Police in Bermuda responded to a report that a Royal Caribbean passenger on Grandeur of the Seas was found dead in his stateroom. No foul play is suspected in the incident.
According to Bernews, a police spokesperson said, “At 1:40pm on August 20, 2016, police received a report of a death onboard the cruise ship, Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas which was berthed at Heritage Wharf in Dockyard.
The passenger is a 45-year old male from the United States and his death was certifies by the doctor aboard Grandeur of the Seas.
“Foul play is not suspected and the Bermuda Police Service is liaising with the relevant ship authorities.”
Perhaps no space on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is as innovative, impressive and down right fun as the aft-facing theater known as Two70.
Two70 is an unique venue to the Quantum class of ships, and offers guests multiple experiences throughout the day that makes Two70 a hub of entertainment. This means, there is almost always something going on in Two70, and it has quickly become a favorite among guests.
If you have a cruise booked on Anthem of the Seas, here is the important information to know about everything going on in Two70.
What is shown in Two70
Royal Caribbean offers a few different shows in Two70 to enjoy. Exact shows and schedules will depend on your sailing.
Vistarama
Ordinarily, Two70's giant windows offer sweeping views of the ocean, but quickly those windows can be transformed into a theater experience with Vistarama. Vistarama transforms Two70’s floor-to-ceiling sea view into any scene, real or imagined. You will find cityscapes, glass windows, expansive rooms and a lot more.
Vistarama is made possible by 18 projectors that combine to create an ambient surface over 100 feet wide and over 20 feet tall in stunning 12K resolution.
Vistarama is not just a passive experience, because impromptu digital shows come to life at any point in the show. Simply put, Vistarama is a stunning display that is as beautiful as it is immense in scale.
There will be different Vistarama shows throughout any given point in the cruise, so it is one of those experiences you need to stop by and see what is being shown.
Roboshow
RoboShows are perhaps the most impressive use of the amazing troupe of six agile Roboscreens, that are capable of moving in many different directions and tells a story through the use of amazing technology, music and well-choreographed video.
Each of the Roboscreens measures seven feet and is controlled by mega-powerful robotic arms. When working in tandem, the Roboscreens can twist, spin and move all around to offer a very impressive visual experience.
Of course, the show is why guests should stop by, and there are a variety of different shows to see. Each is unique and it is something that has to be experiences to truly understand and enjoy.
Spectra's Cabaret
Spectra's Cabaret is an original Royal Caribbean production that is shown in the evenings and is a featured show onboard Anthem of the Seas.
Trying to explain Spectra's Cabaret is not easy, but it features the Maestro and his Agents of Rhythm, whom take the audience through an, "an electric multi-dimensional cabaret" that involves singing, dancing, plenty of lighting effects, integration with the Roboscreens and much more.
What is truly impressive about Spectra's Cabaret is that it is a multi-media extravaganza brimming with kaleidoscopic sounds, effervescent colors and dazzling movement. Spectra’s Cabaret blends live performance and experiential cinema along with music from popular culture. In short, it is like nothing you may have seen before.
Virtual Concert & Virtual Symphony
Royal Caribbean has built a reputation for offering terrific music on its cruise ships, and Two70 offers virtual concerts that are the next best thing to the real thing. In fact, it can be difficult sometimes to hear a difference.
There are Virtual Concert & Virtual Symphony performances offered throughout Anthem of the Seas sailings, that feature performances by the American Philharmonic Orchestra or the Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns.
This is a real concert that was recorded in ultra-high definition and broadcast on the amazing screens in Two70.
Seminars
There is a lot of entertainment offered in Two70, but some of it involves you. Often, there will be classes and lessons offered in Two70 during the day, where guests can go to learn about a certain topic. This can come in the form of dance classes, educational seminars and more.
We have seen a lot of different kinds of classes offered here, including ballroom dance (which is quite popular), culinary lessons and jewelry making workshops.
Nightclub
When evening turns to night, Two70 is transformed yet again into an adults-only nightclub. Club two70 offers plenty of music for adults to dance to, in a nightclub kind of experience.
