Edwin W. Stephan, a founder and former longtime president and vice chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., will retire from the Board of Directors following the company's May 20 annual meeting in Miami. Stephan, 71, guided Royal Caribbean at its birth more than three decades ago. In 1970, when the fledgling cruise line launched Song of Norway with an expansive pool deck, it was the first ship designed specifically for warm-weather cruising. It revolutionized the cruise industry; previous ships were built for point-to-point ocean transport with far less open space. Stephan was the cruise line's president from 1969 to 1996, when he became vice chairman of the board of directors. At various times, he served as general manager, CEO, president, and vice chairman.