Adventure of the Seas Photos

Here are some fantastic photos of "Adventure of the Seas" from Royal Caribbean. Enjoy!

Superior Balcony Ocean-view Stateroom

Adventure Theater

Pool Bar - for a drink and a dip!

Titanic Walking Tour

RMS Titanic, the most famous cruise ship of all times, might have sunk on April 15th 1912, but the liner remains alive in the memories of thousands and millions of people from across the world. The wrecks were discovered in 1985, and the subsequent James Cameron classic “Titanic” has certainly kept the liner alive in public memory.

Titanic was launched on May 31st 1911, and this year, we are celebrating or marking 100 years of this event. The event is being marked all over the world, but at the very place where it was built, there is a memorial walking tour that takes people across the dock and gives them an insight into how this great liner was manufactured from scratch, a 100 years in the past.

Titanic Walking Tour – The Details

It is an easy walk, where the guide will take you through the flat ground at a leisurely pace. The tour lasts for 2 hours, and in between, there is the additional café break at the Pump House café for 30 minutes. Your guide will take you through Queens Island in Belfast, Ireland, where the Titanic and its sister ships were constructed. This is no ordinary walk. You can know in person how a legend was born.

What You Will See

• You can see the famous drawing offices where Thomas Andrews designed the Britannic, Olympic and the Titanic.
• You can see the building that houses the biggest attraction of Titanic. Valued at more than £97 million, as many as 500,000 tourists are expected to see this in 2012. See it before they do.
• Take a stroll on the slipways where the ship was constructed and launched. See the exact spot where the ship first touched water. You can compare the pictures of then and now.
• View the HMS Caroline, which is the last remaining World War I ship. It is in the dock and is still in service.
• View the pump house and the dock. If you have seen the movie, then you will surely remember the ship sailing off. This is the exact dock from which it sailed into the ocean. The dock has remained unchanged ever since those days of 1911. You will definitely appreciate the massive size of the ship. At the pumping house you can see the original tool shops, and the huge pumping engines of the Titanic. There is an audio visual program here too.

The walking tour costs £12 for adults, for kids between 10 and 16 years it is £8. The cost is £5 for those who are under 10 years of age, and kids under 5 go free. Family ticket for 2 kids and 2 adults cost £30. Call up Colin at +447904 350339, or you can also visit www.titanicwalk.com.

Cruise Dining – Are You Being Taken For A Ride?

It is a fact that a majority of the cruise liners of today have a plethora of specialty restaurants on board. Of course, there are many individuals, who would love a salad bar, an eatery that specializes on Thai cuisine or the choicest of Turkish delicacies, or an eating joint just for the tastiest kebabs. But there are those who are criticizing the cruisers for neglecting the regular dining operations. They say that this is being done smartly to entice the passengers to try out the fee-based establishments.

However, this charge is being vehemently opposed by the cruise lines themselves. The Associated VP, F&B of Celebrity Cruises, Scott Steenrod said, “Our main dining rooms are the heart of our dining operation, and we would never do anything to undermine that”. Though many passengers are critics are not convinced, but the cruise industry in general is agreeing with what Scott says. Explaining their position, they say that the experience of a specialty restaurant cannot really be duplicated in the large dining room. For instance, a steakhouse will always offer more choices than what will be there in a dining room.

This justification certainly sounds logical, but there is a key difference. When you are in the shore, you always have plenty of regular dining options, and could thus go to another eatery if you are not satisfied with one. But out on sea, with water all around you, the passenger has to accept what is being offered – no choices here.

Perhaps in response to such criticisms, many cruise lines have now stopped charging extra for the specialty dining experience. In Regent Seven Seas for instance, you do not have to pay more to dine at their two specialty eateries. However, you must still make an advance booking. So, no spur of the moment decisions please. In Crystal Cruises, there is no charge for the Italian or the Asian restaurant, however, you must pay $180 to dine and wine at the Vintage Room.

Impact of Tsunami on the Cruising World

I have always wanted to find out what impact tsunamis have on the cruising world. Yes, truly huge tsunamis like the one that happened in Asia are quite rare. But the fact remains that, smaller tsunamis happen all the time, and the cumulative effect of all this could really be quite devastating for the cruise liners. After all, who would like to sail on a vessel and stay exposed to the risks?

