Tag Archives: Radiance of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Announces Three Ships For 2021 Alaska Program

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Ovation of the Seas Alaska

Royal Caribbean International has announced that it will have three ships in Alaska in 2021.

The Ovation, Radiance and Serenade of the Seas are returning to the Pacific Northwest

For the second consecutive year, Royal Caribbean will bring three ships to the region, offering a variety of seven-night itineraries sailing from Seattle, Vancouver, and Seward.

The Ovation will be the largest ship in the market. The Quantum-class ship’s series of seven-night cruises are roundtrip from Seattle. The Radiance is set to embark on seven-night, open-jaw itineraries between Seward and Vancouver, and the Serenade will be sailing seven days roundtrip from Vancouver.

Before and after the Alaska season, the Serenade and Radiance will sail 10-night itineraries between Honolulu and Vancouver.

All three ships will debut Royal Caribbean’s spa staterooms. According to the cruise line, the brand-new lineup of balcony accommodations “will allow guests to relax in between adventures with an array of amenities and perks, including priority spa reservations, lush bedding and bath products, tranquil décor, daily delivery of tea, water and coffee; and priority boarding at embarkation.”

For the Ovation, the seven-night itineraries roundtrip from Seattle promises to visit “the best of the region,” including Skagway, where vacationers can retrace the steps of the historic Klondike Gold Rush and visit a restored 19th-century railroad depot; and Juneau, to go dogsledding over the Mendenhall Glacier or explore centuries-old mining trails.

The Radiance will offer alternating southbound and northbound seven-night itineraries between Vancouver and Seward. Guests will have the opportunity to visit Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Skagway, and sail through the Inside Passage and by the Hubbard Glacier.

The Serenade, returning for a second Alaska summer season, will offer seven-night roundtrip sailings from Vancouver and visit Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka and Juneau.

Royal Caribbean also offers overnight stays before or after the cruise with three- to seven-night Cruisetour packages. Travellers will be able to visit the Denali National Park and Preserve with local experts, hike the Exit Glacier, kayak and bike by Eklutna Lake, and more.

What’s Next for Royal Caribbean International?

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What's Next for Royal Caribbean International?

PHOTO: Three Oasis-class ships sailing together. (photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

2018-2019 Deployments

When Symphony of the Seas, (already open for reservations), sets sail as the fourth Oasis-class ship, it will mark the line’s biggest-ever lineup ever from Florida, as Royal Caribbean will soon have a new terminal at PortMiami.

Besides the Caribbean, the line will also head to Alaska, Europe, China and exotic locales.

The Symphony will arrive at PortMiami on November 9, 2018, and will depart on its 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries starting on November 17, 2018. While the ship will be the same length as its sister Harmony of the Seas, it will carry an extra 28 cabins and measure in as the largest cruise ship in the world at 230,000 gross registered tons.

Joining Symphony in Miami will be Allure of the Seas in November 2018 as well. Oasis of the Seas will continue to leave from Port Canaveral, Florida and Harmony of the Seas will continue to depart from Port Everglades, Florida.

Cuba and the Caribbean

Later this month, Royal Caribbean International will visit Cuba for the first time, sailing a 5-night cruise from Miami on April 19, 2017. It will send the newly revitalized Empress of the Seas to Havana for overnight experiences and a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage Site on its Cuban sailings. Other opportunities will include seeing Cojimar and the Tropicana and riding in classic cars.

The Empress of the Seas will also feature 4- and 5-night cruises from Tampa in summer 2017 along with Rhapsody of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas’ 5- to 7-night Caribbean voyages. Meanwhile, Adventure of the Seas will also depart from Puerto Rico on 7- to 10-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.

From the Northeast, Rhapsody of the Seas will team up with Anthem of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey in 2017. In the summer, Rhapsody will head out on 7-night cruises to the Bahamas, while Anthem will sail to Bermuda, with the latter to the Caribbean year-round as well on 5-, 7- and 9-night departures.

Alaska and Europe

Explorer of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas will return to Alaska this season. Explorer will showcase 7-,10- and 12-night round trips from Seattle, Washington, while Radiance will alternate 7- to 14-night voyages to and from Vancouver, BC and Seward, Alaska.

In Europe, Jewel of the Seas will sail 9-night Greek Isles itineraries from Rome, Italy, plus 7-night Western Mediterranean plans, as well as 7-night itineraries on the Freedom of the Seas from Barcelona, Spain. The Serenade of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will also traverse Northern Europe and ports such as Copenhagen, Denmark.

Future Fleet

Looking to 2019 and beyond are several more new ships that Royal Caribbean will deploy internationally, starting with a fourth Quantum-class ship in 2019 and a fifth to follow during 2020.

Joining the four aforementioned Oasis-class ships will be a fifth in 2021, and then an entirely new class of vessel will emerge by 2022. Two fuel cell and LNG-powered Icon-class ships will first set sail during 2022 and 2024.

Royal Caribbean to put third ship in Australia

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By Tom Stieghorst
Royal Caribbean International said it will station three ships in Australia/New Zealand for the winter of 2015-16, adding Explorer of the Seas to a lineup that already includes the Radiance and Voyager.

From November 2015 through April 2016, Explorer will primarily sail from Sydney on 11- and 14-day New Zealand cruises, with up to seven ports of call in the South Pacific country.

During its inaugural Australia season, Explorer also will offer three- and four-day cruises in November 2015 and in February and March 2016.

Voyager of the Seas will sail eight- to 12-day South Pacific and Fiji cruises, all roundtrip from Sydney, while Radiance of the Seas will sail a variety of South Pacific itineraries.

Explorer is cruising in the Bahamas and southern and western Caribbean this winter.