Shanghai - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it is opening two new offices in China, in the cities of Beijing and Guangzhou.

The new offices, which will open in the coming weeks, will be the second and third the company operates in China, joining its Shanghai facility, which opened in July 2007. The new offices will highlight the growing importance of the China marketplace and its role in the company’s international growth strategy.

The new offices will widen the company’s reach into more regions of China. They will be located in the central commercial districts of both cities and in close proximity to many travel agencies. This will allow the company to better serve a broader spectrum of local customers and the local travel agent communities, with faster, more seamless and more customized services.

“Our first season sailing from Asia was a great success, and our new offices will help us extend our reach to many more customers and travel agents throughout China,” said Michael Bayley, senior vice president, International, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Having a second consecutive season in Asia, and eventually, a year-round deployment there, reflects our commitment to the China market and the importance of the entire region to our global growth.”

The new offices will support three of the company’s brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. Royal Caribbean International’s Legend of the Seas will sail out of Shanghai, beginning in February 2009, departing from the new Shanghai cruise terminal. Similarly, Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Quest will call in Chinese cities such as Canton and Shanghai, beginning in January 2009, during its first season of sailings in Asia.

Royal Caribbean International was recently named the “Best Luxury Cruise Operator” in Travel China Weekly’s  Industry Awards 2008, after its first year of operations in China. The awards recognize the best in the tourism industry and acknowledge their contributions to China’s tourism industry.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will play a key role at “Seatrade Med 2008″ and will confirm its increasing commitment to Europe and the Mediterranean.

With an unprecedented 22 ships sailing in Europe in 2009, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will offer cruisers more choices than ever before.

“The international markets show the greatest growth potential, with Europe and the Mediterranean representing the ideal center,” said Michael Bayley, senior vice president, International, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Bayley made his comments during his opening address at the Seatrade Med convention, being held in Venice, Italy, this week. “Extending our deployments and our seasons in Europe and the Mediterranean reflects our commitment to, and the importance of, the region as an integral part of our international growth strategy. We see strong development opportunities in Europe and the Mediterranean as a destination, as well as a source market, and we are making the necessary investments to further grow our market share in these key regions.”

Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to deploy a record eight ships to the region for summer and fall of 2009. Vacationers can select from four- to 14-nights itineraries aboard some of the world’s most innovative cruise ships: Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Freedom-class ship; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; as well as Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. Totaling 70 distinct itineraries and 87 ports of call in 32 countries, Royal Caribbean International will offer vacationers unprecedented choices throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Northern and Western Europe and a variety of transatlantic sailings.

In May 2008, Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas began sailing year-round in the Mediterranean, a first for the brand. Departing from Barcelona, Spain, the ship offers an array of cruise options and destinations.

With its largest European deployment ever slated, in 2009, Celebrity Cruises will be offering guests the opportunity to take the ideal cruise on a premium brand. For the first time in the line’s history, five ships will visit the region in a single European season. They will include the brand’s two newest ships, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox. Joining them will be Celebrity Constellation, built in 2002; Celebrity Summit, launched in 2001; and Celebrity Century, which underwent a $55 million revitalization in 2006. The line will visit 76 ports in 29 countries, five of which are new to Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity’s ships will sail from six different homeports, and spend overnight port calls in eight different ports.

Azamara Cruises will offer deluxe cruise experiences onboard both their ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, in the Mediterranean between April and December 2009. No other deluxe brand offers the number of ports that Azamara Cruises’ ships will visit next year, nor matches the breadth of distinct itineraries. Azamara’s seven- to 15-night Europe itineraries will visit 91 ports in 36 countries, and depart from five different homeports. Overnight calls will be offered in seven ports and late-night departures (10 p.m. or after) will be offered in 10 ports, allowing guests to capture more of the flavor of each locale’s nightlife and a more immersive destination experience.

Additionally, all six Pullmantur Cruises’ ships and CDF Croisieres de France’s Bleu de France – both Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands – will operate in the Mediterranean in 2009. 

