Latest news with #UltimateAbyss
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
MSC Cruises plans to take key title back from Royal Caribbean
MSC Cruises hasn't tried to hide the fact that it's trying to lure Royal Caribbean cruisers to try out its unique style of family cruising. A dominant cruise line in Europe, MSC Cruises is relatively new to North America, but determined to quickly establish itself as a cruise line of choice for Americans. Related: Cruise lines face new passenger fee; MSC Cruises brings new thrill The Switzerland-based global cruise line is propelling forward with a major initiative to establish a strong U.S. footprint, and Royal Caribbean cruisers are a key target audience. If that wasn't already clear, this year's launch of MSC World America proved it. MSC World America is MSC's answer to Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship. Both megaships sail seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami featuring huge thrills and an emphasis on spaces and experiences for kids and families. While Royal Caribbean remains a top choice among U.S. cruisers, MSC Cruises is winning over many by offering cruises at a lower price point than most cruises on Icon of the Seas and newer Royal Caribbean ships. But lower prices aren't the only tactic MSC is using to attract Royal Caribbean cruisers. As MSC Cruises has made moves to compete directly with the cruise lines best known for offering thrilling vacation experiences, it's fueled a growing war of cruise ship thrill rides. That war includes an ongoing battle between Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises for one key title when it comes to cruise ship thrills: world's longest dry slide at sea. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. In late 2022, MSC Cruises claimed the world's longest dry slide at sea title from Royal Caribbean as it launched its first World Class ship, MSC World Europa, sister ship to MSC World America. MSC World Europa's 250-foot Venom Drop slide surpassed the 10-story Ultimate Abyss dry slide featured on most of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships. Royal Caribbean didn't appreciate being one-upped and took the title back by introducing a taller, 259-foot Ultimate Abyss slide on Utopia of the Seas when it launched in 2024. Now, MSC Cruises wants the title back. Related: MSC Cruises bets on a new kind of entertainment The cruise line has revealed that its next World Class ship, MSC World Asia, which launches in the Mediterranean in late 2026, will be the next ship to claim the title of longest dry slide at sea. MSC World Asia's dry slide, Tree of Life @The Spiral, will surpass all those designed before it at 266.7 feet and spanning 12 decks. Inspired by the trees in Singapore's famous Gardens by the Bay, the slide will also be a striking architectural feature of the ship's World Promenade - an open-air space at the heart of the ship featuring dining venues and entertainment options paired with ocean views. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. The recently launched MSC World America also features a dry slide - the 11-deck-high Jaw Drop - as well as standout thrill ride Cliffhanger, the only over-water swing ride at sea. MSC Cruises' innovative cruise ship thrill rides also include Robotron, the first robotic arm ride at sea, featured on MSC Seascape. The ride offers a roller coaster-like experience that flips and spins riders as they soar nearly 175 feet above the sea. MSC will soon bring the unique thrill ride to a new U.S. market as MSC Seascape begins sailing from Galveston, Texas, for the first time in November. Related: MSC Cruises is coming for Royal Caribbean's title Like Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises has a robust new ship pipeline, and more thrills are sure to come as the cruise line continues to rapidly grow its fleet. In May, the cruise line signed an order for two more World Class ships to complement the four already delivered or under construction. With the addition of these new ships, the MSC Cruises fleet will expand to 27 ships by 2030. Those plans include a new ship that will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, beginning in 2027, alongside Royal Caribbean's upcoming Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas. In addition to expanding its World Class, MSC Cruises is expected to soon reveal plans for a new and even bigger class of ships that will claim the world's largest cruise ship title from Royal Caribbean's Icon Class. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Twelve on-board activities every child will love – for every hour of the day
The best ships cater for everyone, and with its 18 decks, seven unique neighbourhoods and seemingly endless activities to hand, the newly reimagined Allure of the Seas has something for all ages, sailing refreshed and refurbished into the summer season, making it an exceptional choice for a Mediterranean cruise around the best of Europe. The range of on-board offerings ensures you can squeeze every kind of kid-friendly activity into a 12-hour day – and still have time over for ice cream and naps. From toddlers to teens, here are 12 activities to keep everyone entertained, creating unforgettable memories together. 1. Plunge into the Ultimate Abyss Only the bravest dare to take the plunge into the Ultimate Abyss. Step to the edge, peer into the darkness, and take the leap. This 10-storey slide, the tallest at sea, will have you plummeting into the mysteries of the deep. Will you return a hero, having conquered the secrets of the Abyss? 2. Race the Perfect Storm slides The Perfect Storm's Typhoon and Cyclone twin racers will have you and a fellow racer vying for the title of 'fastest' as you twist, turn and experience sea views through translucent stretches on the boldest waterslides at sea. 3. The Zipline challenge Fly across the ship 10 decks above the Boardwalk neighbourhood on an exhilarating zip line ride. This deck-defying thrill ride is unlike any other, guaranteeing an unforgettable rush and major bragging rights. The best part? It's completely free, so you can ride as many times as you like. 4. Conquer the rock-climbing walls The signature rock-climbing walls are a must-try for adventure seekers of all levels. These towering vertical ascents will challenge your body and reward your efforts with breathtaking views from almost 40ft above deck. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-time climber, the rock walls promise an unforgettable experience. 5. Hang 10 on the FlowRiders Allure's pair of 39ft FlowRider surf simulators use 25,000 gallons of rushing water to create endless waves. Whether you're an experienced surfer or prefer a more relaxed boogie board experience, FlowRider offers an exciting and dynamic experience for all skill levels. 