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Royal Caribbean working over-time to cope with demand
Royal Caribbean has taken its highest ever number of pre-booking registrations as customers scramble to be among the first to cruise in Europe on the world’s largest ship, Oasis of the Seas.
The ship will offer a limited number of sailings around the Mediterranean in autumn 2014, when it will also stop at Southampton.
Royal Caribbean said reservations teams have been working over-time and part-time workers have been drafted into work full time to process applications since the ship’s first European season went on sale to loyalty club members this week.
Employees from other departments across the business have even been pulled in to answer phones and take bookings, said Royal Caribbean.
The limited cruises will go on sale to the general public today.
Associate VP and general manager UK and Ireland Jo Rzymowska said: "The thousands and thousands of pre-registrations to be one of the first to book Oasis of the Seas’ European cruises are simply mind-blowing and the ship really is living up to its incredible reputation as being a game changer for the industry.
"Agents are really behind Oasis of the Seas and have made it a priority to take advantage of the great sales opportunity that this game changing ship offers.
"We have increased the size of the team and have contingency team members ready across the whole business to handle the peak in calls we are expecting when the ship opens for general sale on Thursday at midday."
Oasis of the Seas will call into Southampton on October 15, 2014 where she will pick up passengers for a transatlantic crossing back to her home port in Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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