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FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of MARCH, 1999
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
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1050 CARIBBEAN WAY, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33132
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(Address of principal executive offices)
[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.]
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.]
Yes No X
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[If "Yes" is marked indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g-3-2(b): 82 _____].
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Contact: Lynn Martenstein
(305) 539-6573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES
TWO-WEEK WET-DOCKING OF GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS
Miami - March 18, 1999 - Royal Caribbean International announced today it is
canceling GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS' March 20 and 27 sailings to replace connecting
rods in the ship's generator engines, as a precautionary measure. The repairs
will be made over a two-week period at a wet-dock location to be determined. The
ship will complete its current cruise and return to Miami on March 20.
Last week, a faulty connecting rod caused one engine to fail on a
sister ship, ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS. While both ships are equipped with four
generator engines and two back-up emergency generators and can safely operate on
only one generator engine, the company decided to take this corrective action
now. These ships are the only two in Royal Caribbean International's fleet that
have this type of engine.
"It is always difficult to make a decision that results in the
cancellation of a long-awaited cruise vacation by our guests," said Royal
Caribbean President Jack L. Williams. "I believe, however, that erring on the
side of conservatism is the most prudent decision," he added.
All guests booked on the March 20 and March 27 sailings will receive a
full refund on their cruise. In addition, guests on the March 20 cruise will
receive a certificate for a free cruise on a future seven-night Caribbean cruise
on either Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises, good through March
31, 2000. Guests booked on the March 27 trip will receive a certificate for 50
percent off the cruise-fare portion of a
More. . .
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TWO WEEK WET-DOCKING ANNOUNCED FOR GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS
future seven-night Caribbean Cruise on either brand, good through March 31,
2000. Alternatively, guests booked on either cruise have the option of receiving
50 percent off the cruise portion of any Millennium sailing.
In all cases, travel agents' commissions will be protected and an
administrative fee of $50 per cabin will be paid to agents who rebook their
clients on alternative sailings.
The company expects that the financial impact, after loss-of-hire
insurance and other recoveries, will not be material.
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Contact: Lynn Martenstein or Rich Steck
(305) 539-6573
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROYAL CARIBBEAN ACCELERATES DRY-DOCKING OF
ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS
MIAMI - March 15, 1999 - In the aftermath of an engine failure on ENCHANTMENT OF
THE SEAS last week, company officials at Royal Caribbean International have
decided to dry-dock the ship earlier than planned.
"The ship was scheduled for a May 17th dry-dock, but we have been able
to secure the necessary parts earlier than we anticipated, so we have decided to
repair the ship now," said Royal Caribbean International President Jack
Williams. "The availability of parts, coupled with the fact that one of the
other engines is also out of service, make this a prudent decision. The ship
will be in dry-dock for approximately six weeks," Williams added.
The failure of a connecting rod in one of the ship's generator engines
was the cause of last week's engine failure. The ship was reduced to operating
on emergency power for approximately 45 minutes before normal power was
restored. There were no reported injuries to either guests or crew, and the
failure forced the ship to travel at a slower speed of 17 1/2 knots and required
a minor change in its itinerary.
The ship is equipped with four generator engines and two emergency
generators, but is designed to operate safely with a single generator engine.
The repairs will necessitate the cancellation of six of ENCHANTMENT's sailings,
those scheduled from March 21 through April 25, 1999.
more...
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN ACCELERATES ENCHANTMENT DRY-DOCK
"We deeply regret any inconvenience the dry-docking has caused our
guests or travel partners, and are working hard to accommodate and compensate
them for this change in plans," Williams added.
Guests booked on the ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS' March 21, 1999 sailing
will receive a full refund, plus a cruise certificate for 50 percent off the
cruise- fare portion of a future seven-night Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean
International or Celebrity Cruises, good through March 31, 2000.
Guests booked on ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS' sailings of March 28 through
April 25, 1999 will receive a full refund, plus a cruise certificate for $500
per cabin ($250 per person) off the cruise fare of a future seven-night
Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises, good
through March 31, 2000. Guests who had been booked in Category D staterooms or
above will receive future cruise certificates valued at $750 per cabin ($375 per
person). Guests booked as third or fourth persons in a cabin of any category
will receive a future cruise certificate for $100 per person. A special help
desk has been set up at 1-800-722-5053.
Travel agents' commissions will be protected and an administrative fee
of $50 per cabin will be paid to agents who rebook their clients on alternative
sailings.
"Because of the company's loss of hire insurance, and based on the best
available information at this time, we do not expect there will be any material
financial impact to the company," said Richard J. Glasier, chief financial
officer.
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Contact: Gloria Y. Jacaruso
(305) 539-6575
e-mail: [email protected]
For Release: March 13, 1999
MONARCH OF THE SEAS RETURNS TO SERVICE
SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES MADE DURING DRY DOCK
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - March 13, 1999 --MONARCH OF THE SEAS returns to
full service March 14, less than three months after sustaining damage from an
underwater shoal off St. Maarten. The Royal Caribbean International vessel
emerged from dry dock Monday, fully repaired and significantly improved in guest
areas.
The ship arrived in San Juan in the early morning hours of March 12,
two days before resuming its Southern Caribbean itinerary. Its return was
celebrated by several hundred travel agents and community leaders who joined
cruise executives for a black-tie event in honor of the ship's reintroduction.
MONARCH OF THE SEAS spent 65 days in dry dock at Atlantic Marine in
Mobile, Ala., where shipyard crews worked around the clock to repair the damage
sustained in the Dec. 15, 1998, incident.
A crew of more than 600 workers participated in the repairs.
Approximately 420 tons of steel and the electrical equipment in the pump rooms
were replaced and damaged areas were refurbished.
Royal Caribbean International took advantage of the time in dry dock to
perform upgrades on MONARCH OF THE SEAS, which had been scheduled for early
2000. All of the ships indoor and outdoor areas and staterooms received new
carpet, upholstery, wall coverings and window treatments. Aquanauts, a new
toddler facility, was created on
More. . .
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MONARCH OF THE SEAS RETURNS TO SERVICE
Deck 8. Flashes, the ship's teen lounge, received an upgraded audio and lighting
system that includes more than 10 television monitors and a coffee house motif.
The indoor and outdoor dining areas of the Windjammer Cafe were remodeled with
mosaic tile, artwork and softer finishes. The Ship Shape Center fitness facility
received a new aerobics floor and new finishes in the treatment rooms and spas.
Royal Caribbean International executives applauded the men and women
who worked to bring MONARCH OF THE SEAS back to service.
"Our personnel worked closely with the staff at Atlantic Marine on this
challenging project to ensure MONARCH OF THE SEAS was restored to the highest
standards," said Jack Williams, president of Royal Caribbean International. "We
are pleased to have the ship back in service in such timely manner and to be
able to continue our visits to the Southern Caribbean islands."
MONARCH OF THE SEAS began service in 1991. At 73,941 tons, the ship
with 1,476 cabins can accommodate more than 2,700 guests. The ship's seven-day
Southern Caribbean itinerary includes San Juan, St. Thomas, Martinique,
Barbados, Antigua and St. Maarten.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise company operating two
cruise brands, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. The brands'
combined fleet consists of 17 vessels in service and nine ships on order through
2002. The ships currently visit Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the
Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, New England, the Panama Canal and
Scandinavia. For more information about the cruise line, please visit the
company's Internet web site at http://www.royalcaribbean.com or
http://www.rclinvestor.com.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
(Registrant)
Date: April 1, 1999 By: /s/ Richard J. Glasier
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Richard J. Glasier
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
