One of the main reasons people are reluctant to try out cruising for the first time is because they don’t want to risk a full week’s holiday on board a cruise ship, in case they don’t like it.
This is the theory being put forward by Royal Caribbean International.
Attracting and keeping new cruise passengers is now at the heart of two major initiatives by Royal Caribbean worth a total of US$1.1 billion.
The cruise line is planning a fleet modernisation plan which will see them spend US$900 million to spruce up 10 ships over the next four years.
They will also be pumping US$200 million into transforming their private island in the Bahamas into a wonderland with waterslides, zip lines and overwater bungalows with private butler service.
They hope that these stratergies will make an even better impression on first time cruisers and keep them coming back.
The first cruise ship to undergo refurbishment was Mariner of the Seas. At the end of last month it arrived in its new homeport of Miami after undergoing an US$120 million refresh.
From Miami it will sail every Monday and Friday on three-and four-day cruises to the Bahamas.
The Friday departures give first-timers to get a taste of what cruising is like while still arriving back in port early Monday morning.
New additions to the ship include a Sky Pad and a gravity-defying bungee trampoline with virtual reality options along with Jamie’s Italian and The Bamboo Room.
Let’s wait and see if these big budget investments pay off and attract a whole new market to the cruise scene.
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