Will we see the aurora borealis?

Well, the chances are not great from what I have read.

Here is a website that gives a 'forecast' about when it can be seen.

www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast

I have read that you see it best during winter.  Some people have said they see it during August at times.  So I will keep my fingers crossed!

Do you watch the show Deadliest Catch?

Then this the excursion in Ketchikan for you!  Here is their website:

http://56degreesnorth.com/

Here is the video of the rogue wave that hit the Alleutian Ballad (the fishing boat) during the filming of Deadliest Catch on the Discovery channel.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l_8hOai9hGQ

Here are some reviews of this one from Cruise Critic as well.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1793357

Enjoy!

Snorkel Alaska?

Yes you can!  I checked out the website though and it sounds like you can only book it through the cruise line that you are cruising with.

You can find more information at the website below if you are interested.

www.snorkelalaska.com/home.html

Enjoy!

Bears and Whales and Ducks! Oh my!

John and I have been talking non-stop about the whales and bears we will see while in Alaska.  We never thought about ducks.   You can even ride the ducks that are native to Ketchikan.

Well...  Maybe I better explain.

I am actually talking about the Alaska Amphibious Tours.

www.akduck.com

John and I have done duck tours in St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Branson.  They are always a fun, unique way to tour the town you are visiting.  So this is just anther option for an economical way to do a city tour.

John, do we still have all our 'duck calls' that we have collected over the years?  LOL

Got a paddle?

No worries!  You won't need one for this touristy spot - Creek Street in Ketchikan, Alaska.

This is a neat little place in Ketchikan where you can shop in town on a wooden boardwalk.  While walking the boardwalk, you may see salmon spawning or possibly other wildlife trying to catch some salmon for lunch!

Check out this website for more information :

www.creekstreetketchikan.com

Enjoy!

A little video vacation for you this evening

I did a little searching on YouTube and came across these videos for your enjoyment.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MCmR36lG8V8

http://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL376CE6C2834D450B

The first one looks like someone's personal video of the way the ship looks now after it's
 last upgrade. The second link has about 20 videos on it with RCCL representatives giving information about the Radiance of the Seas last upgrade.

Enjoy!

To ship or not to ship....

That was the question at hand this past weekend.  My hubby was wondering whether it would be wise to ship luggage to Alaska and avoid any additional baggage charges.

I checked on delta.com and I thought they allowed for at least one free checked bag but from what I see now, Delta charges $25 for the first piece of luggage and $35 for the second piece.  The luggage must be 50lbs or less.

You are allowed to carry on one item and one personal item.

You can ship items I guess but I read that some hotels are now charging an 'acceptance' fee when the package first gets there as well as a 'holding' fee for each day that they hold your items.  So make sure you check all of your options.

I think you can also ship to the local post office and have them hold it there.  I have never done this so it would take some more research.

Nothing like the airlines taking advantage of you every which way they can!

And still thinking about my husband...

Or anyone else who likes a libation while cruising....

Royal Caribbean has started offering drink packages on their cruises.  I have placed a link below:

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Onboard_Experience/12032090_Beverage_Package_Flyer_FAQ.pdf

Read all of the details though.  The thing that I did not like is that if one person in 
the cabin purchases the package then everyone in that cabin must purchase it.  John and I 
are still debating this one.

Enjoy!

Ahhhh... Quit your 'wine'ing already!

Or maybe not!

I just read that Royal Caribbean now allows passengers to carry on 2 (750 ml) bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom on embarkation day.

We have cruised on Royal Caribbean several times and this was never allowed.  Several other cruise lines have started allowing this so I guess Royal is playing follow the leader.

So....  If you like a glass of wine now and again, plan accordingly!

Enjoy!

Get your BOGO deals here

Here are links to two travel coupon books that I have recently read about.

Toursaver - http://www.toursaver.com/

Northern Lights - http://www.alaska-discounts.com/

These books can be bought online.  They are a little pricey so I encourage you to look 
through both websites and see if the coupons that are included are ones that you would
use.

