Revolutionary Design Creates Boardwalk with AquaTheater, Sky-lit Royal Promenade and Unique Loft Accommodations

 Miami, 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 the nostalgic seaside piers of yesteryear; the first amphitheater at sea, AquaTheater, will celebrate water with the largest freshwater pool found on a ship offering a full spectrum of activities and performances for guests; and the urban living concept will take to the high seas with the introduction of industry-first loft suites offering expansive ocean views and luxury amenities. Enhancements to the cruise line’s signature Royal Promenade will include a new design allowing guests to have a physical connection with the neighborhood above, Central Park, as natural light cascades down from the sky through the Crystal Canopy sculptured glass domes. Other surprises include two rock-climbing walls and the first zip-line at sea suspended nine decks above Boardwalk.

The announcement of the new neighborhoods adds to the previously revealed neighborhood, Central Park, which was introduced in April. Reminiscent of the piers that dot the coast of England and amusement parks such as Coney Island, the elements of Boardwalk will dynamically engage the entire family in classic fun - whether young or just young at heart - with eateries, retail outlets and carnival games. An original, handcrafted carousel - the first at sea - will be the centerpiece of this vibrant neighborhood. AquaTheater, created to offer two unique experiences, will allow guests to swim in the theater’s magnificent kidney-shaped pool, relax on sun loungers located on tiered platforms surrounding the pool, and even take SCUBA lessons in the afternoon. At night, it will deliver a complete sensory experience playing on the element of surprise as audience members witness the venue come alive with heart-pounding theatrical performances featuring dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet, and professional high-diving, as well as elaborate fountain shows synchronized to music and lights.

The introduction of 28 contemporary two-level loft suites will redefine cruise ship accommodations with vibrant, ocean-inspired colors in a sophisticated and spacious setting. Never before seen at sea, the lofts will feature spectacular views of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows to ensure the view will be enjoyed from each and every vantage point. The signature lofts will round out a new portfolio of 37 categories of accommodation options many with views unique to Oasis of the Seas.

“With our history of introducing game-changing amenities, we’re pleased to be able to answer the question of ‘what could possibly come next?’” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman & CEO, Royal Caribbean  Cruises Ltd. “We are particularly excited about the neighborhood concept which gives guests compelling choices and the ability to flow seamlessly throughout the ship to meet their individual desires and preferences.”

Additions to Royal Promenade, the heart of the ship, will include a mezzanine level that overlooks the main promenade below. The Royal Promenade will be home to a vast array of shopping, dining and entertainment options including, the Rising Tide bar, the first moving bar at sea, which will traverse three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park. A focal point will be a giant copper globe sculpture built into the facade above the Globe and Atlas Pub, which will “crack open” to create a spectacular, surprise element for guests, as it unfurls on hinged hydraulics and becomes a bridge platform for performances. Other options include the cruise line’s popular Schooner Bar and Champagne Bar; the new Mondo Coffee Bar; Focus, a photo shop and gallery; and the ever-popular Boleros Latin dance club.

“Royal Caribbean  is proud to introduce a number of industry ‘firsts’ on a level and scale that the world has never seen before,” stated Adam Goldstein, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation.”

When she launches in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line’s new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade. The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additional information is available at www.oasisoftheseas.com.

Royal Caribbean  International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska and Canada, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and South America.

Throughout the month of June, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will be participating in the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s “Destination Joy” fundraising campaign, allowing guests onboard Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises ships to make donations to the Foundation. All funds raised will be given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation so they can grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

“We are proud to take part in Destination Joy and help the Make-A-Wish Foundation make every child’s wish come true,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard D. Fain. “Our company is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, and this includes the wonderful work the Make-A-Wish Foundation provides for some of the neediest children.”

Throughout June, Make-A-Wish donation cards will be available on all Royal Caribbean , Celebrity Cruises  and Azamara ships. Guests will be able to donate any amount they choose and their donation will appear as an onboard charge. Along with the donation cards, guests will be able to participate in auctions where they can bid on unique onboard experiences, such as an opportunity to be on a ship’s bridge while it departs a port, a behind-the-scenes galley tour and lunch with the ship’s executive chef, or priority seating for all shows.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has been a national partner of the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2000. Through the company’s Wishes at Sea program, Royal Caribbean has helped make cruise wishes possible for more than 1,100 children.

Royal Caribbean works with Make-A-Wish chapters to help create the perfect wish for each child whose desire is to have an unforgettable, dream-come-true vacation with his or her family.

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 seven under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America.

