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ROYAL CARIBBEAN ARABIA

• Destinations
• Brochure 23-24

CRUISE FROM BARCELONA & ROME

Oasis of the seas, beyond the first of its class, oasis of the seas® was also the ship that launched a vacation revolution. and now this oasis class favorite will introduce even more new thrills for couples and kids of all ages, upgraded ways to soak up the sun or enjoy the shade, more delicious dining options than ever to elevate date night, and buzzworthy new spots to light up every evening..

A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SCENE

Find new thrills on every deck, like the perfect storm℠ waterslides and the tallest slide at sea, ultimate abyss℠. grab bold bites to go at el loco fresh® and the first portside bbq℠, or cheer on your favorite team at playmakers℠ sports bar & arcade. this is the amplified oasis of the seas® — and the adventure has never been bolder..

PLAY IT UP BIG

This isn’t just changing the game. It’s changing how you play. From adrenaline-soaked thrills on The Perfect Storm℠ waterslides to our most drenchworthy Splashaway Bay℠ aquapark yet. Plus a cool new glow-in-the-dark laser tag faceoff where you’ll battle for control of a mystical frozen city. A space-age puzzler in the latest Royal Escape Room. The tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss℠. And totally interactive, completely redesigned spaces for babies, kids and teens of all ages.

EVEN MORE ON THE MENU

When the options are this good, there’s no such thing as too many. That’s why we’ve added even more possibilities to our seemingly endless selection of best restaurants — so you can take that family dinner or date night to the next level. Now you can grab crazy good Mexican fare at El Loco Fresh® or game-day favorites at Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade. See how we put our own spin on a backyard favorite, with pitmastery perfection at the new Portside BBQ℠. And we’ve got you and your sweet tooth covered at Sugar Beach℠.

ADVENTURE FROM DAY TO NIGHT

Rally your special someone and get down all day and all night at over a dozen of our best bars, plus some bold new contenders. Turn up the Caribbean cool with couples’ cocktails poolside at the Lime and Coconut®, or grab a beer at Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade. Rock out on the dance floor to the best cover bands in the biz at Music Hall. And end the evening on a high note with a duet at the new Spotlight℠ Karaoke.

THIS IS A DAY UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Conquer the tallest waterslide in north america and snap a shot from up to 450 feet up in a helium balloon. grab a drink at the swim-up bar and soak up the scene in the largest freshwater pool in the bahamas. or get a taste of bora bora with your own overwater cabana. when you sail from the new york city area out of cape liberty, nj to perfect day at cococay onboard oasis of the seas®, adventure is always on the itinerary..

BRING ON THE THRILLS

If you’re into adrenaline-amping experiences, you’ll find plenty of bucket list worthy thrills to conquer on Perfect Day at CocoCay — from white-knuckle waterslides to the largest wave pool in the Caribbean.

CHILL VIBES ONLY

There’s nothing wrong with lounging the day away on powder white sands, Coco Loco in hand. And on Perfect Day at CocoCay, there are endless ways to indulge in some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

DIG IN TO DELICIOUS

Whether you fill your day with high-energy thrills or lots of laid-back lounging, eventually you’re going to work up an appetite. Fortunately, Perfect Day at CocoCay offers tons of delicious dining options to satisfy all your cravings.

Or Contact our Reservations Team Middle East: +971 4 331 4299 Saudi Arabia Toll Free: 800 897 1419 Email: [email protected]

Two ways to play, rev up your summer on the biggest ship to sail europe — oasis of the seas®. be awestruck by the colosseum in rome one minute, then wander along the sagrada familia in barcelona the next. or, wander the white sand beaches in the bahamas and take flight on a zip line over labadee's coastline..

SAIL TO THE CARIBBEAN

When the temperature drops, you can explore the vibrant shores of the Western Caribbean on a 7 night adventure onboard Oasis of the Seas®. Cruise to Perfect Day at Cococay to conquer the tallest waterslide in North America and grab a drink at the largest freshwater swim up bar in the Bahamas. Make it a romantic escape for two, or bring the whole family along for the thrills.

SAIL TO THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Sail from Rome or Barcelona onboard the wow-worthy Oasis of the Seas® to Western Mediterranean shores. Soak up sun-filled days along Palma de Mallorca’s beautiful beaches. Admire the life-like details of Michelangelo’s David in Florence. And savor authentic Neapolitan pizza in Naples. Kickstart your weeklong adventure onboard Oasis of the Seas. If you’re a Crown & Anchor Society member, prepare to be swept away on an epic journey onboard our upcoming weeklong President's cruise.

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The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Editor's Note

Even if you're a newcomer to cruising, you've probably heard of Royal Caribbean 's giant Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. With the exception of a single MSC Cruises vessel , they're far bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat and like nothing else you'll find at sea.

Indeed, when you hear people talking about the wow factor of Royal Caribbean's "floating megaresorts," it's likely they're referring to the six ships in these two sets of vessels. This includes the just-unveiled Icon of the Seas — the world's biggest cruise ship.

