The world’s biggest cruise-liner, Symphony of the Seas, has left the shipyard of Saint-Nazaire in France to embark on its maiden voyage in the Mediterranean. French shipbuilder STX handed over to U.S. giant Royal Caribbean International on Friday. The ship, which weighs 228,000 tonnes, is 362 metres long just 20 metres shy of the length of the Empire State Building. It is marginally bigger than its sister ship, the Harmony of the Seas, which STX France delivered to Royal Caribbean in 2016. Love cruising? Read: Which are the world's most popular cruises! The Symphony will head to Malaga in Spain and spending its first season in the Mediterranean before heading to its home port of Miami. Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of
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These are changing times. With Cuba getting closer to the world. Salsa music, dominoes, Mojitos and historic Havana neighborhoods are easier to reach than ever before for guests on Royal Caribbean International. The newly revitalized Empress of the Seas will make history for the cruise line with its first visit to Cuba during a 5-night sailing departing Miami on April 19, 2017. The ship will then reposition to Tampa offering two itineraries with calls to Havana on April 30 (7-night sailing) and May 20 (5-night sailing). These Empress of the Seas sailings are now open for sale. Empress of the Seas will homeport in Tampa for the 2017 summer season – the cruise line’s first-ever summer program from the destination – offering a series of 4- and 5-night sailings, including port calls to destin
Read MoreNorwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Cruise Line's New York-themed ship, was named Best New Ship in 2013 Editors' Picks Awards. The ship, which had a debut in April 2013, was lauded for its state-of-the-art sports complex and variety of dining options -- including waterfront venues and celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian's new restaurant, Ocean Blue. Cruise Critic's international team of editors named the best cruise lines, ships and ports for 2013. Cruise lines were awarded in 18 categories. Over the past year, Cruise Critic's editors covered every major ocean and river cruise line in the world -- around 75 cruise lines, representing more than 400 ships. Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic explained, "Choosing the best out of that list is always a tough task; there are so ma...
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