MIAMI, May 05, 2008 - Royal Caribbean International, the industry leader in exciting cruises for families and active vacationers, today announced its 2009-10 Mexican Riviera cruise season. Vacationers can choose from 55 departures, ranging from four- to seven-night Mexico cruises, from the homeports of Los Angeles and San Diego. Guests will sail aboard the Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to be homeported in the Pacific Ocean, and Radiance of the Seas, the newest and largest ship to offer short cruises on the West Coast. In addition, vacationers can choose from four Panama Canal crossings aboard Serenade of the Seas. Bookings for 2009-10 Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal cruises open Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

“For the first time,  Royal Caribbean International is offering a second choice for cruisers to embark on a Mexico cruise from the Southern California port of San Diego,” said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Vacationers, as well as groups and incentives travelers will now have more choices for the best cruise offerings from the West Coast to visit the timeless colonial charms of the Mexican Riviera aboard the industry’s most innovative cruise ships.”

Mariner of the Seas’ seven-night Mexican Riviera itinerary sails round-trip from Los Angeles with ports of call at Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. One of the largest cruise ships in the world, Mariner offers guests revolutionary amenities, such as an onboard ice-skating rink, full-size basketball court, inline skating track, iconic rock-climbing wall, and the Royal Promenade, a boulevard of shops, restaurants, bars and lounges that runs nearly the length of the ship.

For the 2009 autumn season, Radiance of the Seas will feature a four-night itinerary with a call at Cabo San Lucas, and a five-night itinerary which also calls at Ensenada. Radiance is one of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance family of ships, which features the highest percentage of oceanview staterooms in the line’s fleet, and a 10-story atrium with glass elevators offering spectacular vistas of the sea.

Vacationers also can choose four distinct Panama Canal crossing itineraries, ranging from 13 to 15 nights, with departures from Miami, San Diego and San Juan, Puerto Rico aboard Serenade of the Seas, another Radiance-class ship.

On every Royal Caribbean International ship, guests enjoy the line’s award-winning Broadway-style musical revues from Royal Caribbean Productions, multiple onboard bars, lounges and discos throughout the ship, and Vegas-style gaming in the Casino Royale. The ships’ onboard Day Spa also offers a full range of rejuvenating treatments, and the adults-only Solarium pool provides a more sedate and relaxing environment.

Younger cruisers will laugh and learn in the line’s top-rated Adventure Ocean kids programming with teen-only spaces fleetwide. Or, the whole family can stay in, order room service - always complimentary 24 hours a day - and catch a popular on-demand movie.

Throughout, every guest will enjoy Royal Caribbean’s Gold Anchor standard of friendly and engaging service from staff and crew.  

About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand.

Royal Caribbean has named conservation advocate Jamie Sweeting as its vice president of Environmental Stewardship.

In his position, which is new to the company, Sweeting will be responsible for establishing the company’s long-term environmental strategy, including goals and objectives that ensure responsible corporate environmental performance. These objectives will incorporate factors such as climate change, destination stewardship, current and future environmental regulations and agreements, and programs that lead to sound environmental policy, compliance, incident response and training.

“We are delighted to have Jamie join our team,” said Gary M. Bald, senior vice president of Safety, Security, Environment and Health for Royal Caribbean. “Jamie will further strengthen our ongoing commitment to serve as responsible stewards of the environment. He has worked with many corporations to help them become more environmentally responsible, and maximize their contributions to conservation. His expertise and experience will be invaluable to our company as we continue to work to preserve and protect the environment.”

Sweeting has more than a decade of experience in tourism, conservation and business management. Most recently, he served as senior business advisor for Conservation International’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Business. Previously, he served as the Center’s Senior Director of the Travel and Leisure program, where he helped companies realize the benefits of becoming industry leaders in conservation and community development. Earlier in his career, Sweeting worked for the Ecotourism Society and also conducted a special project on ecotourism in the Caribbean.

Sweeting received a Master of Tourism Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a B.A. in Leisure and Business Management from Manchester University in the United Kingdom.

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

Three Freedom-class Ships from Three Ports Offer More Choices for Caribbean Vacationers

MIAMI, April 22, 2008 - Consistently pleasant weather, beautiful beaches and rich cultures make the Caribbean a rejuvenating and enriching region for a tropical getaway or a family cruise vacation. For the 2009-10 cruise season, Royal Caribbean International will offer 31 distinct itineraries on 264 sailings, ranging from six to 14 nights. Vacationers can choose departures aboard nine of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships from the ports of Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Canaveral, FL; Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ; Galveston, TX; San Juan, PR; and Colon, Panama. Booking for Royal Caribbean’s 2009-10 Caribbean cruises open this week.

“Royal Caribbean offers vacationers a wide range of Caribbean cruises departing from seven convenient homeports,” said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean . “We continue our legacy of delivering exhilarating Caribbean experiences in one of the world’s most spectacular destinations with some of the best ships in the industry geared for family and active vacations.”

