News

Strong sales for Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas - 30 Nov 2006

(30 November 2006)

Sales for Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas are on track to hit the cruiseline’s 60% sales target by the end of the year.

Approximately 55% of the programme on the 3,800-passenger Voyager-class ship has been sold compared to last year when just 45% on the smaller 2,000-passenger Legend of the Seas had been snapped up.

The promising start to Navigator of the Seas’ sales comes after Royal Caribbean agreed a seven-year, £10 million deal with Southampton docks operator Associated British Ports that will see the City Cruise Terminal extended to cater for larger ships.

Royal Caribbean UK sales and marketing director Jo Rzymowska said the increased sales have been achieved while maintaining prices. Rzymowska said the cruiseline is benefiting from a “halo effect” following the massive publicity that surrounded the inaugural celebrations in Southampton for Freedom of the Seas in May, something that will be repeated when sistership Liberty of the Seas arrives on April 22.

“We have been very focused on ensuring our trade partners know what Navigator is all about, it’s such a great news story for ex-UK cruising,” Rzymowska said.

“Our marketing is geared towards attracting first-timers. It is such an exciting ship people will try us for the first time even if they have cruised before.”

P&O Cruises commercial director Nigel Esdale said the success of Navigator is good news for cruising because it proves the demand is strong, which in turn means prices will be maintained.

“We all want strength in the marketplace and while you might wish you were the only player, in reality the more people talking about cruise the better it is for everybody.”

by Lee Hayhurst (About this Author)