Cruise into the New Year with the Hottest Travel Trends

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Cruising is more popular than ever before, with the Passenger Shipping Association predicting a further 14% rise in UK cruise passengers in 2008 to 1.55 million compared to this year. Leading the way with more new ships, cruises, and destinations than ever before, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has plenty to look forward to across its three brands; Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.

World�s biggest and best from UK ports
The newest and biggest cruises ships no longer sail from across the pond. From May 2008 Royal Caribbean International will debut Independence of the Seas in Southampton, and the ship will remain in the UK for a six month season of cruises in Europe. As part of the family of the largest cruise ships in the world, Independence of the Seas is longer than three-and-a-half football pitches and features a surf simulator, ice rink, rock climbing wall and children�s water park.

London calling
Smaller ships mean new ports of call. In August 2008 the first ever ship in the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line family will sail on the River Thames and call into London Bridge. Azamara Journey will visit the capital twice in 2008 as part of a European season taking in smaller ports closer to major attractions. Azamara Cruises is the new deluxe cruise line from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

Short breaks
Matching the trend of savvy travellers taking several short breaks a year, in 2008 Royal Caribbean International has more short cruises than ever before from both Southampton and Barcelona. Mini cruises are an ideal way to sample a holiday at sea for a few days, visiting several destinations whilst only unpacking once.

Learning Holidays
Make the most of time away and include a learning experience within the holiday. For the first time ever learn how to blow glass on Celebrity Cruises� Celebrity Solstice, the first new ship from Celebrity Cruises in six years. Cruises with glassblowing lessons are available from autumn 2008.

Year round Europe
The options for cruising close to home in Europe and the Mediterranean are ever growing. For the first time in 2008 Royal Caribbean International expands its European cruise options to cover the entire year; Brilliance of the Seas will sail year-round from Barcelona offering winter sun cruises in the Canary Islands, North Africa and to the Greek Islands.

New era of cruising
Project Genesis, the largest cruise ship to ever make it from drawing board to production will continue to change perceptions of cruising as construction moves on in 2008. The year will see Project Genesis� name announced, plus several key onboard innovations.

At 40% larger than any other cruise ship in the world, Project Genesis � the working title applied by cruise line Royal Caribbean International � is scheduled to enter service in autumn 2009 and will be 220,000 GRT accommodating over 5,400 people.