The company faces a 2014 full of new developments, including the launch of the highly anticipated and revolutionary 'Quantum of the Seas' and the arrival in Europe of the world's largest cruise ship, the 'Oasis of the Seas', with departures from Barcelona. They are also diversifying their routes after recently reaching the milestone of 50 million passengers.
Whatever happens with sales, which are promising and in line with the volume of new offerings Royal Caribbean is finalizing, there's no doubt that 2014 is shaping up to be a great year for the American cruise line. The company, which has won over thousands of Spanish cruise passengers with the consistent quality offered by all its ships, has plenty to offer in the coming year. For starters, there's a launch that not only features a new ship but also opens the door to a new class, the Quantum, with all the surprises that entails for a company always striving for even greater achievements. But it will also be a pivotal year as it takes the strategic step of bringing the world's largest cruise ship, the Oasis of the Seas, to Europe, with the added bonus of establishing its limited sailings precisely from Barcelona.
Royal Caribbean quickly won over Spanish cruisers with its family-friendly offerings, excellent service and cuisine, and great value for money. The company has weathered the economic crisis that has led some of its competitors to offer ridiculously low fares, sometimes at the expense of quality. Royal has avoided price gouging by carefully balancing its Mediterranean cruise lineup with demand and ensuring a consistent ship rotation to capture cruiser interest, even painfully eliminating some sailings, as happened in the case of Málaga.
After years of a whirlwind of new ship launches, the cruise line slowed down and focused on updating some of its most iconic vessels, with an eye toward developing a new class of ship. This endeavor has yielded positive results in terms of ship occupancy, as evidenced by the celebration of the 50 millionth passenger just a few months ago, after 45 years at sea. There were parties on every ship, like an early New Year's Eve. But the impact of this milestone will be felt throughout the year, during which travelers can share what the company calls WOW moments (their most surprising and enjoyable onboard experiences) on social media using the hashtag #RoyalWOW. And there will be more celebrations and initiatives honoring both passengers and the crew, to whom Chairman and CEO Adam Goldstein largely attributes the fact that passengers "continue to sail with Royal again and again" on the 21 ships in their fleet, as confirmed by the Crown & Anchor loyalty program.
There is no doubt that 2014 is shaping up to be a great year for the American shipping company.
It will be this coming autumn, however, when the cruise line will dominate the industry news. Belén Wangüemert, General Manager for Spain and France at Royal Caribbean, is certain that “2014 will be a landmark year for the company.” “We are very proud to be the only country in Europe to receive the Oasis of the Seas in three of its ports,” she explains to Cruises News. In her opinion, this commitment demonstrates their “dedication to the market and will also benefit different areas of the country from a tourism and economic standpoint.” The cruise line's top executive adds that the decision was not only great news for the group, but also “for the cities and ports where it will call.” To begin with, the anticipation of seeing the world's largest cruise ship, with a capacity for up to 6,360 passengers and 2,394 crew members, and a gross tonnage of 225,282, already generated a flood of bookings as soon as it was announced that the Oasis would be crossing the Atlantic.
The reason for the visit is linked to maintenance work at the Rotterdam shipyards, but within the industry it has been interpreted as a pilot test of the ship's acceptance in Europe and, above all, its operational viability. Fitting its 360-meter length and the enormous logistical capacity required for the embarkation and disembarkation of such a floating city is no easy feat. For this reason, Barcelona, Europe's leading port, was chosen as the departure point for its routes. The possibility of simultaneous operations at docks A and B, and the reliability of dock A (in which €15 million was invested five years ago), means that the Port of Barcelona has long referred in its brochures to its facilities as "specially designed to accommodate the new generation of ships," among which it mentions the Oasis, almost as if it were an oracle.
The Oasis-class supership will arrive in Barcelona on September 13th, from where it will embark on two five-night cruises (13th and 18th) through the Eastern Mediterranean, with stops in Rome and Naples and two days at sea. These days are essential to fully enjoy the ship's 16 expansive decks, its seven themed neighborhoods, its enormous Aquatheatre (complete with an acrobatic diving pool), the unique Central Park with 12,000 live plants, a zip line, two surf pools, a carousel, and a variety of designer and family-friendly restaurants. Not to mention the option of enjoying cabins that are essentially interior suites (without ocean views) but feature balconies overlooking the ship's open spaces, offering private vantage points. For those seeking more time to explore, there is a third seven-night cruise to the Netherlands, with stops in Málaga and Vigo, where the ship is eagerly awaited.
