Royal Princess Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

Table Of Content

• Princess Cruises 2023-2024 Australia & New Zealand season features 4 ships and 68 destinations
• The best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for every type of traveler
• Experience the Ultimate Night of Sleep at Sea
• AND AWARD-WINNING SHIPS
• Princess Cruises announces Caribbean deployment, introducing both SPHERE-class/newest ships Sun and...
• Celebrate Seafood

Royal Caribbean currently has three new cruise ships on order, all of which will be among its biggest cruise ships ever — if not its biggest. Voyager Class ships were also the first to feature a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes and shops in their interior. Each also has several specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room and casual buffet; specialty restaurants include a version of Royal Caribbean's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and an Italian restaurant. Brilliance of the Seas, smaller than Oasis Class cruise ships, offers an intimate low-key vibe that has kept a strong fanbase among vacation travelers. In addition to main restaurants and casual buffets, each ship has at least one (and often several) additional specialty restaurants.

Princess Cruises 2023-2024 Australia & New Zealand season features 4 ships and 68 destinations

Chocolatier Norman Love's Chocolate Journey desserts stand out from the menu. The North to Alaska enrichment lectures, such as a talk by Libby Riddles, the first female Iditarod winner, were excellent. The Princess Luxury Bed by sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus is one of the comfiest we've experienced at sea. Animal Planet- and Discovery Channel-branded shore excursions were passenger favorites. Unfortunately, on our Royal Princess Alaska sailing, OceanMedallion didn't live up to the hype. Spotty Wi-Fi hindered ordering drinks using the app in most locations or finding our cabinmate using OceanCompass.

The best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for every type of traveler

It's a lot more affordable per day than the two ships mentioned above, which are the belles of the ball in the Royal Caribbean fleet and command significantly higher rates. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. At 250,800 tons, Icon of the Seas is more than 6% bigger than the biggest Royal Caribbean ships that came before it. It can hold up to 7,600 passengers — a new record for a passenger ship.

Experience the Ultimate Night of Sleep at Sea

Take on rainforest roaming in Roatán and cenote scoping in Cozumel on a Western Caribbean itinerary. Or claim your slice of paradise on the beaches of St. Thomas and take a true culture trip to the two sides of St. Maarten — Dutch and French — on Eastern Caribbean sailings. Both with stops at our totally reimagined private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. A land of rugged mountains, coastal forests and diverse wildlife, Alaska is the ultimate cruise destination for intrepid explorers. Whether you're watching whales splash in the Pacific Ocean or gazing up at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska cruises are all about wild natural wonder. For additional tips on an adventure-packed vacation onboard the world’s boldest ships, check out our guides.

The outlier among the six ships mentioned above is Icon of the Seas, which isn't an Oasis Class ship but the first of an all-new series of even bigger vessels called the Icon Class. Royal Caribbean has ordered two more Icon Class ships that will begin sailing in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Sailing since January 2024, Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world — more than 6% bigger than the next-biggest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. That means greater space for the family fun zones that are a hallmark of Royal Caribbean ships, from children's clubs to water parks. These engineering wonders take home awards every year for their cutting-edge design, first-of-their-kind attractions, world class dining and accommodations, and unforgettable experiences.

Princess Cruises announces Caribbean deployment, introducing both SPHERE-class/newest ships Sun and...

Measuring just 73,817 gross tons, it's just a third the size of Wonder of the Seas and has far fewer venues. Voyager of the Seas was the original Voyager Class ship, and at the time of its debut, it was the biggest cruise ship in the world. You'll also find three pools, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a miniature golf course, a sports court and an adults-only solarium.

Celebrate Seafood

As noted above, the line's biggest vessels offer multiple entertainment venues, from theaters to comedy clubs; all manner of deck-top attractions; large casinos; full-service spas; and even ice skating rinks. Plus, you'll find more bars, lounges and nightspots than you could think possible. At the time of their debuts, the Voyager Class ships were the biggest cruise ships in the world (as is often the case with the new series of Royal Caribbean ships).

A reel treat day or night

Over the next two years, for instance, Rhapsody of the Seas is sailing out of such less-common home ports as Colon, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. For older travelers looking for a Royal Caribbean ship that isn't jammed full of children, it's hard to beat Rhapsody of the Seas. If you book a suite in the complex on Wonder of the Seas, you'll be getting a luxury experience of the sort you won't find almost anywhere else in the Royal Caribbean fleet. In short, they're like giant floating versions of the megaresorts you find in the Orlando area or Las Vegas, and they appeal to people who like a megaresort experience. Enchantment of the Seas is the third of four Vision Class vessels that began joining the Royal Caribbean fleet in 1996. Like Jewel of the Seas, its interior venues include a theater, spa, casino and multiple bars and lounges.

