Cruise sales up price cuts
Ferry Online Travel News 26/02/2009
Discounts offered by major cruise lines have led to sales outperforming last year at this time.
During the current economic downturn the price of cruises for 2009 has decreased between five and 10 per cent, and according to a Carnival UK study this has resulted in increased bookings during the January-February period.
Although many travellers are booking their cruises later this year, sales for January and February are up by 25-30 per cent over the same months in 2008. Cunard is actually reporting a 50 per cent increase in sales for the period. Eighty-five per cent of Carnival UK’s capacity is sold.
When the figures were released, David Dingle, Carnival UK’s CEO, noted that the cruise group, which comprises brands such as P&O Cruises, Ocean Village and Cunard, would stay in “reasonable shape” for 2009.
He made his comments on the release of Carnival UK’s annual cruise report, which featured the results of its poll indicating that UK holidaymakers intend to maintain or increase last year’s travel spending level. Dingle commented: “People are booking later because they are feeling naturally uncertain.”
He continued: “It is true that as an industry we are using price stimulation to encourage bookings with fares five to ten per cent down than the same time last year. Since Christmas we have seen bookings well above the same time last year.”
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