Royal Caribbean Fans

Royal Caribbean along with Carnival, Holland America and Princess cruises have informed the government of Panama that they want to invest $30 million to build a new cruise terminal on the Amador Causeway.

The proposal would be awarded for a period of 20 years, with the option to renew for another 20 years and would be built near the Balboa Yacht Club and storage tanks.

Panama would use a plan similar to that used in 1997 when they leased the port of Colon in 2000.

Representatives from the cruise companies visited the site in order to make technical recommendations for the specifications of the tender being prepared by the Panama Maritime Authority.

Royal Caribbean announced that it will send just nine ships to Europe in 2013, down from 12 ships this year. Weak bookings in Europe have contributed to Royal Caribbean's decision to reduce its presence in the region.

The nine ships will offer 276 cruises over 58 itineraries in 2013.

A third of the ships going to Europe in 2013 will sail out of the United Kingdom, including Independence of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas. The ships will offer cruises to the Baltics, Mediterranean and Canary Islands. According to the Passenger Shipping Association, more than 40% of British passengers choose to begin their cruise from a UK port.

In addition, Legend of the Seas will offer seven-night western Mediterranean itineraries out of Genoa, Italy and visiting Provence (Marseilles), France; and Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Valencia, Spain.

Vision of the Seas will alternate seven-night Norwegian cruise to the North Sea and offer cruises to visit the Norwegian Fjords, Russia and other northern European destinations.

Navigator of the Seas will offer seven-night eastern Mediterranean and Greek isle cruises. Serenade of the Seas will offer 12-night Mediterranean and Greek isle cruises. Splendour of the Seas will serve the Adriatic sea and Greek isles. And finally, Liberty of the Seas will offer a selection of five- and seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona.

Royal Caribbean will send Brilliance of the Seas to Tampa in 2013-2014, replacing Jewel of the Seas.

Brilliance of the Seas will sail out of Harwich, England in the summer of 2013, before being transfered to Tampa in the winter period. She will offer four and five-night western Caribbean cruises with stops in Cozumel, the Cayman Islands and either Key West or George Town.

Brilliance of the Seas will enter drydock in May 2013  to be revitalised. The refit will include new onboard dining and entertainment options, revitalized staterooms, and other amenities including Wi-Fi, digital way-finding systems and an outdoor LED video wall.

Royal Caribbean International has announced Explorer of the Seas’ summer and autumn 2013 cruise schedule. The ships new line up, featues 30 sailings to 17 ports of call on seven itineraries. Explorer of the Seas will be sailing out of New York City to Bermuda, the Caribbean, Canada and New England from April through Oct. 2013.

From April through August 2012, Explorer of the Seas will alternate five-night Bermuda and nine-night Bermuda & Caribbean itineraries. The five-night itinerary will feature an overnight at Kings Wharf, Bermuda, while the nine-night sailing calls at Kings Wharf; St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination on the north coast of Haiti. From September through October, vacationers can choose a seven-night Bermuda itinerary, which features three days and two nights at Kings Wharf.

Explorer of the Seas will also offer cruisers a Canada and New England sailing to catch the arrival of autumn and the changing of the leaves. Departing Aug. 31, guests will call at Boston, Mass.; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Explorers of the Seas’ summer 2013 cruises are now open for booking.