Royal caribbean sweepstakes
Royal Caribbean opens contest to win a free cabin on a test cruise: Here's how to enter
If you want a chance to win a free Royal Caribbean cruise, you have to act quickly before the contest ends.
Royal Caribbean opened up its Volunteer of the Seas contest, where you have a chance to win a free stateroom for you and one other person to sail on an upcoming test cruise.
Between 12:00:01 AM ET on August 6, 2021 and 12:00:01 AM ET on August 7, 2021, you can enter up to 12 times to win a room one of three simulated voyages Royal Caribbean has scheduled.
These test cruises are required by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the cruise is using them to ensure the new health protocols are working as planned before regular sailings begin.
To be eligible for the free cruise giveaway, you must be:
- U.S. residents currently residing in one of the 50 United States (except Montana) or the District of Columbia
- At least 18 years old
- Fully vaccinated with a Covid-19 vaccine that has been authorized by either the United States Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization
The contest is for a cabin on one of these three test cruises, which you could be randomly chosen for:
- Mariner of the Seas - August 11th (2 Nights) from Port Canaveral, FL
- Oasis of the Seas - August 22nd (6 Nights) from Bayonne, NJ
- Liberty of the Seas - September 18th (4 Nights) from Galveston, TX
Sound like something you want to do? You can fill out a contest entry form here for your chance to win.
According to the contest rules, Royal Caribbean will award 1,125 winners for the winner and a guest to sail on one of these ships.
The contest is open to repeat cruisers as well as someone new to cruising, but if you have cruised before you will get extra entries.
If you’re a Crown & Anchor member, Royal Caribbean will automatically provide you with additional entries – so you only need to submit your entry once! Here is the breakdown:
- Pinnacle members: 11 additional entries
- Diamond Plus members: 9 additional entries
- Diamond members: 7 additional entries
- Emerald members: 5 additional entries
- Platinum members: 3 additional entries
- Gold members: 1 additional entry
If you are not a Crown & Anchor member, you can submit additional entries – up to a total of 12 entries per person. Diamond Plus tiers and below, you can also submit additional entries to reach the 12 entry maximum.
If you do win a room, it will be up to you to get to and from the ship.
Royal Caribbean is not including transportation and/or lodging as part of the contest.
This new sweepstakes is the first opportunity for the public to be a part of a simulated voyage, as test cruises up until now have been filled by cruise ship employees, travel agents, media and select top tier Crown and Anchor members.
Royal Caribbean began taking sign ups for test cruises in November 2020, but this contest requires eligible folks to sign up again through the contest.
In addition to demonstrating to the CDC the viability of new health protocols, Royal Caribbean is using these test sailings to prepare each ship before sailings begin with paying passengers.
Royal Caribbean has completed seven test cruises so far, which began in June.
The cruise line also announced restart plans for ships in fall 2021 and beyond, which means there could be more test cruises scheduled later.
THIS IS NOT A SWEEPSTAKES, IT’S A TICKET TO ADVENTURE
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THIS IS NOT A SWEEPSTAKES, IT’S A TICKET TO ADVENTURE
Explore, Unlock and Share for the Chance to Win the Ultimate Adventure Onboard Harmony of the Seas, the World’s Largest and Newest Cruise Ship
MIAMI, April 21, 2016 – In a few short weeks, the year’s newest and most dynamic vacation experience will arrive on the scene, and it’s anything but expected.
Launching in May with a summer of Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona, Spain, Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seas is an unprecedented floating adventure that will surprise and delight guests at every turn. In celebration of the ship’s European debut, and in anticipation of her U.S. arrival in November, Royal Caribbean kicks-off a multi-faceted consumer promotion, “Ticket to Adventure.” The immersive and interactive sweepstakes encourages consumers to virtually discover and explore Harmony’s thrilling features and seven neighborhoods, and enter for their chance to win more than $300,000 worth of prizes that range from a grand prize, seven-night Caribbean cruise for four, to 200 invitation-only getaways, more than 175 GoPro HERO4 cameras, over $40,000 in gift cards, and more.
Starting April 21 through November 5, 2016, consumers can simply register for the promotion at RoyalCaribbean.com\TicketToAdventure, and then the adventure begins! Every two weeks, one of Harmony’s seven signature neighborhoods will be unlocked on the site and open the door to interactive content and fun facts, such as the height of The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, to the number of plants in Central Park – the largest living park at sea – and the variety of cocktails the robot bartenders at Bionic Bar can sling.
