Royal Caribbean Fleet Includes the Biggest Cruise Ship in the World
Royal Caribbean International is American and Norwegian cruise brand owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. with main headquarters in Miami Florida. It has a fleet of 42cruise ships operating under five different brands, namely Royal Caribbean Cruises, Azamara Cruises, CDF Croisières de France, Celebrity Cruises and Pullmantur. 24% of the world’s cruise market is controlled by the Royal Caribbean fleet. Largest cruise ships in the world, ten out of twelve, are part of the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Photo by firehole
Royal Caribbean has always been a vanguard of the advancement of the cruise industry and considered one of the giants of the industry both in size as well as in service. Royal Caribbean’s thrust for bigger and larger cruise ship was initiated in 1999 with the launch of the behemoth “Voyager of the Seas”, a 138,000 ton vessel that can accommodate 3,114 passengers. The ship was not only huge but absolutely innovative in attractions and design.
Ten years later, the Royal Caribbean fleet consists of the ships of Voyager and their larger and newer cousins, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas – Allure is considered the largest cruise ship in the world. This earned Royal Caribbean the title, Royal Caribbean fleet, the largest cruise ship in the world. But Royal Caribbean’s pride is not only the size of its ships, but the pioneering and innovative entertainment and activity features of its ships are also considered beyond compare in the cruise industry. This includes the zip line, ice skating and rock climbing and an expansive outdoor garden. The ships of the Royal Caribbean fleet are not only the largest cruise ships in the world, they also have a more sizeable sports facilities on board and more variety in its entertainment and activities.
The cruise ships of the Royal Caribbean fleet also boast of impressive kid’s facilities such as a waterslide in the outdoor children’s pool, surfing simulator, boxing ring at the gym and an expansive water park with water sprayers and cannons among others.
Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship Review
Carnival Freedom is a Conquest- class ship of Carnival Cruises. It is a fun ship and one of the largest ships in the fleet of the cruise company and has more features than Destiny class ships. The bigger Carnival Freedom has more space that is translated into more decks, bars and lounges as well as a more fashionable Super Club. The ship can accommodate a maximum of 2, 974 guests served by a 1,050 – man crew.
Carnival Freedom
Photo by roger4336
This mammoth ship has a spectacular central atrium from where public rooms flow aft and forward. From the boulevard, guests will find a selection of dance lounges, show lounges, discos, bars and piano bars. It also has hundreds of staterooms with balcony and ocean view that is just ideal for watching and admiring Europe’s most fabled cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Istanbul.
Carnival Freedom Pool Deck
Photo by Curtis Palmer
Carnival Freedom has two main dining rooms that serve delicious gastronomic delights, while other dining options include a pizzeria, a seafood station, the Lido buffet, outside poolside grill, and a patisserie. Its 22 lounges, casino, and the Carnival Seaside Theater with its huge LED screen found on the poolside of the Lido deck that shows concerts, movies, sporting events and other programmes offer endless daytime and nighttime entertainment. Whereas. The fitness center and four pools give the guests a chance to work – off the sumptuous meals they have partaken. The relaxing 6 hot tubs and the ship’s spa that offers a wide selection of treatments are great for a tranquil respite.
Carnival Freedom is also a great ship for families with children. It has a teen lounge with a dance club, an arcade and the Children’s World play area. Carnival Freedom, like all Carnival cruise ships, has an astonishing youth program divided into three age groups, Camp Carnival for kids from two to eleven years old, Circle C for those ages twelve to fourteen, and Club O2 for teens.
Seabourn Pride Cruise Ship – Guaranteed Exclusivity
Seabourn Pride is an all-suite cruise ship with an intimate size that guarantees exclusivity. It can accommodate only 208 guests that are assured of friendly, personalized and superb service all throughout the cruise. It is decorated in cool Scandinavian style that is classically elegant and not flashy or ornate. Cabins are quietly elegant and comfortable, public rooms are stylishly dignified both having that feel of old money. To highlight that elegant and old money ambiance, cruising on Seabourn Pride is all inclusive; champagne, wine and almost all types of drinks flow freely and caviar is complimentary; mini massages are offered for free on the poolside so are wine-tasting seminars and Pilates classes; even tips or gratuity to the crew is included in the cruise fare.
