Oasis of the Seas could be sailing in Europe or the Far East in a few years as more destinations invest in the infrastructure needed to take bigger cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Adam Goldstein said when the 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas launched in 1999, it was a “tremendous advance” in size and concept and no one believed there would ever be more than a couple of Voyager-class ships, or that they would operate outside the Caribbean.
Now there are not only five Voyager-class ships, but there are three bigger 3,634-passenger Freedom-class ships and one of those – Independence of the Seas – is sailing from the UK.
Speaking this week on the newly-launched 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, now the world’s biggest cruise ship, Goldstein said: “We see Oasis sailing in the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for now, but it could be positioned anywhere in future as more countries invest in their port infrastructures.
“Both Singapore and Hong Kong, for instance, are each building new terminals capable of handling Oasis-class ships.”
Goldstein said Royal Caribbean does not build big because it thinks it is better, but it has increased the size of its ships in the past 40 years to offer passengers more choice and variety.
“We are delivering the ‘wow’,” he said, claiming the interest surrounding the launch of Oasis of the Seas could be sustained until next December, when sister ship Allure of the Seas is launched.
He said: “The amount of excitement generated at the prospect of cruising on a ship like Oasis will be around for a long time.”
Goldstein admitted the company has had the most difficult year in its history, but said it is still profitable and as a result, its standing has improved.
He said: “The cruising industry generally, and Royal Caribbean in particular, have proved they are resilient to challenging economic forces. I’m not thrilled we had to discount, but passengers are still cruising and we are pleased going forward.”