Royal Caribbean International shot down allegations of wrongdoing by the family of George Smith IV, the honeymooner who disappeared aboard the Brilliance of the Seas in July. In a strongly worded 11-page document, the cruise line gives its own version of the chronology of events leading up to and following Smith´s disappearance.

Princess Cruises added 12 sailings from northern California to its Mexican Riviera program aboard the Dawn Princess in 2006-2007. The 10-night roundtrips from San Francisco add one night to the itinerary and replace previously scheduled southern Caribbean and Panama Canal departures, for a total of 20 trips between Sept. 26 and April 23, 2007.

Holland America Line is introducing a new line of amenities by Elemis Aromapure to extend the Greenhouse Spa and Salon concept to its guest accommodations. The fleet-wide rollout starts on February 22 with the Noordam, when staterooms will be equipped with Time to Spa miniatures. The effort is part of the line´s Signature of Excellence upgrade program, said Richard Meadows, senior vice president, marketing and sales.

The founder of easyCruise says he´ll bring his bright orange ship to South Florida later this year for a no-frills alternative to traditional cruising. Entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou said last week that he plans to begin offering Caribbean cruises from Miami or Fort Lauderdale in November aboard easyCruiseOne, his bare-bones, no-frills cruise liner now sailing between Barbados and Martinique.

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises´ guests can now complete the dreaded airline and luggage check-in process for their flights home even before they step off the ship. The new service enables guests to bypass the traditional airport check-in process, adding convenience and reducing wait time by an estimated 45 minutes to two hours. The service is being rolled out at ports across the United States, based on approval by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Patrol, as well as seaport, airport and airline security personnel.

Orient Lines has built on its announcement of the 25 new European ports added to next year´s itineraries with the new 2006-2007 Worldwide Cruise Holidays brochure. The new brochure is enhanced by inspirational ports of call and the added elements of adventure and discovery. A range of optional excursions and a variety of activities are also available in each port of call.