Short cruises are perfect getaways for those who just can’t get away – or can’t wait – to enjoy a week-long vacation. Royal Caribbean International today announced its short cruises for 2009-10, offering vacationers 18 unique itineraries, ranging from two to five nights, on 306 sailings. Guests can choose departures from Tampa, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and Miami aboard one of five Royal Caribbean ships, including Navigator of the Seas, the largest and most innovative cruise ship to be offered for a short cruise, Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, and Monarch of the Seas. Bookings open today for these short cruises.

“Short cruises offer everyone a quick respite or a break from the usual, as well as a great way for first-timers to sample cruising in a few days,” said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Our short cruises conveniently depart year-round from Port Canaveral and Miami, and seasonally from Tampa and Port Everglades. On short Bahamas cruises, our guests also enjoy a full day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise.”

Navigator of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas together offer year-round choices for vacationers to escape to the Caribbean. From May 2009, Enchantment of the Seas will offer four- and five-night Western Caribbean itineraries for the summer season from Port Everglades, which include a feature-call at Key West.

From November 2009, Navigator begins its third consecutive winter season serving South Florida, sailing similar Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. Navigator is a Voyager-class ship, which was first to offer guests an ice-skating rink, the line’s iconic rock-climbing wall, a nine-hole mini-golf course, and the Royal Promenade – a boulevard lined with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges that runs nearly the length of the ship.

For a quick escape from the everyday, Majesty of the Seas gives vacationers with little time a chance to rejuvenate on a three- or four-night Bahamas cruise sailing from Miami. Majesty’s three-night short itinerary also offers the most ports of call of any cruise line. Having replaced the former Sovereign of the Seas in autumn 2008, Monarch of the Seas also will sail similar short itineraries and begin its first full-year deployment in 2009 at Port Canaveral. On either ship, guests will call at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas.

Vacationers along the Gulf Coast also can enjoy a short four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Grandeur of the Seas. Sailing conveniently from the Port of Tampa to the popular beach destinations of Belize City, Cozumel and Progreso, Grandeur also will return to Costa Maya, docking at the newly constructed pier, which replaced the one destroyed by Hurricane Dean in 2007.