Royal Caribbean targets fly-cruise hike in Majorca

PALMA
ROYAL Caribbean International is targeting a hike in fly-cruise passengers from Majorca and Malaga next summer.
The line, which is deploying five ships from Spanish ports in 2011, expects numbers to double from Malaga.
The company carried 30'000 passengers on cruises from Costa del Sol port this summer, with 40 percent coming from the UK and Ireland.
Total numbers are projected to rise to 77'000 next year, with the majority of travelers from the UK and Ireland also adding on a land stay in the Costa del Sol region.

Royal Caribbean is also sailing from the popular Spanish departure port of Barcelona next year and is operating fly-cruises from Palma for the first time with Grandeur of the Seas.

The line's new UK and Ireland managing director Dominic Paul said: “Barcelona has long been a popular homeport for Royal Caribbean International and we have enjoyed significant growth in the UK for take up of cruises offered from Malaga since 2009. “To continue to stimulate the British holidaymaker's love affair with Spain, new for summer 2011 we have introduced cruises from Palma for the first time. “The good news is that these cruises are also delivering pre- and post-cruise land stays – this is fantastic for the Spanish hoteliers and the Spanish tourist industry in general.”