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Royal Caribbean Receives Top Recognition From InformationWeek Magazine

In:
News Royal Caribbean Press Release
01 Oct 2010

Royal Caribbean International received recognition for its innovative information technology initiatives onboard the global cruise line's largest and most revolutionary ship, Oasis of the Seas during last week's InformationWeek 500 Conference.  Taking place in Monarch Beach, Ca. more than 500 companies were in attendance to discuss how technology innovation was being used to advance the agenda of business.  During the awards gala, the cruise line was awarded a ranking of 41 out of a list of 500 companies for the most innovative uses of technology as well as a coveted spot on InformationWeek Magazine's 20 Great Ideas to Steal list.  In addition, Royal Caribbean won the best in Customer Intimacy award.  

"This special recognition is truly a testament to Royal Caribbean's continued dedication to innovation, and a reflection of true business and IT collaboration," said Bill Martin, vice president, Chief Information Officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD.  "I am extremely proud of our employees for their hard work and the sacrifices everyone made to build this incredible ship which has drawn so much attention in the travel industry."
 
Royal Caribbean achieved the recognition, and the spot on InformationWeek Magazine's "20 Great Ideas to Steal" list for its innovative uses of digital signage aboard Oasis of the Seas.  The signage consists of a network of more than 300, 46-inch monitors strategically placed around the ship to provide information and improve the guest experience.  The displays vary from passive screens with safety demonstrations and information on guest activities to fully integrated and interactive touch panels that provide real-time information regarding amenities on the ship such as  the capacity at the dining venues.  In addition, to support the global nature of the guest mix, the digital signage supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Portuguese.

Royal Caribbean ships contribute to Bahamian economy

In:
News Ports Allure of the Seas Oasis of the Seas Nassau
01 Oct 2010

Last month Nassau, Bahamas completed extensive dredging and refurbishment of Nassau Harbor and businesses in downtown Nassau are reporting healthy business as a result.

Ships like Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, which docks in Nassau every other Sunday, is responsible for increasing revenues in the city.

“The Bahamas was amongst many countries which were seeking to have these ships call on their ports,” said Carla Stuart, director of Cruise Development in the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation. “By the end of December, the Oasis would have made 34 visits and brought at least 183,600 passengers for the year 2010. Head tax to be derived is estimated at $2.7 million while spend from the passengers of this vessel is estimated at $12 million. The ship will continue to call every other week.”

Thelma Miller of Vintage Island Handicraft, a Festival Place souvenir store, pointed out that the Oasis’ calls have been good for business on Sundays, which would otherwise be slow. Meanwhile, Senor Frog’s has also been happy with the business that the Oasis brings.
 
“It does make a difference when the Oasis comes in,” said Chester Williamson, manager of Senor Frog’s. “I think the second week it came in with 3,000 people on board.”
 
Things will get better for Nassau after December when Oasis of the Seas' sister ship Allure of the Seas joins the Royal Caribbean fleet and will also make regular stops in Nassau.  this will allow for a stop each week by one of the mega-vessels.

Jo Rzymowska to lead Passenger Shipping Association's Cruise Section Committee

In:
News
28 Sep 2010

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line associate vice president and general manager of the United Kingdom and Ireland, Jo Rzymowska, has been appointed chair of the Passenger Shipping Association's Cruise Section Committee.

She succeeds Stephen Park, former UK head of Norwegian Cruise Lines, who left the company earlier this year.
 
Rzymowska, who joined Royal Caribbean in 2005, oversees the company's sales and marketing activities in the UK and Ireland for its three brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.

Royal Caribbean and USA Today Kick off 'Reporters at Sea: Family Style' Contest

In:
News Royal Caribbean Press Release
22 Sep 2010

Calling all families!  Royal Caribbean International and USA TODAY announced today a search for America's best and brightest family to cover the unveiling of Allure of the Seas, which will share the title of the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship along with sister ship, Oasis of the Seas.  Today through October 29, 2010, families are invited to enter to win the coveted role of field correspondents alongside USA TODAY'S own cruise editor, Gene Sloan. Once onboard the ship, the lucky winning family of up to six will receive behind-the-scenes access to file reports that will appear at USA TODAY's Cruise Log about one of the most buzzed-about hospitality and entertainment stories of the year.