Bonus instant win games are hidden within each neighborhood and extra sweepstakes entries will be awarded to those that share Ticket to Adventure with their friends via email or social media.
But that’s not the only way to win. Over the course of the next seven months, Royal Caribbean will infuse a little adventure into some unexpected places and pop culture events, as well as partner with well-known personalities. The first of which is beloved actor and singer Carlos PenaVega, who will give fans the chance to join him onboard Harmony of the Seas during exclusive, invitation-only preview events in Southampton, England. Hot off his starring role as Kenickie in FOX’s GREASE LIVE, PenaVega will hang out with his winning fans as he leads a number of Grease-inspired special activities and attends opening night of Royal Caribbean’s original production of Broadway’s hit musical Grease. Fans can enter for the chance to win by visiting the sweepstakes site between now and May 1 and entering code GREASE.
In addition, Royal Caribbean will deploy a series of code words that can be uncovered on RoyalCaribbean.com, through Royal Caribbean emails and exclusive Crown & Anchor Society newsletters for loyal guests, as well as through participating travel agents, or by following Royal Caribbean on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Consumers that find a code can enter it at RoyalCaribbean.com\TicketToAdventure to be entered into the grand prize drawing and also to unlock chances for instant win prizes.
Harmony of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship with a bold and unexpected lineup of thrilling experiences found nowhere else on land or at sea. Harmony combines the distinct seven-neighborhood concept that sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are known for, with some of the most modern and groundbreaking amenities including imaginative dining, unparalleled entertainment and the latest technology, including VOOM, the fastest internet at sea.
From the Ultimate Abyss, a thrilling 10-story tall slide, to unparalleled entertainment including Broadway’s hit musical Grease and high-diving, acrobatic performances in the ship’s iconic AquaTheater, world-class dining in venues ranging from Jamie’s Italian Cuisine by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to Wonderland, a unique whimsical culinary adventure for the senses; and robot bartenders, there is an adventure for guests of all ages onboard Harmony.
Harmony of the Seas spans 16 guest decks, encompasses 227,000 gross registered tons, carries 5,497 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,747 staterooms. For more information about Harmony of the Seas, please visit RoyalCaribbean.com/HarmonyoftheSeas.
Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 46-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry “firsts” never before seen at sea. The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike.
Onboard, guests are catered to with the cruise line’s world-renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service by every staff and crew member. Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 13 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.
The cruise line sails 24 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in Bermuda and the Caribbean, Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, South America, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. Media can stay up-to-date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter, and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should call their travel agent; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
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"They must pay." Why the tour of the Dukes of Cambridge to the Caribbean was unsuccessful
Prince William and Kate Middleton have completed a royal tour of the Caribbean, undertaken on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
The trip, which was supposed to serve to strengthen Britain's ties with the countries of the British Commonwealth, will be remembered by the public not only for the bright outfits that Kate Middleton chose, but also for the protests of Belizeans against the monarchy, the cold reception extended to members of the royal family in Jamaica and the demands for compensation for years of slavery in Bahamas.
The tour of the Dukes of Cambridge did not go according to plan at the very beginning of the trip - in Belize.
On Sunday, March 20, representatives of the British royal family were supposed to visit a cocoa farm in the village of Indian Creek, but two days before the visit was canceled. The villagers did not like the fact that the Dukes' helicopter would land at their place - they said that they were not consulted about the trip. “We don’t want them to land on our land, so pass it on,” the village head Sebastian Schol commented on the problem in an interview with the Daily Mail and added that the helicopter can be sent anywhere, but not to his village.
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However, Prince William and Kate Middleton visited another cocoa farm, where they were given a warmer welcome and donated maracas, and visited Caracol National Park, where they visited the ruins of a Mayan city - photos of the Duchess in khaki trousers and a white T-shirt among the ancient ruins impressed her fans so much that they even compared her to Lara Croft (by analogy with the picture in which Angelina Jolie was filmed among the ruins of Khmer Angkor).
Later, Kate Middleton again impressed fans with her outfit - at a reception at the Governor General in the capital of Belize, she appeared in a sparkling pink outfit from the British brand Vampire's Wife and a Mayan clutch. This distracted observers from discussing the problems associated with the visit.
