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Further UK cruise growth forecast
Monday, 07 Oct, 2009
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The introduction of new ships will help fuel a 6.5% rise in the number of UK cruise passenger next year, according to projections from the Passenger Shipping Association.
A record 1.550 million people will take a cruise this year, up by five per cent from 2008.
The PSA predicts further strong growth in the years ahead as consumer interest in cruising remains at an all time high.
The figures were released at the ABTA Travel Convention in Barcelona where Carnival Corporation chairman and CEO is speaking today on prospects for cruising.
PSA director Bill Gibbons said: “This trend will continue into 2010 when we forecast a 6.5% increase to 1.650 million passengers.”
He added: “The growth will come about with the introduction of new ships dedicated to the UK market – P&O Cruises’ Azura, Cunard’s Queen Elizabethand Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Eclipse.
“We will also see Cruise & Maritime introduce a second ship, Ocean Countess, and Royal Caribbean providing a year-round service from Southampton with Independence of the Seas.
“There’s now a sustained interest and excitement in cruising which will be reinforced next month with the introduction of the largest ever cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas.”
Gibbons said: “The difficult economic climate has made this year a very testing time for our members but the exceptional value offered by a cruise holiday has been reflected in continued record growth.
“The two key drivers remain value and quality. The all-inclusive nature of cruising and the very high standards of quality, innovation and customer service have made cruising a compelling and mainstream holiday choice.”
Contributory factors to the projected record number of passengers in 2009 include P&O Cruises’ Ventura and Fred Olsen’s Balmoral both being in service for a full year.
MSC and Costa Cruises also introduced new large ships and there has been investment in the ultra luxury sector with new ships from Yachts of Seabourn and Silversea.
Thomson, Island Cruises and Royal Caribbean have also shown strong growth as the popularity of fly-cruises continues, according to the PSA.
UK Cruise Market
|
|
Total % Yearly Increase
|
Total
|
Ex UK Port
|
Fly Cruise
|
|
1997
|
|
522,000
|
140,000
|
382,000
|
|
2005
|
4.9%
|
1,070,000
|
400,000
|
670,000
|
|
2006
|
12%
|
1,204,000
|
451,000
|
753,000
|
|
2007
|
11%
|
1,335,000
|
467,000
|
867,000
|
|
2008
|
11%
|
1,477,000
|
577,000
|
900,000
|
|
2009*
|
5%
|
1,550,000
|
577,000
|
973,000
|
|
2010*
|
6.5%
|
1,650,000
|
647,000
|
1,003,000
|
*Forecast figures
2010 Ship launches
|
|
Company
|
Name
|
Ton
|
Pax
|
Cost
$m
|
|
1
|
Costa Cruises
|
Costa Deliziosa
|
92,700
|
2,260
|
552
|
|
2
|
MSC
|
MSC Magnifica
|
89,600
|
2,550
|
545
|
|
3
|
Aida Cruises
|
AidaBlu
|
71,000
|
2,174
|
518
|
|
4
|
American Cruise Lines
|
Independence
|
4,000
|
104
|
30
|
|
5
|
Celebrity Cruises
|
Celebrity Eclipse
|
122,000
|
2,850
|
698
|
|
6
|
Iles due Ponant
|
Le Boreal
|
10,600
|
264
|
100
|
|
7
|
NCL
|
Norwegian Epic
|
150,000
|
4,200
|
1,066
|
|
8
|
P&O Cruises
|
Azura
|
116,000
|
3,114
|
696
|
|
9
|
Pearl Seas Cruises
|
Pearl Mist
|
8,700
|
214
|
57
|
|
10
|
Sea Cloud Cruises
|
Sea Cloud Hussar
|
5,000
|
136
|
100
|
|
11
|
Seabourn Cruise Line
|
Seabourn Sojourn
|
32,000
|
450
|
250
|
|
12
|
Holland America Line
|
Nieuw Amsterdam
|
86,000
|
2,100
|
567
|
|
13
|
Iles du Ponant
|
L’Austral
|
10,600
|
264
|
100
|
|
14
|
Oceania Cruises
|
Marina
|
65,000
|
1,260
|
500
|
|
15
|
Royal Caribbean
|
Allure of the Seas
|
220,000
|
5,400
|
1,080
|
|
16
|
Cunard Line
|
Queen Elizabeth
|
92,000
|
2,092
|
700
|
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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