By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean Cruises will homeport five of its ships from UK ports during the 2013 summer season, marking the first time five of the line’s vessels have sailed from the UK at the same time.
Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) Independence of the Seas arrived at its new Southampton homeport on 2 May, where it will offer a series of new short itineraries, as well as eight-night cruises to Norway, 14-night Norway and Cork cruises, 14-night Mediterranean cruises and 12-night Canary Islands cruises.
Her sister ship Adventure of the Seas will berth in Southampton on 5 May 2013, marking the first time the ship has sailed out of the UK port to offer a series of seven to 16-night cruises around the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Celebrity Eclipse is also scheduled to arrive 3 May to provide 14-night Mediterranean, Scandinavia/Russia, Iceland/Norwegian Fjords and Canary Islands/Azores itineraries.
The Port of Harwich will also act as a homeport for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Infinity and RCI’s Brilliance of the Seas during the summer 2013 season.
Celebrity Infinity will make its inaugural call to the port on 13 May and provide various 10, 11 and 12-night Norwegian Fjords, British Isles and European wine harvest cruises. Brilliance of the Seas will arrive on 13 May, enabling passengers to sail 11, 12 and 13-night trips to Scandinavia and Russia.
“Summer 2013 is a great milestone in the history of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises with five ships dedicated to the UK market and plenty more throughout Europe,” said Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, head of trade sales at RCI and Celebrity Cruises.