Royal Caribbean has signed a multimillion-dollar marketing partnership with Changi Airport and Singapore Tourism Board to attack the fly cruise market.
At an event to celebrating Quantum of the Seas’ inaugural season in Singapore, the partnership was announced with targets of over 600,000 passengers and $430 million over the next five years.
Targeted fly-cruise markets include regional destinations such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as long-haul markets like Australia, United Kingdom and the United States.
Speaking on targeting Aussie travellers, Angie Stephen, Royal Caribbean Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, said, “As part of our ongoing efforts to promote Singapore as a fly-cruise destination, we are working with local trade partners within Australia to promote our fly-cruise itineraries to travellers through marketing and PR activities.”
She also noted how Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class experiences have grown in popularity among Australians, following the deployment of innovative ships such as Ovation of the Seas in Sydney.
“Australians are attracted to exotic and tropical destinations such as Singapore, and the five-year deployment of our Quantum Class ships here will allow them to experience the best of both worlds,” said Ms Stephen.
The number of cruise passengers sailing in Southeast Asia is also expected to increase from 4.6 per cent to 6.4 per cent per annum, reaching an estimated 4.5 million passengers by 2035. Quantum of the Seas’ six-month homeporting season in Singapore will add around 150,000 passengers to the local cruising scene as well.
“We are pleased to once again partner Royal Caribbean and Changi Airport Group to grow cruising in Singapore and Southeast Asia,” said Ms Annie Chang, Director, Cruise, Singapore Tourism Board (STB). “Royal Caribbean is always at the forefront of innovation and the latest deployment of Quantum of the Seas will diversify our cruise offerings, entrenching Singapore as a top fly-cruise hub in Asia.”
STB’s CEO Mr Keith Tan added, “STB has been a long-term partner of Royal Caribbean since the arrival of Rhapsody of the Seas in 2007. The appetite for cruising in our region has just started out, and Singapore is poised to tap on that potential.”
With Changi’s Airport air-connectivity to over 380 cities, fly-cruise has also become a fast-growing passenger segment in Singapore. To support this growth, Changi Airport Group recently launched its intermodal transfer service for passengers flying into Singapore and sailing out on cruise lines and ferries.
Passengers adopting this service will have their baggage delivered straight from their arriving flights to departing vessels. They will get to enjoy the facilities of the new Changi Lounge at Jewel Changi Airport, including a comfortable seating area, free-flow of refreshments, internet connectivity and shower and napping amenities.
Travellers can also make the most of their pre-cruise time by exploring Jewel’s lifestyle and retail offerings, including the Changi Experience Studio − its latest digital attraction. The attraction features interactive games and immersive shows relating to aviation.
So far, the intermodal service has benefitted fly-cruise guests from China, India and the Southeast Asian region.
Starting December 1, guests from China cruising with Royal Caribbean can experience the transfer service as part of new fly-cruise travel packages sailing out of Singapore.
“We see great potential in Singapore’s fly-cruise market and are excited to work with our partners to generate higher traffic for long-term growth,” noted Mr Peh Ke-Wei, Changi Airport Group’s Vice President of Passenger Development, Air Hub Development. “We believe the launch of our new seamless transfer service offers end-to-end convenience for our fly-cruise passengers and enhances their travel experience. We will continue to explore more ways to excite our passengers during their journey through Changi Airport.”
