Celebrity or Royal Caribbean? If you like Royal Caribbean, make sure you check out a like cruise that is offered from Celebrity. Public opinion says Celebrity is better than Royal Caribbean and they are usually LESS than Royal Caribbean. Also, in case you didn't know, Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean! Destinations where you will find both Celebrity AND Royal Caribbean: Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Europe-Mediterranean, Bermuda and some Caribbean (Winter-Spring months). | Royal Caribbean holiday cruises There are still some good rates on Royal Caribbean for the holiday cruises. Let us check for the best promotions-we know all the nooks and cranny's of all the cruise lines! Give us a call so we can help you! | Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Club
Even More Reasons to Cruise
Cruising with Royal Caribbean International can be rewarding, especially when you're a member of the Crown & Anchor Society. The more you treat yourself to our amazing cruises, the more we reward you with benefits and extras.
Gold
After 1st Completed Cruise
Platinum
After 5 Completed Cruise Credits
Diamond
After 10 Completed Cruise Credits
Diamond Plus
After 24 Completed Cruise Credits
Terms & Conditions
Onboard Benefits
Ultimate Value Booklet* Welcome Back Party**
Complimentary Wine Tasting** Commemorative gift
Crown & Anchor Society Membership Number (if applicable)
Cruise Planning Benefits
Saving certificates online
Additional Benefits
Receive an extra cruise credit when you purchase and sail in a suite (categories RS, OS, FS, GS, JS) for sailings beginning on or after January 1, 2004
Receive two cruise credits for a 12-night or longer cruise/cruisetour on or after January 1, 2003 ****
Award-winning Crown & Anchor magazine
Member contests
Member Cruises
Crown & Anchor Society Desk for membership inquiries
Member section on our website
Onboard Benefits
Private departure lounge
Exclusive onboard event
Robes for use onboard
Priority check-in (where available)
Cruise Planning Benefits
Receive matching Captain's Club member recognition when you sail our sister line, Celebrity Cruises
A special number to call for pre-cruise benefits, (888) 437-1953 ***
Complimentary custom air fee ***
Special rates on balcony and suite staterooms ***
Premium Saving certificates online
Onboard Benefits
Priority wait list for sold-out shore excursions/spa services
Concierge service on select ships +++
Priority departure from ship
Cruise Planning Benefits
Priority wait list for dining room seating ***
Onboard Benefits
Personalized amenity delivered to your stateroom or dining room
Behind-the-scenes tours *****
Cruise Planning Benefits
Exclusive access to Loyalty Specialist for you or your travel agent
Preferred seating in main dining room
And more Cruise Planning Benefits
Additional Benefits
Diamond Plus membership card
Diamond Plus baggage tags
Diamond Plus lapel pin
Extra Diamond Plus benefits available after 49 and then 75 completed cruise credits
Special benefit available to those valued members who reach their 100th cruise credit
*Savings certificates to use in our spas, casinos, bars, and more - delivered first day of the cruise to your stateroom.
** Offered only on cruise vacations of 7 nights or longer.
*** In order to take advantage of these pre-cruise benefits, complimentary custom air fee, special rates on balcony and suite staterooms, and priority wait list for dining room seating, you must call (888) 437-1953 prior to your cruise. Complimentary custom air fee will only be waived once. For any additional changes made after the initial request, the normal custom air fee will be applied.
**** Earn one cruise credit for each completed sailing and an extra cruise credit when you purchase and sail in a suite (for sailings beginning on or after January 1, 2004) or when you sail on a 12-night or longer cruise/cruisetour (for sailings beginning on or after January 1, 2003).
***** Available only on cruise vacations of 5 nights or longer.
+++ After 5:00 PM, access to Concierge Clus is limited to guests 18 and older. During other times, guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Royal Caribbean Cruises
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Reviews
Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas / Reviewed by Fiona Lang
Rating: 4 Stars
Traveled on: 05/16/2006
Reviewed on: 05/19/2006
Review: Freedom of the Seas
On June 4th, 2006 the largest (for the moment) cruise ship in the world will take her first group of passengers on her maiden voyage. At 160,000 gross registered tones, this ship is enormous, she plays host to 3608 passengers with a complement of 1389 crew members.
Some people within the travel industry were invited to visit Freedom of the Seas for a little sneak-peak prior to her entering regular service. I am pleased to inform you that John Lang, and Fiona Lang of The Cruise People, Ltd. were among those lucky travel industry types.
With so many passengers in this ship, I was concerned about how long it would take to get into the ship. Embarkation is never a fun process, but embarkation with 3607 of your closest friends, the mere thought of it filled me with anxiety. It wasnt nearly so hectic as I had feared it would be.
