Entire Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in One Image

This is a graphic of the entire Royal Caribbean fleet in a single word cloud. We took a bunch of content we had written about the Royal ships and processed it to create this graphic. If you're not familiar with word clouds, larger words are those used more often and smaller words are used less often.

We kind of like the way that it summarises a lot of what there is to say about the cruise line in a single graphic (and it looks a bit like a fish?!?).

Cruise Stories of the Week

Remembering Cruise Disasters: Tasteful or Tacky? - Cruise Critic has a thought provoking article in reponse to the news that an Australian man is planning to build a replica Titanic and sail it across the Atlantic and another story about a memorial to the dead from the Costa Concordia.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2012/06/27/remembering-cruise-disasters-tasteful-or-tacky/

NCL Norwegian Star to the Rescue - Frommers Cruise Blog reports how NCL responded to a yacht that had lost it's rudder and saved the six passengers on board.
http://www.frommers.com/community/blogs/blog.cfm/cruise-blog/ncls-norwegian-star-rescues-six-stranded-yacht

A Tour of the World's Biggest Cruise Ship - The Huff Post has a video showing a tour of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/smithsonian/the-worlds-biggest-cruise_b_1627796.html

A Cruise Ship Wedding - An article breaking down the costs of getting married on a cruise. This one's really interesting and shows how this particular cruise wedding came in well under the cost of a national average wedding budget.
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/06/15/frugal-or-foolish-our-cruise-ship-wedding/

New Cruise Ship, Carnival Breeze - And finally, Captain Greybeard gives his thoughts on the recently launched Carnival Breeze cruise ship.
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/captain-greybeard/2012/06/theres-a-breath-of-fresh.html

My Favourite River Cruises in Europe

With air travel becoming an increasingly stressful and unpleasant means of transport, I would like to discuss the serene and relaxing world of river cruising. Modern river boats offer the ultimate in luxury, with fine dining facilities and excellent accommodations on-board. They also have the advantage of almost always being able to pull into the very heart of any city you visit, making them as good a proposition as any hotel.

Enjoying a river cruises in Europe is one of the most intimate and relaxing ways to explore all that this continent has to offer. Cruising down some of Europe’s most gorgeous rivers on an escorted tour you get the opportunity to really feel the atmosphere of cities and villages that border them. In this article I would like to highlight some of my favourite river cruises in Europe. 

The Po River

The Po River, at 405 miles, is the longest river in Italy and is a truly charming destination for a river cruise in Europe. Encompassing the majestic scenery of Northern Italy and the romance of beautiful Venice, a Po River cruise has something for everyone to enjoy. A cruise along the Po River gives you the chance to experience some of the finest Renaissance art and architecture anywhere in the world.

The Elbe River

The historic and charming Elbe River is one of Europe’s least discovered rivers, making it the perfect destination for a river cruise. Beginning in the culturally fascinating and historic Berlin, this cruise then meanders through rural Germany towards the beautiful city of Dresden where I recommend a walking tour of the city which has been carefully restored after massive bombing during the Second World War. Finally, the cruise heads towards Prague where I recommend you spend a day exploring the various palaces, museums and squares.

The Danube River

A cruise along the Danube River through Budapest, Esztergom, Bratislava, Salzburg and Vienna is one of the most interesting and varied river cruises in the world. This cruise is guaranteed to eliminate the daily stresses of life as you cruise past the architectural delights this region has to offer. Of particular note is the restore old town of Bratislava, the monastery at Melk and a tour of Salzburg.

The Rhine River

The River Rhine is dotted with romantic castles, medieval towns, stunning cathedrals and truly magnificent scenery, making it a magical place for a river cruise. One of the best times to take a Rhine Cruise is between July and August when hilltop castles and palaces are lit up at night with fireworks that truly need to be seen to be believed. One of the most impressive castles you will pass is the Marksburg Castle, near Koblenz.

Fred Set To Take The UK by Storm

Looks like Fred Olsen are to branch out into a hopefully successful venture to offer cruises departing from most UK ports. With the cost of connections and land-based travel always increasing, it makes sense to try and board a European cruise from as close to home as possible. Fred Olsen's planned itinerary will allow this to happen for a lot more holiday makers.

Fred.Olsen has announced it will be offering sailings direct from Harwich as of May 2013, in a bid to attract more guests. This cunning new move will see Fred.Olsen dominate most of the UK sailing ports, as they currently already sail from the majority of British ports.

Director of cruises.com James Cole said: “I think this cruise line is certainly on the right tracks to attracting plenty more guests to their ships. Since their recent move of allowing sailings from Liverpool have been so successful for the company, it seems only logical that they would offer sailings from as many ports as they can, to make life easier and hassle-free for customers.”

“I wish them well and hope to see other cruise lines take note. Sailing from the UK has become so popular in recent years; it won’t be long before other cruise lines jump on board.”

The Black Watch will be the ship to be based out of Harwich in Essex and will offer sailings to the Baltic, Norway and Lapland.

Sales and marketing director Nathan Philpot said: "Harwich International Port has long been on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines" radar as a turnaround port following a series of successful transit calls in recent years.

"Its direct rail connections from London - whereby guests alight right next to the Cruise Terminal - make this an extremely easy port to access."

In addition, this British-based cruise line will be offering a Sir Bobby Robson Memorial mini-cruise and fits perfectly with the move to Harwich as it is the port closest to Sir Bobby’s team of Ipswich.

This memorial cruise which will visit Amsterdam and Newcastle, looks set to raise significant amounts of cash for the Sir Bobby Robson foundation as guest speakers and fundraising activities will be present on board.

Cruise Norway - The Land of Enchantment

Famous for its awe-inspiring fjords and striking mountains, Norway is one of those places that will truly take your breath away… So it comes as no surprise that a number of cruise lines, like Fred. Olsen and Royal Caribbean offer the most amazing adventures here.

Whilst on a Norwegian fjords cruise, you’ll be treated to quite a show. Expect snow-capped mountains, glaciers, charming little fishing villages and much more…

Introducing the Norwegian Fjords…

The Geirangerfjord

A World Heritage site, this fjord is full of sparkling waterfalls, deep gorges and the most stunning scenery. One of Norway's most visited tourist sites; Geirangerfjord looks as though it’s been plucked from the most enchanting fairy-tale...

Two famous waterfalls can be found in the Geirangerfjord: the Seven Sisters and the Suitor. Facing one another across the fjord, legend has it that the Suitor is trying to seduce the seven sisters opposite.

The Nordfjord

Nestled between the Geirangerfjord and the Sognefjord, take a journey along the shore of the Nordfjord for an unforgettable experience.  Tall mountains, glaciers and mountaintop forests dominate… this fjord is a truly captivating place. Stretching from the Jostedalsbreen Glacier out to the Stadhavet Ocean, the Nordfjord is the sixth longest fjord in Norway. There are also 10 nature trails along the Nordfjord – it’s the perfect destination for the avid explorer.

The Sognefjord

Norway's longest and deepest fjord, it is in Sognefjord you will find many of Norway's attractions, including three national parks and two UNESCO sites. With waterfalls plunging down steep mountains, the Sognefjord offers an incredible sight.  Fishing in rivers or the deep mountain lakes can be enjoyed in the Sognefjord. Mountain hikes, climbing and skiing are favourite activities too.

The Hardangerfjord

The Hardangerfjord is well known for fruit tree blossoming in the spring, the Folgefonna Glacier and Norway’s most famous waterfall - the Vøringsfossen. Situated near Bergen, the fjord offers visitors plenty to see and do including Glacier walking on the Folgefonna Glacier, a visit to the Hardanger National Tourist Route and a trip to see the Vøringsfossen Waterfall.

A Glimpse into some of Norway’s Ports of Call…

Tromsø

The largest city above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is the starting point for many Polar expeditions. Found in the very northernmost part of Norway, Tromsø is a very charming Norwegian town and a popular port of call with many. Tromsø is also a cosmopolitan city, so much so, it has earned itself the nickname ‘Paris of the North’.

A popular tourist spot in Tromsø is the Polaria Science Museum and the architectural masterpiece that is the famous Artic Cathedral. In Tromsø, there’s also the opportunity to go dog sledding excursion, snowmobile or reindeer sledging.

And, to see Tromsø in all its glory, be sure to take a cable car 480 metres up to the top of Mount Storsteinen. From here, you’ll be able to take in the most spectacular views across Tromsø.

Flam

Meaning 'little place between steep mountains', Flam is a port of call that oozes charm. Located on the Aurlandsfjord - one of the fjords of Norway - Flam is home to the world’s steepest railway, the Flamsbana. Traveling around 865 metres above sea level, the journey offers an exhilarating, scenic experience from start to finish.  Surrounded by steep mountainsides, roaring waterfalls and deep valleys, Flam is a favourite destination with nature lovers.

The North Cape

The northernmost point of Europe, when you go on a cruise around the North Cape you will get to experience breath taking views, the cliff itself and the fact that you’re standing at the northernmost point of the continent! One of Norway's top travel destinations, a quarter of a million tourists stop by to admire the North Cape each summer.

No need to fly…

If you’re not keen on flying, then another great thing about Norway is that it’s often available round trip from the UK – so there’s no need to fly. Fred. Olsen, P&O Cruises, MSC, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity all offer cruises from the UK. 

Photo by Bods