Royal Caribbean International has opened bookings for 19 exciting 2008-09 itineraries, offering East Coast travelers more voyages and embarkation ports to experience a cruise vacation. More than 80 sailings, ranging from five to 15 nights will sail to New England/ Canada, Bermuda, and Eastern Caribbean. The new itineraries will give New York-metropolitan area travelers convenient year-round cruise choices from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ. Travelers also will enjoy summer and autumn sailings from Baltimore, Norfolk and Boston aboard Grandeur of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.

“Travelers from the East Coast now have more convenient choices than ever to escape on an exciting Royal Caribbean cruise,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Sales, Royal Caribbean International. “Guests can enjoy voyages aboard some of the world’s most innovative ships as they visit scenic New England and Canadian coastlines or get away to the warmth of the Caribbean and Bermuda.”

Throughout 2008-09, travelers from the New York and New Jersey regions will continue to have convenient sailings year-round from Cape Liberty Cruise Port aboard Explorer of the Seas. She will sail on eight distinct roundtrip itineraries ranging from five to 12 nights to Bermuda, and Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Northeast travelers also can choose among six sailings to New England and Canada on nine-night voyages. Prices start at $649 per person, double occupancy.

“We are thrilled to bring Grandeur of the Seas to the cities of Norfolk, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland in 2008,” Bauer added. “The Royal Caribbean itineraries from these two major home ports complement the variety of cruising options available to travelers along the Eastern Seaboard.”

Grandeur will sail roundtrip from Norfolk’s newly constructed Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center on five-night Bermuda cruise getaways, eight- and nine-night voyages to New England and Canada, and nine-night Eastern Caribbean sailings. From Baltimore, Grandeur will sail roundtrip on five-night voyages to Bermuda and nine-night cruise vacations to the Eastern Caribbean. Prices start at $649 per person, double occupancy.

Jewel of the Seas returns to Boston in 2008. Travelers can enjoy the changing of the foliage and the vivid autumn colors of the New England landscape from the historic port on four roundtrip seven-night sailings to New England and Canada beginning on September 20, 2008. In addition, Boston-area travelers also can choose a shortened itinerary on one five-night sailing on October 13. Prices start at $549 per person, double occupancy.

Other 2008 Royal Caribbean itineraries also open for individual, group and incentive bookings this week are four 14- or 15-night Panama Canal voyages, aboard Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.