The ship is huge, however most of the time she didnt really feel that way. By creating a large number of smaller public rooms Royal Caribbean managed to give Freedom of the Seas a very intimate feel. It is easy to forget you are in the worlds largest cruise ship.
One thing to note though, since this ship features a four deck high atrium, known at the Royal Promenade, there is no stair tower in the middle of the ship. So, if you have a mid-ship cabin, you will need to walk for quite a while to get to the stairs, and elevators.
People frequently ask me about food in the different cruise lines, and for this ship I will preface my remarks by saying this ship hasnt even entered service yet, so there could be a learning curve going on in the galley. Some of my food was fantastic, really, could not be improved upon in any way. Unfortunately, some of my meals were disappointing. Over all however, Im not about to say skip the whole thing because of one under par serving of eggs benedict! Also, unlike in the more expensive ships the milk they served at breakfast in the dining room came to you in a carton. definitely not the end of the world, but a little thing that I noticed. Another little thing I noticed that did make a big difference was that when I requested a cheese platter for dessert (not offered on the menu), our waiter promised to try to bring me one, with a counter offer that if he couldnt do it would we like a fruit plate. When he returned, he was bearing a plate with four types of cheese, grapes, walnuts, and apricots.
There is an assortment of alternatives to the traditional ships dining room for you to explore should you desire. The Windjammer Cafe is the nicest lido restaurant I have ever seen with flowers on every table, and many crew members to attend to you. You pick up your food from the buffet in the usual style, and a crew member will collect your beverages for you. There is also a Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream Parlor (additional charge), Seattles Best Coffee (additional charge), Sorrentos Pizzaria (additional charge), and Johnny Rockets Diner (additional charge, not for the burgers, just for the beverages.), and Chops, Freedom of the Seas specialty restaurant (additional charge).
The big innovation in Freedom of the Seas is the Flow Rider surf simulator. This was a big hit! Royal Caribbean does not charge for the use of this. Im hoping to visit the ship again and take a shot at it. Freedom of the Seas also has a boxing ring on board, as well as the now almost obligatory rock climbing wall, mini-golf course, basket ball court, whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, and 12 feet out from the side of the ship, several pools, and H20 Zone a dedicated family water fun area with colourful water spouting sculptures, a small 3 foot deep pool with a comfortable current flowing so you can ride around in leisurely circles, and a family only swimming pool. There is also an adult only pool.
For those who would like some relaxation with their recreation there is a spa on board offering a variety of services including manicure, pedicure, and hot rock massage.
The fitness centre has a large selection of elliptical trainers, and treadmills, as well as stationary bikes, and weight machines. For and additional charge, your may join in for a yoga or pilates class, or take boxing lessons.
The crew was generally very thoughtful, enthusiastic, and helpful. I think it would be difficult to make any improvements with the service and the crew, only because they are so good!
My overall feeling about Freedom of the Seas is surprise. I was expecting her to be horribly crowded, that the crew would have to rush, and that service would then suffer. I was wrong. This ship is full of fun things to do, and little nooks to explore, places to shop, and great entertainers who involve the audience in their shows. The Freedom.com ice show is a must see. For our voyage there was an ABBA tribute group on board, so I even got to go to a concert.
At the end of a day that has you wondering: "Where did all the time go? You retire to a quiet, well appointed cabin, and climb into a deliciously comfortable bed with a duvet, and fall into a sleep that is so deep and restful, you will be ready to do it all again to-morrow.
I would recommend this ship to anyone looking for lots of things to do, Im even recommending this cruise to myself, as the people who tried the Flow Rider said... "I wanna go again!"Â.
Fiona Lang
Caribbean Cruise-Royal caribbean Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity Cruises Secrets of Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity Cruises
If you are looking to book a cruise on Royal Caribbean in the near future or on Celebrity, I have a couple pearls of wisdom for you. Celebrity is considered a Premium Cruise Line by just about every notable cruise industry magazine. They are my personal favorite bar none. Royal Caribbean is on the same level as Carnival Cruise Line-they compete head-to-head in every major market. Like it or not, they are priced to compete with Carnival. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Inc. owns Celebrity Cruise Line. If you look at comparable cruises and rooms, you will find that, in 80-90% of the time, Celebrity is a MUCH better rate. How can this be? Simple. Royal Caribbean has the highest repeat business of ANY cruise line we have ever sold. Therefore, higher demand translates into higher rates. The big ships with rock-climbing walls and ice skating rinks are bells and whistles that attract a lot of cruisers. We don't see this trend changing any time soon so the next time you are looking at purchasing a Royal Caribbean cruise, have your agent check Celebrity for the same cruise. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that we are right. The difference between a good cruise and a great cruise is your agent!
Sincerely,
Brian James
All Aboard Cruises Corp
Royal Caribbean Cruises-Celebrity Cruises
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