Royal Caribbean International announced the redeployment of Mariner of the Seas, which will take effect in January 2011.  Mariner of the Seas will offer a short South America season before debuting in the Mediterranean as Royal Caribbean International’s record-setting 11th ship in the region for summer 2011.  Mariner of the Seas will homeport at Rome (Civitavecchia) from March until October 2011, replacing Splendour of the Seas, which will now homeport in Venice, offering 10- and 11-night Greek Isles and Turkey itineraries for the season.  Mariner of the Seas will then return to North America for the 2011-12 winter season, offering seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas, replacing Voyager of the Seas.  As a result, Voyager of the Seas will mark Royal Caribbean’s return to New Orleans in winter 2011-12, offering holidaymakers another Gulf Coast port to embark on a memorable seven-night Western Caribbean cruise.

The Mexican Riviera has traditionally been an important market for Royal Caribbean International, with the Port of Los Angeles and Mexican local, state and federal government agencies, and their private sectors playing a supportive role as valued partners.  While Royal Caribbean International looks forward to returning to the region in the future, Mariner of the Seas will sail its final round-trip Mexican Riviera itinerary from Los Angeles on 9 January 2011.

Guests currently booked on Mariner of the Seas’ Mexican Riviera sailings from 16 January 2011, and onward will be contacted with the following offer. Until 6 May 2010, affected guests can opt for a full refund of any fares paid, or enjoy $200 onboard credit per stateroom ($400 per suite category stateroom) when they rebook their holiday, at the same fare or lower prevailing fare, on a Mariner of the Seas sailing before 16 January 2011, or on the same 2011 departure date aboard Voyager of the Seas, sailing from Galveston.  Travel agents also will receive a $50 bonus commission for rebooking affected clients, whose names and deposits have been submitted, to these Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas sailings.  More information is available at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/MarinerOfTheSeasRedeployment.

On 16 January 2011, Mariner of the Seas will reposition from Los Angeles on a 16-night itinerary to Valparaiso, Chile, followed by a 14-night sailing that cruises the Straits of Magellan and Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America to Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil.  The ship will then offer a short Brazilian cruise season, before crossing the Atlantic to debut in Europe at its new seasonal homeport of Rome (Civitavecchia), where Mariner of the Seas will sail seven-night Western Mediterranean and 12-night Mediterranean Holy Land and Mediterranean Egypt itineraries.  In November 2011, Mariner of the Seas will debut at Galveston to offer Texas holidaymakers two roundtrip seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries until April 2012.  Mariner of the Seas’ new 2011 Europe and South America, and 2011-12 Western Caribbean itineraries, Splendour of the Seas’ new 2011 Europe itineraries, and Voyager of the Seas’ new 2011-12 Western Caribbean itineraries will be opened for booking in the near future.

Guests aboard Mariner of the Seas’ new 2011 Holy Land itineraries can choose a variety of shore excursion options, at an additional charge, that visit some of the most sacred sites in Israel, including Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and many others.  “Grand Overland” takes guests on the most comprehensive overview of this fascinating region with an overnight stay in Jerusalem.  On the Egypt cruises, “Grand Egypt Tour” offer guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the awe-inspiring Pyramids and mysterious Sphinx at Cairo, and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.  Guests also should not miss the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean and the iconic Library of Celsius on “Best of Ephesus.”

Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas are two of the world’s 10 largest and most innovative cruise ships at sea.  Both ships feature the cruise line’s iconic rock-climbing wall, the Studio B ice-skating rink, nine-hole mini-golf course, an in-line skating track, a full-size basketball court, the Royal Promenade, a boulevard of boutiques, restaurants and lounges and bars.  Voyager of the Seas features the cruise line’s signature Portofino Italian restaurant, while Mariner of the Seas offers a second specialty restaurant option, Chops Grille steakhouse.

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. For additional information or to make reservations, call your travel agent, visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk or call 0844 493 2061. Travel professionals should go to www.cruisingpower.co.uk.