Despite the sluggish economy, Royal Caribbean wants to hire 100 new employees by the years end at their Springfield, Oregon center.

Managers at the facility say the cruise industry is still growing and they want people in the area to come work for Royal Caribbean.  The three areas of expertise Royal Caribbean is looking for are new cruise representatives that work with travel agencies, direct sales and customer service. 

Consumer Outreach Manager Anne-Jenell Williams says demand for the Royal Caribbean product is out there still, "Everybody's looking to do the best they can with what they have and one of the benefits of being in the cruise industry is Royal Caribbean continues to be an amazingly good value for vacations so we continue to see a lot of demand for our product and we are planning on continuing to see that grow."

Even better news for those looking for a job are the perks working for Royal Caribbean has to offer.  There's a free gym for employees as well as a a full cafeteria with healthy eating options. Managers say about 21 percent of their staff received promotions last year, which also left more entry level positions open. They plan to get all 100 positions filled by the end of the year

Port Everglades, home to Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, saw its cruise passenger numbers jump 2.4% up in the third quarter compared to the same period last year.

Port Everglades Director Phil Allen is happy about the results, “These trends show the resilience of the nation’s cruise market and the importance of the cruise industry to South Florida.  In a tough economy, cruising offers guests affordable vacationing options."

Senator Dennis Meadows of Jamaica's Labor Party lashed out over the lack of development in Falmouth, Jamaica since the port opened to cruises in February 2011.  Falmouth's cruise port is a $7.5 billion endeavor that is a partnership between Jamaica and Royal Caribbean.

"The apparent abandonment of the town since the opening of the cruise ship pier demonstrates the perceived lack of commitment on the part of various government agencies in sustaining the focus on the development of Falmouth."

According to Meadows, businesses in Falmouth have experienced up to a 50 percent fall-off in their revenues since the implementation of the traffic management system in February.

When Falmouth was being planned, there were several projects that were to be included in the finished product including an artisan village, municipal market, and a transport center.

Meadows went on to claim that the people of Falmouth were feeling a sense of abandonment and urged the government agencies in the area to make plans to finish development of the area.

"There is a pervasive sense that the people are subjects of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines which seem to be the primary focus and the sole beneficiary of the development that has so far taken place, and this is unsustainable."

Royal Caribbean has announced its promotion in Mexico through his Facebook page (Royal Caribbean Mexico) and supported by their Twitter account @royalmx.  Called "Remarks on board", fans can earn points in a Facebook game.  The game will last for 1 month, the idea is to click 'Like' on Royal Caribbean Mexico's Facebook page and once they do they display the instructions and game mechanics. The users or players must form words with letters that get 9 to score points. If the user wants a new set of 9 letters need to invite three friends to click on 'I like' so you can play again. This can be done three times a day. 

Thus, the person who generates the most points during the promotion will win a trip for 2 people in the Caribbean on board one of the ships of the shipping company. To participate in this contest, only have to make a fan of Royal Caribbean Mexico in Facebook, the player who accumulates the most points will win the perfect vacation in the Caribbean, and souvenirs. 

Twitter followers also have the chance to be winners of a trip to the Caribbean twice: @royalmx during the promotion will launch a series of questions over the trademark to correctly answer as many questions in the shortest time. 

Dubai has only been a cruise destination since the opening of its cruise terminal in July 2010 but already it's popularity continues to grow.

Royal Caribbean's General Manager for the UK and Ireland, Jo Rzymowska, sees the growth potential for cruises in and out of Dubai, "Dubai is really starting to boom on the cruising map - more than 325,000 people passed through the Cruise Terminal in 2010 and this is set to increase in 2011.”

Royal Caribbean should know exactly how well Dubai has been performing considering it's one of two cruise lines to home-port a ship in the Middle Eastern city.  

Dubai has been popular with Europeans, especially those in the UK, “Brilliance of the Seas is returning to Dubai in November 2011, two months earlier than her season in 2010, due to a really successful response to the Middle East cruises from UK travellers.”

If you're an aspiring actor and have a love for cruising, perhaps your dream job opportunity is finally here.  Royal Caribbean is holding auditions in Chicago, IL August 16-18 for its Hairspray show on Oasis of the Seas.  Auditions take place at Lou Conte Dance Studio.

The auditions, being held by Royal Caribbean Productions, are looking for Professional Singers, Dancers and Improvisational Comedic Actors to perform in its Hairspray show as well as another show on Oasis of the Seas, "Come Fly With Me".

Singers - Come prepared with your best 16 - 32 bars of 2 contrasting up-tempos: 1st style Musical Theater (a la Hairspray) and 2nd, a Contemporary Pop/R&B piece. Sheet music is required in the proper key. Singers will also be taught a movement combination.

Dancers - (not required to sing) - We are casting versatile dancers who are athletic with strong technique in ballet and jazz. Tap dancing and dancers who have aerial skills a plus, however not required.

Improvisational Comedic Actors - We are casting Improvisational Comedic Actors with at least 2 years performance experience. Play age range 30 - 40 yrs old (see below). Teaching experience a plus. Come prepared to improvise and read sides from the musical Hairspray.

They will also be casting for all 21 ships.

