CARNIVAL’S VP and GM Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke believes the cruise line can reach the two million Aussie pax milestone in under three years. Speaking to Cruise Weekly this morning, Vandekreeke said it was the company’s upswing in capacity which would drive its increased growth rate. “Not only are we getting...
CARNIVAL’S VP and GM Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke believes the cruise line can reach the two million Aussie pax milestone in under three years.
Speaking to Cruise Weekly this morning, Vandekreeke said it was the company’s upswing in capacity which would drive its increased growth rate.
“Not only are we getting a bigger ship in Carnival Splendor but she’s also here year-round, so we’re replacing Legend which was only here half the year with 2,600 berths, with a ship that will sail with 3,800 berths,” she said.
“So if it took us six and half years to get to the first million, I think it will take us around half that to get to two million,” Vandekreeke added.
Another boost to Carnival’s futures sales will be driven by itineraries serviced out of The Brisbane Int’l Cruise Terminal for the first time in 2020.
“We are very excited that we have the whole port coming in Brisbane, I think it’s going to completely transform cruising out of Queensland, with people from the state actually having a higher propensity to cruise than people from NSW,” Vandekreeke said.
“It’s not just because they are close, if you live in the Sunshine State you love to be outside and that means you are going to love being on a cruise as well and really enjoy being on the water,” she added.
Splendor is scheduled to go through a major dry dock in Nov before she arrives in Australia, where she will have a new water and splash park installed, five new bars added, and a redesigned pool area.
“This will be fun taken to a whole new level for this market,” Vandekreeke enthused.
Bookings so far this year in Australia has also been kind to Carnival, with the cruise line up “double digits” from last year.
