At this year's Seatrade Awards Ceremonial Dinner, Royal Caribbean was awarded  the "Investment in People" award for its “Building On Talent” leadership development program.

The Building on Talent program was created as a partnership between Royal Caribbean executives and Human Resources and is a multi-dimensional leadership development initiative.  The program identifies people in Royal Caribbean who are high-potential leaders and develops bench strength so leaders can potentially assume multiple roles throughout the company. Building on Talent's reach is global, both shipboard and shoreside, and cascades from senior executive to professional levels.

Royal Caribbean vice president, global chief and human resources officer Maria Del Busto was honored to receive the award on behalf of the company, “This special recognition is truly a testament to Royal Caribbean's continued dedication to nurturing our company's talent and creating our leaders of tomorrow.  By strategically managing our talent, and thoughtfully planning the successors of our key leadership roles, Royal Caribbean will be better positioned for the future.”

Royal Caribbean is promoting a road show in five towns in São Paulo, Brazil this week to spread the news for the 2011/2012 cruise season. One of the novelties introduced is the Splendour of the Seas, which went through a revitalization and will be in Brazil starting on December 11.

The road show has gone through Bauru, Sao Jose do Rio Preto and Ribeirao Preto. Today (May 4) it will be held in Sao Jose dos Campos at 7:30pm, and then at Blue Tree Power. Tomorrow (May 5), it will be promoted in Campinas, from 7:30pm at the headquarters of Anchorage.

Guests aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas ran into a major transportation problem on the island of Bermuda during a recent stop.  Guests arrived off the ship to King's Wharf, Dockyard, when they ran into a very crowded situation thanks in part to Bermuda's timetable cuts.

Tourists complained many times to officials in an effort to figure out how to get to their destinations after encountering rude staff and a lack of organization.

The problem seemed to be a lack of enough transportation options after the Ministry of Transport introduced plans for a dispatcher to “control tourist numbers” in a bid to save seats for locals. Locals have long complained that tourists were given priority as full buses were driving past them on the way to Hamilton.

In an effort to remedy the situation, Bermuda's Tourism Minister Patrice Minors and Transport Minister Terry Lister met earlier this week to discuss how to address growing concerns about timetable cuts.  No word yet on what, if any, solution has been reached.

Shadow Transport Minister Kim Swan said he hoped the meeting would pave the way for an improved public transport system which “meets the needs of the whole Island.”

The hit Broadway musical "Saturday Night Fever" has debuted on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas and is the first Broadway show featured on a Royal Caribbean cruise in Europe.

Performed in Liberty of the Seas' state-of-the-art, 1,320-seat Platinum Theatre, the musical depicts Tony, the ambitious Brooklyn teen who spends his Saturday nights disco dancing.  Tony is played by  the British actor Lucas Rush.

The addition of Saturday Night Fever to Liberty of the Seas marks Royal Caribbean's third full-length Broadway musical to be performed on its ships.  The two other plays are “Hairspray” performed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and “Chicago” playing on Allure of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas played host to a special luncheon gathering of Royal Caribbean staff and Jamaican officials on April 27th to honor Jamaica's Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry and to celebrate the partnership between Royal Caribbean and the Port Authority of Jamaica.

During the ceremony, Allure of the Seas' Captain, Hernam Zini, presented Mr. Henry with a plaque while Mr. Henry returned the favor and gave Captain Zini a plaque of his own.  There was also special commemorative gifts presented to Royal Caribbean by local members of Trelawny and Falmouth.

Both organizations had worked together to revamp and open Falmouth, Jamaica as a premiere cruise port.  Joining the group were members of Jamaica's government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and the business sector.

Henry was pleased with how the partnership was going, "I am calling on the Falmouth community for an integration of the local residents and visitors in affording them the opportunity of having the greatest experience in Jamaica, as this is crucial to the sustainability of the Jamaica's visitors' market".

Royal Caribbean announced the launch of Caribbean cruises on sale for the 2012-2013 season. 13 of the 22-ships, including the flagship Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, will offer tourists cruise the islands of the Caribbean. During the winter season of 2012-2013 cruises will depart on voyages lasting from 4 to 12 nights. Part of cruises now available for booking, the remaining will be available starting next week.

According to Royal Caribbean's Vice President for marketing Betsya O'Rourke, travel on Royal Caribbean ships are ideal for families and couples of all ages, leaving a lifelong pleasant memories. "The experienced staff of our modern ships ready to provide passenger service of the highest class, and entertainment will leave the impression of a bright holiday during the entire trip."

In 2012, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas will continue their routes in Western and Eastern Caribbean of 7 nights. Every weekend, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will depart from Fort Lauderdale (Florida), while Freedom of the Seas will begin its voyage from Port Canaveral. Also from Port Canaveral to begin its voyage Monarch of the Seas. Her path will run through the Bahamas on a private island of Royal Caribbean CocoCay. The same route will go Majesty of the Seas, but only from Miami. Both cruises have a duration of 4 nights.