They basically have a lot of buy one/get one deals in them.  If the excursions you are 
thinking of purchasing are pricey and they are one of the one in these coupon books then
you might want to consider getting one of these coupon books.  In order to get the full value
of the book though, it seems you would have to be able to use more than one coupon.


Enjoy!

"I'm king of the glacier"

Want to have a chance to shout that out?

ERA helicopter tours does a glacier tour in Juneau.  I have read that some people have done the Harv and Marv's whale watching tour in the morning followed by the ERA helicopter glacier tour later in the afternoon.  It is kind of pricey but from what I have read and the pictures that I have seen, it is beautiful.

Here is the website:

https://www.eraflightseeing.com/content/e1485/e1486/e1487/index_eng.html

Enjoy!

Great ABCNews article about Alaska

Good evening everyone!

My friend sent me a link with an article that ABC News did about touring Alaska.  I found the article really interesting so I thought I would share.  It basically gives some great ideas for 'thinking outside of the box' when touring Alaska.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/alaska-skip/t/story?id=18333475

Happy Reading!

Anyone want to do something 'jeep' in Skagway?

Hey there!  I said JEEP not CHEAP.  But this option is a lot more economical than the ship jeep excursion.  And it will give us more freedom!

Check out this website - www.alaskagreenjeeptours.com

John and I think this sounds great!  We could rent some jeeps for the day and tour Skagway at our leisure.  The jeep comes with a CD that tells you about local places to visit, maps, and a cooler in the back with drinks and some lite snacks!

Let us know what you think!

Vancouver, British Columbia

Hello everyone!  I started doing a little digging around about the Ports of call that we will be visiting.  Here is a little information about Vancouver, British Columbia.  This is our last stop on Friday, 8/23.

Here is a tourism website for Vancouver.  Don’t miss the 25 Free things to do in Vancouver part of this website.

http://www.tourismvancouver.com/do/

Here is a great news article from US News about their listing of the top 10 things to do here:

http://travel.usnews.com/Vancouver_Canada/Things_To_Do/

This website had some interesting ideas (ummm…  Nude beach anyone?  Haha!  Seriously…  there were other ideas here too.)

http://www.timeout.com/vancouver/features/318/20-great-things-to-do-in-vancouver

Ketchikan, Alaska

Hello everyone!  I started doing a little digging around about the Ports of call that we will be visiting.  Here is a little information about Ketchikan, Alaska.  We will be visiting here on Wednesday, 8/21.  A lot of the websites say the same thing so I put the best websites I could fine below.

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/ThingstoDo.aspx

Here are some additional things to do in a day in this town:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/alaska/ketchikan/things-to-do

Here is another great website that lists the local favorites.

http://www.alaskatravelers.com/thingsto.htm

This website gives some great information about tours, and taxis, and rental cars, etc.

http://www.cruiseportinsider.com/ketchikanonyourown.html

Icy Strait Point

Hello everyone!  I thought I would start doing a little digging around about the Ports of call that we will be visiting.  So, let me tell you a little bit about Icy Strait Point.  We will be visiting here on Tuesday, 8/20.

 

Located near the town of Hoonah, Icy Strait Point was made for cruise ships.  I have read reviews that say that Icy Strait is one of best places for Alaskan made souvenirs.  Many people also say that this town has the best whale watching and bear watching because it is still pretty primitive compared to other stops on our trip.

Here are two great websites that have A LOT of information about the town:

http://www.visithoonah.com/index.html

http://www.icystraitpoint.com/

The following are tour companies/plac4es that trip advisor ranked as being the best of the best.  I did some research and tried to find websites for each particular tour place that was mentioned on TripAdvisor’s website but was not successful in all cases. 

