The fleet of the Royal Caribbean International cruise line is composed of 22 ships, all of which, as of 1991, have a name that ends in “of the Seas.” These 22 vessels are separated into six class: Freedom, Oasis, Voyager, Vision, Radiance, and Sovereign. Each of these classes has multiple ships, with Vision class being the largest with six ships, and Oasis class and Sovereign class, with two ships each, being the smallest. However, Oasis class is small only in terms of the number of ships within it, as the two vessels in this class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, are the largest cruise ships in the world. For more vessel-related information, check out this article about the cruise ships of the Royal Caribbean cruise line.

Like other major cruise lines, Royal Caribbean International offers cruises that sail all over the world. In fact, this might be especially true of Royal Caribbean, as its ships reach 233 destinations worldwide in 72 countries on six continents. The major areas of the world that Royal Caribbean sails to are as follows: Alaska, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Dubai/Emirates, Europe, Hawaii, and South America. Each of these locations has multiple voyages associated with it – some are quick and inexpensive, like a four-day trip to the Caribbean, others are lengthy and can cost thousands of dollars, like transatlantic trips that last for over two weeks. Since all of the ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet are large (the smallest vessels, which are a little less than 900 feet long, can accommodate over 2,000 passengers), there will be several lodging options associated with the many vacation packages available, ranging from small rooms that lack a view of the ocean to grand suites with royal accommodations.

Whether you book a majestic suite or a humble cabin, there will be plenty of activities and entertainment on board a Royal Caribbean ship. You can participate in any number of games, sporting events, and other tournaments, as well as work out at fitness centers and relax in spas. You can also have a good time at the bars, clubs, and lounges on board the ships, or, if you’re feeling lucky (or just drawn to risk-taking), you might be inclined to stop by the casino. And this is to say nothing of the plays and musicals you can attend or the restaurants and shops you can visit.

No matter what type of cruise you are interested in booking, and no matter what kind of activities you want to do while on your vacation, there is good chance that Royal Caribbean International has you covered. Accommodating all passengers and their expansive interests is what the major cruise lines are all about.

For more information relating to Royal Caribbean International, visit their website here:

Royal Caribbean International

Technically, the world’s largest cruise ship is Allure of the Seas, belonging to the Royal Caribbean International cruise line, so we’ll focus on this behemoth in this present article. However, it is worth nothing that Oasis of the Seas is almost the exact same size as Allure of the Seas. Oasis weighs the same as Allure and it is the same length (well, Allure is actually 50 mm longer than Oasis, but who’s counting…other than us), and virtually all of the other basic measurement statistics are the same. The only “notable” difference is that Allure can hold 64 more people than Oasis at its max capacity, which is 6,360 passengers.

Anyway, here are some key facts about this leviathan of a ship, just to give you some raw data relating to the enormity of this thing:

• Gross Tonnage: 225,282
• Length: 1,187 feet
• Width: 208 feet
• Height: 213 feet (from the water line)
• Cruising Speed: 22 knots
• Number of Staterooms: 2,700 (plus 28 “ultra-modern loft suites”)
• Number of Passenger Decks: 16
• Number of Elevators: 24

Of course, those are just numbers, which can only go so far in revealing the nature of Allure. But consider this: the ship is nearly four football fields long, but over twice as wide as a football field. Or, if you don’t follow football, the ship would stretch for over two blocks in New York City. As for its height, the Allure is about as tall as a 20-story building.

As you can see, it is no exaggeration to call this ship a small city, especially since Allure has seven distinctly designed “neighborhoods” (which is actually the language that Royal Caribbean International uses to describe the different areas of the ship). The ship also has all the amenities of a small city, including a large casino, tons of stores for shopping, and a number of different recreational areas. There are also multiple night clubs, bars, and restaurants on-board, among many other things.

The Allure may sound like a lot of other cruise ships, but it’s actually huge even when compared to other vessels. For example, the third largest ship in the world (after the Oasis, which is obviously second) is Norwegian Epic, which weighs nearly 75,000 tons less than Allure and holds 1,200 fewer people. It’s also only slightly more than half as tall as Allure. (Interestingly, though, Norwegian Epic is nearly as long as Allure, as the former has a length of 1,801 feet.)

Allure is truly impressive. If you ever want to take a cruise and feel like you’ve never left land, Allure is your ship.

