In response to new estimates compiled by Cruise Trade Information (CIN), North American operators crusing within the Caribbean will improve their capability in 2002 by 19 % – almost doubling a pre-Sept. 11 forecast for 10 % progress. Incorporating the most recent deployment modifications, operators could have capability to hold 5,329,036 passengers within the Caribbean in 2002, in comparison with 4,478,980 in 2001. On the identical time, North American operators will lower their capability within the Mediterranean by 41 %, from 403,153 passengers in 2001 to 239,193 passengers subsequent yr. Capability in Northern and Western Europe will even drop, though not as sharply, from 172,346 passengers this yr to 156,911 in 2002.
Following the premise that U.S. passengers will need to cruise nearer to residence, and keep away from air journey when attainable, traces have repositioned a lot of their summer time 2002 capability from Europe and different distant crusing areas into the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Western Mexico and Alaska, ideally crusing from U.S. mainland homeports positioned within the neighborhood of enormous drive markets. These traces opting to maintain tonnage in Europe have usually moved it to Northern or Western Europe, or to the Western Med.
As of press time, Royal Caribbean Worldwide had pulled three ships from the Med, Movie star Cruises had eliminated three; Holland America Line one; Princess Cruises had shifted one ship away and laid up one other; Norwegian Cruise Line had shifted one; and Royal Olympic Cruises had additionally pulled one ship.
As well as, now-bankrupt Renaissance Cruises had been the market chief within the Mediterranean, and a robust presence in Northern and Western Europe. That firm’s closing decreased European capability by 90,000 passengers – accounting for half of the general 180,000-passenger regional lower following Sept. 11.
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