Highlights
Cruising once may have been the province of the rich, but by the 21st Century, the North American-based cruising industry had become a massive economic engine: about 12.5 million passengers spent about $17.6 billion onboard and ashore in 2007, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. While the industry has struggled recently, the companies proved optimistic about growing demand: By the end of 2007, nearly 100 new ships will have been introduced since 2000 -- 8 just in 2007 and more in the pipeline. Several cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean are building monster-sized boats like the Project Genesis class, which will hold 5,400 passengers.
These are requiring several...
These are requiring several...
Cruising once may have been the province of the rich, but by the 21st Century, the North American-based cruising industry had become a massive economic engine: about 12.5 million passengers spent about $17.6 billion onboard and ashore in 2007, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. While the industry has struggled recently, the companies proved optimistic about growing demand: By the end of 2007, nearly 100 new ships will have been introduced since 2000 -- 8 just in 2007 and more in the pipeline. Several cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean are building monster-sized boats like the Project Genesis class, which will hold 5,400 passengers.
These are requiring several ports, such as Fort Lauderdale Florida's Port Everglades, to consider enlarging berths and deepening channels. Cruising is a key part of Florida's economy. In 2006, cruise line spending in Florida topped $5.8 billion and companies paid $5 billion in wages to Florida employees. Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades are among the busiest ports in North America, accounting for more than half the cruise traffic, but New York and Hawaii are among the fastest-growing embarkation points. The average cruiser remains a 49-year-old person with a household income of more than $100,000, but much of the passenger growth has been due to aggressive marketing to a diverse range of demographics including an entire cruise line aimed at families with children, gay-friendly cruises, amenities designed to be handicapped accessible and younger cruisers seeking more active shore excursions like white-water rafting and rappelling. The types of cruises offered encompass more than the traditional 3-to-10 day vacations with one-day stops in a half-dozen ports. They include day trips to the Caribbean islands, "cruises to nowhere" solely to enable customers to gamble, round-the-world marathons and trans-Atlantic trips that can be cheaper than flying and staying in a hotel. Customer preferences ebb and flow. In 2007, traffic to the Caribbean dipped while demands for trips to and around Europe increased. Patrons are booking their cruises later and later. Cruise lines have striven to attract customers with huge ships that carry thousands upon thousands of passengers. They tout fine dining (even gourmet supper clubs and health-conscious menus), luxurious amenities, gambling casinos, rock climbing walls, exotic ports like Dubai, shipboard Internet cafes and Wi-Fi, lengthy rosters of pre-arranged shore excursions, and experts or celebrities lecturing on everything from languages to art. The industry continues to grow, but it has been hit by one headache after another: rising fuel prices, hurricanes canceling cruises and spooking potential patrons, ship fires, terrorism fears, passenger disappearances, gastro-intestinal illnesses, a soft economy cutting into discretionary spending and the rise of land-based casinos. Some lines have been criticized by environmentalists damaging the eco-system. The North American cruise industry's trade group is the Cruise Lines International Association.
These are requiring several ports, such as Fort Lauderdale Florida's Port Everglades, to consider enlarging berths and deepening channels. Cruising is a key part of Florida's economy. In 2006, cruise line spending in Florida topped $5.8 billion and companies paid $5 billion in wages to Florida employees. Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades are among the busiest ports in North America, accounting for more than half the cruise traffic, but New York and Hawaii are among the fastest-growing embarkation points. The average cruiser remains a 49-year-old person with a household income of more than $100,000, but much of the passenger growth has been due to aggressive marketing to a diverse range of demographics including an entire cruise line aimed at families with children, gay-friendly cruises, amenities designed to be handicapped accessible and younger cruisers seeking more active shore excursions like white-water rafting and rappelling. The types of cruises offered encompass more than the traditional 3-to-10 day vacations with one-day stops in a half-dozen ports. They include day trips to the Caribbean islands, "cruises to nowhere" solely to enable customers to gamble, round-the-world marathons and trans-Atlantic trips that can be cheaper than flying and staying in a hotel. Customer preferences ebb and flow. In 2007, traffic to the Caribbean dipped while demands for trips to and around Europe increased. Patrons are booking their cruises later and later. Cruise lines have striven to attract customers with huge ships that carry thousands upon thousands of passengers. They tout fine dining (even gourmet supper clubs and health-conscious menus), luxurious amenities, gambling casinos, rock climbing walls, exotic ports like Dubai, shipboard Internet cafes and Wi-Fi, lengthy rosters of pre-arranged shore excursions, and experts or celebrities lecturing on everything from languages to art. The industry continues to grow, but it has been hit by one headache after another: rising fuel prices, hurricanes canceling cruises and spooking potential patrons, ship fires, terrorism fears, passenger disappearances, gastro-intestinal illnesses, a soft economy cutting into discretionary spending and the rise of land-based casinos. Some lines have been criticized by environmentalists damaging the eco-system. The North American cruise industry's trade group is the Cruise Lines International Association.
