Royal Caribbean International today announced that it will invest approximately $300 million to bring the latest innovations to the cruise line's ships across the fleet and introduce the highest guest-rated programs from its award-winning Oasis-class ships. The revitalizations will offer guests a greater variety of new onboard dining and entertainment options, pervasive Wi-Fi, iPod docking stations, and many more amenities, to deliver even more of the "WOW" aboard all Royal Caribbean ships sailing worldwide. Planned through 2014, the revitalizations are yet another example of why Royal Cari...

Royal Caribbean Reaches Families with the Launch of its "Pandamonium" Summer Promotion on Ships Offering the DreamWorks Experience    Royal Caribbean International is rolling out the red carpet in honor of the May 26, 2011 world premiere of the highly anticipated DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) film "Kung Fu Panda 2" with 3-D movie viewings, a family-themed promotion and special onboard programming throughout the summer.  Guests sailing on Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas andLiberty of the Seas from June through Augus...

  Caribbean's Newest Port Offers Cruise Guests Wider Range of Jamaican Adventures  The Port Authority of Jamaica and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. officially opened Historic Falmouth Port today with the maiden call of Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas, one of the world's two largest and most innovative cruise ships. Situated between the popular cruise ports of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Historic Falmouth is the first-ever thematic cruise port that provides a convenient gateway for guests to embark on more than 60 exhilarating land experiences along the n...

  Royal Caribbean International once again makes maritime history.  At the official naming ceremony for the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, guests were enchanted when her larger-than-life godmother was unveiled - Princess Fiona.  This is the first time that a 3-D animated character is the godmother of a cruise ship. The 3-D star of DreamWorks Animation's megahit film series, "Shrek," presided over the celebration, joining and interacting in 3-D with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s Chairman and CEO, Richard D. Fain, during the cerem...

  Royal Caribbean International takes delivery today of the newest addition to the cruise line's fleet, Allure of the Seas, from STX Europe in Turku, Finland.  With Captain Hernan Zini at the helm, Allure of the Seas will be departing Turku on October 29, 2010, starting the 13-day countdown to her U.S. debut into her homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Thursday, Nov. 11.  Allure of the Seas joins sister-ship Oasis of the Seas as the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship. Fans and enthusiasts are in...

  Brazilian Steakhouse Completes the 24 Dining Venues That Cater to Any Craving Showcasing onboard experiences all her own, Royal Caribbean International'sAllure of the Seas, the world's next largest and most innovative cruise ship debuting in December 2010, will introduce new culinary concepts and tempting twists to signature Oasis-class restaurants.  Samba Grille, a Brazilian steakhouse will be a destination restaurant that comes to life for dinner service in the Solarium, featuring authentic Brazilian-style meats and seafood dishes, from Picanha cut sirloi...

Now Is A Good Time To “Cruise Them Or Lose Them,” Says Royal Caribbean International   Over-worked, over-tired and stressed-out workers have one more thing to worry about this coming Labor Day - how many vacation days they could potentially be losing this year. And if The President of the United States, who just returned from a respite on Martha's Vineyard, can still find time, then shouldn't everyone?     The fact that people are not using all of their vacation days is well documented and the statistics are staggering. According to data released in a ...

  As Royal Caribbean International prepares for the December 2010 launch of Allure of the Seas, the world's next largest and most revolutionary cruise ship, the global cruise line continues to unveil surprising new features and amenities that will distinguish Allure from her sister-ship,Oasis of the Seas.  After announcing an integrated partnership with DreamWorks Animations and Chicago: The Musical as the ship's signature show, as well as a line-up of new dining, entertainment and shopping options, Royal Caribbean is pleased to share details of yet ...

  Stars of 'Shrek,' 'Madagascar,' 'Kung Fu Panda' and 'How to Train Your Dragon' to Delight Guests with Exclusive Entertainment and 3D Movies, Starting Onboard new Allure of the Seas in December 2010 Furthering Royal Caribbean International's commitment to providing guests with unparalleled vacation experiences, the global cruise line today announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA), the world-class animated film studio powerhouse, to bring the next generation of family programming and quality entertainment to the hig...

When she debuts this December 2010, Royal Caribbean International's Allure of the Seas will bring a refreshing new array of features and amenities to the high seas as the world's next largest and most innovative cruise ship.  Following the announcement of Chicago: The Musical as the ship's signature Broadway production, Royal Caribbean is sharing the next of several new onboard amenities that will surprise and delight Allure of the Seas' guests.             "Allure of the Seas will offer g...