Hoonah Travel Adventures – This was declared as the BEST whale watching excursion company in Icy Strait.  Here is their website - http://www.hoonahwhalewatching.com/

Icy Strait Whale Adventures - http://icystraitwhaleadventures.com/

Ear Mountain Charters - http://earmountaincharters.com/ - They offer whale watching, salmon fishing or halibut fishing.

Glacier Wind Charters - http://g-wind.com/ - They offer whale watching, salmon fishing or halibut fishing.

Misty Bay Lodge Whale Watching - http://www.mistybaylodge.com/ - This company offers whale watching and bear watching! 

Icy Strait Point ZipRider - http://www.ziprider.com/rides/icy-strait-point/ - This looks like a lot of fun and an interesting way to see the town!

F.I.S.H.E.S. - http://visithoonah.com/fishes/

Game Creek Guides - http://www.gamecreekguides.com/ - offer fishing/hunting excursions. Whale watching and bear watching.

TECKK Outfitters - http://www.teckkoutfittersicystrait.com/TECKKPage2.html

Tribal Dance & Cultural Legends at Icy Strait - http://www.icystraitpoint.com/Plan/CulturalExperience/1/Tribal-Dance-Cultural-Legends 

Brown Bear Lodge - http://brownbearlodge.com/

These are 3 more things that Trip Advisor recommended but I could not find independent websites for them.  If you view the two websites I initially listed above, you may find some information on these.

Museum at Icy Strait

Alaskan Raven Charters
Warehouse Shops at Icy Strait Point

Skagway, Alaska

Hello everyone!  I started doing a little digging around about the Ports of call that we will be visiting.  Here is a little information about Skagway, Alaska.  We will be visiting here on Monday, 8/19.

Let’s start off with some FREE activities that you can do:

1.   Stop by the Skagway Visitor Center in AB Hall on Broadway between 2nd and 3rd.
2.   Pick up a copy of the Skaguay Alaskan – Guide to Skagway.
3.   Walk out to the Gold Rush Cemetery and Reid Falls.
4.   Stroll the restored Historic Boardwalk of Broadway in the Skagway Historic District.
5.   Enjoy a walking tour of the Historic District with the National Park Service ranger.
6.   Visit the Klondike Gold National Historical Park Visitor Center at the corner of 2nd and Broadway.
7.   Watch the film “Days of Adventure/Dream of Gold” at the corner of 2nd and Broadway.
8.   Stroll by the Skagway school completed in 1985, located at the corner of 15th and Main Streets. It was built as a commitment to the future and offers a comprehensive academic and activity program to the students in grades K-12.
9.    Tour the unique shops in Skagway.
10.  Photograph the McCabe / City Hall building.
11.  Drive or walk to the Lookout on Dyea Road.
12.  Hike to Lower Dewey Lake.
13.  Hike the A.B. Mountain Trail.
14.  Stroll out to Yakutania Point.
15.  Relax in Molly Walsh or Pullen Creek Park.
16.  Watch salmon spawn in August - Pullen Creek.
17.  Take a break in the local library featuring Gold Rush books and resource material.
18.  Stop and smell the fragrance of the many beautiful flowers in Alaska’s Garden City.
19.  Take a Dyea Townsite Bushwhack tour led by the National Park Service.
20.  Pick-up a self-guided walking tour from the Visitor Information Center.

Here is the official Skagway page:

http://skagway.com/

Here is a neat website that has webcams that you can view during the Alaska travel season to see what is going on during the day:

http://www.wpyr.com/explore/webcam.html

Chamber of commerce
http://www.skagwaychamber.org/

Here is a good day’s tour that I read about on another blog:
1.        A nostalgic tour of the town with Skagway Street Car Company.
2.       Lunch at Stowaway Café
3.       A short journey outside of town to the ghost town Dyea
4.       A four-hour scenic journey aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Here was another website with some great ideas:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/alaska/skagway/things-to-do

The following website had some great excursion ideas.  I personally thought the Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Tour.  It sounded like a great excursion.  A little hiking and a little raft ride.  I also liked the sound of the Liarsville Rush Camp, Gold Panning and Salmon Bake Combo.  And the last one I liked was the Scenic River Float Tour.

http://www.viator.com/Skagway/d943-ttd

Enjoy!

