Royal Caribbean continues to push the envelope of what is possible at sea - the large, contemporary ships are nothing short of architectural wonders, carrying thousands of passengers and outfitted with everything from ice-skating rinks to zip-lining courses. Royal Caribbean sails to destinations around the world, offering fun, adventurous itineraries well-suited for families, groups, and active travelers.
On the "Nation of Why Not," you'll get to experience many vacations in one. First, there's the experience of being on the ship itself, with many dining and bar venues, pools and spas, rock-climbing walls, shopping promenades and so much more. Then, there's the magnificent natural beauty you'll experience once arriving in Alaska, and the adventurous and exciting opportunities that await you on land. Royal Caribbean offers 7- and 9-night itineraries to the Last Frontier out of Vancouver, Seattle and Seward, plus many cruisetour options if you'd like even more time on land.
With nearly two dozen vessels at sea, Royal Caribbean just keeps on growing. Two of their vessels currently travel to Alaska - the Radiance of the Seas and the Explorer of the Seas. Carrying between 2,100 and 3,100 guests, these ships are some of the largest at sea. As such, they're equipped with tons of dining and entertainment options, a large, friendly crew, and a variety of staterooms to suit every traveler and group size. Enjoy plenty of specialty dining options, shopping areas, adults-only retreats, and so much more.
Royal Caribbean separates staterooms into four main categories - suites, balcony staterooms, ocean view staterooms, and interior staterooms. Within each category, guests can choose which room type best meet their needs. Every stateroom includes a television, telephone, private bath, shower, vanity and hair dryer. Many also include plush bathrobes, mini bars and more. Whether you're looking for something modest or over-the-top luxurious, Royal Caribbean has a stateroom for you.
Shore excursions are the best way to see more of each port without having to worry about logistics, returning to the ship on time, or last-minute cancellations. Royal Caribbean offers dozens of shore excursions on every itinerary, and guarantees prompt return to ships and first-off status in port. For unique getaways, consider a Royal Private Journeys adventure, designed specifically for you by "Destination Insiders," Royal Caribbean partners who have years of destination expertise ready to be put to good use.
Some of the shore excursions Royal Caribbean offers in Alaska include:
Royal Caribbean also offers a number of cruisetour options in Alaska, adding three to six nights onto your vacation. These land-and-sea vacations give you more time to explore Alaska while still enjoying the Royal Caribbean experience. You'll travel in plush, glass-domed train cars or in deluxe motor-coaches, and stay in top-notch lodges and hotels, all with exquisite views of the natural landscape that makes Alaska so special. Many "must do" activities are included on cruisetours, like National Park hikes, panning for gold, and museum visits. There are additional shore excursions available for purchase on cruisetours as well.
Royal Caribbean offers several dining options to suit everyone's tastes, from traditional fine dining to casual comfort foods like Johnny Rockets and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. The main dining room has complimentary, multi-course meals available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With My Time Dining, you can choose your dining time and table companions on a daily basis, or if you prefer, choose either the early or late seating for the duration of your cruise.
The Windjammer Cafe offers complimentary fast-casual meals, with different stations serving pastas, omelets, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Other complimentary options include Cafe Promenade for coffee and pastries/snacks and the Boardwalk Doghouse for hot dogs.
Several specialty dining options are available onboard for an additional charge, including Giovanni's Table Italian restaurant, Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, Izumi Japanese cuisine, and Chops Grille signature steakhouse.
Royal Caribbean offers many beverage packages to choose from, giving you the best value on everything from soft drinks to fine wine. Some of the package options include:
Royal Caribbean can accommodate most food allergies, gluten-free, Kosher, low-fat and low-sodium diets with advanced notice. Lactose-free/soy milk, Ensure and Kosher meals are available at no extra charge.
Royal Caribbean has taken traditional cruising and brought it to a whole new level, creating floating resorts complete with rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, and not one but three pools on both the Explorer of the Seas and the Radiance of the Seas. This includes the Solarium, an adults-only retreat. There are also at least three whirlpools per ship, plus the Vitality Spa, which features an extensive list of treatments like massages and acupuncture. Staying active at sea is easy with Royal Caribbean's state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga and tai chi classes, jogging track, basketball court and mini-golf course.
Duty-free shopping is available onboard at the Royal Shops, with apparel, accessories, beauty product and more to peruse. There are more than a dozen bars, clubs and lounges onboard, from casual pubs to salsa dancing bars. as well as Broadway-style entertainment and ice-skating shows. Massive casinos contain hundreds of slots and more than 10 tables, where you can play roulette, poker, craps, blackjack and more. Other fun nighttime activities include live music, comedy shows, parades, themed parties, and outdoor movie nights.
Royal Caribbean specializes in creating both events and activities for kids to enjoy on their own, and for the whole family to enjoy together. The line's complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Program is led by staff members who all have four-year degrees in education or a related field, so parents can rest easy knowing their children are in good hands. There are three age groups: babies and tots (six to 36 months), kids (three to 11), and teens (12 to 17), each of which has their own interactive, multi-room spaces to hang out in. Kids of all ages will love the ship-wide scavenger hunts, science experiments, arcade games, dance parties and movies nights planned just for them.
Around the ship, there are plenty of family-friendly experiences offered, from rock-climbing to ice-skating, carousels to zip-lining, DreamWorks-themed shows, karaoke nights, and more. My Family Time Dining is offered for the first seating time in the main dining room for kids age three to 11. Kids will eat within 40 minutes of seating, then head off to the evening Adventure Ocean activities, while parents can stay and enjoy another glass of wine or dessert.
A "Sitters at Sea" program is available for an extra fee, with baby-sitting services for young cruises at least one year of age. Sitters will come to staterooms, toys and games in tow, while parents enjoy a night out on their own. For families traveling with very young children, the Babies 2 Go service allows parents to pre-order Huggies diapers, wipes and cream, and Gerber baby food to be delivered to your stateroom throughout your cruise.
Any guests who have sailed on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship before are eligible to join the Crown & Anchor Society. RCL recognizes and rewards its most loyal guests with exclusive benefits and privileges to make every cruise experience spectacular. Enrollment is complimentary, and members earn one cruise point every night they sail or double points when they book a suite. These points can be applied to benefits before you sail or once you're onboard. Benefits start with exclusive savings on select itineraries, priority check-in and private departure lounge, and Hertz Rewards Points, and extend to discounts on balcony and suite staterooms, special onboard lounge access, personalized gifts, and exclusive onboard events.
As one of the most accessible-friendly cruise lines at sea, Royal Caribbean strives to make all guests feel comfortable and secure during their travels, both on and off the ship. Royal Caribbean ships were designed to be accessible throughout; corridors are spacious and accommodate 180-degree turns for wheelchairs, decks are accessible by way of automatic doors, and all public rooms have entrances with a gradual incline. In staterooms, many sleeping areas, bathrooms and sitting areas have a five-foot turning radius. Guests can request a raised toilet seat, shower stool, and/or oxygen supply delivery. For those with visual and/or hearing impairments, Royal Caribbean can provide large print materials, closed caption televisions and sign language interpreting services upon request.
Whatever your needs, Royal Caribbean will do its best to meet them. Just let your Cruise Specialist know at the time of booking, and an agent will work with you to make your cruise as worry-free as possible.