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Mega Ships Are Coming
According to the new CLIA-commissioned industry report on the cruise
industry by Business Research & Economic Advisors, the industry
is betting the bank on the success of mega ships that boast 2,500 or
more lower berths.
From 2007-2011, the report projected, the industry will add 34 more
ships to the North American fleet — a 23% increase — and
the emphasis on larger ships will mean the addition of 82,729 more
lower berths, a whopping 33% increase.
And the year to watch will be 2009 when 10 new ships will be
launched, adding a record 23,727 more lower berths in that single
year alone.
Overall, the 34-ship gain through 2011 will add up to a 6.8% annual
change in lower berths annually.
But this will be no ordinary surge of deliveries of newbuilds from overseas.
The end result will be a very different cruise industry, with a
record number of cruise lines investing in larger ships and a record
number of additional lower berths.
All this growth of mega ships will change cruising in a major way.
The average new ship will have 2,406 lower berths compared to the
2006 fleet, which averaged only 1,655 lower berths.
Leading the way will be Royal Caribbean’s Genesis-class
ships with 5,400 lower berths apiece.
More On New RCCL French Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean is launching a cruise line devoted exclusively
to the French market, CDF Croisieres de France, which will set
sail in May 2008. The line will initially use one ship, the Bleu
de France, a 752-passenger ship that currently sails as the
Holiday Dream for RCCL company Pullmantur. RCCL said it planned to
add additional ships to the CDF fleet within the next two to three years.
The Bleu De France will undergo a $41.6 million refurbishment,
giving it a "cultural transformation" to "make the
ambiance more French," RCCL said. French will be the primary
language used on CDF Croisieres de France ships, and the
entertainment will be Francophone, RCCL said. The Bleu de France will
offer seven-day Mediterranean sailings next summer departing from
Marseille, and during the winter 2008-2009 season it will offer
Caribbean cruises departing from La Romana, Dominican Republic. The
new line said it would unveil its logo and itineraries on Sept. 26 at
an event in Deauville, France.
Increased demand for cruising, ocean style
A trend in cruising: leisurely Ocean crossings between continents
with few if any ports of call.
These trips, known as repositioning cruises, are a look back to a
bygone era when plenty of onboard time added to the mystique and
romance of a high-seas adventure.
No fewer than 15 major players will soon move their fleets from
summer seasons in Europe, Alaska and Canada to winter itineraries in
the Caribbean, Mexico and elsewhere.
A total of 50 ships, ranging in size from intimately small to
mega-liners, will be offering fall transatlantic or Pacific Ocean
voyages this year, says Cruise travel columnist Michael Coleman.
"One of the world's most popular cruise lines, Princess, might
be the busiest," he adds.
The luxury lines, are also repositioning their fleets.
More On Non-Smoking controversy
A flurry of rules regarding smoking in cruise ships has fanned a fire
of controversy.
"The non-smokers are thrilled, (but) the smokers are very
unhappy," said Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Though many clients praise the changes, Mr Conroy says angry smokers
have canceled $3 million worth of bookings since July 5, the day
Regent announced it would ban smoking in cabins and on
balconies. The cancellations came despite the fact that smoking
still will be allowed in casinos and designated areas of bars.
Royal Caribbean said it would snuff out smoking in cabins
(though not on balconies) by January. Norwegian Cruise Line
announced it is doing so in all interior public areas except casinos
and cigar bars (though not in cabins or on balconies).
More lines are on the verge of announcements.
The flurry of rules comes less than a year after British
investigators concluded that a smoldering cigarette was the likely
cause of a ship fire last year on the 2,600-passenger Star Princess
that killed one passenger and destroyed 79 cabins.
Update: MSC has revised the smoking rules on it's
ships introducing a "Clean Air" policy fleetwide.
Smoking will not be allowed in staterooms or on stateroom balconies.
In public areas smoking will only be allowed in the Casino, a cigar
room and one designated lounge. Outside cruisers may smoke on
one side of the Sun deck. These new policies will make
all MSC ships 90% smoke-free.
Carnival considers fuel surcharge
A fuel surcharge is under discussion among Carnival Corp. &
plc’s various operating companies, chairman and ceo Micky Arison
said today.
Fuel price hikes cost the company an additional $20m in the third
quarter and are expected to account for an extra $81m in the current quarter.
Two Carnival brands have levied a surcharge so far. Costa Crociere
began implementing a fee in April in Germany for future bookings,
extending the fee this month to the rest of continental Europe for
existing and future bookings. Four weeks ago AIDA Cruises instituted
a surcharge for new bookings. Arison said that consumers have
been ‘completely understanding’ about the fee.
‘That’s why it’s on the table and under
consideration,’ he said, noting the issue is being discussed
with the chief executives of Carnival’s U.S. brands.
Carnival upbeat on ’08
2008 is shaping up as a ‘solid growth year’ for Carnival
Corp. & plc, said vice chairman Howard Frank, citing five new
vessels entering service along with positive booking trends.
The new ships are Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria, P&O
Cruises’ Ventura, AIDA Cruises’ AIDABella,
Holland America Line’s Eurodam and Carnival Cruise
Lines’ Carnival Splendor. (Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess
comes late in the year.)
Frank acknowledged U.S. economic issues including the sluggish
housing market and what he called the subprime mortgage loan
‘fiasco,’ but said Carnival has not seen any clear evidence
these matters are impacting business.
And....
Celebrity Solstice's verandah staterooms will be 15% larger
than comparable staterooms of Millennium-class (bathrooms 24% larger).
Carnival has extended it's docking agreement with the Port of
New Orleans to now run through Oct., 2010.
Carnival has issued a new book offering step-by-step
instructions and photos for creating the line’s popular
‘towel animals’ that greet guests when they arrive in their
Fun Ship cabins each evening.
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