6. Sweet creations in the cupcake class This class only requires imagination and a love of sweet things - no challenge for most children. With an abundance of frosting and sprinkles at your disposal, the instructor will guide your little ones in transforming freshly baked cupcakes into edible works of art that are as visually stunning as they are delectable. 7. Battle of the planets Who says cruises have to be all about kicking back and relaxing? Younger guests will have the chance to face off in an inter-galactic feud at Laser Tag: Battle for Planet Z. Whether they find themselves taking the side of the robot defenders or alien invaders, they'll love the adrenalin rush of this live-action, glow-in-the-dark adventure. 8. Hit the ice on skates Ice skating at sea? It's not a mirage, but a refreshing reality on board. Lace up your skates and glide across the ice. Whether you're a seasoned skater or a wobbly beginner, the rink awaits your grand entrance – or maybe just your first tentative steps. 9. Escape to victory You're trapped on board and have just 60 minutes to work out how you and your friends can escape. Luckily, that's not a nightmare scenario but one of Allure's new experiences for 2025. The Royal Escape Room will keep children 12 and over occupied, as they work together to solve brain-bending puzzles and secure their freedom. 10. Become a mad scientist From fossil digs to junior chemistry and Space Mud creations, the Adventure Science Lab at Adventure Ocean provides a plethora of hands-on experiments to ignite curiosity and inspire learning. Young scientists can unleash their potential and make exciting discoveries. 11. Set yourselves a mini-golf challenge Mini-golf is just one of the many family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy together. Take in the endless ocean views and challenge your family to a round or two on the ship's mini green. Who knows, you might get your first hole-in-one at sea. 12. Sink a shot at basketball Grab your family and head to the basketball court for some friendly competition with a backdrop of breathtaking ocean views. Whether you're into pickup games or prefer a one-on-one challenge, you can experience the thrill of basketball like never before. And as if all that is not enough, your children will relish the chance to make new friends and learn new skills at the supervised Kids' Clubs. Activities range from dinosaur exploration and soft play for three- to five-year-old aquanauts, to engaging science experiments and performing arts for children of six to eight at the Exploration Station. Older kids will love the Voyagers Group, with talent shows, sports and video games tournaments, or even the scavenger hunts that send them on a voyage of discovery all over the ship. Sailings availability is subject to change due to demand
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Royal Caribbean makes generous offer to fix overbooking issue
Travel Royal Caribbean makes generous offer to fix overbooking issue CocoCay can accomoadate two of Royal Caribbean's largest source: Daniel Kline/Come Cruise With Me Although overselling flights is common among some airlines to compensate for "no-shows," overselling cruises is not something cruise lines regularly do. Occasionally, it does happen, potentially when the cruise line anticipates receiving some late cancellations. But other factors can contribute to cruise overbookings, too. Related: Royal Caribbean follows Carnival with new island development move When cruise overbookings happen, certain cruisers sometimes get the chance to score big if they're willing to be flexible with their travel plans. One such opportunity was just presented to some Royal Caribbean cruise passengers booked on an upcoming Mediterranean cruise. And in this case, even just being willing to switch to a different stateroom category could reward select flexible cruisers with a nearly free vacation. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. This Royal Caribbean cruise ship was just upgraded to add new features like the Ultimate Abyss 10-story dry slide. Image source: Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean offers free cruise to flexible Allure of the Seas passengers Royal Caribbean reached out to some passengers booked in an oversold stateroom category on the May 15 Western Mediterranean cruise aboard Allure of the Seas. They received a very generous offer to entice them to change their booking, according to an unofficial fan blog not affiliated with the cruise line. "If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as 'Read,' and gear up for your upcoming adventure - although, there are some pretty sweet options below," the cruise line's email suggested. Royal Caribbean outlined two enticing options that could be available to passengers with flexible travel plans, and both options came with a full refund of their cruise fare, even though they'd still get to cruise. Related: Royal Caribbean CEO reveals key trend that's costing cruisers The first option offered a full refund plus a $200 onboard credit to passengers willing to move to an interior stateroom, which suggests that only the higher stateroom category these passengers booked was oversold. The second option also offered a full refund of their cruise fare, but required the passengers to transfer to a different sailing on another ship – the May 18 Greek Isles cruise aboard Odyssey of the Seas that departs from Rome, the same port as their original Allure of the Seas sailing. With this option, passengers would get the same stateroom category, but the complimentary transfer would only cover their cruise fare for the new sailing and exclude taxes, fees, and gratuities (about $280 per person). Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Allure of the Seas is a popular ship that just got major upgrades For most cruisers, especially those set on their itinerary, departure date, and ship, changing stateroom categories would likely be a more attractive option if they want to take advantage of the generous refund offer. The cruise ship and itinerary likely matter most in this specific situation. Although the two cruises both leave from Rome on seven-night itineraries, they visit different ports and sail on ships from different classes. It's likely that many passengers would want to stick with Allure of the Seas due to the fact that Royal Caribbean just completed a highly anticipated $100 million upgrade of the fan-favorite Oasis Class cruise ship. Related: Royal Caribbean adds new onboard WiFi option cruisers will love Highlights of the revamped ship include new bars and restaurants, a reimagined resort-style pool deck, and new thrills like the 10-story dry slide, the Ultimate Abyss. The ship's renovation also added more than 100 additional staterooms across various categories. Allure of the Seas is cruising in Europe this summer for the first time since 2015, sailing seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Rome and Barcelona, visiting destinations in Spain, France, and Italy. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM.
