Shore & Land Excursions

Which New Voyager of the Seas Port is on Your Must-See List?

Voyager of the Seas is embarking on a new cruise itinerary this summer and many of her ports of call will be new to the Royal Caribbean International brand. In this blog entry, I have asked Patrick Schneider, Director, Shore Excursions, to update you on some of the highlights of the tour program that will be offered for guests cruising on Voyager of the Seas this summer. Patrick is one of the leaders in Craig Milan’s Land Operations group.

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My primary responsibility as Director, Shore Excursions, is to oversee a team of Account Managers who identify and develop the tour programs offered worldwide on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. We have added several new ports to our cruise itineraries this summer, several of which are included on Voyager of the Seas’ sailings. I recently returned from a site inspection of many of these ports and wanted to provide an update on the experiences awaiting our guests this summer.

We conduct site inspections for several reasons and one of those is to visit new ports we’ll be calling to frequently in the coming months. The goal of a site inspection may vary but it’s often focused on reviewing the operation with the local tour operators who will be conducting tours for our guests. We visit the venues, port facilities, downtown areas, etc. that our guests will be visiting. We work with experienced and reputable tour operators and through collaboration with these professionals, it’s quite common to develop several additional ideas for tour products we believe our guests will find interesting.

During the recent site inspection, we visited five of the ports Voyager of the Seas will be calling on in 2011.

Koper, Slovenia is this modern-day country’s only commercial outlet to the Adriatic Sea. I’m excited about this port in particular, as it is relatively unknown to most of our guests, and it has so much to offer. The local population is thrilled to welcome our guests, and the town of Koper is such a wonderful experience right next to the ship. However, the port is just a gateway to so many other interesting and unique venues. It is quite a fascinating country, offering a new experience in Southern European cruise destinations. There are several interesting things for guests to visit, many of which are outside the town of Koper, including the town of Bled and Lake Bled, which have existed for over a thousand years. Or guests can visit the picturesque Karst region of Slovenia which is a short distance from the Slovenian/Italian border and is home to the Lipica Stud Farm, founded in 1580 and for over four centuries, has nurtured the tradition of breeding and selecting thoroughbred Lipizzaner horses. Or guests can explore the Postojna Cave which has well-kept paths making it a horizontal cave, and is quite impressive. There is also a unique tour available so guests can explore Slovenian heritage on display through various festivals in small towns. The tour will visit various festivals based on the local schedule. Examples of the festivals to be visited during the 2011 season are the Cherries Festival, Festival of Prosciutto & Wine, Festival of Plums, Fisherman’s Festival, Salt Festival, and Medieval Festival.

Located on the Adriatic coast in northeast Italy, Ravenna was briefly the capital of the Roman Empire and later the Italian capital of the Byzantine Empire. During this time, incredible mosaics were constructed throughout the city. Described as a symphony of color in Dante’s Divine Comedy, Ravenna’s well-preserved mosaics are some of the finest remaining in the western world and it is home to 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The history and significance of Ravenna is often overlooked, and the walking tours with the guides really bring it into perspective. It is also a gateway to two major Italian cities, Bologna and Florence (and Voyager remains in Ravenna long enough to for guests to visit to Florence, which is a first for ships in the Adriatic). Bologna, approximately 75 minutes from Ravenna, was once an ancient Etruscan settlement and within its walls the first university of the world was established in the 11th century. In its charming historical center, many ancient palaces and churches stand as a witness to the cultural relevance that Bologna has had over the course of time. I would categorize Bologna as a ‘don’t miss’ Italian city – once you have wandered its streets and understood its history (it has the two towers that are over 10 stories tall and date back almost 1000 years – right in the middle of the city!), you will want to come back to visit it again. Of course, one of my personal favorite attractions from this port would be the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums, with the added bonus of actually going onto the production floor of the Lamborghini factory and watching them assemble these famous cars by hand.

