Royal Caribbean Cruises opened its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore’s central business district. The Sigapore office will support the marketing efforts in the Asia-Pacific region for three of the company’s cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. as well as provide sales and trade support in the region.
“This region shows great growth potential in terms of providing new destinations for international cruise guests from North America and Europe given the varied and exciting cultures throughout the region, and their accessibility to the coastline,” said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean International. “This, coupled with the prospect of Asian markets being substantial source markets for new cruise guests, gives us tremendous opportunity for growth in the region.”
In 2005, the Singapore Cruise Centre underwent a $5 million facelift that aimed to strengthen its position as the nerve centre for the cruise industry in Asia. The Cruise Centre is expected to attract 1.2 million cruise passengers to Singapore by 2010. The Singapore Tourism Board also administers a $10 million fund set up jointly with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Cruise Centre to boost the local cruise industry and encourage major international cruise companies to partner with Singapore in product development and marketing initiatives.
In December 2007, Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas will debut in Singapore. Rhapsody of the Seas will be the largest ship to cruise in Asia and will offer travelers a selection of six short cruises
that will range from two to five nights and call at the tropical ports of Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and Penang, Malaysia, as well as the exotic sun-soaked islands of Langkawi, Malaysia; and Phuket, Thailand.
Rhapsody of the Seas also will offer three 12-night voyages between Singapore and Hong Kong, each featuring two-day calls in Bangkok (Laemchabang), Thailand, and Hanoi Haiphong, Vietnam. These extended itineraries also include calls at Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and Saigon Vung Tau, Nha Trang and Hue Danang, Vietnam.
The ship’s Asia tour continues on from Hong Kong, where it will arrive in time for the Chinese New Year season, offering a series of itineraries calling at the ports of Okinawa, Japan; Taipei Keelung and Kaohsiung,
Taiwan; and Sanya, China. The ship will then sail from Shanghai, China, with port calls in Japan and Korea.
