Royal Caribbean establishes new home port in Panama

PANAMA CITY, July 30 (Reuters) - Panama and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. agreed on Monday to make the Central American country the starting point for some of its tour operations in a bid to boost the cruise operator's presence in the region. The agreement could attract Central American and European tourists hoping to avoid tight U.S. visa requirements necessary for Miami, from where many popular Caribbean-bound cruises depart.

Adam Goldstein, Royal Caribbean's (RCL.N) president, told Reuters that in the first year of operation, the Panama deal would represent around one percent of annual sales.

Royal Caribbean, the world's second-largest cruise operator after Carnival Corp. (CCL.N) (CCL.L), reported second-quarter revenue of $1.5 billion last week.

In its first season, which the company plans to kick off in late 2008, Royal Caribbean will operate 17, one-week cruises from Colon, Panama's main Caribbean port.

The mega-class cruise liner "Enchantment of the Seas" will leave Colon, calling at ports in Colombia, Aruba and Curacao.

Panama's vice-president Ruben Arosamena, who is responsible for maritime affairs, said the deal marked the beginning of a new industry for Panama.

Royal Caribbean operates 35 ships in Europe, North America, South America, but the bulk of the firm's business comes from the Caribbean.

Panama's economy grew a healthy 8.1 percent in 2006, lifted by increased trade, a construction boom, banking and shipping.

((Reporting by Andrew Beatty, editing by Louise Heavens; Mexico City newsroom 5255 5282 7153, cyntia.barrera@reuters.com)) Keywords: PANAMA ROYALCARIBBEAN/

(C) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution ofReuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expresslyprohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuterssphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group ofcompanies around the world.nN30453411