“With 22 ships deployed in Europe, 20 of which are in the Med, in 2009, we are clearly demonstrating our commitment to the region,” Bayley added. “We are not only dedicating more ships, but some of our newest and the most innovative ships to Europe and the Mediterranean. We are also focusing on enhanced products and onboard options that will further increase the satisfaction of our growing number of international guests. These factors increase our confidence that the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands will continue to grow their market share in Europe and the Mediterranean in 2009.” Participation in Seatrade Med 2008: In addition to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will also be represented at Seatrade Med by:

Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president, Maritime, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., speaking on A Grand Design

 

NCL continues sailing to Bermuda with Norwegian Dawn sailing seven-day cruises with three full days in Bermuda and the newly renovated Norwegian Spirit exclusively sailing seven-day cruises from Boston.

Pride of America’s successful deployment in Hawai`i, sailing seven-day Hawai’i inter-island cruises round-trip from Honolulu, Oahu, has been extended through January 2012.

In 2010-2011, NCL will sail the following itineraries:

• Europe
  • Norwegian Gem
    • Seven-day Greek Isles, round-trip from Venice, Italy
      • Ports of call include: Split, Croatia; Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Iraklion (Crete), Greece.
      • In 2010, Norwegian Gem sails April 24; May 8 and 22; June 5 and 19; July 23, 17 and 31; August 14 and 28; September 11 and 25; and October 9 and 23.
    • Seven-day Adriatic, Greece and Turkey, round-trip from Venice, Italy
      • Ports of call include: Dubrovnik, Croatia; Nafplion and Athens (Piraeus), Greece; and Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey.
      • 2010 sail dates are: May 1, 15 and 29; June 12 and 26; July 10 and 24; August 7 and 21; September 4 and 18; and October 2 and 16.
  • Norwegian Jade
    • Seven-day Western Mediterranean, round-trip from Barcelona, Spain
      • Ports of call include: Monte Carlo, Monaco; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain.
      • 2010 sail dates are: April 18 and 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; June 6, 13, 20 and 27; July 4, 11, 18 and 25; August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29; September 5, 12, 19 and 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; and November 7 and 14.
  • Norwegian Jewel
    • 12-day Baltic Capitals, round-trip from London (Dover), England
      • Ports of call include: Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany; Tallinn, Estoria; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm (Nynashamn), Sweden.
      • 2010 sail dates are: April 29; May 11 and 23; June 4, 16 and 28; July 10 and 22; and August 3, 15 and 27.
• Alaska
  • Norwegian Pearl
    • Seven-day Glacier Bay, round-trip from Seattle, Washington through the Inside Passage
      • Ports of call include: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.
      • 2010 sail dates are: May 9, 16, 23 and 30; June 6, 13, 20 and 27; July 4, 11, 18 and 25; August 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; and September 5.
  • Norwegian Sun
    • Seven-day Alaska Northbound from Vancouver, British Columbia to Whittier, Alaska through the Inside Passage and Hubbard Glacier
      • Ports of call include: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point, Alaska.
      • 2010 sail dates are: May 2, 16 and 30; June 13 and 27; July 11 and 25; August 8 and 22; and September 5.
    • Seven-day Alaska Southbound from Whittier, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia through the Inside Passage and College Fjord
      • Ports of call include: Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska.
      • 2010 sail dates are: May 9 and 23; June 6 and 20; July 4 and 18; August 1, 15 and 29; and September 12.
  • Norwegian Star
    • Seven-day Sawyer Glacier, round-trip from Seattle, Washington through the Inside Passage
      • Ports of call include: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska; and Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
      • 2010 sail dates are: May 15, 22 and 29; June 5, 12, 19 and 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; August 7, 14, 21 and 28; and September 4, 11, and 19.
• Bermuda
  • Norwegian Spirit
    • Seven-day Bermuda, round-trip from Boston, Massachusetts
      • Port of call: King’s Wharf, Bermuda.
      • 2010 sail dates are: April 23 and 30; May 7, 14, 21 and 28; June 4, 11, 18 and 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; August 6, 13, 20 and 27; and September 3, 10 and 17.
  • Norwegian Dawn
    • Seven-day Bermuda, round-trip from New York, New York
      • Port of call: King’s Wharf, Bermuda
      • 2010 sail dates: April 11, 18 and 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; June 6, 13, 20 and 27; July 4, 11, 18 and 25; August 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; and September 5.
• Hawai’i
  • Pride of America
    • Seven-day Hawai’i Inter-Island, round-trip form Honolulu, Oahu
      • Ports of call include: Kahului, Maui; Hilo and Kona, Hawai’i and Nawiliwili, Kauai with an evening sail by Kilauea Volcano and an afternoon cruise of the Napali Coast.
      • Pride of America sails every Saturday through January 2012.