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The next stop on the tour was Jamaica. Here, the couple was met by, among others, the representative of the National People's Party, Lisa Hanna (in 1993, who won the title of "Miss World").
Knowing that she was in favor of Jamaica's independence from the monarchy, Internet users who watched videos from Kingston Airport decided that the politician gave the Dukes of Cambridge an expressly cold reception - they noticed that Lisa Hanna did not return Kate Middleton's smile.
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Lisa Hanna herself did not admit that she was cold with the Duchess of Cambridge - after the clip from Kingston Airport went viral on Twitter, she responded to social network users in a special column in The Guardian.
In it, Lisa Hanna stated that the “embarrassing” situation was nothing more than a figment of the imagination of the inhabitants of Twitter and the result of skillful editing, in fact, she has great respect for Kate Middleton and does not personally dislike her.
Another thing is that the topic of slavery and exploitation of the resources of the colonies by the mother country for the inhabitants of Jamaica remains painful and subject to discussion.
“What we need now is for the West, especially the United Kingdom, to plunge seriously with us into this problem. And we need more than just consolation. Flowery speeches and graceful symbols not only do not satisfy us. Words that are not backed up by actions also offend us. We need activists, politicians and monarchs to not only recognize the history of exploitation and its consequences, but also begin to take concrete steps to correct it, ”wrote Lisa Hanna. And she added that Jamaica intends to refuse to submit to the monarchy in the same way as Barbados did earlier.
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During a visit to Jamaica, words condemning slavery were indeed spoken - in his speech during a reception with the country's Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Prince William admitted that this was a shameful page in the history of the British Empire. “I completely agree with my father, the Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the monstrous cruelty of slavery has forever stained our history,” said the Duke of Cambridge.
I want to express my deep sadness. Slavery was disgusting. This should never have happened."
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After Jamaica, the Dukes of Cambridge traveled to the Bahamas, where they were again met with protests and a reminder of the cruelty of their ancestors. At the Nassau airport, Prince William and Kate Middleton were met by the military and eight-year-old girl Ania Moss, who presented the guests with a bouquet of flowers. Later, they were joined by the country's Prime Minister Philip Davis, who admitted that this visit had long been expected on the islands, and conveyed congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II.
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And although the head of government himself avoided talking about independence from the monarchy, this topic still surfaced. The National Reparations Committee of the Bahamas sent a letter to the Dukes.
“They, their royal family and government must recognize that their advanced economy was built on the backs of our ancestors.
And so they have to pay. Yes, we are the children of those victims, remembering is our duty to our ancestors. We must demand recognition, responsibility, healing and justice, ”said the representatives of the committee.
The Bahamas was the last stop on Prince William and Kate Middleton's Caribbean tour. The British media have already come to the conclusion that the trip, which was supposed to strengthen the ties of the monarchy with the countries of the British Commonwealth, failed.
Caribbean Sea and Caribbean islands on the world map
Let's talk about why the Caribbean Sea is so popular among foreigners from all over the world.
Geography of the Caribbean
The Caribbean Sea is located at the junction of Central and South America and is bounded by a chain of 700 Caribbean islands. The sea is semi-enclosed and belongs to the basin of the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is comparable to the Mediterranean Sea.
The hurricane season, or wet season, runs from May to November.
Hurricanes are most common in September. On average, there are ten storms a year, five of which reach the strength of a hurricane, that is, they break houses and trees.
To protect the population from hurricanes, governments in the Caribbean are seeking to replace buildings with special sustainable structures. For example, Dominica founded the CREAD association, which is regulated by the Climate Resilience Act. The association develops building codes that take into account the resistance of buildings to hurricanes. All modern hotels in the Caribbean are built with these standards in mind.
The Caribbean is warm all year round. The average water temperature is around 27°C with slight fluctuations of 2-3°C throughout the year. Such climatic conditions are due to the influence of the warm current of the Atlantic Ocean - the Gulf Stream.
Diving and Fishing in the Caribbean
The Caribbean is an ideal place for diving and fishing. There are many lagoons, bays, small uninhabited islands, reefs and underwater caves.
There are 450 species of fish. Off the coast you can meet humpback whales, sperm whales, manatees and, of course, dolphins and sea turtles. And sunken ships lie at the bottom.
