MSNBC, October 12, 2007

Whatever floats your boat

Like everyone else, I’d seen the TV ad a thousand times: fast-paced shots of trim, wisecracking people rock climbing, ice skating, jogging and mock-surfing aboard a Royal Caribbean ship, all synched to an infectious Iggy Pop beat. So I boarded my western Caribbean cruise on the 21-ship line’s newest, Liberty of the Seas, bound and determined to damn the torpedoes, seize the day — you name it. I’d show Mr. Pop a “Lust for Life”!

With 21 ships sailing the Caribbean from 12 U.S. ports, Royal Caribbean’s strategy is clearly one of flooding the zone. Liberty, the latest vessel to claim the title of world’s largest cruise ship (a designation shared with its sister, Freedom of the Seas), is nearly four football fields long, boasts 15 decks and can fit 4,375 passengers. As I scanned my pocket-sized ship map, an entire world of frenetic motion seemed to unfold before me.

I homed in on the action taking place aft on Deck 13, where passengers flocked to the FlowRider surfing simulator, Royal Caribbean’s most recent (and much-publicized) onboard innovation. Most people braved it flat on their bellies, boogie-board-style; a few made it onto their knees. No one managed to stand, but the crowd cheered nonetheless. At the rock wall nearby, kids scampered up with the effortless grace of Spider-Man, their red-faced parents gamely trying to keep pace.

Nearly exhausted simply from spectating, I wandered over to the fitness center (at 12,000 square feet, the largest one afloat) for a talk about acupuncture. The lecture series is part of the line’s new wellness program called Vitality, which also features a low-calorie menu, exercise classes, health-oriented shore excursions and spa treatments. I browsed the afternoon’s fitness schedule: Tai chi, meditation, yoga and spinning all sounded stimulating. But I decided to pass up New Age in favor of old-school: real boxing in a full-sized ring. The instructor hooked us up with red gloves and paired us with a partner to practice our uppercuts. Turns out I wasn’t quite rumble-ready, but it was a vigorous workout.

In the evening, activity gravitated to the Royal Promenade, a four-deck-high retail, restaurant and entertainment hub that’s a cross between Main Street and the mall (this is a floating city, after all). Cruisers browsed the boutiques, chatted at “outdoor” cafés, even grabbed a quick trim at the barbershop. I opted for the Champagne Bar, where happy hour was in full swing. Later I’d savor a mojito at Bolero’s Latin Lounge before returning to the main drag and the Hoof and Claw, an English pub with dark wood décor, dim lighting and pints aplenty. Across the way, families gathered at Sorrento’s pizza, the kids’ hair still strewn with glitter and confetti from the Promenade’s afternoon parade. I took it all in and reflected on the day. I’d survived a few rounds in the ring, found my pressure points and gone bar hopping. Ice skating, the gym and a go at the FlowRider topped the next day’s agenda. Somewhere, Iggy was smiling. 

From $499 per person for double occupancy on a seven-night Caribbean cruise; www.royalcaribbean.com

Check out the rollicking Ever After, a Broadway-style evening revue featuring adult interpretations of classic fairy tales.

New on Royal Caribbean for 2008

The next-in-line “largest ship in the world,” Independence of the Seas, launches in May, sailing six- and eight-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale.

Voyager of the Seas cruises the Caribbean from its new home port, Galveston, Texas, through April.

See more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21224183/

Debbie Snow
October 12, 2007

 

 

© 2009 Antenna Audio. All rights reserved. Antenna Audio is part of Discovery Communications Inc. Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. Website created by SWOP.