Loud music, flowing drinks and plenty of space to dance. With the large dance floor and ample seating, Club two70 is a mix of a lounge and club that should provide the right kind mix of both for guests looking to dance the night away.
The view
While there is lots of great entertainment in Two70, visiting this part of the ship is worth it just for the sweeping views available. Whether you are in port, or out at sea, there is always a very impressive landscape to enjoy.
Two70 got its name by the fact it offers a two hundred and seventy degree view of the aft of the ship, and this means you can enjoy one of the best views on the ship, inside or outside.
In truth, Two70 acts kind of like the ship's "living room," and like most living rooms, it is a great place to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view from the comfort of a couch.
Cafe @ Two70
It just would not be a Royal Caribbean cruise if there is not food conveniently located nearby, and adjacent to Two70 is the cafe that shares its name: Cafe @ Two70.
Throughout the day, guests can get meals and snacks from Cafe @ Two70. By far, the best choice for food here is the Kummelweck Sandwich. This sandwich was first offered on Oasis-class ships, but is available on Anthem of the Seas in Cafe @ Two70. It is essentially a rare, thin cut of roast beef, dipped in au jus and served on a roll with a touch of horseradish.
If it sounds mighty tasty, that is because it really is and something that is a must-try (at least a half dozen times) for any guest.
There is plenty more of food served in Cafe @ Two70, and is a great less-crowded breakfast option. Regardless of which meal you choose to eat here, the best part is taking your food over to Two70 and enjoying the view with your food!
Two70 Bar
If you like a view with your drink, head over to Two70 on one of Anthem of the Seas ships because it is hard to beat what you can see here.
With all the goings-on in Two70, grabbing a drink at Two70's bar makes for the perfect accompaniment to any performance.
Besides the view, the drink quality at this bar is quite good. In our experience, this bar tends to rely less on mixes and hand-crafts many of the drinks served here. This means the quality of the drinks are far often superior to other locations onboard.
Your thoughts
Have you been to Two70 on Anthem of the Seas? What is your favorite aspect of Two70? Which performance stands out as a real crowd pleaser? Share your opinion in our comments below!
Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!
These new sailings extend through the end of December, and offer a variety of itineraries, including many longer sailings.
Guests can embark on Empress of the Seas sailings that range from 4- to 8-nights, and will visit ports all over the Caribbean.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this news is what was not announced, in that these new sailings signal there will be no Royal Caribbean sailings to Cuba this year.
Trying Royal Caribbean for the first time is something a lot of people consider, and this week, James comes on the podcast to review his recent Allure of the Seas sailing. James discusses what he and his family thought of Royal Caribbean and what their experiences were like onboard.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds
If you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise and spot something cool, new or just fun, share a photo with us on Facebook or Twitter so we can add it to our Royal Caribbean Blog Reader Finds each Sunday!
Whether you are new to cruising or not, what to pack (and not pack) can be quite a challenge. Inevitably, the question boils down to what is essential to pack for a cruise and this blog post should assist in providing a guide of must-pack items.
There are tons of cruise packing guides available on the internet, but I sought to compile a packing list of things that pretty much everyone needs. This packing list is about the basics that should be in almost everyone's luggage. Of course, there might be an item or two on this list that does not apply to you, and there will be plenty more that you think you should bring, but we wanted to include the basics.
If you are wondering what to pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise, then here is what you need to know.
Travel documents
These items are the most critical things to pack, because without them, you are not getting on your Royal Caribbean cruise. You could forget to pack everything else on this list, but all of that can be bought, whereas these items are not so easily replaceable.
You might notice we only listed passport and not a birth certificate, and that is because I firmly believe you ought to invest in a passport to safeguard you and your family in the event of a travel emergency. While you can cruise on some Royal Caribbean cruises with just a birth certificate, a passport is a far better option and it is worth the extra investment.
