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Cruise chief defends use of large cruise ships
Royal Caribbean Cruises has defended the use of big ships, claiming they are safer and more popular with holidaymakers than the smaller older vessels.
Chief executive Richard Fain, told the Financial Times that evacuation was faster from large ships in emergencies such as the recent capsizing of the Costa Concordia because of the greater number of entrances and exits built into their bodies.
“The truth is that the newer, bigger ships are as safe or safer than any comparable smaller ships,” he said.
The Concordia, operated by Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival , was carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew when disaster struck. While Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are much larger, each carrying 5,400 passengers and just short of 2,400 crew.
Mr Fain claimed that they were not only safer, but a more pleasant way to travel because the money saved from the economies of scale could be spent on improving onboard facilities.
Royal Caribbean’s bigger ships tended to earn higher guest satisfaction scores and higher spend per passenger, he added.
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