Royal Caribbean International (RCL) announced at a SeaTrade convention that it will deploy 8 ships to the European market next year.  This comes as pricing in the Caribbean market is expected to soften greatly with the sluggish global economy.  One Freedom class, two Voyager class, two Radiance class, and three vision class ships will sail a reported 70 distinct itineraries, visiting 87 ports in 32 countries.  By name, the Independence of the Seas (Freedom class,) Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas (Voyager class,) Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas (Radiance Class,) Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas (Vision class.)

Oasis of the Seas will not visit the UK during her delivery cruise to Port Everglades.  Normally, if possible, ships visit various European ports, often New York City, and then proceed to their initial ports of operation.  During these early visits, promotional cruises are offered to select individuals.  I had the opportunity to cruise on Liberty of the Seas this past year on such a cruise.  The reason for the unusual change in early operation is the ship itself.  With the quantity of grass and trees to be installed, and the ship being finished in the winter months, Royal Caribbean will be completing that project once she makes it across the ocean.

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Day  8 June 13
St. Petersburg, Russia  The 2 day Tour arranged by
http://www.alla-tour.com/
Meet at the ship as soon as the ship is cleared by
the Russian authorities.
Travel to and tour St Nicholas Church, Farmers
market and visit subway station/s
8:30 -11:00 am - Travel to Tsars Village. Excursion
in Catherine’s palace (early entrance)
11:00 -12:00 pm - Drive to Peterhof. Lunch (to be
purchased or brought from ship) on the way.
12:15 - 2:00 pm - Tour of the Fountain Park
2:00 - 2:30 pm - Hydrofoil ride to the city
3:00 - 4:00 pm - Travel to and excursion in St Peter
and Paul
4:30 - 5:30 pm - Boat ride along rivers and canals
of the city
5:30 - 6:45 pm - Shopping
SHOW
St Petersburg Folkloric Show
Day  9 June 14
St Petersburg, Russia
8:30 am - Meet at the ship
9:30 - 12:00 am - Excursion in the Hermitage museum
(early entrance)
12:30 - 1:15 pm - Lunch
1:30 - 4:00 pm - City sightseeing tour including
inside visits to Excursion in St. Isaac Cathedral and colonnade and
Church on the Blood
4:00 - 4:30 pm - Shopping if time permits
5:00 pm - Onboard
Tour for Russia $265 each
SHOW
Piano Showman Chris Hamilton
Day 10 June 15 (my Birthday)
Tallinn, Estonia   Tour arranged by
http://www.hot.ee/tours/ind_eng.html
8:30 - 9:00 am - ship to clear customs and we meet
on pier.
9:00 - 11:00 am - transfer to van for city tour
ending in lower town
11:00 - 12:30 pm - walk about lower town
12:30 - 2:00 pm - lunch and free time
2:00 - 3.00 pm - transfer to the Upper Town (the
Toompea Hill), walk in the Upper Town
3:00 - 3:15 pm - transfer by van back to
ship.
The tour is 30 euros per person
Show
The Balancing Artistry of Ilia Valeric
Comedy of Kelly Monteith
Day 11 June 16
Crusing
SHOW
West End to Broadway by the RC Singers and
Dancers
Day 12 June 17
Crusing

SHOW
The Zany Comedy of Neal Austin
Day 13 June 18
arrive Harwich, England
3573 N/Miles
As for the ship, staff and check-in it was one of
the best cruses I have been on. The big surprise to me was that
Jewel of the Seas  not only meet my expectations,  itexceeded them.
So many elements of the trip were truly exceptional that I found
myself comparing the cruise to those taken  and charge
significantly higher tariffs. The ship was beautiful. I have never
been a fan of  art collections, and  there were some pieces that
were so gorgeous .
And as said before Service was consistently
top-notch in all areas. 

