Royal Caribbean has operated since 1969 and presently runs 22 ships. This cruise line is famous for having some of the largest passenger ships in the world (142,000 tons). These ships are with rock-climbing, ice-skating, and in-line skating amenities; Johnny Rockets diners; promenade shopping malls; and many more. Actually the rock-climbing walls became so popular that RCI has added them to the entire fleet. And it is a reasonably priced cruise line, with rates varying by itinerary.
Royal Caribbean purchased Celebrity Cruises, a premium line to appeal to an upscale audience, in 1997, for a total fleet of 25 ships and a capacity of more than 40,000 berths.
Lately RCI had focused on developing their older ships, and on their new Freedom-class design. It has begun huge repairs of Monarch of the Seas, Empress of the Seas (formerly Nordic Empress), Sovereign of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas (including a "stretch" of Enchantment), and also Majesty of the Seas. And the great news recently has been Freedom of the Seas, an enlarged, improved version of the Voyager-class design that introduces new features like a water park. Developing of older Vision-class ships is also probable in the near future.
Royal Caribbean runs one of most interesting fleets, varying from mid-sized, middle-aged ships which, like Majesty of the Seas, for example, has received major updates, and state-of-the-art and on-the-cusp mega ships, such as its Freedom of the Seas class of vessels, with their surf parks and boxing rings.
Besides the traditional main dining rooms, the majority of Royal Caribbean ships have at least one alternative restaurant, the buffet-style Windjammer Cafe, the Italian-themed Portofino. Many of them also have the Chops Grille steakhouse and some also have the Asian-themed Jade Restaurant. The cover charge at all of them (except the Windjammer, which is free) is $20 and the food and service is a notch above those in the line's standard dining areas. Reservations are recommended.
Additionally, The Voyager- and Freedom-class ships also each have a seagoing division of the Johnny Rockets fast-food franchise, with a $3.95 cover charge.
|