Royal Caribbean to ‘maintain fleet size’
Royal Caribbean International has no plans to retire older ships as new mega liners such as Freedom of the Seas enter service.
The sister line to Celebrity Cruises will have a 23-strong fleet by 2009 with the addition of two sister ships to Freedom next year and in 2008 followed by one of the company’s projected even larger ‘Project Genesis’ vessels.
Royal Caribbean’s president Adam Goldstein, attending a series of trade previews of 3,600-passenger Freedom in Southampton (see separate story), said: “Our intention is to keep all ships in the fleet for the forseeable future.”
He added that this strategy was consistent with the company’s aim to have a “formidable” presence in North America while continuing to increase capacity in Europe and exploring other parts of the world.
Royal Caribbean will offer 60,000 berths across the fleet with the arrival of Genesis in three years time and older vessels are refurbished, Goldstein added.
The line’s European head Susan Hooper disclosed that Legend of the Seas, due to operate its second summer of sailings from Southampton this year, would be re-deployed to offer other Mediterranean itineraries in 2007 when Voyager-class ship Navigator of the Seas starts its first ex-UK cruises.
“Royal Caribbean is dead serious about getting its share of the European cruise market,” she said.
This summer, Royal Caribbean is running Voyager of the Seas from Barcelona for the first time, Spendour of the Seas from Venice and Legend from Southampton.
UK managing director Robin Shaw said more people were now taking cruises than going on ski holidays.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive