Europe grows bigger, better for Royal Caribbean cruisers next year

The call for European cruises must be ringing loud in the ears of cruise execs, who seem to be dedicating more and more resources to that market. Royal Caribbean, for instance, is planning to deploy eight ships in 2010 for a broad assortment of European itineraries. Royal Caribbean will offer 57 unique Europe itineraries, visiting 22 countries and 55 ports.

And Royal will be firing its big guns at the European opportunity. The Freedom-class Independence of the Seas – the largest ship in Europe — is scheduled to summer for the third time out of Southampton, offering 14-night alternating Eastern and Western Mediterranean itineraries and 10- and 11-night Canary Island voyages.

Royal Caribbean also will position three Voyager-class ships in the region for the first time, with Adventure of the Seas to make her European debut joining sister-ships Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will round out the European fleet next year. While the destination is always the star on a European itinerary, the Royal Caribbean ships — big and new and loaded with amenities — may deserve equal billing.

Itineraries — to the Mediterranean as well as Western and Northern Europe — will range from four to 14 nights, with three- to five-night tour extensions available. Among the highlighted trips, for the first time Royal Caribbean will offer a 12-night voyage roundtrip voyage from Venice to the Holy Land aboard Vision of the Seas, which will overnight in Venice prior to departure. The schedule also calls for extended port time, to 10 pm or 11 pm, in Israel’s Ashdod and Eygypt’s Port Said and Alexandria. Other calls include Split, Croatia; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

So, what do you think? Will you be cruising Europe next year? If so, do the big-ship itineraries appeal to you?