Cruise Holidays Irish Cruise Blog

WIN A CRUISE

Royal Caribbean and Cruise Holidays have teamed up to offer you the chance to win the prize of a lifetime.

Prize Includes;

• Return Flights for two to Barcelona (includes taxes and charges)
• 7 night European Cruise for two persons onboard a Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ship (excluding Independence of the Seas) in an Ocean View Stateroom
• All meals and most entertainment on board the ship (excludes speciality dining)

To be in with a chance of winning this amazing competition visit www.cruiseholidays.ie and enter today.

Closing date for entries is May 31^st. Go on – it could be you!!!

Royal Caribbean promoting Ukraine as a cruise destination

Royal Caribbean is looking to attract more cruise holiday passengers to eastern Europe, after reaching a deal with the government of Ukraine to develop ports in the country.

According to the cruise operator's blog, an agreement has been made for it to invest in the development of Sevastopol and Yalta.

Ukranian official Sergey Savenko was quoted as saying: "This company is willing to invest $250 million in the infrastructure to handle the large cruise liners, in the construction of hotels, restaurants, in the reconstruction of quay walls, such as [those] passenger ships require."

He also noted that alternative plans were considered – including building a new wharf at Cape Crystal, something that was ultimately deemed too expensive.

Both cities are situated on the Crimean peninsula, which offers some amazing sites for cruise voyages exploring eastern Europe.

Sevastopol, in particular, has a rich maritime history and is becoming one of the main trade and shipbuilding centres in the region.

Is the Ukraine somewhere you would be keen to explore?

Sex is top in Royal Caribbean’s survey

According to a recent survey carried out in the U.S. by Royal Caribbean, 90% of respondent’s ranked sex as the top activity on their cruise itinerary.

The 1,000 people polled in the online survey also consider cruises to be the most romantic type of holiday while offering a better value for their dollar (84%).

More than four of five respondents said a cruise with their partner is more romantic than a land-based holiday, with a 98% opting for an exotic cruise as a way to celebrate a special occasion, such as Valentine’s Day or an anniversary.

Most of the survey respondents said they left their last cruise feeling more ‘connected’ with their partner (80%), being more in love with their partner (67%) and feeling more attracted to their partner (65%). Nearly three-quarters of respondents said that spending time with their significant other on their most recent cruise improved their relationship.

Respondents indicated they are more likely to enjoy a number of romantic activities on a cruise than on a land-based holiday, including watching the sunset (72%), strolling in the moonlight (58%), stargazing (56%) and sharing a romantic dinner for two (55%).

Half of the respondents said they are more likely to be intimate on a cruise than on a land-based vacation. And not only is sex more frequent on a cruise, but many (62%) report that the sex on their last cruise was better than normal. Other than their stateroom, 24% cited their balcony as the place on board where they would most like to be intimate.

For 90%, sex ranks as the top activity on their cruise itinerary, ahead of sitting by the pool (84%), enjoying nightlife options (83%) and shopping (70%).

Royal Caribbean said the survey, conducted between January 27th and February 1st, included a national sample of 1,000 adults who live in the continental U.S. Half the respondents have previously cruised, and the rest expressed interest in cruising. All respondents indicated they are currently in a relationship.

To celebrate the results, the company is offering couples who book a cruise to Bermuda or Europe by February 29th a free ‘Romance Package’ including roses, chocolate-covered strawberries and sparkling wine.

Royal Caribbean offers first cruises to St. Vincent

Royal Caribbean today began selling cruise holidays to the Caribbean island of St. Vincent - a first for the 42-year-old company.

The line's 2,000-passenger Vision of the Seas will visit the destination as part of new 11-night Southern Caribbean voyages out of Fort Lauderdale scheduled to start December this year.

The trips are among 19 new Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings the line has announced for the ship for the coming winter of 2012-13. Also announced: A series of 10-night Eastern Caribbean voyages that include the line's first calls in Martinique in nearly four years; several other 11-night Southern Caribbean sailings that don't include a stop in St. Vincent; and four Panama Canal sailings that last 14 to 15 nights.

In addition to Martinique, the new Eastern Caribbean cruises include stops in Tortola, St. Maarten, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts and St. Croix. The Panama Canal sailings will be one-way between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego.

Based in Europe for the summer, Vision of the Seas will sail to Fort Lauderdale from Southampton, England on Sept. 21 in a 14-night, trans-Atlantic repositioning cruise that includes calls at Gijon and Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Ponta Delgada, Azores. It'll return to Europe in April, 2013 with a 13-night, trans-Atlantic cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton that includes calls at Lisbon; Vigo, Spain; and Le Havre, France.

Splendour of the Seas Video Reveal

Royal Caribbean Cruises have launched a new video showcasing their brand new cruise holiday features on Splendour of the Seas including;

• New Dining Venues- Chops Grille, Izumi, the Boardwalk Dog House, Chef's Table and the Park Cafe
• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• A Diamond Lounge for Crown and Anchor Loyalty guests.
• A Concierge Lounge for suite guests
• 124 new balcony staterooms and all staterooms now include a flat screen television, new bathrooms & and from February every staterooms will feature iPads.
• Other features added - ship-wide WiFi, a digital way-finding system, electronic mustering and an outdoor cinema screen.
• The Centrum has been transformed into a chic and sophistacted venue, which will feature a range of new daytime activities, nightly entertainment and aerial performers.

Has the $35 million makeover paid off? Are you tempted to take a cruise holiday on Splendour of the Seas?

 

Royal Caribbean introduce wine by the glass

Royal Caribbean is taking aim at wine aficionados with a new wine-by-the-glass system on two of its ships.

