By Debbie Selinsky
Royal
Caribbean International is one of the largest cruise lines in the world. Headquartered in
Miami, Florida, the global line has 20 ships in operation and two more under construction and sails to 280 destinations in 87 countries and six continents. Some of its more popular
cruises are to
Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Panama Canal and Alaska.
Features
If you have an active family, Royal Caribbean with its mega-ships is bound to be a hit. Its ships have increasingly elaborate and adventurous amenities, ranging from rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks on the Voyager Class ships to FlowRiders, zip lines, AquaTheaters and the first carousel at sea on the Oasis Class to be introduced by the Oasis of the Seas in November 2009.
Types
Royal Caribbean offers a wide range of cruises and cruise tours (cruises packaged with land trips) of every length (3 days and up). After you've narrowed down your destination choices, check out the amenities of each ship sailing in those areas to help you decide.
Contact: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida 33132; reservations: (866) 562-7625; http://www.royalcaribbean.com/
Size
Most of Royal Caribbean's fleet are vessels that carry thousands of passengers, although size varies with the age and class of the ships. The new ship, Oasis of the Seas, will weigh 220,000 gross tons. Some families get a kick out of booking the cruise on the biggest and/or newest ships with the most unusual features.
New Ships
The sister ship to the Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, will be out in 2010. Design and amenities will be very similar.
Expert Insight
This cruise line, which is fun and relaxed, provides the range of activities and entertainment that appeals to family members of all ages. This allows everyone to do their favorite thing during the day and meet up for dinner or a show in the evenings.
About the Author:
Debbie Selinsky is an award-winning writer based in North Carolina. Selinsky is the former senior editor of "Success Magazine" and deputy director of the Duke University News Service. She has written about travel for many years and specializes in cruise travel, having sailed on more than 100 cruises. Selinsky attended North Greenville University, Oregon Institute of Technology and the Poynter Institute for Journalistic Excellence.
