07 January 2009

2009 is the year of the cruise 'deal' says CruiseCritic

Online cruise review website CruiseCritic has unveiled its predictions for the cruise market in 2009.

It believes the current Ã¢â¬ÅâœdizzyÃ¢â¬~ rate of growth will not be sustained this year, but the market should be Ã¢â¬Åâœrobust and resilient, benefiting from a huge boost in capacity and choiceÃ¢â¬~.

In 2008, UK cruise passengers grew 14% to an estimated 1.55 million.

CruiseCritic believes 2009 will be the year of the 'deal', as cruise lines struggle to fill cabins.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœPrices, already pretty low, will be incredibly competitive,Ã¢â¬~ it said.

It said with the weak sterling against the euro, customers will take advantage of cruises, which do not involve currency surcharges that many travel companies have had to add to the cost of a land-based holiday.

Other trends identified include:

- There will be a rise in sailings from the UK, such as Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast, as well as the principal ports of Dover and Southampton.

- Passengers will pay fewer fuel surcharges but will pay more for extras, like spa treatments, classes, speciality dining and service charges.

- Passengers will take more short cruises, particularly those who are new to cruising.

- Luxury will be one of the fastest growing sectors, with Seabourn, Oceania and Silversea all getting new vessels. In addition, a handful of big ship cruise lines are creating boutique hotels within large ships, with dedicated restaurants, lounges and pool areas.

By Bev Fearis