Royal Caribbean International

Overview

	Address	1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132
	Phone	800/327-6700 or 305/539-6000
	Fax	800/722-5329
	Online	www.royalcaribbean.com
	Enjoyment Factor	5
	Dining	4
	Activities	5
	Children's Program	4
	Entertainment	4
	Service	4
	Overall Value	5

The Line in a Nutshell

Royal Caribbean offers some of the most activity-packed, best-looking, best-designed, and just plain fun megaships in the biz. Along with NCL, they're also out in the forefront of innovation, always challenging the status quo regarding what can and can't be done aboard ships. Sails to: Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Bermuda, Hawaii, Canada/New England.

The Experience

Though still trailing industry-leader Carnival in terms of size and profit, Royal Caribbean has definitely taken the lead in the excitement and cool-appeal department. You've seen the ads: healthy 30- and 40-somethings hiking across a glacier, kayaking through crystal water, or climbing up a sheer rock face as Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" plays on the soundtrack, then sipping wine on deck as the sun goes down. That's obviously the Madison Avenue take, but the weird thing is, it isn't all just hype: Somehow, Royal Caribbean has managed to turn the "overfed, newly wed, almost dead" cruise stereotype on its ear, and revved up a more youthful product that delivers fun, humor, a touch of class, and a bit of "feel the burn" active excitement, all without charging an arm and a leg. Cruises on these fun, active, and glamorous (but not too over-the-top-glitzy) megaships offer a great experience for a wide range of people, whether your idea of a good time is getting super-active or relaxing in the Solarium pool. There are huge children's centers for the kids, and entertainment for adults is varied and sometimes even novel: The Voyager-class ships even have a resident troupe of clowns that teach juggling, clown history, and makeup application when not doing their act. Decor-wise, these ships are a shade or two toned down from the Carnival brood: Rather than trying to overwhelm the senses, many of their public areas are understated and classy. The Radiance-class vessels are the line's most elegant to date, with a sophistication that's up near the level of Royal Caribbean's sister-line, Celebrity Cruises.

Pros

• Activity central: With rock-climbing walls, miniature golf, basketball courts, and even ice skating among the many diversions, these ships are tops in the adrenaline department.
• Beautiful public areas: Lounges, restaurants, and outdoor pool decks are well designed, spacious, glamorous, and just plain inviting.
• Great solariums: The indoor-outdoor solariums on the Vision-, Voyager- and especially the Radiance-class ships are oh-so-relaxing oases designed around a theme (Venice, Africa, and so forth), a pool, and a pair of enormous whirlpool tubs.

Cons

• Small cabins on the older ships: At just about 120 to 160 square feet, most cabins aboard the Vision- and Sovereign-class ships and Empress of the Seas are downright tiny, ranking with NCL's as the smallest in the mainstream category.