MIAMI , FL – Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, donated $18,000 to the Fisher House Foundation as part of its CP Cares initiative. The funds were collected at the company’s annual convention late last year through Cruise Planners t-shirt sales and a silent auction. “Cruise Planners has shown their commitment to improving the quality of life both locally and nationally by donating such an impressive gift,” said Mary Berrocal, director of the U.S. Department of Ve...

Royal Caribbean International is reminding vacationers that they can enjoy the benefits of booking early and the peace of mind of receiving the best advertised prices with the line’s Best Price Guarantee program. By booking early, vacationers have access to a much wider selection of staterooms and availability on their desired departure date. If the guest then finds a lower fare advertised by Royal Caribbean for the same ship, sail-date and stateroom category, they can receive the difference in price as an onboard credit to spend on beverages, cocktails, spa services, specialty dini...

CORAL SPRINGS, FL, October 12, 2009/PRWeb – For the month of October 2009, Cruise Planners will join thousands of cruise-selling travel agents in World’s Largest Cruise Event, an exciting event designed to showcase the incredible choice, diversity and value of cruise vacations—an excellent chance to improve anyone’s CruisitudeSM. Travel agencies across North America will team up with 24 member lines of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) to provide consumers with information on cruise vacations and exceptional offers. If they choose, area residents can fi...

Delivering the very best in overall guest experiences is the central motivator behind the design of Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. When she debuts in December 2009, the most cutting-edge amenities and activities ever seen at sea will be complemented with a variety of retail venues – 13 stores, including open-air shopping that cover more than 10,000 square feet. With many products exclusive to Oasis, the shopping experience will be one of a kind in terms of both the items offered and the setting on the largest and most revolutionary cruise ...

Royal Caribbean joined the Cruisitude movement. You should too!  We’ve teamed up with Royal Caribbean to deliver you an exclusive offer that is valid through August 15, 2009. This special promotion offers 50% reduced deposits and an onboard coupon booklet valued at up to $425, PLUS there are numerous combinable add-ons to choose from. These choices include free spa treatments, complimentary specialty dining, onboard credit of up to $200, dollars off, priority VIP-check in, Johnny Rockets meal vouchers, kids Soda cards, and more! Why not book now? There are many incredible ships ...

Royal Caribbean’s chairman, Richard Fain, has been a busy bee travelling back and forth from the Miami headquarters to the shipyard in Turku, Finland where the Oasis of the Seas is being fitted out.  And he brought his camera with him on this last trip to share some amazing photos of the ship as it nears completion.  You can see them all at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalcaribbeanintl/sets/72157621384522642/show/ Here are some comments on the photos  from the cruise industry trade group Seatrade Insider Newsletter: From bird’s-eye views of Central Park to a...

UPDATE: OUR MEGA HAS ENDED, BUT THE FALL CARIBBEAN AND FALL EUROPE PROMOTIONS BELOW ARE VALID UNTIL JULY 24TH! Hey Royal Caribbean Fans, listen up!  We just announced an exciting and exclusive MEGA SALE.  To celebrate Cruise Planners 15th anniversary, we are picking up the tab for gratuities on all cruises booked from June 22 through June 29, 2009  July 1, 2009 that sail from July 1 to December 31, 2009.   And if that isn’t impressive enough, we’ve negotiated to have deposits reduced by 50%. FREE GRATUITIES AND REDUCED DEPOSITS!!!!! You can rese...

Royal Caribbean doesn’t want to be left out of the latest reality dance show craze.  First there was “Dancing with the Stars” and then “So You Think You Can Dance?” on TV.  And now,  “Gotta Dance” takes to the high seas aboard Royal Caribbean’s ships.  Based on the documentary film by Dori Bernstein, the program offers passengers of all ages the chance to learn hip hop routines with a shipboard dance team member.  The program is inspired by the film that chronicles the first senior citizen hip hop dance troupe, for the...

Cruise ship entertainment continues to reach new heights so it is no surprise that when the world’s largest ship, Oasis of the Seas,  enters service this fall, the shows on board will also be “super-sized”.  While the ship will feature multiple entertainment venues, the current buzz is about “Hairspray” and not the kind available in the gift shop.  Royal Caribbean recently announced that it has signed an exclusive 3 year arrangement with the producers of the musical for presentation in the ship’s Grand Opal lounge.  "We are thril...