Passport
SetSail Pass
Credit card
Travel insurance documentation (if purchased)
Cash in the form of small bills for tipping
Clothing
It is self-explanatory that you will need to bring clothing on your cruise to have for each day. How much clothing one person goes through on a cruise will vary, but this should be the basics.
The most difficult decision for this list was how many outfits per day to pack. Depending on your activities, you will be changing during your day a few times. If it is a sea day, you might wake up and put on your bathing suit, change in the afternoon into regular clothes and then change again for dinner. Port days, you might put on one outfit for your adventure on shore and then change into something else when you return and again for dinner. Or you might just wear one outfit the entire day. Everyone's habits are different. Still, I felt most guests will wear 2-3 outfits per day.
Couple of swimsuits per person (at least two)
Water shoes
2-3 outfits per day of your cruise
3-6 outfits for evenings on a 7-night cruise
Sunglasses
Sweater or wrap for when it is cold indoors
Toiletries
Like clothing, you may end up packing much more than is on this list, but there are likely to be some basics to bring with you to ensure you have what you need to get through your cruise without any issues.
Prescription medicines
First aid kit
Fever reducer medicine
Anti-diarrheal medicine
Band-aids
Sunscreen
Extra contacts/glasses
Deodorant
Hair conditioner and/or shampoo
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Accessories
Arguably, this is the toughest category of packing to plan for, because there are things on this list that may depend on your definition of "important." I think enough people pack these items to warrant bringing them on the cruise with you and they are ubiquitous enough among cruise guests.
Electric strip (no surge protectors)
Highlighter for the Cruise Compass
Camera (your phone may double as this)
Extra memory cards for the camera
Chargers for electronic devices (phones, cameras, laptops, iPads)
Small bag for excursions
Your thoughts
This is not a total packing list, just a listing of the most important things you should pack on a cruise that apply to pretty much everyone. Do you think we missed something? Or is there something on this list that you think should be bolded, circled and posted on highway billboards because it is that important? Share your suggestions in the comments!
The weekend is here and every Friday, we share our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean photos so that we can all enjoy a quick "virtual trip" back on a cruise. If you want to share your Royal Caribbean photos, use this form to send them in!
Our first photo is from Scott Singer, who took this photo of the monkeys of Gibraltar while on an Independence of the Seas cruise. Looks like tourists did not excite these two.
Next is a photo by Julius Lacano from Grandeur of the Seas, where he got to see "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" while onboard his cruise.
Here is Jewel of the Seas next to Rhapsody of the Seas in Santorini, by Manuela. This is a great perspective of these two fabulous ships!
Bente sent us this photo as they watched Mount Vesuvius during sailaway from Napoli, while on Harmony of the Seas.
Phil Partridge posted this photo of his wife, Nina, while on their balcony aboard Oasis of the Seas.
Hannah Carr was enjoying lunch in this photo from Santorini, with Jewel of the Seas in the background. Opa!
Our final photo this week is of Brilliance of the Seas in Cozumel, taken by CrennTive while aboard Independence of the Seas. Looks like another day in paradise!
Royal Caribbean is offering extra savings on staterooms booked over the next three days, with up to $100 off per stateroom.
The new August Flash Sale tacks on bonus instant savings on top of the current 30% off all guests sale.
Cruises booked between August 18 - 20, 2016 on sailings departing between 9/19/16-12/31/16 (excludes China departures).
Offer Details:
Sailings 5-nights or fewer
Interior/Oceanview – $25 off per stateroom
Balcony/Suite – $50 off per stateroom
Sailings 6-nights or longer
Interior/Oceanview – $50 off per stateroom
Balcony/Suite – $100 off per stateroom
Instant Savings Offer is combinable with adjoining 30% Savings, Kids Sail Free, Holiday Offer, restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military) and NextCruise offers. Instant Savings is not combinable combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Crown & Anchor Discounts, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, Net Rates, Shareholder Benefits.
Offer available to residents of the United States and Canada.
Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!
Episode 159 is available for downloading which has a review of a listener's recent experience on Allure of the Seas.
