Royal Caribbean adding Asian Destinations

Royal Caribbean International will return to Asia in December 2007 with the Rhapsody of the Seas. The Vision-class ship will offer cruises out of Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai to ports of call in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

"The introduction of Rhapsody of the Seas into Asia, together with our previously announced deployments of ships to South America and the Dominican Republic, are all part of the company's strategy of international business development and expansion into emerging and high-growth markets," said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean International.

The Rhapsody of the Seas will debut Dec. 10, 2007, in Singapore offering a series of sailings that will call on Malaysia and Thailand. The ship then will operate from Hong Kong in time for the Chinese New Year holiday season, offering a series of cruises to Taiwan, Japan and Hainan Island, China.

Then the Rhapsody will move to Shanghai for cruises that call on ports in Japan and Korea. Additional details of Rhapsody's itineraries will be available by mid-October. "We are confident that the Asian market and the Pan-Asia regions, in general, have tremendous growth potential, and view this as a first step in a long-term plan that will define cruising in the region," Goldstein said. "In addition, there has been an increased level of awareness and interest in travel to Asia from India, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East, which we predict will become strong secondary source markets."

The 78,491-ton, 2,435-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas will be one of the largest cruise ships to homeport in Asia. For more information, call 800-327-6700 or visit www.royalcaribbean.com.