Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas rescued Cuban refugees afloat at sea twice on this past Saturday.
The first rescue was of five Cubans on a raft in the Atlantic Ocean. According to reports, the Cubans were given food and water while being transferred to the United States Coast Guard.
Another group of Cubans were reported rescued as well later that day by Allure of the Seas. No comment by Royal Caribbean at this time.
Today marks the beginning of Royal Caribbean's WOW Sale, where Royal Caribbean offers some of its best offers to book a cruise. This WOW sale touts savings of up to $200 per cabin.
For the sale, booking your cruise during this sale will get onboard credits depending on the length of your cruise.
In addition to the onboard credit offer, customers can also book their cabin for 50% of the normal deposit price.
This WOW sale is valid on all Royal Caribbean cruises departing on or after August 15, 2012 except for cruises in China, Australia and New Zealand. Sale ends on June 13, 2012.
Will you be booking a cruise because of this sale?
In connection with the release of "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted", Royal Caribbean is offering a content to sail with Alex, Gloria, King Julien and the Penguins on select ships featuring the DreamWorks Experience offered exclusively on Royal Caribbean.
You can visit Facebook.com/RoyalCaribbean to enter the contest through June 20 for your chance to win the "Madagascar at Sea" sweepstakes. The two grand prizes are a seven-night cruise for four to Europe or the Caribbean, while one daily winner will earn a $25 gift card for correctly answering trivia about the cruise line and the “Madagascar” franchise.
To celebrate the release of “Madagascar 3” Royal Caribbean ships featuring the DreamWorks Experience, Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, will host special screenings of the movie in 3D throughout the summer, plus offer exclusive content – including movie trailers and behind the scenes videos – as well as the chance to win prizes, such as movie posters, DVDs, character photos and more during daily trivia and other onboard activities.
The inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas sets sail today in Civitavecchia, Italy for the Mediterranean.
Royal Caribbean has organized a big party on board with a special gues ice skating world champion Carolina Kostner, who will perform on the ice rink inside the cruise ship.
Just to emphasize the '' Italian 'cruise for 14 weeks will sail the waters of the Mediterranean, Royal Caribbean has adopted a philosophy of "Italian friendly", offering food and hospitality "Italian." On board the ship, there will be European soccer matches projected on a big screen.
Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas arrived in France earlier this month and now is based out of southern France. Since the beginning of June, Liberty of the Seas offers each week more than 3,600 cruise to discover the Mediterranean from Toulon.
"One year after the opening of our office in France, we are very pleased to offer our first departures from French ports", says Frederic Martinez, CEO of Royal Caribbean France.
Liberty of the Seas is not the only ship from France, as the Grandeur of the Seas will sail from Marseille and the Brilliance of the Seas, from Havre. "We worked hard to adapt our offer to French customers, says Frederic Martinez. A significant part of our staff speak French. The menus are in French, the French television channels are available. And we worked our wine. "Interest in the French market is due to its dynamism for several years. Last year, 441,000 passengers were carried by cruise ships, according to the French Association of Cruise Lines (AFCC), an increase of 14%.
Regarding the effect the Costa Concordia disaster has had on Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean has taken steps to hinder the negative effects. "We have reduced our ambitions, however, recognizes Frederick Martinez. We visions French 40,000 passengers this year. They will eventually be only 30,000 to 35,000. "This is still a nice progression: the group table and a market share of 6% this year, against only 4% last year. For 2013, the group is up 10%. The starting number will increase from 27 to 39 this year next year. Despite the loss of the ship from Le Havre. "Next year, the Brilliance will be used in Asia, where we record very strong growth, said Frederic Martinez. Pending the arrival of our ships coming in 2014 and 2015, we must make trade-offs depending on the strength of our markets. "
A group that specializes in cruises for families with autism, down syndrome and other related disabilities is planning a number of group cruises for 2012 and 2013. Sailing on ships such as Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas, the group looks to offer those families with these special needs an opportunity to enjoy a fun cruise vacation.
The group, Autism on the Seas, is a niche travel company that organizes and staffs cruise and land resort vacations for families with special needs. They have been in collaboration with Royal Caribbean since 2007 in developing this program. Their specially trained staff provides respite care, special accommodations and coordinated group activities and events, for all special needs guests with a broad range of conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other cognitive and intellectual developmental impairments.
The group offers disability accommodations, pre-vacation planning, youth program and staff respite, services and activities for those with special needs and a trained staff aboard the ships.
For more information, visit their site at http://www.autismontheseas.com
Royal Caribbean will cease home porting its ships in Malaga, Spain in 2013. Currently Adventure of the Seas is there and will complete its 28 cruises but by 2013, she will move to be ported out of Southampton, England.
The move by Royal Caribbean to leave Malaga isn't permanent. Royal Caribbean describes the change as "transitional" and anticipates reassessing the possibility of returning to Malaga in 2014, "given the interest of the company for the city".
Royal Caribbean has spent three years operating out of Malaga, near Valencia, as a base port for the western Mediterranean. The Adventure of the Seas, with capacity for 3,840 passengers, currently covers the route Málaga, Valencia, Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Pisa and Florence) and Ajaccio (Corsica).
The change was characterized by a Royal Caribbean spokeswoman as "reprogramming of the ships to meet new demand" and she also indicated that Malaga has received very high results in passenger satisfaction surveys.
Sebastian Camps, the Malaga port manager, insists Royal Caribbean's departure is "temporary" and blames the economic situation in the Mediterranena area.
Royal Caribbean has finished the $48 million refurbishment to Grandeur of the Seas at the Navantia ship yard in Cadiz, Spain.
The complete overhaul of Grandeur includes the addition of five new dining venues, technological upgrades, a pool side LED screen, a refresh of all furniture, carpet, upholstery and staterooms as well as new entertainment offering including a spectacular aerial displays in its six deck Centrum.
In addition, the ship received a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty guests, a Concierge Lounge for suite guests and top-tier loyalty guests, a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, as well as a transformed Viking Crown Lounge.
Now that Grandeur has been returned to service, she will spend the summer offering cruises on the Mediterranean from Venice, Italy and Provence, France.
Since launching Royal Caribbean Australia and New Zealand's Facebook page in April, they've received 10,000 likes and the company rewarded one lucky fan with a dream cruise.
Sheree Oakes of Glenmore Park has won a cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas' inaugural cruise when she arrives in Sydney this November. Sheree was announced the winner of the ‘Share, Like and Win’ competition which asked fans to list their top three cruising destinations - she listed Europe, Alaska and Bahamas as top of her list.
“I’m so excited about this cruise, and I usually never win anything! I recently went on a cruise on Radiance of the Seas and now I tell all of my friends to cruise with Royal Caribbean. When you go on a cruise everything is there, it’s all done for you, so there’s no rushing and you get some real time to rest and relax.”