Cruise News: Freedom of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has already taken on-board fun to new heights, with its signature rock-climbing walls; now it wants to stir up the waters with an on-board kid-friendly waterpark. The giant new Freedom of the Seas ship debuts in June 2006, and has family-size cabins and low rates for 7-night Caribbean trips-- click above.

ADDED: details about Freedom of the Seas waterpark and family activities. continued below...

Royal Caribbean: Freedom of the Seas [p][i][sup]*photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line [/i][/sup]

The new 3600- passenger Freedom of the Seas ship is still under construction in Finland, but you can already book for trips starting June 4 2006. Check the Freedom of the Seas at the Royal Caribbean site for rates as low as $700 for 7-night Western Caribbean cruises.

Families are a target market, in several ways.

• the water park--called H20 Zone-- is designed to be fun for kids, with water-squirters etc. (see more below)
• the ship will also have family-style cabins that can sleep six and eight passengers. The ship's largest suite has room for 14!
• the Freedom of the Seas has an ice-skating rink
• kids' programs range from ages from 6 months to 17 years old: with Fisher-Price Aqua Babies and Aqua Tots for younger kids, plus Adventure Ocean® Youth Program.

The new Freedom has other "bigger and better" features too. The rock wall, for instance, will be higher and wider than those on Royal Caribbean's Voyager ships. And another pool zone will have two whirlpools that extend over the edge of the ship.

Read more details about Freedom of the Seas waterpark and family activities.