Latest news with #FlowRider
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Record-Breaking Cruise Ship Reaches Big Milestone
Star of the Seas has cleared a major milestone on its way to becoming the world's largest cruise ship. The Royal Caribbean megaship completed a critical series of sea trials off the coast of Turku, Finland, a rigorous step that signals the vessel is nearly ready for passenger service. The 11-day evaluation put the 250,800-gross-ton ship through a demanding battery of tests, measuring propulsion, navigation systems, engineering performance, and onboard safety. Over 2,000 specialists in marine design and operations were onboard to monitor how the vessel performed under real-world conditions. Stretching 1,198 feet in length and spanning 20 decks, Star of the Seas is more than just a floating city, it's an all in one adventure platform. Designed to carry up to 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew, the ship features the largest waterpark at sea. Featuring six record-breaking slides, seven distinct pools, and more than 40 bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Among its headline attractions: the high-flying Crown's Edge aerial adventure course, the FlowRider surf simulator, and the Grove Suite Sun Deck, an exclusive retreat for VIP travelers. The vessel is also designed with an eye toward versatility, offering everything from family-friendly thrills to high-end luxury escapes. Now, en route to the Meyer Turku shipyard for a final outfitting, Star of the Seas is on track to debut with a 7-night maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, on August 31, 2025. Before that, Royal Caribbean will run three preview sailings on August 20, 23, and 27. Once in service, the Star will rotate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, each including a stop at the cruise line's private Bahamian destination, Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Record-Breaking Cruise Ship Reaches Big Milestone first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Best hotel water parks and pools in metro Phoenix: 8 places to slide and splash
Staycationers and travelers who come to metro Phoenix during the summer almost always crave a hotel water park or swimming pool as part of their survival strategies. Hotels and resorts throughout the greater Phoenix area are famous for their pools and water parks, offering a refreshing escape from triple-digit temperatures. Some are designed for family fun and include theme park-style thrills like wave pools or an eight-story water slide. Others are adults-only oases where people can relax and enjoy a drink. Whether travelers are seeking thrills or tranquility, they can enjoy Arizona's hotel pools or water parks by staying at the hotels or purchasing a day pass through ResortPass. Here are the best hotel water parks and pools in Phoenix and Scottsdale. The Arizona Grand Resort and Spa's Oasis Water Park has 7 acres of family fun. It boasts eight-story-tall water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, hot tub and Wild Cat Springs, an area specifically for smaller 8000 Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix. 877-800-4888, Great Wolf Lodge Arizona offers an indoor water park where the temperature is climate-controlled to 84 degrees year-round. The 85,000‐square‐foot attraction includes a lazy river, wave pool, water slides, raft slides and an activity area for smaller visitors. Details: 7333 N. Pima Road, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale. 888-962-9653, The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa offers a collection of five pools, all heated to 82 degrees year-round. The resort opened the AquaRidge Waterpark in 2023, featuring three water slides, an enhanced lazy river and an adults-only lounge area. Details: 5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix. 480-293-5000, This former Hyatt Regency hotel, which was elevated to a Grand Hyatt in November 2024, has a 2.5-acre water playground with nine pools, fountains and a three-story, high-speed water slide. Before the hotel became Grand Hyatt, the pool area was renovated with upgrades including new lounge chairs, cabanas, a kiosk where bathers can get towels and rent pool floats, and changes to the poolside restaurants that included new menus curated by celebrity chef Richard Blais. Details: 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale. 480-444-1234, The Adventure Water Park at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Phoenix has a lazy river and 110-foot water slide as well as a FlowRider surf simulator. Those looking to make their stay a little more special can reserve the Tommy Bahama Relaxation Reef for their own private island in the lazy river. Details: 6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Phoenix. 480-624-1000, The Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak in north Phoenix is an all-suite resort offering the River Ranch water park, a lush pool area complete with lazy river and water slide as well as a baby pool. Details: 7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-997-2626, Looking for the best things to do in Arizona? Sign up for our newsletter. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers six pool areas for guests to enjoy. The Sonoran Splash pool caters to families with two 200-foot twisting water slides, one for riders 42 inches and taller and one for littler kids. If you have very small kiddos, Sonoran Splash offers a zero-entry pool deck, sandbox play area and beach toys. Sunset Beach, the newest and largest pool at the Princess, has white sand beaches and a splash pad. The Privado Villas, the Princess's exclusive hotel within a hotel, has its own relaxation pool with views of the TPC Scottsdale stadium golf course and the McDowell Mountains. Details: 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale. 480-585-4848, Arizona Biltmore, the historic resort distinguished by its Frank Lloyd Wright-style architecture, has seven pools. Its variety appeals to different sets of travelers, including the Saguaro Pool for adults-only relaxation and the Paradise Pool for family fun. The Paradise Pool is where guests can ride the Twist triple waterslide. The variety of pools was a significant factor in USA TODAY readers naming Arizona Biltmore as one of the resorts with the best hotel pools in the U.S. Details: 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. 602-955-6600, Mountain Modern, Remi and VAI: Biggest new hotels and renos in Arizona in 2025 Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who's covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic's consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best hotel water parks and pools in Phoenix for summer 2025
Trade Arabia
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Trade Arabia
Al Wathba offers all-inclusive escape, desert retreat
Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa, is offering two seasonal offers: the ultimate all-inclusive escape and the all-inclusive desert retreat, from May 1 to September 30. The resort is located among sand dunes and offers a unique experience for guests. The Ultimate All-Inclusive Escape offers luxury and ease, with unlimited house beverages served throughout the day, signature cocktails at Al Mesayan rooftop bar, and refreshing drinks at the Panache Swim-Up Bar. The resort also offers all-day snacks, a fully stocked mini-bar, and on-site adventures like the FlowRider wave simulator and Saray Spa. For those seeking a more flexible desert experience, the All-Inclusive Desert Retreat offers full-board dining across all restaurants, house beverages during meal periods, and non-alcoholic beverages from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Both packages prioritise rejuvenation, with exclusive access to the Saray Spa and state-of-the-art fitness centre.
