Royal Caribbean is reporting travel agents and consumers in Australia have become more familiar with the Royal Caribbean brand in recent time, but there are still challenges ahead as the cruise line looks to gain an even larger share of the cruise market down under.

Royal Caribbean Cruises managing director, Gavin Smith, said the increased capacity planned over the next 12 months, including the return of Celebrity Cruises and the debut of Radiance of the Seas, will coincide with Royal Caribbean putting on more field sales staff to drive its message home to agents.

Just how far has Royal Caribbean come?  One year ago, there were about 40,000 beds available but today that number is closer to 100,000 beds to sell.

Helping increase the inventory is Radiance of the Seas, which features 50% of its cabins having a balcony, which is important to the Australian cruise market.  Gavin Smith cites that Americans and British cruisers that go to Australia demand the balconies.

Two more ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet will receive upgrades in 2011.  Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas will receive ship wide enhancements.

Radiance of the Seas will enter dry dock in mid-2011 and will add a Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse as well as a Mexican-themed restaurant caled Rita's Cantina.  Both restaurants will debut on Allure of the Seas later this month.  In addition, Radiance will get a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members, a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, interactive flat-panel televisions in all cabins, and wireless Internet throughout the ship.

Splendour of the Seas will recieve the same upgrades that Radiance has, which includes the two new specialty restaurants, the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, a new Diamond and Concierge Lounge, flat-panel televisions in every cabin, and wireless Internet throughout the ship, as well as adding new balcony cabins to Splendour of the Seas and also enhance select cabins and public areas, including the Windjammer Marketplace.

Also receiving updates in 2011 are Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas

Photo by Brandi Palechek

Photo by Samantha Collier

Photo by Ted Sherman

The Royal Caribbean Twitter account announced that Mariner of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas had won the prestigious Port of San Francisco Environmental Gold Award.  The annual award recognizes vessels for demonstrating “the strong environmental commitment of Princess Cruises in the areas of air emission reduction, waste water treatment, and recycling and disposal programs for solid waste.” This distinction is awarded by San Francisco’s Cruise Terminal Environmental Advisory Committee.

The CTEAC operates the program to recognize cruise lines that are committed to environmentally responsible operations, include the deployment of ships using reduced emission system technology or cleaner-burning fuel.

Royal Caribbean ships have long been proponents of environmental awareness and their ships have a number of "green technology" elements on board such as advanced wastewater purification systems, window tinting and operational conservation measures.