A new report out this week by cruise guru Tony Peisley concludes there is little evidence of a slowdown in fleet expansion despite the weak dollar, which has made ship building an even more expensive business than it already was.
In an analysis in Travel Weekly this week, I list the new builds on order between now and 2011 - 32 in all, and that excludes ships being built for the US or German markets that are unlikely ever to see a Brit on board. I agree. That certainly doesn't smack of a slowdown.
As the euro gathers strength, cruiselines might be cursing the money markets but new ships for new cruisers - 20 million worldwide by 2010, Peisley predicts - is what this industry is all about.
It has taken a lot of courage and hard work for the cruiselines to get where they are today, with cruising now an accepted holiday for people of all ages from all walks of life. They are not going to let a little financial fluctuation rock the boat.
Jane Archer
