4-7 market ttgk cruise 25/1/08 09:53 Page 7
New larger ships set
sail above, left to right:
P&O’s Ventura, Cunard’s
Queen Victoria, Holland
America’s Eurodam, and
Trends
Fred Olsen’s Balmoral
T
HE Passenger Shipping Association is
predicting a 14% rise in UK passenger
numbers in 2008, which would take
for 2008
cruise passengers through the 1.5
million barrier – this would be an
impressive rise on the estimated 1.35 million out on availability because it’s snapped up by
Brits who took a cruise in 2007. the American market so they know to book early,”
he says. Harmer adds that companies such as
FLOATING PALACES Ocean Village, Island and Royal Caribbean are
2008 will be a huge year for the UK cruising successfully targeting first-time cruisers.
industry with vast new ships sailing from
British shores this summer. GETTING YOUNGER
P&O Cruises’ Ventura will be the largest The average age of cruise passengers in the UK
ship built specifically for the UK has been gradually falling over the last few years
market when it launches in April. It can and is now down to the early 50s. Agents have
carry 3,600 passengers and facilities also seen more interest in cruises from younger
include nine bars and lounges, eight restaurants people in the last year including more demand
Bigger is beautiful: plus the first onboard circus school. Even bigger from families. Families have been a growth area
Royal Caribbean’s is Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, for Baldwins Travel in Tunbridge Wells. General
Independence of the Seas which will also be based at Southampton from manager Peter Ruck says: “We are getting clients
May. It will be the first Freedom Class ship to be with families who’ve done the Med beach holiday
based in Europe and can host up to 3,600 passen- and are looking for something different. They tend
gers. Capacity from the UK has been further to have children aged between eight and 12. They
increased by the recent launch of Cunard’s Queen take a cruise in the Med – some go on P&O while
Victoria and Fred Olsen’s introduction of a fifth others are taking Celebrity-type cruises.”
ship, Balmoral. Other new ships scheduled to
take their bows in 2008 include MSC Poesia CHALLENGES
and Fantasia, Carnival Splendor, Ruby Princess, There has been some negative publicity recently
Celebrity Solstice and Holland America’s Eurodam. such as the outbreak of the norovirus on Cunard’s
Queen Victoria, the sinking of Explorer in the
GOING UPMARKET Antarctic and Hurtigruten’s new ship Fram hitting
The PSA says that fly-cruising is likely to be more an iceberg.
popular in 2008 than previously predicted, but Cruise Critic’s recent UK survey found that
There is more demand the growth in passengers taking cruises from UK getting sick – whether it be the norovirus or plain
from younger people and ports would be slower than expected despite the old seasickness – was the top “scary factor” about
families with children increase in capacity. The rise in adventure-style cruising for consumers, with 35% of the vote.
cruises is another strong trend. Ace’s Harmer says: “There was a much bigger
While big may be beautiful for the mainstream outbreak of norovirus on land, which puts what
cruise lines, these enormous vessels are not always happened on the Queen Victoria into perspective.
the most attractive option for first-timers. Cruise These incidents make the news because they are
Critic’s survey of UK consumers found that 39% so rare. Cruise lines make huge investments in
of cruise virgins would consider booking an their ships so they make sure that they are safe.”
upmarket line while 14% said they would like to With so much extra capacity in the market,
try an explorer or expedition type of voyage. But there are also fears of sharp discounting by many
only 10% wanted to take their debut cruise on lines and agencies as they seek a high volume of
one of the big mainstream ships. bookings. Cumbria Cruises’ Alison Westall says:
Association of Cruise Experts director Andy “We have seen more aggressive discounting – a lot
Harmer says a lot of upmarket clients are booking of agents are going in at a higher initial discount
a long way in advance for lines such as Silversea, level to attract customers, which is causing more
Crystal and Regent. “These clients sometimes miss consumers to shop around.”
TTG Knowledge CRUISE January 2008 7
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