Visit our travel agent friends at MEI Travel

Royal Caribbean plans cruise ship return to St. Thomas following hurricane devastation

In:
16 Oct 2017

Royal Caribbean announced today it will resume calls to St. Thomas on November 10, following weeks of skipping the island due to hurricane damage.

Adventure of the Seas will mark Royal Caribbean's return to the island.  She will be the first Royal Caribbean ship since early September to visit St. Thomas, which was impacted by hurricanes last month.

In partnership with the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Royal Caribbean also has committed to undertaking the complete restoration of Magens Bay, one of St. Thomas’ most popular tourist attractions – with plans for a grand re-opening of the pristine destination during Adventure of the Seas’ visit on Nov. 10.

With power and water to the island fully restored and most downtown shops, restaurants and bars and tour operators fully operational, guests will be able to experience a diverse and extensive array of dining, shopping and activities.

“We are very excited to get back home to our friends in St. Thomas. The Caribbean is our family, having cruised there for nearly 50 years, and the long-standing relationships created in all this time are unwavering,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We are committed to doing everything we can to help and proud to support the restoration of the iconic Magens Bay."

In addition, Royal Caribbean is planning a return to San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten by the end of November and is working closely with local governments to announce the exact dates.

By December 1, all scheduled calls to the three islands will operate as planned.

Grandeur of the Seas to be first cruise ship to return to St. Maarten

In:
12 Oct 2017

Following the devastation of Hurricane Irma, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas will be the first commercial cruise vessel to return to the destination post-Irma on Sunday, November 5th.

A delegation from Royal Caribbean recently met with Port St. Maarten Board, Management and Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher, to discuss the recover efforts that underway.

The Royal Caribbean delegation discussed the state of various infrastructure on the island with the Port St. Maarten Management and Board.  They also got an update on the Great Bay Beach Promenade, the commercial center of Philipsburg, Front Street and other areas of interest from a tourism perspective.

Royal Caribbean carried out a site visit as part of their destination readiness assessment to accept cruise passengers, and the availability by early November of tours, shore excursions, shopping, beaches, and other cruise tourism related amenities.

Following the visit, Royal Caribbean praised the Port St. Maarten Board, Management and Government with respect to the diligence carried out by the aforementioned to get the country ‘cruise ready’ for November in order to bring in much needed foreign exchange into the economy that would kick-start the economic engine of the country – (cruise) tourism.

Royal Caribbean named Best Cruise Operator of TTG Travel Awards for 10th year in a row

In:
28 Sep 2017

For the tenth consecutive year, Royal Caribbean was named Best Cruise Operator of the TTG Travel Awards at the 28th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2017 ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand.

Royal Caribbean has been voted unanimously by readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTGmice, TTG-BTmice China, TTGassociations and TTG Asia Luxury for the award. The TTG Travel Awards are given out annually to honor organizations in Asia Pacific’s travel industry for their strong commitment towards service excellence.

Royal Caribbean won the award for offering the best product, services and facilities. This is highlighted by the deployment of the newest Quantum Class ship Ovation of the Seas in Singapore for a season this year. 

Sean Treacy, Managing Director, Asia Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. who accepted the award said, “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for: winning the TTG Travel Award for 10 years in a row! This makes our 10th anniversary in Asia even more meaningful, as we grew from a new market entrant into the region’s leading cruise brand, all with the strong unwavering support of our travel partners and customers from Day One. We are very proud that each of our ships in Asia has brought the cruising scene to new heights with innovative features and excellent service. We look forward to offering even more exciting holiday experiences in the next decade, while making cruising – and Royal Caribbean International – a top vacation choice in Asia.”

Royal Caribbean to feature DNCE on Total Eclipse cruise on Oasis of the Seas

In:
11 Jul 2017

Multi-platinum selling band DNCE will perform aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas for the cruise line's Great American Eclipse cruise.