The Tides Dining Room is a gorgeously decorated,
two-level main restaurant. It is open daily for open-seating
breakfast, on sea days for open-seating lunch, and each night for
two seatings with assigned tables  and we were on the lower
section and next to the Captains table. Behind the Windjammer,
toward the aft of the ship, is a covered, outdoor area  and beyond
that is a much nicer outdoor seating area.

The Windjammer offered casual dinners, generally
featuring menu items also being served in the dining room. Don’t
miss the fabulous Seaview Cafe. It’s tucked up toward the back and
top of the ship and easy to miss but it’s a great spot for fish and
chips, burgers. The Solarium Cafe offered pizza.

The jewels airy and light nine deck high atrium,
called a Centrum  is wow! It was definitely a passenger magnet;
areas around the Centrum, whether on its ground-floor level or five
decks above, were constantly in use (during the day there were
cooking demos and art auctions, at night dancing to a live trio),
with passengers hanging over banisters to watch the scene down
below.
Other features include a very  selection of shops
selling logo wear, a lot of cheap jewelry and duty-free perfumes.
The two-deck Coral Theater — the main show venue.

The real action, though, takes place in the ship’s
many bars. In fact there are so many that even on a six-night
cruise we didn’t manage to hit them all. On top of the ship is the
Vortex Disco, the funky bar revolves. It’s primarily the ship’s
spot for late night revelry, too, for a pre-dinner cocktail at
sunset. Also up top is the Hollywood Odyssey. One of our favorite
spaces, it is romantic and cozy — and a great spot for lovers of
torch songs. One gripe: Though we know that cigar smokers have
rights, but the jazz was good,  Champagne Bar and the Lobby Bar.
Standing room-only crowds were drawn by the sound.

Off the main path a bit was Royal Caribbean’s
trademark Schooner Bar — it’s in the space between Chops Grille
and Portofinos. And the Safari Club was the secondary
showroom.

One bar we never quite cottoned to was the Pit Stop
bar; ostensibly the ship’s sports bar, its location was right off
the casino and it was hard to hear any of the coverage on the 20+
televisions because of the slot machines.

There’s a small library with a desultory collection
of books. The ship also has a small cinema. Standard, in all
cabins, are  two twin  beds that converts to a queen,  a
mini-fridge  with a few drinks ,television with an assortment of
channels , a desk/vanity area and a safe. Ours was 4018.

Evenings were very good shows or acts at the Coral
Theater — shows specializing in Broadway-style  singing and
dancing .
Adventure Ocean, Jewel’s family program, is housed
in a sprawling facility that extends outside to a pool with
slide.

Teens have “Fuel” — their own facility — which
consists of an area called “The Living Room,” a disco, a juice bar
and its own Internet-connected computers at half the price of the
terminals in the cyber-centers.

So get booked up and go———its a great
ship.

Day  5 June 10
Crusing

SHOW
The Comedy of Duggie Brown
Day  6 June 11
Stockholm, Sweden
STOCKHOLM
MON 11 JUNE 9 – 5
Become acquainted with Stockholm’s oldest and
coziest quarter, the Old Town, and the historic elegance of the
interior of the Royal Palace. Stockholm began where the Royal
Palace stands,
though the present edifice of this stately monument
of grace and symmetry dates only from the 18th century. A massive
testament to the Baroque, a huge compound of rock-solid buildings
on a
hill in the Old Town, the Royal Palace comprises no
fewer than 608 rooms. Today, the Stockholm Palace serves as the
King’s work place while Drottningholm Palace is the permanent
residence of
the Royal Family. 

Visit the State Apartments displaying magnificent
baroque and rococo interiors. On this island of antiquity in the
heart of the city, experience the medieval intimacy of what is
today a living historical monument of international renown. With
your guide, you will savor the Bohemian atmosphere and the sense of
age in houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with Baroque
doorways and rusting coats of arms. See the exterior of the
Cathedral (Coronation Church), Stortorget (Great Square) - the hub
of the Old Town and the Stock Exchange, now the home of the Swedish
Academy. Some time is allowed for independent activities and the
opportunity to browse in the antique shops, art galleries, and
boutiques featuring handicrafts, clothes, jewelry, and
souvenirs.

