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Freedom’s arrival in UK ‘heralds change in holiday patterns’
The world’s largest cruise ship, Freedom of the Seas, spent the firswt half of the week in Southampton for a series of trade previews.
The massive new £500 million Royal Caribbean International vessel was shown off to travel agents and other industry representatives before setting off for its home port of Miami via New York and Boston for its first Caribbean cruise on June 4.
Freedom, the first of three ships in its class, hosted 600 representatives from rival cruise lines and other shipping industry executives on Sunday for the annual dinner of the Passenger Shipping Association. More than 330 Travel Counsellors were among the agents on board over the weekend.
Research issued by the cruise line to coincide with the arrival of Freedom found that almost half of people want a mix of action and relaxation rather than the traditional beach holiday.
Only three per cent of the 2,500 questioned wanted to do nothing other than have sun and sleep, while 15% were seeking culture and new experiences. Twenty eight per cent voted rest and relaxation as most important while the 46% majority expect a holiday to be adventurous, rich in culture, relaxing, exhilerating and entertaining.
More than a third of holidaymakers said they take a different type of holiday now than they did five years ago, saying they are more demanding than before.
Increased wealth was cited as a major factor for this change by 32%, 20% are opting for a better mix of relaxation and activity and 14% say they have become more adventurous, wanting to use their spare time as a chance to try different experiences.
But price remains the most influential factor when making a holiday decision, the YouGov poll found.
More than a quarter said they consider facilities and features to be most important factor, more so than the weather which was voted for by only 11%.
Health and well-being are seen as key holiday components with 29% choosing breaks which will allow then to maintain their fitness regime.
Royal Caribbean, which plans a next generation of ‘Project Genesis’ ships larger than 3,600-passenger Freedom in 2009, claims a nine per cent share of the European cruise market and a 14% share of the UK market.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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