With the continued rise in the popularity of cruising in the UK and Ireland, Royal Caribbean International has announced the first ship in their fleet to be based from Palma de Mallorca, Grandeur of the Seas.  The decision is in direct response to the UK and Ireland’s travel industry’s demands for greater variety and destinations and as a result will be dedicated to those markets.

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager, Royal Caribbean International, UK and Ireland said:

“Our research has found that Royal Caribbean International is now the brand of choice for families choosing to cruise(1) .  Growing our itinerary options to offer popular family sunshine destinations as the embarkation point for a cruise will further increase our market share in this sector.  The introduction of Grandeur of the Seas; home-porting in Palma de Mallorca and dedicated to the UK and Irish market; will offer guests 7 night or back-to-back 14 night cruise combinations with greater access to smaller ports along the French Riviera, Italian coastline and Balearic Islands which we know are particularly favourable to this market”.

The first summer 2011 season of Royal Caribbean International’s Grandeur of the Seas will go on sale in March 2010.  Royal Caribbean International will be supporting the push with a trade and consumer marketing campaign, including dedicated point of sale materials for agents whilst continuing to raise the awareness of the brand through the ongoing ‘Nation of Why Not’ television and press campaign.

Summer cruises from Palma de Mallorca start in May 2011 and will include two 7-night itineraries to the Italian Mediterranean and the Spanish Mediterranean which can be taken consecutively extending a holiday into a 14-night cruise.  In combining the two 7-night cruises, guests leave on a Sunday and take in the Balearic Islands, Italian Coastline where some of the most beautiful art and architecture can be found and the glamorous French Riviera.  The cruises will be competitively priced and revealed in March.

Operating at maximum capacity, Grandeur of the Seas can carry up to 2,446 guests and maintains a number of popular Royal Caribbean International programmes including the award winning youth programme, Adventure Ocean, for children between 3 to 11 years old and teenagers from 12 to 17 years old. A variety of activities from movies for children and speciality dining for children to a number of outdoor and indoor activities, including Karaoke, dancing and science programmes.  This together with Royal Caribbean International’s signature features of a rock wall, mini-golf, themed bars and lounges, spa and fitness centre offers great variety to UK and Irish guests.

The Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd business operates the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and recently rebranded Azamara Club Cruises in the UK and Ireland.

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.