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Book an ocean-view cabin 4-night cruise on the Disney Dream for as low as $619
Now that the Disney Fantasy has made the scene, it's time to look out for deals on sister ship the Disney Dream. One interesting phenomenon of these two sister ships is the price for ocean-view cabins can sometimes cost less than the inside cabins.
It...Tags: Sailing, Port Canaveral, Missing Persons, Tourism and Leisure, Travel
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Book a 10-night Holland America cruise to the eastern Mediterranean for $699
Holland America Line offers a 10-night eastern Mediterranean cruise with cabins as low as $699.
The ms Noordam sails out of Rome/Civitavecchia on a 10-day, round-trip itinerary with stops in Dubrovnik, Croatia, the Greek ports of Corfu, Katakolon and...Tags: Sailing, Holland America Line, Tourism and Leisure, Netherlands, Travel
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Book a 5-day Carnival Destiny cruise to the eastern Caribbean for as low as $229
Carnival Cruise Lines offers a five-night eastern Caribbean cruise for as little as $239 per person, based on double occupancy.
The Carnival Destiny sails out of the Port of Miami on a Monday-Saturday itinerary with stops in Nassau , Half Moon Cay and...Tags: Sailing, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cruise Line Ports, Festive Events, Arts and Culture
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Book a 7-day Celebrity Millennium Alaskan cruise for as little as $499
Celebrity Cruises offers a 7-night Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity Millennium for as little as $499 per person plus paid gratuities incentives.
The Celebrity Millennium sails from Vancouver to Seward, Alaska on a Friday-Friday trip sailing the Inside...Tags: Sailing, Tourism and Leisure, Travel, Celebrity Cruises
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Travelers should keep life-supporting equipment near, experts say
A Carnival Cruise Line ship left Miami on Saturday with a disabled woman's dialysis machine aboard, but without the passenger and her family. Carnival officials said in a statement Monday that the dialysis supplies had been given to a porter at the...Tags: Carnival Cruise Lines, Transportation Industry, Health, Medical Procedures and Tests, Sleep Apnea
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Travel insurance might not help if the ship sails without you
Watchdog with Paul MuschickBob Durn of Allentown seemed to have a good argument when he sought the Watchdog's help in a dispute with his travel insurance. He'd missed a cruise that left New York as the city was shutting down for Hurricane Irene...... -
Book a 4-day Carnival Destiny cruise to the western Caribbean for as low as $209
Carnival Cruise Lines offers a four-night western Caribbean cruise for as little as $209 per person, based on double occupancy.
The Carnival Destiny sails out of the Port of Miami on a Thursday-Monday itinerary with stops in Key West and Cozumel,...Tags: Carnival Cruise Lines, Sailing, Cruise Line Ports, Festive Events, Arts and Culture
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Book a 12-night western Mediterranean cruise on the Holland America ms nieuw Amsterdam for $899
Holland America Line offers a 12-night western Mediterranean cruise with cabins as low as $899, based on double occupancy.
The ms nieuw Amsterdam sails from Venice to Barceolona with stops in Dubrovnik, Corfu, Argostolion, Thira, Catania, the Strait of...Tags: Holland America Line, Tourism and Leisure, Netherlands, Travel
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Book a 7-day Celebrity Millennium Alaskan cruise for as little as $379
Celebrity cruise line offers a 7-day Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity Millennium for as little as $499 per person plus paid gratuities incentives.
The Celebrity Millennium sails from Seward, Alaska to Vancouver on a Friday-Friday trip with stops in...Tags: Tourism and Leisure, Travel
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Navy commissions the high-tech San Diego
SAN DIEGO — The $1.3-billion ship is billed as the most technologically advanced of any in its class in the U.S. Navy, with stealth capability and a state-of-the-art communications system.
But the commissioning ceremony Saturday that made the San...Tags: Navy Pier, Unrest, Conflicts and War, U.S. Navy, World War I (1914-1918), Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp
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Tropical Storm Alberto hovers off the S.C. coast
Tropical Storm Alberto hovered off the South Carolina and Georgia coasts on Sunday, canceling tourist cruises, producing showers along the coast and serving as a reminder that the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season is just around the corner. The first storm...
Tags: Weather Reports, Tropical Weather, Weather Warnings, Tropical Storms, Hurricanes
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BEST DEALS
$265 LANCASTER A June 23-24 Lancaster tour includes Amish farmlands, quilt and crafts shop, Kitchen Kettle Village, Hershey Farms dinner, Sight & Sounds show "Jonah", Sturgis Pretzel Factory, Wilbur Chocolates and Landis Valley Living History Museum....Tags: Greenbrier, Pompano Beach, Walt Disney World Resort, Allentown, Metal and Mineral
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