Royal Caribbean International established in 1968 represents a part of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd holding company which owns such cruise lines as Celebrity Cruises and TUI Cruises taking second place in the world in terms of its size. The company’s fleet comprises 26 cruise ships, besides, four new cruise ships will have been built by 2026.
The company is rightfully considered one of the most innovative in the world because it is Royal Caribbean which owns the largest cruise ship in the world by far called Wonder of the Seas. Royal Caribbean cruise ships go on cruises in the Caribbean region, North America, Europe, South-East Asia, and Australia. In addition, it uses two private beaches visited by the cruise ships having the Caribbean region in their itineraries, Labadee beach, the part of the coast located in the Northern part of Haiti, and Coco Cay beach, the private island in the Bahamas. The company is focused on passengers of all age categories. Service charges (gratuities) and alcoholic drinks are not included in the cruise cost.
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Accommodation
Cabins on the Royal Caribbean cruise ships can be attributed to four main types:
- interior cabin
- oceanview cabin
- balcony cabin
- suite
The size of a standard interior cabin equals 14-16 square meters. Two beds represent the main sleeping accommodation joined or separated according to your preferences. Additional sleeping accommodations include Pullman beds above the main sleeping berths or a folding sofa. The smallest cabins are located on the Majesty of the Seas cruise ship and have an area of just 10 square meters.
There are single interior cabins on the Adventure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas cruise ships the size of which amounts to 9-10 square meters. Such cabins can be an ideal choice for those traveling alone because there is no need to pay extra money for the second person.
Interior cabin on the Explorer of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas cruise ships
There are interior cabins with a window and a view of the promenade or a park on the Voyager, Freedom, and Oasis-class cruise ships; the area of such cabins varies from 15 up to 18 square meters.
Interior cabin with a window on the Voyager of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas
Some cruise ships such as Anthem of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, and Quantum of the Seas can boast interior cabins with a virtual balcony. The virtual balcony represents an interactive screen located on the wall demonstrating the real-time seascape and coastal sightseeings.
Interior cabin having a virtual balcony on the Quantum of the Seas
The size of a standard oceanview cabin is 15-17 square meters. The window in the cabin can not be opened. The smallest oceanview cabins with an area of 11 sq. meters are located on the Majesty of the Seas. The main sleeping accommodation is as follows: two beds joined together or separated according to you whereas additionally there can be a Pullman bed located above the main sleeping places or a convertible sofa.
Oceanview cabin on the Navigator of the seas and Anthem of the Seas
When choosing an oceanview cabin you should pay attention to the cabin category and its location. Thus, for instance, the cabins that can be found on the second deck on the Brilliance of the Seas have porthole windows instead of ordinary windows whereas the cabins with the particular numbers on the Enchantment of the Seas have panoramic windows.
The cabin with a porthole window on the Majesty of the Seas and the cabin with a panoramic window on the Enchantment of the Seas
The standard balcony cabin has an area of 15-17 square meters whereas the standard balcony has a size of 4-5 square meters. The main sleeping accommodation in such cabins is two beds joined or separated depending on your preferences. The Pullman beds located above the main sleeping places or a convertible sofa represent additional sleeping accommodation. Each balcony is equipped with a pair of deck chairs and a table.
You won’t find standard balcony cabins on the Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas at all as only suites have balconies there. Anthem of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas cruise ships can boast the largest balcony cabins, the area of which is equal to 18-19 square meters (not including five-square-meter balconies).
Balcony cabin on the Radiance of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas cruise ships
All the cruise ships attributed to the Quantum-class have single cabins with balconies the size of which amounts to 11 square meters (not including 5-meter balconies) whereas Oasis-class cruise ships can boast the cabins having balconies with a view of the promenade or park.
Balcony cabin with the view of the park or the promenade located on the Harmony of the Seas
The size of the suite can vary from 23 to 152 square meters with a balcony of 7-81 sq. meters, however, not all of them are equipped with it; some suites have panoramic windows instead. Royal Loft, the largest suite with an area of 152 square meters can be found on all the Quantum-class cruise ships. This two-story suite can boast two balconies with a jacuzzi with a total area of 38 square meters and two bathrooms.
Royal Loft Suite on the Anthem of the Seas
Most cruise ships have so-called family cabins allowing to accommodate up to 6 persons; they are suitable for families traveling with children. Such cabins have a large bedroom with a living area and a dedicated area with a bunk bed. The area of the interior cabin is equal to 24-30 square meters whereas the balcony cabin attributed to such a category is 27+7 square meters.