Juneau, Alaska

Hello everyone!  I started doing a little digging around about the Ports of call that we will be visiting.  Here is a little information about Juneau, Alaska.  We will be visiting here on Sunday, 8/18.

Juneau is located in the panhandle of Alaska and is the capital of that state.  Here is a really good website with information about Juneau:

http://www.juneau.org/

Here is a great link to 10 FREE things to do while in Juneau:

http://www.traveljuneau.com/cms/Free-Things.php

Here is another great list of the top 20 things to do in Juneau:

1.        Tracy’s Arm Fjord
2.       Mendenhall Glacier
3.       Shrine of St. Therese
4.       Alaska State Museum
5.       Mount Robert’s Trail
6.       Macauley Salmon Hatchery
7.       Mount Robert Tramway
8.       MV Taku (Alaska’s Marine Highway System)
9.       Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure
10.   Juneau Rainforest Garden
11.   The State Capital building
12.   Juneau-Douglas City Museum
13.   Alaska Powder Descents
14.   Point Bridget State Park
15.   Juneau Arts & Humanities
16.   Cope Park
17.   Eaglecrest Ski Area
18.   St. Nicholas
19.   Last Chance Mining Museum
20.   Chicagof Island

For us beer drinkers in the group, here are a couple of links to a unique experience in Juneau:

http://travel.usnews.com/Juneau_AK/Things_To_Do/Alaskan_Brewing_Company_62287/

http://www.alaskanbeer.com/

Radiance of the Seas information

When Royal Caribbean debuted its first-in-class Radiance of the Seas in 2001, passengers raved about the light that came streaming through the ship's glassy exterior. Ten years later, the line has put $20 million into giving the 90,090-ton, 2,139-passenger vessel something of a new identity.

During a spring 2011 makeover, Radiance gained eight dining choices already found on (big) sisters Oasis and Allure of the Seas, including a Japanese restaurant and Brazilian churrascaria, as well as cabin upgrades throughout, bow-to-stern Wi-Fi and a giant poolside movie screen.  Other additions from the 2011 refurb included a new nursery for kids ages six months to 36 months (also an Oasis-class staple), 12 new cabins, interactive flat-screen TV systems in all accommodations, as well as the installation of touch-screen "wayfinders" (again, Oasis) throughout the ship to make it easier to find out what's going on where, and how best to get there.

With all the new bells and whistles, there's definitely more to love about Radiance than ever before. But the main attraction is still the "mid-sized" ship's warm, light-loving design. With vast expanses of open space and floor-to-ceiling windows at every turn, you might even find yourself wearing sunglasses inside. In fact, half of the ship's exterior is glass -- and there are even outside elevators spanning 12 decks, an innovation first seen on sister line Celebrity Cruises' Millennium-class vessels.  And, even before the Oasis-style makeover, Radiance was known for incorporating the best features from other RCI ships: the variety of activity and entertainment options of the Voyager class (like rock-climbing), the sleek profile of the Sovereign class, and the global itineraries (the ship splits time between Alaska and Australia) and wealth of windows, glass doors and canopies of the Vision class.

Post-refurb, Radiance 2.0 offers even more diversity of choice, particularly in dining, while maintaining the intimate vibe afforded by its modest size. (In the Royal Caribbean fleet, only the line's 78,491-ton Vision-class ships are smaller.) It's a ship that will make Royal Caribbean loyalists feel right at home, yet happily up with the times, too. 

Radiance of the Seas Fellow Passengers

Royal Caribbean typically appeals to couples and singles in their 30's to 50's, as well as multi-generational families. The median age is in the low 40's on seven-night cruises and in the 30's on three-and four-night cruises. Passengers on cruises ten days and longer tend to be 50-plus. Royal

Caribbean attracts passengers that are looking for an affordable, active vacation. During the Alaska summer season, count on cruising with mostly Americans and Canadians. When the ship repositions Down Under, the Australians naturally come out in droves.

