At 200 feet above sea level and towering 30 feet above the deck, rock-climbing wall offers an incredible view and is one of the most popular onboard activities, for kids and adults. Royal Caribbean cruise ships are the only ones in the world to offer rock-climbing walls. Whether it's your first time on a rock wall or if you're a seasoned climber, there are challenges for all levels of experience. They'll provide you all of the equipment, including shoes, helmets and harnesses. All you need to do is bring a pair of socks and, of course, your sense of adventure.

“For beginners, we offer one-on-one instruction by appointment at no charge, as well as beginner climbing sessions, - says Kerry Mitchell, Royal Caribbean’s Business Development Manager. - For those who are more experienced, there are advanced climbing sessions, speed-climbing competitions and for teens, teen tournaments. Rock climbing is free for all guests and reservations aren't necessary; just check your Cruise Compass and Daily Planner for hours.

While rock climbing can be fun for kids and adults, climbers must be 6 years of age or older and minors must be accompanied by an adult. We also ask each climber to sign a waiver. The first to install a rock wall on every ship in its fleet, Royal Caribbean International emphasizes new experiences, - says Kerry. - Each and every ship is jam-packed with fun activities, restaurants, bars and lounges, shopping, entertainment and sports and spa facilities guaranteed to make each guest's vacation unforgettable. Kids ages 3 to 17 will enjoy Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean youth program and teen facilities, which feature age-appropriate activities and amenities in a kid-friendly environment.”

This is Royal Caribbean all about – Adventure - and offers round-the-clock excitement on its 21 ships, which are like floating resorts. Without a doubt, Royal Caribbean is farther along the cruise industry's cutting edge, ever innovating, ever challenging the received wisdom about what a cruise ship can do and be. Its growing fleet of innovative, stylish ships is relaxed, elegant and upscale with a broad appeal that attracts everyone from honeymooners to families to couples celebrating golden anniversaries.

Royal Caribbean Cruises: 38 ships, 265 destinations, 77 countries of 6 continents and 50,000 thousands guests a week

Royal Caribbean Cruises is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France.

The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction in European yards. Royal Caribbean order book includes: Oasis of the Seas (2009) and her sister ship Allure of the Seas (2010), which are under construction in Finland, and four additional ships in Celebrity Cruises: Solstice class, which are under construction in Germany, Celebrity Equinox (2009), Celebrity Eclipse (2010), Solstice IV (2011) and Solstice V (2012). RCI also offer unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Dubai, Europe and South America.

“On land, Royal Caribbean delivers unique adventure tours and guided excursions that satisfy all types of travelers. Swim with stingrays in the Caribbean, hike through glacial waterfalls in Alaska or see the view atop the Rock of Gibraltar. If you choose, combine your cruise vacation with a land tour on a Royal Caribbean cruise tour, says Kerry Mitchell, - Royal Caribbean sails to some of the most popular cities and destinations across the globe and operates cruises to 265 destinations in 77 countries of 6 continents.

Mark Kotler has gone on 10 cruise vacations, but he has never got a deal like he had in late May on a voyage out of Athens to Alexandria, Egypt, then to Israel and Turkey. All together 11 nights for $ 1,100 each. “Our family booked cabins for that money on Royal Caribbean cruise, and that was a 30 per cent saving from the list price”, he says. Cruise to Holy Land starts on September 28 till October 9, 2009 and lasts 11 nights.

Ship will visit 5 countries: Israel, Greece, Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey and 10 ancient towns: Ashdod (Jerusalem), Haifa in Israel, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt, Istanbul and Kusadasi in Turkey, Athens and Rhodes in Greece and Limassol in Cyprus.

“I call that a deal,” - the Los Angeles software developer adds. “Also we have great variety of shore excursions, - says Oksana Kotler, Mark’s wife. - For instance, Cairo and Pyramids Tombs and Africa’s largest city – Cairo and the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza. Very interesting tours from Asdod to Jerusalem where you can experience the ancient city. Haifa and tour to Nazareth and Galilee. Ancient Ephesus and Kusadasi has and the impressive library of Celsius. In Cyprus we can go to Kourion beach for swimming and enjoy some time on one of the beautiful beaches of Mediterranean.

Shore Excursions

The Royal Caribbean Experience RCI offers the active cruiser moderately priced excursions with plenty of water sports, golfing, and sightseeing, all of which may be booked online up to ten days before sailing. Newer options include canopy tours and adventure tours like rafting.

RCI owns two private resorts Coco Cay in the Bahamas and Labadee, Haiti, to which it delivers its delighted passengers. Its “Vitality” fitness program includes full jogging track, workout classes, full gym, spa and solarium. Golf Ahoy! offers scheduled golfing in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, and Hawaii. Climbing walls, so popular on the Voyager and Radiance-class ships, have been added to the entire fleet.

Hats off to Royal Caribbean, incidentally, for not piling on a lot of equipment "rental" fees on ice skates and roller blades. When a Royal Caribbean executive famously coined the phrase "mass with class" to describe his company's vessels, he wasn't whistling Dixie. Before anything else, you must describe RCI's 21 vessels as beautiful.