In the Royal Caribbean International cruise line specifically, there are 22 ships that are broken into six classes: Oasis, Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, Vision, and Sovereign. Every Royal Caribbean International cruise ship has a name ending in “of the Seas” since 1991.

Each of the six classes listed above is composed of two or more cruise ships. With a total of six ships, the Vision class is the largest, followed by the Voyager (five ships), Radiance (four ships), and Freedom (three ships). Both the Sovereign class and Oasis class have two ships.

The two cruise ships in the Oasis class are enormous; they are, in fact, the largest passenger ships in the world. These two ships – Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas – are essentially the exact same size (the Allure, however, was recently discovered to be two inches longer than her sister ship the Oasis) and entered the Royal Caribbean International fleet within a year of each other. Both have 16 decks and can accommodate 6,390 people on-board, as well as have a gross tonnage of 225,282 and a length of 1,187 feet. Both ships cruise at a speed of 22 knots, or slightly over 25 miles per hour.

By way of comparison, consider the ships in the Radiance class, all of which have a capacity of 2,502 (i.e., they can hold this many people on-board), a gross tonnage of 90,090, and a length of 962 feet. It may seem strange that a ship like the Allure can hold nearly three times as many people as a ship in the Radiance class, despite the fact that the Allure is less than 300 feet longer than a Radiance ship. However, the Allure, with its sixteen decks, is much taller than a Radiance ship, and hence the Allure can accommodate more passengers.

Although the ships vary in size, they all have a Viking Crown Lounge on-board, which is a signature design feature of all Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. The lounges are the highest guest-accessible location on-board and are designed to offer panoramic views of the sea. The lounges have bars and dining venues, as well as recreational areas, like rock-climbing walls and gyms.

So, despite the diversity of the Royal Caribbean International ships, the cruise line unites their vessels with common features. If you book cruises on the Royal Caribbean International cruise line, the number of passengers and the length of the ship may vary, but many features will remain constant.

If you would like to learn more about Royal Caribbean International, visit their website here:

Royal Caribbean International

Some of the top winter cruise destinations include:

• Caribbean
• Mexican Riviera
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Hawaiian Islands
• Barbados
• Nile

The deepest discounts are offered on Caribbean winter cruises and Hawaiian Islands cruises. But all of the destinations listed above are offered at affordable prices during the winter months. If you want to enjoy the biggest discounts, stick to major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Holland America Line, to name a few. These cruise lines offer more departures, and larger ships, so there’s plenty of wiggle room for discounts.

To save even more in winter cruises, you can also book through a discount booking search engine. Although mot cruise lines offer hot deals if you book online directly through the cruise line, discount booking search engines might offer even cheaper tickets. So try:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Sample Winter Cruise Deals

Royal Caribbean International has a number of cruises that depart from Florida ports starting at $80. These include 4- and 5-night Caribbean cruises. Cruisers will visit destinations such as George Town, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.

Carnival Cruises has a number of special winter cruise deals to Baja Mexico. Cruises depart from Los Angeles on 3- and 4-day cruises. Ports of call include Ensenada, Mexico Catalina Island, CA. Cruises start at $239 for 3-day cruises and $249 for 4-day cruises.

Starting at around $92 a day, Holland America Line has a 14-day circle Hawaii cruise that departs from San Diego, CA. Ports of call include Hilo, Hawaii, US; Honolulu, Hawaii, US; Nawiliwili Kauai, Hawaii, US; Lahaina, Hawaii, US, and Ensenada, Mexico.

More Ways to Save on Winter Cruises

Besides booking with major cruise lines and booking through discount booking search engines, there are other ways to save on already low-priced winter cruises. You can book in advance to save or you can book last minute to save up to 75 percent off the regular cruise price. If you book with a group or family, you can save or if you are a senior you can save up to 20 percent or more.

A senior is defined as a person who is 55 or older. If you are a senior, in order take advantage of senior rates, all you have to do is book through a cruise travel specialist or book directly with the cruise line. Proof of age is required. Groups and families can also get the best deals if they book through a cruise travel specialist as well or contact a live cruise travel agent. A live person will always have the latest specials and promotions on available for you.

• Limited-time Offers
• Hot Deals
• Contests & Promotions
• Special Offers

Royal Caribbean doesn’t just offer great deals during the winter months. Royal Caribbean Cruises offers deals during all seasons of the year to places such as Alaska, Hawaii, Asia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Panama Canal, Pacific Northwest, Dubai, South America, Europe, and the Caribbean.