Seabourn Pride Cruise Ship
Photo by Jamé 203
Dinner onboard Seabourn Pride is always a show of pomp and circumstances at the ship’s main dining venue, The Restaurant. Here, the style is open-seating and guests dine on some very amazing and exceptional cuisine while wine flows freely. At the “Iron Chef”, guests dine on multi-course menus that range from old time favorites to innovative and creative dishes and even some vegetarian choices. Alternative dining is also offered at the Veranda Café where themed meals are offered such as Turf-and Surf, Mediterranean and French cuisine. Room service is also available for guests who prefer to dine in-cabin and meals will be served course by course. The Restaurant and Veranda Café also serve breakfast and lunch although room service is available for both meals. Afternoon tea is served in the Constellation Lounge.
Entertainment on board Seabourn Pride has been greatly improved. The show lounge offers performances that range from performances of resident and visiting performers, Broadway – type shows, even an opera by the Reduced Opera Company of UK will be presented in some Mediterranean cruises. Other entertainments for the guests’ pleasure are evening and afternoon movies and some game shows, cooking demonstrations with guest chefs, talks by visiting lecturers, golf putting contests, bridge play and wine tasting.
Ms Zaandam of Holland America Cruise Line Review
The Ms Zaandam is a midsize “R Class” ship of Holland America Line named in honor of the city of Zaandam, Netherlands located near Amsterdam. It is decorated with a musical theme with objet d’art and mementos from the world’s greatest musicians such as guitars signed by Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Rolling Stone, Iggy Pop and Queen among others and a Baroque-type Dutch pipe organ, even a saxophone signed by former US President Bill Clinton.
MS Zaandam
Photo by Monika & Tim
For its 1,440 guests, Ms Zaandam offers a distinctive cruising experience with its large and airy public rooms as well as roomy and elegantly adorned cabins and staterooms, 197 of which have private balconies. The wide selection of activities and extravagant amenities such as the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, the Pinnacle Grill among others, on board Ms Zaandam will make a cruising experience truly unforgettable.
The Main Lounge of Ms Zaandam is a place where guests can relax and sip a before or after dinner drink amid a sophisticated and tranquil atmosphere. This same Main Lounge is transformed as a glitzy state-of-the- art theater for exhilarating Broadway-type performances. The master chefs of Ms Zaandam offer epicurean cooking lessons at the Culinary Arts Center, the very modern demonstration kitchen presented by Food & Wine Magazine. The luxury coffee house powered by The New York Times called the Exploration Café is a place where guests can surf the net to their heart’s content, check their emails and send emails, read and or leaf through the ship’s very extensive library.
Dining is another unique experience on board Ms Zaandam with is main dining room, Rotterdam Dining Room, offering a five course continental menu with low-carb and vegetarian selections paired with an extensive wine list impeccably served by attentive waiters. Pinnacle Grill, Ms Zaandam’s classy reservations-only restaurant, is Ms Zaandam’s pride, while Lido Restaurant offers freshly cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner in a more relaxed ambiance.
River Baroness Review
River Baroness is an intimate and enchanting boutique cruise ship of Uniworld that carries only 120 passengers. It has comfortable, lavishly appointed and chic 66 staterooms all with an outside river view for the guests to enjoy the beautiful sceneries in the privacy and comfort of their staterooms.
After River Baroness was fully refurbished in 2005 all the public rooms of the ship were given a total make-over, hotel-style bed and new technology such as WiFi internet connection were added to make the ship at par with the other river cruise ships of Uniworld. For such a small ship, River Baroness is big in amenities. The main lounge, the Monet Lounge, with its comfy leather sofas and chair has huge picture windows that make it a perfect spot to watch river life and the scenic view pass by while sipping a glass of wine or indulging in a cup of coffee. River Baroness also has a sauna, whirlpool, game room, beauty salon, library, fitness center, massage treatment rooms, and a boutique shop for gifts and sundries. It also has an elegant restaurant, The Van Gogh Restaurant, that serves exquisite French cuisine cooked with fresh regional produce with an extensive wine list for guests to choose from; a 24-hour specialty tea and coffee bar. River Baroness also offers complimentary use of Nordic walking sticks and bicycle.
The River Baroness
Photo by http://www.uniworld.com
All staterooms of River Baroness are extravagantly furnished with hotel-type beds with fine linens, built-in closet, direct-dial phone, flat screen TV with satellite, a vanity, safe, hair dryer. The bathrooms are supplied with L’Occitane bath and body products, bathrobes and a magnifying mirror. Starting 2011, all suites of River Baroness had extra amenities and services that include a welcoming bottle of wine, DVD player, refrigerator, slippers, laundry service, daily cookie plate and fruits, shoe shine, continental breakfast and morning tea and coffee. In addition, windows on the cabins located on the promenade level can be opened.