Caribbean retains popularity as No. 1 cruise destination
The Caribbean remains the most popular cruise destination, and travel agents expect that cruise sales to the region in 2007 will surpass sales in 2006, according to a poll conducted by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Eighty percent of more than 500 CLIA travel agents named the destination as the most popular among their customers, and 88% reported that the total number of Caribbean cruises sold at their agencies in 2006 increased over 2005; 93% of agents predicted that 2007 sales totals would surpass 2006 levels.
The survey also showed that customer satisfaction rates had also risen, with nearly 90% of agencies reporting that their clients were very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their Caribbean cruises, CLIA said.
“Hands down, cruise vacationers will find the cruise industry’s most innovative ships in the Caribbean,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of CLIA, in a statement.
“The Caribbean is a veritable candy store when it comes to the array of cruise lines and ships that are available to travelers.”
Other findings of the CLIA survey included:
- Almost half said that a cruise was the perfect way to sample Caribbean islands that they wish to visit again by ship or by land.
- 53% of respondents sold western Caribbean itineraries most often, 34% the eastern Caribbean and 9% the southern Caribbean.
Report by David Wilkening
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