p22-23 Cruise/Oasis Dec4 1/12/09 17:27 Page 22
news cruise special report
ttglive.com
Oasis of the Seas launch: UK agents joined international
trade and media onboard Royal Caribbean’s giant new ship
last week. Sara Macefield gauges their views in Florida
Agents report fall
in prices for Oasis
OASIS of the Seas have to drop to
wowed UK agents, but what the market is
many felt it would not prepared to pay.”
command premium Couser said the
pricing compared with price of Oasis had
other ships in the deterred some of
Royal Caribbean fleet. his customers from
Several retailers booking and they
said prices had fallen had held off in the
significantly for 2010 hope that rates
sailings since cruises would come down.
on the ship first went RCI president and
on sale. chief executive Adam
“An Aquaview stateroom, with internal Goldstein (pictured) denied cutting prices.
balcony, originally sold for £1,100, with tax, “There is no decrease in premium pricing,” he
cruise-only; now it costs just over £700 for a said. “This ship is considerably more booked at
January cruise,” said one agent. far higher rates than any other ship in our fleet.”
Alan Couser, business development manager of Graham Dullop, director of Cruise Club
Cruise Connections in Northern Ireland, added: International, said customers who had taken
“People were paying a premium when it first advantage of cruise price savings on Oasis might
went on sale, as always happens with a new ship. be encouraged to spend more onboard.
INNOVATION.
“Demand exceeded the norm, as it is a whole “What Royal Caribbean loses in cruise rev-
new concept. But as it beds down, the price will enue, it will gain in onboard spending,” he added.
Ship introduces
AGENTS’ REACTIONS.
reservations tool
Praise for ship’s ‘clever’ design
ROYAL CARIBBEAN is pioneering two initiatives
on Oasis of the Seas to help it manage the high
number of passengers who will want to watch the
AGENTS were impressed not just by the size of the interior staterooms with views of the Central shows and eat in the ship’s speciality restaurants.
Oasis of the Seas, but by its overall design too. Park and Boardwalk areas “give us a chance to It has launched a reservations system that
Several UK retailers praised the way adult- upsell passengers from a standard inside cabin customers will be able to use before they get
orientated areas such as the Solarium and to a higher category interior room”. onboard to book shows and restaurants.
Central Park had been separated from livelier Criticisms were few. Phil Nuttall, Their cruise card will act as their ticket. Staff
family-focused areas such as the Boardwalk. managing director of The Cruise Village, on the the doors of the various entertainment
“It is very clever and not just gimmicky,” felt the ensuite bathrooms were a bit venues will swipe the card on hand-held
said Iglu Cruise head of commercial small, while Dullop felt the ship’s size scanners to check the reservation details.
David Mills. “Even the pool deck has limited the itineraries it could offer. Critics claim such a system removes spontane-
two parts, with the children’s zone Alan Couser of Cruise Connections ity from the trip, but RCI chiefs say passengers
separated from the adult area.” added: “It’s going to appeal to people will still be able to book once they’re onboard or
Andrea Kendal, head of commercial at wanting a fun relaxing time. But Oasis even turn up on the evening as only a certain
Hays Travel, praised the entertainment was not built to go to destinations – it proportion of seats will be booked far in advance.
and said the production of Hairspray was built to be the destination.” The second innovation is Oasis 360, a special
(pictured) “was the best show I’ve seen Most agents agreed that they familiarisation session to be held on the first day
on a cruise ship”. hadn’t anticipated the ship’s scale of the cruise. It will inform passengers of the
Graham Dullop, director of Cruise or atmosphere, which they felt various activities and enable them to book them.
Club International, thought the accom- would be hard to convey to
modation was impressive and said potential customers. ■ ‘Innovative touches on Oasis’: Letters, p34
22 04.12.2009
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