To book one of these new itineraries, guests should contact us at 877-325-7522.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is the innovator in cruise travel with a 42-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Today, NCL has the youngest fleet in the industry with 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.

NCL is presently building a new third generation Freestyle Cruising project known as F3, for delivery in 2010.

Miami – December 5, 2008 – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced the suspension of its fuel supplement for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2009, anywhere in the world.

The decision reflects the recently sustained lower price of fuel.

Effective Monday, December 8, guests making new bookings for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2009, will not be charged the fuel supplement.

Guests already booked on sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2009, will receive a refund of any fuel supplement paid, as follows:

Guests with existing bookings for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2009, and who are now paid in full, will have the supplement automatically refunded to them in the form of an onboard credit during their sailing.

ONE MONTH TO ARRIVAL OF ‘THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHIP OF THE WORLD’

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (NOVEMBER 24, 2008) – The final countdown for MSC Fantasia has officially started.

There are less than 30 days to go to the christening ceremony of MSC Cruises‘ flagship in Naples on December 18. The most beautiful ship in the world will be christened by Sophia Loren, the icon of Italian style in the world, who has already christened five other elegant MSC Cruises’ ships.

MSC Fantasia at 133,500 gross registered tons, measures 1,092 feet long, 196 feet high and 124 feet wide. It can cruise at a maximum speed of 23 knots, carrying 3,274 guests (double occupancy) in its 1,637 cabins.

The 290,000 square feet of common areas include:

-         5 swimming pools – including “I Tropici,” with a retractable roof

-         12 whirlpool baths and 1 Acqua Park with 150 fountains

-         5 restaurants –including “La Cantina Toscana” – with the finest Italian wines;  “El Sombrero Tex Mex” to enjoy the taste of tacos and margaritas; and even a very elegant “Belle époque” style a la carte French restaurant.

Guests will have the opportunity to choose among 19 bars, such as the Manhattan Jazz Bar, with a perfect New York style, and the Sports Bar, where guests can support their team together with friends.

MSC AUREA SPA’s 17,384 square feet will ensure total relaxation of body and mind.

And fun is also guaranteed onboard, from “L’Avanguardia” theater with 1,650 seats, the casino, the disco and to the virtual area with a Formula 1 simulator and a 4D cinema. There is a children’s playroom dedicated to a North Pole theme.

For the first time onboard, guests will find the new MSC Yacht Club: 99 suites, between 247 and 570 square feet, furnished as a luxurious yacht; a large lounge with a breathtaking view of the sea; a Conciergerie with Swarovski crystal stairs; and other reserved spaces. Personal butlers will provide the most exclusive services such as taking care of the luggage, booking excursions, in-suite dining, choice of cigars, liquors and champagne.

Elegance and class are the elements which distinguish all the new spaces on the flagship, which, as always, have been designed by the studio De Jorio Design International. The most important contemporary design styles dominate all the ship’s spaces and reveal the great attention given to detail, and the quality of the materials.

MSC Fantasia is also an entirely ecological ship with environmentally friendly paint, modern technology for the treatment of black and grey waters and a system of energy saving in cabins and common areas.

MSC Fantasia is the tenth ship of the MSC Cruises fleet. After the inaugural ceremony, it will call at Genoa from where it will leave on Dec. 20 for its maiden voyage 9-day Mediterranean cruise, calling at Rhodes, Alexandria of Egypt, Messina and Naples. Twelve-day Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean cruises will be available all through winter 2009.

