By Michael ColemanÂ
Three of the worlds largest cruise ships will be among a host of Royal Caribbean vessels set to explore Caribbean waters in 2009 and 2010.
Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas are technological marvels each outfitted with amenities that have revolutionized the industry and each is coming to a Florida cruise terminal near you. Â
Freedom debuts at Port Canaveral in May 2009, sailing alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. From Miami, Liberty will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries in the summer 2009 season, but changes to two alternating Western Caribbean itineraries in the winter. Independence, meanwhile, will sail six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale).
Each ship features FlowRider surf simulators, onboard water parks, boxing rings and cantilevered whirlpools plus eight restaurants and some 15 bars/lounges.
Overall, look for Royal Caribbean to tap the regions beautiful beaches and rich cultures with some 31 distinct itineraries on 264 sailings, ranging from six-to 14-nights aboard nine vessels. Other ships will depart from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey; Galveston, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Colon, Panama.
San Juan-based Adventure of the Seas will be offering two new alternating seven-night Southern Caribbean itineraries with Sunday departures, while Serenade of the Seas will join Adventure in the winter and offer a Saturday departure. New ports of call at Grenada, Dominica and St. Croix for both ships, and additionally Tortola and St. Kitts for Serenade, create two back-to-back voyages with no repeat port calls. The distinct alternating itineraries of either ship will give passengers the opportunity to combine two sailings into an extended 14-night Southern Caribbean odyssey.
Explorer of the Seas will continue its third consecutive year-round deployment at Cape Liberty sailing Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries, ranging from eight to 12 nights. A special 14-night holiday cruise departs December 20, 2009.
Voyager of the Seas will return to Galveston in December 2009 to offer two alternating Western Caribbean itineraries – one new – featuring calls at Roatán, Honduras, and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Jewel of the Seas will sail 10-and 11-night Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises from Miami. On a special holiday sailing, Jewel will make a maiden call on Christmas Eve at the new Jamaican cruise port of Falmouth.
Enchantment of the Seas will return to Colon, Panama to offer seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises to Colombia and the ABC Islands.Â
Regardless of ship choice, or itinerary, Royal Caribbean passengers enjoy complimentary 24-hour room service, award-winning Broadway-style musical revues, top-rated Adventure Ocean kids programming with teen-only spaces fleet wide.Â
On many Western Caribbean itineraries, passengers enjoy a call at Labadee, Royal Caribbeans private beach destination along the northwestern coast of Haiti. Look for a wide variety of watersports and excursions, a craft market, Labadee Lucs Splash Bash pirate water park and Dragons Breath Flight Line, the worlds longest zip line over water at 2,600 feet.