Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, is 37 days away from delivery, according to Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Adam Goldstein.
Addressing an audience of senior travel executives at an e-tid dinner in London’s Lanesborough Hotel, Goldstein said the launch of Oasis of the Seas would help achieve the company’s desire to “combat the myths and misconceptions about cruise”.
Those misconceptions, he said, are that cruising is for old people, that it is regimented and that people get seasick.
Goldstein acknowledged the challenges the economic downturn had created, and added: “There is an opportunity we all feel exists. The additional investment [in new ships] may be painful in the current environment, and the pay-offs may be deferred gratification.”
The US market will continue to be important, he said, “but nowhere near the percentage it has previously enjoyed”. And one of the “exciting” markets the company will look at developing is China.
Goldstein said that when he is asked why choose occupancy at the expense of rate, he tells people: “It is better for shareholders, because customers spend while they’re on board. It is better for guests because a full ship is better in terms of ambience than when it is half full. And it is better for employees, especially gratuity earners.”
He said cruising could still offer people value in the downturn, suggesting that Royal Caribbean’s new tagline should be: “At least one week a year doesn’t have to suck.”
Oasis of the Seas will have its home port at Fort Lauderdale, and its first sailing on December 1 will be a four-night voyage to Labadee in Haiti.