Cruise Operators

Specialist Reports Styles of Holiday Cruise Holidays Cruise Operators Royal Caribbean International 

	Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean House, Addlestone Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 2UE			MAP
tel: (0800) 182 020

NOTE There is a proposed tie-up between P&O Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. This may mean changes though as yet nothing hs been announced. Keen to promote its cruises to families.

Ships

14 with berths sleeping 1,604 to 3,114.

Where

Caribbean, Canada, New England, Atlantic Cities, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Panama Canal, Bermuda and Bahamas.

Style

The four-star brand in the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines group. Facilities include the likes of on board video arcades. The latest vessel, adventure of the seas, is the largest cruise ship in the world and, along with its two sister ships, features a rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, in-line skating track, full size basketball/volleyball court, a family pool area, a promenade running the length of the ship with shops, bars and cafes, inside cabins with a view of the promenade and a selection of restaurants from the more intimate Portofino Italian restaurant to a Johnny Rockets burger bar.

Accommodation

Six-berth cabins are available.

For Children

Cots and high chairs.

Children's Facilities

A play and meeting room, ball pits, on Voyager class and Radiance class ships there are personal computer stations with entertainment and education software, a kids' outside deck with shuffleboard, deck checkers, tic-tac-toe, and pedal vehicles for younger children. Voyager and Radiance class ships also have a family fun area with splash pools and water slide.

Children's books are available. Movies for children are shown on cabin TVs.

Teens may also join adult activities except sports tournaments and the adult nightclub. Instead they have their own Night Club.

Food for Kids

Children's menu with children's games and crayons.

Babysitting

By Youth Staff US$4 per hour per child 3+ in groups 10pm to 1am and noon until ship sails if in port. In-cabin sitting by ship's staff US$10 per hour for a maximum of three in the same family.

Children's Activities

Children's playroom, supervised on six ships, year-round. At sea 9am to noon, 2pm to 5pm, and 7-10pm. In port the hours are 9am to 5pm and 7-10pm.

Adventure Ocean covers 3-5s (ie toilet trained) with finger painting, dressing up, building bricks, playdough sculpture, music, dot dancing, animal, colour and shape bingo, pillow case colouring, and talent show.

6-8s get Olympic games, trash can art, sports tournaments, wacky relay races, autograph hunts, talent show, rock n roll party, and more.

9-12s have crazy teeshirts, sports activities, freeze dancing, pizza party adventure art, halloween parade, horse racing, rock no roll night and Karaoke talent show.

12-14s are offered sports tournaments, pool parties, college night, challenge series, scavenger hunts, karaoke, disco and video games.

15-17s Activities only operate at sea noon to 4pm and 10pm to around 3am. In port the hours 10pm to 3am. Options include a prom night, pool parties, chill at the grill lunch, basketball tournaments, karaoke, photo mystery crusade, video sea cruise, investigation video games, teen night club and talent show.

There are also combined activities for children 3-12 years of Carnival night, adventure science with fun hands-on science experiments, Movie Madness, Late Night Party Zone US$4 per child, and Midday madness on port days at $4 per hour per hour.

Staff

Supervised by graduates in education, recreation or have college degrees in a related field, including qualified experience in working with children in these age groups. Most have First Aid qualifications.

Security Measures

All children 3-10 years must be signed in and out by a parent.

Port Calls

The children's activity programme continues while in port and parents can leave children. Children's rates for shore excursions in most ports.

Sample Price

A high-season 9-night fly-cruise holiday in the Caribbean would cost around £1436.70 for an adult, and £527.70 for a child. This is based on two adults and two children sharing a better inside cabin and includes flights, transfers, and overnight accommodation in US before the cruise.