Royal Caribbean Cruise Line orders Fourth OASIS CLASS Mega-Ship

Royal Caribbean orders fourth Oasis-class megaship - Business - MiamiHerald.com


Are you ready for a fourth Oasis Class Ship folks?

Our Oasis of the Seas experience was wonderful. It was a Graduation Cruise and the ship was picked by the High School Graduate! Being partial to smaller ships, I was not as intrigued as my kids were. I will say that every cruise is a wonderful cruise and Oasis of the Seas did not disappoint! This was a first for My Time Dining and although it seemed disorganized the first evening, every evening thereafter was a delight, as was the food. We enjoyed the specialty restaurants even more. The shows were awesome and I am so glad we prebooked and saw them. About pre booking your shows, this is also not my "style", but missing them would have been a travesty! :) So folks, pre book your shows when you need to. Our ocean view balcony cabin was mid ship, our kids loved their Central Park view balcony. There is something for everyone, including a Cupcake Cupboard! A little ship where when in cupcake-need it is worth a quick stop and $2.50. You can also take a cupcake decorating class! Dont miss the zip line and flow rider and if you want to leave the rash guard behind but take a different kind of ride, have a cocktail on Rising Tide- a levitating bar! Oh, I can go on and on, but I think you should find out for yourself how great a Royal Caribbean Cruise is for yourself! Cheers, Stacey, CruiseDivaNJ

You too can cruise 

Royal Caribbean International from Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ

on Explorer of the Seas! 

And, Celebrity Cruise Lines on Summit!

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Now you see her, now you don't

After much northeast anticipation for a new Royal Caribbean "Home Ship" it was announced that Quantum of the Seas was to be home ported at Cape Liberty Cruise port in Bayonne, NJ.

A year later...........Quantum of the Seas will move to China
after the Inaugural season out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ

Starting November 2015, Quantum of the Seas will vary itineraries going to the Bahamas, *Including Florida for 7 and 8 night itineraries as well as longer Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries including San Juan, St. Maarten, Martinique, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Labadee- Royal Caribbeans Private Island.

stacey@windsorcrowntravel.com

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Cruise Like a Norwegian from NYC!!

Royal Caribbean previews Quantum of the Seas' Mamma Mia! show

Royal Caribbean is first 'autism-friendly' cruise line

This item was written by Larry Bleiberg, former travel editor of The Dallas Morning News and Coastal Living magazine. Bleiberg is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2014/02/20/autistic-child-autism-friendly-cruise/5640629/

For an autistic child, a cruise can be a minefield.

Everything about the experience, from waiting to board to crowded spaces to loud noises, can be frightening.

Royal Caribbean moved to address those issues today when it became the first line to be certified as "autism-friendly," USA TODAY learned in an exclusive story.

The new designation, awarded by the travel organization Autism on the Seas, indicates the line will take specific measures to help its guests with autistic family members enjoy their cruise.

The award marks "a turning point in the travel and cruise industry," says Mike Sobbell, founder and president of Autism on the Seas. "This shows a cruise line is actually committed to and will provide services and an expectation will be there. Our working relationship with Royal Caribbean has been top of the line, bar none."

RELATED: Flying with autism: Airport program helps affected children

Other cruise companies have also worked with Autism on the Seas, which provides staff experienced and educated in caring for special needs individuals. The company participates in about 30 sailings per year, the bulk on Royal Caribbean, along with some on Princess, Disney, Celebrity and Carnival ships. Group cruises typically have about a dozen families with an autistic child, and the organization provides a staff member for every three people with autism.

For example, Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas will offer an Autism on the Seas "Cruise with Staff" trip leaving New Orleans on March 8. For other cruises, seeAutismOnTheSeas.com.

Yet the entire Royal Caribbean line now has Bronze Level certification, which means it will provide sensory-related toys, autism-friendly modification to youth activities (where appropriate), autism-friendly movies, priority boarding and dietary offerings (including gluten-free and dairy-free).

Ron Pettit, Royal Caribbean's manager of ADA & Access Compliance, says the cruise line will work with individual guests to make sure each trip is successful. "Each and every person with autism is a little different. It's not a cookie cutter accommodation process."

One tool is a personalized story book folder called a social story that will help explain to autistic children what to expect on a cruise. It covers everything from finding the stateroom to the muster drill, which can be crowded and chaotic. This can help children adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings of a cruise.

Another addition will be autism-friendly movies, which will be offered on any trip with at least five autistic passengers. These films, based on accommodations offered by some land-based theaters, will feature family-friendly films. The lights will not be completely turned off, the sound will be lower and it will be acceptable for guests to talk or walk around during the films..

The cruise line beta-tested the films last August on Oasis of the Seas and it was well accepted, Pettit say

The line plans to reach silver level certification for each of its ships by the end of the year, which will ensure that all youth staff have received basic awareness training in autism and other developmental disabilities. There are also higher-standard gold and platinum levels.

The certification standards examine several areas, including staff training, youth programs, pre-vacation planning and services, dining and dietary, disability accommodations, guest satisfaction and feedback, and willingness to work with Autism at Sea staff.

Founded in 2006, Autism on the Seas organizes and staffs cruise and land resort vacations for families and adult guests with special needs, including autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other cognitive and intellectual developmental impairments.

The group says these trips not only offer parents and caregivers a sense of normalcy through accommodated group activities, but such trips help families recharge and reconnect with other family members that often take a backseat to a child with special needs.