Trend toward later cruise bookings emerging

www.the-psa.co.uk

An industry report is indicating that there has been a slight shift towards consumers making later cruise bookings than during previous periods.

The number of travellers booking their cruises less than three months in advance increased from 24 per cent to 26 per cent last year.

Over half of all passengers continued to book their cruises more than six months before the scheduled departure, however.

The figures remained lower than the 42 per cent share of late bookings seen in 2001, when only six per cent of consumers booked cruises a year in advance – compared with 18 per cent last year.

“But it suggested that the economic uncertainty was beginning to affect consumer confidence – a trend which appeared to be continuing in the early months of 2009,” the Annual Cruise Review of the Passenger Shipping Association stated.

The report went on to say: “Although the economic situation has created some of the toughest market conditions the travel industry has seen for years, a combination of increased capacity, strong repeat business and timely consumer recognition of cruising’s value for money is expected to ensure further global growth in 2009.”

According to the report, cruise passengers are beginning to choose longer holidays and greater numbers are choosing to depart from UK ports.

Last year, the average cruise length increased to 10.4 nights from 9.7 to 10.4; and there was an increase of 18 per cent in cruises booked by UK consumers.

Thanks to www.travelmole.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.the-psa.co.uk