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That said, not all Royal Caribbean ships are similarly supersized. While the line is perhaps best known for giant vessels — it operates six of the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world — it also markets some relatively smaller, more intimate ships.

In fact, Royal Caribbean has eight vessels that are less than half the size of the Oasis Class ships.

If you're thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll find the line offers a wide range of ship styles and designs.

With the relatively recent removal of two older ships from its fleet, Royal Caribbean — the world's largest cruise line by passenger capacity — now has 27 oceangoing vessels in all. That's more than any other major cruise line, and it means that you have a lot of choices when it comes to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean ship for you.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean

The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options is that the 27 ships can easily be bunched into just seven groups of vessels that have similar amenities. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

These seven groups are made up of ships constructed around the same time with the same basic design. They're known in cruise industry lingo as "classes," and each has its own look and feel.

An introduction to Royal Caribbean ships

For the most part, Royal Caribbean operates big, bustling megaships that will appeal to people who like a megaresort experience. The company has built its brand around offering vacationers a ton of diversions on its ships, whether for dining (some vessels have more than 20 distinct places to grab a bite) or entertainment. Its vessels are lively and fun.

The over-the-top megaresort experience on a Royal Caribbean ship varies from class to class, though.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites

The line's one Icon Class and five Oasis Class ships are unlike anything else you'll find at sea when it comes to size, amenities and capacity. They each can hold more than 6,600 passengers, with every berth full.

Somewhat smaller in size but still giant by any measure, each of the line's five Quantum Class and three Freedom Class vessels has a total capacity ranging from around 4,500 to 5,600 passengers. With space for around 3,800 passengers at maximum occupancy, the line's five Voyager Class vessels are relatively large, too.

Together, the 19 vessels of these five classes — Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager — make up Royal Caribbean's big-ship fleet. The line's remaining eight vessels, split among two classes, are smaller, with maximum occupancy topping out at around 2,500 passengers.

While no longer the focus at Royal Caribbean, the smaller ships (which are generally the line's older ships) allow it to offer itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Icon of the Seas.

The smaller ships also appeal to a subset of Royal Caribbean fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail per day.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

As you might expect, the biggest Royal Caribbean ships have the most amenities. With each step down in size, you'll find fewer restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and attractions. Even the smallest Royal Caribbean ships still have quite a bit to offer, though.

If you're sailing with the line for the first time, it's important to understand that not all of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions and venues are present on all its ships. For instance, while every Royal Caribbean vessel now has one of the line's iconic climbing walls (some have two), only the 19 ships of the line's big-ship classes have a FlowRider surfing simulator. Only the 14 ships of the Icon, Oasis, Freedom and Voyager classes have ice skating rinks.

Here is a look at the seven classes of Royal Caribbean ships in more detail.

Ships in class: Icon of the Seas (2024), Star of the Seas (coming in 2025); unnamed vessel (coming in 2026)

Size: 250,800 tons

Is your idea of a great vacation a trip to a megaresort loaded with more restaurants, bars, theaters and watery amusements than you can imagine? Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class is the ship class for you.

As mentioned above, Icon of the Seas — the only Icon Class ship currently in operation — is bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat at 250,800 tons, and for big-ship lovers, there's really nothing quite like it. The two more Icon Class ships debuting soon will be equally over-the-top in size and venues.

Each of the Icon Class vessels that are operating or soon to debut has been designed with seven separate pools (a new record for a cruise ship), a water park with six waterslides (also a record), a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that's just on their top decks.

Inside the vessels, you'll find more lounges, bars, restaurants and shops than you can imagine — plus huge casinos, spas and showrooms with Broadway-style shows. They even have indoor ice skating rinks, just in case you want to get your Michelle Kwan on.

What you won't find on the Icon Class ships is intimacy. These are vessels that can carry as many as 7,600 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,300 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with nearly 10,000 people.

If the above sounds downright outrageous to you, it is. Keep in mind, though, that the biggest megaresorts on land are even bigger. The biggest resort in the U.S. — The Venetian in Las Vegas — has 7,092 rooms. That means it can hold more than 14,000 guests, assuming there are two people per room.

By that measure, Icon Class ships are almost small.

Icon Class ships also don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean's designers are masters at creating vessels that can carry thousands and thousands of people but still feel relatively uncrowded — at least in some areas. You can have a quiet afternoon reading a book on a bench in the sometimes nearly empty, tree-lined Central Park area of Icon of the Seas while, just a few decks above, thousands of vacationers are frolicking about at the ship's pools.

Related: Why Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas won't feel as crowded as you think

Only one ship in this series (Icon of the Seas) is currently operating, but the second vessel in the series (Star of the Seas) is already open for bookings. Its maiden voyage is set for Aug. 17, 2025.

Quantum Class

Ships in class: Quantum of the Seas (2014), Anthem of the Seas (2015), Ovation of the Seas (2016), Spectrum of the Seas (2019) and Odyssey of the Seas (2021)

Size: 168,666 to 169,379 tons

Unveiled in 2014, the Quantum Class may be Royal Caribbean's most innovative class ever.