The most popular for diving and fishing are the Cayman Islands, as well as the islands of Roatan, Santa Cruz, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, Barbuda, Grenada, Saba. For beginners, there are diving courses on each island.
Top 6 Diving & Fishing Spots in the Caribbean
- French Cay, Turks and Caicos
- Blood Bay, Little Cayman
- North Face, Grand Cayman
- Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
- Port Louis Marina in St. George's, Grenada
- La Roche Rock half a kilometer from Rodney Bay Pier in St. Lucia
Fishing in the Caribbean is only half a kilometer from the islands. In addition to deep sea fishing, there is fishing in shallow water and reefs. To guarantee yourself a catch, it is better to contact travel companies. They will provide a boat with a crew, a professional guide and the necessary equipment.
To fish from a boat, you need to purchase a license, its cost is set by the government of each country separately. For example, in Antigua and Barbuda you will need to pay $100. You can get a fishing permit at the regional fisheries department, which is located in the capital of each Caribbean state.
Most of the coral reefs of the Atlantic Ocean are located off the coast of the Caribbean Sea. In addition to picturesque coral gardens, in the Caribbean Sea, divers from all over the world are attracted by clear turquoise water, tropical fish, colorful sponges, sea urchins, a large number of caves, grottoes and sunken ships
from 1492 to 1898. One of them is "Santa Maria" by Christopher Columbus
The Caribbean is home to 450 species of fish. White and blue marlin, king and Spanish mackerel, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, swordfish, Jack Crevalle are local favorites for anglers
There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean Sea. For example, sperm whales, humpback whales, dolphins, harbor seals and manatees
Yachting in the Caribbean
From December to May, yachting enthusiasts visit the Caribbean Sea, many regattas are held.
The route along the Caribbean archipelago is very convenient - along a flat semi-arc without large detours. On each major island, you can moor a yacht in a marina, get maintenance or rent a yacht.
First-class service in marinas and ports, because the yachts of billionaires often call at the Caribbean. For example, in 2019, around Christmas, 52 superyachts gathered near St. Maarten, as reported by the Bloomberg news agency.
Top 3 best marinas in the Caribbean
- Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts: 250 state-of-the-art marinas, 50 of which are for yachts up to 60 meters in length
- English Harbor in Falmouth, Antigua and Barbuda: the port can accommodate 300 ships up to 100 meters in length
- Port Louis Marina in St. George, Grenada: 227 berths for yachts up to 100 meters in length
The cost of a yacht in the Caribbean is lower than in the EU countries. For example, the cost of registering a pleasure yacht in Dominica, regardless of the length of the hull, is $1,900.
For comparison, in Malta, registering a yacht with a displacement of seven tons will cost 6,400 €.
The registration process in the Caribbean is fast - from an hour to three days. For comparison, in Europe, registering a yacht can take up to two weeks.
The annual yacht tax in the Caribbean is also lower than in European countries. In Malta, the owner of a yacht with a displacement of seven tons will pay a tonnage tax of 2,800 €. Many Caribbean countries do not have such a tax.
Therefore, it is more profitable to register a yacht in the Caribbean. But the registration of a vessel in the Caribbean is available only to citizens of these countries.
Obtain citizenship in the Caribbean
In order to pay less taxes when buying a yacht, save on the maintenance of a vessel and have access to developed ports, wealthy yachtsmen receive a second citizenship of the Caribbean countries.
The easiest and fastest way to get Caribbean citizenship is through government investment programs.
The term of receipt is from 2 to 6 months. Investors make a contribution of $100,000 to the country's economy in exchange for a Caribbean passport.
Caribbean Regattas
Yachtsmen from all over the world gather in the Caribbean to compete. The Antigua Sailing Week regatta is annually attended by 120 to 200 yachts from 30 countries, or approximately 1,000 yachtsmen.
To take part in a regatta in the Caribbean on your own yacht, you need to register your vessel and crew, if any. To do this, you need to go to the official website of a particular regatta, register as a participant, fill out all the necessary forms in your personal account and pay participation fees.
