Another record year for UK cruise market
The UK cruise market has enjoyed a second record year with credit given to the popularity of niche cruising and launch of Queen Mary 2.
Ahead of the launch of its Annual Cruise Review 2004 in May, the Passenger Shipping Association has announced that 2004 was a second record year for the UK cruise industry.
The industry grew another 6.6% in 2004 according to PSA with over one million British passengers taking an ocean cruise during the year.
Ex-UK cruise operators also enjoyed a buoyant year with demand up 13%.
PSA expects further growth this year with launches of ex-UK cruises from Thomson Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International departing for the Mediterranean.
PSA director William Gibbons said: “2004 has been a good year for the UK cruise industry, which can partially be attributed to the launch of QM2 in January 2004 but also to Cunard’s decision to dedicate the QE2 to the UK market.
“A further nine ships are due to launch in 2005 including Thomson Cruises, which its doubling its number of ships in 2005.
What’s more we can expect cruise lines to start offering itineraries to more unusual destinations such as Libya.”
According to PSA popular destinations for British passengers last year were the Caribbean, which received 234,000 Brits in 2004, up 24% year-on-year, and Alaska, which received 22,310 British cruise visitors in 2004, up 69% from 2003.
Report by Ginny McGrath
Ginny McGrath
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