UK cruise market grows despite difficult year

Figures released today in the Passenger Shipping Associations’ 2001 Annual Cruise Review show that the UK’s cruise industry grew by 2.4 per cent in 2001.

More than 890,000 Brits choosing an ocean, river or coastal cruise holiday. 776,173 UK holidaymakers took an ocean cruise, an increase of 2.9 per cent.

For the first time the number of UK ocean cruise passengers increased by more than those in the US, the world’s largest cruise market. With further capacity entering the UK market in 2002 and 2003 onwards, annual increases of around ten per cent are being predicted.

Cruise revenue has increased from £815 million to £885 million. The PSA said this reflects the increase in passengers and the decrease in the short cruise market out of Cyprus (due to the Middle East conflict), “which are among the lowest cruise fares around”.

William Gibbons, director of the Passenger Shipping Association, said: “This is the fifteenth successive year of growth for the cruise industry, despite a difficult year for the travel industry. There are 37 new ships on order or option for delivery between May 2002 and 2006 and we are still expecting annual cruise passengers to grow by 60 per cent between 2000 and 2009.

“With the new UK-dedicated capacity coming in over the next few years the UK industry is set to get even stronger. In fact 2001 growth would have been even more impressive without the Middle East conflict, which hit the ex-Cyprus market, which had previously experienced record growth. Take this out of the equation and the percentage growth would have been doubled.

“2002 will be an interesting year for the UK cruise passenger with even more choices of ships and styles of cruising. New operations are targeting the younger, more informal market whilst more traditional cruise lines and upmarket ships still offer the elegance of old-style cruising.”

The one-week cruise has again become the most popular length of cruise after coming second to two-week cruises in 2000. One in two cruise passengers opts for a cruise of five to seven days whilst one in three opts for an eight to 14 day cruise.

The PSA said it is the more far-flung and exotic destinations proving the fastest growing cruise areas, although growing from the smallest bases. South America/Antarctica increased by 28 per cent whilst the Far East/Australia grew by 13 per cent.The Mediterranean remains the most popular option for Brits with an increase of 16.5 per cent (270,501), followed by Caribbean (138,957), Atlantic Isles (77,081), Scandinavia/Baltics (70,555), Short Cruises ex-Cyprus (64,413), Far East/Australia (16,547), Alaska (16,342), West Coast/Hawaii/Trans Canal (10,504), Round the World (10,218) and South America/Antarctica (6,321).

River cruise growth was slower this year at one per cent, due mainly to the drop in bookings to the Nile, although it still remains the firm favourite. The Rhine also saw a drop in numbers whilst the biggest increase was again Far East/China.

The most popular rivers were: Nile (34,462), Rhine (30,467), Danube (12,370), Rhone and Seine (8,702), Russian Waterways (7,354), Far East/China (7,314), Po (3,291) and Elbe (2,185).

The share of cruisers from the South East fell from 25 per cent to 23 per cent. After the South East, cruisers came from: North West (12 per cent), South West (10 per cent), West Midlands (eight per cent) Yorks & Humberside, East Midlands and Scotland (all seven per cent), North East, East Anglia and London (all six per cent), Wales (five per cent) and Northern Ireland (two per cent).