Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Kimberly Edwards boarded Majesty of the Seas for her 40th birthday expecting a vacation to remember. But three days into the five-day Bahamas cruise that was a gift from her fiance, a drunk passenger followed Edwards into a women's bathroom and sexually assaulted her, groping her through thin stretch pants, she said.

The cruise industry -- facing rough seas amid heightened public scrutiny of shipboard safety -- is being called in front of Congress again to answer whether cruise operators downplayed crimes. In addition, some lawmakers are looking to crack down on the $32-billion cruise business because of increasing reports of crime, illness and shipboard disappearances. "I am hearing more and more stories about victims where crimes have been either unreported or not prosecuted," said Rep.

Royal Caribbean International on Monday ordered the world's largest and most expensive cruise ship, a $1.24-billion vessel that would hold as many as 6,400 passengers. It's the latest step in the industry trend of super-sized ships, which delight many passengers but are too crowded for other guests. The ship, dubbed Project Genesis, will be 220,000 gross registered tons when it is delivered to the world's second-largest cruise operator in fall 2009 by Oslo-based shipbuilder Aker Yards.

Coroner's officials Sunday released the names of three cruise ship crew members who died after being exposed to toxic sewer gas as they repaired a waste pipe. The men were identified as Boris Dimitrov, 47, of Varna, Bulgaria; Willie Tirol, 41, of Pangasinan, Philippines; and Radomilja Frane, 48, of Stobrec, Croatia. An autopsy will be conducted, said Barbara Nelson, investigator for the coroner's office.

American Express Co. said on Monday that double-digit gains in its travel-related services and financial advisor units pushed second-quarter profit up 11%, topping Wall Street estimates. The company said net income rose to $578 million, or $1.24 a diluted share, from $520 million, or $1.08 a year ago, beating consensus analysts' estimates by 2 cents. Revenue advanced 7.7% to $4.76 billion. The results boosted American Express shares, which closed up $5.75 at $112.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. agreed to pay $9 million in criminal fines and plead guilty to charges that it systematically dumped oil in the ocean from 1990 to 1994 and deceived U.S. Coast Guard investigators. The plea agreement resolves charges against the company in Miami and Puerto Rico, although the company said it could face additional charges as an investigation by the Justice Department continues.

Royal Caribbean said it is buying money-losing Celebrity cruise lines in a $1.3-billion deal that will give Royal Caribbean five relatively new ships and an opportunity to expand. The combined company, which will keep the two brand names, ranks second in the industry behind Miami's Carnival Corp. and ahead of London-based P&O Cruises, parent of Century City-based Princess Cruises.

With a new name, a new logo and advertising slogan and yet another new ship in its rapidly growing fleet, Royal Caribbean International, formerly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, bears a passing resemblance to the proverbial old woman who lived in a shoe. With six of its 10 ship names ending in "of the Seas," it must get confusing down at the office. We were struck with deja vu aboard the new Grandeur of the Seas.

Microsoft Corp., the world's leading computer software maker, on Monday reported a 50% increase in profit for its fiscal fourth quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations. The Redmond, Wash.-based company posted a profit of $559 million, or 87 cents a share, for the three months ended in June, up from $368 million, or 58 cents, a year ago. Analysts on average had predicted quarterly earnings of 85 cents a share.