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But of all the activities the new world's largest cruise ship has to offer, my eight favorites are, for the most part, ones I've yet to see on another vessel. The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do. Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer. The line has a partnership with the Discovery Channel provides onboard and shoreside educational experiences for kids and families themed around TV shows on Discovery, Animal Planet, the Learning Channel and the Science Channel.
Royal Caribbean International Dining
Royal Caribbean dining options include a lot of more casual dining, which includes a buffet-style restaurant called the Windjammer and the main dining room. Both of these options are included in your boarding fare, so they’re easy stops for lunch or dinner. For the most part, its top deck only offers pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s. As a result, it draws far fewer families than the vessels above and caters more to an older crowd of mostly couples. That said, Freedom of the Seas still has a huge amount to offer for all sorts of travelers, from couples to families with kids. The ship was, notably, the first in the Royal Caribbean fleet to feature a FlowRider surfing simulator on its top deck — now a signature attraction for the line.
Plenty of Food Options
Some Royal Caribbean ships — such as the line's Oasis-class vessels and recently launched Icon of the Seas — are built with far more family-focused activities than others. Some, such as the two-year-old Wonder of the Seas, have added features that appeal to luxury-loving travelers. Other Royal Caribbean ships operate on particularly low-cost itineraries that are best for budget travelers. Royal Caribbean offers a dizzying array of cabin and suite options, especially on its newest and largest ships.
CRUISES
And in Ice Odyssey, skaters bring the history and mystery of tarot cards to life with extravagant costumes and choreography that are impossible to look away from. That said, in addition to familiar favorites from the West End and the Great White Way, we're also proud to offer a dazzling lineup of original productions dreamt up in house by our incredible entertainment team. Shows run the gamut from stunt-filled spectaculars on ice to multisensory extravaganzas that combine state-of-the-art lighting, sound effects and visual media with electrifying choreography and aerialist displays.
Who Does Free Cruise Dining Best: Royal Caribbean, Carnival or NCL? - Cruise Critic
Who Does Free Cruise Dining Best: Royal Caribbean, Carnival or NCL?.
Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Which Royal Caribbean Ship Is the Most Fun?
Celebrity's 15 not-quite-as-large vessels are more upscale, adult-focused and design-centric. For a cruise getaway that checks all the boxes no matter what kind of experience you're looking for, there's Royal Caribbean. After dark, its ships' theaters and lounges buzz with vibrant musical productions and even fearless acrobatics. All of its Meraviglia-class ships feature The Carousel Lounge, which on the first four ships is a theater-in-the-round setting originally designed for Cirque du Soleil performances. It now houses themed variations on that genre, such as an illusionist-themed show. For something a bit edgier, the cruise line's Quantum-class ships feature Two70, a multi-level performance space where big-screen technology and daring acrobatics combine to create a unique kind of multi-sensory storytelling.
+ Kids sail free*
The five Oasis-class vessels, to be joined by Utopia of the Seas in 2024, are the largest cruise ships in the world. They carry 5,700 guests at double occupancy and just over 7,000 at full capacity. They are distinctive for their split-hull design, allowing for interior-facing cabins, and themed neighborhoods, which help disperse foot traffic and make it easier for guests to navigate the ships' 18 decks.
It features a selection of familiar yet often uninspiring hot and cold dishes and global specialties, with some of the best options being salads, pastas, pizza (mozzarella is made fresh daily) and desserts. Royal Caribbean has an enormous selection of room and suite categories — as many as 34 types on its newer ships — offering some pretty slick amenities. The U.S. market was largely introduced to MSC between 2017 and 2022 when it debuted four Seaside-class ships designed primarily to sail to the Caribbean from Miami. Kids under age 17 can frequently sail for free when staying in the same cabin with accompanying adults. Italian-owned, Geneva, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is part of MSC Group, the world's largest container shipping company.
