Royal Holiday

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and many Royal Holiday Cruises members are looking forward to celebrating the day on board their favorite ships this year. Because St. Paddy’s is such a popular party for so many passengers, ships sailing North American itineraries typically plan a variety of fun activities and special surprises for young and old alike.

Festivities

Theme parties and trivia games will keep Royal Caribbean cruisers busy, while the kids can participate in entertaining crafts activities. In its shipboard nightclubs, Norwegian will feature traditional jigs. Carnival ships will offer green face-painting and Irish-themed gift giveaways. On past Carnival cruises, Passengers have even reported a camera-toting leprechaun snapping pictures of their memorable vacation moments!

Of course, every ship will be playing lots of Irish music and putting up green decorations. While passengers won’t always find a pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow, those blessed with a bit of Irish luck will find plenty to do in the ship’s casino.

Food and Drink

Cruise ships are all about excellent food every day, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. Regardless of cruise line, practically all ships offer a special menu featuring traditional Irish fare like corned beef, boiled potatoes, and cabbage. Of course, the drink flows freely this time of year, too. Carnival, for example, is hosting pub crawls on several of its ships, and Norwegian is mixing up some special cocktails for guests. In addition, don’t forget the green beer!

DIY St. Patrick’s Day

The best way to ensure a perfectly Irish celebration is to bring your own. Countless cruisers take along a few decorations for their cabin door, as well as some little gifts to hand out to the many new friends they’re bound to make during their cruise. Most importantly, don’t forget to pack something green to wear when you head out to have some fun on your next St. Paddy’s cruise!

Every year, Cruise Critic, the top internet resource for cruise reviews and news, publishes its hotly anticipated Cruisers’ Choice Awards. This latest edition of the Awards recognizes cruise ships that earned top rankings among real passengers who sailed some of the world’s most exciting itineraries in 2014.

Royal Holiday Cruises Blog recently looked at the winning cruise ships in a number of the “Best Experience” categories of interest to our readers. This week, we’re highlighting the following “Best Destination Cruises” winners:

Alaska

Several cruise lines shared the top honors for sailings along the rugged Alaskan coast. With its thoughtful Arctic-theme, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas won the top spot. Ships from Holland America, Celebrity, Princess, and Norwegian rounded out the top five Best Alaska Cruises.

The Bahamas

In the “Best Bahamas Cruises” category, Disney Dream won the blue ribbon, while sister ship Disney Magic clocked in at fourth. Taking second was Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, while two of Carnival’s famous Fun Ships claimed the remaining honors.

The Caribbean

Providing a classic, small-ship cruise experience, Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam came in first for itineraries in the ever-popular Caribbean. Three ships in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet also made a fine showing in the “Best Caribbean Cruises” category, as did one vessel from Disney Cruises.

The Mediterranean

Celebrity Cruises sailed away with four of the five top honors in the “Best Mediterranean Cruises” category. With itineraries offering the enchanting ruins, unique culture, and delicious fare of Southern Italy, Celebrity Reflection took the number-one spot. Three of her sister ships came in third, fourth, and fifth places.

Congratulations to the all winning ships and crews of Cruise Critic’s 2014 Cruisers’ Choice Awards! With a choice of so many wonderful ships sailing to so many fantastic destinations, maybe it’s time to start thinking about your next ocean voyage.

As more people are discovering the joys of taking an ocean voyage, the many ports that cater to those cruisers are also benefiting. For example, the Caribbean island nation of Barbados announced that it is ramping up its tourism business now that the number of visitors is bouncing back after a lull in recent years. This is fantastic news for Caribbean cruisers who can take advantage of all the buzz to experience everything that Barbados has to offer!

Soaked in sun, surf, and British culture, Barbados sits at the far eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea. The island is highly developed in the areas serving the cruise ports. However, vast stretches of agricultural land and wilderness roads beckon to those interested in exploring the small country’s unspoiled cliffs, forests, and beaches.

Barbados boasts a number of wonderful shore excursion options. In honor of its status as the only place that President George Washington ever visited outside the United States, the country maintains The George Washington House museum, which preserves period artifacts in an authentically restored setting. For even more history, stop by the Mount Gay Rum distillery for a fascinating lesson in Barbados’ past—and a cool drink to go along with it!

Harrison’s Cave stands among the best cavern experiences in the Caribbean, with a modern visitor center and plenty of opportunities to see local wildlife. For shopping and dining, head to Holetown, where visitors to Chattel Village can rummage through local restaurants and gift shops that offer souvenirs.

