Passenger Shipping Association 2007 Cruise Statistics

The latest Passenger Shipping Association Census confirmed the 11% forecast growth for UK cruise market for 2007. The cruise industry continued its successful growth pattern with yet another growth year that has seen the market increase more than three fold since 1996 to exceed 1.3 million passengers.
The continued growth of the cruise market in 2007 can be attributed to a number of factors including the increase in capacity but the market appears some way off saturation. The introduction of ex-UK Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas cruises and fly cruises on Thomson Cruises’ Calypso and Ocean Village Two accounted for much of the capacity increases but underlying demand is underpinned by a growing awareness of the quality, quantity and exceptional value of cruise products available to the UK traveller.
The 2008 forecasts indicate continued growth, with anticipated numbers of cruisers reaching 1.5 million, a 12% rise on 2007. The main driver for 2008 growth is capacity that will be brought in by a range of new ships targeting the UK market, including P&O Cruises’ Ventura, the largest ship ever to be built specifically for the UK market, Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria and the Balmoral from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Royal Caribbean International is set to increase its fly-cruise programme, whilst NCL and Carnival Cruise Lines will start operating an ex-UK programme and MSC Cruises increases its ex-UK cruises.

The PSA Annual Census is compiled by IRN Research ( www.irn-research.com ). The PSA 2007 Cruise Census is available on our reports page. Click here to go to our reports page .

ENDS

Note to editors:

The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) is the Trade Association for the cruise and ferry companies operating from the UK. The aim of the PSA is to promote travel by sea and river to the public, ensure expansion of passenger travel by sea and river and ensure the passengers travel in a safe, healthy and secure environment.

For further information contact:
Fred Hitchins, IRN Research, Tel: 00 44 121 635 5210
Date: 8 April 2008