In addition to a wide range of restaurants, bars and showrooms, the five ships in the class feature some of the most unusual new attractions you'll find at sea. This includes bumper car pavilions (yes, somehow they found room for these) and skydiving simulators.

The ships also have glass-enclosed capsules mounted on mechanical arms that will take you soaring into the sky for bird's-eye views. They're called the North Star rides, and they may be the oddest attractions ever added to the top of a cruise ship.

Quantum Class ships also feature unusual, multilevel entertainment spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass walls called Two70. The spaces are home to innovative shows that often feature aerial performers, singers and dancers who emerge from openings in the floor or the ceiling. At certain times of the day, the glass walls transform into an expansive ambient surface called Vistarama that projects real and imagined scenes.

Related: The 10 wildest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship

All the above come in addition to many of the core Royal Caribbean attractions you'll find on most of the brand's ships, including pools, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas and Broadway-style shows. But don't expect all the classic Royal Caribbean features on Quantum Class ships. For instance, you won't find ice skating rinks on the vessels even though they're a staple of all other big Royal Caribbean ships. Quantum Class ships also don't have water parks.

The Quantum Class ships aren't quite as big as Royal Caribbean's Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels (and thus don't have quite as much room for things like ice skating rinks). At around 169,000 tons, though, they're still among the biggest ships at sea, with a significant number of venues.

They also can carry a lot of people. Most of the ships in the class hold 4,180 passengers at double occupancy — 4,905 if every berth is filled. One exception is Spectrum of the Seas, which was specifically built for the China market with some design differences. It can hold up to 5,622 passengers. Additionally, the newest ship in the series, Odyssey of the Seas, can hold up to 5,498 passengers.

Related: 4 things you'll love about Royal Caribbean's new Odyssey of the Seas

One more big difference between the ships of the Quantum Class and other big Royal Caribbean ships: The Quantum Class ships are designed to be more versatile.

If you look closely at their deck plans, you'll notice that more of their main attractions are indoors and protected from the elements than the ships of the Icon, Oasis or Freedom classes, for example.

One of the two main pool areas on each Quantum Class ship (except Odyssey of the Seas) is enclosed. The bumper car pavilions are, too, doubling as roller skating rinks or indoor basketball courts. This allows Royal Caribbean to send the ships to cooler regions of the world, such as Alaska and Northern Europe, where the temperatures aren't always conducive to outdoor activity.

Royal Caribbean has also used some Quantum Class ships for sailings out of China.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean's loyalty program

Oasis Class

Ships in class: Oasis of the Seas (2009), Allure of the Seas (2010), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Wonder of the Seas (2022) and Utopia of the Seas (coming 2024)

Size: 226,838 to 236,857 tons

Until this year's debut of Icon of the Seas, these were the world's biggest and most venue-packed cruise ships. Although they're not quite as big as the new vessel, they remain among the very best options for vacationers who love nothing more than a big, bustling resort with every sort of amusement known to humans.

Each of the Oasis Class vessels has three separate main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and a zip line on their top decks — a nearly as wide array of features as the new Icon of the Seas. Inside the vessels, as on Icon of the Seas, you'll find a seemingly endless number of lounges, bars, restaurants and shops, as well as large casinos, spas and showrooms. Like Icon of the Seas, each ship has an indoor ice skating rink.

As is the case for Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class ships, which have many similarities with the Oasis Class ships, these vessels carry a huge number of people. They can carry as many as 6,988 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,200 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with more than 9,000 people — not quite as many as the nearly 10,000 you could find on an Icon Class ship but still a huge number.

The good news for those of you worried about excessive crowds is that, as is the case with the Icon Class ships, the Oasis Class ships don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean designed them with a "neighborhood" concept that spreads passengers out in seven or eight (depending on the ship) distinct areas, such as the Pool and Sports Zone and the Boardwalk amusement zone. A lot of thought went into how passengers move between these neighborhoods, too.

Note that there are a few differences from ship to ship in the Oasis Class series. For starters, the three newest and largest ships in the series — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas — have a few additional attractions and venues. Among them is the Ultimate Abyss, a terrifying slide that drops nine decks. (Royal Caribbean says it drops 10 decks, but don't be fooled; the line counts a nonexistent Deck 13.)

There are also giant waterslides on four of the five ships. Only Allure of the Seas is missing them. There are plans to add waterslides to Allure of the Seas, but they were put on hold after COVID-19 shut down cruising in 2020.

Related: The 6 most spectacular waterslides and watery fun zones at sea

A handful of restaurants also differ from ship to ship in the series.

The newest and largest ship in the series, Wonder of the Seas, has the most differences from the other Oasis Class vessels. At 236,857 tons, it's about 4% bigger than the next biggest ship in the series; the extra space is devoted to such additions as a dedicated suite area with a private lounge, a restaurant and a sun deck.

