Grandeur Tour Deck 11

New WOWs 
Around Every Corner

Grandeur of the Seas

Revitalization

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added to the Grandeur of the Seas as we complete our WOW Button Tour.

During a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock, part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the Grandeur became the next ship to complete the program, which will enhance the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas? 

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the Grandeur of the Seas in November.   Join us for the last two stops of the New Grandeur of the Seas WOW Button Round-Up.

Concierge Club, Viking Crown Lounge

Loyalty has its rewards!!   Hopefully you are aware that cruise lines, just like airlines, have loyalty programs that provide perks based on the number of times or nights you have sailed with them.  In some cases, the type of cabin or cruise may get you extra points towards your next level.  Royal Caribbean's program is called Crown and Anchor Society.  You can learn more about the program in our previous article: Updated Crown & Anchor Society Program.

This exclusive lounge space, on Deck 11 of the Grandeur, is for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members.   Guests in suites (except for junior suites) are also given access to this lounge area.  

Continental Breakfast is served in the Concierge Club daily from 7:00 AM until 10:00 AM.  Complimentary beverages are served in the Concierge Club from 5:00 PM until 8:30 PM as well.  Israel Sanchez, the Concierge on the Grandeur, is there to assist guests with any requests throughout the voyage.

 

Congratulations !!  

You have just collected your 

Buttons for Deck 11

Collect all  7 !!

This concludes the WOW Button tour of the newly revitalized Grandeur of the Seas.  In case you missed the other locations, here is the list of Button Stops and other related posts:

Grandeur Tour Deck 4	Grandeur Tour Deck 6	Grandeur Tour Deck 8
Grandeur Tour Deck 9	Grandeur Tour Deck 10	Grandeur Tour Deck 11
Grandeur Revitalization Debut	Oh To Be Young Again	Just For Teens
Thanksgiving Greetings from Grandeur

Be sure to check our Facebook Fan Page for more photos

  Viking Crown & Concierge Club

Oh To Be Young Again

New WOWs  Around Every Corner

Grandeur of the Seas

Revitalization

Here's your chance to see where kids have fun on Grandeur of the Seas as we continue our WOW Button Tour.  Normally the kids area is off limits to adults, but during our private tour of the revitalized Grandeur, Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean staff hosted an open house and we're taking you behind the scenes to explore the facilities.

Adventure Ocean® Youth Program

 

Kids will have a blast at the complimentary, award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Program. onboard Royal Caribbean's entire fleet.  Every member of the youth team holds a four-year degree in education, recreation or a related field and has extensive experience working with children. Kids and teens are divided into age groups so that they can enjoy specialized programs made to expand their imaginations in interactive, multi-room spaces designed just for them. It’s an awesomely fun, totally edu-taining adventure.

Adventure Ocean Photo Album (click here)

Just for Kids

Aquanauts (Ages 3-5)

These little at-sea adventurers will enjoy the magic of Bubbling Potions, uncover the dinosaur-sized secrets of Jurassic Jr., and take over the ship with the Pirate Party Parade. Parents of three-year olds can opt for pagers so that Adventure Ocean staff can stay in touch.

 

Explorers (Ages 6-8)

Space Mud, Fossil Fever, Meteorology Madness! Hands-on science gets young minds churning – along with explorations of the fine arts with Adventure Art and Adventure Theater. Round out the night with dancing through the decades and ice cream for all.

Voyagers (Ages 9-11)

How about a scavenger hunt with new friends from across the world? That's just the beginning for Voyagers, who enjoy programs including sports tournaments, talent shows, video game showdowns and much more.

Fisher-Price toy lending program

Borrow and exchange from an onboard treasure chest of Fisher-Price® developmental toys, specifically created for infants and toddlers ages 6-36 months.

Crayola Beginnings workshops

Just for Royal Tots! Throughout these 45-minute workshops, parents and their children enjoy story time while creating works of art using Crayola Beginnings products.

Pirates, Scientists, Artists, Ahoy!

Onboard, kids aren't just kids. They're scientists exploring the insect world, eye-patched pirates or the next great athlete to take the gold at the Wacky Olympics. With interactive programs and activities designed just for their age group, Adventure Ocean gives kids the chance to discover a whole new side of themselves.

All children participating in Adventure Ocean activities are required to be 3 years of age, 100% toilet trained and diaper and pull-up free.

Babies and Tots programs

Join your child in the fun of Royal Babies® or Royal Tots® interactive playgroup sessions developed by early childhood experts at Fisher-Price®. Each 45-minute session, held on one of our onboard lounges, offers activities that make playtime learning time as well.