During Winter 2012-2013, Brilliance of the Seas will offer 8-day cruises to the southern Caribbean from San Juan (Puerto Rico). Explorer of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas also will be sent round from Bayonne (NJ) and Baltimore in a Caribbean cruise. Explorer of the Seas in the coming season will offer a trip to the Bahamas for 7 nights, as well as 9 and 11-night cruises in the eastern and southern Caribbean. Additionally, in mid-April 2013 it will be possible to take the opportunity to spend 5 or 6 nights in a voyage to Bermuda. The schedule of ship Enchantment of the Seas - Cruise on 9 nights in the eastern part of the sea and 12 nights on the islands of the southern basin.

Routes for the Mariner of the Seas will serve the Gulf of Mexico starting from the port of Galveston. Jewel of the Seas will continue to cruise out of Tampa (Florida), who will alternate routes to the Mexican island of Cozumel and Grand Cayman with a visit to Key West and Cozumel. Both cruises are designed for 5 nights. Finally, Liberty of the Seas from Port Everglades will offer crises in the western Caribbean Sea on 4 and 5 nights.

Royal Caribbean sent an email to its Crown and Anchor Society Members alerting them to the next WOW Sale that will occur on May 3 and 4, 2011.

The sale is good on any Royal Caribbean sale and includes

• Receive up to $200 to spend onboard
• Get 50% reduced deposit
• Good on any itinerary departing on or after August 1, 2011
• Includes our newest and most innovative ships, Allure of the Seas® and Oasis of the Seas®

Royal Caribbean is planning on offering direct cruise connection from London's Stansted airport in June by utilizing British Airways charter flights to make a connection to Venice, Italy.

These flights will connect to a seven-night Adriatic sailing on Voyager of the Seas.

Jo Rzymowska, Royal Caribbean's United Kingdom and Ireland general manger, says the move comes in response to guest demand, “Feedback from cruise travellers tells us that convenient flight connections are a factor when selecting their next cruise experience.

“Around 6.7 million people live in Stansted’s main catchment area, putting our cruise connections onto the doorstep of millions of potential customers.  

“The new service will deliver an efficient route for thousands of UK cruisers to begin their holiday immediately on the day of departure”.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. received recognition for its shipboard "Building On Talent" leadership development program during this year's Seatrade Awards Ceremonial Dinner. The ceremony, which took place at the Guildhall in London on April 14, 2011, included over 350 of the maritime industry's key players, and celebrated the outstanding contributions made over the last year for safe, efficient and environmentally friendly shipping. During the awards gala, the Royal Caribbean was presented the "Investment in People" award.

"This special recognition is truly a testament to Royal Caribbean's continued dedication to nurturing our company's talent and creating our leaders of tomorrow," said Maria Del Busto, vice president, global chief and human resources officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "By strategically managing our talent, and thoughtfully planning the successors of our key leadership roles, Royal Caribbean will be better positioned for the future."

Created in partnership between Royal Caribbean executives and Human Resources, "Building on Talent" is a multi-dimensional leadership development initiative. "Building on Talent" identifies high-potential leaders and develops bench strength so leaders can potentially assume multiple roles throughout the organization. The program's reach is global, both shipboard and shoreside, and cascades from senior executive to professional levels.

"The fleet 'Building on Talent' program has allowed us to identify high potential Marine and Hotel officers, and help them develop their leadership skills and position them for more senior positions," said Svein Taklo, vice president, Marine Operations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We are honored that Seatrade has recognized our investment in our employees, as well as our commitment to developing our officers' skills and talents."

The Seatrade Awards were presented by Guest of Honor HRH The Princess Royal. The awards program rewards new ideas and concepts that have proved themselves in early operational use and awarding those at the forefront of new thinking. The independent judging panel chaired by Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the IMO, selected the winners of the 2011 awards.  

Royal Caribbean will offer showings of Dreamwork Animations newest film "Kung Fu Panda 2" on some of their newest ships.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will have the new film playing onboard from June through August 2011. In addition, there will be  a series of red-carpet premieres aboard each ship, which will be celebrated onboard Oasis of the Seas on June 4, Freedom of the Seas and Allure of the Seas on June 5, and Liberty of the Seas on June 18.

In coordination with the new film, Royal Caribbean is rolling out a new promotion called “Pandamonium,” which is a cruise promotion aimed at families who are looking to cruise this summer.  The package is available onboard the four Royal Caribbean ships that feature the DreamWorks Experience, and includes VIP seating at one of the onboard “Kung Fu Panda 2” premieres, exclusive meet and greets with DreamWorks Animation characters, two soft drink packages, two cupcakes from the Cupcake Cupboard, a complimentary family photo and a chance for guests to build their own Pets at Sea plush animal. The Pandamonium package can be booked using the promotional code YNOTxxPO.