Related: Why Wonder of the Seas is awesome for families | Wonder of the Seas cabin comparison | A wild race to try every Wonder of the Seas attraction in 2 days

A sixth ship in the Oasis Class series, Utopia of the Seas , is scheduled to debut in July. Construction of the vessel began in April 2022 at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — the same shipyard that built Wonder of the Seas.

Radiance Class

Ships in class: Radiance of the Seas (2001), Brilliance of the Seas (2002), Serenade of the Seas (2003) and Jewel of the Seas (2004)

Size: 90,090 tons

Not sure you want to sail on a megaship with 6,000 people but still want a vessel with a good amount of features and activities? The Radiance Class ships may be the perfect solution.

At 90,090 tons, the four vessels in the series are less than half the size of Royal Caribbean's massive Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, but still big enough that they have a lot to offer.

Each vessel has more than a half-dozen places to eat, including the main restaurant, a casual buffet, a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant and an Asian venue.

You'll also find three pools on each ship, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a miniature golf course, a sports court and an adults-only solarium. Each ship has a theater, a spa, a casino, and multiple bars and lounges.

What you won't find on the ships, because of their smaller size, are all the gee-whiz attractions — such as ice skating rinks, surfing simulators, giant waterslides and bumper car pavilions — that Royal Caribbean has put on its bigger vessels. If you can't live without those sorts of features on a cruise ship, the Radiance class probably isn't for you.

Each Radiance Class ship holds more than 2,100 passengers at double occupancy (plus a few hundred more with every berth filled). That's less than half the number of passengers on the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

That makes them perfect for cruisers who want to get away from the sort of crowds on the biggest megaships without giving up many of the amenities that big ships offer.

Freedom Class

Ships in class: Freedom of the Seas (2006), Liberty of the Seas (2007) and Independence of the Seas (2008)

Size: 154,407 to 156,271 tons

As recently as 2009, these were the biggest cruise ships in the world, and they're still quite big compared to almost all other cruise vessels afloat.

While no longer on the list of the top 25 biggest cruise ships — they've been displaced by Royal Caribbean's Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class vessels, as well as several ships from other lines — the Freedom Class vessels offer a classic big-ship experience with lots of restaurants, bars, showrooms and deck-top attractions.

The Freedom Class ships, notably, were the first Royal Caribbean ships to feature a FlowRider surfing simulator on their top decks — now a signature attraction for the line. The vessels also have multiple pool areas, a water park, a miniature golf course and a rock climbing wall on their top decks (which are among the most activity-packed at sea).

Indeed, the top decks of Freedom Class ships are more loaded with attractions than any other Royal Caribbean vessels except the Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels. You just won't find several of the most over-the-top attractions, such as zip lines, that Icon Class and Oasis Class ships have.

In their interiors, Freedom Class vessels have the mall-like Royal Promenade spaces filled with eateries, bars and shops that have become standard on bigger Royal Caribbean ships. They also have large casinos and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean just fixed the worst part of cruising

At around 156,000 tons, the Freedom Class ships are about 38% smaller than the Icon Class ships and 31% smaller than the Oasis Class ships, a significant step down in size. They're nearly 8% smaller than the Quantum Class ships.

They also carry significantly fewer passengers than the Oasis Class ships. Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas carry about 3,900 passengers at double occupancy (closer to 4,600 with every berth filled). Liberty of the Seas can carry several hundred more.

Voyager Class

Ships in class: Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000), Adventure of the Seas (2001), Navigator of the Seas (2002) and Mariner of the Seas (2003)

Size: 137,276 to 139,999 tons

The Voyager Class ships are similar to Freedom Class ships but shorter in length. In other words, the Freedom Class was a stretched version of the Voyager Class.

Like the Freedom Class vessels, the Voyager Class ships have many of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions, including rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. In fact, the ships were the first at Royal Caribbean to have those attractions.

Voyager Class ships were also the first to feature a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes and shops in their interior. Each also has several specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room and casual buffet; specialty restaurants include a version of Royal Caribbean's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and an Italian restaurant.

One of the main differences between the Voyager Class and the Freedom Class is that the Royal Promenades on Voyager Class ships are shorter. The top-deck areas of the Voyager Class ships are also more truncated than the Freedom Class vessels.

There are also fewer cabins on the Voyager Class ships, resulting in fewer passengers on board a typical sailing. Most of the ships carry around 3,100 passengers at double occupancy — about 800 fewer than the typical Freedom Class ship.

At around 139,000 tons, the ships are about 11% smaller than the Freedom Class ships.

There are also some variations in attractions among the five Voyager Class vessels. Navigator of the Seas has a relatively new waterslide zone that's home to The Blaster, the longest waterslide at sea . You won't find that on the other ships, though most of them have different waterslides. Only three of the five ships — Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas — have laser tag courses. Adventure of the Seas is the only vessel in the class with a kiddie splash zone.