Check out the Nursery for babies in our article: Grandeur Tour Deck 10

We'll cover the Teen programs in another blog post, so be sure to read that as well.

Be sure to check our Facebook Fan Page for more photos

 




 

Grandeur Tour Deck 10

New WOWs  Around Every Corner

Grandeur of the Seas

Revitalization

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added to the Grandeur of the Seas as we continue our WOW Button Tour.

Royal Babies & Tots Nursery (more images)

During a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock, part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the Grandeur became the next ship to complete the program, which will enhance the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas? 

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the Grandeur of the Seas in November.   Continue exploring the New Grandeur of the Seas as we take you along with us on the Grandeur WOW Button Round-Up.

Deck 10 - Nursery

At the Royal Babies and Tots^SM Nursery, available only onboard Royal Caribbean, their trained staff cares for little cruisers ages 6 to 36 months in a safe, interactive space. Babies and tots will be delighted by Fisher Price® and Crayola® programs made just for them, while parents can enjoy all the ship has to offer.  Daytime and evening drop-off is offered; hourly fee of $8 applies.

Available: Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas
Coming soon: Fleetwide

Congratulations !!  

You have just collected your 

Button for Deck 10

Collect all  7 !!

Grandeur Tour Deck 9

New WOWs 
Around Every Corner

Grandeur of the Seas

Revitalization

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added to the Grandeur of the Seas as we continue our WOW Button Tour.

During a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock, part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the Grandeur became the next ship to complete the program, which will enhance the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas? 

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the Grandeur of the Seas in November.   Continue exploring the New Grandeur of the Seas as we take you along with us on the Grandeur WOW Button Round-Up.

Outdoor Movie Screen

Most of the major cruise lines have been adding big screen movie screens to their pool deck area for some time.   With the Grandeur's revitalization, it joins sister ships that have already had the popular feature added.  Whether it is during the day at sea or at night going between destinations, you'll be able to enjoy special features on the big screen.   There's no need to miss a big game even when you are at sea.

Congratulations !!  

You have just collected your 

Button for Deck 9

Collect all  7 !!

Grandeur Tour Deck 8

New WOWs Around Every Corner

Grandeur of the Seas

Revitalization

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added to the Grandeur of the Seas as we continue our WOW Button Tour.

During a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock, part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the Grandeur became the next ship to complete the program, which will enhance the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas? 

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the Grandeur of the Seas in November.   Continue exploring the New Grandeur of the Seas as we take you along with us on the Grandeur WOW Button Round-Up.

New Family Suite

Royal Caribbean cruises are the ultimate family vacation, so it makes sense that they are adding new Family Suite accommodations that sleeps several guests comfortably to Grandeur of the Seas.

The main part of the cabin can be divided into two sections with a queen bed in one part and sleeper sofa in the other.   Around the corner are two twin beds for the youngsters in the family.

For larger families, there are also pull down beds in that same room.


Looking out the window of your Family Suite on Deck 8, you can see the bridge.   Because of the bridge, they were unable to add a balcony, but the cabin is still ideal for families.

We have posted some additional pictures on our Facebook Fan Page;  New Staterooms - Grandeur of the Seas

 

 

Congratulations !!  

You have just collected your second Button for Deck 8

Collect all  7 !!

Grandeur Tour Deck 6

New WOWs Around Every Corner

Grandeur of the Seas

Revitalization

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added to the Grandeur of the Seas during a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock.   This is part of  Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program which enhances the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas? 

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the Grandeur of the Seas in November.   Continue exploring the New Grandeur of the Seas as we take you along with us on the Grandeur WOW Button Round-Up.
 

DECK 6 - GIOVANNI'S TABLE & CHOPS GRILLE

Following the WOW Button trail, we arrived outside Chops Grille where we received our button for Deck 6 dining options.  We would next explore two of our favorite restaurants that are now available on the revitalized Grandeur.

Chops Grille


Chops is an elegant restaurant serving juicy steaks, fresh seafood, hearty side dishes, and delicious desserts.   There is a $30 cover charge as of this writing.  The only other expense would be any extra gratuity you chose to leave and your beverages from the bar.

Chops Grille is an old time favorite of loyal Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Members; try it on your next Royal cruise.



See our Grandeur of the Seas Dining photo album for more images from these two dining options and more.

Whether you want a romantic dinner with your significant other several of your new sailing friends, Chops Grille can accommodate your reservation request.   You can see that several tables can be combined for larger groups.


Giovanni's Table

Enjoy an Italian trattoria serving family-style rustic Tuscany dishes with a contemporary flair.  On the Grandeur, dine with your family and friends while enjoying the view out the expansive wall of floor to ceiling windows.

