Europe new ‘centre of gravity’ for cruising

A record four million Europeans took cruise holidays last year, according to latest European Cruise Council statistics.

Only 2.6 million Europeans took a cruise holiday just five years ago. By 2006 the number had leapt to 3.4 million and 17% growth in 2007 has taken the figure to  four million.

The ECC 2007 “Markets Report” shows that 60% Europeans travelled in the Mediterranean and Altantic Islands, 24% cruised in the Caribbean and other parts of the world and 16% sailed in Northern Europe.

The top five source markets for cruise passengers in Europe in 2007 are:

1) UK with 1.3 million passengers, 11% growth

The UK saw around 467,000 passengers departing on ex-UK cruises and 870,000 fly-cruise passengers last year. Growth was stimulated by increased capacity such as Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas, Thomson Cruises’ Calypso and Ocean Village Two.

2) Germany – 763,000 passengers, 8% growth

Despite Germany’s relatively low growth rate in 2007 it still accounts for 19% of cruise passengers from Europe. The ECC report predicts strong growth from Germany in the next few years and one million German passengers by 2010. Growth is expected to be stimulated by four 68,500 tonne “club ships” on order by market – leader Aida Cruises and by the joint venture announced between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises which will create cruises tailored for German customers.

 3) Italy – 640,000 passengers, 24% growth

Italy is the third largest source of cruise passengers in Europe – the vast majority chose to cruise in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands (81%) and only seven per cent cruise in Northern Europe.

4) Spain – 518,000 passengers,  32% growth

The Spanish market increased by nearly one third in 2007 to reach more than 500,000 passengers for the first time – a 127,000 increase on 2006.

5) France – 280,000 passengers, 16% growth

French cruise passengers now account for seven per cent of European cruise travellers.

ECC chairman David Dingle, CEO of Carnival UK, said: “The popularity of cruising for European holidaymakers is growing faster than anyone in the industry envisaged.

“The ECC had predicted that we’d hit four million cruise passengers from Europe by 2010.

“We’ve beaten that target two years early with impressive growth across the region – Spain has seen cruising grow by a third and Italian cruise passengers have increased by a quarter.

“There is no doubt that Europe is  the new centre of gravity for the cruise industry and we’re seeing increasing numbers of cruise lines basing ships in the region, which will encourage even more Europeans to cruise in future.”

by Phil Davies