Royal Caribbean Arabia reports double digit growth and increased interest from Middle East travellers

Arabic brochure of 2014 summer cruise programmes for Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises launched

Dubai, UAE; December 12, 2013; Royal Caribbean Arabia today launched its much anticipated Arabic brochure for summer 2014 luxury cruise programmes. The newly launched brochures of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, available in English and Arabic contain information about more than 20 incredible cruise itineraries for summer 2014 that will appeal to Middle Eastern travellers.

Royal Caribbean International is continuing its tradition of stimulating and growing the cruise industry with new ship investments. The new Quantum class of ships will combine a new set of truly exciting and first-at-sea innovations that can only be found on Royal Caribbean such as RipCord by iFly®, a sky diving simulator; North Star, which lifts you 300ft above sea level for stunning views; and even bumper cars within SeaPlex, a distinctive and flexible sporting and entertainment venue with thrilling new features at sea. There are also ground-breaking musical offerings, including two revolutionary music venues- Two70° and Music Hall which will play host to exciting music acts. The ships will take entertainment to new heights and will inspire guests of all ages to let loose and connect with their playful sides.

The first ship in the new highly innovative Quantum class of ships, Quantum of the Seas will launch in November 2014 and will homeport in Cape Liberty, in Bayonne, N.J., with winter sailings to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Anthem of the Seas, the second Quantum class ship will become the most technologically advanced cruise ship ever to be based in Europe when it is launched in Spring 2015. Anthem of the Seas will call Southampton, UK, home in April 2015 and offer cruises to the Mediterranean before being based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the winter months.

Known for the most exciting itineraries to compelling destinations and friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, Royal Caribbean International will offer unforgettable vacations geared to families on five to nine night itineraries to Bermuda, The Bahamas and the Caribbean, aboard the industry's most innovative ships- Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas. The other exciting itineraries of Royal Caribbean International include Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Far East and Australia / New Zealand.

According to Helen Beck, Regional Director (EMEA), “We have had an amazing response to our 2013 cruise programmes from Middle East travellers which has helped us to record double digit growth from the region. Now with our new itineraries and exciting new ships, we look forward to another successful year. We have our two of the world's largest and most innovative cruise ships- Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas- sailing in the Caribbean throughout next year, in addition to other

Freedom and Voyager class of ships. Bookings are already open for those who want to plan their holidays ahead.”

Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Freedom of the Seas are among six of Royal Caribbean ships that exclusively offer the DreamWorks Experience, featuring parades, themed activities and events based on DreamWorks Animation's popular feature-film characters, including Po of ‘Kung Fu Panda', Shrek, Fiona and Puss In Boots of ‘Shrek' and Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, and the Penguins from ‘Madagascar'. Moreover, each ship is equipped with a 3-D movie theater playing the latest DreamWorks Animation films.

Lakshmi Durai, Executive Director (Middle East) for Royal Caribbean Arabia, said: “Our Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises have also lined up incredible voyages for 2014. Celebrity's 2014 European itineraries will offer vacationers an unprecedented range of lengths from seven to 28 nights in compelling destinations. Celebrity Cruises is expanding its Europe lineup in 2014 to offer a series of seven night cruises that can be taken alone or enjoyed back-to-back as 14-, 21- or 28-night cruises with all new ports on each leg.”

Celebrity Cruises is the pioneers of modern luxury with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time. Celebrity's Solstice Class of ships exemplifies Celebrity's emphasis on designing stunning ships and inviting onboard experiences for vacationers who appreciate the finer things. The ships have taken stylish cruising and impeccable service to new heights.

Azamara Club Cruises offers distinct destination-immersive experiences for up-market travellers. The cruise line uniquely features voyages with longer stays and more overnights at ports to provide guests the opportunity to experience night touring at some of the most compelling destinations of Europe, Asia, South America, West Indies, as well as Central and North America.