Of course, being an island, Barbados has its share of fine beaches. Brandon’s Beach is easily accessible from the cruise port. Payne Beach, on the southern reaches of the east coast, has earned praise as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. It also offers plenty of amenities. For more adventurous beach-goers, there are several very secluded beaches along the island’s less developed east coast.

Finally, before reboarding your cruise ship, consider picking up a special souvenir from Barbados’ past: a bag of authentic Barbadian brown sugar. You can then bake a deliciously memorable “Bajun” treat for friends and family when you return home

The eagerly anticipated Cruisers’ Choice Awards have finally been announced—and ships affiliated with Royal Holidays Cruises put in a great showing!

Leading cruising news and reviews hub Cruise Critic reveals its Cruisers’ Choice Awards every year. This year’s honors were based on cruise rankings collected from passengers who sailed in 2014 and posted their reviews to the Cruise Critic website.

This year’s awards honored “Best Cruise Experience” winners in 11 categories, such as cabin accommodation, entertainment, and family friendliness. Ships were also divided into three size categories, based on capacity: small (fewer than 1,200 passengers), midsize (1,200 to 1,999 passengers), and large (2,000 passengers and up).

In the “Best Cruises Overall Category,” the Carnival Liberty and Carnival Valor placed in the top 10, alongside Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. Several Celebrity ships also made the cut.

With its spacious staterooms and attentive service, Carnival Liberty sailed away with first place in the “Best Cruise Ships for Value” category for large ships. A number of other Carnival vessels also made the top 10, as well as several ships from Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Princess.

In the “Best Cruises for Families” competition for large ships, Disney Cruise Lines took the top two spots. Carnival Liberty came in third place, just edging out Norwegian Getaway. Several other Carnival ships showed in the top 10, alongside a number of Royal Caribbean vessels.

Disney also topped the “Best Cruise Ships for Entertainment” category, again taking the top two spots. Spectacular Broadway-style productions on board Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas earned her the bronze, while her sister ship, Oasis of the Seas, came in at number four. Ships from Norwegian and MSC dominated the rest of the top 10 in the Entertainment field.

The Cruisers’ Choice Awards also handed out honors for “Best Cruise Destinations.” Keep checking the Royal Holidays Cruises Blog for future posts highlighting some of these wonderful places!

More and more cruisers are happier than ever to set sail, according to a study just released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). According to the report, 23 million people around the world will board a ship as part of a vacation experience this year.

Why do so many people choose to cruise?

For many cruisers, familiarity and finances are important. A majority of cruisers—a little over 60 percent—are return customers. At the same time, this also suggests that many new faces are trying out cruising.

People also perceive cruising as an excellent value for the money. In fact, two out of three cruisers ranked an ocean-bound vacation as a better value than a land-based holiday. Given the array of amenities available on a cruise ship, including the excellent food and countless entertainment options for the whole family, this isn’t surprising.

To explain the popularity of cruising, industry executives point to the launch of new ships that feature exciting innovations in technology and entertainment. The latest ships are wired for easy internet access and offer a bewildering array of amenities in gaming, fitness, dining, on-board entertainment, and shore excursions.

In addition, experts have noted that cruise companies have responded to cruisers’ desires to explore exotic new destinations by expanding their itineraries in recent years to include previously unvisited ports all over the world. While the Caribbean is still the favorite destination by far, increasing numbers of ports in other parts of the world, such as the Mediterranean, Asia, and Australia, are hosting more cruise ships every year. Different styles of specialty cruises are also increasingly available. With options such as short family-oriented itineraries, riverboats, adventure cruises, luxury yachts, and more, there is a cruise for practically every taste imaginable.

With so many people sailing today—including countless newcomers—the industry is going all out to help these cruisers kick back, relax, and feel at home on the sea. Don’t be left out of the fun!

Last year, Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) made huge waves with the float out of its advanced Quantum of the Seas flagship, which features an array of innovative technologies and entertainment options. Since then, cruisers around the world have been eagerly anticipating news about that vessel’s sister ship, Anthem of the Seas, scheduled for launch this coming summer.

Earlier this month, RCI announced part of the Anthem’s stage entertainment lineup– including exciting news of two shows created just for the her! Like several other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Anthem’s on-board Royal Theater is the venue for the popular Broadway musical, We Will Rock You. Inspired by the music of 1970s rock band, Queen, this show is a favorite among RCI’s music-loving cruisers. The Anthem’s Royal Theater will also feature a brand new production called The Gift. The musical promises to enchant viewers with a thrilling stage show brimming with fantasy and illusion.