Podcast listener James is back to share his family's experience on Allure of the Seas. Brian talks about the ports he visited, his stateroom and everything he did onboard Allure of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean has a fairly large fleet of ships, with 26 different elegant vessels that offer cruises around the world, and often those new to Royal Caribbean may be wondering what the differences are between them. Understanding what each ship offers makes the decision of which ship to sail on an easier process.
Here is a guide to understanding the similarities and differences among Royal Caribbean's cruise ships and what each class of ship offers.
Royal Caribbean ship classes
Royal Caribbean defines its fleet of ships by the classes. Think of this like the model of a car, where many ships have a common base among them, and that common base is the distinguishing factor from other classes of ships. Each class of ships has a similar size, structure and signature offerings that separate themselves from the other classes of ships. The ship classes are an easy way to group Royal Caribbean ships, and quickly know the basic differences.
Within each class of ships, there can be varying degrees of differences between "sister ships." These differences vary, with some classes of ship having barely any noticeable differences to other ship classes having more noticeable features among the vessels. The key concept to understand is that while each class of ships are a grouping, within that grouping there can be more subtle differences between the ships. As an example, Liberty of the Seas offers water slides, whereas her sister ships of Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas do not. Royal Caribbean continuously works on and upgrades their ships, with regularly scheduled drydock sessions and these can result in new offerings onboard.
Today, Royal Caribbean has eight classes of ships in the fleet.
Oasis class
These are the largest cruise ships in the world, with seven distinct neighborhoods that help differentiate each area of the ship for easier navigation. Oasis of the Seas launched in 2009, and was a revolutionary ship because of its overall size and offerings. Oasis-class ships are known for the Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods, as well as the Aqua Theater and zip-line on the ship. Because of the ship's enormous size, it offers pretty much everything Royal Caribbean is known for.
Oasis of the Seas
Allure of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas
Quantum class
The newest class of cruise ships, the Quantum class ships are slightly smaller than the Oasis class, but have made their mark on the cruise industry by combining a large ship size with impressive tech. Quantum class ships have two main features that stand out, the North Star observation pod and Two70 theater. Quantum class ships also feature a Royal Esplanade district, which offers dining, shopping and bars. Being the newest class of ships, Quantum class ships offer the latest designs onboard and their integration of tech is unparalleled.
Quantum of the Seas
Anthem of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas
Spectrum of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas
Freedom class
The Freedom class ships are known for their size and offering a good mix of activities. Freedom class ships were the largest in the world when they debuted, but have been dwarfed by newer ships in the last ten years. While no longer the biggest, they are still quite large and offer a lot. Recent refurbishments have upgraded their offerings and they compare very well to their bigger sister ships. Freedom class ships offer FlowRiders, a Royal Promenade and cantilevered hot tubs. In terms of value, Freedom class ships are in that "sweet spot" of offering many of the popular amenities Royal Caribbean is known for at a great price.
Freedom of the Seas
Liberty of the Seas
Independence of the Seas
Voyager class
Voyager class ships were the first class of ships by Royal Caribbean to offer amenities we know come to expect onboard, such as ice skating, the Royal Promenade, miniature golf and more. In the past few years, Royal Caribbean has refurbished many of the ships in this class to offer even more options for guests. New restaurants, water slides, entertainment and FlowRiders have provided even more fun onboard. Voyager class ships are very similar in build and look to Freedom class ships, but slightly smaller.
Voyager of the Seas
Adventure of the Seas
Explorer of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Radiance class
Royal Caribbean designed Radiance class ships to be able to go anywhere, while providing views of the ocean all over the ship. Radiance class ships are about half the size of the classes of ships mentioned earlier in this post, but they still offer plenty to do onboard. Radiance class ships offer a rock-climbing wall, pools, lounges and sleek design. Radiance class ships are popular with Royal Caribbean veterans for their elegant offerings and relaxing atmosphere.
