Royal Caribbean to Deploy 10 Ships in Europe in 2011

Royal Caribbean International has announced that it will deploy 10 ships in the Baltic and the Mediterranean for its 2011 cruise and cruise-tour season, its biggest deployment to that region to date.

The 2011 European deployment will be an increase from eight ships in 2010 and offer 109 unique itineraries, ranging from three to 15 nights and visiting 27 countries and 78 ports.

Two ships, the Liberty of the Seas and the Grandeur of the Seas, will sail their maiden Europe seasons from Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, respectively. The Independence of the Seas will continue its year-round service from Southampton, U.K.

The Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas will sail a variety of Mediterranean itineraries, while the Jewel of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will ply the Baltic and North Seas. Most 2011 Royal Caribbean International Europe cruises and cruise-tours are now open for booking.

In addition, Royal Caribbean is offering cruise-tours, which combine a Europe cruise aboard one of seven ships with one of the following land tours: a three-night Italian Lakes and Venice tour; a four-night Paris and London tour; a four-night Madrid and Barcelona tour; a five-night Venice, Florence and Rome tour; or a four-night Istanbul and Cappadocia tour.

Each land tour is escorted and includes ground transfers, hotel accommodations, city tours and some meals. Additional options for an extra charge including overland options such as the on Grand Overland tour, featuring an overview of the Holy Land with a stay in Jerusalem, and the Grand Egypt tour, which includes Cairo and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. Day excursions include the Athens Sightseeing and Acropolis tour, the Taste of Sicily: Mt. Etna & Taormina tour, and the Grand St. Petersburg with Hermitage tour.

In 2011, the Voyager of the Seas will mark the first arrival of a Voyager-class cruise ship to Venice and offer new, seven-night roundtrip itineraries, which will open for booking at a later date. Sister-ship Adventure of the Seas will homeport for a second year in Malaga, Spain, offering a seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary through early autumn, followed by six five-night sailings alternating a Mediterranean itinerary with a Canary Islands itinerary.

The Grandeur of the Seas will offer two new, alternating seven-night itineraries, Western Mediterranean and Italian Mediterranean, sailing roundtrip from Palma de Mallorca, a new homeport for the line. The Brilliance of the Seas will return to Barcelona on alternating 12-night, roundtrip Mediterranean sailings, which feature maiden calls at Italy’s Naples (Salerno) and Ravenna, a new port offering more tour choices Milan and Florence.

From Istanbul, Turkey, the Vision of the Seas will offer six roundtrip sailings in autumn 2011 on new, 10- and 11-night Holy Land itineraries. The Splendour of the Seas will be homeported at Rome (Civitavecchia) and offer a variety of itineraries, including new, 12-night roundtrip Mediterranean Holy Land and Mediterranean Egypt cruises. The Egypt itinerary features a two-day overnight call in Alexandria.

The 2011 summer Baltic season for the Jewel of the Seas will offer a range of 12-night roundtrip itineraries from Harwich, England, to Scandinavia and Russia. Ports of call include Copenhagen; Stockholm; Tallinn, Estonia; and an overnight at St. Petersburg, Russia. The Vision of the Seas will offer a range of three- to seven-night Baltic and Scandinavia itineraries sailing from Copenhagen, Oslo or Stockholm. On the June 11, 2011 sailing, the Vision of the Seas will make a maiden call at Liverpool, England.