Family cabins on the Harmony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas cruise ships
Traveling on the new Royal Caribbean cruise ships you can open the cabin door using your cruise card by touching the black panel located on your entrance door. The light can be switched on by inserting your cruise card in the special slot (as it is in the hotels). Each cabin is equipped with a TV (it is interactive on the most modern cruise ships allowing you to monitor your cruise account, see the restaurant menu, book the seats in the theater, etc) as well as the telephone, hair dryer, safe deposit box, mini-bar (extra paid), an ice bucket, glasses, and air conditioner (it can not be entirely switched off on some cruise ships). Bathrobes may not be in the cabin but you can ask for a steward to bring them. Cabins on some cruise ships can have a water boiler.
A cabin on the Independence of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas cruise ships
Please, pay attention that there can be only one European socket in a cabin. At the same time, cabins on modern cruise ships are equipped with one or two USB connectors. There are rather spacious wardrobes having a significant number of shelves and hangers on most of the cruise ships, besides, there are a lot of other storage places.
Bathrooms in the standard cabins are equipped with shower cabins. Toiletries are represented by a shampoo and shower gel contained in one dispenser and a soap.
Food on Board of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
The cruise cost includes meals served according to the “all-inclusive” system and soft drinks such as tea in bags, coffee (including decaffeinated), hot chocolate, and water with ice. Alcohol is not included in the cruise cost. For breakfast, passengers are also offered milk and packaged juices of some varieties having been preliminarily poured. They are watered down, as a rule, besides, the glass is filled with ice, and yet, you can ask not to put the ice.
Breakfast
A large variety of hot dishes, cold appetizers, meat and cheese plates, and pastry is offered for breakfast at the buffet restaurant. There is also smoked salmon, waffles, pancakes, yogurt, flakes, eggs (boiled and fried), cottage cheese, varieties of porridge, and vegetables. There are also scrambled egg stations offering a variety of fillings such as onion, tomatoes, paprika, spinach, mushrooms, ham, bacon, and cheese.
A wide choice of fruits and berries is always offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner such as apples, kiwis, pears, grapefruits, grapes, peaches, melon, bananas, oranges, watermelon, and many others. The range of fruits served depends on the cruise region and season.
You can have breakfast at one of the main restaurants as well. Soft drinks (including lunch and dinner time) are served for free including water from jugs, tea bags, and regular coffee (espresso, cappuccino, and other coffee drinks are served for an extra fee). If you don’t manage to find salmon at the buffet restaurant you can have it here. Muesli with fruits and berries, several varieties of scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, Eggs Benedict, prosciutto, etc. are served at the main restaurant. It is not obligatory to order dishes from the menu because there is a moderate-size buffet in the center of the restaurant where you can find a variety of cheese and meat, muesli, pastry, hot meals (sausages, eggs, toasts, potato pancakes, and many others). Please note that breakfast at the main restaurant can be organized on some cruise ships only on the days when the cruise ship is at sea.
In addition, you can have breakfast at the Johnny Rockets eatery which is located on numerous cruise ships such as Navigator of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas. Lunch and dinner is served there for extra money, whereas breakfast is free of charge. It represents an a la carte restaurant. The menu includes hamburgers, french fries, omelets, and eggs of several varieties. There are a lot of passengers wishing to have breakfast there. The eatery can boast a stylish atmosphere and tableware with its logo.
Breakfast at Johnny Rockets
Breakfast can be ordered in the cabin, it is for free at Royal Caribbean. It is required to fill out the special form that you can find in your cabin. The delivery time can vary from 6.30 up to 10.00 so you have to specify a half-hour period. You have to leave the form having placed it on the hanger of your door from the outer side no later than 2.00 at night. To order lunch or dinner delivery you have to use the telephone or do it through special features on your TV.
Breakfast served in the cabin at the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship
There is an opportunity to have breakfast accompanied by DreamWorks cartoon heroes on the Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and the Oasis-category cruise ships. The breakfast price is 10 USD for adults and children over 6 years old whereas it is free for children under 5 years old, inclusive. The breakfast cost includes meals à la carte as well as orange, apple, and tomato juices, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee. Other drinks have to be extra paid. The number of seats is limited for the breakfast with DreamWorks cartoon heroes which is why we recommend that you make a reservation in advance.
