SOUTHAMPTON’S CRUISE BUSINESS GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AS ABP SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Southampton has signed a new seven-year agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL). The agreement precedes an investment of approximately £10m that will enlarge the City Cruise Terminal at 101 Berth so that it can accommodate the new generation of large cruise ships, including RCCL’s Navigator of the Seas, which will be based in Southampton during 2007.
To cater for the 3,800-passenger capacity of Navigator of the Seas, City Cruise Terminal will be enlarged to provide a remodelled passenger entrance and security area, expanded registration area with fifty check-in desks, and larger waiting and baggage-reclaim halls.
The Port of Southampton has long been considered the UK’s number one cruise port and this announcement comes during what has already been an excellent year for Southampton’s cruise business. In February of this year, ABP announced that the port had broken its long-standing record for the number of deep-sea cruise passengers handled over the course of one year, after 702,356 passengers passed through the port in 2005. In March, Southampton was named ‘Best Turnaround Port Operations’ at the world’s largest cruise conference, held annually in Miami, Florida. One month later, the port received five cruise ships on one day – the first time so many cruise vessels have gathered simultaneously at any UK port since 1966. The port then welcomed RCCL’s Freedom of the Seas on 29 April, which, at 160,000 tonnes, is the world’s biggest cruise ship.
Juan Trescastro, Associate Vice President, Land Operations, RCCL, said:
“As Royal Caribbean continues to expand its business interests in Europe, we look to establish good relationships with the local port authorities. The pier facilities play an integral part in meeting and surpassing our guests’ expectations. We want to offer our guests a positive and seamless experience at their port of departure - the start of their vacation of a lifetime. We are delighted to have established a good rapport with ABP Southampton and are confident that the new facilities will live up to our expectations and, most importantly, those of our guests.”
Doug Morrison, ABP Port Director, Port of Southampton, said: “The revival of the cruise business at the Port of Southampton - “The Gateway to the World” - has been a triumph for us and a great opportunity for the people of Southampton. We are delighted to sign this agreement with RCCL because it shows our capability in the face of a highly competitive and rapidly growing market.” |
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