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The Independent
07-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Behind the scenes of $100 million Allure of the Seas cruise ship revamp
One of Royal Caribbean's largest cruise ships, Allure of the Seas, is getting ready to welcome passengers on board in Europe this summer with a major $100 million (£77 million) revamp. At 225,282 gross tonnes, the ship is the seventh largest in the Royal Caribbean fleet and has been what the brand describes as 'newly amplified' in time for the spring and summer season. The Oasis class ship entered dry dock in the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, in February and is receiving a range of new features ahead of its return to service this month. The revamp or 'amplification' has been overseen by experienced cruise consultant Stephen Fryers, whose previous projects include Celebrity Silhouette and Wonder of the Seas. There are 2,300 contractors working on a daily basis across the ship, including electricians, carpenters, painters and plasterers. Royal Caribbean is bringing many of the popular features from its newer ships onto Allure, which was launched in 2010 and is now 15 years old – so due a makeover. It is not just old furniture that has gone and new interiors that have come in. Fryers explains that 28,000 bulbs have also been replaced across staterooms with more energy-efficient LED lighting. Thousands of cracked or worn tiles at Central Park on deck 8 are also being replaced, as is the lawn on the mini golf course on deck 15. Many of the new features are already popular on other Royal Caribbean ships, so will be familiar to regular passengers. Here is what to expect from the newly-amplified Allure of the Seas. New staterooms An extra 111 cabins are being added to Allure of the Seas, giving it a total of 2,859. This includes two new 'Ultimate Panoramic Suites' above Allure's bridge. It may be hard to tell with all the plasterboard on the walls and wires hanging out the ceiling, but these cabins will eventually offer 200-degree ocean views as well as a walk-in wardrobe and living area. New cabins have also been built where the ship's photo gallery and conference centre were previously located. The extra cabins will take the ship's capacity from 5,496 to 5,718. New bars and restaurants Pesky Parrot, a Caribbean cocktail bar made popular on Utopia of the Seas, is coming to Allure. The tiki bar will offer a range of fruit-based cocktails made with rum, tequila and gin, alongside frozen drinks. It replaces the brand's Bionic Bar, where passengers were served drinks by robotic arms. The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, currently only on Utopia and Wonder of the Seas, is also being built on Allure. It will provide comfort food inspired by the southern US states as well as live country music. Ultimate Abyss A drop slide is a now must-have on many modern ships – and Allure is getting one. Ultimate Abyss, already on Harmony, Symphony and Oasis of the Seas, will give adrenaline seekers a 10-deck drop that twists and turns from the Sports Zone on deck 16 to the Boardwalk on Deck 6. Waterslides The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, also on Harmony, Symphony and Oasis of the Seas, are now available on Allure. Rather than having to build the mega-slides onboard, they come ready made and were lifted directly onto the ship by crane. The new slides on the pool deck are the Cyclone and Typhoon racing waterslides and the SuperCell champagne bowl. They brighten up the space that previously housed sunbeds. But there are still places to relax with new cabanas and hot tubs being built overlooking the pool and the sea. Allure's kids' club Adventure Ocean has been completely demolished, rebuilt and redecorated with a new larger layout that includes more soft play areas, room for art, science and technology workshops, and a hangout space for teens to play video games and watch films. Allure of the Seas is due to return to service on 11 April when it sails from Barcelona for a four-night cruise. Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International, said: 'From the new Icon and Utopia of the Seas to now the more than $100 million transformation of Allure of the Seas, we've upped the ante threefold on the different ways vacationers can get away and make memories with Royal Caribbean. ' Allure will be reimagined with the best of Royal Caribbean and what travellers love. Between new favourites, like the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, and experiences that unlock core memories time and time again, from an incredible pool deck to an unmatched combination of thrills and ways to chill, Allure will have even more of everything that makes it a standout favourite.'
