Newly enhanced “Open Booking” option gives greatest flexibility and up to $200 onboard credit for guests and repeat business opportunity for travel agents

NEW ROYAL CARIBBEAN CHOICEAIR OFFERS GUESTS LOWEST AIRFARE GUARANTEE, CHOICE, 24-7 SUPPORT, AND PEACE OF MIND

MIAMI, June 21, 2013 – Royal Caribbean International today announced its new Lowest Airfare Guarantee with Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir, the cruise line’s flight booking system for guests looking for the best airfare and flight options for their cruise.

If guests find a cheaper airfare within 24 hours of booking their flights on ChoiceAir, Royal Caribbean will refund them 110 percent of the difference in onboard credit to spend on their cruise vacation.

Separately, enhancements to the NextCruise Open Booking option now offers guests the greatest flexibility, as well as an onboard booking bonus, when making a future reservation while on their Royal Caribbean vacation.

“Royal Caribbean International’s Loyal To You Always commitment to travel agents drives us to create these programs that continue to support the travel agent community,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president of Sales, Trade Support and Services, Royal Caribbean International, at a press briefing held at the Cruise Lines International Association’s Cruise3Sixty Tradeshow and Conference in Vancouver, B.C. “Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir and NextCruise Open Booking are new tools that our valued travel agent partners can use to add more value to their clients’ vacations; help deliver a seamless experience; and generate repeat business.”
 
Peace of Mind with Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir
Along with its Lowest Airfare Guarantee, Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir provides booked guest with flexibility to a choose among a wide range of airlines and flights, round-the-clock guest support throughout the vacation planning process, and peace of mind in knowing that they will make it to their ship for their cruise. If the ChoiceAir flight is delayed or cancelled, Royal Caribbean will work to re-accommodate guests to help them make it to their ship in time for departure or to the next port. With an existing cruise booking, guests can instantly start shopping for their ChoiceAir flights at www.RoyalCaribbeanChoiceAir.com. More information about Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir can be found at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/ChoiceAir.

To kick off the new Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir, the cruise line is offering a $50 onboard credit bonus for U.S. and Canadian guests who make a new booking from June 21 through July 14, 2013, on a Royal Caribbean cruise of six nights or longer and then book their flights on Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir within the same period. Vacationers must mention offer code “SOX9” at the time of their cruise booking in order to receive the offer. Additional restrictions may apply for the Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir limited-time offer.

Additionally, travel agents also can win one of two pairs of roundtrip, domestic coach-class JetBlue air vouchers when using Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir to book their clients’ flights. For every confirmed ChoiceAir booking made from June 21 to July 14, 2013, for guests on any 2013 Royal Caribbean International cruise with names and deposit, travel agents will earn an entry into the random drawing. Travel agents will earn double entries per confirmed flight made for Europe cruises. Additional terms and conditions are available at www.CruisingPower.com, the dedicated portal for travel agents selling Royal Caribbean International.
 
Flexibility and Onboard Booking Bonus with Enhanced NextCruise Open Booking Option
Exciting enhancements to Royal Caribbean’s NextCruise future booking program now provides more benefits for guests and travel agents alike. This exclusive benefit for the cruise line’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program members offers guests a reduced deposit of $100 per person ($200 per person for suite-category staterooms) and an onboard booking bonus of up to $200 per stateroom to spend on their next sailing with Royal Caribbean. Guests can choose to make a reservation on board for a specific Royal Caribbean sailing and enjoy their onboard booking bonus during their future cruise.

For guests who want the flexibility to select their next Royal Caribbean adventure at a future date, the “Decide Later Open Booking” option is the perfect choice.  Now, each guest can purchase up to three Open Bookings, which are fully transferrable, and can be used as gifts for friends and family to introduce them to the great value and incomparable experience of a Royal Caribbean vacation.  Furthermore, Crown & Anchor Society members can combine the onboard booking bonus that they earned through Open Booking with their Crown & Anchor Society Savings Certificate or the Platinum-tier and above Balcony and Suite discount.

Travel Agents also will benefit from the new future cruise booking enhancement because they will automatically be notified of their clients’ Open Bookings purchase. Open Bookings are transferred back to the travel agent on file and represents an instant repeat-business generator, as well as an opportunity to gain clients’ referrals of friends and family.

Royal Caribbean’s onboard Loyalty & Cruise Sales Teams are available to assist guests in determining their best future cruise booking option, or with joining the Crown & Anchor Society to enjoy member benefits on their very next Royal Caribbean cruise. For more information about Royal Caribbean’s onboard booking bonus, please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/CrownandAnchor.

Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 40-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry “firsts” never before seen at sea.  The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL), the cruise line sails 21 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand. World renowned for its friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, delivered by every staff and crew member, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 10 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Reader’s Choice Awards.
 
Travel professionals should go to Cruisingpower.com; or call (800) 327-2056; and follow Facebook.com/VickiLovesTravelAgents. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should call their travel agent; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/RoyalCaribbean or on Twitter @RoyalCaribbean.