We have certainly been inundated with announcements over recent months that will see availability of capacity in our local waters dramatically increase in the near future. I often get asked why this is happening and my initial thought is “who cares, just keep sending them!” Seriously, one thing cruise lines...
We have certainly been inundated with
announcements over recent months that
will see availability of capacity in our local
waters dramatically increase in the near
future.
I often get asked why this is happening
and my initial thought is “who cares, just
keep sending them!”
Seriously, one thing cruise lines are very
good at is managing their passenger
loads.
So long as the cruise message is then
getting to the consumer through our
strong retail distribution, we can rely on
the cruise line analysts to manage capacity
and deliver some great deals at the same
time.
By October 2012 there will be 16 large
cruise ships operating out of Australian
and New Zealand ports for anywhere
between four months and year round.
Combined, these vessels will have close
to 30,000 berths to be filled each day as
they offer itineraries throughout Australia,
New Zealand and the South Pacific.
In addition to this we will also have
many international ships that continue to
escape the Northern Hemisphere winter
on world voyages.
In many cases we are now finding even
these international ships are announcing
extended stays “down-under” which is all
great news for the cruise industry.
Finally, let’s not forget that over the next
four years we will also see many new
builds delivered around the world – in fact
19 ships that are designated for ocean
cruising will be built by 2015.
These 19 ships will be built at an
estimated cost of more than US$13 billion
and offer over 54,000 extra berths – that’s
an average of just under 3,000 passengers
per ship!
Brett Jardine
General Manager
ICCA
