Madrid, February 1, 2018.—PullmanturCruises—the only cruise line on the market offering a 100% Spanish product—closed out 2017 witha 34% increase in the number of Spanish passengers, a growth trend closely linked to anexpansion of its offeringstailored to this market. In this way, the company is expanding and strengthening its position in the Spanish market.
In the words ofRichard J. Vogel, President & CEO of Pullmantur Cruises, “this spectacular result was driven by a significant increase in our offerings in Spain, with three of our four ships serving this market during the peak season, compared to two the previous year.” This “allowed us to once again offer our guests itineraries that are in high demand, such as the Greek Islands and the Venetian Rondo.”
Vogel adds: “Another factor to keep in mind is that, for the first time, we sailed in the Canary Islands during the winter months, expanding our portfolio—which meant that, for the first time in history, we operated year-round from a Spanish port.”
In total, Pullmantur Cruises made161 port calls at Spanish ports, of whichnearly70% were for embarkation and disembarkation. Looking ahead to 2018, that figure will remain virtually the same.
20 million euros in investment in Sovereign
In late November 2017, the Sovereign left the Cádiz Shipyard (Navantia) after undergoing a three-week refurbishment. The project involved 42 companies and approximately 1,000 workers, and 20 million euros were invested.
After the Brazilian season ends, the Sovereign will arrive at the port of Barcelona on March 26, from where it will set sail every Monday through November 19.
Positive Outlook for 2018
Looking ahead to this new season, Richard J. Vogel notes: “Our main goal is to maintain the passenger volume we achieved in 2017.” “It won’t be easy, but I am absolutely convinced that we will reach our goal,” he adds.
In this regard, Vogel explains: “We are working hard across all areas of the company to further improve our product, introduce new features, and continually highlight our key selling point: we are the only cruise line that brings the Spanish lifestyle to the cruise experience.”
New Routes: From North Cape to Dubai
Among Pullmantur Cruises' new offerings in terms of itineraries for 2018, the launch of "Pullmantur Cruises Exclusive Destinations" stands out. Dreams that become journeys.
This sub-brand offers itineraries that invite passengers to experience their vacations—both on land and on board—to the fullest and provides them with the opportunity to participate in themed excursions and activities on board, depending on the route.
This umbrella includes the following routes:“Expedition ” to the Arctic Circle,“Secret Corners of the Mediterranean,” and“Dubai and Legends of Arabia.” The latter is a new itinerary that will take Horizon passengers to the United Arab Emirates and Oman in a distinctly Spanish atmosphere. With this route, the company will operate in this region for the first time in its history.