Aft pools are also featured on several Grand-class ships, such as Crown Princess, Grand Princess and Caribbean Princess. Other vessels, including Majestic Princess and Sapphire Princess, have a covered Calypso pool, and even the smallest, Coral Princess and Island Princess, have three pools. The seven Grand-class ships carry 2,600 to 3,100 guests, while the two smallest ships, Coral Princess and Island Princess, accommodate around 2,000 guests at double occupancy. When Princess debuts the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess in February 2024, the ship will introduce Park19, a high-energy zone spread over three top decks. The area will feature nine engaging family-friendly activities, including the Sea Breeze Rollglider and The Net ropes course. It's just that Princess' onboard experiences and partnerships have taken a more reserved and educational approach, especially when it comes to kids activities.
Royal Caribbean offers stunning performances, including ice skating and water shows and Broadway musicals. Princess Cruises offers a mix of more traditional productions and technology-based entertainment. All Royal ships have a basketball court and rock-climbing wall; most also have mini-golf. Quantum-class ships have indoor skydiving, and the five Oasis-class ships have zip lines. All their ships have at least one splash pool for kids and silly poolside games and activities are offered from time to time.
In that vein, one can book a short, weekend trip with the intent to party all weekend long, or choose a longer, more sophisticated itinerary on one of Carnival's newest ships. Growing up traveling around the world, she developed a passion for diversity and cross-cultural communication. From her first cruise on Wonder of the Seas, she has delighted in the intersection between travel, diversity, and writing in the cruising world. Or if you’re traveling with a homebody who prefers quiet evenings, don’t expect them to suddenly join you at every late-night event. For example, if you’ve selected to sail on a bigger ship, don’t expect to be delivered right to unique, smaller ports. I like to sit in Central Park, find a quiet hot tub, or chill at a dark bar alone.
Teens can hang out in The Living Room, dance or chill with new friends at the Fuel teen club or try to get a high score at the arcade. When Icon of the Seas debuts, it will have the largest water park at sea, with six slides and a thrilling ropes course along the side of the ship. Celebrity's most elevated dining experience is Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, the acclaimed French chef's first restaurant at sea, available aboard Celebrity Beyond and Ascent. Wonderland mixes creative flavors and unique presentations, and 150 Central Park is ideal for a special celebration; the latter two are available solely on Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships. Themed 1950s diner Johnny Rockets (on more than a dozen ships) is an affordable, kid-friendly favorite. You can witness the incredible talents of our cast of professional skaters in Ice Games, a winner-takes-all showcase of stunts inspired by the classic board game, Monopoly.
MSC's newest ship, Euribia, however, has swapped high-flying theatrics for retro-inspired kicks with its reimagined Carousel Lounge. The space is now a sophisticated home for Big Band at Sea, a 19-piece orchestra with a genre-spanning playlist (although mid-20th-century crooner classics best match the room). Figuring out which vibe appeals most to you — more North Americans (Royal Caribbean) or a predominantly international crowd (MSC Cruises) — can help you choose between these two megaship cruise brands. From its neon-lit cities to its secluded shrines, this region offers plenty of captivating culture and natural beauty. Set sail on an Asia cruise and see the Great Wall nestled among China's forested mountains, or kick back on one of Thailand’s beautiful beaches. At first glance, I had snubbed the dining and lounge area as a rip-off of a generic airport coffee shop.
Personally, I like to bring along a portable charge that I can charge every couple of days, and then use to power my devices in between. Most cabins only have a couple sockets, located by the desk, and none by the beds at all. Cruise ship staterooms, even on Royal Caribbean, are notorious for never having enough charging ports available. Otherwise, resentment can quickly build up and destroy a relationship, not to mention a cruise vacation. The Royal Caribbean drink packages aren’t for everyone, so be sure that you discuss them beforehand with your cabin mate. Anyone who loves their personal space will find that separate beds will go a long way toward improving the energy of their vacation.
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