A principal harbor for over two thousand years, Bari, Italy is a charming city on the Adriatic coast. The old town, Barivecchia, is cherished for its medieval characteristics and buildings. For me, it is more about the region than just the town, however. What struck me most about Bari and the surrounding area was its ‘old school’ atmosphere of Italy. You can go to the downtown area and the women are still making pasta outside their houses, visit the unique trulli houses in Alberobello, and then there are olive tree plantations where some of the olive trees are up to 2,000 years old – and still producing olives. Imagine that – the region has been able to sustain these olive plantations through so many different civilizations.

For guests who may have visited Venice, Italy before, there are always new experiences to be had in the city that is composed of 117 islands in the Venetian Lagoon and held together by a series of canals. While Venice is a very well-known city, it is hard to understand it without exploring it thoroughly. It is a maze of pathways, with no vehicles driving around, just lots of people! As you explore, and think of the history of the city, why it developed, how it was developed (fascinating in its own right!), and how much influence it had on Europe’s development, you really start to feel the mystique. I do think there is a lot of value to taking a tour, and then spending time delving deeper into the towns, exploring the various squares and neighborhoods. We offer an after hours visit to the famous St. Mark’s Basilica, appropriately titled St. Mark’s Basilica After Hours. St. Mark’s is one of the most popular and visited sites in the city and is crowded with visitors during the day but it becomes a silent temple of worship as the evening falls and guests can experience this reverential peace. Most visitors catch only a glimpse of Venice which may provide a very superficial picture of the city. There is far more to see in Venice than the traditional sight of St. Mark’s and our Secret Venice Walking Tour will take guests deep into Venice’s intricate maze of hidden pedestrian passageways on a 2.5-hour guided walk, plunging into the bustle of everyday Venetian life.

Dubrovnik, Croatia is most famous for its old city and walls which have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Dubrovnik has recently become a highlight port for many European itineraries, and there is no question it is worth all of the hype. However, the villages near Dubrovnik give our guests a much more comprehensive understanding of the lifestyles of Croatians, as well as a great view of the amazing coastline. Visiting the old city is a must for first-time visitors and we offer multiple tours that include or entirely focus on the walled city, but our local tour operator has also put together some great full day options that enable our guests to see both the city and also experience other parts of the country. For returning visitors, the resort town of Cavtat is a charming example of a seaside town and the views along the Dalmatian coastline are fantastic. One unique way to experience this is on the Konavle 4WD Safari which allows you to explore areas of Dubrovnik, not often visited by tourists, as well as some of the most beautiful parts of the Croatian countryside. Or try the Bike Adventure in Konavle Valley for a scenic ride through the countryside, vineyards and along the Ljuta River.

I’ve only covered some of the highlights in this blog – each of these ports has much more to offer. Visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/ShoreEx for more details on the tours and venues referenced in this blog as well as all the other exciting options available. Guests looking for a new and unique experience will have plenty to talk about after cruising on Voyager of the Seas this summer and experiencing all that these ports have to offer.

BY:Patrick Schneider|23rd May, 2011 No Comments

Become One with the Wilderness and Explore an Alaska Cruisetour

In my role as Senior Vice President, Land Operations, I am privileged to oversee many aspects of our business designed to help you have the best vacation experience possible. This department includes our port operations team who assist you in embarking and debarking our ships, the Shore Excursions team who provide you with many opportunities to experience our ports during your cruise and our cruisetours team which offers you a combination land and sea vacation package designed to take your vacation to another level. The cruisetour products are what I’d like to chat with you about today.

Our cruisetour product is a combination cruise and land vacation package that takes you into the heart of Alaska, Canadian Rockies, Europe, Australia/New Zealand and Dubai, many of them can be taken before or after select cruises. With over 600,000 square miles of pure, unadulterated wilderness, Alaska is by far the most popular of all the destinations our cruisetours visit. In over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, no place that I have traveled is as stunningly beautiful or as captivating as the state of Alaska.

