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B M & T ••• November/December 2018 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29 Royal Caribbean International is answer- ing the call of the wild with even more ways for guests to experience jaw-dropping views and adventures of unchartered territories during the 2020 Alaska summer season. The return of Ovation of the Sea, the largest cruise ship to sail the Gulf of Alaska, alongside two Radiance Class ships – Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas – will mark the global cruise line's biggest presence in the region yet. Before arriving to the Last Frontier, Ovation and Radiance will island-hop along Hawaii, while Serenade sails the Panama Canal and Golden Coast on her way west. Seek New Heights on Ovation of the Seas Ovation of the Seas – the first of the cruise line's game-changing Quantum Class to sail Alaska – will return for its second consecutive season to offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences through the region's untouched wilds on 7- night itineraries from Seattle, Wash. With the highest vantage point on any cruise ship, the North Star – the ship's signature glass observa- tion capsule with panoramic views from 300 feet above sea level – is the "best seat in the house" for guests to take in the majestic moun- tains, eye-catching glaciers and diverse wildlife native to the state's stunning landscape. Ovation will deliver untamed adventure with visits to destinations that will give vaca- tioners the chance to catch the Northern Lights in Juneau, relive the Klondike Gold Rush in Skagway, sail through the Endicott Arm fjord, and stroll the streets of one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest in Victoria, British Columbia. After experiencing the wild side on land, guests can continue their adrenaline-seeking ways by taking on the ship's unparalleled lineup of onboard activities, including the FlowRider surf simulator, RipCord by iFly indoor skydiving experience, and the SeaPlex, the largest and most revolu- tionary indoor active space at sea featuring a trapeze school, full-size basketball court, roller- skating rink and bumper cars. All those thrills are rounded out by a collection of indoor and outdoor pools that allow everyone to kick back and dive into their surroundings no matter the temperature. Radiance Class Views of Alaska For the first time since 2009, Serenade of the Seas will head west as it repositions from a win- ter in the sunny Southern Caribbean to Vancouver, British Columbia, making 2020 Royal Caribbean's first summer season with three ships in Alaska. Serenade will sail 7-night itineraries through the 500 miles of shoreline that is the Inside Passage, calling on Ketchikan, Juneau and Icy Strait Point, Alaska. No stranger to the region, Radiance of the Seas will once again offer 7-night, open-jaw itin- eraries between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. A veteran at plying the Gulf of Alaska, Radiance will cruise alternating Southbound Alaska and Northbound Alaska routes, offering guests the opportunity to uncover the myriad of adventures of the Great Land. Serenade and Radiance of the Seas tout ocean-facing glass elevators and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, blurring the lines between the ocean and wilderness for explorers to gaze upon the glaciers and every sight along the Alaskan coast. Designed for edge-of-the- map exploration, Radiance Class ships have just as much to explore on board, from an exhil- arating rock-climbing wall towering over the ocean and poolside movie nights under the stars, to signature dining venues like Chops Grille American steakhouse, delicious Italian cuisine with a contemporary flair at Giovanni's Table, and Izumi, for a varied menu of sushi and other Asian-inspired dishes. On the Way West In repositioning to their seasonal summer homeports, all three ships will chart their own course through exotic and off-the-beat- en-path locales to discover cultural treasures. Serenade of the Seas will sail through one of the largest and legendary engineering proj- ects ever undertaken as she makes her way from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to Los Angeles, Calif. on a 15-night Westbound Panama Canal sailing departing May 4, 2020. Along the journey, guests can encounter the charm- ing cultures of Central America with visits to Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. On May 19, 2020, Serenade will then head over to Vancouver, British Columbia to navigate the Pacific Coast on a 7-night sailing. Both Ovation and Radiance of the Seas will say aloha to the islands of Hawaii, where vacationers can explore rainforests, waterfalls and beautiful beaches as they sail to Alaska. Ovation will embark on its 12- night cruise from Honolulu, visiting Maui (Lahaina), Kailua Kona and Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, on May 7, 2020. Also sail- ing from Honolulu and departing on May 5, 2020, Radiance will offer a 10-night itinerary to the Last Frontier with ports of call includ- ing Maui (Lahaina), Kailua Kona, Hilo and Kauai (Nawiliwili), Hawaii. IN THE LAST FRONTIER WITH THREE SHIPS SAILING 2020 ALASKA ITINERARES Radiance Class Views of Alaska On the Way West