Brilliance of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Radiance of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas
Vision class
Like the Radiance class, Vision class ships are on the smaller side and offer a great pool deck, casino, themed dining rooms. Just like the Radiance class, recent refurbishments have brought many new restaurants and entertainment to these ships. Combined with the great value of a Vision class ship, guess can enjoy cruises to nearly anywhere.
Enchantment of the Seas
Grandeur of the Seas
Rhapsody of the Seas
Vision of the Seas
What is important to know between the classes
When you compare ships to each other in order to pick one that will be the best fit for your vacation, there is a lot to consider. Ship size is not the only factor, with many details contributing to the overall decision. Every Royal Caribbean ship offers a lot to see and do, but if the main features are not of interest to you or the ship is missing something that you want, then it will not be a good fit. Having a good understanding of the key factors between the ships will make the decision much easier.
Kids
All Royal Caribbean ships offer the award-winning Adventure Ocean program, which provides complimentary supervised programming for children between the ages of 3 and 17. Many families look to Adventure Ocean to be the center piece of their family's day, and cruising with children is at the heart of the Royal Caribbean cruise experience.
The important difference among Royal Caribbean's ships when it comes to kids is knowing that the larger (and newer) the ship, the more wide-ranging facilities and activities there are for kids. With each new class of ship, Royal Caribbean has placed a larger emphasis on kids facilities and the newest ships certainly offer the most impressive experiences.
Families should by no means avoid smaller ships. There is plenty for kids to onboard, but it is important to know the scope of facilities and activities for children is considerably different between a Quantum class ship and a Radiance class ship.
Cost
A very noticeable difference between Royal Caribbean ships is the price. In general, the price of a cruise on a given ship will go down as newer ships are introduced. Royal Caribbean charges a premium for its newer ships, and the effect that pricing strategy has on its older ships is prices tend to go down over time.
I believe all of Royal Caribbean's ships offer a tremendous value, but the value of the not-as-new ships provide is hard to overlook. The newest ships will usually come with a higher price tag, but depending on your desire for the latest and greatest, the price you pay will be affected by it. Price should not be the sole factor in determining which ship you sail on, but we recognize that it is a powerful factor.
Itinerary
Not all Royal Caribbean ships can visit the same ports, and which area of the world you have in mind to visit may dictate largely which ships you will want to sail on. It has been hotly debated over the years whether the ship or the destinations are the primary decision making factor, but it is difficult for anyone to overlook the ports a ship will visit because where your ship goes is a major part of the vacation.
Cruises to smaller ports, like Northern Europe, East Asia and the South Pacific may require smaller ships since the docking facilities there are not able to handle larger ships. Some ports, like those in Alaska, have additional environmental regulations that limit the kind of cruise ships that can visit.
The more popular cruising destinations of the Caribbean and Mediterranean can handle much larger ships, and ports around the world are upgrading their port facilities to be able to handle larger ships.
Onboard offerings
I always share the story of a cruise I took on Brilliance of the Seas to help prove a point about the differences between ship classes. I was lounging in the Solarium when a guest next to me started vocally complaining to his wife about the lack of things to do onboard. Into his rant, he mentioned that compared to his recent Oasis of the Seas cruise, there was nothing to do onboard.
The takeaway from this experience is it is important to know what each ship offers (and does not offer) onboard in terms of activities, entertainment, dining and more. If you want a never ending array of "things to do," then lean towards taking a cruise on the larger ships. If your idea of a good time is lounging by the pool and exploring the ports of call you visit, then any size ship will be fine. The key is knowing if there is a FlowRider, particular specialty restaurant or something else important to you onboard the ship you are considering.
From all-new stage productions to high-tech ice shows, amazing theme parties and breathtaking diving performances, Harmony of the Seas is taking entertainment to the next level. Guests can sing-along with Broadway favorite “Grease” in the Royal Theater or be part of the party with high-energy parades, live DJ performances and even a thrilling escape game, Puzzle Break: Escape the Rubicon!
Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial fan blog written for other fans of Royal Caribbean International. The Royal Caribbean Blog is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International
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