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Cruise numbers hit record levels
The number UK cruise passengers rose by eight per cent last year to 1.1 million.
Figures released by industry body the Passenger Shipping Association show that cruise holidays now account for five per cent of the UK package holiday market and are worth £1.24 billion.
A total of 1,028,937 people took an ocean cruise in 2004 – up seven per cent on 2003’s figure of 963,580. A further 110,957 went on river cruises last year (+23%), taking the total number cruising in 2004 to 1,139,893 – a rise of eight per cent year-on-year.
It is the first time more than one million people have taken an ocean cruise and the PSA predicts total numbers will rise to 1.5 million in five years time.
The 2004 figures reveal that the British take more cruise holidays than anyone else in Europe, closely followed by Germans, Italians and Spanish. Just over 2.8 million Europeans took an ocean cruise, an increase of 5.3 per cent on 2003.
Cruising from UK ports is also up with an increase of 13% – a trend set to continue with lines including Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises and Thomson Cruises offering UK departures for the first time.
Alaska was the cruise hot spot for 2004 with an increase of nearly 70% in passengers. Scandinavia and the Baltic remain strong with the Baltic overtaking the Norwegian fjords as the more popular itinerary.
The Nile recorded the largest increase of any river destination, but lines operating on less well-known rivers such as the Elbe and Douro in Portugal also increased capacity significantly.
PSA director William Gibbons said: “We are delighted to have reached the million milestone and with the current rate of growth I anticipate that we will reach 1.5 million ocean passengers by 2010.
“Growth looks good for 2005 with increased capacity from Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line. In addition Thomson Cruises is doubling its capacity from two to four ships.
“P&O Cruises introduced the brand new Arcadia, built specifically for the UK market, in April this year and the Artemis which launches in June, increases the P&O Cruises fleet from four to five ships”.
*The full statistics are available on the Passenger Shipping Association’s Annual Cruise Review 2004 (www.discover-cruises.co.uk).
Report by Phil Davies
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