Cruises: RCL fast on Carnival’s heels

Genoa - 2016 will be a year of growth for Royal Caribbean International (RCL). According to the 2016-2017 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, passenger capacity at the cruise company headed by Michael Bayley will grow by 13.4%, with over 4 million passengers forecasted this calendar year. These numbers reflect investments made under the new development plan presently being implemented: between 2014 and 2020 RCL has seven new ships planned, two more of the Oasis class and five of the Quantum class. Thanks to these developments, Royal Caribbean will narrow the gap with its traditional rival, Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise line. More specifically, this year Royal Caribbean will fully utilize new capacity offered by Anthem of the Seas, launched last April. In March, the small Empress of the Sea will resume service under the main brand, after an eight-year spell under its subsidiary, Pullmantur Cruceros. Her return to the fleet will add an extra 1,600 passenger capacity, to be used for mini-cruises departing from Miami. In April, the season begins with the debut of Ovation of the Seas that will expand capacity by a further 4,188 passengers.

But the cruise event of the year will be the entry into service of Harmony of the Seas, the world’s largest passenger ship currently under construction in the shipyards of Saint Nazaire STX France. At over 227,000 gross tons, she will exceed the record size of her sisters, Oasis and Allure: adding 5,494 extra passenger capacity to the fleet. The ship will debut with inaugural cruises departing from Southampton in May, then she will move to the Mediterranean, homeporting in Barcelona and Civitavecchia. The renewal of Royal Caribbean’s fleet concludes with the sale of Splendour of the Seas to Thompson Cruises: 1,804 fewer spaces, but overall a positive balance of 9,478 extra passenger capacity, which translates to 4,739 more cabins available on the market.

Carnival Cruise Lines is not standing idle either. Carnival Vista, the new flagship of the company founded by Ted Arison, is being completed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone. Her maiden voyage will start from Trieste on 1 May, and will add 3,934 passenger capacity. These numbers confirm how Royal Caribbean is shortening its distance from front runner Carnival, which in the coming years will have to defend its leadership: that’s 3 new ships to one in favour of Royal Caribbean, over the 2018-2020 period.