A second Anthem-only production is slated for release in the ship’s interactive multimedia venue, Two70. Spectators here will enjoy panoramic sea-views through massive multilevel windows, which make the perfect setting for the theater’s live aerial performances and high-tech audiovisuals. Debuting in the this space will be the exclusive Spectra’s Cabaret, a show that will merge advanced digital technologies with pop music to create an unforgettable festival for the senses.

Of course, the Anthem is about more than music. Like her sister ship, the Quantum of the Seas, she will boast a number of other exciting entertainment options. RCI has already announced that the Anthem will sport a North Star, a glass-enclosed capsule that hoists cruisers 300 feet over the waves for spectacular ocean views. In addition, there will be a RipCord skydiving simulator, as well as a sprawling SeaPlex with ball courts, a roller rink, bumper cars, and even a flying trapeze.

The launch of Anthem of the Seas is still a few months away, so stay tuned for more news about the fun new activities she will offer!

With the end of Mardi Gras, the Carnival season is winding down, and countless people around the world are finally resting up from the festivities. Cruisers who happened be aboard a ship or in one of several exotic tropical destinations during the last month or so likely enjoyed a chaotically colorful Carnival of dancing, music, and great food.

If you missed the celebration, however, take heart. It’s not too late to get a little dose of Carnival fun this year!

The many nations and islands of the Caribbean celebrate their own special Carnival holidays throughout the year. With dozens of such days celebrated across the region, there are at least a couple of big parties going on almost every month—and each one has its own vibrant flair, with plenty of local customs, food, and music to share with visitors.

Trinidad

One of the most celebrated Carnivals in the world, Trinidad’s big holiday falls during the traditional time, in February. The massive riot of music and color draws partygoers from all over the world for a truly unforgettable experience.

Jamaica

Its world-famous reggae music is the foundation of Jamaica’s Carnival season. Celebrated in April, the holiday draws bands from all over to entertain partygoers in the streets and on the island’s excellent beaches.

Barbados

The middle of summertime is when the island of Barbados holds its yearly celebration. Historically called Crop Over, the big July party is actually the second largest in the Caribbean, after Trinidad’s. Expect lots of locally inspired food and drink, as well as endless Barbadian music and dance.

Belize

For a distinctly Latin American spin on Carnival, cruisers can head to Belize. The little country celebrates its version of Carnival in September.

The Bahamas

The fun and famous Junkanoo celebration is The Bahamas’ version of Carnival. Occurring in the Christmas season, the event has roots in West African traditions. It takes place the day after Christmas, and again on New Years’ Day.

These are just a few of the Carnival holidays that energize the Caribbean every year. With so many festivals on the calendar, a traveler could participate in celebrations every few weeks. This might not be practical, but you only live once!

Carnival recently announced that it would reposition two of its ships to Galveston, Texas. Beginning early next year, the Carnival Liberty will service Western Caribbean itineraries with stops in Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico, as well as other coastal destinations. The Carnival Breeze will sail from Texas to a variety of Caribbean ports in Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Barbados, the US Virgin Islands, and others starting at the end of 2016.

The repositioning has drawn attention to one of the lesser-known embarkation port cities in the US. Not as famous as the ports in Miami or New Orleans, the small city of Galveston has plenty of big attractions, and is worth a few extra days of exploration before or after a relaxing cruise.

A historic and trendy city, Galveston offers visitors a range of fascinating sights and fun things to do. Galveston’s picturesque downtown is right across the street from the cruise terminal, thus making it one of the most accessible port towns to explore. In fact, a number of historic districts, boutiques, and fine restaurants are within a short walk of the docks.

Galveston’s famous Strand District is the destination for avid shoppers and art lovers. The area hosts a number of exquisite galleries and artisan workshops, as well as a variety of stores where cruisers can pick up a unique souvenir or two.

History buffs will enjoy the city’s many museums. Moody Mansion and Bishop Palace highlight some of the area’s stunning architecture and give visitors a glimpse into the lives of the city’s most influential families. At the Texas Seaport Museum, ship lovers can visit the Elissa, a Scottish 430-ton square-rigger built nearly 140 years ago. The Lone Star Flight Museum and the Galveston Railroad Museum chronicle the history of transportation in its many forms.

Nature lovers should head to Moody Gardens to enjoy the amazing Rainforest Pyramid and the IMAX Theater. For some fun in the sun, Galveston Island State Park offers plenty of seaside hiking trails, while East Beach is the destination for the party crowd.