Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas has finished a $30 million drydock refurbishment that added a number of amenities first developed for Oasis-class cruise ships.

Brilliance of the Seas refurbishment added a lot to the ship, including doubling the amount of dining options onboard.  The new restaurants include the Italian trattoria, Giovanni’s Table, the exclusive multi-course Chef’s Table. Guests can expand their palettes at a multitude of other dining venues including Royal Caribbean’s signature Izumi Asian Cuisine, Park Café and Rita’s Cantina.

In addition, the five-story Centrum has been transformed into a spectacular new space featuring the Centrum experience, which includes the addition of the 60’s-inspired R Bar as well as a multitude of entertainment experiences including enriching daytime activities, dazzling nighttime entertainment and a new high-flying entertainment experience where aerialists glide through the vertical space of the atrium.

Royal Caribbean also added 

• Concierge Club for suite guests
• Diamond Club for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members
• A new English pub
• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Wi-Fi access throughout the ship
• flat-panel televisions in all staterooms
• Outdoor LED movie screen on the pool deck
• interactive digital way-finding system

Brilliance of the Seas will be able to show off her new "toys" this summer when she begins sailing from Harwich, England.  Once there, Brilliance of the Seas will offer Northern European cruises to destinations such as Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland.

Royal Caribbean announced its 2014-15 Australasian program, which happens to be its biggest to date.  Part of the plans call for Voyager of the Seas to undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment before the new cruise season kicks off.

Royal Caribbean will send Voyager of the Seas along with Radiance of the Seas for a third consecutive summer to Australia.

Royal Caribbean commercial director Adam Armstrong indicated that over 140,000 passengers from over 100 countries will sail with Royal Caribbean during this time frame.

“We began with the revitalisations of Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas in 2011-12, and now we’ve come full circle as Voyager of the Seas will undergo a bow-to-stern refurbishment to offer even more amazing features,” he said.

Royal Caribbean will announce more details later this year, but Armstrong hinted the revitslisation will see Voyager of the Seas fitted with many of the features found on the cruise line’s newest Oasis Class ships.

Radiance and Rhapsody will arrive in Sydney in October 2014 for the season’s start with Voyager to join them in December 2014.

The program features 55 cruises from two to 18 nights in length, calling at 37 ports across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific before the season’s end in April 2015.

A senior executive at Royal Caribbean indicated that the company may reverse course on a decision to remove Dubai from its cruise itineraries.

Royal Caribbean ceases cruises to the Gulf from Dubai this year, which also included stops in Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Fujairah.

“Unfortunately the season we had last year wasn’t as successful as we’d have liked it to be from a revenue perspective, for various reasons – economics, a bit more competition in the marketplace that brought the rates down,” Helen Beck, regional director, EMEA, told Arabian Business.

Beck was hopeful that Royal Caribbean would return to the Gulf in 2014.

“We were all very disappointed, but we haven’t given up the fight,” she added. “There’s a lot of internal lobbying... to have the decision reviewed, maybe not for this coming winter season, but for future seasons.”

Royal Caribbean rolled out the Barbie Experience to another cruise ship, this time to Allure of the Seas.

The Barbie theme adds Barbie decorations to cabin doors, along with a special plaque welcoming passengers onboard.  Inside the cabin, Barbie giveaways adorn the inside of the cabin and include  fluffy blankets, tote bags, dolls and even a Barbie pillow case.

Passengers are also given a special Barbie guest lanyard and a pink tote bag, with invitations to Barbie’s exclusive Tiara and Teacups party, with cupcakes, pink lemonade and a lesson in tea-time etiquette, with Elira.

During the week-long cruise, there are other events onboard the ship such as how to become a fashion designer and take part in a Barbie dance class that culminates in a glittering red carpet fashion show.

Royal Caribbean announced that it will add a brand new float to the 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

Royal Caribbean's participation in the parade will be part of its celebration of the upcoming fall 2014 debut of Quantum of the Seas.

"Royal Caribbean cruise vacations are known as the ultimate in family entertainment at sea, so it's fitting that they will join us this Thanksgiving as we kick off the holidays for millions of families nationwide," said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "Designed by the artists of Macy's Parade Studio, the new Royal Caribbean float promises to astonish audiences as it makes its maiden voyage down the streets of Manhattan this November."

Royal Caribbean executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, Lisa Bauer, also commented on the news, "As the leading global cruise line offering families incredible vacations only found with Royal Caribbean, we are thrilled to be partnering with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and to participate in an iconic event that brings friends and family together.We hope that our float will WOW Parade spectators and those watching at home just like our ships WOW guests all over the world."

The 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC, on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013 from 9 a.m. - Noon in all time zones.

Portland, Maine officials announced on Monday that the city will welcome Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, in 2015.  In fact, Quantum of the Seas will visit Maine's largest city four times in 2015.

The 4,000+ passenger ship will be the largest cruise ship to ever dock in Portland.

Quantum of the Seas’ arrival in Portland is made possible by the additional deeper water access provided by the city’s 1,200-foot Ocean Gateway Terminal Pier II, which opened two years ago, city spokeswoman Nicole Clegg confirmed.

