Pullmantur appears to be sharpening its focus on the domestic market in Spain. It will operate six turnaround ports in the country next year, among them, the recent addition of Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, A Coruña, and Bilbao. Alan Lam reports.

On its latest “Por la Península Ibérica”(Around Iberian Peninsula) voyage, Pullmantur’s Empress made a series of successful calls at various less-frequented ports around Spain, sailing on virtual full occupation. This helped to prove to the line that the underlining strong demand still exists in Spain despite the country’s economic turmoil, thus reaffirming its commitment to the domestic market in the foreseeable future.

This increased focus on Spain also comes as welcoming news to lesser-known ports around the Iberian Peninsula. In Spain alone there are over 30 ports vying for cruise business; many of them have hitherto been overlooked. The Empress has recently called at Almería for the first time ever, among others. The focus on Spain and Spanish ports also bodes well in the light of high fuel prices and the “slow-steaming” trend.

Drawing on the strength and experience of its parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), Pullmantur has been very involved in port and terminal infrastructure development around the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. It is likely that the line will sharpen its focus on this region even further. Spain and Portugal are among Pullmantur’s most popular destinations, especially for its rapidly growing Latin American clientele.

Despite the apparent shift, Pullmantur has not loosened its grip on the rest of the world. On 4 October 2012, it announced 14 “Todo Incluido de Calidad” (Quality All-Inclusive) itineraries for the forthcoming European season. They cover over 100 destinations in 30 countries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Atlantic and the Caribbean.

With the inclusion of Monarch of the Seas, the line will operate five ships, representing a capacity increase of about 24%.

Alan Lam