On August 21, DNCE will headline Royal Caribbean’s solar eclipse viewing party with a surprise guest for an out-of-this-world performance aboard the exclusive 7-night Total Eclipse Cruise on board Oasis of the Seas, one of the world’s largest and most adventure-packed cruise ships.

DNCE frontman Joe Jonas and all-star bandmates, including bassist and keyboardist Cole Whittle, guitarist JinJoo and drummer Jack Lawless, will perform the band’s heart-pumping hits like “Kissing Strangers,” “Body Moves” and, of course, “Cake by the Ocean.” Guests booked on the Total Eclipse Cruise can visit Royal Caribbean’s website and reserve their complimentary seats for the concert by logging on to their reservation.

DNCE live from world's largest cruise ship!

A post shared by Royal Caribbean Blog.com (@royalcaribbeanblog) on

“When we were invited to headline this once-in-a-lifetime event, we didn’t think twice. What could be more out of this world than witnessing a full solar eclipse at sea? ” said Joe Jonas. “We’re stoked about coming back on board with Royal Caribbean to put on a lights-out performance with a very special guest. It’s beyond exciting to be able to celebrate this crazy moment in history out in the middle of the ocean.”

This will be DNCE's second live performance on a Royal Caribbean ship. The band played on sister ship Harmony of the Seas in November 2016 to celebrate Harmony's arrival in the United States.

In addition to the viewing party, guests on Oasis of the Seas will be treated to other eclipse-themed activities, including dance parties, trivia, interactive science fun for kids and their families, and tasty cocktails and dishes.

The 7-night Total Eclipse Cruise on board Oasis of the Seas will set sail on Aug. 20, 2017 from Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida, and visit Caribbean destinations in the Eastern Caribbean. Those interested in booking this sailing can book now by visiting RoyalCaribbean.com/TotalEclipse, calling (800) ROYAL- CARIBBEAN or contacting their travel agent.

Royal Caribbean Asia celebrates 10th anniversary

In:
11 Jul 2017

Royal Caribbean Cruises (Asia) Pte Ltd. celebrated its 10th anniversary last week with a celebration in Singapore at Clifford Pier, together with more than 150 trade, media, corporate and government partners from the region.

Guests in attendance were regailed with a look at the milestones reached over the past 10 years, from the first ship Rhapsody of the Seas’ arrival in 2007 to the most recent homeporting of Asia’s largest Ovation of the Seas in Singapore this year. In addition, the new TVC ‘Where Everyone Gets What They Need’ was unveiled, while guests got a virtual experience of Royal Caribbean’s most popular features from the new head-mounted display (HMD) VR headset – the ‘Holideck’ – on display.

Sean Treacy, Royal Caribbean’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific, thanked their team and travel partners for all of their support, "The last 10 years have seen Royal Caribbean flourish tremendously, having expanded our regional footprint from just one office in Singapore to six across Asia Pacific, and from one to three ships for our fleet in Singapore today. We are committed to continue bringing innovative and quality ships and growing Royal Caribbean as the top vacation choice for travellers in the region."

Royal Caribbean partners with Brandwatch as social intelligence provider

In:
27 Jun 2017

Brandwatch announced today that Royal Caribbean International has selected Brandwatch as its social intelligence technology platform of record.

Brandwatch's social intelligence products and platforms will provide stable support to Royal Caribbean's customer service efforts. Brandwatch will enable Royal Caribbean to sift through its online discussions to determine which mentions need immediate attention, which customers need to be engaged with and which community members need to be amplified.

"We chose Brandwatch for their unparalleled platform stability when trying to engage and understand our most important community – our guests," said Kara Wallace, Vice President, North America Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. "Brandwatch's recent product releases and feature updates, along with their dedication to customer success, allows us to address social concerns in a timely fashion and put our guests first."

"Insight into consumer preferences - especially in the lucrative travel market - is critical for Royal Caribbean," said Rich Pasewark, Chief Revenue Officer at Brandwatch. "We are excited to help them use social media analysis to understand the cruise market and drive marketing decisions from the insights delivered by the Brandwatch platforms. Insights to action makes a difference for all of our clients, it enables them to improve their marketing and connect with their audiences."

Royal Caribbean opens bookings for 2018/2019 Australia season

In:
30 May 2017

Royal Caribbean will open bookings for its 2018/19 Australian summer season today, Tuesday, May 30.

For the 2018/2019 season, Australia will welcome Ovation of the Seas for her third and longest season yet. She will be joined by Explorer of the Seas, as well as Radiance of the Seas.  Radiance will offer Royal Caribbean’s very first departure from Melbourne and three cruises departing from Auckland.

Radiance of the Seas will kick off the 2018/19 summer season, arriving to Sydney on October 6, 2018. Explorer of the Seas will return down under on October 27, 2018 and Ovation of the Seas on November 2, 2018. Together, the three ships will offer 61 sailings, ranging from three to 23-nights, sailing to nine different countries including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, French Polynesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Singapore, the USA and Vanuatu.

Ovation of the Seas, as well as Radiance of the Seas, will primarily offer guests a range of Australia and New Zealand itineraries. Ovation will sail exclusively from Sydney, while Radiance of the Seas will sail from Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.

As well as her New Zealand voyages, Radiance of the Seas will also sail a range of shorter cruises, including a three-night sampler cruise to nowhere, a new four-night cruise to Melbourne and a five-night Tasmania sailing.

Explorer of the Seas, will become the largest cruise ship to ever call to Newcastle in February 2019, following upgrades to the Port of Newcastle to allow mega ships to berth in the Hunter. Explorer of the Seas will call twice during the season, on 10 February 2019 during a six-night voyage that also includes calls to Wollongong and Hobart, and on 16 February 2019 during a 14-night South Pacific voyage. Explorer of the Seas will continue her focus on South Pacific voyages, with a range of eight to 14-night sailings.

“We can’t wait to welcome our three megaliners back down under for the summer of 2018/19 – marking our longest Aussie season yet,” said Adam Armstrong, managing director, Royal Caribbean Australia & NZ.

“There’s no better time beat the winter blues and plan your summer getaway – for this season or next. By booking early, you’ll ensure you reserve your preferred choice of ship, departure date and itinerary, as well as your pick of the staterooms, and you’ll lock in a terrific price,” Armstrong concluded.

Buy One, Get One Half Price

Australia residents can celebrate the start of bookings with Book before 30 June 2017 and guests can ‘Buy One, Get One Half Price’ – PLUS receive a Balcony stateroom for the price of an Oceanview.

Promotion applies to new bookings made between 30th May - 30th June 2017 on all Royal Caribbean International voyages departing 1st July 2017 onwards. Offer excludes all voyages departing from China.

Eligible bookings will receive

  • Up to 50% off the total fare of the second passenger, who must be booked in the same stateroom as a first passenger who books at full fare.
  • 25% savings off the cruise fare portion for the third and fourth guests booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests.
  • Eligible bookings made on Royal Caribbean International Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Transpacific & Asia Repositioning voyages, five nights or longer will be able to book a Balcony stateroom at the price of Oceanview; voyage must start or end in Australia.

Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion unless otherwise stated. For full terms and conditions, please visit our website at www.royalcaribbean.com.au

Royal Caribbean opens year-long Cuba cruises

In:
10 May 2017

Royal Caribbean has expanded its cruises to Cuba on Empress of the Seas with 58 cruises of 4- and 5-night itineraries from January 2018 through March 2019, more than half offering overnight stays.

Empress of the Seas will return to Tampa for summer 2018, offering a series of 4- and 5-night cruises, calling on Key West, Florida, and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, as well as Havana, Cuba on most sailings. The ship will reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the winter 2018-2019 season, continuing short Caribbean adventures to the Caribbean destinations. Currently, Empress sails from Tampa through Nov. 4, 2017. The ship then returns to Miami for the winter 2017-2018 season, adding calls to Royal Caribbean’s private island destination CocoCay and Nassau in The Bahamas.

