Royal Caribbean International is offering travel agents customizable marketing materials that play off the cold weather and snow plaguing much of the country.

Two passengers on a Mediterranean cruise ship were killed by a giant wave on Wednesday. The incident occured off the north-east coast of Spain. The ship, named the Louis Majesty, had left from Barcelona, Spain and was headed for Genoa, Italy.

Two passengers on a Mediterranean cruise ship were killed by a giant wave on Wednesday. The incident occured off the north-east coast of Spain. The ship, named the Louis Majesty, had left from Barcelona, Spain and was headed for Genoa, Italy.

Carnival Corporation & plc has signed a memorandum of agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of two 3,600-passenger cruise ships for its Princess Cruises brand. The agreement is subject to execution of a definitive contract, financing and other customary closing conditions.

Royal Caribbean International will double the number of ships it sails from Australia next year. The company will homeport two ships in Sydney starting in October 2011. The Rhapsody of the Seas, currently in its third Australian summer season, will be joined by the Radiance of the Seas. The vessels offer cruises in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific during the summer months from October to April. The announcement comes 14 months after the Miami-based company opened its Sydney office.

Crystal Cruises is rolling out nearly 800 Europe shore excursions, dozens of which are new. From soaring above Stockholm in a hot air balloon to scuba diving off the coast of Turkey, Crystal Adventures augment Crystal’s 32 itineraries exploring the Mediterranean, Baltic and Black seas, North Cape, Canary Islands, Middle East and British Isles.