Alan Lam reporting

Pullmantur Cruises, the Iberia and Latin America focused brand subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), will be losing another ship, following the group’s decision to shift its focus from Latin America back to Spain.

The company earlier issued a press release in Spain, confirming that the Empress would be transferred back to Royal Caribbean International early next year. It also confirmed that the Monarch would be deployed in Europe in 2016 to serve the Spanish and French markets. The ship is currently deployed on a year-round itinerary in Southern Caribbean.

Having earlier reversed its decision regarding Majesty of the Seas, in the fast changing cruise market RCCL is pilfering another vessel from its Spanish subsidiary on account of the weakness in the Latin America market.

Pullmantur’s recent capacity development trend has run contrary to its ambitious internationalization and expansion programmes, which appears to be facing an uncertain prospect.