Royal Caribbean joined with Bermuda's Minister of Business Development and Tourism, Patrice Minors, to award $15,000 to three students so they can pursue careers in hospitality as part of the Royal Caribbean Hospitality Endowment Fund.

Michiko Campbell, a student at Johnson and Wales University, won his scholarship for building – and flying – two 6 foot Bermuda style kites at his Miami school this past Easter.

Joliza Vanderpool, a Canadian student, is studying Professional Baking Fundamentals, Modern Pastry Craft and Culinary Techniques.  The final winner, Jallande Greaves, is also a student at Johnson and Wales University and is studying Travel Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Minister Minors was pleased to see three of Bermuda's citizens win the awards, “Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to highlight the success and accomplishments of those Bermudians who are pursuing careers in the hospitality industry. And this annual event provides us the perfect forum to do just that".

The ceremony took place aboard the Celebrity Summit

For guests looking to get a look at what goes on behind closed doors on their Royal Caribbean cruise, there's now an option to take a guided tour from the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean calls it the All Access Tour and is available on all of Royal Caribbean's ships starting with the July 2011 sailings.

Lisa Bauer, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, is excited about the new idea, "Our guests have always inquired into what happens behind the scenes and below deck.  We are glad to offer these really special guest tours into areas that are normally not accessible, escorted by staff members who explain the complex workings of running of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships.”

The new All Access Tour will include a tour of the ship's bridge, galley, backstage to the main theater, engine control room, and more. .  On cruises of less than seven nights, there will be at least one All Access Tour.  Cruises of seven nights or longer will have two tours at least.  Royal Caribbean confirms more tours can be added based on passenger demand.

The tours are 3.5 hours in duration and cost $150 per passenger.  The All Access Tour can be purchased onboard with the Concierge, Crown & Anchor Society Loyalty Ambassador, or at guest relations.

The new All Access Tour come two years after Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises began offering behind-the-scenes tours on their cruise ships.

Dave Cariello, a blogger for Canal Street Chronicles, took a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas to Alaska despite some hesitations about going to a cold water port.  Nonetheless, Dave came away impressed by his trip and definitely a fan of both Alaska and Radiance!

I admit that when my wife suggested Alaska as a possibility for our next destination, I was a bit skeptical. Isn't cruising supposed to be for tropical destinations? And isn't Alaska anything but tropical?

I've been to quite a few wonderful places in my young life but Alaska is truly the most unique. Unless you've seen for yourself the untouched beauty that is The Land of the Midnight Sun, you cannot fathom it's true awesomeness.

Dave posted a lot more photos and summaries of each port they visited, such as Skagway, Juneau and Seward, on his blog.

Royal Caribbean Marketing Directory in Italy, Robert Pirrera, thinks the year of 2012 will bring its own set of obstacles for the cruise giant to overcome, "The year 2012 promises a year full of new challenges.  With enthusiasm, we will promptly respond to growing demand from the market with the opening of new ports of embarkation in Bari and Messina, extending the seasonal cruise from Genoa, the introduction of 7 nights cruises aboard Brilliance of the Seas in Northern Europe, new promotions, and especially the strengthening of our brand in Italy".

Mariner of the Seas is ready to celebrate its debut in Genoa on July 22, when an event is scheduled for members of the press and other cruise industry figures.  On that day, Mariner will sail from Civitavecchia to reach Genoa, new home port for Mariner of the Seas. Friday Night Fever, the name given to the event, will involve more than 500 travel agents and journalists who will spend the night before the first call  in Genoa. The next day, in Genoa, Mariner of the Seas will be welcomed by local authorities and port with the press conference and ceremony "Plaque & Keys", the exchange of crest and plaques from local authorities to the officers on board.

Meanwhile Pirrera confirmed that Royal Caribbean is doing quite well in Italy, with 100% growth since last year, "We have grown over 100% compared to last year, with excellent returns on advertising investments. Without forgetting the excellent performance of the website, which last January after redesign has more than doubled visits. "

Every year Fortune Magazine publishes its list of the ten best stocks for the rest of 2011 and Royal Caribbean has made their list.  Fortune Magazine describes the list as stocks that are "expected to bolster their profits an average of 61% next year -- vs. 14% for the S&P -- and yet they trade at an average 12 times next year's earnings, vs. 13 times for the S&P."

Coming in at number 9 is Royal Caribbean and Fortune Magazine seems to like how well the stock has done in the recent past, "After a stormy period, the sailing has lately been -- dare we say it? -- smooth for Royal Caribbean. The cruise company was pounded by the Great Recession, with earnings dipping from $2.68 to 75¢ per share between 2008 and 2009. Now leisure spending is recovering, and Royal Caribbean is benefiting from the fact that cruises have always cost less than comparable land vacations. The company's earnings are on pace to rise 168% in 2010. By comparison, operating earnings at Disney's theme parks and resorts fell 7% during Walt Disney Co.'s fiscal year that ended Oct. 2.".

