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Royal Caribbean increases UK ports of call in 2014

Royal Caribbean increases UK ports of call in 2014

British guests will be spoilt for choice with the news that three recently revitalised Royal Caribbean International ships will set sail from the UK during the summer of 2014. With a host of popular itineraries the 2014 European sailings will be open for booking from 20 March 2013.

The cruise line’s extensive ship investment programme has seen over $300 million spent on enhancing the facilities and guest experiences onboard ships across the fleet – and Independence of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas will sail from UK shores next summer.

Both Independence of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas will share the Port of Southampton for their second consecutive seasons from May 2014 until late October 2014. Sister-ship Brilliance of the Seas will return to her home port of Harwich after a debut season in summer 2013.

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises - UK and Ireland, commented:
“We are delighted to announce our 2014 sailings from Southampton and Harwich on our newly revitalised ships. Our guests can continue to enjoy our innovative facilities and activities onboard including rock climbing, ice skating and surfing, plus our great entertainment. We want to continue to give our guests unforgettable experiences that can only be found on Royal Caribbean International.”

The 3,634-guest Independence of the Seas, based in Southampton since 2008, continues to receive rave reviews from UK holidaymakers, most recently in the 2013 Cruise Critic UK Cruisers’ Choice Awards, where it was honoured in the best food, entertainment, families, fitness and service categories.

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Independence of the Seas will feature a range of itineraries in 2014, including shorter sailings such as a three-night and four-night cruise to Le Havre for Paris, and Zeebrugge for Bruges. Independence of the Seas will also showcase a six night cruise to France and Spain, an eight-night cruise to Norway, various 14-night Mediterranean cruises, plus 11 and 12-night Canary Islands cruises.

From May 2014, Adventure of the Seas from Southampton will return to a series of seven to 16 night cruises around the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, plus shorter sailings, including a four-night trip to Belgium and France.

Brilliance of the Seas, sailing from Harwich, will visit Northern Europe on 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland cruises and the Baltic Sea on 12-night Scandinavia & Russia cruises.

To promote the 2014 UK deployment, Royal Caribbean International will launch a new European and Mediterranean brochure, featuring popular Spanish / Italian, Mediterranean and Canary Island breaks. The new brochure, packed with cruise options for summer 2014, is divided into sections dedicated to different holiday choices such as mini cruises, traditional 14-night summer holidays, Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries. Agents will also find pages for short cruise options designed for first time cruisers to sample at-sea holidays.