There was recently a rather large dust up when it was disclosed that a major cruise line had given away some free cruises to a core group of its fans who posted regularly on a large cruise community site.  There were many cries of “foul” and “reverse censorship”.  While this may have been blown a bit out of proportion, it does open the door to a question lots of novice cruisers ask.  And the question is “Should I trust the reviews I read on sites like Cruise Critic?”  The answer is Yes and No. Why the ambiguity?  Because the most...

Don’t look now but Fort Lauderdale’s cruise port is more than tripling the size of one of its cruise terminals in time for the arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s 5,400-passenger Oasis-class of ships, the largest cruise ships in the world. When completed, Terminal 18 will become the largest single-ship cruise terminal in the world.   Guests will be treated to the Oasis experience as soon as they enter the terminal according to port officials.   The grand opening is planned to coincide with the arrival of the ship in November 2009.  Oasis of ...

Cruise Planners/American Express is making room in its crowded trophy case for its second Home-Based Partner of the Year award from Royal Caribbean International. With the win, Cruise Planners/American Express remains the only company to receive the prestigious award. It's a tremendous honor being the sole recipient of this great award, said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners/American Express. All the praise goes to our wonderful agents and the strong team we have here at headquarters that provide an unmatched level of training and support to make this kind of victory possible. T...

Royal Caribbean International announced a comprehensive enhancement to the cruise line's program for guests booked in suite category staterooms. The new suite program is designed to focus on distinctive and personalized servicing and touch every aspect of the guests' experience from arrival through departure. Suite guests will enjoy a myriad of special privileges and upgraded amenities for their cruise, along with Royal Caribbean's world-renowned friendly, engaging and attentive Gold Anchor Service from every member of its staff and crew. The new suite program will be implemented fleetwide ...

This year will be exciting with the introduction of 9 new cruise ships. The biggest and most discussed new vessel is Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Slated for her first voyage this spring, this floating city will rank as the largest cruise ship in history. Weighing in at 220,000-tons, the 5,400-passenger ship has created a buzz ever since Royal Caribbean announced the project. The Oasis will feature neighborhoods that replicate land based sites like Central Park and the Boardwalk.  Other innovations include an onboard “zip-line”, Aqua Theater and a bar that raises fi...

Vacationers will now be able to experience the world's most highlyanticipated cruise ship even sooner. Royal Caribbean International today announced two additional sailings for Oasis of the Seas' inaugural season: a seven-night inaugural Eastern Caribbean itinerary, sailing on December 5, 2009; and a special four-night voyage - departing December 1, 2009 - to celebrate the launch of an all-new Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach paradise in Haiti. On the December 5, 2009 inaugural voyage, guests will be among the first to enjoy Oasis of the Seas, with all of her venues and amenities...

The World's Most Revolutionary Cruise Ship Is One Step Closer To Redefining The Cruise Vacation In just over one year, Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas will make her long awaited debut. The ship, under construction at STX Europe in Turku, Finland, reached an important maritime milestone today when she was "floated out" - moved from dry dock to wet dock - to begin the final stages of interior work. At official ceremonies held at the shipyard, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. executives, Richard Fain, chairman and CEO and Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president, M...

The final neighborhood to be added into the deck plans of Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas was announced last night during an online unveiling sponsored by American Express Travel. The Youth Zone, a haven for children and teens, joins the ranks of six other previously-announced, diverse neighborhoods that will be aboard the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship due to launch in November 2009. Oasis of the Seas features a unique concept that will provide guests with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal style, preference or moo...

Royal Caribbean International unveiled two more neighborhoods for the highly anticipated Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship when she launches in November 2009. The Pool and Sports Zone and the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center were announced at the consumer Internet event, revealing additional examples of innovation and amenities for which Royal Caribbean has been renowned throughout the cruise line's history.    "This latest unveiling of two more neighborhoods to be found on Oasis of the Seas continues to prove our legacy of re...

Royal Caribbean will base a cruise ship in Asia year-round beginning in fall 2009, as part of the line's global expansion strategy. This fall and winter, the 2,076-passenger Legend of the Seas will take over the line's seasonal Asia itineraries from the 2,435-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas, which is being redeployed to Australia. The Legend will offer sailings out of Singapore and Shanghai until it returns to the Mediterranean next summer. Th ship will then return to Asia in fall 2009, where it will stay year-round, and offer cruises from various ports in the region. The Rhapsody began c...

  Steeped in a philosophy that innovation and imagination contribute to a remarkable cruise vacation, Royal Caribbean has once again raised the bar with the announcement of the latest amenities on its newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. Launching in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the world's largest and most revolutionary ship introducing the cruise line's new neighborhood concept, which will provide vacationers with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal styles, preferences or moods. Boardwalk, will be a breathtaking space for families inspired by ...

