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Royal Caribbean adding Voom high speed internet to Freedom of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas

In:
12 Nov 2015

Royal Caribbean kicked off its newest sales promotion this week with the BOGO GETTER deal, and in the fine print, it alludes to which other Royal Caribbean ships will be getting high speed internet.

The deal offers free Voom internet package for one device for Anthem, Harmony, Allure, Oasis, Freedom, and Enchantment of the Seas on select cruises in 2016.

Royal Caribbean had promised Voom will be available on all Caribbean based ships by mid-2016, but it has been unclear which ships would receive the upgrade.

Given the deal for free Voom internet is only good for cruises that depart between May 1 - Sep 30, 2016, it is possible that Voom internet may not be available onboard either Freedom of the Seas or Enchantment of the Seas until those dates.

Voom internet is currently available on Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.  Majesty of the Seas will be offering guests free Voom internet, following a scheduled 2016 refurbishment.

Voom internet is Royal Caribbean's exclusive high speed internet that allows guests to stream music and movies, upload pictures, video chat with family and friends using FaceTime or Skype, check their email, lookup their stock prices, surf the web and stay connected with work via VPN.

Royal Caribbean offering special military appreciation onboard credit

In:
11 Nov 2015

For the month of Novenmber, Royal Caribbean is appreciating Military personnel with up to an additional $50 onboard credit per stateroom when booking between November 1 and November 30, 2015.

Active and retired U.S. and Canada Military personnel are eligible for all sailings departing on or after November 1, 2015, excluding China.

Offer applies to all stateroom categories:

  • $25 onboard credit per stateroom for 3-5 night cruises
  • $50 onboard credit per stateroom for 6 night or longer cruises.

Cruise must be booked between November 1 – 30, 2015.

Offer is combinable with standard/full fare rates, 30% Savings promotion, restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, BOGO, ChoiceAir Specials, etc.), Crown & Anchor Discounts, Weekly Sales Events, and Next Cruise offers.

Offer available to residents of the United States or Canada.

Anthem of the Seas spotlight: Vistarama

In:
11 Nov 2015

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas offers a lot of things to see and do onboard, and today we are highlighting one of the more impressive visual elements on this brand new ship, the Vistarama.

What is Vistarama

Photo by Moment Factory

Vistarama is a show in Two70, where Two70's iconic floor-to-celing glass windows are transformed into a "digital canvas", where pretty much any scene, real or imagined, can be displayed on them.

Two70 is a two-deck high, multi-purpose entertainment venue is located at the rear of the ship. It features wraparound, floor-to-ceiling windows that give an amazing 270-degree view of the passing landscape.

Check out this preview of Vistarama for a good example of what this show is all about.

How does it work?

Royal Caribbean utilizes 12K resolution projects (that means it is 12 times high definition) and the result is some stunning views for guests to enjoy.

Before the show starts, the sun shields that serve as the projection surfaces are rolled down to cover the windows.

Eighteen projectors are used to create an ambient surface that is 120 feet wide by 23 feet tall, in a 5:1 aspect ratio.  This is an industry first in terms of this kind of projection technology.

The slope, curvature, and surface textures of the Vistarama system require the image content of the projections to be geometrically adapted to the circumstances. The result is a projection with a total resolution of 12,480 x 2,280 pixels and a projection size of 36 x 6 meters.

The Vistarama show content was developed by Moment Factory, while the hardware set up was made possible by Amptown System Company.

What are the Vistarama shows?

Royal Caribbean routinely offers different kind of shows throughout any given Anthem of the Seas cruise and is regularly adding new ones with each new Quantum class ship launch.

In our own experience, we have spotted these shows onboard

  • Cityscape
  • Leonardo's Dreams
  • Tropical waterfall
  • The Library
  • Moon
  • Drawings
  • Under the Sea
  • Test Pattern

Why is Vistarama worth your time?

Photo by Moment Factory

What makes Vistarama so impressive a show is the visuals that can only be found here.

