NEWS SPECIAL REPORT
for 2022 and 2023,” he adds. However, Bouldin points out that
while the vaccine is crucial to the cruise industry’s future, Royal has been successfully operating reduced capacity sailings on Quantum of the Seas in Singapore since before the country’s vaccination programme began on December 30. “Pre-vaccine [sailings] do
come with a few limitations and requirements on the testing front and social distancing,” he says. “The vaccine is going to play a role, but we have not defined what that role is yet.”
2021 outlook A survey in December of 400 Mail Metro Media readers found one in six said the vaccine rollout makes them more likely to book a cruise, with one in three planning to sail this year. Is this positive sentiment reflected
in Royal and NCL bookings for 2021? Bouldin says his team’s focus is on
2022, but reports “good demand” for this year, particularly for the fourth quarter. For the first time, Royal will be basing a ship, Grandeur of the Seas, in Barbados from December, with the UK expected to be a primary source market.
travelweekly.co.uk
We’re not seeing the
volumes for 2021 that we would normally see but we are seeing huge forward demand
“That’s far enough in advance
that people will think that we’re through the worst of this [pandemic] and hopefully a good chunk will be vaccinated by then,” says Bouldin, adding that trade feedback has been “excellent”. Royal is determined to launch
Quantum Ultra-class ship Odyssey of the Seas this year. The line suspended sailings until April 30, and in doing so effectively cancelled the ship’s planned mini-season out of Southampton earlier in April. Admitting the announcement was
“a blow”, Bouldin says: “It essentially means we push the plans back a bit. At the moment, the season now starts in Spain rather than Southampton.” Due to obvious constraints, Ferrin
says NCL is “not seeing the volumes for 2021 that we would normally see”.
However, the line is reporting “huge growth” for 2022, 2023 and 2024. “Sometimes we’re seeing triple-
digit growth year on year,” he adds. NCL has never had so many
future sailings on sale. Ferrin adds: “What we’re seeing
that is more unusual is huge forward demand, which we’re exceptionally happy with.”
Pricing picture NCL and Royal report that pricing has remained strong in 2021. Bouldin is adamant that he will not be drawn into a price war with other lines in this year’s lates market. “I’ve seen some very reduced
pricing in the market, but that’s not a game I have any intention of getting involved in because I don’t think we need to,” he says. “We have one ship [Anthem of the Seas] ex-UK and it’s well-sold already. “I don’t worry about a lates market
as I would in previous years. Lates will be about higher prices and a race [to cater] for demand as opposed to people having to discount to fill.
Eamonn Ferrin
21 JANUARY 2021 11 Ferrin agrees the lates market
could see a sales frenzy. He says: “If we’re seeing this huge demand for 2022, 2023 and 2024, and then you see huge late demand for 2021 in Q3, Q4, you’ll see huge volumes.” Bouldin says: “The demand has got to be there and it will rebound
quickly when cruising restarts.” i News You Can Use, pages 17-18
h wave of demand
PICTURES: Charles Sturge; Shutterstock
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