Oh What a Beautiful Morning Today's The Day

 

"We’re Back. Today We Set Sail On the First U.S. Cruise!” 

Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean International CEO couldn't help himself - he burst into song onboard Celebrity Edge as they prepare to sail for the first time from a U.S. port in 15 months.

“This is the first cruise and just one cruise, but it’s the start of something huge,” Fain said.

He equated the transition from winter to spring with that of the cruise industry returning to sailing from U.S. ports. He wanted to tell us that there would be smooth sailing and that he had all the answers from the CDC and ports of call, but he admitted that there's still a lot of uncertainty.  

“For example, we’re still not 100 percent sure about the specific protocols on specific sailings. Here in Florida we still don’t understand all the implications about the law about vaccination documentation,” Fain said.   He did indicate that 90% of passengers surveyed have either been vaccinated or intend to be, and that they are ready to resume cruising.

He thanked "all the people that helped us get to this amazing day".  He thanked the crews that stepped up repeatedly to get crews home safe and keep ships safe and operational.  He also thanked them for implementing the new protocols which build confidence that passengers will have a healthy and fun-filled experience back onboard their ships.

He also thanked passengers who have booked and rebooked cruises, some multiple times, with hopes that their cruise would sail.  "Up until now those hopes had been dashed but they were never crushed".

Finally, he thanked the travel partners for their efforts to keep their business strong during these tough times.  He mentioned that phones are beginning to ring again "and that's a happy sound for all of us". "Together we are going to get our way back to cruising".

 

He reported that he will be on Freedom of the Seas next weekend as well as that ship has it's first revenue sailing, having successfully completed the CDC mandated test cruise this past weekend.

Yes, Richard, this is a beautiful morning, and we are grateful that you have been at the helm, getting us to this historic day in the cruise industry.  Thank you and the entire Royal Caribbean family for all that you personally did to make this possible.

Watch this video for his complete remarks:

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50 Million Guests Can't Be Wrong

#RoyalWOW

Royal Caribbean International®

Celebrates Major Milestone

50 Million Guests

This year there has been a lot of negative press and attention to the cruise industry.  While the majority of the press was aimed at one particular cruise line, all lines have seen an impact.  The industry is strong and in the long run, this will only be a small blip on the radar.  In fact, Royal Caribbean International has just welcomed their 50 millionth guest onboard their ships.

We live in what seems like "tragic times".   Every night on the news there are more stories with sad news about death, injury, and disasters, than there are uplifting stories with happy endings.  Through  the marvels of technology, we are connected in ways never before imagined and can be "live" on the scene anywhere in the world as news breaks out.

Unfortunately, there are many people that have considered cruising, but were not certain it was right for them.   When prospective first-time cruisers listen to the news and hear only negative "facts", it is understandable that they have doubts, and often decide to stay within their comfort zone.

Here is an Uplifting Story With More Happiness to Come

Royal Caribbean International was founded as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1968.  They currently operate with a fleet of 21 ships, two of which are the largest ships afloat in the entire industry.  There are three more ships being built over the next 3 years.

When you go on vacation, whether it be on a cruise, or to a hotel nearby or far from home, you have some expectations about your experience.    Royal Caribbean strives to deliver the "WOW" to each and every guest each time they sail on one of their ships. 

Royal Caribbean, upon achieving this milestone, has demonstrated that it has delivered on that goal over the years.  Guests who sail on RCI are very loyal.  In fact their Crown & Anchor® Society just recently expanded their tiers to recognize members with 700 or more cruise points (which reflect the number of cruises, nights, and type of accommodations).

Celebrating All Year

Royal Caribbean is celebrating this milestone all year long.   Currently they are asking guests to submit their "WOWs"  via Facebook, Twitter, or other means.  For more information see their 50 Million Guests Page.   Watch this video to learn more about this milestone.

As part of this year-long celebration, we are collecting your ideas about what you'd like to see on the next Oasis-class ship.  Maybe your idea will come to life ...   What Would You Like to See on Third Oasis-Class Ship

CONGRATULATIONS ROYAL CARIBBEAN ON THIS ACHIEVEMENT 

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President Sales and Trade Support & Service, and the entire Royal Caribbean family for being such great travel partners.  Together we strive to exceed our guest's dreams day after day.   It is pretty easy to do when we can offer such a great product as RCI delivers the #RoyalWOW.