I’ve visited Alaska many times, and each time I discover even more of its splendor. To see the sun rise over snowcapped mountains that have a valley of green trees underneath is just indescribable. The beauty of the state is only matched by its people. They are warm and friendly, open to sharing stories about their life in Alaska to anyone willing to listen. It amazes me how well these residents care for their state. Those who live in Alaska love the land, the animals and its vast resources using only what they need for survival while giving back to the fragile, yet thriving, ecosystem. Since I spend a great deal of time outdoors cycling or swimming and enjoying our environment, I value that mindset.

For those of us that appreciate the outdoors and exploration, an Alaska Cruisetour that includes a visit to Denali National Park, the third largest national park in the U.S., is a must! The park has nearly 5 million acres of land surrounding the majestic Mount Denali (also known as Mount McKinley). We offer tours into the park varying from 3 - 8 hours in length so you can take in all of its sites from the mountains to the animals. In fact, during the 2011 and 2012 Alaska seasons 90% of our cruisetour packages venture into Denali affording you many opportunities to see the magnificent park no matter the length of your cruisetour vacation.

Our cruisetour packages also visit many other cities and towns in Alaska, such as Talkeetna, a small, quaint town best for exploring Alaska from the air with flight-seeing tours, by water with white water rafting, or by staying in town to enjoy the great restaurants and local lore – I prefer the Alaskan King Crab legs at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. Seward, an old fishing village, offers you the opportunity to explore and learn about the local marine life, especially at the Alaska SeaLife Center; Alyeska where you can check into the exquisitely appointed Hotel Alyeska and dine atop Mt. Alyeska amidst the stunning scenery surrounding you at the Seven Glaciers Restaurant. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time as this extraordinary dining experience is not to be missed. Of course we also visit Anchorage for those of us that desire a touch of city with our Alaskan wilderness.

Most people think the ideal time to visit Alaska would be early in the season, but there’s a little known secret I’ll share with you. The late season, which runs mid-August until mid-September, is also an ideal time to visit Alaska. During this time you are more likely to see animals, there will be fewer crowds, and there’s a very good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Our Alaska Cruisetours are a great value for all budgets, with our included features such as a Tour Director that acts as your personal concierge, smaller more intimate groups of guests traveling together, your hotel accommodations, all land transportation, and more! Whether you are ready to travel to Alaska this summer or looking to plan your 2012 Alaska vacation, we hope you will book an Alaska Cruisetour and explore this beautiful state by sea and land. Perhaps I’ll see you there on my next visit.

BY:Craig Milan|16th May, 2011 No Comments

Adam Enjoys a Whirlwind Day Opening Our New Company Office in Mexico City

There are many enjoyable days in this job. Of course, some are better than others. One of the better ones transpired recently in Mexico City. We launched our company office in Mexico to do the sales and marketing for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. There is a different company office already existing in Mexico City for our sister brand, Pullmantur Cruises.

True to my crazy lifestyle, I flew into Mexico City in the morning and out first thing the next morning, my third major round trip from Miami in a nine day period. The Mexico “winter” weather was absolutely stunning, affording incredible views of this 24+ million-person city ringed by mountains. I attended various meetings with my colleagues, media and government tourism personnel during the day. Just as in our other 9 foreign offices, there is a management team of enthusiastic, talented professionals who love to promote our brands and are passionate about the company.

The feature launch event took place at a stunning location - the covered courtyard of the Colegio de las Vizcainas, an 18th century Baroque building that started as a school for Basque girls. There were about 300 guests comprised of travel agents, media, government officials, bankers, Crown & Anchor Society members, a member of our Board of Directors and various others. The entertainment was a Beatles tribute band - that seems to work everywhere.

