Royal Caribbean Cruises and Their Ships

Founded in 1969 by three Norwegian shipping companies, Royal Caribbean has grown to be one of the largest and richest cruise lines in the world.

Based in Miami, Florida, Royal Caribbean offer a fleet of twenty ships with three currently being built - one of which has been stated to include a New York style Central Park area, inclusive of walkways covered by growing trees and lush greenery, shopping boutiques, an art gallery, five restaurants and cafés and two separate bars - and that's only in this 100m square area!

Aimed at young and old, groups and couples, there's a Royal Caribbean cruise for everyone. On board any Royal Caribbean ship you can find bars, pubs, theatres, cinemas, sit down restaurants, buffet restaurants, cafés, swimming pools, gyms, health centres and not forgetting casinos and shopping centres! What's more, on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there's a Viking Crown Lounge - a bar at the very top of the ship offering breathtaking panoramic views. Further to this, Royal Caribbean manage to mix classic cruising with modern cruising - whilst there is the still the formal Captain's dinner, it's not compulsory - but well worth it!

The Royal Caribbean fleet is divided into six different classes - Oasis Class, Freedom Class, Voyager Class, Radiance Class, Vision Class and Sovereign Class - with each class having its own of fleet of ships. Each of these classes travels to different destinations and offer slightly different cruises experiences. For example, the ships in the Oasis Class are the biggest in the world, meaning more people, more restaurants and many more activities. Whilst the ships in the Sovereign Class are some of the smaller Royal Caribbean cruise ships, they are definitely not quiet or activity free!

All of the Royal Caribbean ships can be distinguished by their name, as they all end in "...of the Seas". Whether you're sailing on the Liberty of the Seas or the Majesty of the Seas, you can rest assured that you'll receive quality all the way on your Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean cruises travel to over 100 destinations, meaning there's a destination for everyone. Whether it's the natural, rugged beauty of Canada, the kangaroos and koalas in Australia or the crystal clear sea and white beaches of Hawaii, Royal Caribbean travel to somewhere for everyone.

One extra that Royal Caribbean has over other cruise lines is they offer two completely private destinations for its guests. Labadee, a beautiful coastal resort in Northern Haiti and Coco Cay, a private island in the Bahamas are exclusive to Royal Caribbean cruises. These two resorts provide totally private destinations for guests and feature stunning beeches with lush palm trees and shaded canopies.

With the number of people taking a cruise expected to top 12.8 million throughout 2008, there hasn't been a better time to find a great deal for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Whether it's a short, weekend cruise around Europe or a month long cruise in the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean will ensure you have the best cruise experience - both on board and off.