Royal Caribbean Group announced today the selling of its luxury cruise line Azamara for $201 million to the private-equity firm Sycamore Partners. The three-ship Azamara brand established 13 years ago has created a tremendous group of loyal followers of cruisers over the years. Azamara raise the bar in the cruise industry under the guidance of Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Azamara with longer stays and more overnights in ports worldwide.

Royal Caribbean International announced further cancelations of global sailings through April 30th, 2021. In a press release, Royal Caribbean said that exceptions will be the China sailings on Spectrum of the Seas, which at this moment, are suspended for February 16-28, 2021. Singapore cruises on Quantum of the Seas, with only residents of Singapore, will not be affected and continue as scheduled.

MANILA (Jan 4, 2021) - In a press release the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) capped its repatriation efforts in 2020 by bringing home 327,511 overseas Filipinos workers, coming from at least 90 countries around the world. The DFA said that 29.3 percent of the overseas Filipinos workers, or 95,974 in total, are seafarers from more than 150 cruise ships, oil tankers, and other bulk vessels.

One week after Royal Caribbean International announced in a press release that the Empress and Majesty of the Seas will leave the fleet, Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd revealed the purchase of the ship which will sail under the newly formed cruise line named Cordelia Cruises.

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara crew members onboard and at home, will receive the final payment of the “Thank You, Thank You” Bonus in the following months.

The news was announced in the “Royal Way Newsletter” distributed among the crew members by Royal Caribbean Group.

After more than 30 years in service with Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas will be leaving the fleet.

The 83-year-old passenger who tested positive for Covid-19 on board Quantum of the Seas has subsequently tested negative, said Singapore’s Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

Royal Caribbean first cruise ship to resume cruises after the global shutdown returned to the port of Singapore early than expected after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19, according to Singapore Tourism Board and passengers sailing on Quantum of the Seas.

The first of the Royal Caribbean ship to make a comeback since the industry shut down due to COVID 19 in March is the Quantum of the Seas. As the crew are back aboard and ready to officially resume cruises on December 1 from the port of Singapore many may have questions about the safety measures for the guest and the crew alike given the turmoil many of them went through. Crew Center was able to gain some insight about the preparations from both perspectives (i.e., crew and guest).

The Royal Caribbean Group subsidiary - Pullmantur Cruises, is making great progress in an attempt to come back to cruising with two ships that might be obtained from Celebrity Cruises.