Thanks and good luck to Gabriela Gonzales Saul, our Country Director for Mexico, and her team. Royal Caribbean International is already the leading brand in Mexico and we look forward to a bright future there. Thanks also to American Express, which played a key role in developing our brands as our International Representative in Mexico for over 20 years. They remain a major producer for us and a valued partner.

BY:Adam|17th March, 2011 No Comments

Falling for Falmouth: An Expert’s Guide to Discovering the Beauty & Adventure of our Newest Port!

As we have been reporting, our cruise ships will start calling on a new destination in February 2011 - Falmouth, Jamaica. Voyager of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to visit Falmouth on February 17th and Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will begin calling in March 2011. We are excited to be part of the development of this new port of call. In this blog entry, I have asked Patrick Schneider, Director, Shore Excursions, to update you on some of the highlights of the tour program that will be offered for guests calling on Falmouth. Patrick is one of the leaders in Craig Milan’s Land Operations group.

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Guest Blog Post by Patrick Schneider, Director, Shore Excursions

My primary responsibility as Director, Shore Excursions, is to oversee a team of Account Managers who identify and develop the tour programs offered worldwide on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. As a former Shore Excursion Manager onboard Celebrity, I am passionate about providing our guests the opportunity to experience amazing cultures around the world; to try new things they never thought they would; and to simply escape from their day to day routine. My team and I travel to many of these destinations for site inspections (yeah, it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it!) and we’ve been visiting Falmouth regularly as the work progresses.

Falmouth once played a significant economic role as a trade and shipping center during the English colonial period. From the wharfs of Falmouth, sugar, rum and coffee were sent to England. Ships carrying African slaves and all kinds of fine goods arrived in Falmouth, dropping anchor in the bustling port town in order to serve the necessities of 18th Century colonial life (such as fine furniture, French wines and Chinese Porcelain).

This time period produced much of Falmouth’s historic district including the Court House, the Water Square and other public and private buildings, which makes this town one of the most important historically in Jamaica.

In the early 1830’s, shipping activity moved to deep-water ports and slaves were freed in Jamaica. Both events caused Falmouth to lose its main economic activity and over the years the town lost its luster and most building went into a state of disrepair.

Very little development has occurred in the town over the last 100+ years. However, about eight years ago, Falmouth Heritage Renewal, a Jamaican non-profit organization, was charged with the restoration of Falmouth’s main buildings. Since then, other Jamaican institutions along with the University of Virginia’s School of Field Architecture have also joined forces to help document and restore Falmouth’s historical buildings. Finally, the Historic Falmouth Cruise Port, a joint venture of the Port Authority of Jamaica and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is bringing international attention to this century long forgotten and ignored town. The Historic Falmouth Cruise Port is serving as a catalyst for the town’s rehabilitation and beautification as well as raising awareness of the importance of documenting and preserving Falmouth’s history for future generations.

In addition, and just as important to our guests, the new port will serve as a gateway to three well-known tourist destinations within Jamaica: - Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril. Guests will have many options for activities in Falmouth and in its surrounding destinations.

In February, we will have more than half of the site’s exterior complete and by mid-March almost all of the building exteriors are expected to be finished. Construction is scheduled to conclude by the first of June. Since the Falmouth Port facilities will still be under construction for initial ship calls in February we encourage guests to participate in an organized tour as the best way to experience Jamaica from this new port-of-call.

Long-time guest favorites, previously offered from Ocho Rios and/or Montego Bay, will continue to be available. These include visiting or climbing Dunn’s River Falls, swimming with dolphins, plantation/great house tours, river rafting, canopy tours, horseback riding, as well as several different beach/resort breaks. In total Falmouth, Jamaica actually has more tours available than any other port in the Caribbean!

There will also be get-away options in the parish of Trelawny where Falmouth is located, including a walking tour and a horse and buggy tour of the historic port of Falmouth. This will provide guests the opportunity to learn more about the history and culture of this unique part of Jamaica. One can also take a helicopter tour of either the local Falmouth area or over to Dunn’s River Falls for great scenery and photo opps. Guests will also have the opportunity to visit “Cockpit Country,” Jamaica’s largest remaining contiguous rainforest, via a 4×4 safari tour or a cave exploration adventure.