An oasis is commonly defined as a fertile area in an arid region or a place of refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast. Today, Royal Caribbean International adds another use of the term, defining it as the official name for the cruise line's newest and most awe-inspiring class of cruise ships, until now referred to by the code name "Project Genesis." The name Oasis of the Seas was selected from more than 91,000 entries in Royal Caribbean's "Name that Ship" contest, which the cruise line launched on January 18 in partnership with USA TODAY. Entrants were invited to submi...

In its latest evolution in cruise ship design, Royal Caribbean International's Project Genesis will bring the best of the land to sea with Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the center of the ship opens to the sky and features lush, tropical grounds spanning the length of a football field. An exquisite public gathering place featuring serene pathways, seasonal flower gardens and canopy trees, Central Park will provide cruisers with more choices in a unique outdoor space. One of the ship's most ground-breaking spaces, this new concept is the first of seven neighborhoods to be unve...

Vacationers usually exploring Alaska at bear-level height with Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises, now can soar over the majestic wilderness from the perspective of an eagle on North America's longest and highest zip-line - the ZipRider. Traveling a distance of 5,330 feet from a mountaintop 1,330 feet in elevation to the beach below, guests can experience the exhilarating shore excursion at Icy Strait Point during their Alaskan cruise or cruisetour adventure. "We are thrilled to provide this extraordinary experience to our guests looking for a unique and active vacat...

In time to help guests set their New Year's resolutions for a healthier lifestyle, Royal Caribbean International announces a new smoking policy onboard its ships, effective January 2008. To bolster the cruise line's new Vitality wellness program, recently debuted on Liberty of the Seas - the newest vessel to share the title of the world's largest cruise ship with sister-ship, Freedom of the Seas - Royal Caribbean is increasing smoke-free zones by designating all staterooms and one lounge on each ship in its fleet as non-smoking areas. The new policy will go into effect aboard 18 of the l...

Royal Caribbean's Explorer Weddings Proves Love's Expression Knows No Bounds. Cruise Industry-First Wedding Adventure Program Debuts with New Liberty of the Seas Reflecting the cruise line's dedication to provide guests with exciting and innovative experiences, Royal Caribbean International is unveiling Explorer Weddings, a first-of-its-kind program that combines a cruise with an exotic destination or themed wedding. Couples saying "I do" for the first time or repeating their vows will share in a customized wedding experience onboard or shoreside. Explorer Weddings add an extra...

Royal Caribbean International has named Swedish mariner, Karin Stahre-Janson, captain of Monarch of the Seas, making her the first female captain in the line's 21-ship fleet and the first woman in the industry to command a major cruise ship. As the Captain of Monarch of the Seas, Captain Stahre-Janson is responsible for the safe navigation of a ship that is 880 feet long, 106 feet wide, has 14 guest decks and routinely carries 2,400 guests and 850 crew members. Captain Stahre-Janson recently completed her first tour of duty as captain of the Los Angeles-based ship, which sails three- ...

Royal Caribbean exercised its option to build a second ship in its “Genesis Project." Destined to become the 24th ship in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the 5,400-guest, 220,000-gross-registered-ton ship would be built at Aker Yards in Finland, with delivery projected for August, 2010. Like the prototype ship due out in Fall, 2009, the second Project Genesis ship will be a trailblazer in cruise-ship and vacation innovation. New icons and amenities will continue to challenge and expand guests’ expectations of cruising, and the latest technology and design will c...

Royal Caribbean International will name its third Freedom-class ship the Independence of the Seas when it debuts in May 2008. The vessel is currently under construction at Aker Yards in Turku Finland. Along with sister ships the Freedom of the Seas and the Liberty of the Seas, which will debut in New York in May, the 160,000-ton vessel will carry 3,634 passengers and will share the title of world's largest cruise ship. Like its sister vessels, the Independence of the Seas will have amenities that include the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone aqua park, cantilevered whirlpools, an ice-s...

Military Rates will are now available on select Royal Caribbean sailings. Restrictions will apply and one qualified guest must sail in each cabin To Qualify: * Active personnel currently serving in the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves or Canadian National Defense. Proper ID in the form of a US Uniformed Services WHITE. ID Card for US Military personnel, and a WHITE N.D.21 ID Card with Red Canadian Flag displayed- Must be presented at time of check-in. * Retired from any of the divisions listed directly above. “Retired” is defined as A) en...