Royal Caribbean heads for the Dominican Republic and South America

Royal Caribbean is heading south, but in a good way. On December 16, 2007, the Legend of the Seas will sail out of a new homeport: Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The ship will sail alternating seven-night Caribbean itineraries. Ports-of-call included in these itineraries are St. Maarten, Dominica, Grenada, Aruba, St. Kitts, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Margarita Island, Venezuela.

The Splendour of the Seas will travel even farther, cruising in South America between December 20, 2007, and mid-February, 2008. The ship will sail alternating six- and eight-night itineraries from Santos/Sao Paulo, Brazil, and call at Buenos Aires, Argentina; Punta Del Este, Uruguay; Rio de Janeiro, Portobelo, Buzios, Cabo Frio, Angra Dos Reis, and Ilhabela, Brazil.

In mid-February, the Splendour will become Royal Caribbean’s first ship to sail around the horn (or tip) of South America. It will run 13- and 15-night cruises between Buenos Aires or Santos and Valparaiso, Chile.

Bookings open today, so check your calendar and your bank account soon if you want to be one of the first to experience these new itineraries.