Southampton’s cruise industry will enjoy a milestone bumper £100 million in knock-on economic benefits from the cruise business RCL Cruises Ltd during 2011. Two ships from the global company – Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse – are sailing from the city this year welcoming around 135,000 people to a cruise from Southampton in 2011, said RCL Cruises, which operates the Royal Caribbean International Celebrity Cruises and Azamara brands of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd in the UK. 

The recent Economic Impact Analysis of the Port of Southampton report conducted by Marine South East earlier this year found that on average each cruise ship home-ported, or based, in Southampton generates around £2.5 million of knock-on economic benefits per cruise turnaround day.

Dominic Paul, vice president and group managing director, UK , Ireland and Northern Europe, RCL Cruises Ltd, commented: “ Southampton has been a great home for several ships in both the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises family for the last six years. In that time we have significantly increased the number of people who choose to depart on a cruise from Southampton, received significant support from the port and city with improved terminal facilities and infrastructure, and become a major contributor to the region’s economy.”

The 3,634-guest Independence of the Seas is based year round in Southampton , and in 2011 will embark on 27 cruises from the city. That means almost 100,000 people will begin a holiday in Southampton just onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas by the end of 2011.

Sister-company Celebrity Cruises operates the 2,850-guest Celebrity Eclipse from Southampton during the summer season with cruises departing from the city between April and October. In 2011 Celebrity Eclipse will complete 13 turnarounds in Southampton with over 35,000 people cruising from the city onboard the ship. The two ships were both officially named and launched in Southampton , and are set to feature the port as a base for 2012 too.