The line says the 48-bottle WineStation system by Napa Technology, added to Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, is the largest of its kind at sea and gives crise holiday passengers access to more premium wines by the glass than are available on any other vessel.

Newly installed at the Vintages wine bars on the 3,634-passenger ships, the automatic WineStations will carry wines from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Caymus, Penfolds, Torres, Robert Mondavi and other wineries, the line says. Passengers can serve themselves at the stations by swiping their keycard.

WineStation systems are designed to preserve wine in open bottles for 60 days in a climate-controlled environment.

Royal Caribbean says it plans to roll out the system on more ships in the future.

Australia's first Elvis Cruise

Australia's first Elvis cruise set sail this week on Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas, which is spending the winter in the region.

The three-day King Tribute Cruise, as the Elvis-themed voyage is called, features shows by 14 Elvis tribute artists. Organizer Johnny Welsh got the idea after running a succesful '50s and '60s music cruise last year, and he was so convinced the cruise would sell out that he mortgaged his house to pay the $340,000-a-day fee to charter the ship from Royal Caribbean.

Elvis-themed cruises began popping up several years ago in the North American cruise market. Atlanta-based event organizer Sixthman held its fifth Elvis Cruise in January in the Caribbean aboard a Carnival ship.

Splendour of the Seas to feature 'iPad in every stateroom

Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas cruise ship is set to get a technology update – with an iPad to be provided in every stateroom.

The 2,074 cruise liner is getting the Apple-based update as part of its current refurbishment work and will be ready for its February 2012 cruise.

Cruise holiday guests will be able to use the iPads to access a range of cruise exclusive features including a daily compass of events and activities.

Under the plans, the iPads will also be able to access on board restaurant menus while allowing users to order room service, surf the internet and watch films.

Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of hotel operations at Royal Caribbean International explained that the iPad plan was concocted following lengthy market research.

"We added the iPads to greatly enhance guest communication, interactivity and to continue to offer industry leading technology that helps enhance the guest experience," she said.

Stateroom guests will be able to use the devices throughout the ship too, with the Splendour of the Seas set to feature Wi-Fi throughout the vessel.

Royal Caribbean Introduces Visionary Vertical Entertainment

Royal Caribbean International continues to deliver the Royal Advantage with the transformation of the elegant and popular Centrum found aboard its Vision-Class ships.

Beginning with Splendour of the Seas, the Centrum with its sweeping views and central location on the ship will reemerge from an extensive revitalization as a new chic and sophisticated venue featuring enriching daytime activities, dazzling nightly entertainment and jaw-dropping aerial spectacles. The Centrum's Champagne Bar also will be reinvented, unveiled as a new venue - the R Bar - featuring a sophisticated 1960s vibe, complete with iconic furnishing and signature cocktails mixed by a savvy and personable mixologist.

"The rebirth of the spectacular 60-foot high Centrum found aboard the Vision-class ships brings new life to a popular gathering space by incorporating innovative technology and vertical entertainment elements to what was already the place to be and be seen," said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International. "When we complete our extensive revitalization program, guests sailing aboard Splendour of the Seas will be in for a multi-sensory experience that puts them at close proximity to amazing aerial performers from multiple viewpoints in a sophisticated and glamorous atmosphere."

Bringing the Centrum's new entertainment offerings to life is the latest in sound and light technology. The glass elevators facing into the Centrum will feature large LED panels across their entire length providing a spectacular backdrop of moving visuals 5 decks high. During the entertainment experiences, which takes place throughout the cruise, the soaring space comes alive with a series of aerial acrobatic vignettes blurring the lines between artful choreography and state-of-the-art technology.

The R Bar offerings will feature a return to the classics - gimlet, martini, brown liquors, gin and whiskeys - all served in unique glassware with surprising garnishes. The venue's resident mixologist, selected from the cruise line's fleet to be the face and personality behind the bar, will create drink specials that will complement each evening's theme and aerial spectacular.

Throughout each sailing, guests can gather in the Centrum for a variety of interactive daytime activities including chef demonstrations, towel folding demonstrations, dance classes, game shows, Nintendo Wii competitions and the popular Captain's Corner where guests can spend time with the Captain. Additionally, guests may sit back, relax and enjoy performances from musicians and singers or take a spin on the dance floor at themed parties such as the popular Disco Inferno dance party.

 

Cruise Offers at Cruiseholidays.ie

If you need something to distract you from the gloomy Irish weather then check out these cruise holidays specials for 2012 with Royal Caribbean and Cruiseholidays.ie.

Book a 5 night Med Fly/Cruise from €569 and get return flights to Barcelona and a 5 night stay in a Liberty of the Seas Interior Stateroom. Departure is on 28^th April 2012.

Book a 7 night Emirates Fly/Cruise from just €749 and enjoy return flights to Dubai, 7 nights in a Brilliance of the Seas Interior Stateroom. Upgrade to a balcony from €229 per person. Departure is on 29 January 2012.

Book a 10 night Med Fly/Cruise & Stay from €859 and receive return flights to Malaga, 3 nights stay in Malaga and 7 nights in an Adventurer of the Seas Interior Stateroom. Departure is on 2^nd of May 2012.

Book a 10 night Orlando & Caribbean Fly/Cruise & Stay from €1659 and enjoy 3 nights in Universal‘s Royal Pacific Resort and 7 nights in an Adventurer of the Seas Interior Stateroom. Departure is on 2^nd February 2012.

All prices are based on 2 people sharing.

Call Cruise Holidays for more information on Dublin – 01 817 3555 or Cork – 021 2429 555