Related: Why the overhaul of Navigator of the Seas was so great

Vision Class

Ships in class: Grandeur of the Seas (1996), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), Enchantment of the Seas (1997) and Vision of the Seas (1998)

Size: 73,817 to 82,910 tons

Dating to the 1990s, the Vision Class ships are the smallest at Royal Caribbean, and they offer fewer onboard attractions and amenities than is typical for the line's vessels.

In general, they appeal to cruisers looking for a more intimate experience on a cruise ship as well as those who care more about the destinations they visit than the onboard attractions.

Along those lines, Royal Caribbean often sends some of its Vision Class ships to Europe in the summer to operate port call-intensive itineraries. The vessels also often sail longer trips in the Caribbean that include less-visited southerly islands. In both cases, the allure of the cruises has more to do with the ports the ships visit than the onboard experience.

Vision Class ships are also sometimes based in secondary ports such as Baltimore or San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the size of the local cruise market might not warrant a larger vessel.

Except for rock climbing walls, the Vision Class ships have none of the signature Royal Caribbean deck-top attractions such as surfing and skydiving simulators. For the most part, their top decks are lined with pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s. All have at least two pools and six whirlpools, except for Enchantment of the Seas, which has three pools and six whirlpools.

Related: Is cruising right for you? Start by asking yourself these 7 questions

In addition to main restaurants and casual buffets, each ship has at least one (and often several) additional specialty restaurants. The line's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and Italian eatery Giovanni's Table are two of them. Rhapsody of the Seas has the biggest selection of dining; Enchantment of the Seas has the smallest. Three of the four vessels — all but Enchantment of the Seas — have an Izumi Asian restaurant.

Each of the ships varies slightly in size. Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest of the four vessels, measuring around 74,000 tons. Enchantment of the Seas is the biggest, measuring around 83,000 tons (it was, notably, lengthened by 73 feet in 2005).

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Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class Cruise Ships to Sail Broader Itineraries

• June 25, 2023

With the new Utopia of the Seas debuting next July, Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis Class of cruise ships is set to offer a broader variety of itineraries going forward.

In addition to week-long cruises in the Caribbean, the series of vessels – which include some of the world’s largest cruise ships – is set to offer short sailings, as well as itineraries in the Mediterranean and the U.S. Northeast.

Cruise Industry News looked into Royal Caribbean’s plans for the six ships in 2024:

Utopia of the Seas Year Built: 2024 Capacity:  5,714 guests Tonnage:  231,000 Sailing Regions: Bahamas Homeports: Port Canaveral (United States)

Set to debut in July 2024 , the new Utopia of the Seas will offer short cruises to the Bahamas during its inaugural season .

Currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the LNG-powered vessel is scheduled to offer three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral during the rest of the year.

Wonder of the Seas Year Built: 2022 Capacity:  5,448 guests Tonnage:  227,625 Sailing Regions: Caribbean Homeports: Port Canaveral (United States)

After arriving in Port Canaveral in late 2022 , the Wonder of the Seas is scheduled to continue sailing from the Central Florida homeport in 2024.

The ship’s year-round program includes week-long itineraries to the Western and Southern Caribbean that also feature visits to Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Symphony of the Seas Year Built: 2018 Capacity:  5,448 guests Tonnage:  227,625 Sailing Regions: Caribbean and U.S. Northeast Coast Homeports: Fort Lauderdale, Cape Liberty and Miami (United States)

In addition to cruises to the Caribbean sailing from Florida, the Symphony of the Seas is set to offer seven-night cruises from Cape Liberty during the 2024 summerseason.

Debuting at Royal Caribbean’s homeport in the New York region, the 2018-built ship will sail to different destinations in the Bahamas and Florida on a regular basis between late May and early November.

The Symphony of the Seas also offers seven-night cruises to the Caribbean departing from Fort Lauderdale through early May, in addition to similar itineraries departing from Miami starting in November.

Harmony of the Seas Year Built: 2016 Capacity:  5,448 guests Tonnage:  227,625 Sailing Regions: Caribbean Homeports: Galveston (United States)

The Harmony of the Seas continues to sail from Galveston in 2024 . Scheduled to debut at the Texas homeport later this year , the ship will offer a series of seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean.

Sailing from Galveston on Sundays, Harmony’s regular itinerary features visits to Costa Maya and Cozumel, in Mexico, in addition to Roatán, in Honduras.

Allure of the Seas Year Built: 2010 Capacity:  5,400 guests Tonnage:  220,000 Sailing Regions: Bahamas Homeports: Port Canaveral and Miami (United States)

After becoming the first Oasis-Class ship to offer short cruises on a regular basis, the Allure of the Seas starts 2024 sailing three- and four-night itineraries to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral .

With the new Utopia taking over its program in Central Florida, the 2010-built vessel repositions to Miami in mid-July. From both ports, the ship’s itineraries sail to Nassau, in addition to Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Oasis of the Seas Year Built: 2009 Capacity:  5,400 guests Tonnage:  220,000 Sailing Regions: Caribbean and Mediterranean Homeports: Miami and Fort Lauderdale (United States); Barcelona (Spain); and Civitavecchia (Rome)

The Oasis of the Seas is returning to Europe in 2024 . After starting the year offering week-long cruises to the Caribbean departing from Miami, the vessel repositions to the Western Mediterranean for the summer.

