Royal Caribbean Cruises is celebrating an addition to its summer 2013 deployment in the U.K. – in May 2013, the 3,114-guest Adventure of the Seas will offer cruises from Southampton alongside the 3,634-guest Independence of the Seas, based in Southampton for its fifth season. Royal Caribbean International first based a ship in Southampton in 2005 with the 2,435-guest Legend of the Seas and this has since steadily increased with larger and larger ships calling the cruise city home. The year 2013 is the first that two Royal Caribbean International cruise ships will be based from Southampton. Independence of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas’ summer 2013 U.K. cruises will be open for booking on March 20, 2012.
This is great for cruisers for 2 reasons. First of all, airfare into London is always consistently more affordable than flying into other major cities in Europe. Secondly, for the days at sea, both of these ships offer a plethora of activities for both adults and children.
When Adventure of the Seas arrives in Southampton on May 24, 2013, the ship will offer a series of seven-, 12-, 13-, 14- and 16-night cruises. Itinerary highlights from the new Adventure of the Seas U.K.-based summer 2013 season include:
- A seven-night France and Spain cruise departing Southampton on May 24, 2013 and calling at Vigo, Gijon and Bilbao in Spain, and Le Havre for Paris in France.
- A 12-night Baltic cruise, featuring destinations such as Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki and an overnight stay in St. Petersburg, departing on a May 31.
- A 14-night Mediterranean Cities cruise departing on July 7 and October 13, with ports of call in Malaga, Cannes, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Cartegena, Lisbon and Vigo.
Adventure of the Seas features an in-line skating track, an ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall, a boulevard of restaurants, boutiques and lounges, running through the center of the ship, extensive family facilities, and a host of restaurants from fine Italian dining to casual burger bars.
On May 2, 2013 Independence of the Seas will arrive in Southampton, following a dry dock enhancement, and offer a series of new itineraries, including three short cruises aboard the Freedom-class ship: a two-night cruise to Le Havre for Paris, and a three- and four-night cruise to Zeebrugge for Bruges, Belgium and Le Havre. Independence of the Seas also will offer a six- and eight-night cruise to Norway, 14-night Norway and Cork cruises, various 14-night Mediterranean cruises, and 12 night Canary Islands cruises.
Independence of the Seas features the FlowRider® surf simulator, a rock climbing wall, ice-skating rink for both ice shows and ice skating, cantilevered whirlpools, H2O water zone with water guns and interactive geysers, Royal Promenade with live parades, outdoor movie screen, 3D move theater, mini golf course, and much more.
