Royal Caribbean switch ships for Southampton 2015 sailings

Back in February when Royal Caribbean was shouting about the Anthem of the Seas having its home port in Southampton for April to October – they also announced the return of the Adventure of the Seas to Southampton. Both ships were due to go on sale together at the same time, but mysteriously come the launch date for Adventure of the seas, Royal Caribbean announced they were going delay the on-sale date. Then after a couple of weeks all  the previous communication about the ships itineraries vanished with none of the staff knowing what was happening or when to expect the release.

Yesterday saw Royal Caribbean announce they have changed their minds and that Adventure of the Seas will stay based out of San Juan for Caribbean Itineraries, and that the Explorer of the Seas will be based from Southampton during our summer months and taking on the itineraries Adventure of the Seas had been scheduled to do.

Before the Explorer comes to Southampton she will have a month in dry dock and under go a transformation of the cabins -with the Virtual Balconies being added to the inside cabins (like the Quantum class ships). A flow rider is also being added as well as a 3D movie theatre.

This ship will now go on sale on the 3rd April –  which surprise surprise is when P&O cruises go on sale to their higher peninsular club members for 2015. Was this a clever tactic by Royal Caribbean to create and take away from P&O’s launch by creating their own mystery as to what has happened to the Adventure of the Seas? Will this have backfired as customers may have switched to a P&O sailing instead as no-one knew what was happening with Royal Caribbean? Did they decide to do this after they found out P&O were bringing Ventura back to Southampton?

What are your thoughts on this change around made by Royal Caribbean?