While other sectors of the shipping industry struggled through 2009, the cruise industry continues to sail smoothly. In 2009, cruise companies invested US$4.7 billion to build 14 new cruise ships. A further twelve vessels will be launched in 2010.
The cruise industry has seen a trend towards supersizing. In late January, Silveseas Cruises christened the 'Silver Spirit'. On board luxuries include personal butler services and a choice of eight different types of pillows. In December, Royal Caribbean launched the 'Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in history. With accommodation for 5,400 guests, there ships is aimed at families with parks, carousels and rides worthy of an amusement park.
Underneath the gloss and glam of luxury cruising, however, cruise lines have had to cut prices, in some cases, as far as 40 percent, to attract customers. Due to the discounts available, cruise passenger numbers are up from 12.6 million in 2007 to 13.4 million in 2009.
And yet revenues at the largest cruise line, Carnival, were more than ten percent lower in 2009 compared with the year before, the Economist.com reported.
The cruise industry hopes to attract more customers in the next few years. The industry is now aggressively targeting younger passengers and families with their low rates. Cruise ships now come with kid-friendly activities such as ice skating and cinemas.
A cruise industry analyst, Ross Klein, said that the median age of cruise passengers had decreased from 53 years old in 2002 to 46 years old in 2008.