First, make your way to the Royal Palace either by
walking, or by taxi. From the entrance to the palace (on top of the
hill) the pedestrian streets of Old Town (to the west and south
downhill) are lined with hundreds of shops that cater to tourists
offering everything under the sun. You could easily spend the
entire day in Old Town and never exhaust the potential to find
something new. Its little cubbies, archways, nooks and crannies
just add to its unique shopping experience.
GAMLA STAN (OLD TOWN)
Gamla Stan, literally “old town,” is a small island
in the middle of Stockholm. With narrow stone streets and old
buildings, this is a charming area to walk about. You can get there
on the T, or just by walking across one of the four short bridges
that separates the island from the rest of Stockholm.

Things you shouldn’t miss include the Royal Castle
and Storkyrkan (”the big church”). Tyska Kyrkan (”the German
church”) is also worth seeing. You can hang out in Stor Torget
(”the big square”), sit on a bench, go to a restaurant or cafe.
Gamla Stan is full of good restaurants and shops. ROYAL PALACE With
608 rooms, the Stockholm Royal Palace is the biggest palace in the
world still used by a head of state - King Carl XVI Gustav. The
palace houses several of the greatest and most interesting sights
in Stockholm - the Royal Apartments, the Hall of State, the
Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry, the Treasury, the Tre Kronor
Palace Museum, the Armoury and the Museum of Antiquities of Gustav
III. The Changing of the Guards ceremony takes place Wednesdays
and
Saturdays at 12.00 and on Sundays and public
holidays at 13.00.

SHOW
Jacqui Scott
The Leading Lady of West End Shows  - Evita, Cats,
Miss Saigon
Day  7 June 12
Helsinki, Finland
HELSINKI
TUE 12 JUNE 9 – 6
HELSINKI, FOUNDED ON JUNE 12, 1550
WALKING “WHITE CITY OF THE NORTH”
Helsinki is also called “The Daughter of the Baltic”
or “The White City of the North.” Start your tour by passing the
shipyard along the coastal road past Embassy Park and the colorful
open-air market; continue for a photo stop at the Senate Square
with the elegant Lutheran Cathedral. En route you will pass
Uspenski Cathedral and the IcebreakersZdocked for the summer
season. Proceed on to Mannerheim Street, which is the main street
through the city, where you can see Parliament House, the National
Museum, and Finlandia Hall, which is the concert and
convention
center designed by the famous architect Alvar Aalto.
You’ll also pass the new Contemporary Art museum, Kiasma, designed
by the American architect Steve Holl. Continuing on, you will pass
the
new Opera house completed in 1933 and the Olympic
Stadium venue for the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952. The tour
then arrives at Sibelius Park where you will make a photo stop of
the
monument of 527 steel pipes, which honor the great
Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Conclude your tour by passing the
unique Temppeliaukio Rock Church blasted into solid rock There was
not much sightseeing interests at Helsinki which has its activities
concentrated around Senate Square with the Government
SHOW
Mario and Daniel’s Tango Buenos Aires
also 4:30 Helsinki Folkloric Show

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The Cox family, members of our own www.RoyalCaribbeanFan.com
traveled on Jewel of the SEas this past June, and as
they pass their one year anniversary, we present their review
of the journey!

JEWEL OF THE SEAS
6 JUNE – 18 JUNE 2007
STATE ROOM 4018
RADIANCE CLASS
GROSS TONNAGE : 90,090 tons
Length 293m Beam 32m Draft 8m
Passengers Capacity 2501 (we had 2165)
Crew 859
Captain Thore Thorolvsen
We went a day early and stayed at the TOWER HOTEL in
Harwich
and we could see the Jewell of the Seas from our
room in the
morning. And we left our car in their car park for
the cruise.

