Royal Caribbean Tailors Ship To West Coast Cruisers' Tastes
MIAMI, April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Royal Caribbean International today announced Monarch of the Seas will undergo extensive renovations, including the addition of new amenities and activities to appeal to West Coast cruisers, before arriving in her new homeport of Los Angeles in June 2003 to sail year-round, three- and four-night Baja Mexico cruises.
Renovations on the 2,350-passenger Monarch of the Seas will extend to every area of the ship, from expanded spa and fitness facilities to additional dining options to refurbished guest staterooms, public areas and lounges. Monarch also will be the first Royal Caribbean ship outside the Voyager and Radiance classes to sport one of the line's signature rock-climbing walls, which will appear fleetwide by the end of 2003.
"When we started looking at taking Monarch of the Seas to Los Angeles, we knew we wanted to offer the most amenity- and activity-packed ship sailing short cruises in that market," said Dan Hanrahan, senior vice president, Marketing and Sales, for Royal Caribbean International. "We conducted research and focus groups with experienced and non-experienced cruisers as well as
corporate leaders on the West Coast to uncover what they wanted in a cruise ship on both the vacation and business fronts. We found they want a quality experience that offers a wide range of choices for activities and entertainment. And that's what Monarch will deliver."
In addition to trying their skills on the new rock-climbing wall, fitness-conscious travelers on Monarch of the Seas can maintain their workout regimen at the relocated and expanded ShipShape Fitness Center and Spa. Moving to Deck 9, the new ShipShape facilities will have a contemporary look and feature a bigger gym with additional cardio equipment. The full-service spa will have a
hair and nails salon, as well as 11 treatment rooms, including a two-person room for couples.
California-style cuisine inspired the new additions to Monarch's two-story casual dining venue, the Windjammer Cafe. The first floor of the Windjammer will now include an Asian-fusion restaurant, Jade, in addition to its previous extensive buffet of contemporary entrees, salads, sandwiches, side dishes and desserts. The Windjammer also will be reconfigured with buffet "islands" to facilitate traffic flow. Upstairs, guests can try the exotic offerings at the upscale sushi bar, Jade Sushi, or check out the creative creations at the gourmet pizza station.
In addition, the ship's main dining rooms are being renamed and refurbished with design modifications as well as new carpet, chairs, tables and decor. The dining rooms -- now called Claude's and Vincent's -- will feature color palettes inspired by the works of Monet and Van Gogh. Between meals, guests can enjoy specialty drinks from Seattle's Best Coffee or indulge their sweet tooth with 16 different flavors from Ben & Jerry's at the new, sit-down coffee and ice cream parlor.
Vacationers looking for high-quality entertainment will find plenty to choose from. The mid-ship lounge on Deck 7 now will be a Latin-themed bar, Boleros, offering specialty tequilas and cocktail favorites like mojitos, as well as outstanding live entertainment including jazz bands and dueling
pianos. The secondary lounge on Deck 8 is being transformed into a disco hot spot with a new look and name - The Circuit. The main theater will also be updated with new carpet, upholstery and seating arrangements.
The renovations will triple the space dedicated to Monarch's Adventure Ocean Youth Program, giving younger guests additional amenities just for them. The new areas include a video arcade and three, teen-only concepts originally introduced on Royal Caribbean's newest Voyager-class ship, Navigator of the Seas: The Living Room coffee bar and hangout, complete with Club Cafe Internet center; Fuel nightclub; and The Back Deck, a private outdoor area.
For meetings and incentives groups, Royal Caribbean is adding a new conference center, featuring three individual meeting rooms, Voyager, Explorer and Adventure, which will accommodate a total of 240 people. The spacious center will be located on Deck 7, with large windows lining the outer rooms to allow meeting participants to enjoy the sun and sea views.
Other refurbishments will include updates to all staterooms -- new and upgraded bathrooms, carpets, linens, and artwork; general facelifts to the lobbies, elevators, landings, corridors and restrooms; and enhancements to the shopping areas and Pool Deck.
Renovations will begin in mid-April with limited, unobtrusive work being done while the ship is in service, followed by major demolition and rebuilding beginning mid-May in the Freeport, Bahamas, shipyard. Rebuilding will be completed in transit as Monarch relocates to Los Angeles with a crew-only Panama Canal passage.
Beginning June 6, Monarch of the Seas will depart Los Angeles on Fridays and Mondays, offering three-night, weekend cruises with a call in Ensenada, Mexico, and four-night, weekday cruises with stops in Ensenada, San Diego and Catalina Island. Fares currently start at $399 per person, double occupancy for summer sailings and $249 for fall cruises.
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand currently with 16 ships in service and three more under construction or on firm order. For additional information about the cruise line, please visit the company's web site at http://www.royalcaribbean.com or call 800-327-6700.