Royal Caribbean cruise bookings
Royal Caribbean International offers cruises all over the world (Mediterranean, Caribbean, South America,...), centred around fun for the family. We specialise in booking cruises for South Africans - just fill in the form below.
Liberty of the Seas Mediterranean cruise review
Well we'd cruised on the Sinfonia, Melody, Rhapsody and even the RMS St Helena; but never before on the Royal Caribbean. In other firsts, we'd never cruised in the Mediterranean before (unless you count a ferry from Naples to Palermo), and never indulged in the luxury of booking a balcony cabin before.
(see Royal Caribbean news below)
Liberty of the Seas
We spent 7 nights in a balcony cabin on a ship called the MS Liberty of the Seas, a Freedom Class cruiser which entered service in May 2007, and made its maiden Meditteranean visit this year.
Royal Caribbean has 3 Freedom Class cruiseliners, the other 2 being the Freedom of the Seas and the Independence of the Seas. The Freedom Class ships were the largest passenger ships in the world, until the Oasis of the Seas was completed in November 2009.
The Liberty of the Seas has fifteen decks and can accommodate 3634 passengers, which compares with the 2065 passengers the MSC Sinfonia can accommodate (I'm not saying that more passengers is better, just stating the facts).
Experiences on Liberty of the Seas
- whirlpools that project out from the ship to provide undisturbed views of the sea underneath
- cellphone & wi-fi connectivity through most of the ship
- DreamWorks character meet and greets, table-side visits from characters during meals, DreamWorks movies on stateroom TV & 3D DreamWorks movies
- 3D Movies
- Tot's Nursery
- wave generator for surfing
- ice skating rink
- an interactive water play area for children
- flat screens in some of the rooms
- outdoor video screen in the main pool area
- fitness center
- Cupcake cupboard
- a boxing ring
- a full-sized basketball/volleyball court
- conference center for business meetings
Restaurants
- a 3 level formal dining room
- Jade Cafe Asian themed casual dining,
- Windjammer Cafe traditional casual dining
- Sorrento's Pizzeria
- Promenade Cafe
- Ben & Jerry's Ice cream shop
- Johnny Rockets diner
- Chops Steakhouse
- Portofino Italian restaurant.
Itinerary
We depart from Barcelona at 5pm on the 10th of September 2011. On the 11th we arrive in Provence (Toulon, France), on the 12th we in Nice (Villefranche), the 13th in Florence, the 14th in Rome, the 15th in Naples/Capri, we then have a day at sea cruising before arriving back in Barcelona on the 17th of September. We plan on waking up early and having breakfast in our cabin on port days, so that we can see as much as possible in the cities.
Cost
We ended up paying a total of $5047.92 ($3587 for our cabin, $1134.72 port charges and $326.2 in prepaid gratuities). A deposit of $1000 was required to be paid by the 15th June, and the final payment had to be made by the 8th July.
Cruise insurance
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity strongly recommended that we purchase a Cruise Care Vacation Protection Plan, pointing out that we would not be covered under any circumstances if we declined this insurance." At $356, we thought it was a bit steep and rather took out our own travel insurance.
Visas
Royal Caribbean mentioned that "Visas are required for all cruises. There are no ship visas. It is the Travel Agent/Guests
responsibility to obtain all applicable visas. For all visa requirements kindly check with the relevant consulates or a visa service. Embarkation will be denied if the correct visas are not obtained. For your protection, your passport expiration date must not occur within 6 months of the voyage termination date." We got Shengen visas for ourselves, which covered all the countries we were visiting in the Mediterranean.
Minimum age
"The minimum age for infants is 6 months (a bit different to South Africa, where we took our son on a Melody cruise at the age of 2 months), as of the date of sailing and 12 months, as of the date of sailing for Transatlantic, Transpacific, Hawaii, selected South American cruises and other selected cruises.
No person under 21 may sail on any cruise holiday or have a stateroom on his or her own unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or authorized person who is over the age of 21. No guest under the age of 21 will be booked in a stateroom unless accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older, except for minors sailing with their parents or legal guardians in adjacent
staterooms.
Individual staterooms can be booked by married couples whose minimum age are 18 (proof of marriage is required at time of booking)."
Pregnant
"Guests who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of, or at any time during their cruise holiday will not be allowed to cruise."
Meals
"You have a choice of seating times for meals in the Main Restaurant (Main Dining approx. 18h30 and Second Dining approx. 20h30) Dining times may vary according to ship and itinerary. Please request your preferred seating and table size at the time of booking. We cannot accept any bookings which are conditional on your preferred seating being or becoming available before departure. If you cancel because your preferred seating is not available, normal cancellation charges will apply. Seating requests cannot be guaranteed. My Time Dining (Royal Caribbean) and Celebrity Select (Celebrity Cruises) is now being offered. You can decide when you would like to dine between the hours of 18h00 and 21h30 each evening. Services Charges/Tips are mandatory when My Time Dining is selected."
"Kosher meals must be ordered at least 80 days in advance for international sailings (Europe, South America) and 40 days in advance for domestic sailings (Caribbean)."
Accommodation in Barcelona
The Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel is recommended for those wanting to cruise from Barcelona.
Address |
Moll de Barcelona WTC, Ciutat Vella |
Phone |
+34936039000 |
Fax |
+34936039395 |
We booked from the 7th to the 10th September 2011, and it cost us € 1020 for a room for 2 adults, a child and an infant. This included breakfast (and the 8% VAT rate).
Getting there from the airport
According to the hotel website:
-
Take the airport bus (Aerobús: line A1 if you are in Terminal 1 and line A2 if you are in Terminal 2) heading towards Plaza Cataluña.
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Get off at the Plaza de España stop and take Metro line 3 heading towards Trinitat Nova.
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Get off at the Parallel stop. Go down Avenida del Paralelo until you reach Plaza de la Carbonera. After you cross the traffic circle you will reach Plaza de Les Drassanes, which leads directly to the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel".
Wi-fi is available in the entire hotel and is free of charge.
Guest booklet
Ship Check-in
Government regulations in some ports require us to submit a
ship departure manifest 60 minutes prior to sailing.
In order to meet this requirement, all guests must be checkedin
no later than 90 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time.
Guests arriving late will not be permitted to sail.
Passport, Visa Information and Entry Requirements
Valid passports and visas (including multiple Entry
Visas, where applicable) are required. Please check entry
requirements for your destination with you local passport
office.
Russia - You will need a photocopy (please bring one with
you) of your passport’s personal information page which
includes the picture.
Egypt - You may not require a pre-issued visa for visiting
Egypt. Guest can obtain a Quick - Trip visa upon vessel
arrival in Egypt. If you are unsure if you are entitled to the
Quick-Trip visa please check with a Visa service.
Nationalities not entitled to a Quick Trip visa must secure a
pre-issued Visa for visiting Egypt.
Please contact the Embassies (Consular Services) of each
country on your sailing itinerary or the visa service of your
choice.
Please be advised the ship may collect your passport to
speed the clearance formalities at each port of call, we
suggest you bring with you a few photocopies of your
passport’s personal information page which includes the
picture, and that you carry one of these photocopies with
you each time you leave the ship.
Inoculation - Health
As detailed in our brochure, all guests must ensure they are
medically fit for travel. As such, we remind you to check with
your physician at least 4 to 6 weeks before sailing to make
sure you are up to date with any required immunizations
or vaccines you may need (including but not limited to
certification of yellow fever vaccination) to ensure you will be
permitted to visit each of the exciting destinations and tours
on your itinerary.
For further information, you may contact the Centers for
Disease Control & Prevention’s Traveler’s Health website at
www.cdc.gov/travel
Minors Not Accompanied By A Legal Guardian
Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any
minor child travelling with them are required to present the
child’s valid passport and visa (or certified copy of the child’s
birth certificate) and an original notarized letter signed by
at least one of the child’s parents. The letter notarized letter
from the child’s parent must authorize the travelling adult to
take the child on the specific cruise and must authorize the
travelling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical
treatment that must be administered to the child. If a nonparent
adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a
certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child.
General Information
It is the sole responsibility of the guest to identify and obtain all required travel documents and have them available when
necessary. The appropriate valid travel documents such
as passports, visas, inoculation certificate and family legal
documents are required for boarding and re-entry into the
United States and other countries.
Guests who do not possess the proper documentation
may be prevented from boarding their flight / ship or
from entering a country and may be subject to fines. No
refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper
documentation.
Guest on consecutive sailings must ensure they have the
proper documentation for their cruise holiday.
The requirements described above are required by
government regulations and policies. They are subject to
change without notice.