Sailing from Barcelona and Civitavecchia, the Oasis is set to offer a series of itineraries to Spain, Italy and France between early May and late September.

Upon returning to North America in November, the vessel kicks off another program of week-long cruises to the Caribbean, this time sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

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7th Oasis-class Ship Ordered by Royal Caribbean to Debut in 2028

In a surprising move, Royal Caribbean announced they’ve entered into an agreement to order a seventh Oasis-class ship with delivery scheduled in 2028. It’s surprising because many assumed that the Icon-class was succeeding the Oasis-class. This new order makes the Oasis-class the most common type of ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and North American cruise market in general.

An extra Oasis-class ship is surprising

Once a cruise line debuts a new class of cruise ship, that’s usually the new platform for the cruise line going forward until they unveil the next generation of ships. All the marketing and building focus goes into the newest class. Since Royal Caribbean just debuted its brand new Icon-class of ships earlier this year, it was assumed that would be the primary focus of the line.

But Royal Caribbean hasn’t always followed suit. Over the past ten years, Royal Caribbean has simultaneously debuted both Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships. This decision made sense, though, because these classes were unique and served different markets, with the slightly smaller Quantum-class ships performing much better in cold weather for cruises in Alaska, Asia, and Europe.

Why an Oasis-class Ship over an Icon-class?

This announcement is confusing because the Icon-class of ships appeared to be the evolution of the Oasis-class. While two more Icon-class ships are on order, it’s odd to see them go back and release more ships from the previous generation. The Oasis-class ships are only marginally larger than the Icon-class, so it’s not likely to serve a different market (unless this ship is slated for Asia like the Wonder of the Seas originally was).

The reason is most likely cost. The newest Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas , is rumored to cost $1.35 billion to build, while the Icon of the Seas is reported to cost around $2 billion. The expansive windows, huge water park, and record number of pools in the Icon-class really add to the cost, apparently. 

What do we know about the new 7th Oasis-class ship?

At this point, we don’t know much, as Royal Caribbean still has to get financing approved for the project. They indicated this ship will be the sibling to Utopia of the Seas, which means it’ll see a few improvements over the older Oasis-class ships, including a fully enclosed Solarium and using LNG fuel.

Mega ships seem to be everyone’s new focus

Much to the dismay of many veteran cruisers, mega ships seem to be the only thing cruise lines are interested in. This news comes on the heels of Carnival’s announcement earlier this week that they’ll be adding a fourth Excel-class ship to their fleet . On top of that, Princess Cruises is just weeks away from launching its largest ship ever ( hopefully, it’s been delayed twice already ). This announcement confirms that big ships are here to stay.

Still no news on Royal Caribbean’s Project Discovery

Royal Caribbean fans have been hoping that Royal Caribbean’s next new ship order would be part of the rumored “Project Discovery.” This new class of ship is rumored to be Royal Caribbean’s answer to its aging smaller fleet. Many local ports of call and even some smaller home ports like Baltimore and Jacksonville can’t handle bigger ships, and the only answer is to have smaller vessels. Unfortunately, it seems that we’re going to have to wait a bit longer to hear any development on this front.

You can read the full press release here

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Randy Young

Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 19 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.

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5 best Royal Caribbean ships for kids

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Royal Caribbean is unarguably one of the best cruise lines for kids. But that doesn’t mean all its ships are equally good for kids of all ages and interests.

Every ship in Royal Caribbean ’s fleet has kid-friendly attractions, such as pools, an outdoor movie screen, a rock-climbing wall and a kids club with age-appropriate activities. The line’s oldest and smallest ships don’t offer much more than that — while the newest and biggest ships in the fleet have many more amusements. These include splash parks and waterslides, ice skating rinks, bumper cars, zip lines, laser tag and fast casual restaurants serving Mexican food and Johnny Rockets burgers and milkshakes.

Royal Caribbean excels at offering something for everyone on its ships. It’s hard to find an age group that wouldn’t find something to love about the line’s newest ships, such as Wonder of the Seas (the current world’s largest ship) or Icon of the Seas (which will steal the title when it debuts in January 2024).

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As a quick guide, the line’s Vision- and Radiance-class ships have the fewest kid-friendly attractions. Voyager- and Freedom-class ships offer a sweet spot of plenty of family fun with a more manageable size. Oasis- and Icon-class ships are giant megaships packed with restaurants, shows and amusements aimed at kids and families, while Quantum-class ships offer a more sophisticated and high-tech approach to big-ship family fun.

But if we absolutely had to choose the best Royal Caribbean ships for kids, here are the ships we’d pick.

Best Royal Caribbean ship for babies and toddlers: Freedom of the Seas

I cruised with a 1-year-old to Alaska on Rhapsody of the Seas, one of Royal’s oldest and smallest ships, and it wasn’t my best cruise by a long shot. If you’re planning to cruise with little kids, my advice is to start with a short, warm-weather sailing on a ship that caters to the youngest cruisers.