Vacationers can choose year-round departures to the Caribbean from the ports of Miami, Port Canaveral, Cape Liberty, and San Juan. Freedom of the Seas debuts at Port Canaveral in May 2009 as the largest and most innovative cruise ship in the port’s history. The Freedom-class cruise ship will sail alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, replacing Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas¸ which will depart for its new homeport of Los Angeles in January 2009.

Unlike any other vacation experience, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class of ships exclusively feature amenities that have revolutionized the industry, such as the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, a boxing ring, cantilevered whirlpools, and the four-bedroom/four-bath Presidential Family Suite. With eight restaurants and more than 15 bars and lounges, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas offer guests more ways to enjoy a memorable Caribbean cruise vacation.

From Miami, Liberty will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries in the summer 2009 season, but changes to two alternating Western Caribbean itineraries in the winter. Liberty’s traditional Western Caribbean itinerary will alternate with a new Western Caribbean itinerary in November, which includes ports of call at Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Adventure of the Seas will homeport year-round at San Juan, offering two new alternating seven-night Southern Caribbean itineraries with Sunday departures, while Serenade of the Seas will join Adventure in the winter and offer a Saturday departure. New ports of call at Grenada, Dominica and St. Croix for both ships, and additionally Tortola and St. Kitts for Serenade, create two back-to-back voyages with no repeat calls. The distinct alternating itineraries of either ship will give vacationers the opportunity to combine two sailings into an extended 14-night Southern Caribbean odyssey.

Additional winter season highlights include the following itineraries:

• Independence of the Seas will sail six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades, giving vacationers a choice of six Caribbean itineraries aboard one of three Freedom-class ships.
• Explorer of the Seas will continue its third consecutive year-round deployment at Cape Liberty sailing Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries, ranging from eight to 12 nights. A special 14-night holiday cruise departs December 20, 2009.
• Voyager of the Seas will return to Galveston, TX in December 2009 to offer two alternating Western Caribbean itineraries, one new, featuring calls at Roatán, Honduras, and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
• Jewel of the Seas will sail 10- and 11-night Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises from Miami. On a very special holiday sailing, Jewel will make a maiden call on Christmas Eve at the new Jamaican cruise port of Falmouth.
• Enchantment of the Seas will return to Colon, Panama to offer seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises to Colombia and the ABC Islands. Royal Caribbean International is the only cruise line to homeport in Colon.

Onboard every Royal Caribbean ship, guests enjoy complimentary 24-hour room service, award-winning Broadway-style musical revues from Royal Caribbean Productions, top-rated Adventure Ocean kids programming with teen-only spaces fleetwide, and Royal Caribbean’s Gold Service Standard of friendly and engaging service from staff and crew.

On many Western Caribbean itineraries, guests also enjoy a call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination along the northwestern coast of Haiti. Labadee’s features a wide variety of watersports and excursions, a craft market, Labadee Luc’s Splash Bash pirate water park, and the Dragon’s Breath Flight Line, the world’s longest zip line over water at 2,600 ft.

About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand.

“We look forward to working with our colleagues at TUI AG to build a world class cruise line for Germany,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.   “TUI Cruises is another strategic step in our efforts to meet the growing global demand for cruising.”

“Our partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.  will help us bring the very best cruises to our fellow countrymen,” said Dr. Michael Frenzel, chief executive officer of TUI AG. “We expect TUI Cruises to be a central player in Germany’s fast growing cruise market.”

TUI Cruises will be based in Hamburg, Germany, and Richard J. Vogel, a long time cruise industry executive, will serve as chief executive.

The new cruise line will begin service with one ship in early 2009. Sales and marketing activities will begin in the coming months.

TUI Cruises will meet the needs of German-speaking customers seeking a premium cruise experience. The onboard product will be custom-tailored to German tastes, and encompass food, entertainment and amenities. German will be the language used onboard.

The companies announced their intentions to form TUI Cruises on December 10, 2007. On March 10, 2008, they received permission to move forward from European antitrust regulators. Each company holds a 50 percent interest in the joint venture.

Further details regarding the brand’s first ship and the TUI Cruises product will be revealed at an April 29 press event in Hamburg. 

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

TUI AG is Europe’s leading travel and shipping group. TUI AG holds the majority stake in Europe’s leading travel group, London-based TUI Travel PLC. The corporation operates the world’s fifth-largest container shipping company - Hapag-Lloyd - and, through Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, also runs the leading German cruise line company in the luxury and expedition segment.

For first and second guests in a stateroom, the revised fuel supplement will be $8 (U.S.D.) per-person, per-day, and no more than $112 (U.S.D.) per-person, per-cruise. Additional guests in a stateroom will be charged $3 (U.S.D.) per-person, per day, and no more than $42 (U.S.D.) per-person, per-cruise.

The revised fuel supplement will apply to bookings made throughout the world on or after May 1, 2008, onboard three Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.

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