Wonder of the Seas (

Royal Caribbean designed them with a "neighborhood" concept that spreads passengers out in seven or eight (depending on the ship) distinct areas, such as the Pool and Sports Zone and the Boardwalk amusement zone. A lot of thought went into how passengers move between these neighborhoods, too. If you're thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll find the line offers a wide range of ship styles and designs.

Royal Caribbean Group Shares Comprehensive Update on its Decarbonization Journey - PR Newswire

Royal Caribbean Group Shares Comprehensive Update on its Decarbonization Journey.

Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT [source]

In their interiors, Freedom Class vessels have the mall-like Royal Promenade spaces filled with eateries, bars and shops that have become standard on bigger Royal Caribbean ships. At 90,090 tons, the four vessels in the series are less than half the size of Royal Caribbean's massive Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, but still big enough that they have a lot to offer. Not sure you want to sail on a megaship with 6,000 people but still want a vessel with a good amount of features and activities? Even if you're a newcomer to cruising, you've probably heard of Royal Caribbean's giant Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. With the exception of a single MSC Cruises vessel, they're far bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat and like nothing else you'll find at sea. There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings.

Royal Caribbean has grown into the world's biggest cruise line by passenger capacity for a reason. It has long dazzled customers with stunning, resort-like vessels full of every sort of amusement and activity you could imagine. There's also a British pub, a karaoke lounge, a Latin-themed nightspot and — located one deck up in a balcony area — the line's signature Schooner Bar. Even more "wow," as Royal Caribbean executives like to say, are the ice skating shows put on at the ice skating rinks found on 14 of the line's ships. The rinks are in the interiors of the ships, surrounded by stadium seating for up to 775 people, and the shows are out of this world. One of Royal Caribbean's great strengths is its theater entertainment, which can be mind-blowing at times — i.e., you won't believe you're seeing what you're seeing on a cruise ship.

Grab bold bites to go at El Loco Fresh® and the first Portside BBQ℠, or cheer on your favorite team at Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade. This is the Amplified Oasis of the Seas® — and the adventure has never been bolder. Sun-kissed Caribbean shores are yours to explore onboard Symphony of the Seas® sailing from Fort Lauderdale. And dial up thrills on a zip line ride over the ocean in Labadee — our gamechanging private destination. There is a wide selection of staterooms accommodating up to four guests, and you’ll enjoy substantial savings on your third and fourth guests.

On many ships, parents can drop off their babies at the nursery for short-term babysitting (this service comes with an extra charge). The most out-there deck-top attractions on Royal Caribbean ships are surely the North Star rides found on Quantum Class ships. Perhaps the most bizarre attractions ever conceived for a cruise ship, they are giant mechanical arms topped with glass-enclosed capsules that will take you soaring above the ships for the view.

Royal Caribbean has initially ordered three of the vessels but could add more ships to the series down the road. On average, the line comes out without about one new ship a year, and it typically keeps vessels in its fleet for around 20 to 30 years before retiring them from the fleet. The oldest Royal Caribbean ship, Grandeur of the Seas, is 27 years old. Right now, the newest Royal Caribbean cruise ship is Icon of the Seas, which is just debuting in January. When the options are this good, there’s no such thing as too many. That’s why we’ve added even more possibilities to our seemingly endless selection of best restaurants — so you can take that family dinner or date night to the next level.

Enjoy fast, reliable Wi-Fi, TrulyTouchless™ experiences, food and drinks delivered wherever you are and so much more. They also carry significantly fewer passengers than the Oasis Class ships. Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas carry about 3,900 passengers at double occupancy (closer to 4,600 with every berth filled). Royal Caribbean has also used some Quantum Class ships for sailings out of China. One of the two main pool areas on each Quantum Class ship (except Odyssey of the Seas) is enclosed.

The bigger passenger capacity of Icon of the Seas is in part due to the ship's greater focus on family travelers. Icon of the Seas is being built with more cabins that have plenty of extra bunks to accommodate families with children. It'll also have more amenities geared to families, including a new-for-the-line outdoor "neighborhood" called Surfside dedicated to families with young children. Still, Voyager of the Seas has many of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions, including a rock climbing wall and ice skating rink (two concepts it debuted).