On Royal Caribbean, that means picking a ship that has both a Royal Babies & Tots nursery and a Baby Splash Zone (because kids in swim diapers are not allowed in the main pool and water play areas). For my money, I’d go with Freedom of the Seas. It has both of those baby staples and plenty of restaurants and activities for the adults to enjoy as well. Your preschooler may enjoy the parades down the Royal Promenade followed by a scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. (Freedom is one of six Royal Caribbean ships with their own Ben & Jerry’s outlet.)

However, Freedom is not as huge as an Oasis-class ship (which have great offerings for the 3-and-under diapered set), so you’ll have less FOMO when you’re stuck in the cabin after early bedtime. And the halls aren’t quite as long when your new walker decides the best activity on the ship is pushing something up and down the cabin hallways. (Yes, I’ve been there, done that.)

Related: The 6 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Plus, Freedom of the Seas sails mainly short three- and four-night Bahamas cruises to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay , Royal Caribbean’s private island. If your kids are like mine, beaches are fascinating places to play, and CocoCay has a calm bay, pirate ship-themed play area, splash park and a shallow-entry pool perfect for babies and toddlers. Plus, conveniently located complimentary barbecues and tram services make it easier for parents to manage a day at the beach with their kiddos.

Best Royal Caribbean ship for little kids (ages 3-7): Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship Icon of the Seas isn’t debuting until January 2024, but I’m already positive it’s the best in the fleet for younger kids. That’s because Royal Caribbean has built the entire ship to target young families .

The line has created a happy place for parents and kids under the age of 7 or so. It’s called Surfside and is an open-air space located at the back of the ship. It will feature a splash area with junior waterslides for kids and an infinity pool for adults. It will also have a beach-themed carousel, dry playground, arcade, multiple family-friendly restaurants (so you don’t have to go far when hunger strikes) and a mommy-and-me cocktail/mocktail bar.

This Deck 7 neighborhood is also a hop, skip and a jump away from the Adventure Ocean kids club on Deck 6.

Related: The best cruise ships for kids

Even better for all those little legs, Surfside will be surrounded by family-themed cabins and suites, many with separate sleeping areas for kids and adults. You won’t have to carry your tuckered-out tyke far when they’re ready for naptime in the cabin.

Because Icon of the Seas is a larger, reimagined version of Royal Caribbean’s beloved Oasis-class ships, families with young children can also enjoy ice skating and acrobatic diving shows, tons of family-friendly dining around the ship and top-deck attractions such as pools and minigolf.

Icon of the Seas will sail family-favorite weeklong itineraries to the Caribbean from the port of Miami . Each cruise also stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Best Royal Caribbean ship for older kids (ages 8-12): Wonder of the Seas

I took my daughter on Wonder of the Seas for her eighth birthday, and I can attest that Wonder (and its Oasis-class siblings) are ideal for older kids. These megaships have so much going on, your kids will never be bored. Or, as soon as they’re finished with one activity, they have several more to turn to next.

Some of the Wonder of the Seas activities have age or size limits, which is why littler kids can’t fully appreciate all it has to offer. For example, my daughter could go rock climbing, play in the splash park and multiple pools, ride the waterslides and the 10-decks-long dry slide. But she was just slightly too short and light to boogie board on the FlowRider or try the zip line. The minimum height requirements are usually 48 or 52 inches.

Related: Why Wonder of the Seas is awesome for families

The Studio B ice skating show and original musical “Effectors II” are perfect for older kids. My daughter was especially wowed by the slackliners, aerialists, dancers and divers we saw at the AquaTheater. Kids ages 8 to 12 may also enjoy Wonder’s escape room, sports court, minigolf course, carousel, promenade parades and arcade.

And let’s not forget about the many fast casual dining venues on the ship. My daughter would have dined on hot dogs and milkshakes at Johnny Rockets every day if I were willing to pay for it. She also enjoyed quesadillas at El Loco Fresh near all the fun top-deck attractions, the Campfire Cookie dessert at Playmakers and browsing the selections at the buffet. Other kid-friendly venues that got her thumbs up included the new-on-Wonder Mason Jar southern-themed specialty restaurant and pizza at both the free Sorrento’s and the extra-fee Giovanni’s.

Wonder of the Seas mainly sails seven-night Caribbean cruises, which is a perfect vacation length for this age group. Book those school-vacation weeks early as they’re popular dates.

Best Royal Caribbean ship for tweens and teens: Odyssey of the Seas

Tweens and teens would certainly enjoy all of the ships already mentioned, but sometimes they’re looking for a vacation that’s a little cooler and perhaps more high-tech. That’s why Odyssey of the Seas is our pick for the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for middle and high school kids.

Odyssey of the Seas and its Quantum-class sister ships have some cool attractions not found on other Royal Caribbean vessels. Teens will love trying the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator and bouncing on the Sky Pad VR bungee trampoline. At the ship’s SeaPlex, they can get active with indoor basketball, table tennis and bumper cars, or get their game on at the arcade or virtual-reality play space. If they work up an appetite, they can grab burgers at Playmakers nearby.

