The Latin American source markets offer a great potential for the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) group, senior executives said.
Royal Caribbean International, the group's contemporary market unit, has been building up its business in Mexico over the past 18 months and this has produced encouraging results, said Michael Bayley, who heads the company. "We see growing numbers of Mexicans flying to out to cruise not just in the Caribbean, but also in Europe," he told a press conference on board the new Anthem of the Seas.
"Mexicans are among the three top spenders at Royal Caribbean International, they book the highest grade staterooms and their on board spend is also high," he continued. Ricardo Amaral, who runs the group's Latin America business from Sao Paulo in Brazil said that not only Mexico and Brazil are attractive source markets, but also e.g. Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Panama.
Latin America is becoming an attractive source market also for RCCL group's premium market Celebrity Cruises unit and the luxury market Azamara brand, he added.
RCCL also has a Latin America and Spain focused brand, Pullmantur.