Lunch
Lunch is served at the main à la carte restaurant from 12:00 to 14:00 or at the buffet restaurant. The main restaurant usually offers you the soup of the day, several hot dishes, and desserts. Buffet restaurants can offer you hot dishes, side dishes, several varieties of soup, cold appetizers, salads, desserts, and many others.
Dinner on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
Traditionally, dinner is served in two seatings at the à la carte restaurant: at 18:00 and 20:30. Definite tables and waiters are allocated to the passengers. In addition, when making a reservation My Time Dining option (i.e. seating option) is provided. In this case, you can choose your dinner time within the interval from 18:00 to 21:30. Besides, you can change it every evening. In this case, passengers will lose an opportunity to have an allocated table and an allocated waiter. You can visit the main restaurant without a preliminary reservation and yet, in this case, there are no guarantees to get a free table. There is an interactive screen in front of the entrance to the main restaurant demonstrating the menu for every cruise day. You can see it in advance and decide whether it is worth visiting or not.
As an alternative, you can have dinner at the buffet restaurant. The variety of food is excellent and is much better than it is for lunch. You are offered a wide range of hot dishes, side dishes, seafood, soups, varieties of cheese and meat, salads, pastries, desserts, and many others.
The menu is translated into foreign languages at the main restaurants. And yet, you should pay attention that the translated menu at the restaurant may differ from that written in English, the variety of dishes may differ as well, besides, some items may not be included at all. That is why we recommend that you use the English menu or ask for a waiter to bring you both variants.
You can have a snack at the Promenade cafe and Sorrento’s Pizza for free which are located at the promenade deck on all the cruise ships attributed to the Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, and Quantum classes. In the morning they serve appetizers and pastry, whereas during the rest of the day you can find sandwiches and cookies. The cafe is open from the morning till late in the evening. Only the branded coffee drinks have to be extra paid. Pizzeria works round the clock. Promenade cafe and Sorrento's Pizza are equipped with free drinks stations available on a round-the-clock basis (you can find tea, coffee, and milk).
In addition to the numerous free restaurants and cafes, there are various specialty restaurants on the company’s cruise ships. Tables at specialty restaurants have to be booked in advance. You can do it using your personal account on the website or via telephone call directly on board. The restaurant entrance fee is fixed and amounts to approximately 30 USD; you can order as many dishes as you wish.
Entertainment on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
There are at least several swimming pools and jacuzzis on all the company’s cruise ships. Even the Empress of the Seas, the smallest and the oldest company’s ship, is equipped with two swimming pools and three jacuzzis. Sunbeds located near the pools are provided for free. If your beach towels are not returned to the Towel Exchange Station located at the open deck near the swimming pool before 10 in the evening the last day of your cruise you will be charged 25 USD, which will be included in your cruise account. Oasis-category cruise ships can boast the largest number of swimming pools and jacuzzis; there are six swimming pools (three of which are covered), and ten jacuzzis on their board.
Swimming pools on the Brilliance of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas
Covered swimming pools on the Ovation of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas
All the Oasis and Quantum-class cruise ships as well as several Voyager and Freedom-class ships are equipped with a surfing wave simulator called FlowRider. You can use it for free whereas an instructor’s services are extra paid. The Oasis-class cruise ships are also equipped with a Zip Line bungee located at an altitude amounting to more than 25 meters, whereas the Quantum-class ships have a RipCord by iFLY simulator of flying in aerodynamic tube. RipCord by iFLY attraction is free of charge. Children from three years old can use it accompanied by adults only. Note that only healthy people having good physical training can carry out such flights. Maximum weight must be not more than 100 kilos for people having less than 182 cm height whereas those who are taller than 182 cm must not weigh more than 113 kilos according to the safety regulations.
FlowRider surfing waves simulator, RipCord by iFLY simulator of flying on the Quantum of the Seas, and Zip Line bungee on the Allure of the Seas
All the company’s cruise ships have rock-climbing walls. Children from 6 up to 13 years old, inclusive, are allowed to use it only accompanied by adults.
Rock-climbing wall on the Allure of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas
There is a unique Seaplex space located on the Quantum-class cruise ships representing the largest transforming site for entertaining and sports training. You can learn the art of the circus, play basketball and volleyball there, as well as roller skate, or go for the Bumper Cars attraction whereas as the evening comes Seaplex is transformed into a giant dance floor. Table tennis, football, air hockey, video games, and many others are available as well. You can take lessons in circus art absolutely for free; only private lessons accompanied by an instructor are extra paid. A Bumper Cars ride lasts from 3 to 5 minutes whereas the number of cars is equal to 18. You can use this attraction on a first come first served basis, it is free of charge.
Seaplex space on the Quantumc-class cruise ships
There is a mini-golf on most cruise ships whereas Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, and Quantum-class ships are equipped with an ice skating rink. There is also a unique world's only North Star capsule that can lift you in a fully-transparent cabin above the ship and the sea located on the Quantum-class cruise ships. 13 persons can simultaneously have a flight in the North Star capsule. Entrance is extra paid, and the flights can be carried out not only when on the sea but also when in ports of call.
Ice skating rink and the North Star capsule
Cultural Life on Board
Numerous entertaining events are held every day on the board of all the company’s cruise ships including evening shows in the theater, discotheques, master classes, competitions, themed parties, seminars, artwork auctions, and many others. Oasis-class cruise ships can boast the so-called Aquatheather where several shows take place: in the afternoon and the evening. Your visit to the theater has to be booked in advance. To do it for free you should use your TV or you can do it through the free RCTV service or at the Box Office stand. You can learn about the time and the place by consulting the onboard daily newspaper.
Theatre on the Quantum of the Seas and Aquatheatre on the Oasis of the Seas
Being in a Good Shape While Traveling
There is a gym, running track, and sports grounds for playing basketball, mini-football, volleyball, and tennis on all the cruise ships.
The gym on the Liberty of the Seas and the sports court on the Navigator of the Seas
Gambling on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
Those who are fond of gambling will undoubtedly find a slot machine hall and a casino on every company’s cruise ship. Chips and tokens can be bought for cash. During cruises, poker tournaments are often held; to take part in one of them, you have to carry out a preliminary registration. While in port, the casino is closed.
Casino on the Majesty of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas
Enjoying SPA Onboard
If you are fond of quiet and measured leisure time you can visit the SPA area where you can enjoy a massage, care treatment for face and body, use the beauty salon services, as well as sauna and jacuzzi. SPA area services are not included in the cruise cost and have to be extra paid. In addition, there is a designated Solarium area with a swimming pool that can be visited only by adults.
SPA center on the Independence of the Seas and the Solarium zone on the Oasis of the Seas
Shopping with Royal Caribbean
Towards the end of the day, you can go shopping in the Duty-Free shops where you can buy jewelry, perfume, cosmetics, clothes, bags, shoes, toys for children, watches, alcohol, candies, souvenirs, and many others. While in a port, onboard shops are closed.
Due to the numerous entertaining programs that are held onboard children will never get bored being on a cruise with Royal Caribbean. They will take part in numerous entertaining events with pleasure, such as competitions, various creative activities, discotheques, games, karaoke, swimming pool games, themed parties, and many others.
Extra Services Onboard
Shore excursions are not included in the cruise cost. You can fill out an excursions order form that you can find in your cabin and bring it to the Shore Excursions desk. You can also get information concerning excursions to be held in the ports of call and buy them there. You can learn about the excursions and purchase them before your cruise starts. The reservation is open 6 months before and is closed 11 days before the cruise starts on the cruise line website.
There are professional physicians and experienced nurses on all the Royal Caribbean cruise ships, who are available on a round-the-clock basis for providing emergency medical care if needed. Such services rendered on board have to be extra paid. You can get the motion sickness pills at the Pursuer (Guest Relations) Desk for free.
There is no self-service laundry onboard. You can have your clothes cleaned and ironed using dry cleaning and ironing services which have to be extra paid.
Internet Onboard
To connect to Wi-Fi onboard you can both in your cabin and in the public areas. After you have connected you have to open the browser and move to any website. You will find a page for internet connection on your screen demonstrating various tariffs available.
Smoking on The Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
Since January, 1st, 2014, smoking on the balconies of all the cabins irrespective of the cabin category has been strictly forbidden. Smoking on the cabin balconies can result in imposing a fine amounting to 250 USD. Besides, the ban applies to all the interior areas as well except for the casino. Smoking is forbidden on the right side of the open decks as well. The places designated for smoking located on the open deck are marked with special signs.