Make sure to leave room for your favorite Italian desserts like tiramisu. There is a $20 cover charge for this venue.  Of course, you'll probably want to pair your meal with a nice glass of red wine.

Be sure to click the photo album link above for more images of both of these fabulous restaurant favorites retrofitted into the Grandeur of the Seas from the Allure and Oasis of the Seas.

Congratulations !!  

You have just collected your second Button for Deck 6

Collect all  7 !!

Grandeur Tour Deck 4

New WOWs Around Every Corner

Grandeur of the Seas

Revitalization

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added to the Grandeur of the Seas during a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock.   This is part of  Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program which enhances the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas? 

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the Grandeur of the Seas this month.   Explore the New Grandeur of the Seas as we take you along with us on the Grandeur WOW Button Round-Up.

 
DECK 4 - CENTRUM & R BAR

The Centrum has been reinvented as a vertical theater with dazzling aerial performers providing the entertainment.  As with most ships, this is the first thing you'll see after getting onboard the ship.   The Centrum is one of the hubs on the ship.

Aerial Spectacular - Seasons of the Centrum

During the Grandeur Debut event, guests were treated to two performances of a spectacular aerial show entitled "Seasons of the Centrum".  We have posted videos on our YouTube Channel from this show.

In these pictures, you can see that the rigging is on deck 9, 5 decks overhead from the lobby of the Centrum.   You could watch the show several times and have a different experience simply by selecting a different vantage point.

View Videos on Our YouTube Channel

We opted to take our videos from Deck 6 between the glass elevators.   This provided spectacular close ups of the performers as they glided past us suspended by the devices you see in these images.

Aerial Spectacular I Grandeur of the Seas Centrum

Aerial Spectacular II  Grandeur of the Seas Centrum

Aerial Spectacular II  Grandeur of the Seas Centrum


R-Bar

Completing the enhancements on Deck 4 is the addition of the R-Bar, a sophisticated new bar with a distinct retro-glamour vibe. This is a great location to meet before dinner or the Aerial Spectacular shows.

Enhanced Technology

You may have noticed the Deck 4 sign above.  These are touchscreen wayfinders that help you navigate the ship.   Did you know that the search mechanism employed has some intelligence built in?   If several people have done a search for directions to a given location, the wayfinder will reroute you to a different route so that you don't have to wait for elevators.   We'll feature more about the new technological improvements in another post.

Congratulations !!  

You have just collected your first Button for Deck 4

Collect all  7 !!

Royal Advantage Expanded

Royal Caribbean Enhances Entire Fleet

When we first announced Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the estimated cost of the investment was around $300M USD. At our recent Regional Meeting held in Cleveland,Ohio, representatives from the cruise line told us that the program had been expanded, and that the final cost would be around $732M USD. They shared the details of the remaining revitalizations which continue through 2016.  Related Posts;

After 40 years of cruising, Royal Caribbean told us they learned a thing or two about having a good time at Sea. There’s one rule: Anything is possible.

What is the Royal Advantage SM ?

It’s Royal's promise to provide guests with the most innovative ships, features, worldwide destinations and personalized service. This year, they’ll continue to transform the award winning fleet into something the Sea has never seen before. Across all their ships, our guests will find new dining options, entertainment, technology and family programming. With these revitalizations, the Royal Advantage is sure to deliver the vacation of a lifetime, every time.

Schedule of Ship Revitalization

AVAILABILITY	SHIP NAME	ITINERARY
Now	RADIANCE of the SEAS®	ALASKA & AUSTRALIA
Now	LIBERTY of the SEAS®	EUROPE & SHORT CARIBBEAN
Now	FREEDOM of the SEAS®	CARIBBEAN
Now	SPLENDOUR of the SEAS®	EUROPE & BRAZIL
Now	RHAPSODY of the SEAS®	ALASKA & AUSTRALIA
Now	MARINER of the SEAS®	EUROPE & CARIBBEAN
Now	GRANDEUR of the SEAS®	EUROPE & CARIBBEAN
COMING 12/4/2012	SERENADE of the SEAS®	EUROPE & DUBAI
COMING 12/16/2012	ENCHANTMENT of the SEAS®	BERMUDA & CARIBBEAN
COMING 2/7/2013	LEGEND of the SEAS®	ASIA
COMING 5/3/2013	INDEPENDENCE of the SEAS®	NORTHERN EUROPE & CARIBBEAN
COMING 5/14/2013	BRILLIANCE of the SEAS®	EUROPE, BERMUDA/ CANADA & CARIBBEAN
COMING 10/23/2013	VISION of the SEAS®	EUROPE & CARIBBEAN
COMING 12/2/2013	NAVIGATOR of the SEAS®	EUROPE & SHORT CARIBBEAN
COMING 2/3/2014	ADVENTURE of the SEAS®	NORTHERN EUROPE & CARIBBEAN
COMING 5/18/2014	VOYAGER of the SEAS®	AUSTRALIA & ASIA
COMING 12/22/2014	EXPLORER of the SEAS®	BERMUDA/CANADA & CARIBBEAN
COMING 5/1/2016	JEWEL of the SEAS®	NORTHERN EUROPE, BERMUDA/ CANADA & SHORT CARIBBEAN