Royal Caribbean to Retire Monarch OTS

Final Year 3&4-Night Bahamas Cruises Sailing Now Thru March 31 2013
	Royal Caribbean International Monarch of the Seas®
Monarch of the Seas, will be leaving the Royal Caribbean fleet to sail for sister line Pullmantur. Tue ship is the oldest in the fleet, having sailed its maiden voyage in November, 1991. It will continue sailing 3 & 4-night Bahamas cruises thru it's final 3-night voyage March 29, 2013. The ship currently sails from Port Canaveral in Florida. The 2,390-passenger, 73,941-ton ship will enter service for Pullmantur after a significant refurbishment. It will join its sister ship Sovereign (formerly Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas), which transferred over in 2008. Gonzalo Chico Barbier, president and CEO of Pullmantur said "The transfer of Monarch of the Seas will reinforce Pullmantur in our Latin American growth strategy, and help us become one of the most widely recognized brands."  Cruisers on the West Coast will remember Monarch as a main-stay serving San Diego with short weekend cruises to Ensenada, Mexico and Baja California. Many Crown & Anchor members frequently the ship which served as a training ground for crew members. Often the Monarch was the first ship to try something new, so it was a favorite ship of those travelers. It will certainly be missed by those that have fond memories of cruises gone by.
Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos Ship Profile & Stats Maiden Voyage 1991 (Refurbished: 2003) Passengers (dbl) 2,766 Tonnage 73,937 Tons Normal Crew Size 858 Length 880 feet Crew Nationality International Beam 106 feet Nationality of Officers Norwegian Draft 25 feet Nationality of Dining Staff International Speed 19 knots Registration Country Norway

Cruise Line Videos

Explore the World of Cruise Vacationing Getting to know the Cruise Lines and Ships October 1 - 31, 2011  If you've ever thought about going on your first cruise, October is the time to begin that journey. There are so many different ships to chose from - which one is right for you?  One way to find out is to review Cruise Line Videos on our NCVW microsite. There you will see videos from Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises.  These videos will show you the cruise experience onboard their ships and may also mention special incentives during NCVW. Virtual ShipTours After you view the videos, you may also which to take a closer look at one or more ships.  Enjoy panoramic 360-degree views of cabins, dining rooms, casinos, pool decks and more on our Virtual Ship Tour page. These full-featured tours have a special programming language, which eliminates the need for downloading special software. Finally, there are videos and photo albums on our  Facebook Fan Page.

Cruise Lines Return to Japan

 Costa Cruises to Homeport in Shanghai

Adds Sailings to Japan & South Korea

In March, 2011, Japan had a devastating earthquake and Severe Tsunami Impacting Japan & Hawaii. The world watched the unfolding nightmare as the country's nuclear plants were on the verge of meltdown. After the Tohoku Earthquake the cruise lines cancelled calls to ports in Japan.

Six Months Later...

The following announcement brings hope that life can be returning to normal in Japan. From August to October Costa Classica will home port in Shanghai, operating 12 cruises to Japan and South Korea. The selection of itineraries includes four-night cruises to Fukuoka, Japan, and Cheju, South Korea; a six-night cruise to Pusan, South Korea, and Fukuoka and Kagoshima, Japan; and a five-night cruise to Fukuoka and Nagasaki, Japan, and Cheju.

Costa Expansion in 2012

Next year Costa will substantially expand operations in Asia with the inaugural deployment of the 75,200-ton, 2,394-guest Costa Victoria, which will replace the 53,000-ton, 1,680-guest Costa Classica. The larger ship will offer 246 veranda cabins and increase Costa’s capacity in the region by 40 percent.

In 2012 Costa Victoria will call at new Japan destinations, including tropical Hososhima/Miyazaki; Wakayama, which boasts the country’s largest hot spring resort; Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city; the popular sightseeing cities in the Kanto Area; Yokohama and Tokyo, the nation’s capital.

Royal Caribbean International Also Returns

Starting in August and continuing to October, Legend of the Seas will be operating 11 sailings including a number of charters to various Japanese ports-of-call such as Okinawa, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Beppu, Nagasaki and Hokkaido, out from Hong Kong, Tianjin and Shanghai.  These sailings are mostly based on the ship’s itineraries originally planned for this year, which do not call at the areas affected by the tsunami and nuclear crisis.


Kelvin Tan, Regional Director, Asia Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said, “Judging from the current situation in Japan, we are well-assured of the safety of traveling to Japan. Japan has always been an attractive tourist destination and its show of great resilience in the face of the recent crisis has given travelers the confidence to visit the country again.”

Other Cruise Lines

Holland America has not revised its schedule.  The line had canceled cruises through 2011 and modified others in 2012.

As we hear of any additional changes for the region, we will let you know.   For now it is good to see that the rebuilding continues as tourism returns to the country of Japan.

