Royal Caribbean to boost capacity in Europe in 2010

[mercedes]

Royal Caribbean will send eight ships to Europe in 2010 -- the same as this year. But one of the ships will be bigger, resulting in an increase to capacity for the line.

The newcomer to Europe will be the 3,114-passenger Adventure of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship that will replace the 1,804-passenger Legend of the Seas.

Adventure is one of a record three Voyager Class ships that will be in Europe in 2010. It'll join sisters Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

The line also will have one of its 3,654-passenger Freedom class ship -- it's biggest vessels -- in Europe in 2010: Independence of the Seas. Also sailing in Europe will Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas and Vision of the Seas.

In all, the line will ofer 57 different itineraries in Europe. Highlights:

-- Newcomer Adventure of the Seas will sail seven-night trips from Malaga, Spain that stop in Rome (Civitavecchia), Sardinia, Corsica; and Spain’s Palma de Mallorca-- a new itinerary for the line.

-- The Vision of the Seas will sail 12-night Holy Land voyages from Venice -- also new for the line. The itinerary will feature an overnight in Venice prior to departure and extended port time (until 10 pm or 11 pm) in Israel’s Ashdod and Haifa and Egypt’s Port Said and Alexandria. Other calls include Split, Croatia; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

-- Independence of the Seas will again be based in Southampton (it's third season there), offering 14-night alternating Eastern and Western Mediterranean itineraries and 10- and 11-night Canary Island voyages primarily aimed at the UK market.

-- Navigator of the Seas will sail seven-night roundtrip voyages out of Rome (Civitavecchia) to the Eastern and Western Mediterranean as well as longer 12-night Eastern Mediterranean cruises.

-- Voyager of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas will be based in Barcelona. Voyager will sail seven-night Mediterranean voyages out of the Spanish port while Brilliance will sail 12-night trips.

-- Splendour of the Seas will sail seven-night voyages out of from Venice, while Jewel of the Seas will sail to the Baltic out of Harwich, England.

Bookings for the voyages open today.