Royal Caribbean cancels 2007 Boston departures

Those of us who live near Boston are dismayed at Royal Caribbean's cancellation of its 2007 cruises from Boston. Company spokesperson Tracy Quan said that move was made so that Jewel of the Seas, which was scheduled to make the fall foliage and Bermuda voyages from Boston, could undergo routine dry-dock maintenance.

The line plans to resume Boston departures in 2008 and Massport, the port authority of Boston, confirmed that Royal Caribbean has requested a berth.

The 2112-passenger Jewel of the Seas has been based in Boston since her 2004 launch, sailing to Bermuda as well as to Canada and Maine for the fall foliage cruises.

Massport, located at the eastern edge of central Boston, expects 96 cruise ships to use the port in 2007, up from 82 in 2006. Massport's Lisa Langone said that the extra ships will more than make up for the revenue lost by Jewel's pullout.