The city will receive nearly $700,000 in revenue from hosting cruise ships. A 2008 economic impact study found that passengers typically spend $80 to $110 in Greater Portland during their stay, which adds up to $5.8 million to $8 million each season.

Royal Caribbean launched its Mediterranean cruise season with Liberty of the Seas cruising out of Naples and Legend of the Seas sailing from Genoa and Civitavecchia.

Yesterday Legend of the Seas began its 2013 season in the Mediterranean from the port of Civitavecchia, offering a 7-night itinerary to the western Mediterranean, with stops in France and Spain.

Last Friday saw Liberty of the Seas at the port of La Spezia, where she began her cruising season.  Liberty of the Seas will  be calling 27 times during 7-night itineraries along the Western Mediterranean route and transport more than 98,000 cruise passengers. In June, Liberty of the Seas will officially begin cruising out of her new home port of Naples.

Royal Caribbean was awarded "Middle East's Leading Cruise Line" at the World Travel Awards, an honor it has won in the past. In fact, Royal Caribbean has won this award four consecutive times.

The 20th annual World Travel Awards gala event took place on May 5, 2013 at the Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai, and was attended by hundreds of travel executives from around the world.

Helen Beck, Royal Caribbean's Regional Director, accepted the award and commented on the win, "This prestigious award is a testament to Royal Caribbean International's ongoing commitment to creating the unforgettable memories for our guests onboard our ships through the personalized service they receive from our dedicated staff. Royal Caribbean International's experience is delivered according to the standards of the 'Gold Anchor Service' programme, which was established more than a decade ago and contributes to the building customer loyalty."

The award comes as Royal Caribbean ends its fourth season in the Gulf on a positive note with all of its sailings fully booked aboard Serenade of the Seas out of Dubai. 

Serenade of the Seas completed her gulf season in April 2013 and is based in Europe for summer, where she will be sailing 12-night roundtrip Mediterranean cruises starting from Barcelona.

Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas arrived today at the Port of Baltimore, Maryland to replace Enchantment of the Seas.  Grandeur will offer six- to 10-night cruises year-round and will offer passenger cruises to Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Eastern and Western Caribbean, as well as Canada and New England.

This is the second time Grandeur of the Seas has been based out of Baltimore.  She previously was deployed to the port from 2004 through 2009.

To celebrate Grandeur of the Seas' return to Baltimore, Governor Martin O'Malley declared May 3, 2013 as "Royal Caribbean Cruise Day" in Maryland.

Grandeur of the Seas is fresh from a $48 million bow-to-stern revitalization, which incorporated six new specialty dining options, technological upgrades and new entertainment features, as well as a refresh of all furniture, carpet, upholstery and staterooms. Families with toddlers can take advantage of the newly installed Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, which caters to the cruise line’s youngest guests, ages six months to 36 months. Guests can also enjoy a 220-square foot poolside movie screen and take in a new high-flying experience whereby aerialists glide through the ship’s six-story atrium.

 “Royal Caribbean International thanks Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Port Administration for their ongoing support of the cruise vacation industry in the great state of Maryland,” said Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Maryland’s rich history and diverse cultural attractions make it an unmatched destination to pair with a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation. We are delighted to mark the beginning of Grandeur of the Seas’ year-round service from Baltimore on ‘Royal Caribbean Cruise Day’ in Maryland.”

Royal Caribbean is offering a variety of  itineraries to Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Eastern and Western Caribbean. In the summer, the itineraries alternate between seven-night Bermuda sailings, featuring a two-night call at Kings Wharf, and seven-night sailings to the Bahamas, calling at Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise in the Bahamas. In the fall, Grandeur of the Seas will alternate between six-night Bermuda and eight-night Canada and New England sailings. The winter season will consist of rotating 10-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, as well as eight-night sailings to the Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean is offering a trio of new offers aimed at families who are looking to cruise together.

Kids Tour Free in Europe

Families with children 12 and under who book a 2013 Europe cruise aboard Navigator of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas or Serenade of the Seas can enjoy free shore excursion tours for children when two adults in their stateroom purchase the same tour during May 2013. For more information, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/KidsTourFree.

Fall Upgrade Offer

Families that book a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas, Bermuda or the Caribbean, between May 1 through June 10, 2013 can book a balcony stateroom for the same price as an ocean view stateroom, or an ocean view stateroom for the price of an interior stateroom on sailings departing September 1 through December 15, 2013. For more information, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/FreeUpgrades.

Royal Incentive Rewards

Royal Caribbean is offering for a limited time to consumers, Royal Incentive Reward certificates, normally a turnkey incentive solution for businesses and organizations looking to improve company performance. Available for purchase through the cruise line’s valued travel agent partners from May 1 through June 14, 2013, Royal Incentive Rewards are pre-paid cruise certificates where recipients enjoy the freedom to travel at their convenience and have the ability to upgrade or transfer their certificate, or to gift a loved one. Once the recipient is ready to book a cruise, they simply call the Royal Incentive Rewards Desk, and the cruise line will handle the rest. For more information, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/RoyalIncentives.