A RECORD FOUR MILLION EUROPEANS TAKE CRUISES

A record four million Europeans enjoyed cruise holidays last year according to the latest statistics unveiled by the European Cruise Council (ECC) in Brussels today.

The ECC 2007 “Markets Report” shows how rapidly cruise holidays are growing in popularity for European travellers. Just five years ago only 2.6 million Europeans took a cruise holiday. By 2006 it had leapt to 3.4 million and 17 per cent growth in 2007 has taken the figure to a record high of 4 million.

Sixty per cent of Europeans chose to travel in the Mediterranean and Altantic Islands, 24 per cent cruised in the Caribbean and other parts of the world and 16 per cent cruised in Northern Europe.

David Dingle, chairman of the ECC and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival UK announced the latest trends and said: “The popularity of cruising for European holidaymakers is growing faster than anyone in the industry envisaged. The ECC had predicted that we’d hit 4 million cruise passengers from Europe by 2010. We’ve beaten that target two years early with impressive growth across the region - Spain has seen cruising grow by a third and Italian cruise passengers have increased by a quarter. There is no doubt that Europe is the new centre of gravity for the cruise industry and we’re seeing increasing numbers of cruise lines basing ships in the region, which will encourage even more Europeans to cruise in future.”

The top five source markets for cruise passengers in Europe in 2007 are:
First - The United Kingdom –1.3 million passengers, 11% growth
The UK saw around 467,000 passengers departing on ex-UK cruises and 870,000 fly-cruise passengers last year. Growth is being stimulated by increased capacity such as Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas, Thomson Cruises’ Calypso and Ocean Village Two.

Second - Germany – 763,000 passengers, 8% growth
Despite Germany’s relatively low growth rate in 2007 it still accounts for 19 per cent of cruise passengers from Europe. The ECC report predicts strong growth from Germany in the next few years and one million German passengers by 2010. Growth is expected to be stimulated by four 68,500 tonne “club ships” on order by market – leader Aida Cruises and by the joint venture announced between TUI cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises which will create cruises tailored for German customers.

Third - Italy – 640,000 passengers, 24% growth
Italy is the third largest source of cruise passengers in Europe – the vast majority chose to cruise in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands (81 per cent) and only 7 per cent cruise in Northern Europe.

Fourth - Spain – 518,000 passengers, 32% growth
The Spanish market increased by nearly one third in 2007 to reach more than half a million passengers for the first time – a 127,000 increase on 2006.

Fifth - France – 280,000 passengers, 16% growth
French cruise passengers now account for seven per cent of European cruise travellers.

The announcements about the growth in cruise passengers from Europe follow an EEC report published earlier this year which reveals the economic benefit the cruise industry brings to Europe. Cruise companies, shipbuilding yards and cruise passengers account for more than €10.6 billion of direct expenditure and Europe’s is the world leader in cruise ship design and construction.

Full information is available on www.europeancruisecouncil.com

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Further Information

European Cruise Council Markets - 2007. Statistics collated for the ECC by IRN Research www.irn-research.com

David Dingle, Tel: +44 2380 655665 Email:
David.Dingle@carnivalukgroup.com

Bill Gibbons, Tel: +44 20 7436 2449, Email: w.gibbons@psa-psara.org
Debbie Hindle, bgb communications, Tel 44 207 902 2990, dhindle@bgb.co.uk