The U.S. Virgin Islands is excited to welcome two additional Royal Caribbean ships to its islands after Royal Caribbean announced its new Caribbean itineraries in 2013-2014.

Jewel of the Seas will visit St. Thomas while Adventure of the Seas will stop at St. Thomas and St. Croix, which is in addition to the other Royal Caribbean ships that had been visiting the islands.

USVI Governor Jogn de Jongh, Jr. commented on Royal Caribbean's new deployment plans and the importance of St. Croix as a destination, "The Virgin Islands has a wonderful relationship with Royal Caribbean, and that is reflected in the cruise line's newest itineraries, which frequently call on the territory's ports."

The change marks the cruise line's largest deployment ever in the region.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will continue to alternate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries with stops in St. Thomas, while Freedom of the Seas' Eastern Caribbean itinerary lists calls on St. Thomas.

The Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore is a brand new cruise terminal in Singapore that looks to draw in the largest cruise ships in the world, including Royal Caribbean's fleet.

The $395 million terminal will welcome Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas on Saturday, which will be the largest ship of its kind to dock in Singapore.   Voyager of the Seas is just the beginning, because the cruise terminal operator want to attract even larger ships.

SATS-Creuers Cruise Services commented on the plans the terminal has in a statement, "pave the way for the newer generation of larger cruise liners to dock in Singapore and Asia, including Oasis-Class ships."

For fans of heavy metal, the "Barge to Hell" cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas may be the cruise fo them.  Billed as "The World's Most Extreme Metal Cruise", this four-night cruise is planned for December 3, 2012.

There will be 40 bands that will play two live shows across two days while aboard the cruise.  Bands signed for the cruise include Napalm Death, Behemoth, Enslaved and Sepultura.

Onboard the ship, the group has set up a few events already...

• The luxurious "A Chorus Line" theater where we spare no expense to have the benches removed on the floor. Because at a Metal show, who actually wants assigned seating in front of the stage?
• The cozy "Spectrum" that gives you the real club feeling.
• The open air stage on the pool deck. The world's biggest open air festival stage to sail the Oceans.

The cruise is being put on by he same people that organized the 70000 tons of metal cruise that was a big success.

Royal Caribbean announced it will send just nine ships to Europe in 2013, down from 12 ships this year.  Weak bookings in Europe have contributed to Royal Caribbean's decision to reduce its presence there.

The nine ships will offer 276 cruises over 58 itineraries in 2013.  

A third of the ships going to Europe in 2013 will sail out of the United Kingdom, including Independence of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas.  The ships will offer cruises to the Baltics, Mediterranean and Canary Islands.  A report from the Passenger Shipping Association shows that more than 40% of British passengers choose to being their cruise from a UK port.

In addition, Legend of the Seas will offer seven-night western Mediterranean itineraries out of Genoa, Italy and visiting Provence (Marseilles), France; and Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Valencia, Spain.

Vision of the Seas will alternate seven-night Norwegian cruise to the North Sea and offer cruises to visit the Norwegian Fjords, Russia and other northern European destinations.

Navigator of the Seas will offer seven-night eastern Mediterranean and Greek isle cruises.  Serenade of the Seas will offer 12-night Mediterranean and Greek isle cruises.  Splendour of the Seas will serve the Adriatic sea and Greek isles.  And finally, Liberty of the Seas will offer a selection of five- and seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona.

Cruise tourism in Abu Dhabi is going to get a bump when Royal Caribbean sends its recently revamped Serenade of the Seas to the middle eastern city in 2012-2013.  Serenade of the Seas replaces Brilliance of the Seas  and will mark the first time Serenade of the Seas has served the Middle East market.

Serenade of the Seas will make 17 stops in the UAE capital starting in January 2013.

Royal Caribbean Regional Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Helen Beck, commented on the news, "The resilience of the Middle East market is very encouraging. Bringing a new-look Serenade of the Seas to the region is testament to that belief. She will undergo a complete renovation and will boast a number of new food and beverage outlets and attractions that haven’t been seen here. It will certainly up the game for the regional industry."

The Diabestes Daily Post is planning to conduct an educational and motivational diabetes cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas on January 7, 2013.

The cruise is tailored for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients to help promote better management, awareness and course-changing experiences.

Those that sail on this cruise will receive a board and comprehensive education including a diabetes-exercise session and onboard two-mile fun walk for diabetes to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association.

The cruise will feature  Jorge Prada, MD, an Educator and Diabetes Researcher, Susan Sloane Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator, a member of American Diabetes Association board of director and Charles Liu, Clinical Pharmacist with special interest in Type 2 Diabetes.

Royal Caribbean announced it is planning on home porting Enchantment of the Seas in Port Canaveral in 2013 to do 3 and 4 night cruises to the Bahamas.

Enchantment of the Seas will begin sailing from Port Canaveral on April 25, with three- and four-night itineraries to the Bahamas.  Enchantment replaces Monarch of the Seas, which is being transferred out of the fleet.  Monarch’s last sailing from Port Canaveral is scheduled for March 29.

Canaveral Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Stan Payne commented on the news, "I’m really very excited about this, and you should be, too."

Enchantment will join Freedom of the Seas in Port Canaveral and is scheduled to be upgraded in December, with added onboard amenities and other renovations.

Royal Caribbean is planning on bringing Grandeur of the Seas back to Baltimore to offer year-round cruises in the spring of 2013 after she receives a $48 million renovation.

Grandeur of the Seas had previously sailed out of Baltimore from 2004 to 2009 before being replaced by Enchantment of the Seas.  Once Grandeur arrives, it will replace Enchantment and offer cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda and New England and Canada..

Baltimore officials are happy with the change since the makeover Grandeur will receive should be an upgrade in terms of ship and it will offer people sailing out of Baltimore similar amenities that can be found in Royal Caribbean's larger ships.

Grandeur of the Seas is set to receive as part of her makeover new dining options, lounges, nursery for children, Wi-Fi service and an outdoor video screen overlooking the pool deck.

Royal Caribbean plans to have the first cruise out of Baltimore on May 3, 2013 to Bermuda.  After, Grandeur will offer six-, seven-, eight- and 10-night cruises.

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas made her maiden stop at Yeosu, South Korea yesterday to coincide with the opening week of World Expo 2012 in the city.

Yeosu is the newest South Korean destination for Royal Caribbean International, after Seoul, Busan and Jeju.

Royal Caribbean's regional director of Asia Pacific, Kelvin Tan, commented on the occasion, "Legend of the Seas’ call at Yeosu is the highlight of this cruise. We have been specially planning for this for over a year – for our ship to arrive at the Expo right in the middle of the festivities.”

The stop in Yeosu is part of an 8-night cruise out of Yokohama, Japan to Shanghai, China.  Legend of the Seas is offering a number of cruises ranging from six to ten nights to South Korea, Japan and China.