Celebrity Cruises’ boss says Brexit must be resolved before a decision on whether to deploy an Edge-series ship in the UK for a full season can be considered.
Speaking on board a revamped Celebrity Summit in the Caribbean, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said the UK market was being impacted by Brexit uncertainty.
She said she had often been asked when Celebrity Edge or Celebrity Apex would homeport in Southampton.
Around 1,000 agents in the UK will have the opportunity to see Celebrity Edge in May when the ship comes to Southampton for the 2019 Clia Conference and on subsequent ship visits later in the summer.
Travel Weekly’s Harry Kemble takes a tour on board Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Apex, the second Edge-series ship, will launch in the UK next summer and complete a mini-season from Southampton before repositioning to the Mediterranean.
Lutoff-Perlo said: “Launching Apex in the UK is a big vote of confidence from me in the UK market, and I am really hoping that the market responds well to it.
“I think we are probably not doing as well as I thought we would and that is probably a lot to do with what is going in the UK at the moment.
“I keep being asked if we will put an Edge-series ship ex-UK for a whole season.
“We really have to crawl before we walk, before we run, before we have an Edge-series ship sailing ex-UK to make sure that there is enough demand at the right rates.”
Lutoff-Perlo said business had been affected by Brexit, adding: “I am hoping there is a decision soon so that we can all carry on.”
The UK is the line’s number two market after the US.