MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cruise company cautions ports must prepare for ships with over 5.400 passengers

Michael Ronan, Royal Caribbean's Vice President of Government Relations, Caribbean, Latin America & Asia

Royal Caribbean announced that during the coming tourist season several of its ships will make 27 stops between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. The announcement was made by Michael Ronan, Royal Caribbean's Vice President of Government Relations, Caribbean, Latin America & Asia, in a meeting with different Uruguayan authorities held in Montevideo.

Ronan also informed that the era of the super-huge cruise vessels (over 200.000 tons displacement) “is here” and port facilities in Latinamerica must prepare for such event.

“Adapting the existing port infrastructure to the needs of tourism enterprises is essential and so is the need for new infrastructure to provide adequate comfort facilities for hosting thousands of travelers in each of these huge cruise ships”, said Ronan during his meeting with Montevideo Port authorities and local agents.

Royal Caribbean Cruises operates among others the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, two 225.000 tons vessels, 360 meters long, with 2.700 cabins in 16 decks and capacity for 5.400 passengers.

Ronan was received by Alberto Díaz, president of Uruguay’s ports authority, Vice-President Juan José Domínguez, Fernando Pena from Repremar SA, Uruguay agents of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Osvaldo Tabacchi ANP general manager, Captain Daniel De Leon, Luis Fontes Head of the Port of Colonia.

At the meeting Ronan also announced that this upcoming cruise season will feature fourteen stops in the port of Montevideo and thirteen calls in Punta del Este. The first cruise which will visit Uruguay this season is the Splendour of the Seas, due to arrive in Montevideo on Dec. 23 at 9:00 in the morning.

Another point emphasized by the Royal Caribbean executive was that since bookings are made with at leas a year of anticipation, the same with itineraries, it was essential that docking space be reserved and assured with the same precision.

“We are selling tickets a year in advance so it is impossible for us to even imagine the possibility of having to cancel a visit of 4.000 passengers because of a lack of docking space or because other cruise vessels turned up. This is contrary to the company’s prestige (and the port’s reliability) plus the exposure to all sorts of legal demands” warned Ronan.

Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas has a 70.000 gross tonnage, is 264 meters long, with eleven decks and accommodates 2.076 passengers and a crew of 720.