Related Blog Posts: 

Cruise Lines Return to Japan  (six months later, some cruise lines have returned)

Strong Quakes Continue to Rattle Japan

Another Strong Quake Hits Japan

After the Tohoku Earthquake

Severe Tsunami Impacting Japan & Hawaii 

Azamara Quest Skips Osaka Call

QM2 Skips Nagasaki Sails to China

 

Royal Caribbean 2012 European Deployment

European Cruise Vacations                                                    Credit: Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean's Largest European Deployment

Twelve of Royal Caribbean International's ships will be home porting in Europe for the 2012 Summer season.  This marks the largest deployment in Europe for the line, up from 11 ships in 2011 and 8 ships in 2010.   This is a substantial investment in the European market.   Other lines are also increasing deployments in Europe.

Royal Caribbean adds 2,100-passenger Serenade of the Seas to the European fleet in 2012, sailing out of Barcelona, Spain.  Her debut in Europe features two different 12-night Mediterranean itineraries.

Royal Caribbean also announced it will begin regular cruises out of Amsterdam for the first time, its 12th home port in the region.   2,100-passenger Brilliance of the Seas will sail a new series of Northern Europe itineraries out of the city and Copenhagen.

Highlights of the 2012 Europe Deployment

• 12 out of 22 ships will be in Europe for 2012
• Adding 23 ports in seven additional countries 
• Mariner of the Seas: Holy Land sailings, 7-night Western Mediterranean voyages from Rome
• Vision the Seas: Holy Land sailings,  Northern Europe 
• Liberty of the Seas: 5-night  Western Mediterranean 
• Maiden calls: Arhus, Denmark; Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; and Kenes (Lofoten), Norway
• Serenade of the Seas: 12-night Mediterranean  (overnight in Venice; Greece and Turkey)
• Brilliance of the Seas: Northern Europe from Amsterdam; Copenhagen
• 8 interports:  Toulon, Marseille and LeHavre, France; Genoa, Messina (Sicily), and Bari, Italy; Valencia, Spain; and Kusadasi (Ephesus) Turkey

An "interport" is a place where passengers can board ships in the midst of a scheduled itinerary.

Royal Caribbean has begun announcing the details of the Europe 2012 Deployment this week.   See the following posts for additional details about the deployment.   Royal Caribbean is announcing the itineraries in two groups.   This post will be updated as the details are posted.

Related Blog Posts

• Royal Caribbean 2012 Oslo Norway
• Royal Caribbean 2012 Venice Italy
• Royal Caribbean 2012 Barcelona Spain
• Royal Caribbean 2012 Harwich England
• Royal Caribbean 2012 Malaga Spain

New Royal Caribbean Ships on Horizon

Royal Caribbean International Headquarters - Miami

"Project Sunshine"

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. has signed a letter of intent with shipyard MEYER WERFT to build the first of a new generation of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships.  Developed under the code-name “Project Sunshine,” the new vessel design incorporates new and exciting features that take advantage of the best of Royal Caribbean’s experience and imagination.  The project is a result of over a year of dedicated research and development.

Delivery in Fall 2014
The order calls for one ship to be delivered in the Fall of 2014 with an option for a second ship for Spring 2015.  The 158,000 Gross Registered Tons (GRT) new build will carry just over 4,100 guests based on double occupancy.  The estimated all-in cost per berth is about €170,000.  This all-in cost includes the yard’s base contract price plus everything needed to design, operate and build the vessel, from architect fees to supervision costs and all loose inventories from computers to art and bed linens.

Details Not Revealed
“Royal Caribbean has worked hard to earn a reputation of offering the most innovative ships in the cruise industry and this next generation will not disappoint,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

“While we continue our policy of keeping our newest ideas and features under wraps during the early stages of construction, I can say that I am very excited about the passion and imagination that our teams have devoted to the project.  Project Sunshine builds on the best ideas of our existing ships and adds exciting new activities and entertainment concepts.

It will offer features for everyone: from grand, spectacular spaces to small intimate settings; from active, invigorating activities to the serenity of more personal space; and from a plethora of dining alternatives to a cornucopia of opportunities for families.  I am also excited about the energy efficiency and environmental technologies which have been incorporated.  Our existing ships are some of the most energy efficient in the world and Project Sunshine takes this one further step." 

Long Relationship with MEYER WERFT
Fain concluded, "Based on our over 20 years of experience with MEYER WERFT, along with their compelling proposal, we know they will deliver on all of the innovations Royal Caribbean’s guests have come to expect.”


"MEYER WERFT is pleased to be working with Royal Caribbean especially in light of their reputation for building such innovative ships.  I am very happy we are continuing our long time partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and its brand Royal Caribbean International. Their projects always present incredible opportunities for MEYER WERFT to create the latest cutting edge hardware in the cruise industry,” said Bernard Meyer, managing partner of MEYER WERFT shipyard.

Watch for more news as Royal Caribbean International releases details in the months to come.