SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 15 -- Monarch of the Seas returns
to full service March 14, less than three months after sustaining damage from
an underwater shoal off St. Maarten. The Royal Caribbean International vessel
emerged from dry dock Monday, fully repaired and significantly improved in
guest areas.

The ship arrived in San Juan in the early morning hours of March 12, two
days before resuming its Southern Caribbean itinerary. Its return was
celebrated by several hundred travel agents and community leaders who joined
cruise executives for a black-tie event in honor of the ship's reintroduction.

Monarch of the Seas spent 65 days in dry dock at Atlantic Marine in Mobile,
Ala., where shipyard crews worked around the clock to repair the damage
sustained in the Dec. 15, 1998, incident.

A crew of more than 600 workers participated in the repairs. Approximately
420 tons of steel and the electrical equipment in the pump rooms were replaced
and damaged areas were refurbished.

Royal Caribbean International took advantage of the time in dry dock to
perform upgrades on Monarch of the Seas, which had been scheduled for early
2000. All of the ships indoor and outdoor areas and staterooms received new
carpet, upholstery, wall coverings and window treatments. Aquanauts, a new
toddler facility, was created on Deck 8. Flashes, the ship's teen lounge,
received an upgraded audio and lighting system that includes more than 10
television monitors and a coffee house motif. The indoor and outdoor dining
areas of the Windjammer Cafe were remodeled with mosaic tile, artwork and
softer finishes. The Ship Shape Center fitness facility received a new
aerobics floor and new finishes in the treatment rooms and spas.

Royal Caribbean International executives applauded the men and women who
worked to bring Monarch of the Seas back to service.

"Our personnel worked closely with the staff at Atlantic Marine on this
challenging project to ensure Monarch of the Seas was restored to the highest
standards," said Jack Williams, president of Royal Caribbean International.
"We are pleased to have the ship back in service in such timely manner and to
be able to continue our visits to the Southern Caribbean islands."

Monarch of the Seas began service in 1991. At 73,941 tons, the ship with
1,476 cabins can accommodate more than 2,700 guests. The ship's seven-day
Southern Caribbean itinerary includes San Juan, St. Thomas, Martinique,
Barbados, Antigua and St. Maarten.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise company operating two cruise
brands, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. The brands'
combined fleet consists of 17 vessels in service and nine ships on order
through 2002. The ships currently visit Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada,
the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, New England, the Panama Canal and
Scandinavia. For more information about the cruise line, please visit the
company's Internet web site at
http://www.royalcaribbean.com
or
http://www.rclinvestor.com.