26 August 2008

Not-so-odd sailing couple

Nickelodeon and Royal Caribbean International announced plans to again set sail jointly next summer.

ââ¬ÅâœBased on the success of the first-ever, sold out Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean, the two companies are teaming up to offer families new cruises from each U.S. coastââ¬'one on Mariner of the Seas to the Western Mexican Rivera, and another on the Freedom of the Seas to the Eastern Caribbean,ââ¬~ say the companies.

The announcement was made just after the completion of the first-ever Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean earlier this month.

ââ¬ÅâœWe are witnessing the coming of age of Nickelodeon families and seeing an emerging family dynamic of kids and parents wanting to spend a lot more time together,ââ¬~ said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. 

The 2009 Nickelodeon Family Cruises will depart from the East and West coasts: the first cruise will sail from Los Angeles, Calif. on July 26, 2009, on Royal Caribbeanââ¬â¢s Mariner of the Seas, the largest ship to be home ported on the West Coast, and will travel to the Mexican Rivera (exact locations to be determined); the Eastern Caribbean itinerary will leave on Aug. 9, 2009 from Port Canaveral, Fla., on the largest ship in the cruise industry--the Freedom of the Seas--and will sail to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Royal Caribbeanââ¬â¢s private island, CocoCay, Bahamas.   

Mariner of the Seas offers various amenities such as on-board ice-skating rink, full-size basketball court, inline skating track, the cruise lineââ¬â¢ iconic rock-climbing wall and the Royal Promenade, a boulevard of shops, restaurants, bars and lounges that runs nearly the length of the ship. 

Freedom of the Seas, the largest ship in the world, also offers a multitude of activities, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the H2O Zone water park, an ice skating rink, a nine-hole mini-golf course, 10-route rock-climbing wall, as well as the lineââ¬â¢s other signature amenities.

Report by David Wilkening

• PRINT
• SEND TO A FRIEND
• SHARE

Post your comment

Your Comments (1)

, be the first to post a comment.
Your email:

Your comment title:


Your comment:

Email other comments made to this story

5 characters

• Freedom -second largest!
  
  

  Freedom of the Seas, the largest ship in the world..NOT SO! The sister ship Independence of the Seas launched this year, is a few inches longer! We in Europe have enjoyed this amazing ship (complete with HEATED swimming and whirlpools for Europe!) all season since it was released from the shipyard in February, it has yet to sail to the USA. So you will forgive me if I sneak in another Med round trip from Southampton before it heads to Florida!

  By JULIAN BRAY MCIPR, NUJ, MMC, Thursday, August 28, 2008