The current weakness of the pound against the dollar is “painful”, according to the boss of Carnival Cruise Line but she said the value of a cruise still outweighed higher air fares.
Speaking in Southampton on board the line’s newest ship Carnival Celebration, president and chief executive Christine Duffy said: “The currency issue at the moment is painful, but the value for money you get for a cruise compared to a land-based European holiday, even if you pay for the airline ticket to the US, is just incredible.”
She urged UK agents to sell clients on cruises out of Miami and New York.
Duffy added that cruises restarting in Australia – from both Sydney and Brisbane – should also appeal to British passengers.
The fact that airlines have not returned to full capacity since the pandemic was “truly an obstacle”, but she said: “We will see over time that the demand will settle in and the airlines will get their full capacity back and overcome their labour issues. I am optimistic.”
Duffy revealed Carnival had “hit 110% occupancy” this summer, despite families with younger children not being able to travel on its ships due to Covid restrictions. With all vaccination requirements now lifted, Duffy predicted an even stronger 2023.
“We benefited from being the first cruise line to have all our ships back in service by May this year. But with kids needing to be vaccinated, we’ve missed them on board. But that’s all changed now. It’s a great opportunity for agents.”
Carnival Celebration, the line’s second Excel-class LNG-powered ship, was calling in Southampton as it sailed from the shipyard in Finland to its new homeport of Miami. It is the first time in 20 years that Carnival Cruise Line has brought a ship into the UK.
Carnival held its annual international summit on board the sailing to Southampton, with partners from the UK, the US, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Argentina and Brazil.
Another 200 UK agents were invited for a ship tour and lunch on board before Celebration embarked on its first fare-paying sailing, a 14-night transatlantic voyage to its new homeport of Miami.
Duffy said it was really important to showcase its new ship to the UK trade.
“The UK market is growing. Brits have P&O and Cunard, but this is American-style sailing. It’s a different experience. It’s Carnival-style fun,” she said.
“It’s great for British agents to see this ship, and then sell this ship. I can’t tell you how exciting this day has been, finally giving our UK travel partners the opportunity to see our new Excel-class ship.”
Asked if Carnival would ever base a ship like Celebration in the UK, Duffy said: “Never say never”, but it is not in current plans.
Carnival Celebration features six unique zones, including the new Miami-themed 820 Biscayne, travel-inspired The Gateway, the Celebration Central atrium, as well as the BOLT roller coaster.
Celebration is one of five new ships being added to the Carnival fleet over the next two years.
The line added a second ship in Australia on Sunday as ex-Costa vessel Carnival Luminosa began sailing from Brisbane, and next year, the line’s third Excel-class ship Carnival Jubilee will debut from Galveston.
Carnival is introducing a new concept, ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style,’ with two other former Costa ships, Carnival Venezia joining next spring from New York City and Carnival Firenze in 2024 from Long Beach in California.