MIAMI, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ricardo Amaral, managing director for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in Brazil, has been appointed the new president of ABREMAR, the Brazilian association of cruise lines.

Charged with developing the cruise industry in Brazil, including improved port infrastructures, government relations and travel agent training, ABREMAR also seeks to identify solutions that will increase the growth and performance of the cruise industry in the region.

"Brazil has grown from 70,000 cruisers per year in 2001, to more than 500,000 in 2008, a phenomenal growth of over 700 percent in seven years," said Michael Bayley, senior vice president, International, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Today, Brazil is one of the largest cruise markets in the world, with more than 15 dedicated ships from leading global cruise brands based in the region for the peak winter months. Ricardo's new role with ABREMAR is a clear sign of the significance of the growing Brazilian market to our company's international growth strategy. We look forward to working with our industry peers to raise the profile of the cruise industry in Brazil and to grow Brazil as a global cruise destination."

"I'm extremely honored to serve ABREMAR as its president," said Amaral. "Our first initiative will be to create a partnership with ABAV, the Brazilian association of travel agents. We want to increase our exchange of information and resources with our travel agent partners to improve their knowledge of our industry and their sales."

"Leading ABREMAR and growing the cruise industry in Brazil complements my role with Royal Caribbean, as we finalize the opening of our first offices dedicated to this region," Amaral said. "I'm excited to work alongside my colleagues from Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises toward this mutually beneficial goal."

Amaral has 17 years of experience in the cruise industry, including as the director of Marketing and Sales for Sun and Sea Representacoes, the company that represented Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in Brazil for 21 years. Previously, Amaral spent seven years as a marketing manager for Costa Crociere in Brazil. He also has held positions with Oremar Brazil, working with Carnival and Cunard cruise lines, and at Sheraton Brazil.

ABREMAR also appointed two new vice presidents, Rene Hermann, of Costa Cruises, and Adrian Ursili, of MSC Cruises.

ABREMAR was created in January 2006, to represent and promote the cruise industry within Brazil and abroad. It promotes the modernization of port infrastructures and assists in educating travel agents in the selling of cruise holidays. Currently, ABREMAR includes 15 associated companies, including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, travel agencies and tour operators.

Royal Caribbean International will operate two ships in Brazil during 2009 and 2010. Vision of the Seas will sail round trip from Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil, on a variety of three- to seven-night sailings to Brazilian ports, from November 2009 to March 2010. Splendour of the Seas will visit ports in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay during a variety of three- to eight-night round trip sailings from Sao Paulo.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaracruises.com, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

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