Royal Caribbean International announces the extension of its third consecutive season in the Middle East with 18 roundtrip 7-night sailings and two 12-night sailings from Dubai to India starting in November 2011 through to April 2012.

Azamara Club Cruises is offering up to 50 percent savings and up to a $1,000 ChoiceAir credit on the Azamara Journey’s first season in South America, which starts in October. Similar savings are offered on select Southeast Asia voyages aboard Azamara Quest.

Royal Caribbean International will offer Caribbean cruises on 13 ships for the 2012-13 winter season. Continuing year-round Caribbean and Bahamas cruises are Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas. Six additional ships -- Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas -- will operate four- to 12-night Caribbean itineraries from four domestic U.S. ports.

Carnival Cruise Lines on April 27 accepted delivery of the corporation’s 100th ship, the Carnival Magic, in ceremonies at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where the vessel was built.

Jamaica benefited from a nearly double-digit increase in cruise ship arrivals during the most recent, busy, winter season, the Caribbean country’s tourism minister announced.
The minister, Edmund Bartlett, said cruise ship tourists surged by 9.6 percent this high season over the same period in 2009-2010, an increase of 34,954 visitors.

United Caribbean Lines is a company without ships that isn’t anywhere near starting service yet, but has come up with an interesting concept. They plan to use converted Danish ferries for service from Tampa, Florida to Havana, Cuba, with a possible secondary service to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The overnight voyages would take 18 hours each way. Should Cuba open up to U.S. tourism this line could be riding in on the first wave. Perennial cruise executive, Bruce Nierenberg is the man behind this latest venture.