Royal Caribbean posted an update at 10am today updating further itinerary changes due to Tropical Storm Emily.  As of now, there are no further changes for cruises this weekend beyond what has already been announced.  

Royal Caribbean International continues to closely monitor the path and progress of Tropical Storm Emily to ensure guests enjoy safe and comfortable cruises, and to make certain our ships steer clear of the storm. The safety of our guests and crew is always our foremost concern. 

Given Tropical Storm Emily's current location and projected path, Royal Caribbean has not altered the itineraries of any ship that departs today, tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday. Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again today, August 4, at 7:00 p.m. E.S.T.

Royal Caribbean will issue another update at 7pm tonight.

Among Royal Caribbean's catalog of 2012/2013 cruises is one that will offer passengers a trip near the Arctic Circle.

These first voyages to the Arctic Circle can be found with the Brilliance of the Seas, which will make its debut in Northern Europe. Offers an assortment of Scandinavian cruises from Amsterdam and Copenhagen. In August 2012, the Vision of the Seas will be traveling in this trade. 

Does a cruise to the Arctic Circle sound interesting to you?

Tropical Storm Emily has caused another itinerary change for Royal Caribbean.  Serenade of the Seas was scheduled to visit the island of Antigua on Thursday, but will now try for a Friday arrival so long as the weather in the Leeward Islands permits the visit.

Nathan Dundas, president of the Cruise Tourism Association, said the decision to delay Serenade's arrival was made to ensure the safety of the ship and passengers.

“It is normally common during the hurricane season for these ships to make such diversions. They pay very careful attention to the weather patterns and as such they had their consultations with the head office in Miami and us, and indicated to us it was necessary to make this diversion.”

The tourist port of Bari, Italy is taking a big leap forward this year with Royal Caribbean's mega cruise ships calling on Bari for a total of 22 times, which will bring 80,000 more tourists this year.

To help accommodate the passengers, the province is offering a shore train, the pilot project of the Department of mobility. The idea is to take through the intermodal bus and train cruise passengers visiting the port of Bari to visit the centers of major artistic and historical interest of the Province.  Partners of the project include the Port Authority of the Levant , the City of Conversano and Royal Caribbean.

The City of Conversano has provided a welcome service in the language, guided tours, tastings and wine, cooking classes and shops open.

The Councillor of Apulia Region Guglielmo Minervini explains the shore train project makes sense, "By enhancing the hospitality offered by the area more attractive we make the first step of Bari The trial will cover the city of conversation, but other centers will be able to join as early as next year."

Royal Caribbean has canceled port stops for the Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. The passengers on the Oasis of the Seas will have the biggest effect to their route.

The Oasis of the Seas will spend Monday and Tuesday at sea, leaves on Wednesday to Costa Maya and Cozumel on Thursday after, as planned before it goes back to Fort Lauderdale. The Freedom of the Seas will be diverted on Wednesday to Grand Cayman on Thursday and is also in Cozumel.

Representatives of seven U.S. cruise companies will visit Alicante, Spain from September 22-24 to explore the possibilities of the port and the city for inclusion in the scales of their cruises.

At the Port of Alicante, employers will provide a detailed tour of the municipality, which includes a visit to the port facilities and various destinations in the city and the province suitable for cruisers trips.

The group is made up of directors of Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Windstar Cruises, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, The World and NCL. They all pose a significant potential to attract cruise ship tourists, so the visit will be crucial for the interests of the Port and the city.

Result of relations with one of them, Royal Caribbean, owner of  Independence of the Seas, visited yesterday the Port of Alicante, with a passage more than 4,000 travelers who had the opportunity to many excursions in Alicante and its province. The ship, which came from Palma de Mallorca, afternoon sail to Lisbon, from where they sail back north to their summer base in Southampton.

Launched in 2008, the Independence of the Seas will return to dock in Alicante on 29 August.

Royal Caribbean is posed to name its second female cruise ship Captain aboard its Vision of the Seas ship later this month.  Lis Lauritzen is the woman who will command the ship.

Lauritzen follows in the footsteps of Karin Stahre-Janson, who is Captain of the Monarch of the Seas.  She was promoted to that rank in March 2007, becoming the first female captain of a major cruise ship.

Since Stahre-Janson, two other cruise lines have appointed woman to be in charge of cruise ships, including P&O Cruises and Cunard Line in 2010.

Royal Caribbean is bringing back its sports and fitness program for this year's cruise season, called "Royal Life". With cruises out of Santos, Brazil on January 27 and Rio de Janeiro on January 28, the goal is to combine leisure cruise vacation, wellness and health care. On board, passengers will be able to exercise, attend lectures on nutritional counseling and relaxation.

For a week, adults and children will hold various activities overlooking the sea and the beautiful beaches of Brazil. The cruise participants will attend spinning classes, rhythms, hydrobike, pilates, yoga (at sea and ashore), kids yoga and contest for the whole family. To help keep in shape, the ship's menus will have options for eating lighter and healthier. In this new edition to be in charge of new partnerships between the Royal and renowned professionals in the areas of sports, wellness and nutrition

The Royal Life cruise costs from R$ 203.80 10x + R$ 81.52 per person, no fees, inside cabin double. The feeding schedule and activities are included.  

Royal Caribbean has selected Gianni Rotondo to lead Royal Caribbean's Italy office and be in charge of the development of the Italian market. Lina Mazzucco held the position with Royal Caribbean Italy since 2005, and will pass the baton to Gianni Rotondo, who has joined Royal Caribbean three months ago.

"After 6 years of activity in this great company I decided it was time to leave to pursue other routes. I carry with me all the experiences and challenges, the people with whom I have worked in recent years and the rewards, including one of all: to have ten times the number of Italian guests on our ship," says Lina Mazzucco "hope Gianni professional satisfaction and the same passion. "

With over 30 years of experience in the travel and a degree in Law, Round arrives from Atahotels Royal Spa, an independent Italian chain of hotels, where occupying the role of commercial director. Before that, he was general manager of the Northern European markets in London and Alitalia CEO of lastminute.com Italy, and CEO of Easy Market Spa.

"The Italian market has experienced strong growth in demand from consumers Italians, for all the brands of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Royal Caribbean International in particular." Said Michael Bayley, executive vice president, international, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We have great confidence in the new general manager. Gianni has all the personal qualities and professional and managerial skills that we need to pursue our growth strategy in Italy."

"It 'an important time for growth of the Italian market," says Gianni Rotondo, " and European company, which will expand its activities in 2012 with 23 new ports in seven countries. This result is undoubtedly the result of passion and commitment with which Lina Mazzucco has guided the company in recent years. Following the precious example of Lina, who preceded me in this challenge, I will do my best to give further impetus to the company and increase brand value. "

The Genoa office of Royal Caribbean has about 30 employees, including sales, marketing and business operations, management of the 3 brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises Club.

Mariner of the Seas in March has arrived for the first time in the Mediterranean to Civitavecchia, where he remained until the end of October, offering 7-night cruises calling at Cannes, Ajaccio, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.

At Royal Caribbean's second quarter 2011 quarterly results yesterday, Royal Caribbean announced an accounting error that has resulted in double digit drop in Royal Caribbean's stock price.  Today, corporate litigators Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims concerning whether Royal Caribbean and certain of its officers and directors have violated federal securities laws.

Royal Caribbean had said it would have to revise prior statements because of an error in the way it accounted for interest expense for amortizing financing fees. It reduced its full-year earning guidance by 10 cents per share even without the accounting change, and by 20 cents per share with the change. On this news, shares of Royal Caribbean plunged 10%, or over $3.25 per share.