Apart from hosting UK and Ireland travel agent partners and media at the naming celebrations and spending precious face-to-face time meeting with many US-based colleagues, she has just seen Princess Cruises record its best-ever wave season for UK & Ireland advanced bookings - markrts that she oversees as VP Princess Cruises, UK & Europe.
Princess ships operating ex-UK itineraries this summer are performing well, Williamson shared with Seatrade Cruise: Sky Princess to the Mediterranean is almost sold out, ‘with a few little pockets left towards the end of the season’, Regal Princess doing 12-night round trip British Isles sailings and Island Princess undertaking more explorer-style cruises to the Med, North Europe, are ‘proving extremely popular with local source markets.’
Medium and longer haul is also drawing attention she said. ‘We are seeing increasing interest in fly-cruise Mediterranean, particularly with Sun Princess’ inaugural season and also for summer 2025, ‘which are drawing new cruisers to the brand, and, further afield Alaska is also selling well,’ she added.
Depth and breadth of experiences
Post-pandemic, the 10 year Carnival UK veteran feels cruise is performing well against other holiday options, ‘as it offers so much depth and breadth of experiences’.
Adding, ‘none more so than on the culinary front.’
She highlighted examples on Sun Princess: ‘just look at the intertwined entertainment and unique dining venues, picking out Spellbound by Magic Castle, the Love by Britto artistically-inspired dining by pop artist Romero Britto just opened, but also referenced specialty restaurant 360: An Extraordinary Experience with its seven course dining and immersion into the Mediterranean, now open to all passengers on Discovery and Enchanted Princess.
Only at sea
‘These are all things money just cannot buy on land and cruise guests are willing to splash the cash to enjoy the experiences.’
She also pointed to technology onboard, including Princess’ signature MedallionClass, as well as the range of healthy eating options, attracting a younger crowd. ‘Our average age in the Med is now in the 40s whilst ex-UK its 50s – a paradigm shift from ten years ago.’
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