"Since arriving in Cuba for the first time last month, we’ve seen the excitement of our guests when sailing into Havana and the passion they have for the city at sail away – its people, its architecture, its food, its music. This is the enthusiasm we strive to bring to adventure-seekers who vacation with us," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "The positive reaction to our Cuba sailings is very encouraging, and we are thrilled to expand on the number of sailings for our 2018-2019 itineraries."

Royal Caribbean wraps up record breaking season in Australia

In:
24 Apr 2017

With the departure of Explorer of the Seas from Sydney on Saturday evening, Royal Caribbean has concluded a record breaking 2016/2017 summer seas in Australia.

The company’s three brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, based an unprecedented seven ships in the region – 15 percent of the global fleet – including two new ships; the newest and biggest Australia has ever seen, Ovation of the Seas, and the boutique, freshly revitalised Azamara Journey.

Adam Armstrong, managing director, RCL Australia & NZ, commented on the big year down under, “We increased capacity by 17 percent, introduced two new ships to the region, completely refreshed another, launched a brand new cruise port in Wollongong, and wowed Aussies, Kiwis and more than 50,000 guests from overseas on over 90 different itineraries around Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia. What’s more, Royal Caribbean International became Australia’s largest cruise line in terms of capacity over the summer season. It truly has been a record breaking seven months."

“Royal Caribbean changed the game for cruising down under when we introduced supercruising to Australia, with the incredible US$1 billion Ovation of the Seas,” Armstrong continued.

The spectacular vessel arrived in December to much fan-fare and was the first brand new ship to be based in Australian waters. 

Radiance of the Seas made waves this season opening up a new port for the industry, becoming the first cruise ship to bring passengers to the NSW coastal city of Wollongong and arriving to huge celebrations from locals of the Illawarra. The City of Wollongong also welcomed Voyager of the Seas twice during the season.

Radiance of the Seas also made maiden calls for Royal Caribbean to the beautiful South Pacific islands of Tonga, visiting Vava'u and Nuku’alofa in December. Meanwhile, identical sister ships Explorer of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, known as the South Pacific sisters, made their mark with dedicated sailings all season to the South Pacific islands of Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia.

The upcoming 2017/18 season will see four Royal Caribbean International ships return, including the ground-breaking Ovation of the Seas for a longer second season, along with South Pacific sisters Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean makes inaugural visit to Havana

In:
24 Apr 2017

Royal Caribbean made history yesterday with the cruise line's inaugural visit to Cuba with Empress of the Seas. Guests participated in curated excursions throughout Havana, including rides in 1950s classic American cars to the city’s most famous locales, including the old quarter and the Havana Club Museum.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of Cuba’s future, ushering in Royal Caribbean’s next big adventure with Empress of the Seas’ first visit to Havana. Vacationers will now be able to experience a destination like no other, with authentic and immersive experiences that bring to life the vibrancy of Havana and its traditions,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

The vibrant Cuban culture extends beyond land to the experience onboard Empress of the Seas. From cortaditos and café con leche in Café Royal to salsa music and dancing in Boleros Latin lounge, guests will enjoy a range of onboard activities developed to bring the spirit of the island to life throughout the entire journey.

After returning to Miami, Florida, Empress of the Seas will reposition to Tampa, Fla. for the summer season – the cruise line’s first ever summer program from the destination – offering a series of four, five and six-night sailings, including day and overnight visits to Havana, along with stops in Key West, Fla. and Belize City, Belize, as well as Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Sailings from Tampa are available through Nov. 4, 2017 when Empress returns to Miami for the winter season, adding calls to CocoCay and Nassau in The Bahamas.               

Subscribe to Press Release