Royal Caribbean International’s UK boss has outlined the key dates when agents will have the chance to experience the line’s best-selling products in 2020.
Speaking at Royal’s 5th birthday event on Thursday, Ben Bouldin called the line’s relationship with the trade as “absolutely pivotal” to the business’ success.
Bouldin, Royal’s UK managing director, said next year agents would be invited to see a revamped Oasis-class ship Allure of the Seas in early summer, Quantum-class ship Anthem of the Seas in Southampton and the line’s second Quantum Ultra-class ship Odyssey of the Seas towards the end of 2020.
He said: “Product experience is the best way of learning. Allure of the Seas is in Barcelona [next summer] and our anticipation is we will run an event as the ship moves into its season, likely to be April/May, between Malaga and Barcelona.”
Sales for Anthem of the Seas, which will be based in Southampton next summer, had been “astonishing” and were outperforming the line’s Chinese-based vessels Quantum of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas, Bouldin said.
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“We will have the ability to tap into Anthem every week of the year in the summer,” he said.
On Odyssey of the Seas, which will first sail out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Caribbean itineraries, Bouldin said there would be “a big trade event” going to the line’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in autumn.
“I can promise you that everyone in this room will see Perfect Day with us next year because you need to see it to believe it,” he added.