World’s second largest cruise ship gives France’s GDP a €1bn lift
The mega-ship built in Saint-Nazaire boosted economic output by 0.3 per cent
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Royal Caribbean cruise ship added €1 billion (£840m) to the French economy, according to official statistics from Tuesday (30 July).
The Utopia of the Seas, the second-largest cruise ship in the world, significantly lifted French economic output by 0.3 per cent in the three months between April and June after a surge in the country’s exports.
French trade growth also increased in the second economic quarter after the delivery of the mega-ship built in Saint-Nazaire’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.
With 2,834 cabins, five pools, 21 dining concepts and 18 decks, Oasis-class Utopia comes second only to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas for size.
The high-value vessel helped grow French exports by 0.6 per cent after its delivery, according to data from the statistics office INSEE.
Utopia of the Seas officially launched its maiden voyage on 19 July from Florida’s Port Canaveral with upcoming itineraries for three- and four-night cruises designed for young people seeking “the world’s biggest weekend”.
The 28th vessel joining the Royal Caribbean fleet cost $1.3 billion (£1bn) to build and took two years to complete.
With the Olympic Games ongoing in Paris, increased consumer spending from thousands of tourists could also aid the French economy beyond the government’s original 1 per cent growth forecast.
Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister, said: “We will probably have growth after all that is better than the 1 per cent forecast in February.
“For two years, France has outperformed; our economic policies work and are giving tangible results.”
The first successful sailings of Utopia came after the sister ship Icon of the Seas experienced an onboard fire.
A fire broke out on the world’s largest cruise ship on 27 June, causing it to lose power while docked in Mexico.
No one was injured in the “minor” blaze while the ship was in Costa Maya, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told The Independent.
For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments