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CLIA: Half million more cruisers this year
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is predicting a record growth year in 2007 with an increase of a half million cruisers.
CLIA predicts more than 12.6 million passengers this year, which would give it more than 4% more than in 2006.
“The state of the industry is very, very strong, with CLIA cruise lines stepping up to the plate each and every year with innovative new offerings that continue to bolster cruise sales,” said Dan Hanrahan,
CLIA’s new marketing committee chairman and the president of Celebrity Cruises.
Also newly released are third quarter 2006 results and fourth quarter estimates, which revealed that CLIA-member cruise lines carried more than 12.million worldwide passengers last year, an 8.4% increase over the 11.1 million carried in 2005.
Bolstering the influx of travelers choosing to cruise in 2007 is the introduction of 12 new ships – totaling 22,039 beds – that offer vacationers new worldwide itineraries and ports.
CLIA member lines have invested more than $15 billion in 30 new vessels that will enter service between 2007 and the end of 2010. This translates into 73,562 more beds – a 29.8% increase from 2006.
Further evidence that supports a robust 2007 is positive feedback from CLIA-member travel agents, who report a strong start to the 2007 Wave Season, the January through March period that traditionally produces the heaviest cruise booking activity of the year.
CLIA member lines are kicking off 2007 with a host of booking incentives and promotions, including stateroom upgrades, “kids sail free” programs, early booking savings, upgrades from Economy to Business Class air, shipboard credits and cruise giveaways.
The 2007 projections were released at a press conference.
Report by David Wilkening
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