Belén Wangüemert, general manager for Royal Caribbean in Spain and France, is certain that “2014 will mark a milestone for the company.” “We are very proud to be the only country in Europe to receive the Oasis of the Seas in three of its ports.”.
Will this be a first step towards regular service in Europe? Wangüemert is confident that “this visit is just the beginning of a promising future for the Oasis-class ships in the Spanish market.” After all, the Allure of the Seas will also be undergoing refurbishment in the near future.
Weeks later, Europe will once again take center stage with the debut of the highly anticipated Quantum of the Seas, the culmination of three years of design and planning. The impact will be twofold. On the one hand, Royal Caribbean is once again going all out, promoting innovations such as 373 staterooms with virtual balconies and the first skydiving simulator, or air machine, that allows passengers to safely "fly" 90 meters above sea level (RipCord by iFly). The company is shifting its focus from striving for ever-larger ships to prioritizing design innovation in this new 167,800-ton jewel, accommodating 4,180 passengers at double occupancy. This move is accompanied by a significant estimated annual growth rate of 4% for the total fleet capacity from 2012 to 2017.
It's worth remembering that the Quantum's sister ships are already underway, with the launch of the Anthem of the Seas in 2015 and the signing of a contract with the Meyer Werft shipyard to build a third ship in France, still unnamed and expected to be ready by mid-2016. The development of this new line involves investing a staggering €1.2 billion annually this year and in 2015, and €2.1 billion in 2016. This level of investment can only be undertaken by a company with a large fleet that visits 270 destinations annually in 72 countries across all continents.
In the case of the first Quantum, which will set sail from Southampton in November for Caribbean routes from New York, the company promises state-of-the-art entertainment areas, including indoor sports courts, bumper cars (in the SeaPlex indoor space), a North Star observation capsule that will lift passengers to the top for 360-degree views, a giant outdoor movie screen… not forgetting the already traditional surf simulators, rock climbing wall, mini-golf, and other Royal Caribbean hits. In a steady stream of new features that are building excitement among brand enthusiasts, they recently announced that the Broadway-licensed musical Mamma Mia will be featured on board.
Regarding the distribution of its ships for 2014, Barcelona will once again be the departure point for the Mediterranean routes of the Liberty of the Seas, with more family-friendly activities, starting with a four-night mini-cruise on May 14, and later with seven-night routes (from May 18 to October 19), with stops in Marseille, Villefranche-sur-Mer, La Spezia, Rome, and Naples. The Catalan capital will also be the home port for the Serenade of the Seas from May to August, with 12-night cruises alternating between Venice and the Mediterranean, and Greek islands and the Mediterranean, a formula that has worked very well in recent years. In the region, the Navigator will operate from Rome, while the Splendour will operate from Venice. Company sources emphasize that almost all the ships operating from Europe have been revitalized, incorporating new dining options, even in the Oasis class
Staying within the continent, the Legend and the Adventure are based in the north. In these latitudes, there will be options to explore the fjords from Hamburg and Copenhagen, the Arctic Circle, or Scandinavia and Russia. The Brilliance also remains true to its European commitment, this time with cruises from London to Baltic capitals and Iceland and Norway, on different itineraries.
Those willing to travel even more nautical miles and explore different itineraries (beyond the extensive Caribbean offerings) also have plenty to choose from, including the transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to New Orleans on November 6th aboard the Serenade, and another sailing on the 22nd, also from Barcelona, this time bound for São Paulo, Brazil. This year, the exotic destinations of other continents offer attractive routes such as those of the Radiance and the Rhapsody, departing from Sydney through the South Pacific or Hawaii, stopping in Moorea, Papeete, Bora Bora, and Honolulu, with voyages ranging from 12 to 18 days.