While embarking on a four-night preview sailing, the winning family will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at The DreamWorks Experience featuring the "How To Train Your Dragon On Ice" show, an aqua show featuring "Madagascar", character breakfasts, activities for the kids in Adventure Ocean, character meet-and-greets, parades, sail-away parties, 3D films in the ship's 3D theater, as well as backstage access to Chicago: The Musical.  In addition to the United States, the "Reporters at Sea: Family Style" contest is searching for family journalists in Canada, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, China and Venezuela.
 
Reporters-to-be can audition for the assignment of a lifetime by submitting a creative video of 45 seconds or less in length and no more than 100 MB in size at www.allureoftheseas.usatoday.com.  The video should showcase the family's best reporting skills and tout why Royal Caribbean should select them to be USA TODAY's correspondents onboard Allure of the Seas.  Videos will be judged on the entrants' ability to entertain, as well as effectively bring to life and clearly explain innovative and imaginative travel or cruising concepts.
 
Once the entry period ends, judges will select three finalists per country, and Americans will vote for their favorite U.S. video between October 15 and October 29, 2010.  Multiple generations are encouraged to enter.  The individual who enters the contest on behalf of his or her family must be 18 years of age.  Winning families of up to six members from each country will be simultaneously announced on November 15, 2010, and will be flown to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to cover two exclusive preview cruises onboard Allure of the Seas from November 19 to November 23, 2010.
 
Allure of the Seas shares the title of the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with its sister ship, Oasis of the Seas.  An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass 225,282 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Allure of the Seas will tout Royal Caribbean's exclusive neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which will include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.  The ship will alternate a Western Caribbean with an Eastern Caribbean seven-night itinerary from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  Additional information is available at www.AllureoftheSeas.com.
 
The Reporters at Sea: Family Style contest builds on the success of last year's Reporter at Sea contest, in which winners from five countries reported individually about the launch of the groundbreaking Oasis of the Seas.  For more information about the Reporters at Sea: Family Style contest, how to enter and vote, the official rules and details on the prize, please visit www.allureoftheseas.usatoday.com.

Pan American Development Foundation to honor Royal Caribbean

In:
News Royal Caribbean Awards
22 Sep 2010

The Pan American Development Foundation will honor Royal Caribbean as part of its 2010 Heroes of the Hemisphere event.  Royal Caribbean has been awarded this honor because of its" corporate social responsibility efforts in the Western Hemisphere". Also, the non-profit will recognize the efforts of everyone who provided relief to Haiti after the devastating earthquake.

In addition, five extraordinary people from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico will be honored as the 2010 Heroes of the Hemisphere for their dedication to improving the lives of people in their communities

Ukraine Transport Ministry agrees with Royal Caribbean on the development of the Yalta port

In:
News Ports Royal Caribbean Ukraine Yalta
22 Sep 2010

Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine and the Yalta Sea Trade Port signed a protocol on cooperation with Royal Caribbean International on reconstruction and development of the port.

According to new agreement, Royal Caribbean intends to reconstruct the building of the Yalta Seaport and increase the berthing front, which will enable the port to four cruise ships simultaneously.
 
Royal Caribbean management also believes it possible to quickly equipment in Yalta's modern multifunctional dock.
 
Also in the plans - the construction of hotel and restaurant complex, which will focus not only on passenger cruise ships, but also to tourists visiting Yalta throughout the year.
 
Chief engineer and designer of the company Royal Caribbean International Scott Lage already started to read the potential of the Yalta port, and assured that from the moment he will have all the necessary information, the pace of development of investment projects to accelerate.
 