The ship also features Two70, a cool hangout by day (grab a bite at the cafe and curl up somewhere away from parents to check your social media feeds) and a high-tech performance venue at night. The NorthStar is a sightseeing pod that rises high above the ship on a mechanical arm; teens can snap a selfie while up there.

Related: The 5 best cruises for teens

Social 180 is the tween and teen hangout on Odyssey of the Seas, and it’s extra cool given that it has both an indoor lounge and an outdoor patio. Plus, the ship has plenty of teen-friendly Royal Caribbean fan favorites, such as the FlowRider, rock climbing wall, laser tag and outdoor movies.

Tweens and teens may also be ready to appreciate Royal Caribbean’s diverse array of specialty restaurants including sushi at Izumi, steaks at Chops Grille and Italian at Giovanni’s. Plus, they can grab quick bites at El Loco Fresh and Sorrento’s.

Odyssey of the Seas sails a mix of weeklong and longer Caribbean sailings, as well as Greek Islands and Holy Land cruises. This gives families more options for more adventurous travel with teens who are ready to handle longer trips or flights to Europe.

Best Royal Caribbean ship for families heading to Alaska: Quantum of the Seas

Because most of our family picks are for ships sailing to the Caribbean and Bahamas, it seemed like an oversight to leave out Alaska. Alaska is an amazing destination for a family vacation with kids, and Royal Caribbean bases four ships up north every summer. But some are better for families than others.

Our top pick for families sailing to Alaska is Quantum of the Seas (though nearly identical Quantum-class sister ship Ovation of the Seas is a close second). Quantum sails seven-night round-trip cruises from the accessible port of Seattle, perfect for families that can’t take more than a week’s vacation and don’t want to spend the time and money flying to Alaska to board a ship.

Related: The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler

Quantum of the Seas has many of the same amenities as the aforementioned Odyssey of the Seas, which are ideal for Alaska. Indoor activities like kids clubs, the sky diving simulator and SeaPlex will always be usable even if the northern weather gets chilly or rainy. The North Star sightseeing ride is much more appealing when you can take in Alaska’s stunning scenery rather than mere stretches of Caribbean sea. Two70 makes for an equally attractive indoor observation lounge when the ship is cruising through fjords and by glaciers.

Quantum of the Seas get the nod from Ovation because it has two activities Ovation lacks: an escape room and laser tag.

Bottom line

It’s hard to go wrong with any Royal Caribbean cruise ship when you’re planning a family vacation. The bigger the ship, the more amazing kid attractions you’ll find on board. I’d recommend sticking with Voyager class and newer ships when traveling with kids, but even the smaller ships have kids clubs, pools and other family-friendly activities.

So when all is said and done, the best Royal Caribbean ship for kids is likely whichever ship in the fleet your family happens to be on!

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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Travel | 8 new ships coming to Norwegian Cruise Line,…

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Subscriber only, travel | 8 new ships coming to norwegian cruise line, sister brands plus dock at great stirrup cay.

The parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line announced Monday a major order for eight new ships among its three brands as well as the construction of a pier to allow its cruise ships to dock instead of tender to its private Bahamas island for the first time.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was planning to bring on four new ships for NCL, two new ships for upper premium brand Oceania Cruises and two ships for luxury brand Regent Seven Seas, all to be built at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and debut during a 10-year run from 2026-2036.

The NCL ships would be the largest ever built for the line at around 200,000 gross tons and capacity of about 5,000 guests. They won’t arrive until after the final delivery of its Prima-Plus class ships expected between 2025-2028, the larger sister ships to the Norwegian Prima and Viva that debuted in the last couple of years. The four ships from the unnamed class of vessel would arrive in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036.

The new class for Oceania Cruises, which in 2023 debuted its first new ship in more than a decade — the Oceania Allura — will also be the largest ever built for the line at 86,000 gross tons and a capacity of 1,450 guests. They’re expected in 2027 and 2029.

And the Regent Seven Seas fleet’s new vessels will also be larger coming in at 77,000 gross tons with a capacity of 850 guests. They’re expected in 2026 and 2029. Regent just debuted the third of its Explorer class ships in December 2023.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said NCLH president and CEO Harry Sommer in a press release. “It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

No other details about the ships were released. Financing is already in place to fund 80% of the cost for the four ships among the Oceania and Regent orders, but financing for the four NCL ships is not finalized.

The eight ships expects to add 25,000 more to the three cruise lines’ passenger capacity.

In addition, the line is set to construct a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the popular Bahamas private destination visited by all three brands. The move follows the introduction of a dock that can support two Oasis-class vessels at neighboring Perfect Day at Coco Cay for Royal Caribbean while other private Bahamas destinations including Disney’s Castaway Cay and its new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point feature tenderless docks for easy access.

“We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round,” Sommer said.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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