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Royal Caribbean launches French line
September 13, 2007 - Royal Caribbean Cruises is launching a new cruise brand, CDF Croisières de France, committed to the French market to reinforce its expansion into Europe.
The new brand will begin sailing its first ship, Bleu de France, in May, 2008, after the ship has completed extensive renovations and undergone a cultural transformation wholly adapting the brand experience to French tastes.
The new line will operate one ship initially when it begins operations. The 376-cabin ship was the former luxury liner Europa when it was owned by Hapag Lloyd. Currently, it is Pullmantur's Holiday Dream.
More ships and cruises than ever in South America
August 10, 2007 - Royal Caribbean will expand its South America cruise offerings to four ships when Splendour of the Seas sails out of Brazil for the Winter 2008-09 season.
Taking guests on cruise adventures to some of the most sizzling South American ports of call, Splendour will join three other ships to be deployed in Latin America for the season and add to the extensive range of itineraries offered by Enchantmen, Radiance and Vision of the Seas.
From December 2008 to March 2009, Splendour will offer travellers 19 roundtrip sailings from Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil, ranging from three to eight nights. On the eight-night sailings, guests will enjoy a two-day port of call to explore Copacabana Beach or Salvador De Bahia, Brazil, or Buenos Aires. Other ports of call include Rio De Janeiro, Porto Belo, Buzios, Ilhabela, Cabo Frio, and Parati, in Brazil, and Punta Del Este, Uruguay.
More about South America in 2008-09
Capturing young cruisers
July 15, 2007 - More than 550 children and teenagers in the UK and Ireland have signed up to Royal Caribbean International's new Crown & Anchor Society Youth Programme since its launch on Liberty of the Seas' maiden voyage in May.
The society offers membership benefits for younger guests every time they sail with Royal Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean's ships have a number of facilities on board that have proved to be a massive hit with families, including the FlowRider surf simulator and the rock climbing wall.
Members are welcomed at the beginning of each cruise with a Youth Ultimate Value Booklet, which includes colouring pages, puzzles, games, and special offers for onboard amenities, including Ben & Jerry's; Airbrush Tattoo; arcade games; and Y-spa, Royal Caribbean'ss teen spa treatment menu. During the cruise, members also receive a commemorative gift.
First woman captain takes command
May 16, 2007 - Swedish mariner Karin Stahre-Janson is first woman ever to command a major cruise ship. Royal Caribbean has appointed her captain of Monarch of the Seas.
She recently completed her first tour of duty as captain of the Los Angeles-based ship, which sails three and four-night cruises out of Los Angeles to San Diego, Catalina and Ensenada, Mexico. She resumes her command in August.
Prior to joining Royal Caribbean, Captain Stahre-Janson worked for nine years in cargo shipping, primarily on petroleum and chemical tankers, where, ultimately, she served as Chief Officer. She has been an officer on Royal Caribbean's ships since 1997, when she joined the company as First Officer on Viking Serenade, then Nordic Empress. en in any line of work, particularly a maritime career.
A native of Stromstad, Sweden, a town on the Nordic country's west coast, Captain Stahre-Janson learned to sail from her parents at the age of seven in a small boat given to her by her parents. Growing up, she attended sailing camp, taught sailing and competitively raced tall ships.
RCI takes a giant Liberty
April 19, 2007 - Royal Caribbean has taken delivery of Liberty of the Seas from Aker Yards during a ceremony in Turku, Finland.
Just days away from making her UK debut in Southampton on Sunday (April 22), the Freedom-class ship is the first in the fleet to showcase new wellbeing, family and wedding programme options that will then be rolled out fleet-wide.
The 158,000-ton Liberty of the Seas shares the title of "world's largest cruise ship" with her sister ship Freedom of the Seas which launched in May last year.
Liberty will leave Southampton next Thursday, April 26, and begins cruising in the Western and Eastern Caribbean on May 19. A nine-night fly/cruise holiday costs from £1,191 per person including return flights from London Heathrow to Miami, one night pre-cruise hotel accommodation, a seven-night cruise calling at Labadee (Haiti), Montego Bay (Jamaica), George Town (Grand Cayman) and Cozumel (Mexico), meals and entertainment onboard, and all cruise taxes / fees.