Irish Daily Star
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Ivanka Trump heads back to the beach to catch the waves in simple black bikini
Ivanka Trump has been spotted surfing this week so much that she might be considering going pro. She was seen once again in the ocean off the coast of Costa Rica, wearing another simple chic bikini. The First Daughter was seen hitting the beach with a few friends, walking into the clear blue ocean with her surfboard under her arm, ready to ride some waves . Despite ongoing rumors of a feud, Ivanka Trump and Karlie Kloss seemed to be all smiles as they vacationed with their husbands. Ivanka was seen wearing a small black two-piece bikini while catching some waves, similar to the orange one she wore earlier in the week during a beach afternoon with her model sister-in-law, Kloss . Read More Related Articles Deranged Donald Trump posts mad 184-word Easter message taking aim at all his enemies Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'dumbest President ever' after six-word comment about Congo These photos of the women enjoying their time in the sun come after years of online speculation suggesting that Trump and Kloss may not be on good terms, despite being married into the same family. The speculations originated from the supermodel's previous admissions of not voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Ivanka receives pointers from instructor before embarking into the office (Image: BACKGRID) In contrast, Ivanka has been a steadfast supporter of her father, serving in his first administration and backing him throughout his recent campaign. Although she opted not to return to Washington D. C. with her family this time, Ivanka stood by her father's side at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in January for his inauguration. Ivanka's husband, Jared, also held a key role in the first Trump administration as Senior White House Advisor. Despite their differing political views, it was reported that the couple maintained a "good relationship" with Kloss. Before hitting the waves, Ivanka was seen taking a quick lesson from an instructor, while her children observed from the shore. Just four months before to her trip to Costa Rica, Ivanka honed her surfing skills at FlowRider, a 40-foot-long surf simulator, where she effortlessly balanced on a small yellow board. The former fashion mogul has turned into a fitness enthusiast since relocating to Miami. In February, Ivanka proudly showed off her toned abs in a mirror selfie post-workout at the gym. "Sticking to New Year's resolutions isn't easy-only 23% of people make it past the first week. [I've fallen into that category many, many times! ]," the mother of three captioned the photo. Trump then surprised her followers by demonstrating her jiu-jitsu skills during a session with Gisele Bündchen's boyfriend, Joaquim Valente, and his brothers in March. In the video, President Trump's eldest daughter was seen wearing a white robe and blue belt, indicating she has reached a significant milestone in her training journey.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean drops perk from popular cruise program
Any time a cruise line makes a change to an offering, it runs the risk of upsetting some passengers. While the change may be made to provide more value for a greater number of passengers, some are bound to see it as a negative, especially if the cruise line removes something in the is the case with an update Royal Caribbean just made to the benefits offered with The Key program, an add-on cruise package that passengers can purchase to get premier access to experiences and activities during their cruise vacation. Although some passengers and the cruise line see this program update as a way to further enhance the cruise experience, others see it as a major downgrade because of what the cruise line decided to take of providing passengers who purchase The Key package with complimentary private time for the FlowRider surf simulator during their cruise, Royal Caribbean is now offering a 25% discount on select onboard sports activities. The updated benefit is similar to the existing package benefit that offers 20% off specialty dining. In an email about the change that Royal Caribbean sent to passengers who booked The Key package for upcoming sailings, the cruise line says it believes the updated benefit will provide more value and enjoyment to the cruise experience. While access to private time at the FlowRider was a plus for some passengers, it's important to note that it wasn't the main draw for most who purchase The Key package. In updating the program benefits, the cruise line aimed to offer more value to passengers who don't use the FlowRider but may want to participate in other sports activities during their perks of The Key package include priority embarkation and disembarkation, high-speed WiFi, an exclusive welcome lunch, a dedicated seating area for some shows, access to the fast lane for select onboard activities, and more. The price for The Key package varies by sailing but often costs $40-50 or more per passenger per day. If one passenger purchases The Key, each passenger age six or older assigned to the same stateroom must also purchase to Royal cruisers were quick to express their disappointment about the change in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit. 'Honestly, I feel a little bit pissed right now, especially because of the way it is written, as if what they are offering is a better deal,' Reddit user Bcnhot wrote in a discussion about the change. 'Absolutely a downgrade,' MedicalButterscotch agreed. For those who like to catch waves on the FlowRider during their cruise, The Key program's private FlowRider benefit was attractive to get enhanced access to the attraction. To those passengers, the change offers less value. The FlowRider is included with passengers' cruise fares, but is popular, and private sessions are pricey, starting at $69 for a one-hour some passengers, it's also difficult to see the value of the new discount since the FlowRider and popular sports activities like the zip line and rock-climbing wall are included in your cruise fare. Royal Caribbean hasn't yet provided details on exactly what sports activities are eligible for The Key discount beyond private FlowRider sessions and lessons. It's possible that the discount would also apply to paid sessions for the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator. Regardless of the sports benefit, some passengers say it's hard to find value in The Key package at all. 'I've never found value in The Key. The boarding/offboarding perks are minimal. The internet is usually cheaper to buy standalone. Looks like prices stay the same and value decreases,' necrochaos wrote. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
