54 FEATURE
cruising: new ships
SEA CHANGE NEW SHIPS
New ships and new features are helping to maintain and even accelerate the momentum of cruise growth says Jeannine Williamson
the new wave of ships feature everything from a sky-diving simulator and dodgem cars to luxury all-suite accommodation. Says Alex White, UK Head of Sales at Princess
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Cruises: “This is an exciting time for the industry with continued investment evident with the launch of six new ocean cruise ships this year and a further seven more in 2015. Each new ship offers exciting innovations and passengers are always excited to experience something new, whether it is a destination they haven’t visited, trying something new at sea or on shore, or the ship itself.” The SeaWalk, a glass-bottomed walkway
extending 28ft beyond the edge of the vessel, will be among the features on the 3,560-passenger Regal Princess, the sister ship to Royal Princess, being launched in May. The two largest ships sailing in the fl eet, Regal Princess will sail on 12-night Mediterranean
s the cruising market continues to boom, with more than 1.7 million Brits booking cruise holidays each year,
itineraries between Venice and Barcelona. Also following in the wake of NCL’s sister ship
Breakaway is Norwegian Getaway, which launched in January. Sailing year-round from Miami, the all-singing all-dancing vessel, with its eye- catching hull designed by Miami artist David ‘LEBO’ Le Batard, carries 4,028 passengers and offers a choice of 28 restaurants, a water park, rock-climbing wall and zip line. New attractions include the Illusionarium, a dining experience with close-up magic and special effects. There will be more thrills aboard Royal Caribbean
International’s Quantum of the Seas, the fi rst in the line’s Quantum class that will make its inaugural eight-night transatlantic voyage from Southampton in November. Among the wow factors will be a sky-diving simulator, bumper cars and the North Star, a glass capsule rising 300ft above sea level to provide 360 degree views. The 16-deck, 4,180-passenger ship will be followed by sibling vessel Anthem of the Seas in spring 2015. “We take the view that the ships must in some
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way innovate and pioneer the cruise proposition for both existing guests and new audiences,” said Stuart Leven, Managing Director, Royal Caribbean International, UK and Ireland. “Our belief is that the on-board experience is as much a part of their holiday as the destinations to which we travel. But while innovation is inherent in all that we do, it mustn’t be innovation for innovation’s sake. New developments must be made at the right time and respond to, or anticipate, consumer trends.”
“This is an exciting time for the industry with continued investment evident with the launch of six new ocean cruise ships this year and a further seven more in 2015”
ALEX WHITE, UK HEAD OF SALES, PRINCESS CRUISES
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