North American cruise growth leveling off
The growth in North American cruise capacity is slowing down to an average of 4% annually through 2010, according to a research report by UBS Investment Analyst Robin Farley.
Historic average annual increases are 7 or 8%, according to the report. Increases this year and in 2009 will be just 2%.
“While we learn of new ship orders years in advance, withdrawals of older or less profitable or redeployed tonnage typically occur only a few months to a few weeks in advance,” Ms Farley said.
For that reason, she added there could be further changes in the numbers.
Additional ship transfers are expected post-2009 as Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. send older vessels to their European brands. However, many transfers are taking place now.
Louis Cruises recently announced the purchase of two older NCL vessels.
RCCL and TUI also closed on a joint venture for a new German cruise brand, and RCCL expects to transfer one of its older ships to that brand. In addition, NCL America is transferring the Pride of Aloha to parent company, among other developments.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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