Cruising into 2008: what travelers can expect

Europe is growing as a popular destination.

By ANDREA SACHS

WASHINGTON POST

Last year was a very good one for the cruise industry, with a spike in passenger numbers and a flurry of ship construction. But now it’s time to look ahead to the top sailing trends for 2008. Oh, Caribbean, we shall miss you, but we’ll think of you while basking in the Mediterranean sun.

The cruising world started ’08 with a strong push. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 2.5 million passengers sailed on 1,063 North American cruises in the second quarter of 2007, the highest level in the past four years. That number is a mere fifth of all 2007 cruisers — 12.6 million, per estimates by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents the major cruise lines. To accommodate these vacationers, at least a dozen new ships hit the fair seas.

For this year, the industry had better keep its hammers handy. CLIA forecasts passenger figures to grow by 1.6 percent, to 12.8 million. “Overall, the cruise industry is still reaching out to people who haven’t cruised before,” said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of Cruise Critic, which publishes an online cruising magazine (www.cruisecritic.com). “Cruising is definitely going to grow.”

So what can the Cruising Class of 2008 expect? Here are some upcoming developments.

DESTINATIONS

Air travelers from the United States may be souring on Europe, but those arriving by sea are just gearing up for the Continent. “Europe is so hot this year,” said Paul Motter, editor of CruiseMates, an online cruising guide (www.cruisemates.com). “The further the dollar drops, the more popular [seeing Europe by cruise] becomes.” Specifically, the most scorching itineraries are in the Mediterranean and Baltic.

One of the biggest reasons to cruise Europe is the industry’s booking arrangement, which allows Americans to pay in dollars and therefore avoid the weak currency exchange rate. Unlike ground travelers who feel the pain every time they pay for a meal, hotel or transportation, cruisers pay one lump sum that covers all of their major expenses.

“This is a contemporary variation on ‘If it’s Tuesday, we must be in Belgium,’” Spencer Brown said. “It’s a great way to sample Europe. You pack once and sleep in the same bed.”

Of course, as Europe’s popularity grows, so do the cruise prices. Rates can be high, and cabins sell out fast. Experts suggest booking six to nine months out. To save money, Motter recommends sailing in May or September. “As the boat fills, it gets more expensive,” he said. “Check for a ship that is not full and be flexible with dates. In the Baltic and Mediterranean, the same itinerary can be 30 [percent] or 40 percent less early or late in the season.”

Fortunately, many lines are addressing the demand by increasing supply. Some lines are deploying ships from the Caribbean to Europe (Carnival will have one vessel each in the Mediterranean and the Baltic, the first time ever) or are docking them in Europe year-round, as Royal Caribbean and Costa are doing.

On this side of the Atlantic, the Caribbean isn’t necessarily out, but travelers are seeking islands with fewer hordes and more variety.

Spencer Brown gives as an example St. Maarten, which can welcome as many as six 3,000-passenger ships on a typical high-season day.

“The western Caribbean is overly congested, and cruisers are tired of going to the same old places,” she said. “The beaches are packed. People want a change.”

For something a little different, experts point to such Central American destinations as Belize and Panama. Motter also sees South America on the horizon: “South America is a longer cruise and you have to fly there, but the cruises cost the same or are cheaper than Europe — and your dollar goes a lot further.”

SHIP INNOVATIONS

Throughout the year, the industry will unveil a slew of new ships, such as the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor (July), as well as new cruise lines. Jewel River Cruise Line will introduce its first boutique luxury ship, Jewel Imperial Blue, to European waterways in May, for example; and in August, Pearl Seas Cruises will debut its luxury small-ship cruise in the Caribbean and Canada.

Cruise lines are also constructing new classes of ships, a major development not seen in more than a decade. “There’s a whole wave of new designs of ships starting in 2008,” Motter said. Celebrity is at the forefront with its Solstice-class fleet, coming out in December. Some companies also are figuring the destination into the design, such as Costa and its glass-domed pools (so cruisers in Europe can swim “outdoors” in colder months).

On a smaller scale, in an effort to attract younger passengers, the major lines are injecting some hipness into their ships. They hope to reach out to families and the under-50 set by adding or promoting such youth-oriented amenities as nightclubs (Crystal Symphony), surf parks (Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and, debuting in may, Independence of the Seas), bowling alleys (Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl), bungee trampolines (P&O Cruises’ Ventura) and fencing (Cunard’s Queen Victoria). “It’s a new energy,” Spencer Brown said. “Young and active is where the industry is going.”

A CLIA trend report released last week further explains the move: “Families and multigenerational travel are the biggest growth area for the cruise industry, followed by baby boomers (ages 43-62) — which certainly dispels the perception that cruises are strictly for seniors or couples. Repeaters and first-time cruisers were neck and neck in growth ratings.”

Cruise lines are also modifying their dining choices to cater to the growing legion of vacationing foodies. Though dining rooms and assigned seating are still prevalent, ships are creating alternatives such as celebrity-chef restaurants (e.g., Wolfgang Puck’s Jade Garden on Crystal Symphony, Charlie Palmer’s Tastings@2 on Seabourn) and individualized menus.

The downside of these extras is a larger bill; Carnival’s Supper Club, for one, costs $30 per person. “As ships get bigger, there is a lot more you can spend money on,” Spencer Brown said. “The opportunities to lighten your wallet are definitely there.” Among the splurges: alcohol (ships are more stringent about contraband cocktails), teeth-whitening procedures, acupuncture and boxing classes. And no one is exempt from the much-maligned fuel charge, which can tack on about $10 a day.

CRUISE CULTURE

Because of the strength of the euro and other foreign currencies, Americans are getting bumped from their chaise-lounge thrones. Germans, French, English, Australians, Japanese and other international travelers are coming aboard, and not just in their backyard waters.

Foreign cruisers are flying across oceans to sail in Alaska or the Caribbean, markets once dominated by Americans. Indeed, the Russians are climbing to the top deck.

The industry is also addressing a more universal shift in travel tastes: the active vacation (body and/or mind). One of the latest innovations is to marry shipboard activities with shore excursions.

For example, Regent Seven Seas offers an “enrichment program” in which passengers can take onboard classes in photography, fashion, history, etc., then apply their lessons or skills to topical land excursions.

Cruise ships continue to cater to special interests as well, adding more theme cruises to their schedule.

“Theme cruises are really huge,” Spencer Brown said. “People want to get more out of a cruise than resting and relaxing. They want to go to a lecture or learn a hobby.” On Crystal Serenity’s 12-day May voyage from London to Rome, for example, a chef and sommelier will hold onboard classes, and one-third of the 57 shore outings are culinary-related. Those with even more specialized passions won’t be left in dry dock, either: How about a knitting or naked cruise, or sailing with the Motley Crue crew?

To be sure, the demand to see penguins and blue-footed boobies is hardly waning. Eco-cruises are still going strong, with Antarctica still the rage. Just remember the refrain of 2008: Book early!