Cruising Magazine Issue 97 | Page 26

Royal Caribbean Unveils Royal Suite Class Royal Caribbean International has unveiled a brand new range of Royal Suite Class benefits onboard its Quantum and Oasis Class ships, delivering contemporary luxury designed for travellers on sailings from May 2016. Royal Suite Class will deliver a range of exclusive amenities based on three-tiered service levels: Star Class, Sky Class and Sea Class. Features include butler service delivered by staff trained and certified by the British Butler Institute; free VOOM, the fastest internet at sea; complimentary specialty dining; an ultimate beverage package; inclusive gratuities; preferred seating at select onboard venues and upgraded stateroom amenities. The Royal Suite Class experience will be available onboard Royal Caribbean’s six Oasis and Quantum Class ships around the world, including Ovation of the Seas, which is currently under construction in Germany. The $1.3 billion megaliner will sail out of Sydney for the peak summer season from December 2016, claiming the title of not only the largest cruise ship to ever call Australasia home – carrying almost 5,000 guests and 1,500 crew – but also the most technologically advanced. “The new Royal Suite Class redefines luxury at sea with exceptional experiences that discerning travellers will appreciate, offering some of the most unique suites onboard the world’s most revolutionary ships,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. At the height of suite class luxury, Star Class guests can take advantage of the brand new Royal Genie service. Trained and certified by the British Butler Institute, a Royal Genie will serve as a personal assistant to help guests with their every cruising need 24 hours a day, including restaurant, show and shore excursion reservations, laundry, pressing and shoe shining, in-room dining and cocktails, luggage handling and even unpacking. All guests in Royal Suite Class will enjoy the ultimate in upgraded amenities in their suites – such as Hermès, Ferragamo and L’OCCITANE bath products and luxury pillow-top mattresses. Additionally, all Royal Suite Class guests will have exclusive access to the Californiachic Coastal Kitchen restaurant and on Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach paradise in Haiti, suite guests enjoy access to the exclusive Barefoot Beach. Star and Sky Class guests will enjoy a private Suite Sun Deck and reserved VIP seating in theatres, while Star Class guests will receive these benefits plus exclusive Duxiana DUX mattresses and Frette linens in their suites. Sea Class includes premium touches in spacious entry-level suites such as the Family Junior Suite, Spa Junior Suite and Junior Suite. Sky Class features a selection of inclusive amenities in staterooms such as the AquaTheatre Suite, Crown Loft Suite, Owner’s Suite, Royal Family Suite, Grand Suite and Superior Grand Suite. Star Class includes the most comprehensive collection of amenities and services for guests staying in the most expansive and luxurious suites, such as Quantum-class’ two-deck Royal Loft Suite, Owner’s Loft Suite, Four Bedroom Family Suite, Grand Loft Suite, Sky Loft Suite and Two Bedroom AquaTheatre Suite. Princess Cruises Kindles Love Stories Princess Cruises has coupled with Amazon’s online romance community Kindle Love Stories to offer guests three free, original stories to enjoy during their cruise holidays as well as special sailings with bestselling romance authors. From October, Princess Cruises’ guests and Kindle users, including those using a Kindle app on any device, will be able to download the free stories at www.amazon.com/ allamour The short love stories, written by well-known romance writers Carolyn Brown, Heather Burch and Barbara Longley, were inspired by their own Princess cruise experiences sailing to the beautiful Caribbean. The Princess Cruises-inspired romance stories include Kiss Me Maybe by Heather Burch, To Catch a Bouquet by Carolyn Brown and Once Upon a Night at Sea by Barbara Longley. The three authors, along with bestselling author Linda Lael Miller, will join a five-day Eastern Caribbean cruise onboard Regal Princess, which departs Fort Lauderdale on 3 November 2015. Guests onboard will enjoy meet-andgreets as well as book club discussions with the authors, who will also offer book signings. Princess Cruises Premieres “Magic to Do” Princess Cruises raised the curtain on a new musical revue titled Magic to Do, from the Oscar, Grammy and Tony awardwinning composer of Wicked, Pippin and Godspell Stephen Schwartz. The show, a cruise industry first, premiered aboard Crown Princess to rave reviews at a special event with Schwartz and the show’s creative team at the Port of Los Angeles. Magic to Do, Schwartz’s first production for a cruise line, celebrates his lifelong fascination with magic and combines thrilling illusions with some of his most famous songs, such as Magic to Do from Pippin and Defying Gravity from Wicked. The show also includes a brand new song written exclusively for Princess called A Little Magic. Brought to life by a vibrant cast, imaginative costumes and make-up, stunning scenic designs and baffling illusions Magic to Do is now running in the Princess Theatre aboard Crown Princess and debuts later aboard Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess. 26 November 2015