About Royal Caribbean Cruise
LEGEND OF THE SEAS
VISITS SEOUL FOR THE FIRST TIME
Officials include members from the ship, Royal Caribbean Cruises Korea, Royal Caribbean Cruises Asia, Incheon Metropolitan City, Incheon Port Authority, Hana Tour and Santa Cruise.
Seoul, September 28, 2010 – Royal Caribbean International’s Legend of the Seas has added another Korean destination – Seoul – to her Asian itineraries with a maiden call at the Incheon port today. The 70,000-tonne, 2,074-guest cruise ship, the biggest ever to call at Incheon, arrived this morning from Hong Kong on her 14-night cruise to Tianjin from September 17-30.
Traditional plaque and memento exchanges to commemorate the maiden call took place at a ceremony onboard the ship, between Captain Yngvar Knutsen of Legend of the Seas and Lee, Hongsik, Vice President of Incheon Port Authority as well as Hong, JoonHo, General Director of Incheon City. Also amongst the VIPs present were Sun, WeonPyo, Administrator, Incheon Regional Maritime Affairs & Port and Park, SangHwan, Chairman of Hana Tour. The ceremony was followed by a luncheon and a tour for the VIPs onboard the ship.
Kelvin Tan, Royal Caribbean’s Regional Director, Asia Pacific said at the ceremony, “Seoul is a very vibrant city with many cultural, shopping and gastronomical attractions which is rising in popularity amongst tourists in recent years. We are pleased to add Seoul to our Korean destinations on top of Busan and Jeju Island, which will give our international guests more ways to discover this country.”
He added, “The port of Incheon has impressed us today on this occasion with its efficiency and strong support, which prompts me to say confidently that this port will be very important in Royal Caribbean’s future plans in Asia. Already, with our ship now sailing year round in the region and out of Busan, we hope to operate cruises from more Korean ports in the future and bring more of the world-renowned Royal Caribbean vacation experience to our Korean guests.”
Royal Caribbean is planning for Legend of the Seas to call at Incheon again for about 10 times from July next year.
Seoul and Incheon as Tourism Destinations
A perfect blend of culture and modernity, Seoul is where one can see high-rise buildings towering above ancient temples, acres of serene gardens surrounded by shimmering skyscrapers, and palatial palaces hosting traditional ceremonies as they did centuries ago. Traditional markets like Garakdon Market and Insa-dong Street are famous for fresh farm produces and traditional handicrafts respectively, while bustling modern shopping districts like Dongdaemun and Myeongdong feature the trendiest restaurants, cafes and night clubs. Tourists can also get a taste of history and culture at the Dobong Confucian Temple, Gyeongbok Palace which remained the main seat of power for Korean kings, and Changdeok Palace and Biwon Garden, the biggest palace in Korea which houses a lush garden.
In Incheon, the gateway to Seoul, one can visit Wolmi Traditional Garden of the last Joseon era and China Town, well-known as the origin of "Jajangmyeon", one of the most beloved dishes of all Koreans. At Yeonan Pier Fish Market, one of Korea's largest, one can find all types of fresh seafood while at Sinpo Market, the famous open-door market, offers a wide variety of products from clothing to dried sea weed.
Year-Round Deployment in Asia
Legend of the Seas is currently on the new 13/14-night Beijing to Hong Kong Cruise which also features overnight stays in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and stops at Nagasaki, Okinawa and Taipei. In addition, Legend of the Seas’ year-round Asian deployment features a number of attractive sailings out of Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama.
Onboard Offerings of Legend of the Seas
Onboard Legend of the Seas, vacationers can look forward to an ocean of entertainment and relaxation choices for the whole family, such as the 9m rock-wall, miniature golf course, Solarium indoor pool with a glass roof, KTV room for karaoke, lounges, bars, fitness centre and spa. Guests can indulge in a wide variety of dining options including Chinese cuisine and favorite Korean dishes like kimchi in the formal dining and casual buffet restaurants. There will also be Korean crew as well as signboards, daily program sheets and announcements specially prepared in Korean. Everything onboard is delivered with the brand’s hallmark friendly, engaging and personal Gold Anchor Service. Most of all, virtually everything onboard is included in the price.
About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and one under construction. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. For additional information, visit www.royalcaribbean.com.