About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) has been around since 1969 and currently operates 17 ships. In 1997, Royal Caribbean purchased Celebrity Cruises—a premium line to appeal to an upscale audience—for a total fleet of 25 ships and a capacity of more than 40,000 berths. Royal Caribbean is a moderately priced cruise line, and rates vary by itinerary.
Royal Caribbean’s 142,000-tons Voyager-class ships are some of the largest passengers ships in the world. These five ships—Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas—offer a wake of innovation with rock climbing, ice skating, in-line skating, Johnny Rockets diners, promenade shopping malls, and much more.
Royal Caribbean is a good middle-America, middle-brow choice, particularly if you like active travel.
Radiance of the Seas is the first of a new series of vessels in an “in-between” size: Smaller than Voyager class, but bigger than Vision class. Radiance combines features found in previous RCI vessels: The sleek exterior of the Sovereign class, the extensive use of glass of the Vision class, and the wealth of entertainment and activities of the Voyager class. Radiance has the most balconies of any RCI ship. Of the vessel’s 1,050 cabins, 813 have ocean views and more than 71 percent of those have balconies. Radiance is the first ship in the RCI fleet to have gas and steam turbines as the primary source of power to reduce emissions, noise, and vibration. Sister ship Brilliance of the Seas joined the fleet in summer 2002, and Serenade of the Seas joined in late summer 2003.
Nordic Empress was officially renamed Empress of the Seas and began sailing out of the new port, Cape Liberty Cruise Port, NJ (NY Harbor), in May of 2004.
Ships
Empress of the Seas (Nordic Empress), Adventure Of The Seas, Brilliance Of The Seas, Enchantment Of The Seas, Explorer Of The Seas, Grandeur Of The Seas, Legend Of The Seas, Majesty Of The Seas, Mariner Of The Seas, Monarch Of The Seas, Navigator Of The Seas, Radiance Of The Seas, Rhapsody Of The Seas, Sovereign Of The Seas, Splendour Of The Seas, Vision Of The Seas, Voyager Of The Seas
Find a cruise
Search for Royal Caribbean cruises on Expedia
See Royal Caribbean Ships Live
Starting May 2004, Royal Caribbean ships are sailing out of the new port, Cape Liberty Cruise Port, NJ (NY Harbor).
Resources
Pictures of Royal Caribbean ships
The cruise ship Nordic Empress, Manhattan skyline, and the Empire State Building.
The cruise ship Nordic Empress leaves the port of New York for Bermuda. May 2002.
The cruise ships Norwegian Dawn and Nordic Empress in Cozumel, Mexico.
The cruise ship Nordic Empress is passing Intrepid and Pier 84 on the way to Bermuda. 27 July 2003.
Norwegian Sky and Adventure of the Seas in Puerto Rico.
Norwegian Sky and Adventure of the Seas in Puerto Rico.