AUGUST 16TH
9:00AM - Singer Open Call Sign-in
9:30AM - Singer Open Call Auditions

AUGUST 17TH
9:00AM - Singer Callbacks
3:00PM - Improvisational Comedian/Actor Audition (please plan to stay for
the afternoon)

AUGUST 18TH
9:00AM - Dancer Sign-in
9:30AM - Dancer Audition

Casting Improvisational Comedian/Actors to fill the following roles:

VELMA VON TUSSLE
Female, Caucasian, plays 40s, may look younger. A former beauty
queen. Upscale, attractive, and prejudiced snob who always wants
her daughter in the spotlight.

PRUDY PINGLETON
Female, Caucasian, Actress plays various zany roles including Prudy
Pingleton, uptight and small-minded mother. Also plays a sadistic
high school gym teacher. Must be a sharp, funny, inventive character.

WILBUR TURNBLAD
Male, Caucasian, plays 40s - 50s. A working class inventor. Sweet, goofy,
childlike personality. Funny, good character singer (vocal ability
preferable and not necessary.) Also plays various zany roles including a
condescending high school principal; a flamboyant fashion boutique owner; a
cop. Must be an inventive character actor. We will be casting Singers to
fill the following roles:

EDNA TURNBLAD (STARRING ROLE/COMEDIAN/BASS-BARITONE)
Male to play female, Caucasian, large physique, plays 40s-50s. Sincere and
honest, not camp drag. Strong acting and comic ability a must. 60's
Baltimore housewife, "larger-than-life" character actor with singing
ability to convincingly play mother of Tracy.

TRACY TURNBLAD (STARRING ROLE/SINGER/ MEZZO)
Female, Caucasian, 5'3' or shorter, to play high school age. Must be
heavyset. Outgoing, unstoppable, goodhearted with vibrant, lovable,
spirited personality. Loves to dance. Strong pop belt singer and great
mover.

LINK LARKIN (SINGER/HIGH BARITONE)
Male, Caucasian, to play high school age. Handsome, sexy, clean-cut,
goodhearted, down-to-earth. The heartthrob of the local TV teen dance show.
Strong pop singer and great mover.

MOTORMOUTH MAYBELLE (SINGER)
Female, African-American, plays 40s - 50s. Seaweed and Little Inez's
mother. Queen of Baltimore Soul, a radio DJ. Powerful and inspiring, with
infectious, brassy personality. Strong, soulful, gospel/pop singer.

CORNY COLLINS (SINGER/TENOR)
Male, Caucasian, plays 30s. Host of the local TV teen dance show.
Handsome, charming, engaging, smooth. Strong pop singer, movement a plus.

SEAWEED J. STUBBS (SINGER/TENOR)
Male, African-American, to play high school age; Penny's boyfriend. Cool,
sexy, street smart, goodhearted. Strong, soulful, tenor pop singer and
great mover.

PENNY PINGLETON (SINGER/HIGH BELT)
Female, Caucasian, to play high school age. Ditzy, neurotic, devoted best
friend of Tracy. Very funny with good physique. Pop singer with strong
belt, good mover.

LITTLE INEZ (SINGER/HIGH BELT)
Female, African-American, plays young, Seaweed's lovable little sister.
Spunky, tough, streetwise, outgoing, older than her years. Soulful voice,
strong belt, great mover.

AMBER VON TUSSLE
(This role will be cast out of the dancers. It is a speaking role with
non-singing requirements)

Tropical Storm Gert formed in the Atlantic last week and has caused a delay for Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas.

A Royal Caribbean representative indicated that Explorer of the Seas was scheduled to dock at King's Wharf, Bermuda at 9am today but its arrival was delayed due to the storm.  Royal Caribbean is still expecting Explorer of the Seas to arrive in Bermuda later on today.

ATM fees have become a nuisance we've all come to deal with but some ATM fees are worse than others but in Bankrate.com's 2010 Checking Study, it was revealed that Royal Caribbean is among the worst.

The study looked at ATM fees across the United States and said the average ATM fee is roughly $2.33.  Hotels, however, ranked consistantly higher than the median fee with cruise ships (floating hotels) were particularly high.  On cruise ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, for example, expect to pay $5.50 for the privilege of using the ATM, plus your own bank's "off-us" charge.

If you're looking to avoid ATM fees, experts recommend getting enough cash before your cruise from your local bank or credit union.  And if you need more money, using debit or credit cards are a good way to avoid ATM fees.

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas makes stops in Busan, South Korea and that has meant a lot of money for the city. How much money?  Well, of the 1,800 passengers onboard the ship, all but 250 were foreign tourists and each foreign tourist represents on average $140 to $180.  That comes out to an economic impact for each ship stop of about $267,000.

Lee Gap-jun, head of Busan’s culture and tourism department talks about the value of cruise passengers, "According to research from the Korea Maritime Institute, the added value of one cruise ship passenger is equivalent to that of exporting one container box.  If there’s a constant increase in cruise ships entering the port of Busan, it will translate into economic growth for the city of Busan.”

Thanks to Busan's success, other South Korean cities are competing now to attract ships like Legend of the Seas, including Incheon, Jeju and Yeosu.

Cruise Compare published its list of the top five family cruise liners and Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas made their list.  The list was compiled from input from the websites' social networking fans.

1. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
2. Carnival Magic
3. P&O Cruises Ventura
4. Disney Fantasy
5. Norweigian Epic

Oasis of the Seas was picked for having a lot for the family to do, including an ice rink, tropical gardens, Zip Line’s carousel, youth zone, DreamWorks Experience and water park.