Tag Archives: Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean set to upgrade Independence of the Seas

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Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean set to upgrade Independence of the Seas

24Jan2013

As part of Royal Caribbean’s Revitalization program to upgrade all of its cruise ships to include amenities first introduced on the Oasis of the Seas, Independence o the Seas has recently been scheduled to have its upgrade take place in April 2013.

Independence of the Seas will receive

  • Outdoor movie screen

  • Cupcake Cupboard

  • Digital Signage

  • Pervasive Wi-Fi

  • Nursery

  • Giovanni’s Table specialty restaurant

The $7 million refurbishment will take two weeks, at which point Royal Caribbean will deploy Independence of the Seas to Southampton, England where on May 2, 2013 she will begin her summer season.  Some of the itineraries offered include some new shorter sailings such as a two-night cruise to Le Havre for Paris and three-night cruises to Le Havre for Paris and Zeebrugge for Bruges.

UPDATE; Independence has just left Southampton, and is on her way to Hamburg to start her refit. 

Royal Caribbean Int’l reducing Europe deployments

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Royal Caribbean Int’l reducing Europe deployments

By Johanna Jainchill
Royal Caribbean International will reduce its ships deployed in Europe next year to eight, down from 12 in 2012.

This year, the cruise line will operate nine of its 22 vessels on the Continent; 2014’s one ship reduction will be the Vision of the Seas, which will operate in Northern Europe this year but not next. Royal Caribbean has not yet announced the vessel’s 2014 deployment.

In Europe next year will be the Liberty of the Seas, the Navigator of the Seas, the Serenade of the Seas and the Splendour of the Seas in the Mediterranean, and the Independence of the Seas, the Adventure of the Seas, the Brilliance of the Seas and the Legend of the Seas in Northern Europe.

Next year’s Northern Europe cruises opened for booking this week; the line’s Mediterranean cruises go on sale March 28.

Drink packages now available on 13 Royal Caribbean ships

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Drink packages now available on 13 Royal Caribbean ships

>Independence of the Seas reviewBy Tom Stieghorst
Royal Caribbean has begun offering all-inclusive drink packages on 13 ships and plans to make them available on all of its vessels sailing voyages of at least seven nights by early next year.

Passengers can now purchase “Classic” or “Premium” packages. Royal Caribbean has been testing the idea on several ships this year.

The Classic package includes beer and house wines, plus non-alcoholic beverages, for $45 a day. Premium, for $55 a day, adds frozen drinks and cocktails, including premium brands, to the Classic lineup.

Packages must be bought on or before the first day of the cruise and cover every day of the cruise. Also, if one passenger in a cabin buys the package, everyone over 21 in the same cabin must also buy one.

Carnival Cruise Lines began testing a similar package this summer and has it available on a half-dozen ships, while Norwegian Cruise Line has said it is evaluating such a package.

Fans of the idea say it helps them manage their bar bills; opponents say it facilitates excessive drinking.