Royal Caribbean's stock is trading at about $40 a share right now, but Ken Kuhrt, an analyst and fund manager at Ariel Investments, believes Royal Caribbean stock deserves a P/E closer to 17, which was Royal Caribbean's average valuation from 1997 to 2007. That translates to a stock price of $54 -- just the sort of gain that could fund a nice little vacation.

A popular Western Caribbean port of call for Royal Caribbean, Cozumel is an island located on the eastern shore of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.  The island offers plenty of beach and sun fun along with some cultural heritage.

Cozumel Benefits

• Beaches: Cozumel has some great beaches to choose from in and around the city of San Miguel de Cozumel.  While not the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, they are plentiful and make great options for beach days.  Most of the well-known beaches are within 10-15 minutes of where Royal Caribbean docks via taxi.
  • Best private beach: Paradise Beach (beach is free but activities and water toys cost extra)
• Shopping: There's a lot of shopping options to be found in Cozumel's city of San Miguel de Cozumel.  Most of the shops along the main road (Rafael E. Melgar) are riddled with tourist trap stores but stores found further into the city (within 3-4 blocks) offer more original options and better deals.  Cozumel boasts silver jewelry from other parts of Mexico as well as a wide selection of crafts.  Furthermore, being that this is Mexico, prices for goods tend to be cheaper here than in the United States.
• Excursions close to the ship:  There's a lot to do in Cozumel if you're looking for an excursion and most are within an hour of where Royal Caribbean docks.  Most excursions, both from Royal Caribbean or via third party, are within a 15 minute taxi ride of the dock, with a few excursions across the Yucatan Channel in nearby Playa del Carmen.
  • Favorite excursion: Tulum Mayan Ruins Excursion
• Diving: Cozumel is well known around the world for its scuba diving and snorkeling.  The nearby Palancar Reef was well documented by Jacques Cousteau in the 1960s and since has been publicized as one of the best places to go scuba diving in the world.
  • Best scuba locations: Reefs at Palancar, Tormentos, San Francisco, Santa Rosa & Paraiso North.

Cozumel Detractions

• Safety:  Mexico isn't known for being the safest country in the world.  While most of the violence is in north west Mexico, there are still elements of crime to be concerned with while in Cozumel.  Like many ports of call, it's important to be aware of your surroundings.  We've also heard plenty of stories from tourists who rented a car, got into a minor accident and had to deal with settling the matter on the spot.

What to do in Cozumel

There's a lot to see and do in Cozumel but some of our favorite activities include

• Visiting the Tulum Mayan Ruins
• Eating authentic Mexican food
• Paradise Beach
• Exploring the east coast of the island via taxi or rental car
• Scuba diving

Royal Caribbean ships stopping in Cozumel: Liberty of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas

Photo by Vicente Martinez

Australian cruise specialist Cruiseabout listed their top 10 cruise innovations and Royal Caribbean made their list in four of the spots.

• Bigger and better
  The largest cruise ships ever constructed are now on active routes throughout the world including Royal Caribbean International’s world record holder, Allure of the Seas, at 1187ft (362 metres) it can carrying more than 6000 passengers.
• 4D cinemas with vibrating seats
  With Hollywood’s latest blockbusters now being presented in 3D, cruise ship operators including Royal Caribbean have revamped onboard cinemas to deliver passengers a 3D experience.
• New wave of recreational options
  Royal Caribbean passengers can show off their surfing skills at the Flowrider, a purpose built, man-made wave on its Oasis and Freedom class vessels.
• Onboard shows
  Licensed works of Andrew Lloyd Webber and critically acclaimed productions of Hairspray and Chicago have featured on P&O and Royal Caribbean liners.

Royal Caribbean in the United Kingdom is offering its passengers an extra layer of luxury service with chauffeur serviceto and from UK ports and London airports.

For those sailing on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas out of Southampton and Jewel of the Seas out of Harwich or those flying from London airports can book a chauffer driven service with partner Tristar Chauffeur Services to and from their address to their port or airport of departure.

Royal Caribbean Associate VIce President and General Manager of United Kingdom of Ireland, Jo Rzymowska,  commented on the new service, "This is a great addition to the list of optional extras we offer our guests.  Having the opportunity to transfer in luxury is the perfect way to make the most of your holiday time and a fantastic treat.”

Peak time transfers cost approximately £65 for first 15 miles and £1.40 per mile thereafter. Off-peak transfers cost approximately £55 for first 15 miles and £1 per mile thereafter. Costs will vary depending on where the guest is being picked up from.