Online registration form for participation in the Antigua and Barbuda Regatta "Antigua Sailing Week"Annually, 10 international sailing competitions are held in the Caribbean Sea. In 2022, athletes can choose from twelve regattas:
- Barbados Sailing Week 18-23 Jan
- Grenada Sailing Week 3-4 Feb
- Caribbean Multihull Challenge 4-6 Feb
- RORC Caribbean 600 9015 St.
9015 Regatta 21-25 Feb 15 Maarten Heineken, March 3-6 - Antigua Superyacht Challenge, March 9-13
- St. Barts Regatta, March 17-20
- St. Thomas International Regatta, March 25-27
- BVO Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, 28 March ―April 3
- Classic Yacht Regatta in Antigua, March 30 - April 4
- Saint Barthélemy Sails, April 17-23
- Antigua Sailing Week, April 30 - May 6
Pirates in the Caribbean
Piracy in the Caribbean flourished in the 16th-18th centuries, during the era of colonization. European ships were taking gold out of America, and there were countless people who wanted to rob them: from ordinary vagabonds, thieves and murderers to kings.
The pious English Queen Elizabeth I was especially enterprising. She became the head of the largest pirate clan under the command of the legendary Francis Drake.
Other rulers, such as the King of France, quickly adopted the experience of Elizabeth I. But the queen remained the leader in terms of robberies.
The first pirates of the Caribbean were English, French and Dutch. The most famous pirates who went down in history are Edward Teach, nicknamed "Blackbeard", Bart Roberts and Henry Morgan.
Treasures of sunken ships at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea are not a myth. Gold diggers are still exploring the bottom of the Caribbean. One of the examples of a successful hunt for gold is Mel Fisher's expedition. In 1895, Fisher's team lifted $400 million worth of gold and silver bars from the bottom of the Caribbean Sea.
God-fearing Elizabeth I put piracy on stream to fill her treasury. For success in robberies and murders, the chief pirate Francis Drake received a knighthood from her
The Jolly Roger pirate flag first appeared in the eighteenth century on Jack Rackham's pirate ship. Prior to this, a single pirate flag did not exist.
Each pirate ship had a flag with its own image
The scenes by the sea of the famous movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" were filmed in the Caribbean. In the film you can see the landscapes of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and the Bahamas
Holidays in the Caribbean
In the Caribbean, everyone will find their place to relax - 700 islands offer their hospitality. Large islands are characterized by a developed infrastructure, densely populated. The smaller the island, the closer it is to wildlife.
700 islands
in the Caribbean
The Caribbean consists of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The largest islands of the Big Group are Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Trinidad is the largest island in the Lesser Antilles. For comparison, Cuba is comparable in size to Bulgaria, and Trinidad is comparable in area to two Luxembourg or 10 Andorras.
The Caribbean islands were first discovered by Christopher Columbus during his three expeditions at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries.
Before the arrival of Europeans, the islands were inhabited by indigenous people - Indians. After the discovery, the islands were settled by Spanish colonies. Thus, the first form of European statehood appeared in the Caribbean.
There are 14 sovereign and 11 dependent states on the territory of the Caribbean archipelago. The countries with the largest GDP are the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica. However, in terms of per capita income and standard of living, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis are in the lead.
Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada were ranked among the best destinations in the Caribbean in 2021 by The Caribbean Journal. The countries were praised for a large number of clean beaches, modern hotels and high quality tourist services.
How many days a Russian can stay without a visa in the Caribbean
Up to 90 days - Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica
Up to 60 days - Dominican Republic
Up to 42 days - Saint Lucia
Up to 30 days - Cuba
Up to 28 days - Barbados
FAQ
Where is the Caribbean Sea?
On the map, the Caribbean Sea is located above or north of South America.
The sea is semi-enclosed. It is formed by the Caribbean Islands, Central and South America. The Caribbean Sea belongs to the Atlantic Ocean.
What to do in the Caribbean?
More than 25,000 tourists visit the Caribbean Sea and Caribbean islands every year. Popularity is due to climatic conditions - the sea remains warm all year round.
The most popular activities among tourists in the Caribbean are diving, fishing and yachting. Professional athletes take part in the famous Caribbean regattas.
Which countries are in the Caribbean?
There are 25 states on the territory of the Caribbean islands. Of these, 14 have the status of a sovereign state.
The most developed countries in the Caribbean are Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Dominica offer get a Caribbean passport for investment. The minimum amount of investment in the state economy is $100,000.