Jamaica is famous for its beautiful mansions and Good Hope Great House is a local example of these former working plantations. Good Hope Great House was built in the 1700’s and restored in its entirety, with paintings, antiques and the lush surroundings of a 2,000-acre working enterprise. Guests visiting the property can walk on the lands once owned by the largest planter in Jamaica, John Tharpe, and travel to the ruins where the water wheel and kiln still stand today. There will be several tour options available from Good Hope Great Estate including a horse and carriage ride, a tour of the great house and grounds, and will either include a fine dining experience of Caribbean cuisine, a traditional high tea experience or a taste of the wondrous spices of the Caribbean.

Our team handles the tour programs for over 400 ports-of-call and we offer over 4,500 tours worldwide. Every visit to these ports, whether for the first time or as a frequent visitor, offers an opportunity for new experiences. Falmouth will not disappoint.

BY:Patrick Schneider|3rd February, 2011 30 Comments

The Inaugural Royal 5K Race is Off and Running

The last five days have been busy in the running department. On Sunday the 12th, I raced at the Florida Senior Games in Fort Myers. I consider myself to be a baby Senior (age 50 - 54) although that is not an official designation. All of the athletes at that level deserve a lot of credit for competing. As for me, after considerable waffling about whether to run the 800 meters and the 1500 meters, I went for both of them. The tougher competition was in the 800 meter race, where I came in 3rd with a disappointing time of 2:35. I was right with the two runners ahead of me at 550 meters and didn’t keep up with them down the heavy wind in our faces homestretch. I have to give them both credit. The first place finisher came back 90 minutes later and ran the 400 meters in 0:56. Wow. The second place finisher has beaten me three times now and is my benchmark for improvement.

Two hours later I won the 1500 meters in 5:21. Again, not a good time but a much better second race than when I did the same combo in early November. Plus a serious competitor with fresh legs finished 7 seconds behind me after leading early in the race. So, in summary, nice to win a gold medal, need to get faster, have a lot of work to do to get ready for the national meets next year. Thanks to my high school track teammate, Bob Sweeney. for acting as my manager/coach at all of my Florida track meets.

Thursday the 16th I ran the first edition of the Royal 5K in St. Maarten before attending the plaques and keys ceremony with the officers of Allure of the Seas and the government officials of St. Maarten. Under cloudy skies the race went off without a hitch and I finished fourth out of just over 100 runners. The actual time is irrelevant because the course was altered at the last moment, but my run equated to about a 19:30 true 5K. The Royal 5K was the highlight of a week of running festivities on Allure of the Seas. During the race I ran with recent NCAA 1600-meter champion, Sean Jefferson, (whose pulse probably never got above 40) and after the race I had long conversations with Olympic marathon champion, Frank Shorter, and running guru Bart Yasso. If you are a runner you know this is very cool stuff. This experiment was a joint effort of Royal Caribbean, ESPN, Reebok and Wildside Events. We need to debrief and think through how to sustain a program of this nature. The people who participated seemed to enjoy it immensely.

Other personal news items - in my 40+ years as a Philadelphia sports fan I don’t think there has ever been anything quite like the Phillies signing Cliff Lee. Of course there have been other high profile free agent signings such as the Eagles‘ infamous signing of TO in 2004. But the combination of how good Lee is, how much he was liked when he pitched for the Phillies in 2008, that he is joining three other major pitching stars and (last but not least) that he signed with the Phillies instead of with the Yankees, put this into orbit. If you don’t believe me, just read the chat boards. I haven’t seen a celebration like this since before a final exam at Princeton when the teacher announced that the two essays we needed to write (out of the original five possibilities) were the ones for which everyone in the class had prepared… except me.

