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 has announced better than expected first quarter results and updated guidance for the remainder of 2011.  Net income for the first quarter of 2011 was $91.6 million, or $0.42 per share, which is an increase from the first quarter of 2010 when  net income was $87.4 million, or $0.40 per share.

In addition, Royal Caribbean reported revenues improved to $1.7 billion in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2010 as a result of capacity increases and yield improvements.

Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain was happy with the results, but mentions world events reduced the possible money that could have been made, "The year started off with a roar — strong bookings, low costs and solid profits — and in the first quarter every one of our brands exceeded its forecast.  Unfortunately, the events in Northern Africa and Japan have turned what was shaping up as a spectacular year into merely a very good one. Nonetheless, other than adjustments for fuel pricing, our earnings guidance for the year is essentially intact despite these dramatic geopolitical events. The demand for the majority of our products has remained quite strong and even the impacted itineraries have begun to improve."

Of particular interest are these results from quarter one

• Net income was $91.6 million, or $0.42 per share versus, $87.4 million, or $0.40 per share in 2010. Included in the 2010 results was a one-time gain of $85.6 million, or $0.39 per share related to a legal settlement;
• Net Yields increased 4.0% (2.8% on a Constant-Currency basis);
• Net Cruise Costs per APCD (“NCC”) were up 0.2% (down 0.1% on a Constant-Currency basis);
• Included in Other Income/(Expense) was an $0.11 per share marked-to-market gain on the company’s fuel option portfolio.  

You can read the full results here

For those interested, a quick reminder that Royal Caribbean will announce their first quarter 2011 financial earnings report Thursday, April 28 at 10am Eastern time.  On average, analysts predict that Royal Caribbean will post $0.57 EPS next quarter.

The report should take about an hour and you can listen to it live on the Royal Caribbean Investor web site or by phone, please dial (877) 663-9606 in the US and Canada. International phone calls should be made to (706) 758-4628. There is no passcode or meeting number. 

Equities research group Barclays Capital is lowering their target price for Royal Caribbean from $55.00 to $53.00 ahead of Royal Caribbean's quarterly financial report that is due on Thursday.  Barclay analysts currently have an “overweight” rating on the stock.

Another group, Credit Suisse, upgraded Royal Caribbean shares from "neutral" to "outperform" in a note to investors back on April 6th. They now have a $55.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $44.70

UBS AG analysts had already cut their price target on Royal Caribbean shares from $45 to 42 on March  23rd.

None of these opinions mattered to investors yesterday as Royal Caribbean stock traded up 1.56% during mid-day trading on Tuesday.  Royal Caribbean last announced its quarterly results on January 27th when it reported a $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the previous quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of $0.13 EPS by $0.07. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.02 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Royal Caribbean will post $0.57 EPS next quarter.