Royal Caribbean to Sell 'Splendour of the Seas' to TUI Cruises

Splendour of the Seas file photo courtesy Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean Cruises has agreed to sell its 1996-built cruise ship Splendour of the Seas to TUI cruises.

The sale is expected to close in the second quarter of 2016, at which point it will be leased and operated by Thomson Cruises. The vessel is expected to complete all scheduled cruises as a result of the sale. Her final sailing will commence on April 4, 2016. All officers and crew are expected to remain with the company and will be transferred to other vessels after the ship leaves the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the company said.

“Splendour of the Seas debuted in 1996 and has served Royal Caribbean International extremely well,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “The ship’s sale is in line with our strategic objective of divesting ourselves of older hardware and keeps us firmly on the course to the Double-Double.”

Splendour of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean International fleet in 1996, and was built by Chantier’s de L’Atlantique, now STX France, in St. Nazaire, France. The 69,130-ton ship carries 1,830 guests at double occupancy and 760 crew.