The boss of Azamara Club Cruises has hinted that the line will buy its fourth ship from another brand rather than build new hardware.
Larry Pimentel, the line’s chief executive and president, was questioned at Travel Weekly’s Business Executive Dinner last night (June 14) about where Azamara’s fourth ship would come from.
Pimentel broke down the process it takes to source, finance and build a new ship, and suggested that buying a used vessel was quicker to do.
He said: “New builds are taking three and a half to four years from point of concept to point of delivery.
“That is a little frustrating. I think we are not opposed to looking at the hull which we think is good and rebuilding the whole thing.
“Put enough money in there and you can make it look entirely different. I think a fourth ship could come to us rapidly in a year or two, yet that would be a ship that we rebuilt.”
In August, Azamara will launch its third ship, which was acquired from P&O Cruises, where it sailed under the name Adonia.
Pimentel went on to suggest that Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited – Azamara’s parent company – was well placed to refit an old ship.
“If there is a company that could do that is Royal Caribbean because they have got the talent and the skill set, so that could be one way,” he said.
“The short answer is that a fourth ship is an older ship, rebuilt and a new ship is a three and a half to four year process. It is just the time that it takes.”