More about Liberty of the Seas
RCI goes for second Genesis ship
April 2, 2007 - Royal Caribbean Cruises has firmed up its option to build a second Genesis-class ship.
The 220,000-ton vessel ,to bebuilt at Aker Yards in Finland, will become the 24th ship in the fleet when she arrives in August, 2010.
Like the first Genesis ship due in the Fall of 2009, the sister ship will feature new amenities to continue to challenge and expand guests' expectations of cruising.
28-day refit crowns Majesty
February 16, 2007 - Majesty of the Seas has been revitalised by an extensive bow-to-stern renovation that includes several new dining and entertainment options.
The newly transformed ship returned to year-round three and four-night cruises from Miami offering a fresh onboard vibe for Bahamas-bound guests looking for a weekend getaway, a first cruise experience or multi-destination incentive group trip.
Majesty's onboard enhancements include a complete overhaul of the guest suites and staterooms, casual dining areas, the main dining rooms, the Majesty Day Spa and ShipShape Fitness Center, the Adventure Ocean youth area - adding the teen-focused Fuel Nightclub and Living Room lounge, conference rooms, the pool deck, the theater and Casino Royale.
More about the new look Majesty
Independence day ...
December 22, 2006 - First came Freedom ... Liberty arrives in May ... and finally there will be Independence.
And the date for Royal Caribbean International''s third and final Freedom-class ship, to be called Independence of the Seas, is May, 2008.
The 3,634 passenger Independence, weighing in at 160,000 tons and under construction in Finland,, will share the title of the world's largest cruise ship with Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas.
Rhapsody's new exotic itineraries Down Under
October 17, 2006 - Royal Caribbean is combining its signature active cruising experience with crocodiles, kangaroos and koala bears, when the cruise line returns Down Under for the 2007/8 season.
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail a series of new itineraries to the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand as she heads for her recently announced Far East adventure.
On 27 October and 10 November 2007, Rhapsody of the Seas offers 14-night roundtrip cruises from Sydney to New Zealand, cruising through Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound and calling on the ports of Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland. These sailings will be available for sale through travel agents in the UK and Ireland.
More on Rhapsody Down Under
Rhapsody in Asia in 2007
September 24, 2006 - Royal Caribbean returns to Asia in December 2007 with the Vision-class ship, Rhapsody of the Seas.
Featuring the line's signature rock-climbing wall and indoor glass walls providing exotic views of Asian landscapes, Rhapsody will offer a series of cruises out of Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, visiting exotic ports of call in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, andTaiwan.
More on Rhapsody in Asia
Big Euro-push by Royal Caribbean
June 22, 2006 - Royal Caribbean's 15-month worldwide schedule from January 2007 to March 2008 features the largest European programme ever offered and a new exclusive charter to the Dominican Republic.
A Europe and the Mediterranean dedicated brochure exclusively highlights the first-ever season of a Voyager-class ship, Navigator of the Seas, sailing from Southampton in April 2007.
Prices in Europe kick off at £199 per person for a two-night cruise from Southampton to Le Havre on the new Navigator of the Seas. And in the Caribbean, the new Legend of the Seas' Dominican Republic charter starts from £1,199 for an eight-night fly/cruise.
Navigator heads for the UK
March 17, 2006 - Royal Caribbean's 3,835-passenger Navigator of the Seas will cruise from Southampton from April 2007.
She will replace Legend of the Seas at the end of her second UK season, making her the first Voyager class ship to sail out of the UK.
Royal Caribbean believes its Voyager class ships, which offer state of the art on-board facilities, hold particular appeal for the first-time cruiser segment of the market.
Order placed for 222,000-ton cruise ship
February 6, 2006 - Royal Caribbean fast-forwarded cruise-ship innovation today by ordering a 5,400-guest, 220,000-ton vessel. There is also an option for a second ship.
Project Genesis, as it is currently known, builds upon the trailblazing innovations of the brandÕs landmark Voyager and Freedom classes of ships.
Finnish shipbuilder Aker Yards will build the ship, estimated cost $1.25 billion (£715 million) for an Autumn 2009 delivery, continuing a 35-year collaboration with Royal Caribbean.
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