Can Celebrity take on Cunard out of the UK?

Up-market brand Celebrity Cruises is currently making a major push to increase its share of the growing UK cruise market. In 2010 the line will be homeporting its latest vessel, Celebrity Eclipse, in Southampton for the summer season. Celebrity is after the discerning British cruiser. The company openly says that it is after the top third of passengers who regularly cruise with P&O Cruises, i.e. those passengers who take the top priced cabins. Robin Shaw, Vice President and Managing Director, UK & Ireland, RCI, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises believes that there is ‘no direct competition for this ship (Celebrity Eclipse) in the UK market from Southampton,’ and ‘expects 90% of the passengers cruising on the new vessel from Southampton to be British.’ Dan Hanrahan, President & CEO of Celebrity went one further a said that ‘Celebrity Eclipse will give Cunard and run for its money,’ something outgoing Cunard president Carol Marlow dismissed totally when I put Hanrahan’s statement to her onboard Celebrity Equinox. We shall have to wait until April 2010 to see! Sphere: Related Content