CRUISE line Royal Caribbean is exhibiting at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) for the 13th year to showcase its three global brands and promote the summer sailings around Europe and the world.
With Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, the company will have a fleet of 18 ships sailing in Europe this summer.
Royal Caribbean International’s Liberty of the Seas is sailing out of Barcelona for the first time in 2011 and will be the biggest ship in Europe, carrying 3,600 guests on double occupancy.
The DreamWorks experience introduced to Liberty of the Seas this year offers children, grandparents and everyone in between activities and shows with DreamWorks Animation’s most beloved characters. The company will also promote the world’s largest and most innovative ships; Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, which sail seven-night cruises in the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
Lakshmi Durai, executive director Royal Caribbean Cruises for the Middle East, said: “As we do each year, we will use the occasion to reward the members of the travel trade for their continuous support and will have a prize-giving ceremony during ATM. “We hope to further increase the awareness of cruise holidays and to position Royal Caribbean as a preferred choice.”
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Central Park is one of the ship’s unique facilities |
The 2011 European deployment will offer 109 unique itineraries, ranging from three to 15 nights and visiting 27 countries and 78 ports.
Two ships, Liberty of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas, will sail their maiden Europe seasons from Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, respectively. Independence of the Seas will continue its year-round service from Southampton, UK and, with Liberty of the Seas, makes two Freedom-class ships to sail European waters as the largest and most innovative cruise ships.
Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas will sail a variety of Mediterranean itineraries, while Jewel of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will ply the Baltic and North Seas.
Durai added: “The demand in the Mediterranean has been enormous over the last few years and we are following the wishes of our guests by providing even more ships to this favorite destination.”
Royal Caribbean International is working hard to impress cruise guests and inaugurated the world’s newest, largest and most innovative cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, in December 2010.
“Our guests have an appetite for new experiences and an interest in activities that take them out of the ordinary, connect them with other people and enable them to explore new places and learn about other cultures.
“They are keen travellers seeking a quality vacation at the best value, one that caters to an array of travel needs and preferences,” said Durai.
With a cache of distinct new onboard activities and amenities, Allure of the Seas offers one-of-a-kind entertainment performances, culinary concepts, retail venues and technology innovations.
One of the innovations is the Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the centre of the ship opens to the sky and features lush, tropical grounds spanning more than the length of a football field. Combined with an incredible array of retail, entertainment and dining venues, as well as quiet nooks for reading and relaxing, Central Park is one of the ship’s most groundbreaking spaces.
And the ship was the first in the fleet to feature Royal Caribbean’s exclusive DreamWorks Animation experience.
And with 26 dining options to choose from, Allure introduces several novel restaurant concepts for those looking for a range of special epicurean experiences.
Allure of the Seas alternates a Western Caribbean with an Eastern Caribbean seven-night itinerary from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US.
This year will also see revitalisations and enhancements to five of the company’s ships reflecting the Royal Advantage, the cruise line’s commitment to provide the industry’s most innovative cruise ships, exciting destinations and superior Gold Anchor Service.
And the company has signed a letter of intent with shipyard Meyer Werft to build the first of a new generation of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships.
The order calls for one ship to be delivered in the autumn of 2014 with an option for a second ship for spring 2015.
In regional news Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas recently ended her second consecutive season from her homeport of Dubai, UAE, and due to the high demand the company will extend the third consecutive season which will comprise 18 roundtrip seven-night sailings and two Dubai and India 12-night sailings from November 2011 through April 2012.
Durai added: “We were happy to have Brilliance of the Seas back in Dubai and look forward to an extended third season starting in November 2011. The interest of regional guests increases from season to season as well as the awareness of cruising as a holiday option. There is still huge potential in the region.”