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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced it is opening two new offices in China, in the cities of Beijing and Guangzhou. The new offices, which will open in the coming weeks, will be the second and third the company operates in China, joining its Shanghai facility, which opened in July 2007. The new offices will highlight the growing importance of the China marketplace and its role in the company’s international growth strategy.
The new offices will widen the company’s reach into more regions of China. They will be located in the central commercial districts of both cities and in close proximity to many travel agencies. This will allow the company to better serve a broader spectrum of local customers and the local travel agent communities, with faster, more seamless and more customized services.
"Our first season sailing from Asia was a great success, and our new offices will help us extend our reach to many more customers and travel agents throughout China," said Michael Bayley, senior vice president, International, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Having a second consecutive season in Asia, and eventually, a year-round deployment there, reflects our commitment to the China market and the importance of the entire region to our global growth."
The new offices will support three of the company’s brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. Royal Caribbean International’s Legend of the Seas will sail out of Shanghai, beginning in February 2009, departing from the new Shanghai cruise terminal. Similarly, Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Quest will call in Chinese cities such as Canton and Shanghai, beginning in January 2009, during its first season of sailings in Asia.
Royal Caribbean International was recently named the "Best Luxury Cruise Operator" in Travel Weekly’s China Industry Awards 2008, after its first year of operations in China. The awards recognize the best in the tourism industry and acknowledge their contributions to China’s tourism industry.
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.
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