Cruise travel trends for 2009
2008 was been a bumper year for the UK cruise business with the number of cruise travellers reaching 1.55 million, a 14 percent increase on 2007. Never before had such a huge variety of ships, themes, ports and price points been on offer. UK cruise travel had moved from a stereotype holiday style for the "newly wed and nearly dead" to one that meets the needs of all. So what’s going to happen in 2009?Will the cruise bubble burst in the face of economic woes? And what will cruise lines do to tempt us onto the high seas? Here are the predictions from online news and reviews site CruiseCritic.co.uk.
UK Market Rides the Storm: Whilst a note of caution may be heard, most cruise lines continue to be bullish about the British market say CruiseCritic. The dizzy growth figures of 2008 are unlikely to be repeated but the UK cruise scene should be robust and resilient, benefiting from a huge boost in capacity and choice.
Great Deals - 2009 will be the year of “the deal” as cruise lines do their utmost to fill their cabins, especially with last minute offers, during the economic downturn. And because there are plenty of ships -- big ones, new ones, flash ones – sailing our waters.
Prices, already pretty low, will be incredibly competitive. Cruising's fairly inclusive package pricing strategy has long made it a great value-for-money option with prices typically include accommodations, meals in buffet and main restaurant venues, gratuities, entertainment, and transport from port to port, and, in some cases, even airfare. CruiseCritic says travellers should look out for last minute bargains at cruisecritic.co.uk/cruisedeals.
Beating the Euro Blues: A cruise holiday is going to be one of the best ways to visit the Med and beat the currency exchange blues in 2009, advises CruiseCritic. Cruises paid for in pounds greatly will greatly limit UK traveller’s exposure to losses due to the poor exchange rate. Also, paying in pounds avoids currency surcharges many tour/travel companies have had to add to the cost of a land based holiday.
“Homeporting” on the Rise: The huge in sailings in and out of British ports during the coming year means that UK travellers are better placed to avoid the cost and hassle of having flying to and from their ship. The news gets even better with both more and newer/upgraded ships sailing out of the UK and more sailings out of ports like Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast as well as the principal ports of Dover and Southampton.
Fewer Surcharges but More for Extras: The dreaded fuel surcharges hit many cruise travellers in 2008 with the extra fees, ranging from £2 per person, per day to a whopping £19 per person, per day. Thankfully fuel surcharges have been more or less consigned to history (at least for the time being) but cruise passengers need to be ever vigilant. As fares drop cruise lines will be looking other ways of improving their profit margins warns CruiseCritic. Expect more and increased charges for extras such as spa treatments, classes, speciality dining and service charges.
Bigger and Better: The trend towards mega ships continues with the launch of the mother of them all, the 5200 guest, 16 decks high Oasis of the Seas which is 40 percent larger than the next biggest. But says CruiseCritic, these leviathans are not just about size - they also offer a breathtaking range and variety of entertainment and attractions they offer which will provide a huge draw for next year. Amenities on board Oasis of the Seas will include a Central Park (complete with real grass and trees) an Aqua Theatre, a water-based theatrical venue and a Boardwalk, complete with carousel.
More Short Cruises: For travellers who are new to cruising and leery of spending an entire holiday onboard a ship, one- to- three -night cruises or "samplers" are available to help them find their sea-legs. They're also a great option for celebrating special milestones – stag/hen parties, weddings and anniversary celebrations. Cruise Critic says options abound in all price ranges; among the lines offering the occasional U.K.-based "sampler" are Thomson, Royal Caribbean, NCL, P&O, and Fred. Olsen.
The most popular itineraries are ports that are no more than an overnight's cruise away, such as Western Europe's Bruges and Honfleur, and Ireland's Cork and Dublin.
Return of Luxury on the High Seas: Meanwhile there is good news for those for whom money is no object. According to CruiseCritic, luxury will be one of the fastest growing sectors. For the first time in almost a decade, the luxury lines are all getting brand new vessels such as Seabourn, Oceania and Silversea. In addition a handful of big ship cruise lines are creating boutique hotels within mammoth ships in which high rollers can have access to dedicated restaurants, lounges and pool areas.