If you want to save even more, there are a number of tips that might be useful. For starters, you can book your cruise in advance. Cruise lines offer special incentives, credits, and cash back just for booking far in advance. If you don’t mind waiting until the last minute, you may enjoy special Celebrity Cruise deals up to 75 percent off. If any Royal Caribbean cruise isn’t booked solid several weeks or so before the cruise departs, regular prices are typically cut by 50-75 percent.

Other ways to save additional money on a Royal Caribbean include:

• Booking off-season
• Booking with a group
• Booking online
• Package deals
• Senior Discounts

Booking Off-Season
If you don’t mind booking off-season, you will find lots of the discounted Royal Caribbean cruises in year-around destinations. For example, slow or shoulder seasons for say Alaska, may differ from the Mexican Riviera. Here is a list of destinations and their slow seasons: Alaska, May and September; Bermuda, April-May and September-October; Canada/New England, July-August; the Caribbean, late April-May, September-early January; Hawaii, late August, late November, and February; Mexican Riviera, early January and May, October-November; Eastern and Western Mediterranean, March-April and September-November.

Senior Discounts
Royal Caribbean offers discounts for seniors. A senior is typically defined as a person who is 55 or older. In order to lock in senior rates, you cannot book online. You must call a RCI cruise travel specialist or book directly with Royal Caribbean Cruises. Proof of age is required.

For even bigger discount cruises on Royal Caribbean, visit any of the following discount booking search engines:

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

After deciding where you would like to cruise (the Caribbean is popular), the next thing to consider is the cruise line. Everyone has their own preferences, so some people may prefer a casual environment and others may prefer a luxury cruise, where formal nights are always on the menu. Whatever your taste and budget, there is a cruise line to suit your needs. Some of the most popular cruise lines in the industry today include: Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line.

Silversea Cruises and Crystal Cruises feature luxury cruise ships cruise lines that are popular among affluent, seasoned travelers, while Regent Seven Seas attracts the same crowd, but the cruise ships are bigger and the environment is more relaxed. Regent Seven Seas is also considered one of the most romantic cruise lines in the world so their cruise ships are perfect for honeymoons. Couples can enjoy French and Polynesian dining, spa treatments, waterspouts, and romantic shore excursions such as river cruises, dinner cruises, horseback riding through the mountains, wading in the water underneath a waterfall, and more.

Royal Caribbean International is considered the perfect cruise line for first-time cruisers as it attracts a good mix of passengers from different backgrounds and with different interests. This means you’ll find a wide variety of activities, dining and entertainment options, and a very casual environment. Disney Cruise Line is perfect for families, couples, and singles looking for a festive atmosphere and excellent prices, while Carnival Cruise Line is tops for single, 20-30-somethings looking for a party atmosphere. Carnival Cruise Line also attracts young couples (married or otherwise) that may be interested in a festive atmosphere as well.

Once you feel that you know a bit more about the different cruise lines and cruise ships, you should get to know your destinations. Depending on the cruise line, you can expect to travel to popular destinations such as the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii or romantic and exotic destinations such as Tahiti, Fiji, Australia, Bermuda, and Europe. Exotic destinations that are also popular for romance and adventure include Africa, Asia, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Costa Rica.

If you want to save money on cruises, booking early and booking at the very last minute has advantages. Additionally, certain times of the year offer discounts and savings as well. For example, May through September is high season for Alaska, the fall and summer seasons are prime times for European sailings, and while the Caribbean is a year-round destination, winter is the most popular time for Caribbean travel. Peak travel times are always more expensive than off-peak travel, so keep this in mind.

When you are ready to book your cruise, you can contact your local cruise travel agent or you can contact the cruise line that you like most. A great place to search for certified cruise travel agents is with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The site has a search function that will help you locate certified cruise travel agents or counselors in your area.

If you already have a cruise line in mind, visit the cruise lines website to book a cruise or simply write down the cruise lines 800 or 866 number (listed on the website) and give tem a call. Click here for a directory of all cruise lines.

The top cruises from New Orleans include Carnival (year around), Norwegian (Nov-March) and Royal (Nov-May). Carnival Inspiration has New Orleans is the home port for Carnival’s Sensation, Sensation arrives every Friday morning, while Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas depart from New Orleans every Saturday.

