Liberty heads for home in Spain
February 16, 2010 - Royal Caribbean is to base the 158,000-ton Liberty of the Seas in Barcelona in 2011, making her the largest ship to be cruising in the Mediterranean.
The cruise market in Spain has been growing at an annual rate of between eight and ten per cent thanks to huge investment by cruise ship operators. And Royal Caribbean's Spanish office predicts a 60 per cent growth in guest volume in 2010.
Itineraries for the seven-night cruise will be announced in March 2010 when bookings are opened to the public.
More about Liberty in Spain

An early start for Allure
February 9, 2010 - The inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas is to take place one week earlier than originally planned.
The ship's first voyage on sale to the general public will now be a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, sailing on December 5.
More about the inaugural switch

First Royal Caribbean ship for Majorca
February 5, 2010 - With the continued rise in the popularity of cruising in the UK and Ireland, Royal Caribbean International has announced that Grandeur of the Seas is to become their the first ship to be based from Palma de Mallorca.
Summer cruises from Palma de Mallorca will start in May 2011 and will include two seven-night itineraries to the Italian Mediterranean and the Spanish Mediterranean which can be taken consecutively extending a holiday into a 14-night cruise.
In combining the two seven-night cruises, guests leave on a Sunday and take in the Balearic Islands, Italian Coastline where some of the most beautiful art and architecture can be found and the glamorous French Riviera. The cruises will be competitively priced and go on sale in March.
More about Grandeur of the Seas in Majorca

Brilliance of the Seas makes a wave in Dubai
January 19, 2010 - Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas has made her maiden docking into Dubai, marking the company's official entry into the Middle East.
It heralds the start of seven-night return-trip sailings to Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain from her home port of Dubai over the next four months.
The 90,090-ton Brilliance of the Seas will add more than 32,000 guests in her first four-month season to the region's burgeoning cruise sector - which is expected to grow by 30 percent this year.
More about the Brilliance of the Seas in Dubai

Now Allure is in the water
November 24, 2009 - Royal Caribbean International reached yet another milestone in the company's history with the "floating out" of Allure of the Seas.
She was moved from dry dock to wet dock at the STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland, signalling that the sdister of the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, is nearing completion and will soon be ready to welcome its own guests onboard.
More about the floating out of Allure of the Seas

Seven godmothers for Oasis
November 19, 2009 - When Royal Caribbean officially names Oasis of the Seas on November 30, it will continue its tradition of innovation by putting a new twist on one of maritime's longest standing traditions.
While normally bestowing the honour of godmother on one special person, Royal Caribbean has chosen seven extraordinary godmothers to represent the seven signature neighbourhoods onboard Oasis of the Seas.  
Each of the seven godmothers was chosen because they personify strength of character, exemplify the spirit of giving, and are role models for men, women and children alike.
The godmothers are: Singer songwriter Gloria Estefan, Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwanin, actress Jane Seymore,12-time Olympic swimming medalist Dara Torres, actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and television personality and producer Daisy Fuentes.

Oasis arrives in Fort Lauderdale
November 13, 2009 - Royal Caribbean International's newest cruise ship, the highly anticipated Oasis of the Seas, made her global debut today, arriving into her home port of Port Everglades in Florida following a 14-day transatlantic crossing from Turku, Finland.
Hundreds of onlookers, ranging from Royal Caribbean top executives to local government officials, residents and media, went out to welcome Oasis of the Seas to the United States for the first time and to be among the first to catch a glimpse of the world's most revolutionary cruise ship.
In the course of the next six days, the ship will undergo the final touches in preparation for pre-inaugural festivities kicking off with an exclusive private performance by pop music artist Rihanna on Thursday, November 19.
More about the arrival of Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean joins ABTA
October 8, 2009 - Royal Caribbean Cruises has reinforced its commitment to UK travel trade with confirmation of its membership of ABTA.
The move means that cruise-only holidays offered by the company's three global brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity and Azamara, will be bonded under the ABTA protection scheme from that date, rather than under the current Passenger Shipping Association bonding scheme.
Robin Shaw, vice president and managing director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, UK and Ireland, commented: "The ABTA brand resonates with consumers and is a well-known sign of reassurance so it makes sense to switch our bonding arrangements on the cruise-only holiday business."

Independence of the Seas year-round in UK in 2010
April 24, 2009 - As Independence of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, returns to the UK for her second season from tomorrow (April 25), owners Royal Caribbean International have announced that the ship will be based year round from the Southampton in 2010.
She will be the first ever Royal Caribbean International ship to be based year-round in the UK and will remain the largest ship sailing in Europe.
Says managing director Robin Shaw: "When Independence of the Seas first sailed from the UK it was one of the best performing ships in the fleet. The 2009 return of the ship has been equally successful due to the fantastic array of activity, entertainment and facilities onboard. It is great news that Independence of the Seas will call Southampton home for the long term and means that we firmly cement our position as one of the leading players in the UK cruise industry."
More on Independence of the Seas in 2010

Royal Cariibbean enhances family choices
April  14, 2009 - Royal Caribbean is rolling out a new fleetwide programme for guests, expanding services and activities that cater to families with children as young as six months old. As a leader in innovative family holiday's, RCI provides enriching and entertaining programmes that appeal to children of all ages, while providing options forparents and grandparents that contribute to a more carefree family holiday.
More about Royal Caribbean's family choices

The suite life gets even sweeter
February 20, 2009 - From next month, guests booked in Royal Caribbean International suite category staterooms will enjoy a range of comprehensive enhancements.
They will enjoy a number of special privileges and upgraded amenities for their cruise, along with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's world-renowned Gold Anchor Service from every member of its staff and crew.
On arrival at the pier, guests booked in the Presidential Family Suite, Royal Suite, Royal Family Suite, Owner's Suite and Grand Suite have access to dedicated security (where available) and check-in lines to help ease them swiftly through the embarkation process and directly to their accommodations.
More about the suite life