Finally, Florida Governor-elect Rick Scott’s child welfare transition team subcommittee of which I am chairperson is nearly finished with its whirlwind assignment; a total of 33 days, including Thanksgiving, from the formation of the team until the final report. Although I have been involved in Florida’s system of care for about 8 years now, I never think I know what I should know to discharge such responsibilities. But I have learned a few things and I do believe there is value in bringing skills from the corporate environment to challenges that beset well meaning people in the nonprofit sector who are long on passion but sometimes short on the right kinds of experience. I very much appreciate the good relationship I have with George Sheldon, the Secretary of Florida’s Department of Children and Families. And it is fulfilling to observe the obvious high esteem in which Our Kids of Miami-Dade and Monroe is held throughout the state for the progress we have made to improve child welfare in our local community.

BY:Adam|23rd December, 2010 21 Comments

New Programs Worth Noting

I have a few items from our management progress report to pass along. They may not be as big of a deal as the impending arrival of Allure of the Seas but they are all a part of the continuous improvement of the Royal Caribbean International experience. In no particular order:

Now that the ability to book your next cruise while still onboard is an exclusive benefit for Crown & Anchor Society members, we want to make joining the Society as easy as possible. So we are rolling out complimentary Internet access for the purpose of allowing our guests to enroll in the Society via iCafe while they are onboard. Once they have joined, they are eligible to book onboard and take advantage of the onboard booking discount. This opportunity is available to first time cruisers as well as our repeat guests.

For our guests on European sailings who wish to remain onboard longer on departure day, you may sign up in advance of the cruise for our Late Departure Program. Sign up online under Shore and Land Excursions for the port of call where the cruise terminates.

In another variant of “I don’t want the vacation to end yet,” for guests on Oasis of the Seas who have time before their flight leaves, we are testing an Extended Stay program that allows the Oasis guests to store their luggage and enjoy a day in Hollywood, FL in and around the boardwalk. This opportunity encompasses shopping, dining, going to the beach, riding the trolley and/or relaxing at our hospitality center. This opportunity is also available as a shore excursion under the port of call, Ft. Lauderdale, for all guests sailing onboard Oasis of the Seas.

Returning to life onboard, we now accept bookings at our specialty restaurants for parties of 10 or fewer guests. Previously we only accepted bookings for parties of 6 or fewer. Of course this is based on availability at the time of booking.

If you should take us up on any of these new features, feel free to let us know what you think.

BY:Adam|16th August, 2010 27 Comments

More Thoughts to Share From My Recent Trip to Asia

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog entry from yesterday along with some of the video footage I captured during my recent trip to Asia. Although the primary purpose of my travel was business-related, I made it my priority to document the highlights of my trip so I could share the beauty and exciting sights with my readers. I hope that my travels to Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing and Japan have inspired you. Here are two more video clips from my stay in Shanghai, China.

For those of you who have sailed with us in Asia, which city offered you the most unique cultural experience?

BY:Adam|27th July, 2010 14 Comments

Updates From My Trip to Asia (with Videos)

My annual summer trip to Asia transpired last week. I can always count on two things to be true. First, it is logistically daunting, in this case nine flights and over 48 hours in the air and no stays beyond two nights in one place. Second, it is exciting and rewarding to work with our people in the region to spur the development of our brand and the cruise industry overall.

First I was in Singapore, our Asia/Pacific Regional headquarters. Jennifer Yap and her team have done a very nice job of establishing our presence and the team is looking forward to the return of Legend of the Seas for the winter season. Because Singapore (thus far) allows a large local competitor to require travel agents to sign contracts restricting them from promoting other cruise lines, we have consumers coming into our office to book their cruises directly with us. This is unique amongst our global offices and it was interesting to observe the dynamic between the consumers and our people.

