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Caribbean: reports of death may be exaggerated
In a strong indication that the Caribbean is not losing its appeal, Carnival Cruise Lines says it will carry a record-breaking number of passengers in its 2007 Caribbean cruise season.
The line says it will carry an unprecedented 2.9 million passengers within the region — the most in its 35-year history.
Overall, upwards of 1,150 three- to eight-day cruises will be operated by Carnival, which claims to be the only cruise line to offer the option of departing from 12 US homeports.
The Caribbean is the most sought-after cruise destination by far, with the region featured on roughly half of all itineraries of North American cruise operators, according to statistics from Cruise Lines International Association.
“The Caribbean offers everything that consumers want in a vacation – picture perfect weather, gracious hospitality, unique sightseeing experiences, great shopping and, of course, gorgeous beaches,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.
But in addition to the appeal of its beaches, she adds, the Caribbean has a cultural diversity and rich history.
“But there’s more to the Caribbean than great beaches – this is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world, with a rich history dating back centuries, magnificent architecture, and historical attractions and landmarks,” she added.
Caribbean demand the past year or so has been impacted by unfavorable economic factors affecting consumers’ discretionary purchasing, which was part of a cyclical trend that the industry has seen before, according to Ms Freed. There have been a variety of reports on the declining popularity of the area.
“Bookings for the second half of 2007 and early 2008 have shown much stronger fundamental demand and the trend we were previously observing clearly was not a reflection of the Caribbean’s popularity or desirability,” she said.
Report by David Wilkening
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