A proposed cruise ship terminal in Montevideo, Uruguay that would be for Royal Caribbean has run into some trouble.

According to reports, port executives evaluated the $40 million cruise terminal proposal but could not commit to the idea, because the port is "multipurpose".  Meaning, they could not guarantee a space for cruise operations.

Royal Caribbean presented the plan to port officials back in March that would give Royal Caribbean an exclusive terminal for their ships at the port of Montevideo, which would include a 200-room hotel, shopping mall and cultural center.

In addition, port officials said they are not denying the idea completely, but cannot approve the plan proposed.

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control conducts surprise government health inspections to make certain that the cruise ships millions enjoy are safe and clean.  Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas all scored a perfect 100 on their test this year.

The Vessel Sanitation Program is run by the CDC and unannounced inspections will occur twice per year in US ports, with a test that grades each ship on a 100 point scale.  The CDC evaluates cruise ships in 42 areas such as adherence to proper food handling, storage procedures, overall galley cleanliness and pool and spa cleanliness.

This is the third perfect score in a row for Oasis of the Seas while the other ships that scored perfectly have also had perfect scores in the past.

Only a small fraction of the dozens of cruise ships inspected each quarter receive a perfect score.  Most infractions are small in nature and are corrected quickly.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in Australia when she debuts in November 2012, will be arriving with some special DreamWorks guests.  Royal Caribbean has announced details regarding the DreamWorks Experience at Sea on Voyager of the Seas.

Voyager of the Seas will feature characters from “Madagascar”, “Shrek”, “Kung Fu Panda” and “Puss in Boots”.

“Since being introduced on Allure of the Seas in 2010 – and then rolled out to another four ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet – the DreamWorks Experience has been incredibly popular with guests,” Royal Caribbean Australia and New Zealand Commercial Manager Adam Armstrong said.

In the main dining room, there will be special breakfasts in addition to photo opportunities daily with Po from “King Fu Panda”, Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots from “Shrek”, King Julien, Alex, Gloria and the Penguins from “Madagascar”.

Passengers aboard Voyager of the Seas will also be able to meet-and-greet with the characters during surprise appearances throughout the ship, including Voyager’s youth club, Adventure Ocean, where they will be involved in activities including storytelling and dance parties.

Two street parades will be scheduled down the Royal Promenade per cruise while DreamWorks films including “Puss in Boots” and “Madagascar 3” will be shown in the 1,350-seat 3D Cinema.

For an in-cabin fix, there will be a dedicated DreamWorks TV channel which will play programs and movies 24-7. 

Photo by daigolou_chan

We love seeing talented photographers take some amazing photos while aboard Royal Caribbean ships and Bryan Sargent, a New York City photographer, brought his camera aboard a recent Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas.

Check out all of his great photos here.

Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas will host the fifth annual Brazil Fashion Cruise in 2013.  The event will take place April 7th through the 11th and will tour the Brazilian coast.

The Brazil Fashion Cruise ship will bring together the top names in Brazilian fashion, businessmen, journalists and students of fashion.

"The event grows each year and, for the anniversary edition of five years plus the attractions on board, prepare actions and parade ground," says Carla Wolff, the Dreamakers Travel & Consulting, creator of the project in partnership with Alba Ferrari Facex partner of Foreign Trade.

The event features special programa for students, such as workshops with designers who will be in the line-up.
 

The port of Batumi in the Republic of Georgia will see 14 cruise ships visit it this year, with 8 confirmed and the other 6 in the negotiations.  All the cruises will visit the brand new cruise terminal that Royal Caribbean has been designing.

The Deputy  Head of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Adjara A.R, Sophio Lazishvili, commented on the work, "“In September 2012 the cruise company Royal Caribbean will complete the design works for the new port. Actual construction will begin in October 2012."

The new cruise terminal has hopes it will draw more cruise ships to the port.  Representatives of travel agencies say they do not offer cruises to Georgians because of the sheer lack of demand.

Royal Caribbean struck a deal with the port of Batumi back in June of 2011 to help develop the port for cruise ship traffic.

Bermuda's Minister of Business Development and Tourism, Wayne Furbert presented the 2012 Royal Caribbean International Hospitality Awards on board the Celebrity Summit. Royal Caribbean's Vice-President of Government relations for the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia, Michael Ronan joined other members of Bermuda's government to present the awards.

The winners of the Hospitality Awards were

• Nikhil Hassell, who received $5000 and is attending Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Dwayne Fubler, who recieved $10,000 and is attending Florida International University
• Simon Benevides, who received $5,000 and is attending the University of Guelph, Ontatio, Canada

“To date, this program has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship funds to 65 young Bermudians to assist them in tourism related studies,” said the Minister. “I am pleased to join with Royal Caribbean in awarding three deserving young Bermudians with scholarships.”

The Minister concluded by saying the Government is committed to helping young Bermudians achieve excellence in the hospitality industry. “This initiative celebrates that achievement and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line International for their significant contribution and support that they continue to share.”

Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean announced they would transfer Monarch of the Seas out of their fleet and into sister company Pullmantur Cruises in April 2013.  Now we know that Monarch of the Seas will be home based year round in Curacao when that transfer is complete.

Monarch of the Seas will offer 7 night Southern Caribbean itineraries to ports in Venezuela, Panama, Colombia and Aruba.

The decision wraps up two months of negotiations between the cruise line and the Minister of Tourism.