Cruise prices next year should rise 5-15% next year, says VacationsToGo.com.
The site says there are two factors driving increased prices:
(1) Customer satisfaction. “More people are hooked on their first cruise, and return as often as they can.” Another five million people should take their first cruise in 2005.
(2) In the decade that ended in 2003, cruise berths grew by more than 10% but new ship construction has now slowed down.
“But looking out through at least 2007, the cruise industry growth rate will be only about 5% per year, “said VacationToGo.com.
That’s because almost all new cruise ships are built in European shipyards, and the weak dollar has added more than $100 million to the cost of a large ship–putting a damper on ship-building enthusiasm, according to the site.
Cruise ship prices hit bottom after 9-11, and stayed there in 2002.
Report by David Wilkening