But be assured that the line has plenty of personality to go with its looks, as witness its marvelous entertainment and remarkable fitness and spa facilities. With an average passenger age of 42, fully seven years younger than the industry average, Royal Caribbean has managed to attract a lot more than the stereotypical "overfed, newly wed, or almost dead" passenger, by offering a cruise experience that's at once classy and tons of fun - at a very reasonable price.

“These, make no mistake, are wonderful ships for families with children of all ages, including teens, who have their own private club and disco. Who doesn't belong on a Royal Caribbean ship? They have something for everyone and it is almost impossible to imagine not having a great time. They are active, sports oriented ships for the most part,” - says Kerry.

Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean youth program has age-specific facilities and programs supervised by youth counselors for Aqaunauts (age 3-5), Explorers (age 6-8), Voyagers (age 9-11), Navigators (age 12-14) and Teens (age 15-17). - A new program for infants and toddlers 6 months to 3 years, in partnership with toymaker Fisher-Price, offers children accompanied by an adult 45-minute playgroups involving storytelling, creative arts, music and a variety of Fisher-Price learning toys and games. Adventure Ocean runs year-round in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska.” Caribbean. Europe.

What’s selling best for the line? # 1 destination is Caribbean. With the year-round deployment of Enchantment of the Seas to Baltimore, Royal Caribbean will resume seasonal service in Colon with Grandeur of the Seas, alternating seven-night Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries between November 2009 and April 2010.

The season will begin with a six-night Western Caribbean repositioning sailing from Fort Lauderdale Grandeur of the Seas will then alternate a new Western Caribbean itinerary featuring calls at Cartagena, Colombia; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; and Honduras- with a Southern Caribbean itinerary visiting two ports in Colombia and the ABC Islands.

Enchantment of the Seas will alternate two new itineraries from Baltimore nine-night Bahamas and 12-night Southern Caribbean voyages. Jewel of the Seas will reposition from Boston on a 13-night Caribbean itinerary to Port Everglades, its new homeport.

It will then alternate 10- and 11-night. Adventure of the Seas will return to San Juan in December 2010, after its inaugural European season. The ship will alternate two seven-night Southern Caribbean roundtrips departing on Sundays that mirror the ship current year-round itineraries from San Juan. Voyager of the Seas will return to Galveston and alternate two seven-night Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries.

“Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968 and we were the first cruise line to build ships for the sole purpose of cruising the Caribbean. It was just beginning and company had several sailings. And now Royal Caribbean International will operate more 100 seasonal Caribbean sailings for the 2009-10 winter and spring season. – says Kerry Mitchell. - Seven ships will offer 31 itineraries, ranging from seven to 14 nights and call at 28 unique ports. The ships are Adventure of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas. The cruises will depart from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J.; Baltimore, Md.; Fort Lauderdale; Galveston, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Colon, Panama.”

Destination # 2 – Europe. Royal Caribbean has increased its European deployed fleet from 13 to 22 ships in the last 12 months. Twenty-two of 38 ships in service will be deployed in the European region in 2009, verses eight in 2005. Recently in May executives from Royal Caribbean participated in the 2009 European Cruise Council Conference to discuss the expansion of the cruise industry in Europe and the industry future.

The company also has significant economic impact in the broader European cruise industry through its new ship construction. Five brands dedicated to the full range of target audiences and categories, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Cruises, as well as market-dedicated brands such as Pullmantur, serving the Spanish market and Croisieres de France serving France. Twenty-two of 38 ships in service will be deployed in the European region in 2009, verses eight in 2005.

The Economic Impact Report presented at the 2009 European Cruise Council Conference shows that in 2008, 21.7 million passengers visited a European port, 4.7 million passengers joined their cruise at a European port and the number of cruise ships operating in Europe in 2008 rose by 35% compared to 2005, - Michael Bayley, senior vice president, Royal Caribbean International said. 

Without a doubt, Royal Caribbean is farther along the cruise industry's cutting edge, ever innovating, ever challenging

Royal Caribbean is the place where innovation and imagination rule supreme. An architectural marvel at sea, eagerly anticipated Oasis of the Seas will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. “She will be the first ship Royal Caribbean International's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, - says Kerry. - Which include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone."

The ship will sail from her homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. After completion in late-2009, she will operate Caribbean cruises out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This 220,000-ton colossus is 16 decks high, boasts 2,700 staterooms and features 7 distinct neighborhoods to explore.

For example, Boardwalk - the new Aqua Theater, the carousel and the zip line are some activities located on this neighborhood. The Boardwalk also features a variety of restaurants and shops such as Johnny Rockets diner, the Seafood Shack, Candy Beach, and the Boardwalk Doughnut Shop.

Central Park, which is intended to have greenery in it, will be open to the sky and will include a variety of shop and restaurant options including the always-present Chops Grille. Construction began on a sister ship, the Allure of the Seas, in February 2008 and the launch is set for November 2010.”

Royal Caribbean are mega-ships. These ships define the concept of "the ship as the destination" more than any other cruiser in the world, with an onboard water park, ice skating, rock climbing, surf riding, a variety of pubs, large casinos, and simply the biggest ship imaginable, larger than Carnival's biggest by over 30%. Even if you don't care to get wet, skate or climb rocks, don't dismiss the people-watching wow factor.

There are reasons why cruise ships still sail at over 100% capacity, and still have the highest satisfaction rating of any vacation option in the travel business. They are Royal Caribbean cruises. How can you not love them? .