Royal Caribbean Shifts Monarch of the Seas to Pullmantur

Earlier this month Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced the transfer of Monarch of the Seas from its Royal Caribbean International cruise brand to its Pullmantur brand, a cruise and tour operator based in Madrid. Monarch of the Seas will transfer to Pullmantur on April 1, 2013, following its last sailing for Royal Caribbean International, which departs on March 29, 2013.

“We are very proud of Monarch of the Seas for delivering great service and outstanding destinations to vacationers since her maiden voyage,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “She will go on creating wonderful travel memories through her final sailings for our brand through next March and then continue doing the same for Pullmantur’s guests.”

With the incorporation of Monarch of the Seas, Pullmantur will increase its total guest capacity by nearly 25 percent and meet a rising demand for the brand’s distinctive All Inclusive-style cruise holidays.

‘‘The transfer of Monarch of the Seas will reinforce Pullmantur in our Latin American growth strategy, and help us become one of the most widely recognized brands,’’ said Pullmantur’s President and CEO, Gonzalo Chico Barbier.

Monarch of the Seas was built at Chantiers de L’Atlantique (now STX France) in St. Nazaire, France and sailed its maiden voyage on November 17, 1991. The ship is part of the Sovereign class of cruise ships, which were the world’s largest and most innovative of their time.

Pullmantur is the leading Spanish Tour Operator and Cruise Company, founded in 1971, and famous for introducing the ‘All Inclusive’ concept to cruising. Pullmantur is leader of the cruise market in Spain and Portugal, currently operating a modern fleet of four vessels, with a daily passenger capacity of 9,000, cruising worldwide, and calling on approximately 100 destinations. The company offers a unique door-to-door flight service, operated by its in-house air travel division with a fleet of four Boeing 747-400. Pullmantur Air provides charter flights to the European Cruise Port Embarkations and long-haul flights between Spain and the Caribbean Sea for the company’s tour-operation division. Spain based Pullmantur, operates through satellite offices in Brasil, Mexico, Portugal and France.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand currently with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

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Royal Caribbean Announce 2011 Caribbean Season

April 15, 2010 – Royal Caribbean International today unveiled its 2011-12 Caribbean deployment, which includes vacations aboard some of the world’s most innovative cruise ships specifically designed for the region. Liberty of the Seas will be the first Freedom-class ship to offer short itineraries from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Jewel of the Seas will debut in November 2011 at its new seasonal homeport of Tampa. Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas will continue seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages while Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas will sail year-round short Bahamas getaways. In total, the seven ships will offer 439 sailings that call at 18 Caribbean ports on 55 unique itineraries. Bookings for these 2011-2012 Caribbean cruises open today.

“Royal Caribbean offers the most innovative cruise ships in the Caribbean for a memorable and affordable family vacation or couples’ getaway,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Whether for a quick getaway or a longer vacation, guests will enjoy the widest array of exclusive onboard amenities while sailing to some of the most beautiful islands in the world. Throughout, Royal Caribbean’s friendly and engaging staff and crew will deliver the Royal treatment to every guest, every day.”

The Caribbean offers vacationers an endless variety of adventurous and relaxing shore excursion options, whatever their desire, ranging from canopy, ATV or hiking explorations to snorkeling, parasailing, boating, and beach basking. At an additional cost, guests can experience the crystal clear waters and marine life up close on tours such as the “Turtle Cove Sail and Snorkel” in St. Thomas; soar from tree to tree on the “Chukka Canopy Experience” at Falmouth, Jamaica; explore the world famous wall-city ruins of Tulum at Cozumel on “Tulum Mayan Ruins Express”; or seek the ultimate relaxing beach day on “Carambola Beach Break” in St. Croix.

On many itineraries, guests will call at Royal Caribbean’s exclusive beach paradise of Labadee, Haiti, or the private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas. Both destinations offer a wide variety of optional water-sports excursions, while Labadee features additional amenities such as the “Dragon's Tail Coaster” and tours about the history and heritage of the Haitian people.

After its summer 2011 debut in the Mediterranean, Liberty of the Seas will return to South Florida in November and offer two five-night and a four-night short Western Caribbean itinerary from Port Everglades. Sister-ship Freedom of the Seas will alternate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries year-round from Port Canaveral, Fla., and feature a five-night pre-holiday getaway to the Western Caribbean on December 18 and a nine-night New Year’s celebration cruise on December 30. Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas boast an array of amenities that helped revolutionize the cruise industry, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, a boxing ring, cantilevered whirlpools, and the four-bedroom, four-bathroom Presidential Family Suite that sleeps up to 14.

Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas will continue to alternate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades. Allure of the Seas will, however, sail a special nine-night Eastern Caribbean holiday itinerary departing December 25, 2011, which features an additional call at Labadee and an extra day at sea to herald in the New Year and take in all the amenities on an Oasis-class ship. The following sailing on January 3, 2012, then offers a unique opportunity to sample an Oasis-class vacation on a five-night Western Caribbean itinerary, calling at Falmouth and Labadee. Or vacationers can combine the two sailings into a 14-night grand holiday voyage aboard the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship.

Vacationers also will have a wide selection of short vacation options. Jewel of the Seas will offer vacationers two five-night and a four-night Western Caribbean itinerary from Tampa, convenient to Southeasterners. Year-round, Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas will offer three- and four-night short Bahamas itineraries from Miami and Port Canaveral, respectively.

Onboard, guests enjoy Royal Caribbean’s award-winning Broadway-caliber entertainment from Royal Caribbean Productions, complimentary Adventure Ocean kids and teen programming, world-class gaming in the Casino Royale, and the widest range of innovative and exclusive onboard amenities.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and one under construction. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

Royal Caribbean's 2010-11 Short Cruises

April 22, 2009 – Royal Caribbean International today announced its 2010-11 Short Caribbean cruises – a total of 331 sailings, comprised of 20 distinctive itineraries and 15 unique ports of call – presenting a variety of convenient getaways to enthusiasts and compelling vacation values to those who are new to cruising. The cruise line will enhance and expand its deployment in Tampa with Radiance of the Seas from autumn 2010 through spring 2011, while Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas will continue their year-round Bahamas getaway sailings from their respective homeports of Miami and Port Canaveral. Grandeur of the Seas will reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for summer and autumn 2010, after which Navigator of the Seas will take over as the largest, most innovative and amenity-filled ship to offer short Caribbean itineraries for its fourth consecutive season. Bookings for the line’s 2010-11 short cruises are now open.

Guests on the cruise line’s short Caribbean cruises also can purchase a wide array of exciting shore excursions for an action-packed day in port. In Mexico, Dolphin Push, Pull & Swim offers guests the once-in-a-lifetime, up-close experience to swim with the graceful and intelligent mammals in Cozumel; or Bike & Clear Kayak Adventure can delight guests in Costa Maya with its beautiful beaches and local flavors from different vantage points. On itineraries that include a call at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise in the Bahamas, guests can select a guided high-energy adventure, touring the neighboring Berry Islands atop their own personal watercrafts.

With more berths and an expanded season, Radiance of the Seas will increase Royal Caribbean’s capacity in Tampa compared to Grandeur of the Seas’ previous seasonal deployments. Radiance of the Seas’ itineraries will include a four-night sailing, calling at Cozumel, Mexico, and a five-night sailing that adds Costa Maya. The ship’s 2010 season will kick-off with a seven-night Western Caribbean sailing on October 9, calling at George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Belize City, Belize.

Grandeur of the Seas will reposition from Tampa and continue sailing four- and five-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades in April 2010. Ports of call will include Key West, Cozumel, Costa Maya, George Town and CocoCay.

In November 2010, Navigator of the Seas will replace Grandeur of the Seas at Port Everglades, also offering four- and five-night itineraries. On one of its five-night itineraries that depart Mondays, Navigator of the Seas will call at the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica, and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach paradise on the north Haitian coast. Other ports of call will include George Town, Cozumel, Belize City, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Among the ten largest cruise ships in the world, Voyager-class Navigator of the Seas offers guests many onboard diversions exclusive to Royal Caribbean, including innovative onboard amenities as an ice-skating rink, in-line skate track, the cruise line’s iconic rock-climbing wall, a nine-hole mini-golf course, and the Royal Promenade – lined with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges that run nearly the length of the ship.

Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas will continue year-round three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries, departing Mondays and Fridays from Miami and Port Canaveral. Ports of call will include Nassau, CocoCay, and Costa Maya.

Onboard every Royal Caribbean ship, guests enjoy the cruise line’s award-winning Broadway-style musical revues from Royal Caribbean Productions, acclaimed Adventure Ocean kids and teen programming, world-class gaming in the Casino Royale, and Royal Caribbean’s renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service from every staff and crew member.