Royal Caribbean - Short Cruises on Smaller Ships Offer Savings

While Royal Caribbean offers some of the biggest cruise ships at sea, don't discount the line's smaller ships, like Empress of the Seas, that sail quick getaway voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Cuba.




Ports in the Caribbean are opening for business again, and Royal Caribbean has a great lineup of cruises there this winter, from short weekend getaways to the Bahamas to in-depth explorations of the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.

Although you might know Royal Caribbean best for its massive Oasis-class ships that can carry roughly six thousand passengers apiece (Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas), the line’s smaller, classy, mid-1990’s ships are among my favorites. They carry fewer people than their newer (and larger) counterparts, but still offer Royal Caribbean’s superfun onboard atmosphere and activities.

The 1998-built Vision of the Seas, for example, is doing some great four-day runs to Cozumel and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the New Year. Sailing out of Galveston, Texas, these value-priced cruises are a terrific getaway opportunity that isn’t going to break the bank, but one that will provide plenty of fun both onboard and ashore.

Sister-ship Rhapsody of the Seas makes her winter home in Tampa, where she cruises to Key West before sailing a Western Caribbean route that will take her to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; plus an additional stop in Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

Also on the short-cruise list is the impressive little Empress of the Seas, which sails a mix of quick break cruises to the Bahamas and Cuba. Royal Caribbean brought Empress of the Seas back into its fleet after a multi-year absence expressly for Cuban itineraries, and she’s remarkably well-suited to these voyages to Havana.

Information Provided by Aaron Saunders
Vancouver Sun

No comments: