p20 cruise nov28 25/11/08 17:47 Page 20
Cruise
Lee Hayhurst
020 7921 8001
lhayhurst@ttglive.com
For the latest cruise news, visit
ttglive.com/cruise
Oasis unique split-level loft suites
The world’s largest cruise ship took to the water for the first
time last week. Kay McLellan reports from Turku in Finland
■ There will be
28 two-deck
loft suites at
the top of the
ship, covering
decks 17
and 18, with
25-foot-high
floor-to-ceiling
windows.
■ There will be
24 standard lofts, illustrated above, with
two showers and flatscreen TVs, including
one that drops down from the ceiling
above the bed.
■ The ship will have two slightly larger lofts
and one luxury Royal Suite.
■ One loft suite will have a self-contained
lift offering wheelchair access.
Oasis to bypass UK for launch
THE WORLD’S largest cruise ship is unlikely to class, Independence of the Seas, was based in “It’s not about Britain. There is hardly anywhere
stop in Britain for inaugural celebrations as it Southampton this summer. with good weather in November. We had the same
makes its way to the US for its official launch in But speaking at the float-out of Oasis of the problem when we launched Solstice recently.”
December 2009. Seas, Royal Caribbean chairman and chief Royal Caribbean had hoped to host a launch
Royal Caribbean International’s UK office was executive Richard Fain said the ship was unlikely party in Southampton for Solstice, but this
hoping Oasis of the Seas would spend time in to make more than a stop for provisions in was cancelled and the ship started commercial
the UK before heading to the US for its inaugural Southampton next November. operations earlier than originally planned.
season in the Caribbean. He said this was because the weather in the Attention has now turned to who will become
The UK has staged major launch events for UK was unlikely to be good at that time of year. the ship’s godmother. Royal Caribbean is likely
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class ships, currently “Oasis is all about the outdoor areas and we to continue its recent trend of using “an unsung
the largest in operation. The final vessel in the want it to be shown to best advantage,” said Fain. hero” rather than a celebrity.
‘Aggressive’ sales strategy is paying off
ROYAL CARIBBEAN has said it is meeting its 20% of bookings were usually made 12 months especially include working with the trade, with a
sales targets for Oasis of the Seas more than in advance. lot of training. We will take a number of our
a year before its maiden voyage, despite the Rzymowska expects Oasis’s back-to-back partners out for the launch of Oasis of the Seas.”
economic downturn. 14-night cruises, made up of two seven-night Rzymowska said the construction of the
But the line said it would maintain an “aggres- itineraries, to be popular with UK customers, as 5,400-passenger ship and its sister Allure of the
sive” sales strategy, particularly during the turn well as cruise and stay holidays. Seas was a clear sign of the company’s commit-
of year “wave” period. But she added: “Holidays for 2010 will sell ment to the market.
UK general manager Jo Rzymowska said sales slower because people are looking short term at “Royal Caribbean is continuing to invest in its
for the ship’s seven-night winter Caribbean the moment. business,” she said. “We are not in it for a year or
cruises were “where we want them to be”. “In January and February, we will have to two, but the long term. It is short-sighted to stop
Although she could not give figures, she said make sure we are being very aggressive. This will what we are doing, even if business is tougher.”
20 28.11.2008
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