Royal Caribbean Adds Another Cruise Ship at Port Canaveral

With the success of Sovereign of the Seas at Port Canaveral since May 2000, Royal Caribbean International has chosen to homeport its newest and largest vessel in the Central Florida market. “The addition of the Royal Caribbean’s largest-class cruise ship firmly establishes Port Canaveral as the location of choice for cruise lines wanting to tap into the lucrative drive-to Greater Orlando vacation market,” says Malcolm “Mac” McLouth, executive director of the Canaveral Port Authority. “The more ships we attract, the more options for the cruising public and even greater dividends for the East Central Florida economy.” Still under construction in Finland, the 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas will begin sailing from Port Canaveral in November 2003, alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries with Sunday departures. “Mariner of the Seas will be the crowning achievement of the most successful class of cruise ships ever built,” said Jack Williams, president and chief operating officer of Royal Caribbean International. “Our Voyager-class ships, the largest cruise ships in the world, have become the ‘ships of choice’ in the Caribbean, and we’re confident Mariner of the Seas will become the ‘ship of choice’ in Port Canaveral.” Port Canaveral is the second busiest cruise port in the world with more than 3.8 million revenue cruise passengers a year. “We are thrilled to have Royal Caribbean homeport the Mariner of the Seas at Port Canaveral,” says Bobby Giangrisostomi, deputy executive director of business development. “This magnificent vessel will become Orlando and the Space Coast’s newest attraction to the world. It reaffirms that we are a partner for success as we focus our marketing efforts on the ultimate vacation experience, a dream cruise.”