| Cruise pax to hit 20 million in 2012

Worldwide numbers are
expected to grow 5.6% next
year, with port spending to
exceed US$15 billion.
INDUSTRY analyst Cruise Market Watch has
released the results of its annual cruise trends
forecast, estimating the worldwide cruise
market to be worth US$34.1 billion
Based on analysis of its proprietary cruise
database, Cruise Market Watch also forecasts
that the number of passengers carried
worldwide in 2012 will reach 20.3 million – a
5.6% increase over 2011.
According to the report, the top two cruise
companies Carnival Corporation and Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd account for 73% of
worldwide share of revenue.
It also ranks Miami, Florida, as the world’s
top cruise embarkation port and Nassau,
Bahamas, as the top port of call.
Direct spending by passengers and crew at all
cruise ports in the world is estimated at
US$15.5 billion, and average cruise revenue per
passenger per day is projected to be US$240.13.
With the addition of several ships launching
in 2012 (including MSC Divina, Costa
Fascinosca, Disney Fantasy and Carnival Breeze)
and eight more new ships by 2015, another
US$2.3 billion in annual revenue is expected
to be generated for the cruise industry.
“The new ships continue to bring attention
to cruising, creating interest, additional pricing
power, economies of scale and bookings of
first-time cruisers,” the report states.
Analysts also highlight the expansion in Asia:
“North America and Europe serve as the
source markets for 85.9% of worldwide
passengers, but other regions of the world
such as Asia are growing significantly.”
By 2015, Cruise Market Watch projects that
22.3 million cruise passengers will be carried
worldwide.