| Cruise fares increasing, says RCC

The greater number of ships
in Australia will not lead to a
fall in prices, according to
Royal Caribbean.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED FULL
details of its biggest-ever Australasian season
in 2012-13, which includes the arrival of
Australia’s first megaliner, Voyager of the
Seas, and the return of Radiance of the Seas
and Rhapsody of the Seas.
In the same season, the company’s upmarket
sister brand, Celebrity Cruises, will also base
Celebrity Solstice in Sydney for the first time.
The four ships have a combined capacity of
almost 11,000 passengers, to be filled almost
every week, compared to 2,435 passengers
last season when only Rhapsody was homeported
here.
But this fivefold increase in supply is unlikely
to cause fares to drop, Adam Armstrong,
commercial manager, RCC Australia, told CW.
“Our experience in 2011 is that prices have
increased, despite Royal Caribbean and
Celebrity each adding a ship to the market,”
he said.
“Generally, Australians already pay lower
prices for cruises than they do elsewhere in
the world, and as the quality of ships
improves down under, then we would actually
expect pricing to increase.”
Armstrong said “late deals” may be offered
on some cruises, but booking early was the
best way to save.
“For summer 2012-13 we have reduced our
launch pricing by up to 10% to reward and
encourage early bookers; however, discounts
will then be reduced as cruises fill,” he said.
Earlybird savings of up to $1000 per person
off brochure fares are available until 30 Dec
2011.
These special fares start at $295pp for a
one-night sampler cruise, $975 for a sevennight
Tasmania cruise, and $1,795 for a 14-
night NZ cruise on Voyager of the Seas.
Voyager kicks off its first Australian season
in Sydney on 23 Nov 2012, offering 12 cruises.
Rhapsody and Radiance will return in mid-
Oct 2012.
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