MIAMI, August 26, 2011 - Acclaimed as the "Best Cruise Line for Families," Royal Caribbean International is offering a diverse line-up of holiday celebrations across the fleet that will delight vacationers of all ages and styles. Whether looking to embrace the spirit of the season or simply taking advantage of quality time with family and friends, most vacationers will be able to find a Royal Caribbean holiday cruise, sailing conveniently from easy-to-reach home ports, including New Orleans, La., Galveston, Texas, Bayonne, N.J., Baltimore, Md., Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), Miami, Port Canaveral and Tampa, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto Rico. While observing the season's traditional celebrations, guests will enjoy the Royal Advantage- Royal Caribbean's hallmark of the world's most innovative cruise ships, combined with exciting itineraries and destinations, and world-renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service - as well as a wide range of signature onboard amenities, entertainment, and award-winning family programming. Additionally, vacationers who book any 2011 Bahamas or Caribbean cruise on August 27 also will receive onboard credit to help make the holiday season even livelier.

"Celebrating the holidays on a Royal Caribbean cruise with family and friends relieves the stress of planning, cooking and cleaning during this hectic season," said Betsy O'Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International.  "The strain of holiday preparations and entertaining all too often puts a damper on people's festive spirits.  But Royal Caribbean takes care of all the work to help guests to enjoy this special time of year. In addition to the Super Saturday Sale, we also are welcoming our loyal Crown & Anchor Society members to join us again for Royal Caribbean's month-long December Celebration and extending the Bring-a-Friend incentive so that they can invite their loved ones to share the joy of the holidays."  

For all new individual bookings made on August 27, 2011, Royal Caribbean's Super Saturday Sale will offer vacationers $25 onboard credit for interior and oceanview staterooms bookings, and $50 onboard credit for balcony and suites. Guests can apply the onboard credits toward specialty dining, cocktails, and rejuvenating spa treatments onboard. The Super Saturday Sale offer only applies to all 2011 Bahamas and Caribbean cruises departing on or after September 1, including holiday sailings, based on availability.

Additionally, the third annual Crown & Anchor Society December Celebration will offer exclusive onboard benefits, as well as a double-Cruise Points bonus for Diamond level- and higher-status Crown & Anchor Society members who make a booking for the last month of the year. Details can be found at http://www.RoyalCaribbean.com/DecemberCelebration. The Crown & Anchor Society 'Bring a Friend' incentive also is being extended to reward the cruise line's loyal guests for introducing new vacationers to Royal Caribbean International. Crown & Anchor Society members can receive $25 onboard credit per stateroom when they invite and make a new booking with their 'first to Royal' friends or family in additional staterooms on the same sailing. The offer is applicable for up to five staterooms per sailing for new bookings made. Crown & Anchor Society members can get more information and register at http://www.RoyalCaribbean.com/BringaFriend.

Royal Caribbean makes it easy to kick off the holidays on the right foot with a Thanksgiving feast that does not require grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning or even driving home after the bountiful meal.  The cruise line's elegant main dining rooms will feature a gourmet turkey dinner with all the traditional trimmings for a memorable Thanksgiving.  Spirited festivities continue throughout the ship with Royal Caribbean's renowned production shows for pre-and post-dinner entertainment, and the complimentary award-winning Adventure Ocean program will keep kids entertained with themed activities such as Thanksgiving story time and arts and crafts. A Royal Caribbean Thanksgiving cruise celebration is within convenient reach, such as Voyager of the Seas' seven-night sailing from New Orleans on November 19; Mariner of the Seas' seven-night sailing from Galveston on November 20; and Jewel of the Seas' five-night sailing from Tampa on November 21. 

Royal Caribbean also will deck its ships with seasonal decorations to embrace the holiday spirit at sea throughout the month of December.  Royal Caribbean offers Hanukkah-themed shows, games and food lasting all eight days of the holiday, including a Rabbi aboard every ship to conduct a nightly menorah lighting ceremony and services.

For those celebrating Christmas, a Catholic priest will be aboard to lead the holiday's observances including a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Additional Christmas festivities sure to ignite family bonding and the holiday spirit include: classic movie screenings, guest and crew caroling, meet & greet with Santa Clause and the Elves, cookie decorating, Christmas Eve story time, special Christmas-themed Adventure Ocean programming, and holiday ice skating aboard select ships.  Among them, Explorer of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas unite winter festivities and the warm Bahamas sun and sea with seven-night Bahamas Holiday cruises, sailing from Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, N.J. on December 23, and Baltimore, Md. on December 24, respectively.

Alternatively, vacationers can celebrate Christmas aboard the internationally acclaimed Oasis of the Seas for a seven-night roundtrip Western Caribbean holiday cruise departing Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on December 24.  Oasis of the Seas boasts seven themed neighborhoods and unrivaled entertainment options, featuring the DreamWorks Experience, which includes characters from hit movies such as Shrek and Madagascar, as well as the award-winning Broadway production "Hairspray."

Aboard all Royal Caribbean ships, guest will ring in the New Year at sea with the Cruise Director and Captain's Countdown and themed parties in every onboard lounge.  Young cruisers also will enjoy the extended late night party zone where kids and teens will be celebrating at their own New Year's festivities.