Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Names Managing Director for New Corporate Office in France

PARIS, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to increasing local demand and as part of the company's international growth strategy, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will open a corporate office in Paris, France in mid July.  Leading the office will be Managing Director Frederic Martinez, who joins the company after an extensive international career in marketing, commercial and management roles for American Express and Air France-KLM.

Martinez, a graduate from Sciences-Po Paris, ESSEC Business School, and who also holds a Ph.D from Sorbonne University, was formerly the Vice President for Large Market Europe at American Express in Paris. He was also the Marketing Director for the Americas, Managing Director for Venezuela, and Director of Global Business for Air France-KLM – he speaks six languages.

The new corporate office is on Blvd. Haussmann in Paris' central business district.  It will have employees in sales, marketing and commercial operations for the company's three distinct cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.  Until now, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operated in France via an international representative office, Latitude Sud.  Royal Caribbean will integrate the Latitude Sud employees, and Madame Robiha Deloubriere, the former head of Latitude Sud, will become the new Commercial Director for France.

All Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands offer itineraries calling at numerous French ports. Azamara Club Cruises, the boutique brand that offers immersive experiences through more late-night departures and overnight stays, calls at ports along the French Riviera, including St. Tropez, Nice, Toulon, as well as Marseilles, Bordeaux, Belle Isle, Sete, St. Jean De Luz and Sanary Sur Mer. Celebrity Cruise's Solstice class ships – Eclipse, Solstice and Equinox - call at Nice and Toulon.  

In 2012, Royal Caribbean International will offer new sailings from three French ports - Toulon, Marseille and LeHavre, and will also provide transfers to Genoa, Italy. The European deployment is adding numerous departures and overall, Royal Caribbean International is adding 23 ports in seven additional countries to its European schedule.  

"We know that our guests from France enjoy our brands, products and destination offerings," says Michael Bayley, executive vice president, International.  "Frederic is tasked with growing the business and responding to customer demand in France on issues such as enhanced product offerings during July and August, and creating fly and cruise packages for the Caribbean."

With less than 1% of the French population having taken a cruise, there is huge market potential for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.  "With the increasing popularity of the company's brands, this office will respond to the French market's needs," explains Martinez. "We're going to be working on our superior products, enhancing onboard products, and ensuring we're the easiest cruise line company to do business with."

About Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France.  The company has a combined total of 40 ships in service and four under construction.  It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Dubai, Europe and South America.  Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaraclubcruises.com, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.