Carnival offers 4- and 5-day cruises from the Port of New Orleans to destinations such as Cozumel, Mexico, and the Western Caribbean. Royal Caribbean’s cruises will take you from New Orleans to destinations such as Costa Maya, Puerto Rico, and Aruba.

Carnival, Norwegian, or Royal Caribbean cruise to and from New Orleans, passengers allow passengers to enjoy two vacation experiences in one trip! For Carnival reservations log onto www.carnival.com. For Norwegian log onto www.ncl.com. And for Royal Caribbean Reservations, log onto www.royalcaribbean.com.

If you can’t spare have 4-5 days or your goal is to spend your days (or nights) cruising the Mississippi, New Orleans has a local cruise for every taste, style, and budget. Visitors can choose from a variety of cruises such as the popular Dinner Jazz Cruise, the Harbor Cruise or the Aquarium Zoo Cruise, which is great for families.

During the Dinner Jazz Cruise, passengers can enjoy the sparkling New Orleans skyline aboard New Orleans only authentic steamboat named “Natchez.” The Harbor Cruise features a two-hour cruise by day from the heart of the French Quarter, also aboard the Steamboat Natchez.

Families can enjoy a fun-filled day of cruising between the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo aboard the Riverboat John James Audubon. The cruise features seven miles of sightseeing and highlights, along with stops at the Zoo and Aquarium. For information about New Orleans cruises or to make reservations, contact the New Orleans Steamboat Company at 504-586-8777.

The port of New Orleans also offers New Orleans cruises aboard the Delta Queen Steamboat which runs year around through the Mississippi and Ohio River systems as well as the Riverbarge Excursion also year around cruising through the Mississippi and Ohio River systems.

New Orleans Cruise Terminal Info.

New Orleans Julia Street Cruise Terminal Complex is located within the same building as the RiverWalk Shopping Mall, featuring everything from a delicious food court to the Gap, Limited, and Victoria’s Secret. Passengers can shop until it’s time to board their ship or steamboat.

For $1.25 per ride passengers may also take a ten-minute trip to the Aquarium of the Americas, IMAX Theater, Harrah’s Casino or the French Quarter for a few hours of entertainment before or after a cruise. New Orleans Cruise terminals are all on the RiverFront streetcar (trolley) line, with two stops adjacent to the cruise terminals.

South Locus Point Cruise Terminal has seating for more than 750 cruise passengers, 36 mobile check-in stations, and parking for more than 500 vehicles. This dedicated cruise terminal is conveniently located less than 200 yards off I-95, the major north-south route on the East Coast, and ample parking allows passengers to simply drive up and board their cruise ship.

The top cruises out of Baltimore include Caribbean/Deep Caribbean, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Key West, and Canada/New England. These cruises are offered through
two of the biggest cruise lines out of Baltimore including Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. Cruises sail the Chesapeake Bay so there are plenty of sights to see along the way.

Royal Caribbean’s popular Grandeur of the Seas departs from the Port of Baltimore. Grandeur of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 74,137 tons and it houses a crew of 760, with accommodations for 1,950 passengers. The ship is under 15 years old as of 2008. This modern Vision-class super liner also sails the Panama Canal, the Mexican Riviera, and variety of U.S. Coastal itineraries. Other Royal Caribbean Vision-class ships include Enchantment of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines has 23 vessels in its fleet.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Majesty also departs from the Port of Baltimore. This classic vessel is around 40,786 gross tons and it travels to Bermuda. Norwegian Majesty has nine passenger decks, more than 700 rooms and suites, and it accommodates 1,790 passengers. Norwegian Majesty also travels to the Caribbean and Canada/New England.

Although not as popular as Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, but still a favorite among those in the know, American Cruise Lines also leaves from the Port of Baltimore. American Cruise Line’sAmerican Eagle and American Star offer six, seven, and fourteen day U.S. and Canada cruises. The six day cruises cover Baltimore, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Tangier Island, Crisfield, Solomons, Cambridge, Oxford, Saint Michaels, Annapolis, and back to Baltimore, and the seven day cruise covers Baltimore, Norfolk, Oriental, Morehead City, Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, Charleston or the seven day Baltimore, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Tangier Island, Solomons, Cambridge, Oxford, Saint Michaels, Annapolis, and back to Baltimore.

Fourteen day American Cruise Lines cruises leaving from the Port of Baltimore travel to Baltimore, Norfolk, Oriental, Morehead City, Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Beaufort, Daufuskie Island, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, Saint Simons Island, Jekyll Island, and Amelia Island.