For more information about MSC Fantasia, visit the special website, www.mscfantasia.com.

Snow Flurries Again Provide Holiday Magic, Along with a Gingerbread Housebuilding Challenge and Turkey Carving Training from the Experts

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (December 1, 2008) — As the holidays draw near, Princess ships are preparing for another festive season at sea, and weather conditions are again pointing to unusual snow flurries onboard. After an extremely popular debut last year, snow will again magically fall in the ship’s atriums, transforming the vessels into a winter wonderland throughout December.

“What’s better than the romance of a white Christmas, especially when it’s an unexpected surprise?” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “Our snowfalls were such a huge hit last year that this has now become a new tradition on Princess ships.”

The innovative snow-making process creates falling flakes that vanish on contact, letting passengers enjoy the excitement of snow flurries without the need to bundle up. Princess’ daily snowfall will occur on all ships except for the lines’ three small vessels — Pacific Princess, Tahitian Princess and Royal Princess – which do not have large, multi-story atriums.

Even when the snow isn’t coming down, Princess ships will feature a merry atmosphere. Vessels are decked out in holiday decor — even including a Christmas tree on the vessels’ masts — and strolling carolers fill the air with the sounds of the season.

Passengers can once again participate in a “gingerbread challenge,” where teams test their holiday housebuilding skills in a fun-filled competition to construct the most creative gingerbread structure. Or they can test their holiday craft skills by creating a personalized photo ornament. And new this year is a turkey-carving demonstration from the onboard culinary experts to prepare passengers to do the honors at their next holiday feast.

Special events also include a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by either the captain or cruise director, and a holiday variety show adds a seasonal element to the ship’s entertainment offerings. For those who can’t get enough of Christmas carols, the ships’ Princess Pop Star talent show will feature a holiday edition where competitors can croon their favorite seasonal songs.

Religious services are held as well, and passengers can attend midnight mass or an inter-denominational church service performed by onboard clergy. Passengers will receive a stocking turndown gift and can enjoy classic holiday films or even relax in front of a traditional burning Yule log … on their stateroom television!

Holiday Feasts – Each Princess ship’s culinary team will delight the senses with spectacular holiday displays and will serve up several delicious feasts. A sumptuous Christmas brunch includes complimentary eggnog. On Christmas Day, passengers will sit down to a dinner of traditional holiday fare including roast turkey and all the trimmings. Freshly prepared stolen and Christmas cookies (even some for Santa) round out the seasonal treats.

Christmas For Children – Junior cruisers can count down to the big day with special holiday activities. Santa Claus makes an appearance with his sack full of toys, and a fun-filled holiday fair in the atrium offers youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at Christmas cookie decorating, balloon making, face painting, games and other competitions. The youth centers will host holiday parties for each age group, and kids can make decorations to display on the center’s Christmas tree. Youngsters can get creative with other holiday-themed arts and crafts projects throughout the cruise, and they will have an opportunity to sing Christmas carols for passengers. For parents who want to stay up later to celebrate the holidays, free late-night group kid sitting sessions will be available on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Hanukkah – Ships will also offer festivities for passengers celebrating the Festival of Lights. A special area of the ship is reserved for those participating in Hanukkah events and ships will display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in blue, silver and white. Children will enjoy themed arts and crafts pertinent to the holiday.

Happy New Year – Passengers will ring in a fun-filled 2009 with festive New Year’s Eve parties, complete with music, confetti, noise-makers and a balloon drop to count down to the new year. Earlier in the evening, the dinner menu will feature special treats just for New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, football fans will be pleased to know they won’t miss the holiday’s traditional college bowl games, as the telecasts will be shown (as available by satellite) in a shipboard lounge or on some vessels’ giant Movies Under the Stars top-deck screen.

The 17-ship Princess fleet will cover the globe this holiday season, with sailings to the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, South America, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available by calling 1-877-325 7522.