Royal Caribbean International today opened Jewel of the Seas’ 2014 summer Southern Caribbean season for sale, and announced the cruise line’s 2014 Mediterranean cruises to complete its future European deployment. Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Splendour of the Seas will sail the Mediterranean, and this is in addition to Independence of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas in Northern Europe.  In total, holidaymakers can choose from eight of the world’s most innovative cruise ships sailing to some of the continent’s most compelling destinations. Royal Caribbean’s 2014 Northern Europe cruises will open for booking on 20 March 2013, followed by its Mediterranean cruises on 27 March 2013.

Cultures, flavours and history await holidaymakers of all generations on a Royal Caribbean Europe cruise. Many shore excursion options are designed for families to further explore the sights and cultures of Europe together, such as seeing and climbing the 294 steps of the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, or making a pizza in Sorrento with ‘Pizza Making for Families from Naples’. In Rome, families can visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Venice Square, Navona Square or the Leonardo da Vinci Machines Exhibition in ‘A Taste of Rome for Families’. Other shore excursions include a visit to the medieval village of Tarquinia and a stop in a local family-owned Gelateria on ‘Leisurely Tarquinia & Ice Cream Taste’.

“No one can deliver Europe to families like Royal Caribbean can,” said Lisa Bauer, executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for Royal Caribbean International. “Only on Royal Caribbean can holidaymakers visit multiple destinations to experience the continent’s history, culture and excitement, while sailing onboard our recently revitalised ships that are Designed for WOW. Guests will receive Royal Caribbean’s friendly and engaging Gold Anchor service from every staff and crew member, and enjoy up to five times more onboard dining options, and more exclusive and exciting entertainment, such as the DreamWorks Experience on Liberty of the Seas or the new spectacular aerial-acrobatic experiences in Legend of the Seas’ four deck-high Centrum.”

Only on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas can European holidaymakers enjoy the DreamWorks Experience, featuring parades, themed activities and events based on DreamWorks Animation’s popular feature-film characters, including Po of “Kung Fu Panda;” Shrek, Fiona and Puss In Boots of “Shrek;” and Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, and the Penguins from “Madagascar.” Each ship also is equipped with a 3-D movie theatre playing the latest DreamWorks Animation films. A not-to-be-missed experience is the Character Breakfasts, a chance to enjoy the first meal of the day with your favourite DreamWorks characters.

On Splendour of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas, guests can enjoy a cocktail in the new retro-hip R Bar as performers glide and dive in the new aerial-acrobatic Centrum Experience that ranges throughout more than four decks of the ships’ atriums. Guests onboard Liberty of the Seas can also take in the Broadway musical Saturday Night Fever by night.

Most of Royal Caribbean’s 2014 Europe fleet will have undergone the cruise line’s fleetwide revitalisation programme, which will deliver more delicious onboard dining options, such as the casual dining Park Café, Boardwalk Dog House, and Rita’s Cantina, to more sophisticated culinary experiences such as Samba Grill Brazilian steakhouse, the new Viking Crown Lounge, Izumi Asian Cuisine and the Chef’s Table.

Royal Caribbean’s youngest guests, ages 6 to 36 months, can enjoy the new Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, while three- to 11-year olds are led by college-accredited counsellors in educational and entertaining programmes developed with Fisher Price in the complimentary Adventure Ocean programme. Teens can also meet new friends on their European cruise and hang out with peers in their own dedicated lounge and enjoy activities such as learning to mix music in Scratch DJ sessions or teen-only rock-climbing wall and FlowRider surf simulator sessions.

The recently revitalised ships also feature new modern features, such as Wi-Fi throughout the ship, digital signage, flat-panel televisions in newly refreshed staterooms, and a poolside, oversized LED movie screen for guests’ enjoyment as they bask in the grand European sun. Independence of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas each also feature a FlowRider and cantilevered whirlpools, as well as Europe’s only ice-skating rinks at sea, also onboard Navigator of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas. Liberty of the Seas will sail roundtrip from Barcelona on a seven-night, Western Mediterranean itinerary, calling at Provence (Marseilles) and Nice (Villefranche), France; and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples/Capri, Italy. A four-night, roundtrip itinerary departing 14 May 2014 will offer holidaymakers a taste of the Freedom-class experience, with a call at Nice and Florence/Pisa.

Navigator of the Seas will homeport at Rome (Civitavecchia) to sail a seven-night Eastern Mediterranean itinerary, which calls at Sicily (Messina), Italy; Athens (Piraeus) and Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece; and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey. Alternatively, holidaymakers have a second option to embark on a seven-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise, sailing roundtrip from Sicily (Messina).

Holidaymakers can choose longer nine- to 12-night Italy, Greek Isles and Turkey cruises from Barcelona from May through August, and Venice from late August through October. From Barcelona, Serenade of the Seas will alternate 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles and Mediterranean Venice itineraries the latter featuring an overnight in Venice. From September,

Serenade of the Seas will homeport in Venice and alternate 10-night Greek Isles and 11-night Greece and Turkey itineraries.

Splendour of the Seas will homeport at Venice for its entire Europe season and alternate seven-night Greek Isles, and Greek Isles and Turkey itineraries. The ship will reposition from Sao Paolo, Brazil to Barcelona for a 14-night trans-Atlantic voyage on 25 April 2014, and then start its Europe season with an eight-night Italian Mediterranean and Adriatic itinerary from Barcelona to Venice.