Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) is set to return to Barbados in a big way after announcing the removal of all their ships including the Serenade of the Seas, from the Southern Caribbean route more than a year ago.
This development, aimed at bringing back much needed tonnage to the region, comes following intensive negotiations with Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy, and major cruise players in Miami, Florida.
The Tourism Minister said in an interview with the Barbados Government Information Service recently, that two vessels – the Jewel of the Seas, which started sailing from May, would now come to Barbados throughout the year; while the Quantum of the Seas??? service would be incremental from November 2014.
Mr. Sealy described this development as ???excellent news??? and added: ???I would like to think that the leadership of Barbados had something to do with that???and, certainly, the relationship with the port project [Sugar Point Cruise Terminal] would be part of it. But we [government] have done our part.???
He further stated: ???We only had the Carnival [Valor] coming year round and in addition to the Carnival; we will also have the Jewel of the Seas – the two biggest cruise players [sailing to Barbados]. Carnival has 50 per cent of the market and Royal Caribbean has about 25 per cent of the market??????
Quantum of the Seas has the capacity to carry 4, 100 passengers and the Jewel of the Seas, 2, 501 persons.
julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb