Royal Caribbean triples bookings in Barcelona thanks to the Wonder of the Seas

The wow effect caused by the Wonder of the Seas leads Royal Caribbean International to foresee a "spectacular season" this 2022 in Barcelona, with a volume of reservations that has tripled compared to 2019. This is according to Sergio Arévalo, sales director of the cruise company in Spain, who foresees a record summer thanks to the decision to bring the world's largest cruise ship to the city and the fact that the multinational has opted to maintain a fleet of two ships in the Catalan capital, which makes the Port of Barcelona the only home port in Europe where Royal Caribbean operates with two ships. Usually, the American shipping company also had two cruise ships in Southampton, but after the pandemic, for now, it only has one in this British port.

"It has been a great challenge to be able to maintain two ships in Barcelona this season and, in addition, we have opted to bring the largest and newest. Barcelona is a spectacular city, it is a very important, global destination, which has a strong attraction for cruise passengers and is very well connected, with the possibility of flying anywhere in the world," explains Arévalo in an interview with The New Barcelona Post. According to the executive, the Port of Barcelona also offers a "very large operational capacity" and is key for the company as it is its green hub of reference in the Mediterranean for waste management.

In this context, Royal Caribbean Group's decision ---the parent company of the cruise company--- to build its own terminal in the Port of Barcelona, as Carnival already has (Palacruceros and Helix terminals) and MSC will soon have ---expected to open in 2024---, is framed. As the president of the Port, Damià Calvet, announced this month, the American group has presented a project to be awarded the last available land in the Muelle Adosado, where a maximum of seven terminals are planned: the three public ones operated by Creuers del Port (A, B and C), the two from Carnival (D and E), MSC's (F) and Royal Caribbean's (G). If the project finally prospers, it could mean an investment of around 30 million euros.

According to Arévalo, this announcement "is a very good example" of the confidence and the "strong commitment" that Royal Caribbean makes to the Barcelona destination, where he does not rule out operating with a third ship in the coming seasons. "Spain is a destination of global appetite to visit. If there is demand, we will bring a third ship to Barcelona. But the situation is still very variable and I don't dare to say if it will be next year or later," he says.

This forecast is based on the great business expectations that Royal Caribbean has for this season in the Spanish market, where it currently registers a growth of 262% in booking volume compared to 2019. Although globally the company does not expect to recover pre-pandemic figures until 2023, in Spain, Sergio Arévalo assures that bookings are going strong and that not only have 2019 levels been surpassed, but they have tripled. "We are extremely positive; we have very strong expectations, we have surpassed and tripled the volume of bookings compared to 2019 despite the fact that now the trend is to book later," he explains.

Sergio Arévalo: "If there is demand, we will bring a third ship to Barcelona. But the situation is still very variable and I don't dare to say if it will be next year or later"

According to Arévalo, the COVID crisis has caused changes among customers, as before, cruise vacations used to be booked six to eight months in advance, while this year the significant flow of bookings did not start arriving until February. "We believe there will be a lot of last-minute bookings and we have the capacity to absorb them," he notes. The average price of bookings is 150 euros per person per day.

This strong pull in demand responds to the desire to travel after the long hiatus caused by the health crisis, but also "has a lot to do" ---adds Arévalo--- with the decision to debut the new Wonder of the Seas in the Mediterranean, considered the largest cruise ship in the world, with 18 decks, 2,967 cabins, and a total capacity for 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members. "Having a new ship of these characteristics in Barcelona is a great attraction and a strong stimulus for travel agencies. The size and equipment of this cruise ship are imposing, they create a wow effect that is clearly seen in the happy faces of passengers when they see or board the ship: the first thing they do is take out their mobile phone to take photos, it's very motivating," he argues.

The two Royal Caribbean cruise ships that have Barcelona as their home port, the Wonder of the Seas and the Vision of the Seas, already register occupancy levels of 75% and Arévalo expects 100% to be reached in the weeks of highest demand in July and August. In this central part of summer, Spanish public accounts for 60% of passengers, a figure that drops to 30% or 40% in the remaining months of the season.

For Royal Caribbean, American tourists who travel to Barcelona to embark on a cruise are key ---they can account for up to 40% in certain weeks---, although, as of today, their arrival has not normalized. "Americans are starting to come, but it's still difficult for them, not so much because of covid, but because the international situation scares them and they are afraid to come to Europe," says the executive in reference to the war in Ukraine.

"Americans are starting to come, but it's still difficult for them, not so much because of covid, but because the international situation scares them and they are afraid to come to Europe"

To compensate for this lower influx of Americans and take advantage of the desire to travel that exists in Spain this summer, Royal Caribbean has pulled out all the stops with the launch of a new incentive and commission program for travel agencies and the training of 3,400 sales agents. In addition, 900 travel agents have been invited to visit the Wonderto further spur sales. "All these pieces will make this year we gain market share in Spain. We have a great opportunity to strengthen ourselves in the Spanish market, where we are neither the first nor the second, but we are thechallengers, that is, those that grow the most," says Arévalo, full of motivation.

In European terms, Spanish tourists are the third largest source market for Royal Caribbean, behind the British and Irish. In addition to Barcelona, the American group has home ports in Europe in Southampton (United Kingdom), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Rome and Ravenna, in Italy, with one ship each, so in terms of passenger numbers, the Catalan capital also ranks first in the company's European ranking. In Spain there are a total of six ports where the different Royal Caribbean cruises operating in the Mediterranean make a stop.

The Wonder begins its voyages in the Mediterranean

The Vision of the Seas makes a twelve-night route from Barcelona to the Greek islands, while the Wonder of The Seas, which arrived for the first time in the Catalan capital on May 4, has been making seven-day cruises through the Western Mediterranean (Barcelona-Palma-Marseille-La Spezia-Rome-Naples-Barcelona) since this week. Royal Caribbean's new emblem is the fifth ship of the Oasis class, the largest, and has just been launched, as its maiden voyage was on March 4, between the French shipyard Chantiers de L'Atlantique (St. Nazaire) and Miami.

After completing a seven-week route through the Caribbean, it has now arrived in the Mediterranean, where it will operate from May 8 to October 23, with a total of 25 departures. It will then return to the Caribbean for the winter, on a transatlantic cruise departing from Barcelona on October 30. The Wonder of the Seas is not expected to return in 2023, as the Oasis-class ship that will operate next year from the Catalan capital will be the Symphony of the Seas, which also debuted in the city in 2018. The incorporated technical innovations have allowed the Wonder to be 20% more energy efficient than its sister ship. Both, however, still run on six diesel engines, as Royal Caribbean does not expect to have its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship ready until 2023, when it will launch the Icon of the Seas, a vessel that will inaugurate a new class of ships that will not surpass those of the Oasis class in size but will have other features. The second cruise ship to use this more sustainable fuel will be the Utopia of the Seas, the sixth of the Oasis class, scheduled for spring 2024. In 2025 and 2026, the Apex of the Seas and the Joy of the Seas will arrive, from the new Icon class and also propelled by LNG.

Initially, the Wonder of the Seas was planned to be inaugurated in China, but the pandemic has hit the Asian cruise market harder, which is recovering much more slowly than in Europe due to existing restrictions. Given this situation, Royal Caribbean decided to reposition the ship to Barcelona to develop its first season in the Mediterranean. "The group was clear that there was a lot of potential in Barcelona, because in Europe the vaccination level is very high and it is a safe destination. The effort made by the port authorities to provide security to passengers is very important and Barcelona has been a pioneer in allowing navigation again. The agility and protocols adopted were decisive for the company to agree to bring this ship to Barcelona," concludes Sergio Arévalo.

The cruise companies operating in the Port of Barcelona have scheduled more than 800 calls this year, a figure similar to the pre-pandemic era, so another record could be reached, currently set at 3.1 million passengers in 2019, revalidating the city as the main cruise port in the Mediterranean.

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THE CRUISE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS

1. The figures. All the numbers accompanying the Wonder of the Seas are colossal: almost 7,000 passengers, 362 meters long, 64 meters wide, 2,867 cabins, 40 bars and restaurants, 18 decks, 24 elevators, 20,000 natural plants, 6 engines, 4 bow thrusters with 7,500 horsepower each, a cruising speed of 22 knots, eight neighborhoods, and 2,300 international crew members providing exquisite service.
2. Paradise for children. Families are the majority on Royal Caribbean ships, but this ship, without a doubt, is the best prepared for children of any age to enjoy themselves like never before. Highlights include a spectacular children's water park located in the pool area and also the outdoor play area called Wonder Playscape. Indoors, in the Adventure Ocean area, there are spaces for each age group, and it includes a nursery for babies from six months old. Teenagers also have their own differentiated spaces to socialize, both indoors and on the ship's outdoor decks.
3. Surf or climb, anything is possible. Sports lovers will find a wide range of possibilities aboard the Wonder of the Seas. Practicing climbing on an impressive climbing wall or zip-lining ten stories high are just two examples, but the star is the FlowRider surf simulator, where you can surf standing or lying on the board. A running track on deck five, basketball courts, ping-pong tables, and a huge gym equipped with all existing machines on the market complete the offer to stay in shape on board.
4. Unique shows. Just attending two of its shows makes it worth embarking on this cruise. The large-format production inTENse is a high-level marvel starring an all-female cast of acrobats and trampoline jumpers. The aquatic and aerial show takes place in the AquaTheater, located at the stern of the ship, a theater that transforms into a four-meter-deep pool into which they dive from 18 meters high. The other unmissable show is held on the ship's indoor ice rink, starring a group of elite Olympic-level skaters of different nationalities.

5. Endless entertainment. It's hard to get bored on this cruise, as the possibilities are endless and all kinds of plans can be made. Relaxing in the spa or in the heated indoor solarium, reading on a sun lounger on the cabin balcony watching the sea, enjoying the jacuzzis suspended over the ocean, or sunbathing with a piña colada in one of the three pools while listening to a Jamaican band are some of the tranquil proposals. But for those seeking action, you can slide down the tallest slide at sea, The Ultimate Abyss. Music and dance lovers also have an extensive list of proposals adapted to all audiences, including a karaoke bar. A game of mini golf, trying your luck at the casino, strolling through the landscaped park on deck 8, shopping in the stores on the Instagrammable main avenue, dancing on the ice rink transformed into a disco, ordering a drink at the bionic bar served by two Kuka robots, or compulsively taking photos in any corner are other common practices.
6. Food for all tastes. Food is not usually the strong point of cruises, but one can find good quality on the Wonder of the Seas. Rather than trying to rate the dishes ---there are better and worse ones--- it's best to let yourself be carried away by the diversity of proposals you'll find spread throughout the ship throughout the day. The spectacular nature of the buffets and the international specialties that can be tasted is surprising, a good plan to take a tour of the flavors of the world. Another option is to visit the themed restaurants, such as the Italian Giovanni's, the Japanese Izumi, and the Mason Jar, specializing in American Southern food. And the Wonder, like all ships of this type, is also a fast-food paradise, from hot dogs to pepperoni pizza slices, including Johnny Rockets burgers and the Mexican restaurant offering nachos, burritos, and quesadillas by the pool. An important detail: at the entrance of all restaurants, there are dozens of taps for washing hands.
7. Technology for continuous improvement in sustainability. The environmental impact of cruises is one of their main criticisms. Royal Caribbean began a sustainability program three decades ago that it has been refining year after year, allowing it to drastically reduce this negative aspect of its business. The Wonder of the Seas is 20% more energy efficient and, thanks to innovative purification technology, also manages to eliminate 98% of the sulfur emissions from its chimneys. To generate the necessary energy for its operation, when in port, the ship must always have two of its six engines running, something that no longer happens when it arrives at an electrified dock. According to the company, there are only 16 electrified ports in the world, none of them in the Mediterranean. The Port of Barcelona has just activated an investment plan of 110 million euros to electrify all its docks and achieve a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions from the port by 2030.

   The ship has its own reverse osmosis desalination plant to supply itself with drinking water and treats 100% of wastewater before discharging it into the sea through a sophisticated four-step system (bioreactor, solids removal, filtration, and ultraviolet light treatment) similar to that used by the Baix Llobregat wastewater treatment plant. In the bowels of the cruise ship, there is another central piece of the sustainability plan: a waste treatment plant that receives 100% of the garbage collected daily. Everything that can be recycled is recycled, a process in which the entire crew is encouraged to participate, dedicating a few hours of their workday to this task. Non-recyclable waste is incinerated on board or stored in high-capacity refrigerated warehouses until arrival in port. All waste is managed following the specifications of the destination port's green hub, with multiple fractions distinguishing between different types of cardboard or plastic, colors of glass bottles, and even commercial brands of cans, as Red Bull cans, for example, are managed separately from the rest.