com_op_2000
DVC Member since '93; One Hour from WDW
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For many families, vacations come down to one question: Theme park or cruise?
Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando have expanded a partnership to offer both. Beginning in November, they will package a theme park visit with a cruise out of Tampa. The new option builds on a two-year existing arrangement that has included a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral, Fla.
The package competes with a long-standing vacation combination offered by Universal's cross-town rival Disney, which popularized the cruise-theme park vacation years ago. It combines a Disney World visit with a Disney Cruise Line sailing from Port Canaveral.
The new Royal Caribbean arrangement will combine three- or four-night stays at Universal with a four- or five-night cruise on 2,500-passenger Jewel of the Seas, which will sail seasonally from Tampa. The existing options from Port Canaveral include a three- or four-night Bahamas cruise aboard Monarch of the Seas, and a seven-night Eastern or Western Caribbean cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas.
As with Royal Caribbean's package out of Port Canaveral, passengers staying in one of Universal's three on-site hotels -- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel -- get Universal Express ride access, allowing them to skip regular lines at the parks. Just as enticing, they get early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an incredibly popular and often crowded attraction. Those choosing less expensive, off-park hotels don't get these benefits.
The packages, which will offer savings over buying the component parts separately, include hotel and cruise, multi-day passes to Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure parks, and ground transfers between airport, hotel, theme parks and the ship at port.
Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando have expanded a partnership to offer both. Beginning in November, they will package a theme park visit with a cruise out of Tampa. The new option builds on a two-year existing arrangement that has included a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral, Fla.
The package competes with a long-standing vacation combination offered by Universal's cross-town rival Disney, which popularized the cruise-theme park vacation years ago. It combines a Disney World visit with a Disney Cruise Line sailing from Port Canaveral.
The new Royal Caribbean arrangement will combine three- or four-night stays at Universal with a four- or five-night cruise on 2,500-passenger Jewel of the Seas, which will sail seasonally from Tampa. The existing options from Port Canaveral include a three- or four-night Bahamas cruise aboard Monarch of the Seas, and a seven-night Eastern or Western Caribbean cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas.
As with Royal Caribbean's package out of Port Canaveral, passengers staying in one of Universal's three on-site hotels -- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel -- get Universal Express ride access, allowing them to skip regular lines at the parks. Just as enticing, they get early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an incredibly popular and often crowded attraction. Those choosing less expensive, off-park hotels don't get these benefits.
The packages, which will offer savings over buying the component parts separately, include hotel and cruise, multi-day passes to Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure parks, and ground transfers between airport, hotel, theme parks and the ship at port.
