FORT LAUDERDALE — The combination of sister brands Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International will look very different in just a few years as one enters river cruise market Another is increasing its private destinations offering.
The presidents of both cruise lines said this transformational phase remains just a turning point in growth and innovation for both companies. cruise world Thursday here.
Royal Caribbean’s Private Island Spotlight
When asked what is the boldest idea? royal caribbean Bet Now CEO Michael Bailey said the cruise line's future is filled with innovative ideas that are still in development.
“I would say over 50% of my time is not spent in the present, but in designing and participating in different teams and creating new products for the future,” he said. “We do have some crazy ideas. And the amazing thing about some really crazy ideas is that a lot of times those ideas go through the creative process and they actually create a new innovative product.”
Its latest public project is Santorini Royal Beach Clubis its first European private destination announced last week. Bailey calls Santorini “probably the number one most desirable destination in the Mediterranean.”
Bailey said the cruise line will have the opportunity to develop flights specifically visiting multiple ports with private destinations, but it will also continue to offer flights for cruisers looking for other experiences.
Celebrities on European rivers
Celebrity CruisesAt the same time, it is breaking into the river cruise space and has so far been fully embraced in the process.
The company is planning to order more riverboats than just the 10 it ordered, and while she declined to say how many more ships there will be, President Laura Hodges Bethge said an announcement is expected in the coming months.
“If we want to be a major player, we're not going to stop at 10,” Hodges Bethge said.
She said the first priority bookings for the river product were snapped up in just six minutes, with much of the interest coming from former Royal Caribbean Group customers. In January, she said, the cruise line will announce pre- and post-cruise services and information about excursions.
Hodges Bethge said Royal Caribbean Group decided to enter the river market because it wanted to innovate it and provide the opportunity for customers to remain in the brand portfolio when sailing on rivers.
She told the consultants in the room that if you have clients who haven't booked yet, don't give up because cancellations will inevitably happen.
“Just keep checking because eventually a cabin will pop up here or there,” she said.
