UK market to return to growth 2015, young people greatest challenge – Leven
The British cruise market should resume growth this year after a drop in 2014, said Stuart Leven, Managing Director of Royal Caribbean International UK & Ireland.
“I wasn’t surprised by the drop at all. There was less capacity deployed ex UK last year,” he told Cruise Business onboard the new Anthem of the Seas.
The British source market is of strategic importance for the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’S (RCCL) contemporary market unit, he said, adding that Oasis class tonnage could not be deployed in Barcelona without strong support of the British source market. Half of the customers the company sources from the UK sail from Southampton, while the other half goes on fly cruises. Europe, where the company has seven ships this summer, is the most favoured fly cruise destination, followed by the Caribbean.
“We will bring Dubai back in December. It has been a favourite among British passengers,” Leven pointed out.
(Full story at cruisebusiness.com)
