RCI adds additional 2011-2012 Europe cruises

ROYAL Caribbean International, represented by Cruises International, has announced 47 additional Europe cruises in 2011-2012 aboard Splendour of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. The cruise line now offers 27 unique itineraries with calls at 30 ports in 12 countries. Sailing round-trip from Venice, Splendour of the Seas will offer a new series of 10- and 11-night Greek Isles and Turkey itineraries. Mariner of the Seas will homeport in Rome (Civitavecchia) and offer a variety of Western Mediterranean, Egypt and Holy Land itineraries ranging from six to 13 nights. Additionally, travellers can choose a Royal Caribbean Europe cruisetour land package, which combines a voyage aboard either ship with an escorted land tour to explore inland cities and attractions. Bookings for these 2011 Europe cruises and cruisetours are now open. With Royal Caribbean cruisetour land packages, travellers can also opt for an Italian Lakes and Venice cruisetour, which combines a sailing aboard Splendour of the Seas with a three-night itinerary that explores Italy’s Stresa, situated along the west shore of the spectacular Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. The cruisetour includes an excursion to Lake Como for a private boat tour, a walking tour of Piazza San Marco and the grand, gothic Doge’s Palace, and an overnight in Venice. Travellers can further choose the Venice, Florence and Rome cruisetour, which combines a sailing aboard Mariner of the Seas with a five-night land tour including the three cities. All Royal Caribbean cruisetours are escorted by a Tour Director, and ground transfers, hotel reservations, city tours and some meals are included. Guests also have an expansive array of shore excursion options to enhance their Europe vacation, at an additional charge. On Mariner of the Seas’ Holy Land cruises, guests can choose ‘Grand Overland’ and visit some sacred sites in Israel, including Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Wailing Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and an overnight stay in Jerusalem. The ‘Grand Egypt Tour’ includes Cairo, with the Pyramids and Sphinx, and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, while the ‘Best of Ephesus’ highlights this Turkish city, which has the largest collection of Roman ruins in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the iconic Library of Celsius. On the Splendour of the Seas, guests can sample local wines while taking in the vistas from the village of Oia on ‘Village of Oia and Santorini Island’, or spend the day at the beautiful beach resort of Dassia Chandris Hotel in Corfu on the ‘Dassia Beach Hotel Package’. In Venice, Splendour of the Seas will join Voyager of the Seas. Travellers can choose from alternating 10-night Greek Isles and 11-night Greek Isles and Turkey itineraries, the latter featuring an overnight in Venice at the start of the cruise. Splendour of the Seas will kick off the season with an eight-night Western Europe itinerary from Lisbon to Venice, departing on April 14. A seven-night Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona, departing November 18, will conclude Splendour of the Seas’ Europe season, followed by a 15-night transatlantic voyage to São Paulo (Santos), Brazil. From Rome (Civitavecchia), Mariner of the Seas will alternate 11- to 13-night Mediterranean Egypt and Mediterranean Holy Land itineraries, calling at several Greek and Italian ports. The Egypt cruises feature two full-day calls at Alexandria and the Holy Land cruises offers a full-day each at both Ashdod and Haifa, Israel. Mariner of the Seas also will offer six consecutive sailings of a seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary, beginning July 22, followed by a one-time six-night Western Mediterranean cruise, departing September 2.