Learn More about Royal Caribbean Ships & Sailings

Alluring Dining Packages

Oasis of the Seas® & Allure of the Seas®

Dining Packages

Specialty Dining at a special price

Were you aware that Royal Caribbean offers some of the finest specialty dining options at reduced prices?  Our Facebook Page subscribers learned that today before we shared it with the general public (and they have all the inside scoop on the offer in a handy chart).

Click Image to go to our FB Welcome Page

We just came back from attending our mid-year Regional Conference which was held in Cleveland Ohio.   On hand during this two-day training event were many of our land and sea travel partners, including Royal Caribbean.

The content you see on our FB Welcome page depends on your status.  If you have "Liked" us, we'll take you to a page with the latest inside scoop and possibly even some special "Only for Likers" offers.   This content will be updated periodically, so you'll want to subscribe so that you learn about news as it happens.

For our Loyal Blog Readers

We'll give you a little more information here to wet your appetite. There are four Royal Caribbean ships that currently participate in this special program. Hopefully you already are aware that when you are on a Royal Caribbean ship you can choose from a variety of delicious complimentary experiences, or indulge at specialty restaurants where you can choose anything you’d like off the menu for one small cover charge.

Royal Caribbean has introduced Dining Packages on select ships in the fleet.  We suspect that as Royal Advantage continues to be rolled out, this program will be expanded.  Our FB fans will be among the first to learn about additional changes to this and other programs.

Don't miss out ....
 

Royal Advantage Enhancements 2011 to 2014

 

"The Royal Advantage revitalizations takes many of the best features that we have created in recent years and introduces them across our fleet, offering our guests enhanced vacation choices around the world," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. "We never stop trying to make the experience even better, and no other cruise line can offer the same high quality vacation experience with such an array of choices that cater to every guest."

Royal Caribbean International® has announced new enhancements to their fleet through  2014. They  call it the Royal Advantage^SM- the drive to provide the best, most innovative ships, features, destinations and personalized service to guests. In 2011, the Royal Advantage began began with Radiance of the Seas in May 2011, and will be followed by Splendour of the Seas in November. The enhancements expand their most popular innovations to select ships, giving more to see, more to do, and more to love, to more guests than ever before. The program will continue to the tune of $300 Million over the next several years.

The transformation process involves an extended dry-dock period of about a month. When the ships re-emerge they are even better versions of the ships that guests love, complete with new dining venues, entertainment options, technology enhancements and more.

Oasis of the Seas ................. Newly enhanced and now sailing

Liberty of the Seas ............... Newly enhanced and now sailing

Freedom of the Seas ........... Newly enhanced and now sailing

Radiance of the Seas .......... Newly enhanced and now sailing

Splendour of the Seas ......... More to love coming Nov. 25, 2011

Rhapsody of the Seas .......... More to love coming April 2012

Grandeur of the Seas ........... More to love coming June 2012

Serenade of the Seas ........... More to love coming Winter 2012

Legend of the Seas

Vision of the Seas

Brilliance of the Seas

Navigator of the Seas

Voyager of the Seas

Explorer of the Seas

Adventure of the Seas

Mariner of the Seas*

Enchantment of the Seas*

Independence of the Seas*

Among the revitalizations and enhancements to the Vision-, Voyager- and Radiance-class ships throughout the next three years, will be:

• New Technology:  Guests will enjoy pervasive Wi-Fi, interactive flat-panel televisions in staterooms, and electronic mustering. 
• Digital Wayfinding Systems:  Onboard activities, real time updates, customized directions and routing, as well as ship factoids will all be at guests' fingertips with new plasma and L CD touch screen signs prominently placed throughout each of the ships.
• Outdoor LED Video Walls:  Oversized video screens will be installed on the pool decks to liven up outdoor entertainment and programming, day and night.  
• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery:  Safe, fun and interactive vacation environments will be available in nurseries designed for babies and tots ages six through 36 months. 
• New Staterooms:  New levels of accommodations, including staterooms ideal for families, will be added to suit a variety of guest needs and requirements.