Day  1  June 6
We left the Hotel about 10:30 for the mile to the
ship and checked in and on ship 11:10 and had lunch.
We sailed at 17:00

SHOW
Cruise Director Bobby Brown Presents
THE WELCOME SHOW
Starring the Amazing  FLASH AND FEVER
Day  2 June 7
Crusing
06/07/2007 12:15:00 PM,
Hollywood Odyssey Room
DECK 13
SHOW
The Royal Caribbran Singers and Dancers in
CITY OF DREAMS
Day  3 June 8
Oslo, Norway
8 JUNE 7 – 4
WALKING
Begin with a walk along the pier, passing the statue
of
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who overlooks the harbor of
Oslo. First stop will be made at City Hall, a modern landmark
containing the works of some of Norway’s most distinguished artists
including such items as frescoes, woodcarvings, sculptures, and
murals representing many aspects of Norwegian life. You will see a
monumental painting by Henrik Sorensen. The visit will acquaint you
with the history of this more than 900-year old city. 

Leaving City Hall, a short walk will take you to the
front of the National Theatre. Passing statues of famous Norwegians
and the apartment of Henrik Ibsen, you will reach the Royal
Palace
with its surrounding garden. From there, you will
proceed to the main street Karl Johan, passing the University of
Oslo and learning more about the author Henrik Ibsen who passed by
there every day.  You will follow in his footsteps to the Grand
Café, the meeting point of the “Bohemians” in the 1890s. 

On you return to the ship, you will cross in front
of the Parliament Building founded 1866 and walk through the
Akershus Fortress, once a medieval castle and Royal Residence. The
site offers photo opportunities over the harbor.  There is a rumor
that many tourists that come to Oslo do nothing but walk up and
down the Karl Johans gata several times, and that is all they see
of the city. Pity for them! This partly pedestrian only street
stretches from the Railway station on the east to the Royal castle
on the west and here you’ll find numerous shops, tourist agencies,
banks and offices all mixed with street performers and important
buildings like the National parliament, the National theater and
the University. 

While all of these buildings deserve to be visited,
if you limit yourself only to Karl Johans gata
you’ll be quite disappointed.

SHOW
Starring  JONATHAN KANE
The only tribute act endorsed by Elton John
World
Day  4 June 9
Copenhagen, Denmark
COPENHAGEN
SAT 9 JUNE 8 – 7 pm
WALKING
Following the harbor front and passing the
LANGELINIE YACHT HARBOUR, stop at the
LITTLE MERMAID and along the park and harbor to
WARER FOUNTAIN OF GEFION -
Gefion Fountain
Just past the Resistance Museum is the incongruous
British St Alban’s Church, beside which is the dramatic Gefion
Fountain. The fountain is based on the story of the goddess Gefion
who, according to legend, was promised as much land as she could
plough in a single night. She promptly turned her four sons into
oxen and ploughed out a chunk of Sweden (creating Lake Vänern),
then picked it up and tossed it into the sea – where it became the
Danish island of Zealand. Created in 1908 by Anders Bundgaard, the
fountain is one of the largest public monuments in
Copenhagen, depicting an enormous bronze Gefion
engaging in her work, with water cascading down a series of steps
from which huge snakes coil out of the bubbling water. Sadly the
fountain has been leaking for a number of years and is now awaiting
repairs.

Continue to the modern, but elegant Amaliehaven
Square, with the Queen’s Palace, Amalienborg right behind the
square Amalienborg, the queen´s official residence, comprises four
almost identical baroque palaces encasing a large octagon square.
From Saly’s famous horseman at the square´s centre you have a free
view of Amaliehaven and the waterfront at one end. and
Frederikskirken (Marmorchurch) at the other.

Marble Church-Frederiks Kirkr-opposite Amalienburg
Slot
Amaliehaven, situated beside Amalienborg Palace and
a few minutes walk from Nyhavn, is Copenhagen´s newest park,
constructed by A.P. Møller in 1983.
SHOW
Dominique Ava

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