A report in Florida Today says sales for cruising remain strong in the US as Americans disillusioned with flying latch onto the idea of driving to a port to join a ship.
Terry Thornton, Carnival's vice president for marketing planning, said there is no end in sight for demand for Caribbean cruises, which the company bolsters through locating its ships at drive-to ports around the state of Florida. "The cruise industry is doing well because people are driving to their ports."
Many Brits have already discovered the joys of being able to pack the car and drive to Southampton, Dover or wherever to start their cruise. No airport security hassles, no delays. Just board the ship and you're on holiday.
The Passenger Shipping Association says a record 591,000 passengers cruised from the UK last year. As more people discover the benefits of sailing from the UK - and more ex-UK cruises are offered - that figure can only grow. I expect more records for 2008 and beyond.
Jane Archer
Comments (2)
I can fully appreciate the joys of the good people of Florida happily motoring in the sunshine to the warm and sunny ports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale for their warm and sunny Caribbean Cruise.
I am not entirely convinced however that the same joy was evident this August at our less than warm and sunny ports of Southampton and Dover.
I don't want to sound negative, but, if these islands continue to have the lousy weather that we experienced this Summer, I wouldn't bank on the continued popularity of the ex-UK cruise.
Harley Van Straten
www.cruisepricescompared.com
Posted by harley van straten | August 29, 2008 5:04 PM
Posted on August 29, 2008 17:04
True - but a couple of days out from Southampton and you're into blue skies and warm sunshine in the Med (maybe not going north, but then that's not really why most people go north), as I discovered in July. Not a sign of a hurricane or people being evacuated! And everyone was able to bring six times more clothes than they really need. Very important for cruisers - myself excepted - after all!
Posted by Jane Archer | August 30, 2008 6:48 PM
Posted on August 30, 2008 18:48