US/UK. Harding Brothers has been awarded a series of important new retail contracts in the pivotal US cruise line market. The contracts are set to double the company’s size in the next three years.
The UK company has won three separate agreements with cruise lines owned by industry giant Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL). Until now Harding Brothers’ only business with RCCL had been with Island Cruises.
The main contract covers the new Solstice class ships being built for Celebrity Cruises. The three large ships each accommodates 2,850 guests.
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Directors Neil Harding (left) and Harold Gittelmon: Celebrating landmark agreements which will transform the company |
The first will enter service in October 2008. “The Solstice class ships are the first new builds for the Celebrity brand since 2002 so will go a long way in further developing the brand,” said Harding Brothers Managing Director Harold Gittelmon. “The onboard shopping facilities are a real departure from the typical cruise ship design, so Celebrity was looking for an operator that genuinely recognises the difference in cruise brands and is flexible enough to work up an exciting and unique retail offering.”
Another breakthrough comes with a contract for two ships under a new brand, Azamara Cruises, that was launched on 4 May by Celebrity Cruises. Azamara Journey entered service on 5 May and Amazara Quest will make its debut in October. Both ships fall into the “˜deluxe’ category of cruising. Azamara’s distinguishing factors include butler service and concierge-style amenities in every stateroom and suite, personalised service, a high-class dining experience and exotic destinations accessible only to smaller ships like these.
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Harding Brothers’ acclaimed Frontier Award-winning retail presence onboard Cunard Line’s QM2 underlines the quality of offer it aims to deliver for its cruise line customers – and their passengers | |
Finally, Harding Brothers has been awarded the retail contract for Royal Caribbean International’s third Freedom class ship, Independence of the Seas, which will accommodate about 3,630 guests, double occupancy.
Independence of the Seas will start operation in May 2008 out of Southampton, UK and share the title of the world’s largest cruise ship with sister ships Freedom of the Seas and recently-launched Liberty of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom class cruise ships are renowned for offering guests some of the world’s most innovative onboard amenities, such as the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, a boxing ring and more.
“These breakthroughs are obviously important for us, but clearly our commitment to all of our existing customers is unchanged,” emphasised CEO Neil Harding. “We have a lot of hard work that lies ahead to execute on all of the business that has come our way.
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The specialist onboard concessionaire enjoys strong relationships with some of the world’s great brand names based on an ability to deliver high-class retail environments to a captured but discerning clientele | |
“With this business added to our Oceania Cruises three-ship contract, which starts in July, Harding Brothers will double in size over the next three years. We will clearly have to invest in people, systems, premises and we are looking at the possibility of having some US-based employees too.”
ABOUT HARDING BROTHERS
The Harding Brothers group of companies was founded over 60 years ago and has traditionally offered a diverse range of goods and services to the shipping industry.
From its inception as a ships’ business, the group has successfully expanded into a number of related activities and today comprises two main areas of activity:
– The operation of on board tax and duty free retail concessions
– The provision of on-board health and beauty spa services
It has offices in Bristol and Southampton. For more information visit www.hardingbrothers.co.uk
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