In April of 2013, Royal Caribbean will be sending its oldest cruise ship across the Atlantic to its sister company, Pullmantur. The Monarch of the Seas will sail across the seas to the Spanish company and will increase the guest occupancy by 25% according to Pullmantur.
This is not the first time Royal Caribbean has sent a geriatric ship to its sister company. Two other ships, the Sovereign of the Seas and Empress of the Seas have also been sent to their retirement home and now offer luxurious European cruises to their passengers.
The Monarch of the Seas currently sails out of Port Canaveral and offers 3 and 4 day cruises to the Bahamas, but on March 29th, 2013 the ship will sail for its last time on a cruise to the Bahamas.
The 2,390 passenger ship was built in 1991 making the 21 year old ship the oldest in Royal Caribbean’s 22 ship fleet. After the Monarch of the Seas is sent to Spain the company will be left with 21 ships, and they say that another ship will replaced the aging ship for short cruises out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. There is no word yet on what ship will replace the Monarch, but we will let you know as soon as we hear word.
The Madrid based company that will be inheriting the Monarch of the Seas said, “The transfer of Monarch of the Seas will reinforce Pullmantur in our Latin American growth strategy, and help us become one of the most widely recognized brands.”
Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International stated, “She will go on creating wonderful travel memories through her final sailings for our brand through next March and then continue doing the same for Pullmantur’s guests.”
Pullmantur is the largest Spanish Tour Operator and Cruise Company. They were founded in 1971, and have become famous for introducing the ‘All Inclusive’ concept to the cruising industry. Pullmantur is the foremost leader of the cruise market in Spain and Portugal, currently operating a modern fleet of 4 ships, with a daily passenger capacity of around 9,000, cruising worldwide, and calling on roughly 100 cruise destinations. Pullmantur offers a unique door-to-door flight service, operated by its in-house air travel division with a fleet of four Boeing 747-400. Pullmantur Air provides charter flights to the European Cruise Port Embarkations and long-haul flights between Spain and the Caribbean Sea for the company’s tour-operation division. Spain based Pullmantur, operates through satellite offices in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal and France.