Vistarama's ultra-high definition displays transform the entire Two70 space and it is one of those things you have to see to appreciate.  

Simply put, Vistarama is a stunning display that is as beautiful as it is immense in scale.  

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review on Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

In:
11 Nov 2015

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 119 is available for downloading where Matt shares his thoughts on his recent 2-night cruise aboard Anthemof the Seas.

Matt experiences a lot onboard Anthem of the Seas, and this week, he dives into what makes Anthem of the Seas unique and discusses the aspects of dining, entertainment and accomodations that stood out and why.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 119. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSSStitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - Anthem of the Seas Cruise Review

In:
11 Nov 2015

Listen to the Show

Perhaps no cruise ship other than Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas has garnered as much attention this year, and this week, I have returned from my 2-night adventure on Anthem of the Seas to share with you my entire experience.

It was a terrific experience and it changed the way I look at the Quantum class ships. Let’s talk about the many experiences, dining, entertainment and everything else inbetween on this week’s episode.

Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...

On this episode:
Running time:

Royal Caribbean releases "live" infographic for Harmony of the Seas

In:
11 Nov 2015

Royal Caribbean UK released a new infographic that shows off how Harmony of the Seas will be the "ultimate sports" destination.

Just in terms of physical activities, Harmony of the Seas will feature

  • Fully equipped gym
  • Play areas for children and infants
  • Zip line
  • Full-sized sports court
  • Mini golf course
  • Splashaway Bay kids water park
  • Full deck running track
  • Ice rink
  • Daily exercise classes
  • 2 FlowRider surf simulators
  • The Abyss
  • 3 water slides
  • Rock climbing wall
  • Over 30 different sports and activities

Harmony of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's third Oasis class cruise ship, and debuts in 2016.

 

Photo tour of Category D3 Balcony Stateroom on Anthem of the Seas

In:
10 Nov 2015

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas has a lot to offer, including a number of staterooms.  Today, we will look at the category D3 balcony stateroom and take you through the cabin to give you an idea of what to expect if you book this category.

On Anthem of the Seas, we reviewed stateroom 6266, which is located on Deck 6 forward, fairly close to the elevator bank. Entry to the room is by RFID scanner, which is above the door handle.

Walking into the room, you will immediately see the light from the balcony shining ahead of you.

The bed is joined together but can be split apart if need be. There's a large, flat screen television across from it and two night stands on opposite sides of the bed. Access to the balcony is also on the other side of the bed.

Across from the bed is a widescreen, high definition television.

Beyond the bed is a large sofa, with desk and chair opposite it.  This is where the bulk of the indoor living space is located and the room offers a good amount of space to navigate between objects and other guests.

A D3 stateroom features a full bathroom as well with stand up shower.

Of course, the reason to book this stateroom is the balcony.  

At 55 square feet, the balcony is average for a Quantum class ship and it has enough room for two chairs and a table.  It's enough space for two people to comfortably enjoy the view and ocean air.

Royal Caribbean named Best Cruise Line For the Money by US News and World Report

In:
10 Nov 2015

Royal Caribbean was named the Best Cruise Line for the Money in the 2016 Best Cruise Lines Rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual report covers a number of categories, and Royal Caribbean came out at the top of the pack in considering the best "bang for your buck."

In winning the top spot, Royal Caribbean was noted as, "one of the largest lines, setting sail hundreds of times each year to destinations around the world. And having the ability to accommodate thousands of guests per ship allows Royal Caribbean to keep rates low: Cruisers won't have trouble finding itineraries costing less than $150 per person per night. Prices cover lodging, meals in the Main Dining Room and a wealth of onboard activities ranging from swimming and rock climbing to Broadway-style performances."

Royal Caribbean also did well in other categories:

  • Second place for Best Cruise Lines for Families
  • Second Place for Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean
  • Ninth place for Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean

US News and World Reports rankings are based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

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