Radiance of the Seas Dress Code

Two formal nights are scheduled on seven-day voyages. About half the men opt for dark suits instead of tuxedoes. Daytime wear is casual. Bring layers and rain gear (just in case) for Alaska.

Radiance of the Seas Gratuity

Royal Caribbean recommends $3.75 per person, per day to the dining room waiter; $5 per person, per day to the cabin steward (or $7.25 if you're in a suite); $0.75 per person, per day to the headwaiter; and $2.15 per person, per day to the assistant waiter. This totals $11.65 for those in standard cabins and $13.90 for those in suites. Gratuities can be pre-paid in advance (and must be if you opt for flexible dining), added to your onboard bill or paid in cash at the end of the cruise. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar tabs.

Radiance of the Seas Cabins

Of the 1,071 cabins, 825 are outside and 577 of those have balconies. Only Oasis and Allure have a higher proportion of balcony accommodations.  Good middle-of-the-road choices in a balcony cabin are Categories E1, E2, and E3 measuring 179 square feet with a 41-square-foot balcony

(though still on the small end of industry average). These are situated on Decks 7, 8, 9 and 10, with the ones on Deck 10 closest to the pools andother outdoor amenities.  Family cabins accommodate six people with twin beds that convert to a queen and additional bunk beds, plus a sofa bed in a separate area.

All cabins have wireless internet access and Internet ports, as well as interactive flat-screen TV's, complete with interactive technology that allows passengers to do things like order room service or book a shore excursion from their cabin (added during the 2011 refurb).  During the 2011 dry-dock, Radiance received 12 new accommodations -- the new cabins were constructed in spaces formerly used for room service staging and in former private dining areas. They include one new family suite, five interior and six exterior cabins.  The most lavish accommodation is the Royal Suite -- a palatial 1,034-square-foot suite with a 172-square-foot balcony and such amenities as a baby grand piano; wet bar; entertainment center with 42-inch flat screen TV, stereo and VCR; and bath with whirlpool, bidet and steam shower.  Wheelchair-accessible cabins are available in a variety of categories.

Radiance of the Seas Dining

During Radiance's 2011 makeover, the ship's onboard dining options received the greatest overhaul. Basically, Radiance was outfitted with nearly every signature dining experience that had debuted on Allure of the Seas -- effectively doubling passengers' culinary options. But bear in mind that

the majority of the new venues require a supplemental fee.  The main dining room, Cascades, is an elegant, two-level restaurant featuring a grand staircase, columns, and, true to its name, a cascading

waterfall. Service by the smiling international staff is attentive, and despite the massive space (with seating for 1,110 passengers), the dining experience still takes on an intimate feel, particularly at dinner. At dinner passengers can choose between assigned early (6:15 p.m.) or late (8:30 p.m.) dining. Alternatively, you can opt for My Time Dining (RCI's flexible option), in which you pick a preferred mealtime (between 6 and 9:30 p.m.), but can change your reservations on a daily basis or simply walk in when you're hungry. Passengers who choose My Time Dining will need to pre-pay gratuities.

