Royal Caribbean believes its strong brand and appeal around the world will make certain that it remains an exciting cruise option despite increased competition from local cruise companies as well as protect it from from any potential over capacity in the Australian cruise market.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean announced that it will have five of its ships operating in the Australia/New Zealand region in 2012-2013.  The big news was when Royal Caribbean announced Voyager of the Seas was coming to the region, the largest cruise ship ever to regularly operate there.

In total, there will be 12 New Zealand, South Pacific and Australian itineraries from November 2012 and that could lead to a problem of there being too much capacity and not enough customers for the market.

Royal Caribbean Australia commercial manager, Adam Armstrong did admit there is the potential for that problem in the future, but was confident Royal Caribbean could overcome an obstacle like that.

“But the opportunity we’ve highlighted is for a different kind of product,” he said. “We have more international-style product, have an international cuisine and a guest mix that other operators don’t have.”

In addition to Royal Caribbean's brand, Armstrong believes as much as 30-40% of the cruise guests coming to Australia will be international cruisers.

“Of our three Royal Caribbean ships, Voyager has the biggest and broadest range of kids facilities so we will be pushing families on those cruises."

“We’ve had a very successful couple of years since we opened an office here and have lifted average yields on local cruises,” he continued. “There are price pressures but we wouldn’t be putting another ship in the market unless we thought we could sustain a similar level of pricing.”

We reported earlier this week that Royal Caribbean will send Serenade of the Seas to replace Brilliance of the Seas for the winter 2012-13 season.  Already people familiar with the Persian Gulf cruise market are excited for the move.

Oman Tourism manager for Australia & New Zealand, Mona Tannous, spoke with e-Travel Blackboard yesterday about the move and shared her excitement.

“I am delighted at this news - cruising in the region is only growing and this is a welcome addition. Cruise passenger arrivals into Oman rose to 231,100 in 2010 which is a 72% increase on 2009 with the Ministry of Tourism expecting visitor arrivals to exceed well above 300,000 by 2015.”

“Muscat Harbour is a visually stunning port to sail into. You have this sense of stepping back in time as you sail past the ancient 16th century twin forts that stand guard over the harbour, as old Muscat is slowly revealed to passengers as they sail into the port - simply breathtaking.”

Senior Manager Trade, Marketing & Strategic Relations DTCM, Veronica Rainbird, thinks the new cruise tour option will be a big hit, “The Arabian Explorer cruise tour itinerary, which combines a four-night escorted land tour with Serenade of the Seas’ seven-night cruise is a wonderful initiative for Dubai, one we look forward to promoting in both the Australian and New Zealand marketplace."

Royal Caribbean launched a new promotion today for its cruises to the western Caribbean, departing between July 16, 2011 and May 27, 2012. Guests who make reservations on Wednesday (06/22), will receive $100 onboard credit per stateroom on all cruises aboard Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas of seven nights, and $50 for itineraries of five or six nights on sailings between November 12, 2011, and April 19, 2012 on the Liberty of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas or Navigator of the Seas.

The offer applies only to new bookings, and cabins must belong to the categories or suites with a balcony outside. The credit can be used to pay expenses of board and spa treatments, shopping in stores or in the casino.

Royal Caribbean aims to expand in the Italian cruise market and announced Genoa, Italy as the second port of call for Mediterranean cruises.

Starting on July 23, 2011 and running to September 3, 2011, Mariner of the Seas will sail from Genoa and offer Western Mediterannean seven-night cruises to the guests that will visit Cannes, Ajaccio, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.

Mariner of the Seas arrived in late March for the first time ever in the Mediterranean where she sails from Italy in the port of Civitavecchia.  In October 2011, two alternating 12-night itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean (at the beginning and end of season) and itineraries of seven nights in the central western Mediterranean in the season. 

We're hearing a report that Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas will replace Brilliance of the Seas in cruises that leave from Dubai in the winter 2012-2013 season.

The new sailings aboard Serenade of the Seas will offer 17 sailings that depart every Monday on seven-night itineraries that include stops in the United Arab Emirates and Oman  from December 2012 through April 2013.

In addition, guests aboard Serenade of the Seas can choose a Royal Caribbean cruisetour, that will allow them  to explore attractions further inland. 

Royal Caribbean will keep Serenade of the Seas in Dubai until a April 15, 2013 sailing that will bring her back to Barcelona.

Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president of sales and trade support and services, Vicki L. Freed, believes travel agents play a vital role in selling Royal Caribbean cruises still.

In an interview with Travel Market Report, Freed indicated that Royal Caribbean still values the role travel agents play in today's market, “We look at travel agents as a very efficient cost of distribution.  You can’t look strictly at cost per transaction. It really has to be looked at as a value that the travel agent brings to us.”

In addition, the knowledge a good travel agent can have will often be helpful to the customer, "Travel agents bring value because oftentimes the consumer comes in thinking they want a certain type of vacation and a knowledgeable travel agent can say, ‘I think I have a better alternative.’".

For the first time, Royal Caribbean will offer cruises departing from the harbor of Toulon, France next year. Every Sunday from June 3 to October 21, 2012, Liberty of the Seas will sail from the port of La Seyne-sur-Mer for cruises of eight days and seven nights in the western Mediterranean.

Commissioned in 2008, this giant 339 feet long and 158,000 tons in 1800 has cabins, a capacity of 3600 passengers in double. The cruises available with boarding at La Seyne will dock in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Livorno (trips to Pisa and Florence), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples and Barcelona, ​​before returning to the harbor of Toulon.

Note that this year, the Liberty of the Seas is already visiting the port Var, without loading or unloading of passengers. 

Photo by ravennanotizie.it