When I first visited Singapore in 1990, it was a strikingly modern city with many gleaming office towers. With the recent opening of their two so-called integrated resorts or IRs, Singapore has graduated to a whole new level of 21st century sophistication. I stayed in the Marina Bay Sands, one of the two IRs, and toured the other IR which is on the island of Sentosa. They are very different from one another, with Marina Bay being more for “MICE” guests – that is, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions – and Sentosa being more for families. Both IRs have substantial casinos and an array of top notch restaurants and other attractions including a new Universal Studios theme park at Sentosa. The big attraction at Marina Bay is the park that sits on top of the three 57 story towers. Incredible.

Then I shifted to China, traveling first to Shanghai, then to Beijing. In each case I spent time with government officials who are interested in developing the “cruise economy” as they call it; with port officials because the Chinese are seriously focused on infrastructure development; and of course with travel agents because somebody has to find customers to put on Legend of the Seas or there is no cruise economy. It was clear to me that Dr. Zinan Liu and his team have gained significant experience in their roles since I was in China a year ago. This is the brave new world and we have a lot of work to do to capture the huge potential of China as a cruise market.

One night in Shanghai I visited the World Expo with Dr. Liu and his leadership team. This is the World Expo of World Expos. It is to Shanghai what the Olympics were to Beijing. They are projecting 70 million visitors from May to October. Most of the visitors are Chinese but there are many international tourists as well. It is simply enormous. With the benefit of VIP passes we were able to see both the China pavilion and the Japan pavilion in one evening including dinner. Without VIP passes one would have to expect multi-hour lines for any of the principal pavilions. There are multi-stop bus routes inside the complex. It is really something to see the whole world come to Shanghai.

Another night in Beijing, I had a very different experience with an evening function we had for travel agents. What made it notable was that Dr. Liu had arranged for a table tennis table so the Chinese travel agents could torment me. I actually would have been ok if I had brought my own paddle. While everyone knows the Chinese hold the paddle differently, I had no idea that a Chinese paddle has a short, stubby handle to facilitate that grip. To make matters worse, the paddle had dimples on one side and a flat surface on the other side. I did not want to hit with the dimples, so I had to guess where my opponent would hit the ball so I could get the flat surface on that side. Oh brother. I won three of five matches under those conditions. Next year I will bring my paddle.

Finally, I visited my brother who lives in Japan with his wife, daughter and newborn son. My adorable niece mostly speaks Japanese but she knows a good number of English words. From her I learned that animals in Japan make very different sounds than animals in the US. I’m not sure why that should be, but I can now report that cows and dogs do not say moo and woof in Japan.

I got back to Miami exactly in time to see Spain defeat the Netherlands in the World Cup final. Congratulations to Spain. Our colleagues at Pullmantur in Madrid and in Royal Caribbean’s Barcelona office should be open for business again in a few weeks. Just kidding.

BY:Adam|26th July, 2010 11 Comments

We Value Your Feedback and Want to Share Guest Insights on Many of Our Company’s New Ventures

We enjoy hearing from you. The royal “we” in this context means the marketing and operations teams as well as myself. While our antenna may often predict what the response will be to a particular entry, we are always curious to see what happens and we encourage you to post your reactions to and questions about what I have written. Here are a few of the recent topics that engendered a notable response:

Most of the reaction to our new relationship with Dreamworks Animation (DWA) has been very positive. Shrek and the other characters appeal to people of all ages maybe even more than we had understood. On the other hand, some readers expressed concern that the DWA presence onboard Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas will create too much of kid-centric, theme park style environment. Of course, guests who enjoy parades and characters and 3D movies will enjoy the added value of the DWA cast and should avail themselves of the special opportunity that will exist on the four ships. For guests who are not interested in this additional offering, it will be just as possible as before on these same four ships to have a fantastic Royal Caribbean experience taking advantage of all of the entertainment, programming, culinary and destination experiences that are already so appealing. It is the essence of the variety we offer on these state of the art ships that guests in various locations onboard can all be having a great time in completely unrelated ways.