Expect the standard selection of red meat, poultry, seafood and international cuisine. Passengers in the dining room can also opt for Vitality menu selections (with less than 30 percent of calories derived from fat) and vegetarian dishes for lunch and dinner.  Breakfast and lunch in Cascades are open seating.  A casual, no reservations, no-fee dinner alternative is served in the Windjammer Cafe where breakfast and lunch are also served buffet-style with a choice of indoor and outdoor seating.  The ship's former Seaview Cafe has been replaced with Samba Grill, aft on Deck 12. Open for dinner each evening, it's a Brazilian-style steakhouse with meat, chicken and seafood sliced directly onto your plate. The cover charge to dine at Samba Grill is $25 per person.  The new Chef's Table, another dining addition inspired by Allure, brings the private dining experience to Radiance passengers via a five-course feast with wine pairings. Each glass of wine and each course is introduced by a sommelier and top chef, respectively. The Chef's Table costs $95 per person.  Rita's Cantina, new on Deck 11 and open for lunch and dinner, does Mexican in a fiesta-style atmosphere (live music, dancing and margaritas flowing freely). The venue features indoor and outdoor seating. There's a $3 cover charge and a la carte menu pricing. Passengers should expect to spend $10 to $20 total (without alcohol).  For sushi fans, Izumi is another welcome addition. Aft on Deck 11, the pan-Asian restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. In addition to sushi, the venue also does hot-rock cooking (your meat and fish sizzles on a stone) for something interactive and different. There's a $3 cover charge for lunch and $5 for dinner, with a la carte menu pricing. Passengers should expect to spend $20 to $30 total (before paying for drinks).  What was Portofino's, which served heavy Northern Italian cuisine, has been replaced with a new trattoria-style Italian restaurant, Giovanni's.

Traditional Italian food is served family-style (dig in and share alike). It's a $15 cover charge for lunch and $20 for dinner.

Royal Caribbean's room service options, available 24 hours a day, include a range of snacks, hot dishes and sandwiches. Breakfast offerings, including Continental dishes and a handful of egg entrees, are available both in cabins and suites. Items off the main dining room menu can be ordered at dinner. There is no charge for room service between 5 a.m. and midnight (though a buck or two gratuity is recommended); late-night orders (from midnight to 5 a.m.) incur a $3.95 fee.

Radiance of the Seas Entertainment

The three-level Aurora Theatre has an Arctic theme, with sculptured balconies, sidewalls and parterre divisions resembling glacial landscapes. The stage curtain is inspired by the Aurora Borealis and nightly entertainment might include production shows with the Royal Caribbean singers and dancers, or headline acts featuring vocalists, jugglers and musicians.  In the Hollywood Odyssey nightclub, comedians, jazz ensembles, pianists and vocalists take turns entertaining. Other evening pursuits include watching movies in the Cinema, or taking in an outdoor flick or whatever big game is screening on the new alfresco LED video wall on the main pool deck, dancing the night away in the Starquest disco; shooting pool in the Bombay Billiard Club (one of the lounges in The Colony Club, with its high-tech self-leveling pool tables); listening to the piano player in the Schooner Bar; or admiring the views from Singapore Slings, with its floor-to-ceiling windows delivering great views over the stern. There's also a small and elegant Champagne bar where you can raise a glass in a subdued setting.  And a new nightlife option introduced during the 2011 refurb is The Quill & Scroll Pub, forward on Deck 6, which replaced Scoreboard Sports Bar.  With dark woods, cozy conversation nooks and international brews on taps, it's a great place to gather for an adult beverage.

For gamers, there's the Casino Royale, with a French Art Nouveau design, 211 slot machines and tables for blackjack, craps and roulette.

Radiance of the Seas Public Rooms

For all the onboard entertainment -- and, let's face it, gluttony -- beautiful views are as key to the cruise experience as anything. And with glassed in spaces everywhere welcoming in the natural light, Radiance of the Seas is an ideal ship for taking in the land and seascapes wherever you're sailing, whether Alaska on northern hemisphere summertime itineraries or Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii the rest of the year.

Glass is the dramatic, defining element of the elegant public rooms throughout the vessel, and floor-to-ceiling windows are found in the nine-deck Centrum, Radiance Day Spa and fitness center, Solarium, Park Cafe, Colony Club, Windjammer Cafe, Giovanni's Table, Samba Grill, Schooner Bar, Champagne Bar, Viking Crown Lounge, upper level of the Cascades dining room (the lower level has large windows) and Concierge Club.  Whenever and wherever you happen to turn your head, you are very likely to see the sea. The heart of the vessel is the Centrum, a dramatic, airy atrium decorated in light tones of sand, coral and aqua, and spilling with greenery, a waterfall and a colossal abstract sculpture (part of the ship's $6 million-plus art collection).

