from Royal Caribbean:
Royal Caribbean International today announced that its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas, will make its home port in Shanghai (Baoshan), China, bringing the company’s most innovative ship to the world’s fastest-growing cruise market. The ship will reposition to China in May 2015, following her inaugural winter season sailing out of New York Harbor to the Caribbean. In China, Quantum of the Seas will join Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas in Asia, increasing the company’s capacity in the region by 66 percent.
This comes as an absolute shock to me. There’s no question that Asia is a booming market and Royal Caribbean is absolutely capitalizing on that. It’s just odd to send such a new class of ships over there. The Freedom class would be a better fit. It’s clear this is a pure numbers issue here:
Adam Goldstein, President and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.:
Every trend we are seeing in China tells us we can achieve real long-term competitive advantage and appealing returns on our investments in this fast-growing market by accelerating our presence there. We will have to be nimble, but the ability to move fast is one of our strengths.
In removing the Quantum from the New York/New Jersey area they are leaving quite the hole to fill. In its place they announced that the Quantum’s sister Anthem and the freedom-class Liberty will replace her. So they are replacing the Quantum with her identical sister, no dramatic issue there. Then by adding the 154,407gt to the mix, it really shows they are doubling-down in the region. Anthem of the Seas, which launches in April 2015, will complete her inaugural Europe season from London (Southampton), U.K., before arriving to Cape Liberty in November 2015 to continue Quantum-class cruising to the Bahamas and Caribbean for the winter 2015-16 season.
The addition of the Liberty of the Seas will add Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Canada and New England to the mix starting in Spring/Summer 2015.
Some other thoughts:
So much for the announcement that the Anthem will be based in port Everglades as they previously let slip out.
Speaking of Florida, they sure are missing out on getting any of these ships.
Quantum will have to sail either Europe or South America to reach the pacific.
Are you surprised by the announcement? Leave a comment below.