So what is the impact? Are fewer people booking or asking about a cruise vacation now? What are the cruise liners doing to allay the fears of the general public? Can the ships really do anything at all? And what about the bottom-line? Has there been any major impact there?

I was really keen to find this out, and started doing the research. I reached out to a few major liners, and asked them the critical questions. I visited the office of the Cruise Lines International Association to get their side of the story. I consulted various travel agents to find out whether there has been any major drop in the bookings or enquiries. I even went on a cruise myself, to find out what the on-board passengers felt.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for taking the cruise. I really love cruising, and can sail the ocean absolutely anytime. You just have to mention the word “cruise” to me, and off I go. LOL.

And here’s what I discovered.

Luckily, there has been little impact. Those who love to cruise would go anyway. Of course, they are concerned about their safety, but it seems that most people have retained their confidence in the ability of the companies to take timely action in case of such eventualities. And it seems that there is certainly a lot of logic here.

With the forecasting systems much better today than they were before, it is possible to know about an earthquake or a tsunami hours in advance. Since the ship is always wired or connected, call what you like, the captain can take timely decision and change the course to avert a crisis. Sure enough, you will miss a few ports-of-call, but then, your life will be saved. And certainly, that is all that matters. Doesn’t it.

Certainly the liners are all on a perennial red alert, ever since the big one in Asia, and the other smaller ones. They are always tuned in, listening particularly to such signals, and that’s precisely why there hasn’t been an incident in the last few years.

In fact, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, those who are on a cruise during the tsunami are always safe. This is what Lanie Fagan the spokeswoman of the Cruise Lines International Association said, “because a tsunami causes a rise in the height of the sea, a ship at sea is one of the safest places to be. It is when a tsunami approaches the coast that it causes damages as the wave builds in height and causes widespread flooding.”

That is certainly an interesting take. Who am I to challenge that?

Brilliance of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean has done it again. Their 90,000 ton cruise ship Brilliance of the Seas with its multi-hued entertainment icons, images and venues is enthralling even the most seasoned voyager, many of whom are admitting that they have rarely seen such brilliance in a single enclave anywhere, be it on the land or sea. Take for instance, the ship’s elaborate Indian Raj- themed Solarium that displays three, 16-feet tall elephants that are dressed in royal brocade, posing in front of a cascading waterfall. Though sounding incredible, it sure depicts the fantasy and opulence that once formed a part of British rule in the Indian subcontinent. The contemporary American passenger in this vessel is sure to get bewildered at the awe inspiring sight just to commemorate the magnificent scene.

Or think of the 9-story glass constructed Centrum with its flashy bars, lounges and duty-free shops that sell the finest cognac at less than half the original price. Add to it the state-of-the-art technology that conducts this 962-foot floating elegance with 2510 passengers at a cruising speed of 25 knots over the rolling seas, and what you have is an awesome experience.

Brilliance of the Seas travels to these locations,

• Canary Islands and Morocco
• Dubai and adjoining areas
• Egypt and the Mediterranean coast
• European cruise regions

Here are some of the amenities that you will find in this ship,

• Minstrel Dining Room is the ship’s prime elegant dining area that is featured with a cascading waterfall while providing numerous gastronomic fantasies.
• Pacific Theater is where the passenger gets to see the Broadway or Las Vegas productions, while cruising on high seas.
• The Art Gallery on board allows the cruisers to attend an auction, and buy the choicest paintings.
• The Portofino restaurant is the pride of the Brilliance of the Seas. This is where the cruiser can get a taste of authentic Italian cuisine.
• The Chops Grille serves as the rendezvous for the hungry seafarer who is in search of the perfect steak, late at night.
• Champagne Bar is located at one of the convenient decks that serve as the ideal place to savor a glass or two of the sparkling beverage.
• The Schooner Bar is for the seafaring guest who feels happy about hobnobbing with the ship’s navigational gears and components, while sipping a mellowed scotch.

With themed dining rooms and lounges, casinos, swimming pools, solariums, centrums and even a miniature golf course on the Brilliance of the Seas, the Radiance family of cruise ships offers something to excite for everyone.

Book a voyage online today, and look for the best time of your life now.