Intimate spaces to seek out some peace and quiet include the library, reminiscent of a traditional English study. The Champagne Bar and Lobby Bar, both with a capacity of 50 passengers, are good destinations for a cocktail before dinner. Other public areas include Royal Caribbean Online (the Internet center with 12 stations) and the nautically inspired Schooner Bar. (And yes, that's the scent of real gunpowder in its antechamber, decorated with cannons and galleon art.)

The Viking Crown Lounge, another RCI hallmark, is perched 11 decks above the sea and features two nightclubs: the Starquest, a futuristic dance club with a revolving bar; and the Hollywood Odyssey, a more intimate lounge featuring Hollywood memorabilia -- including a Bob Hope commemorative plate and Lucille Ball's makeup mirror.

And for suite passengers and Crown & Anchor Society Diamond and Diamond-plus members, a new Concierge Lounge (Diamond-plus and suite) and Diamond Lounge were added during the 2011 upgrade.

As is the case on other RCI ships, there are no self-service launderettes; laundry/dry cleaning is available for an exorbitant fee.

Radiance of the Seas Spa & Fitness

The African-themed Solarium is one of the most popular spots on the ship for hanging out. The space features three life-sized stone elephants, a waterfall, greenery, and stone relief art panels depicting gazelles and antelopes. The sound of ambient, if electronic, bird chirping floats on the air. The Solarium's raised pool (featuring a counter current), two whirlpools and relaxation areas are covered by a retractable glass roof. A bar, pizzeria and the Park Cafe are located within the Solarium.  The 15,500-square-foot Radiance Day Spa and Fitness Center is divided into three sections: a beauty and health center with 12 treatment rooms including a Rasul (scrub) and thermal suite; aerobics area with mirrored wall and wood-suspended aerobics floor; and a gym with 18 treadmills, 10 Reebok Recumbent Cycles, eight Reebok Body Peaks, four Reebok Ridge Rocker Cycles, four Reebok Body Treks, free weights and multiple

benches. There is a stereo sound system and television monitors throughout.  An array of fitness activities including stretching and aerobics classes, aquadynamics, and sports tourneys are scheduled. Some classes, like cycling and Pilates, levy a fee.

Other challenges await at the rock-climbing wall, rising 200 feet above the sea with five separate climbing tracks, and the sports club has ping-pong, a basketball court, and deck games. There's also a 9-hole miniature golf course and a jogging track (6.3 times around equals one mile).

Radiance of the Seas Family

Free, supervised activities for children 3 to 17 years of age are featured by age group: 3 - 5, 6 - 8, 9 - 12, and 13 - 17. Facilities at Adventure Ocean, the kids' club, include a computer lab, outdoor area, video game consoles, a rock-climbing wall, and Adventure Beach with splash pools and a water slide. Kids earn coupons for participation in activities that can be redeemed for gifts. There's a nine-hole miniature golf course onboard, too.

A children's menu with games and crayons, not to mention kids' favorites like pizza, burgers and macaroni and cheese is available during meal times. And group babysitting in Adventure Ocean can be arranged for $6 per hour, per child (for kids ages 3 - 11 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.); in stateroom sitting, booked through the Guest Relations Desk at least 24 hours in advance, is $19 per hour for up to three children in the same family.

Teens have their own coffeehouse/disco with flat-screen televisions and soda bar.

And, in the "good news for parents of infants" department, the 2011 refurbishments saw the addition of the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery on Deck 12, next to Adventure Ocean. (It occupies the former video arcade space, which has been moved.) With a baby-to-staff ratio of 1:3, the nursery is available for children between the ages of 6 months and 36 months at a rate of $8 per hour (reservations are required).