The boss of Royal Caribbean International expects “a lot” of new-to-cruise passengers to sail on Icon of the Seas.
Michael Bayley described how the new-to-cruise market was the line’s “sweet spot” and pointed out that more than a million passengers who had never cruised before sailed on a Royal ship in 2019.
He explained how offering shorter sailings on the line’s latest ships which called into Royal’s private island destination Perfect Day in the Bahamas appealed to new-to-cruise passengers.
More: Royal Caribbean’s new-to-brand UK passengers ‘in excess of 50%’
Icon of the Seas is scheduled to call into Perfect Day during every sailing in its debut Caribbean season in 2024.
“That combination of Perfect Day and great ships has done wonders for new to cruise [passengers],” he said. “One of the things that has helped a lot is the shore product.”
Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International’s senior vice president of sales, trade support and service, outlined how the line was switching Oasis-class vessels, such as 6,780-capacity Allure of the Seas (pictured), to shorter sailings to attract first-time cruisers.
“We’re evolving Oasis class to go on to short sailings,” she said. “Not all of them of course but Allure of the Seas from next October 2023 will be on three to four-day cruises out of Port Canaveral.
“The advantage is we are introducing an Oasis class on a shorts product so people who have never cruised before go crazy for that opportunity to be on the most amazing ships.”
Bayley added: “We try to have products in our brand that are relevant to our customers.”