Cruise industry coming off unforgettable year but what’s next?
This year was “truly the best and worse of times for the cruise industry,” writes Bruce Parkinson, a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to TakeOff.eh.com.
“On the high side, the world’s largest cruise ship made its hugely hyped debut and generated massive media coverage for the whole industry. A $1.5-billion, 5,400 passenger ship will do that. Like a floating Vegas, Oasis of the Seas captured the imagination of the public – including a good chunk of the many people who have never walked a gangplank.,” he writes.
But at the same time, cruise lines scrambled to fill their ships with prices sinking to the lowest levels in memory and “generous incentives required to attract a reluctant public.”
So what’s ahead?
If 2009 was ‘the year of the deal,’ 2010 will be ‘the year of the tweak.’
“In other words, there’s nothing on the horizon likely to generate as much attention as last year,” he writes. His predictions:
• Prices are expected to begin climbing, but there will still be lots of bargains.
• Several new ships will take to the water, but most of them will be sisters to existing vessels, and thus generate less attention.
• Much money will be spent on ship refurbishments, as cruise lines try to keep up with the expectations raised by new models.
• Onboard life will continue to evolve as well, with an emphasis on expanding entertainment, enrichment and culinary options.
• And while concerns will continue about pricing and profitability, the industry obviously continues to be viewed favorably by investors. Royal Caribbean, for example, just secured over $1-billion in financing for a sister ship to Oasis.
By David Wikening
David
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