Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited presents awards to members of the Middle East travel trade

These awards were presented in appreciation of their support in generating cruise sales during 2004.

Opening the award presentation, Dr Abdulaziz Al Oshban, Principal/Managing Director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Middle East, said: "Once again, we are delighted to honour our travel trade partners and thank them for their excellent support in 2004. With your help we achieved a double digit percentage growth in revenue compared to 2003, and a triple digit percentage growth compared to any previous years. Looking ahead we are delighted to report that we have already made an excellent start in 2005 with a 40% revenue increase in the first quarter compared to first quarter 2004. We have set ourselves a high target for 2005 of US $ 5 million gross sales and both my partner, co-principal Fawaz Algosaibi and I have every confidence this will be achieved with your continued support."

Travel industry partners receiving awards were:- Al Kaatib Travel - Bahrain; Transworld Travel - Bahrain; Al Salhiah World Travel - Kuwait; Master Aviation - Kuwait; Kurban Travel - Beirut; Al Faisaliah Holidays - Jeddah; VIP Travel - Jeddah; Amera Travel Network - Riyadh; DNATA - Dubai and Transarabian Sea Air Travel - Dubai.

Helen Beck, regional sales director for international sales and marketing, Europe, Middle East and Africa, presented the awards and in closing said: "We are delighted to share the news that "Voyager of the Seas" will be coming to the Mediterranean for the 2006 European season. Given the popularity of this innovative and trend-setting ship with our Middle Eastern guests, we are sure that this news will be well received and we anticipate a high level of demand. Voyager will be sailing from Barcelona
with a 7 night Western Mediterranean itinerary and Splendour of the Seas will move to sail a 7 night butterfly rotation from Venice. We are sure that this move will again be very popular with our Middle Eastern guests as sailing to and from Venice is considered by many as one of the best ways to experience the beauty of the city.