Additional Dining Options:

• Chef's Table:  An exclusive experience co-hosted by the Executive Chef and Sommelier for an intimate wine pairing dinner of five courses.
• Izumi:  A pan-Asian cuisine restaurant featuring mouthwatering flavors and a sushi bar with hot-rock cooking.
• Chops Grille: Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse featuring a menu of prime cuts prepared a la minute.
• Park Café:  A casual dining venue featuring gourmet salads, sandwiches, soups and pastries.
• Rita's Cantina:  A casual yet vibrant restaurant offering traditional Mexican fare, comprehensive selection of margaritas and live evening entertainment.
• Boardwalk Doghouse: A casual eatery for guest to enjoy a range of brats, links, wieners and dogs.

We had the opportunity to experience these dining, entertainment, and technology improvements on Allure of the Seas during its inaugural.   The changes were such a hit, that Royal Caribbean decided to make the improvements fleet-wide.  This is a substantial investment in their ships which will result in more smiles on passenger's faces as they disembark following their cruise vacation.

Related Blog Posts:

 

Introducing Royal Advantage

Showtime on Liberty of the Seas

Royal Makeover for Freedom of the Seas 

Radiance OTS 2011 Makeover

Royal Makeover for Freedom of the Seas

2011 - The Year of the Makeover

For Royal Caribbean Fleet

Last November we reported that Royal Caribbean International® had scheduled dry-dock make-overs for five of their 22 ships.   When unveiling the the new enhancements to their fleet for 2011, Royal Advantage^SM was announced.   The program would expand their most popular innovations to select ships, giving more to see, more to do, and more to love, to more guests than ever before.

The five ships being updated are as follows: Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Splendour of the Seas.     Read more:  Introducing Royal Advantage

Video:

The matriarch of the Freedom class was just enhanced with the BRITTO Gallery, ImagineOcean! Puppet Show, a nursery and more. Sails 7-night itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida, to vibrant Caribbean destinations.

Some of the new features added during the 7 day drydock included The Cupcake Cupboard, 3-D Movie Screens and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery.   

Radiance OTS 2011 Makeover

2011 - The Year of the Makeover

For Royal Caribbean Fleet

Last November we reported that Royal Caribbean International® had scheduled dry-dock make-overs for five of their 22 ships.   When unveiling the the new enhancements to their fleet for 2011, Royal Advantage^SM was announced.   The program would expand their most popular innovations to select ships, giving more to see, more to do, and more to love, to more guests than ever before.

The five ships being updated are as follows: Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Splendour of the Seas.     Read more:  Introducing Royal Advantage

Exciting News for the Solo Traveler

If you travel much, you are familiar with the term "double occupancy".    It has been the pricing standard in the travel industry (including cruises) for as long as I can recall.   Hotels and cruise lines provide pricing based on two people occupying a room / cabin.   If you are traveling alone, you still pay the price that two people would pay, and in some cases, even more.

In the cruise industry, even though pricing is double occupancy,  quotes are provided on a per person basis.    For the solo traveler, the pricing includes what's called "single supplement".   Over simplified, this is a fancy way of saying that you pay the same price as two occupants or even more.   Sometimes there are lower rates during a promotion, but that is fairly rare.  

Obviously this makes traveling alone quite expensive and quite frankly turns many potential cruisers away, which is quite unfortunate.   What about the married couple that has cruised for years and their mate is now too sick to travel or is no longer alive?    Does that mean they have to now give up one of their favorite pastimes?    In many cases, unless they could find someone to travel with them, that was indeed what happened.

Good news ...    Last year Norwegian Cruise Line was the first to introduce cabins specifically designed for the solo traveler, and more importantly, priced for the single traveler.    No more paying the price for sailing alone.    Photos:  Norwegian Epic Studio Cabins

goes into dry-dock this May, and will emerge in June in time for the Alaskan cruise season.   In addition to the previously announced addition of the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, there will be three inside cabins added for solo travelers.   This will be the first for the Royal Caribbean fleet.    We suspect that Royal Caribbean is testing the waters to see how well the cabins are received. 

We see this as a positive step in accommodating  a segment of the public that has been unable to purchase a cruise vacation due to the penalty pricing for solo travelers.   It's only three cabins, which is dwarfed by the 100 cabin offering on Norwegian Epic, but it is a start.    Norwegian Cruise line has two new ships on order which will further expand the solo studio offerings.      I suspect this is only the first of many more changes for the solo travelers in months and years to come.

Radiance of the Seas Sails from Seward to other adventurous Alaskan cities, including Juneau and Skagway.