Cruise-Australia.net

Discover Cruising at its Best!

With Reuben Goossens

Cruise’n’Travel Journalist & Maritime Historian

Royal Caribbean International is a sophisticated cruise line, yet RCI offer casual, good value cruise vacations. The company is renowned for their high standards, including the magnificent array of cuisine, fine service and spectacular entertainment. Royal Caribbean ships are magnificent ocean-going resorts, offering the best facilities possible on a cruise ship.

Navigator of the Seas – one of the 138,000 ton Voyager Class Ships

A Company with a Distinguished History

Royal Caribbean International has a long and distinguished history. In 1970 the company built its first cruise ship the 18,000 ton Song of Norway, which accommodated 724 passengers. The Song of Norway set the grounds for a new class of cruise ship, one that set new standard of cruising. The Song of Norway was lengthened by 85 feet in 1978, increasing her tonnage to 23,000 ton, increasing her capacity to 1024 passengers. Soon many Royal Caribbean ships followed, and today RCI Cruises are one of three major cruise companies in the world, these being; the Carnival group of companies, Star/NCL Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

RCI’s first ship - Song of Norway built in 1970

Royal Caribbean International operates 21 magnificent ships, making RCI Cruises one of the largest individual cruise companies. Ships range from the grand 160,000-ton mega cruise ship Liberty of the Seas, the 138,000-ton Voyager of the Sea to the more intimate 48,563-ton Empress of the Seas.

The Genesis Project

RCI have ordered two new ships accommodating some 5,400 passengers and will be a massive 220,000-ton each, the largest passenger ships ever to be built. They are expected to cost around US$1.4 Billion each. Currently these ships have not been named but are known as the “Genesis Project.” The first of the pair will be introduced in 2009, with the second is due in 2010. Obviously, Royal Caribbean International is setting a new level in cruising, a standard that other cruise companies will find hard to follow.

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The RCI fleet

Freedom Class

158,000 GRT (ton) / 4370 passengers / speed 21.6 knots

Freedom of the Seas - 2006

Liberty of the Seas - 2007

Independence of the Seas - 2008

Visit our RCI- Freedom of the Seas page

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Voyager Class

138,000 GRT / 3114 passengers / speed 23.7 knots

Voyager of the Seas - 1999

Adventure of the Seas - 2002

Explorer of the Seas - 2000

Mariner of the Seas - 2003

Navigator of the Seas – 2002

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Radiance Class

90,000 GRT / 2501 passengers / speed 25 knots

Radiance of the Seas - 2001

Brilliance of the Seas - 2002

Jewel of the Seas - 2004

Serenade of the Seas – 2003

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Vision Class

78,491 GTR / 2435 passengers / speed 22 knots

Enchantment of the Seas - 1997

Grandeur of the Seas - 1996

Legend of the Seas – 1995

Rhapsody of the Seas - 1997

Splendor of the Seas – 1996

Vision of the Seas – 1998

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Sovereign Class

73,192 GRT / 2852 passengers / Speed 19 knots

Sovereign of the Seas - 1987

Majesty of the Seas - 1992

Monarch of the Seas – 1991

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Empress of the Seas

48,563 GRT / 2020 passengers / speed 19.5 knots

Empress of the Seas a popular and much sought after ship

Enter our Visit our RCI- Freedom of the Seas page page

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Photographs on Cruise-Australia and ssMaritime are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind and make themselves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seem a multitude of my own photo’s on other sites, yet some even refuse to give credit, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. Let us do the right thing and show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!

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