For more information about which cruise lines leave from the Port of Baltimore and scheduling information, visit the official Port of Baltimore website at www.cruisemaryland.com.

Mini-cruises may stand alone or they might be part of a larger itinerary. When part of a larger itinerary, mini-cruises may include exotic river cruises, small yacht cruises, or small expedition cruises that travel where larger ships cannot. Mini cruises offer the same variety of entertainment, dining options and leisure facilities that are found on longer sailings, but they are designed to allow passengers to get the most out of their time onboard.

Some mini-cruises may take place during the week, but many take place on weekends. These types of cruises are packaged as “weekend getaways.” Popular destinations for weekend cruises include The Bahamas, The Western Caribbean, The Pacific Northwest, and Baja Mexico. Pacific Northwest mini-cruises typically last for three nights and they leave from Seattle. Bahamas cruises leave from Miami for three nights, and Western Caribbean cruises leave from Miami for four nights. Baja Mexico cruises leave from Los Angeles for three nights.

These are not the only mini-cruises available. Most cruise lines offer short cruises, but some of the most popular mini-cruises are offered through:

-Royal Caribbean
-Disney Cruise Line
-Carnival Cruise Line
-Celebrity Cruises

Prices for mini-cruises are “mini” too. Thanks to the shorter duration of the cruises, the are perfect for cruisers that are short on time and money. Depending on the type of accommodations, a mini-cruise may cost as little as $150 per person for an interior suite, up to $500 for a deluxe suite. You can also save money on mini-cruises by booking through a discount booking search engine such as Kayak or CheapTickets.com. The links to the most popular discount booking search engines are provided below.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

So why take a mini-cruise? Mini-cruises are a perfect way to test the waters (no pun intended). If it’s your first cruise, a mini-cruise will let you know if you will get seasick, if you are ok with crowds, if you will like the cruise experience overall, the food, entertainment, etc. Next, as stated earlier, mini-cruises are less expensive than longer cruises. Mini-cruises also allow you to visit a variety of locations in a short amount of time without having to deal with flying or staying overnight in multiple locations. And finally, if you are short on time and you only have a few days to unwind, a mini-cruise offers just enough time to accomplish your goals.

To book a mini-cruise, visit any of the websites listed in this article or use the Ships and Cruises Directory to locate dozens of different cruise lines around the world.

Five major cruise lines feature weekly service from Seattle aboard 10 premier vessels. Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Facility. Celebrity Cruises offers weekly departures to Alaska onboard the Infinity, plus 3 and 4 day Pacific Northwest itineraries on the Mercury. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 722-5941.

Holland America Line offers seven-day cruises from Seattle to Alaska on the ms Amsterdam, ms Oosterdam and the ms Westerdam. Holland America passengers depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Terminal located at the south end of Seattle’s downtown waterfront. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (877) 932-4259.

Norwegian Cruise Line has made Seattle its homeport for seven-day summer cruises to Alaska on board the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Pearl. Passengers depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 on Saturdays and Sundays. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 327-7030.

Royal Caribbean offers seven-day cruises to Alaska on the Rhapsody of the Seas departing from Terminal 30 every Friday. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (866) 562-7625.

About Seattle Cruises Cruise Lines

Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity and Summit feature AquaSpas with thalassotherapy pools and a wide assortment of beauty treatments. Art aficionados on their way to Alaska will also appreciate the Celebrity’s impressive art collections as well. Guests aboard any of Celebrity’s 11 ships can expect an endless number of unforgettable cruises filled with excursions highlighting culture, wildlife, history, and geology. Alaska excursions will include all highlights along with everything from flightseeing and flights to the Arctic Circle to dog sledding.

Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Line is considered the best Seattle to Alaska cruise line thanks to their excellent cruisetours. These cruise lines currently lead the industry in interior voyages (Alaska and Yukon Territory) and Holland has exclusive passage into the Yukons Kluane National Park, as well as Tombstone Territorial Park. Princess Cruise Line’s 7-day Gulf of Alaska cruise should be noted as well.

While the majority of Alaska cruise lines mentioned above are kid-free, there are several cruise lines that top the list for families interested in an Alaska cruise. Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line feature special shore excursions for kids and teens, as well as onboard activities that will keep kids busy during long days at sea. Royal Caribbean may also be a bit more family friendly.