Royal Caribbean prepares for Russian boom
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Moscow, September 23rd, 2009 – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is ramping up its drive to
attract Russian cruisers with a dedicated Trade event in Moscow today, during the MATIW –
Moscow Autumn Travel Industry Week.
Royal Caribbean participates in the “International Trade Fair for Tourism”, now in its15th
year. Over the years, the Fair has established itself as the leading global international autumn
eventfor the tourism industry in Russia and the CIS, becoming the annualplatform for the Russianand International key players to find newpartners, identify new business opportunities and set up trends for thecoming season.
Royal Caribbean’s event is dedicated to promotethe first Arabian Gulf season that the company will offer withBrilliance of the Seas from January 2010. LantaTur Voyages,RCCL’sInternational Representative in Russia, sponsored the conference:”Inauguration of Brilliance
of the Seas Gulf Cruises” during themorning at the Trade Fair. In the evening, a formal event will takeplace. Senior figures from Russia’s and Dubai’s travel trade andauthorities will attend the festivities alongside with RCCL’s SeniorVice President International Michael Bayley, RCCL’s Regional VicePresident International, Rama Rebbapragada, Regional Director – EMEAInternational Representatives, Helen Beck, Executives from RoyalCaribbean’s Russian representative Lanta-tur and almost 500 travelagents.
At the event officials from Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing will
present a special award to Liudmila Puchkova, president of Lanta-tur voyage, recognising the
company’s contribution to the Dubai tourism industry.
The event comes as Royal Caribbean enjoys unprecedented growth in the Russian holiday
market.Unofficial figures suggest year-on-year expansion for the business ofover 24% each year since 2006, as Russia’s growing middle classincreasingly looks to explore further afield. The luxury travelindustry represents 3% of travellers and amounts to 20% of total annualtravel expenditure. In Russia, international travels now make up alarge part of travel spending. Forecasts predict an annual 30.5 millionRussians travelling abroad by 2020.
“We have been represented in Russia by Lanta-tur for 11 years and our business is going
fromstrength to strength,” explained Bayley. “We look forward to increaseour growth even further thanks to the successful relationship withLanta-tur and to the popularity of Dubai as a holiday destination. Ourdecision to base Brilliance of the Seas in Dubai from 2010 has Russiansin mind. Iam confident that also the Far Eastern itineraries we offerwith Legend of the Seas will be appreciated by our Russian guests”.
“Typically, Russian guests are looking for fun, great shopping and winter sun - added
LiudmilaPuchkova, president of Lanta-tur Voyages. “Both Emirates Airlines andEtihad Airways offer excellent airlift from Russia and a cruise is afantastic way to experience Dubai and the Arabian Gulf and even tobreak a long-haul trip to the Far East. We know that offering RoyalCaribbean to our guests, we will exceed their expectations: with thesenew itineraries we will increase their choices and opportunities toexperience their best vacation. We also want to be the Trade preferredpartner: this is why we have launched a dedicated cruise bookingwebsite where travel agents can book flight and cruise packages online;we have also launched the Lanta Cruise Club for those travel partnerswho have recognized the growth opportunity that cruising offers”.
To specifically cater for guests from Russia & the CIS, Royal Caribbean International is
ensuringthere will be additional Russian-speaking crew aboard Brilliance of theSeas. The ship will also serve Russian brands of vodka and will havemenus in Russian available.
Currently, more than 30% of Russian customers book Caribbean itineraries, so the evening
willalso showcase the arrival of Oasis of the Seas - the largest and mostrevolutionary cruise ship in the world due to launch in December 2009.An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass225,282 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy,and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas will be the first shipto tout the cruise line’s new neighbourhood concept of seven distinctthemed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk,the RoyalPromenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and FitnessCenter, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.
“What comes throughloud and clear is that Russians are aspirational and can’t wait to tryout grand new experiences,” added Bayley. “Oasis of the Seas is alreadygenerating a huge buzz
and we know its many innovative on-boardfeatures will be a real hit. With no doubt 2010 will be an excitingyear: Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas will offerincredible cruises in the Caribbean and Brilliance of the Seas willstart her first season out of Dubai. And this is not all,” continuedBayley. “Russian guests will also have the opportunity to choose amongthe variety of products and itineraries we offer with our other brands.Celebrity Cruises will be the best choice for those guests who look forcomfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highlypersonalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attentionto detail. Azamara Cruises,our deluxe smaller-ship cruise line, unlocksthe hidden corners of the world for those who desire to immersethemselves in the rich details of every voyage, offering an intimateexperience, while allowing access to exotic destinations.”
In2010 holiday makers can choose from 13 seven-night sailings availableduring Brilliance of the Seas’ inaugural Dubai season, offering thesame itinerary from January until April 2010. Also available during the2010 season are 14-night repositioning cruises between Barcelona andDubai via the Suez Canal, departing 4 January and 19 April next year.
WithAzamara Cruises, guests will have numerous opportunities to get to knowEurope while being treated to a luxurious yet relaxed onboardexperience: expanding its destination offerings, in 2010 Azamara willvisit a total of 93 different ports throughout 39 sailings sending boththe 694-guest Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest to Europe for the thirdconsecutive summer. During the winter, Azamara Quest offers exoticitineraries in the Far East, while Azamara Journey delights guestscalling in the most exclusive ports of the Caribbean islands.
In2010 Celebrity Cruises will launch Celebrity Eclipse, the third ship inthe highly acclaimed Solstice Class. In the summer of 2010 CelebrityCruises will offer something for every cruise enthusiast, with avariety of cruise itineraries and cruisetours being offered throughoutEurope with four ships. Celebrity Eclipse will debut from Southampton(England), where she will be
based, and will offer a varied lineupof new 11-night and longer cruises to the Mediterranean, the BalticSea, and the Canary Islands. Her sister-ship Celebrity Equinox willoffer 10- and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean as well as 13-night HolyLand cruises. Celebrity Century will offer a series of 12-night,roundtrip Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Spain. CelebrityConstellation will sail 12-night Scandinavia and Russia and seven-nightMediterranean sailings. The four ships will merge the value of a cruisevacation with the opportunity to experience nearly every major part ofEurope.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacationcompany that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises,Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The companyhas a combined total of 38 ships in service and five underconstruction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska,Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Dubai, Europe and South America.Additional information can be found onwww.royalcaribbean.com,www.celebritycruises.com, www.pullmantur.es,www.azamaracruises.com, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com orwww.rclinvestor.com.
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