Port
Barcelona, Spain
Pier Terminal
Moll D’Adossat Terminal
Airport
Barcelona El Prat International Airport
Travel time to pier terminal - approximately 40 minutes
Driving
From Barcelona Airport
Exit the airport and take the road to Barcelona City. Once
there, take the Ronda Litoral Highway and take the exit
marked PUERTO. Turn right and then follow the signs
indicating PUERTO. Ships are berthed at Adossat Terminal
(Moll D’ Adossat).
Pier Long Term Parking
Not Available.
Security at the Pier
Please expect delays related to security and immigration
procedures when arriving at the pier to board the ship.
These procedures have been designed for your safety and
all attempts will be made to expedite you through the
process as quickly as possible.
For Any Day of Travel Concerns You May Have, Please Contact:
LOCATION CONTACT TYPE TELEPHONE CONTACT
BARCELONA, SPAIN Meet and Greet +34.93.301 2244 Intercruises
UNITED STATES Guest Flight Operations +1.800.256.6649 Royal Caribbean
International
UNITED STATES Guest Flight Operations +1.305.539.4107 Royal Caribbean
Whatever your destination, you’ll want to be prepared.
We’re here to help you get started.
What to Pack
Days on board are casual and you’ll be most comfortable
in sports clothes and cruise wear. Bring low-heeled shoes
for the deck activities and a few swimsuits (so you’ll have
a dry one); ashore you’ll need comfortable walking shoes.
For evening wear, count on three basic types of attire;
Casual: Sundresses, trousers and blouses for women.
Sport shirts and trousers for men.
Smart Casual: Dresses or trouser suits for women. Jackets
for men.
Formal: Cocktail dresses for women. Suits and ties or
tuxedos for men.
If you’re cruising to the Caribbean, Mexico or other warm
weather destinations, bring a hat for protection from the
sun. If your cruise vacation will take you to Alaska, Canada
& New England or Northern Europe, be sure to pack a
jacket and several sweaters.
Hand-carry all medication, valuables, breakables, proof of
identity and proof of citizenship and any other items that
you may require before your checked luggage is delivered
to your stateroom.
Travel Adapter
North American standard, 110 volts AC. Outlet adapter
is required for European standard (220 volts AC, round
prongs). Stateroom outlets can accommodate appliances
up to 1500 watts. Hairdryers are also provided on all ships.
Evening Wear
Each evening, our ship’s main dining rooms feature a
different menu - and a changing dress code.
Cruise Length
(nights)
Casual
Evenings
Smart Casual
Evenings
Formal
Evenings
3 -5 2 - 4 1
6 - 9 3 - 6 1 2
10 - 12 5 - 7 3 2
13 - 15 6 - 8 4 3
(The Windjammer is open every evening for those who
prefer a more casual dining experience).
What Not to Pack
For the safety of our guests, certain items are not allowed
onboard the cruise ship. Weapons, illegal drugs, and other
items that could interfere with the safe operation of the
ship or the safe and secure environment of our guests and
crew are prohibited. The following are examples of items
that are not allowed onboard. These and other similar
items will be taken by ships Security upon being found.
Prohibited items: Firearms & Ammunition, including
realistic replicas; Sharp Objects, including knives and
scissors. (Note: Personal grooming items such as safety
razors are allowed.); Illegal Drugs & Substances; Candles
& Incense; Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, & Hot Plates;
Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks, Cricket Bats, Bows & Arrows;
Illegal Drugs; Skateboards & Surfboards; Martial Arts Gear;
Self-Defense Gear, including handcuffs, pepper spray,
night sticks; Flammable Liquids and Explosives, including
lighter fluid and fireworks; HAM Radios; Dangerous
Chemicals, including bleach and paint; Personal Alcohol.
Guest Relations Desk
The Guest Relations Desk onboard is open 24 hours a day
to answer any question you may have.
Medical Services
Every Royal Caribbean ship offers professional
medical Services – through independently contracted,
licensed Doctors and Nurses.
Room Service
Room Service is available onboard any time of the day of
night - simply order from the room service menu located
in your stateroom/suite. A late night service charge of
$3.95 per delivery will apply when ordering room service
between the hours of midnight and 05:00. This service fee
includes gratuity.
Tipping Guidelines
To thank those who have served you well, we suggest the
following guidelines.