Signing of the Protocol is regarded as an increase in interest in cruises on the Black Sea, and the realization of major projects in this area directly affected and to develop itself as a tourist pearl of Yalta in Ukraine.
 
Earlier, Minister of Transport and Communications of Ukraine Konstantin Efimenko announced its intention to attract investors for the construction of the Yalta port yacht marina worth 2.2 billion USD.

Endangered owl discovered on Oasis of the Seas

In:
News Oasis of the Seas
20 Sep 2010

A Florida burrowing owl was discovered in the mini-golf course aboard Oasis of the Seas this past Saturday.  Just before Oasis was about to leave, the federally protected bird was discovered at which point Royal Caribbean contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

FWC Lt. David Bingham and a Broward County Sheriff's Office deputy safely removed the pint-sized bird from the golf course. The owl was released in an open field in western Broward County.

As a species of special concern, Florida burrowing owls, their burrows and their eggs are protected from harassment and/or disturbance by state law. Burrowing owls also are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Preview of Allure of the Seas' show "Blue Planet"

In:
News Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas
20 Sep 2010

A sneak preview of Allure of the Seas' newest show "Blue Planet" was presented at Nova Southeastern University’s Don Taft Arena earlier this week.  Blue Planet is a high energy aerobatic show and includes a good dose of songs written by the Beatles with depictions of scenes in the jungle, desert and underwater.

This new show is Royal Caribbean's attempt to compete with other cruise line's Cirque du Soleil style shows.

Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein was excited about the show, “We like to deliver the wow to our guests. For the last 22 years, I have seen our entertainment group constantly push the envelope to bring to our guests the most compelling entertainment we can produce. … We should do groundbreaking work. We don’t say, ‘We are a cruise ship we have limitations.’”.

Blue Planet will be held in the 1,380-seat Amber Theater aboard Allure. The performance at NSU was without full costumes and scenery, but a video screen on the side showed sketches of what the finished product will look like.

The show opens with an ethereal scene, and performers in blue and gold costumes walk on stage from behind and in front of the audience. The first number is “Because,” off the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album, and the second is “Across the Universe,” sung by John Lennon on the “Let it Be” album.
 
Featuring multiple Beatles songs makes sense because cruise entertainment is increasingly like Las Vegas at sea, and the “Beatles Love” Cirque du Soleil show has been a big event at the Mirage in Las Vegas.
 
In the opening number, most of the 25 cast members tumbled and danced across the stage, while others descended from the ceiling. The set will have lush foliage.
Another scene will have a Tree of Life, with performers costumed in outfits with bark-like colors and greenery, so the tree will seem to erupt into action.

Cruise analyst predicts new Royal Caribbean ship in 2013

In:
News
20 Sep 2010

Robin Farley, a leisure and gaming analyst with UBS Warburg, just issued her latest projections for cruise industry berth capacity— aimed at projecting any growth in ship deliveries for 2013-14

"Royal Caribbean International brand has no new orders on the books after the [fourth quarter 2010] delivery of Allure of the Seas, so [we] could see an order for 2013 delivery," Farley says.

Nassau completes harbor improvement project

In:
News Ports Nassau
20 Sep 2010

Nassau port officials announced on September 16 that they had completed a major project to improve the port of Nassau for cruise ships. The $44 million contract, started in April of 2009, dredged 1.9 million cubic yards of material from Nassau Harbor and installed three mooring dolphins, causeways and ladders at Prince George Wharf and extension of the western end of Arawak Cay by 1,000 ft.

So why all the work?  Principally the project was to accommodate Royal Caribbean's new Oasis of the Seas, which made its maiden voyage to Nassau on December 11, 2009.

“The decision to dredge the harbour was based in part on the need to keep abreast of changes in the cruise industry where new Genesis class vessels have been introduced by the major cruise lines. In response, the Government proceeded with the enhancement of the Harbour’s capacity by dredging to accommodate the new mega cruise ships,” said Public Works and Transport Minister Neko C. Grant.

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