| The UK cruise industry has taken the best part of 50 | | | | advance in the industry, many believed it was too |
| years to reach the 1 million passenger mark, but now, | | | | bold and questioned whether she would ever fill. 13 |
| with such strong growth, it has been predicted that it | | | | years on we have seen such unbelievable |
| will take just 8 years to hit 2 million. | | | | development in the market, not only in the size and |
| This is just one of the fascinating revelations | | | | capacity of the ships, but in the onboard innovations. |
| published in the 2008 Cruise Report which was | | | | Who would have thought we would see ice skating |
| compiled by the Carnival UK Group earlier this month. | | | | rinks, bowling alleys and even boxing rings onboard? |
| The report summarized current cruise trends as well | | | | We only have to look as far as next year to see the |
| as forecasting market predictions up to the year | | | | start of the future of cruising, with the introduction |
| 2020. | | | | of Royal Caribbean’s Project Genesis, which will a |
| Interestingly, the report suggested that the future of | | | | record breaking 220,000 ton ships with a capacity for |
| cruising this side of the Atlantic is looking good, with | | | | 5000 passengers. This alone is hard to imagine, so |
| the majority of the 44 new ships set to be built in | | | | what can we see happening in the next 12 years? |
| the next 5 years sailing for European brands. With an | | | | Well, here’s the good news; according to Peter |
| estimated 5 million UK passengers by 2020, this will | | | | Shanks, Carnival UKs chief commercial officer, we can |
| be a much needed capacity increase. | | | | say goodbye to single supplements and look forward |
| These figures show great confidence in the UK cruise | | | | to ships that have specific single cabins that can be |
| market and is good news for the Carnival Group who | | | | sold for the same per person price as double cabins. |
| somewhat monopolize the market with ownership of | | | | He also predicts a renaissance for ocean liners, as it |
| P&O Cruises, Ocean Village, Cunard, Yachts of | | | | will become the most relaxing way to cross the |
| Seabourn and Princess Cruises. | | | | Atlantic, as well as cruise ships being built differently |
| Carnival UK Group – 2007 Figures | | | | to allow “weatherproof cruising”. He stated; |
| • 2007 saw an impressive 18% increase of UK | | | | “The process has already started in the |
| passengers choosing to sail with Princess Cruises, | | | | Mediterranean, but, by 2020, the development of |
| thus partly due to an extended season of | | | | many more all weather ships with greater stability |
| Southampton departures onboard the popular Sea | | | | and range of weatherproof entertainment facilities will |
| Princess, along with the deployment of an additional 2 | | | | make winter cruising viable from and to many more |
| ships to serve Europe. | | | | places” |
| • Ocean Village continued their success in | | | | Further positive predictions were put forward by |
| attracting informal cruisers, as well as maintaining their | | | | David Dingle who believes that by 2020, inside cabins |
| impressive first time cruiser rate, with around 50% of | | | | will be a thing of the past as balcony cabins come as |
| their passengers fitting into this category. | | | | standard. He further adds that cruise ships are likely |
| • P&O Cruises passenger figures mirrored those | | | | to be powered in a different way; “It could be |
| from 2006, but they did confirm heavy interest in | | | | Biofuels; it could be liquefied natural gas, we should |
| their new build – the Ventura - sailing this year, | | | | have worked the best way forward to marry the |
| which is set to increase capacity for P&O by 22%. | | | | environmental issues involved with the optimum |
| • Cunard saw high demand from UK passengers | | | | design for the ships to operate efficiently”. |
| most notably on their transatlantic crossings on the | | | | So, better ships, more balconies and less |
| Queen Mary 2, with North American passengers being | | | | environmental damage all sounds pretty good, but |
| outnumbered by Brits. | | | | what about the onboard innovations in 12 years time? |
| • Finally, Yachts of Seabourn, catering for the | | | | What can we really expect from our cruise |
| ultra luxury end of the cruise market, confirmed | | | | experience? |
| there was an increased demand for their product. | | | | Unfortunately, the report didn’t explore this area, |
| Looking ahead, host David Dingle, chief executive | | | | however, Nigel Esdale, P&O’s managing director |
| officer of Carnival UK, reported that we can expect | | | | did predict future ships weren’t going to be built |
| cruising to head in a much healthier direction, with a | | | | in the bigger and better style that is the current |
| focus on spas and fitness and more sophisticated | | | | trend; “I do not believe ships will necessarily be |
| dining, with an aim to eliminate some of the negative | | | | any larger than the 2,000 to 3,000 passenger size |
| images of cruising. | | | | which are already beginning to dominate the market |
| We can also expect to see advanced technological | | | | here in 2008 but there will be a lot more of them and |
| features, such as interactive digital TV in cabins, | | | | they will vary a lot more in style and on board |
| texting facilities, and plasma screens in lounges to | | | | facilities” |
| show major sporting events. | | | | So rather than looking at a future filled with bigger |
| 2020 Predictions | | | | ships with mind blowing innovations, maybe the |
| Let’s take a step back in time to 1995. P&O | | | | market will develop in a more subtle direction, with |
| Cruises proudly introduced the Oriana as the | | | | emphasis on higher quality dining, entertainment and |
| UK’s largest cruise ship at a now somewhat | | | | itineraries, making cruising the ultimate luxury product. |
| modest 69,000 tons. This was seen as a huge | | | | |