Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's passengers and staff last Tuesday when the line marked its 25th anniversary.

Since its inception on November 7, 1970 Royal Caribbean has grown from one ship to nine and from 724 berths to 15,020 berths.

At the company's office in Miami, a special outdoor picnic was held for 1,800 shore-side employees, while guests on Royal Caribbean ships last Tuesday took part in a special champagne toast to mark the milestone.

"A quarter century of service is a significant milestone in an industry as young as the cruise industry,'' Richard Fain, the line's chief executive officer said. "We're delighted to share our success with our passengers and employees. Significantly, we have experienced phenomenal growth in our first 25 years without sacrificing the high standards that made us famous.'' Since that inaugural cruise to the eastern Caribbean on board the Song of Norway 25 years ago, Royal Caribbean has a nine-ship fleet scattered across the globe; The Song of Norway is in Barcelona, Spain, Sun Viking is in Athens, Greece, Song of America is in Guadeloupe -- having finished its season of cruising from the US to Bermuda, Sovereign of the Seas is in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nordic Empress is in Nassau, Bahamas, Viking Serenade is in Ensenda, Mexico, Monarch of the Sea is in Barbados, Majesty of the Seas is in the Grand Cayman and Legend of the Seas which is the Royal Caribbean's newest ship, is at sea approaching the Panama Canal. Meanwhile, four other ships are under construction at shipyards in Finland and France. Another ship, Vision of the Seas is about to enter the construction phase.