Many readers are intrigued by our search for a chef and concept for the 150 Central Park restaurant onboard Allure of the Seas. We are conducting this project in conjunction with the Culinary Institute of America. June 27 was the deadline for entries for the chef selection process, and the voting began July 6th. It is always your choice to pick something from the menu. But not every day do you get to help us decide what the menu will be and who will be cooking the food. So please have a seat at the table by casting your vote here. You can vote once a day through Sunday, July 18th.

There was a favorable response to Craig Milan’s guest entry on our new voluntourism excursion opportunities. Clearly many and probably most guests want to spend their vacation time pursuing their personal and family enjoyment, including taking Explorations! Shore excursions that reveal new destinations and provide new experiences. And that’s fine by us. But the readers’ response to the voluntourism options suggests there is a robust interest in doing good while having fun. We will have to see how many guests actually sign up for these new opportunities to help out during the cruise. Feel free to write in and express your opinion on this topic.

BY:Adam|9th July, 2010 17 Comments

Guest Post - Craig Milan Introduces Royal Caribbean’s New Voluntourism Excursions

Voluntourism is a new and growing segment of travel and at Royal Caribbean International it manifests itself in several ways highlighting our commitment to the local communities we visit. We are just starting a program of voluntourism opportunities for our guests on Oasis of the Seas and if successful, will be expanded to other areas of need within the regions of our global deployment.

Guests of Oasis of the Seas have the opportunity to contribute to the local community of Cozumel, Mexico . We have partnered with select tour operators and the Mexican Chapter of the Red Cross to offer guests the chance to contribute their time with several projects. The local chapter in Cozumel provides vital services for the island’s residents and visitors. The Red Cross services the community with emergency response, medical services, lifeguard, first aid and other training, health education, and disaster preparation and relief. As part of a beautification project, guests will assist with the planting of trees and shrubs at the local chapter’s new facility. The 4-hour Voluntourism: The Mexican Red Cross Landscaping Project is available for sale online as well as onboard through this summer. The $50 price of the tour covers the materials needed for the landscaping and transportation to the facility with the remaining proceeds donated to the Cozumel chapter of the Mexican Red Cross.

In the near future, Oasis of the Seas guests also will have the opportunity to contribute to the communities of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (from the port of St. Thomas, USVI) and in Labadee, Haiti .

In addition to the active participation of our guests in various programs, we also support a number of worthwhile charities in destinations we serve. Here are a few examples. In Europe guests sailing on Brilliance of the Seas who purchase a shuttle bus pass in Venice also will receive a Chorus Pass ticket, a $13 per person value, which provides entrance to 16 of the most important churches in Venice. The Chorus Association, a non-profit, will reinvest the funds from Royal Caribbean’s purchase of the Chorus Pass tickets in the restoration and maintenance of the priceless churches and the cultural heritage represented in the more than 1,000 pieces of art. The aim of the Chorus Association is to contribute to the safeguarding, conservation, and restoration of the architectural and artistic heritage of churches in the city of Venice.

Guests sailing on Splendour of the Seas , Navigator of the Seas , Brilliance of the Seas and Vision of the Seas who visit Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey and participate in select full day tours will have a tree planted near the House of Mary in their honor and will receive a certificate to this effect. This project is focused on the re-forestation of this critical historical site.

In Juneau, Alaska , guests sailing on Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas can purchase the Whales & Glaciers: Citizen Science Adventure tour. Guests will play a significant role in a monitored citizen science program while viewing the likes of whales, seals, porpoises, sea lions and sea birds in their natural habitat. This tour provides guests with hands-on experience collecting water samples, trawling for plankton, and recording animal behaviors. All observational data-logging will improve scientists’ understanding of the local food chain and other environmental variables that effect marine populations.

BY:Adam|11th June, 2010 19 Comments
 

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