The return voyage will sail from Honolulu back to Vancouver, spending two nights in Kahului.

Itineraries out of San Diego and Galveston include Six cruises spanning two, three and five nights to the Mexican Riviera; and a series of four, six and seven night sailings throughout The Bahamas, The Caribbean, Key West and Cozumel.

They haven't forgotten about Europe, they will also be offering cruises to the Norwegian Fjords, Northern Europe and The Mediterranean throughout 2015.

Alaska and Transatlantic Sailings will be available for dates throughout 2015.

All Sailings are on sale now!!!

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Quantum of the Seas, its a whopper!!!

Not only is it a whopper of a ship, the Quantum of the Seas is set to spend a whopping 53 nights at sea between its first home port, New York City and its new home port, Shanghai.

They have called it the Quantum Global Odyssey, the journey will be split into five legs with the first departing New York on the 2nd May 2015.

Cruisers are invited to book the entire sailing or one (or more) of the following segments:

* An 11 Night transatlantic crossing from New York to Barcelona.
* A 16 Night Suez Canal journey from Barcelona to Dubai.
* A 14 Night India and Southeast Asia itinerary from Dubai to Singapore.
* A 3 Night Malaysia sailing, departing roundtrip from Singapore.
* A 9 Nights Exotic Asia cruise from Singapore to Shanghai.

Quantum of the Seas is the first ship to enter the much-anticipated Quantum Class. This fantastic ship is set to introduce innovations like a skydiving simulator, The Seaplex sports and entertainment complex, Dynamic Dining and of course, the North Star - A jewel-shaped glass capsule that extends 300 feet above the ship for 360-degree sea views.

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MSC Cruises set to expand

In the past week MSC Cruises have confirmed the construction of not one, but TWO new cruise ships to add to their fleet as well as the option for one more!!

The new project named "Seaside", is big for Italian shipyard Fincantieri, as these will be the biggest ships they have ever built.

When will they be here?
The first of the two new additions is scheduled for delivery in November 2017 and the second is set to arrive in May 2018.

What's New?
MSC Cruises describe the new design as "revolutionary" and says they will pave the way for a new generation of cruise ships. New features include a sea-level promenade that circumnavigates the ship with outdoor spaces, shops and restaurants.

Statistics 
Both ships will have 2,070 cabins each and will be able to accommodate up to 5,300 passengers (at full occupancy), plus 1,413 crew members.

The ships will be 1,060 feet long and 135 feet wide, with a height of 230 feet, and have over 468,000 square feet of public areas, including a theatre, a terraced balcony and panoramic lifts with sea views.

They plan to double their capacity of their fleet by 2022. With the arrival of the two new ships, they will reach a daily capacity of approximately 80,000 passengers.

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