SHIP PERSONNEL Per Person / Per Day
Suite Attendant $5.75
Stateroom Attendant $3.50
Dining Room Waiter $3.50
Assistant Waiter $2.00
A 15% gratuity will be automatically included to your bar
bill or wine cheque when you are served.
Gratuities can be paid in the following ways:
Pre paid by having them added to your reservation by
your reservation agent.
Added to your onboard SeaPass account by completing
the gratuity form in your stateroom.
Paid in cash at the end of the cruise (envelopes for
gratuities will be provided in your stateroom on the last
night of the cruise).
If you have pre-paid your gratuities, vouchers will be
delivered to your stateroom between 17:00 to 17:30 on the
last day of your cruise.
Cruise Compass
Cruise Compass is our daily shipboard newspaper,
delivered to your stateroom each evening and reflecting
the next day’s activities, operating times of all venues and
much more.
Calling home from the ship
You can make ship-to-shore calls from your stateroom,
24 hours a day. The cost will be automatically charged to
your SeaPass account at a rate of $7.95 USD per minute.
Onboard purchases
Royal Caribbean International offers SeaPass(SM), a
convenient way for you to pay for all of your on board
purchases and shore excursions (charged to your account
in US Dollars). To open a SeaPass account, just present
your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club
International card or Cash/Traveller’s Cheques. On the
final morning of your cruise holiday, an itemised statement
of your account will be delivered to your Stateroom. We
accept cash in the casino, for gratuities and for foreign
exchange.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
On select itineraries we are required by local law to collect
value added tax (VAT) on select onboard purchases. The
tax will be added at the time of purchase onboard. The
VAT requirement is applicable to itineraries that sail only
to European Union ports of call.
Travelers from countries outside of the European Union
are eligible for a VAT refund on select purchases they
make within the European Union. Such travelers will be
eligible for VAT refunds on qualifying purchases made
onboard or shoreside through Global Refund, the world’s
largest VAT refunding company. VAT refunds are available
whether you shop in shoreside luxury-brand stores, highend
street stores, department stores, souvenir shops, or
the shops onboard our ships. Keep in mind that not all
stores show the Tax Free Shopping sign, so remember to
ask for your Global Refund check when shopping. Once
the check is stamped, your refund can be obtained in a
number of ways: cash at the airport or in some cases,
close to the cruise terminal; direct crediting of your credit
card; or a bank check sent to your home address. For
some countries, you can even receive a cash refund when
you get back to your home country. Check onboard for
more detail about the VAT and VAT refund process or go
to www.GlobalRefund.com.
Language
As a consideration to our guests who speak French,
German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, we’ve made
every effort to provide onboard information in these
languages on all of our sailing itineraries. Our international
language channel shows continuous informational videos
and all our dining room menus are available in these
languages. Additionally, for those sailing on any of our
Asian itineraries, we provide information in Chinese,
Japanese and Korean as well. You should also know that
an International Ambassador is also available onboard
to assist you. The hours and location of our International
Ambassador can be found in the Cruise Compass, our
onboard newspaper and is also posted at the Guest
Relations Desk.
Latest news
On 11 July 2011 Royal Caribbean International announced that it will invest some USD300m to introduce the best-rate programs from its Oasis-class ships to the rest of the fleet. The revitalizations include new entertainment, dining options, oversized video screens on the pool decks and widespread Wi-Fi. The ships will be revitalized as follows:
-
Splendour of the Seas (November 2011)
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Rhapsody of the Seas (March 2012) - Alaska, New Zealand, Australia cruises
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Grandeur of the Seas (May 2012) - try its Mediterranean cruises
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Serenade of the Seas (November 2012)
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Legend of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas (2013 & 2014).
Royal Caribbean International's senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Lisa Bauer, said "We are thrilled that the ongoing Royal Advantage revitalizations will result in a virtually brand-new fleet that offers the most contemporary experience, no matter which ship or itinerary vacationers choose. From new dining concepts to cutting-edge entertainment to technological advancements, we are raising the bar across the fleet to offer guests our signature Gold Anchor Service and the world’s most innovative cruise ships that sail to exciting destinations worldwide."
The Chief Executive of Royal Caribbean International, Adam Goldstein, said: “The Royal Advantage revitalizations takes many of the best features that we have created in recent years and introduces them across our fleet, offering our guests enhanced vacation choices around the world. We never stop trying to make the experience even better, and no other cruise line can offer the same high quality vacation experience with such an array of choices that cater to every guest.”