BEHIND the razzmatazz of the arrival and naming of Royal Caribbean Line's Independence of the Seas in Southampton last week, lies some pretty heavy investment.
Independence cost £400m to build and Royal Caribbean have invested a lot more than just hard cash by basing this the largest cruise ship in the world and their latest and most glamorous piece of hardware in British waters. Reputation is at stake in an-ever more competitive British cruise market.
When the decision was made to follow the deployment of Voyager-class Navigator of the Seas in Southampton last year with Independence, the current credit crunch that threatens both the US and UK economies was not even on the horizon.
Seaking after the naming ceremony in Southampton last week, RCL President Adam Goldstein, pictured, was chipper about riding out the crisis.
"We have always said that we are not recession-proof. However, we are confident that the offering we have, one that provides value for money, the quality of the experience, that this will ensure a strong performance," said Goldstein. "We have had two recessions in the last 20 years and in both we have weathered them well."
Referring to the durability of the cruise market, he added: "I think your average person who works hard all year will still want to experience something of quality during their vacation. It will be the experience of those weeks that will determine when you look back if the year has been a good one."
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Goldstein would not be drawn on Independence's long-term future sailing from Southampton. It has been confirmed the ship will be based in Southampton for cruises to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands this summer and the summer of 2009.
During the winter months she will transfer to the Caribbean. There was no word on whether she would return to Southampton in 2010.
However, RCL's president said this was due to the company's normal operating schedules and no announcement of her deployment would usually be made for 2010 until the spring of next year.
When pressed on the possibility of basing more than one RCL ship in Southampton Goldstein, while not ruling anything out, was quick to point out that Britain and Europe were not the only emerging cruise markets.
Interest in cruises from Brazil and the Far East would mean careful consideration on where the ships were deployed.
Goldstein had nothing but praise for the role played by Southampton, its port-associated companies.
"I have been happy to talk to ABP about how they have provided tremendous support. Southampton is among the top few in the world now for the standard of service it can provide."
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