William Tatham, Vice President of Cruise Shipping and Marina Operations, spoke about the future of Falmouth, Jamaica.  Falmouth is a $220 million project that is a joint project between the Jamaica Port Authority and Royal Caribbean.  It opened last year and has been a major success.

The opening of Falmouth has increased Jamaica's birthing capacity by 50%, which has sparked Jamaica's overall growth by 20%.  As part of the project, Royal Caribbean has put a majority of their existing business to visiting Falmouth but the port is looking at other lines, such as Disney Cruise Line.  Falmouth invited Disney to come down and visit the port.

The future of Falmouth looks bright as well, with 85% of the shore-side retain entertainment now open and by fall the world's largest Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville will open.  When it does it open, it will be an enormous and elaborate facility including a pirate ship on its side, waterslides, jaccuzis and bars.

Royal Caribbean is also working with Jamaica about what the next phases will hold.  There are 30 acres to work with and the port wants to create activities and venues that will be attractive to the cruise passengers but also to pull travellers from the North coast. Realistically work will probably start on phase 2 in the summer, but  both sides are exploring a number of ideas.

Brazilian Judge Juarez Fernandes Folhes of the 14th Civil Chamber of the Court of Rio, upheld a ruling against Royal Caribbean Brazil that compensated a cruise ship passenger, Solange Maria Cordeiro da Silva, for $ 10,000 in damages.

According to the decision, while onboard Royal Caribbean's ship, Solange had a strong allergic attack caused by painting repairs that were made by Royal Caribbean in the corridors near his cabin.  He contends the paint fumes ended up affecting his physical health negatively.

For the judge, the conduct of the company to paint  the inner walls of the vessel while passengers are onboard, is incompatible with the nature of the services provided by the cruise company, "It is unreasonable that a ship entertainment, fully functioning, complete paint repairs during the voyage, leaving his crew at the mercy of odors and discomfort generated by the use of toxic dyes."

Royal Caribbean claimed that the fact that the paint used have caused allergic reaction was exclusive fault for what happened, because if the passenger had reported the possibility of allergic reactions by using products such as paint, the company would had changed its procedures.

However, the judge found that Royal Caribbean has a strict liability on the procedures to take and respond to the physical integrity of its passengers. He also highlighted the moral and material damage that the passenger could no longer enjoy the services he was entitled to under the cruise contract because his health was compromised.

A proposed cruise ship terminal in Montevideo, Uruguay that would be for Royal Caribbean has run into some trouble.

According to reports, port executives evaluated the $40 million cruise terminal proposal but could not commit to the idea, because the port is "multipurpose".  Meaning, they could not guarantee a space for cruise operations.

Royal Caribbean presented the plan to port officials back in March that would give Royal Caribbean an exclusive terminal for their ships at the port of Montevideo, which would include a 200-room hotel, shopping mall and cultural center.

In addition, port officials said they are not denying the idea completely, but cannot approve the plan proposed.

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control conducts surprise government health inspections to make certain that the cruise ships millions enjoy are safe and clean.  Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas all scored a perfect 100 on their test this year.

The Vessel Sanitation Program is run by the CDC and unannounced inspections will occur twice per year in US ports, with a test that grades each ship on a 100 point scale.  The CDC evaluates cruise ships in 42 areas such as adherence to proper food handling, storage procedures, overall galley cleanliness and pool and spa cleanliness.

This is the third perfect score in a row for Oasis of the Seas while the other ships that scored perfectly have also had perfect scores in the past.

Only a small fraction of the dozens of cruise ships inspected each quarter receive a perfect score.  Most infractions are small in nature and are corrected quickly.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in Australia when she debuts in November 2012, will be arriving with some special DreamWorks guests.  Royal Caribbean has announced details regarding the DreamWorks Experience at Sea on Voyager of the Seas.

Voyager of the Seas will feature characters from “Madagascar”, “Shrek”, “Kung Fu Panda” and “Puss in Boots”.

“Since being introduced on Allure of the Seas in 2010 – and then rolled out to another four ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet – the DreamWorks Experience has been incredibly popular with guests,” Royal Caribbean Australia and New Zealand Commercial Manager Adam Armstrong said.

In the main dining room, there will be special breakfasts in addition to photo opportunities daily with Po from “King Fu Panda”, Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots from “Shrek”, King Julien, Alex, Gloria and the Penguins from “Madagascar”.

Passengers aboard Voyager of the Seas will also be able to meet-and-greet with the characters during surprise appearances throughout the ship, including Voyager’s youth club, Adventure Ocean, where they will be involved in activities including storytelling and dance parties.

Two street parades will be scheduled down the Royal Promenade per cruise while DreamWorks films including “Puss in Boots” and “Madagascar 3” will be shown in the 1,350-seat 3D Cinema.

For an in-cabin fix, there will be a dedicated DreamWorks TV channel which will play programs and movies 24-7. 

Photo by daigolou_chan

We love seeing talented photographers take some amazing photos while aboard Royal Caribbean ships and Bryan Sargent, a New York City photographer, brought his camera aboard a recent Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas.

Check out all of his great photos here.

Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas will host the fifth annual Brazil Fashion Cruise in 2013.  The event will take place April 7th through the 11th and will tour the Brazilian coast.

The Brazil Fashion Cruise ship will bring together the top names in Brazilian fashion, businessmen, journalists and students of fashion.

"The event grows each year and, for the anniversary edition of five years plus the attractions on board, prepare actions and parade ground," says Carla Wolff, the Dreamakers Travel & Consulting, creator of the project in partnership with Alba Ferrari Facex partner of Foreign Trade.

The event features special programa for students, such as workshops with designers who will be in the line-up.
 

The port of Batumi in the Republic of Georgia will see 14 cruise ships visit it this year, with 8 confirmed and the other 6 in the negotiations.  All the cruises will visit the brand new cruise terminal that Royal Caribbean has been designing.

The Deputy  Head of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Adjara A.R, Sophio Lazishvili, commented on the work, "“In September 2012 the cruise company Royal Caribbean will complete the design works for the new port. Actual construction will begin in October 2012."

The new cruise terminal has hopes it will draw more cruise ships to the port.  Representatives of travel agencies say they do not offer cruises to Georgians because of the sheer lack of demand.

Royal Caribbean struck a deal with the port of Batumi back in June of 2011 to help develop the port for cruise ship traffic.