Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - (Page 53)

When Royal Caribbean International’s new 220,000-ton Oasis of the Seas launches in late 2009, agents and consumers alike will discover innovations in ship design and onboard features that sail beyond the blue horizon. Adam Goldstein, the line’s president and CEO, puts it this way: “In essence, we are the brand that delivers the ‘wow.’” Travel Agent recently chatted with Goldstein and Vicki Freed, CTC, senior vice president of sales and trade support & services, to discuss the ship’s launch and other trade-focused highlights. Certainly, industry excitement for the new ship’s launch is high as the line approaches the 40th anniversary of its founding in 2009. Home ported in Port Everglades, FL, the 5,400-guest Oasis of the Seas, the world’s soon-to-be-largest vessel, will offer guests a new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas. These include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center and Entertainment Place. In the latest “reveal” in midSeptember at the CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. national conference onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, new features of Entertainment Place were unveiled. Among them are the Blaze Nightclub, a Comedy Live venue, the intimate Jazz on 4 lounge and Dazzles for dancing. Check out www.oasisof theseas.com for details. Previously announced innovations on Oasis of the Seas include the Aqua Theater, an outdoor amphitheater with a water show in a deep-water pool. “Vacations don’t stop on land [in terms of new developments], so there is no reason to stop on the water,” Goldstein says. “Vacations are a huge industry and a very competitive one. We’re not just competing with other cruise lines, but with other vacation choices.” to keep coming up with things.” And while “Oasis allows us to crystallize the platform,” Goldstein says the innovation must—and does— extend to the entire fleet of 21 ships. “All our ships are either new or revitalized,” he says. Recent enhancements include wireless and cell phone access along with 50,000 new mattresses fleetwide. “We can’t add ice skating rinks [to all ships spacewise], but we can add rock walls, [and have done so],” Goldstein says. An artist’s rendering of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas The average age of a Royal Caribbean guest from North America is 42 to 43. Many guests are part of a multi-generational family group. Goldstein says the line is still predominantly North American in sourcing, but over the past decade that’s dropped from 90 percent to 75 percent, depending on when and where the ships sail. Attracting—and Keeping—Guests From one trade perspective, “the folks at RCI have quickly become the masters of advertising and hype over the past few years because of all the unique additions that they have made to each new vessel,” says Jim Sweat, managing director of travel agency services, AAA Auto Club South. “This has not only inspired their past passengers, but has also brought a lot of new cruise passengers to the industry.” Goldstein firmly believes innovation is crucial in attracting and retaining guests. “It literally means that we are constantly coming up with things,” he emphasizes. “I can’t imagine stagnating. It’s in our DNA Working With Agents More than 20,000 retailers currently sell Royal Caribbean. Right now, with all the Oasis hoopla, “many agents are being very smart in going after the past-guest database,” says Freed. A cruise industry veteran, Freed arrived at Royal Caribbean earlier this year and found a good sales foundation. “It’s just looking at the product with a different set of eyes,” she says. She’s also focused on beefing up the line’s “easy to do business with” trade mantra. CONTINUED ON PAGE 54 October 13, 2008 TravelAgent | 53 http://www.www.oasisof http://www.oasisoftheseas.com http://www.theseas.com http://www.oasisoftheseas.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - October 13, 2008

Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Central & South America Bermuda Europe Pacific/Asia Las Vegas Florida Middle East Cruises Celebrity Continues to Grow and Adapt to the Changing Travel Climate Oasis on the Horizon Troubled Skies Agent Profile Agenda Princess Summit Unveils New Tools for Selling Cruises Tanzania Aims to Draw More U.S. Travelers Jamaica May Legalize Gambling, and New Resorts are in the Works ASTA Seeks Expanded Support from the Agent Community In the Spotlight Agent Access Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 13, 2008

Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 8) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 9) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 14) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 15) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 16) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 17) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 18) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 19) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 20) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 21) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 22) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 23) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 24) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 25) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 26) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 27) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 28) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Bermuda (Page 29) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Europe (Page 30) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Europe (Page 31) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Europe (Page 32) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Europe (Page 33) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Europe (Page 34) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Europe (Page 35) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 36) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 37) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 38) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 39) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Florida (Page 40) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Florida (Page 41) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Middle East (Page 42) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Middle East (Page 43) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Cruises (Page 44) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Cruises (Page 45) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Cruises (Page 46) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Cruises (Page 47) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Celebrity Continues to Grow and Adapt to the Changing Travel Climate (Page 48) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Celebrity Continues to Grow and Adapt to the Changing Travel Climate (Page 49) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Celebrity Continues to Grow and Adapt to the Changing Travel Climate (Page 50) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Celebrity Continues to Grow and Adapt to the Changing Travel Climate (Page 51) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Oasis on the Horizon (Page 52) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Oasis on the Horizon (Page 53) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Oasis on the Horizon (Page 54) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Oasis on the Horizon (Page 55) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Oasis on the Horizon (Page 56) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Oasis on the Horizon (Page 57) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Troubled Skies (Page 58) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Troubled Skies (Page 59) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 60) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 61) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 62) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 63) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 64) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 65) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 66) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 67) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 68) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agenda (Page 69) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Princess Summit Unveils New Tools for Selling Cruises (Page 70) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Princess Summit Unveils New Tools for Selling Cruises (Page 71) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Tanzania Aims to Draw More U.S. Travelers (Page 72) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Tanzania Aims to Draw More U.S. Travelers (Page 73) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Jamaica May Legalize Gambling, and New Resorts are in the Works (Page 74) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Jamaica May Legalize Gambling, and New Resorts are in the Works (Page 75) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - ASTA Seeks Expanded Support from the Agent Community (Page 76) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - ASTA Seeks Expanded Support from the Agent Community (Page 77) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 78) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 79) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 80) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 81) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 82) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 83) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 84) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 85) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 86) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 87) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page 88) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - October 13, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover4) 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