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Robust Demand Drives 2nd Quarter
Passenger Growth For CLIA’s Cruise Lines
Consumer demand for seagoing vacations
remained strong in the second quarter of 2005, driving
robust passenger growth for the member fleets of the Cruise
Lines International Association (CLIA). CLIA member cruise
lines carried 2.66 million worldwide guests during the
second quarter of 2005, a 2.3 percent increase over the
same period in 2004. North American passengers grew by
6.2 percent in the second quarter to 2.41 million, up
from 2.31 million second-quarter guests during the same
period one year ago.
The 2005 second-quarter passenger figures
are new statistics released today by CLIA, whose 19 member
cruise lines represent nearly 98 percent of the cruise
capacity marketed in North America. In addition to the
growing passenger totals, CLIA cruise lines also posted
a collective 101.7 percent occupancy factor in the second
quarter of 2005 compared with 100.7 percent for the year
prior.
For the first six months of 2005, CLIA’s
member-line fleets carried 5.30 million guests, a 5.5
percent increase over the 5,024,465 guests carried during
the same period in 2004. North American guests for the
period totaled 4.73 million, up 9.4 percent over the 4.33
million carried during the first six months of 2004. “The
cruise industry’s constant innovation, combined with the
dedicated efforts of CLIA’s 16,700 member travel agencies,
continue to generate strong consumer demand for cruise
vacations,” said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA,
the cruise industry’s chief marketing and training organization
and North America’s largest travel industry association.
“Leisure travelers are clearly attracted to the cruise
lines’ ceaseless innovation, and the value and emphasis
on guest satisfaction that are inherent elements of today’s
cruise vacations. At the same time, CLIA-member agencies
continue to play a vital role, providing consumers with
updated product information and unrivalled counsel.”
CLIA’s second-quarter passenger carryings
report also found:
* Itineraries of one to five days
accounted for a 34.8 percent share of the cruise market;
itineraries of six-to-eight days accounted for 53.3 percent;
nine to 17-day itineraries accounted for 11.6 percent;
and itineraries of 18 days or longer accounted for .34
percent of the market.
* The average length of a cruise
in the first two quarters was 7.33 days versus 7.09 days
for the same period in 2004.
The Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA) is the premier nonprofit cruise industry
marketing organization comprising 19 leading cruise lines,
which collectively accommodate nearly 98 percent of North
American cruise passengers. CLIA member travel agencies
– of which there are 16,700 – are considered the consumer’s
very best resource when planning a cruise vacation. For
more information on CLIA, its member cruise lines and
travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org.
Passports Required To Enter The
United States By 2007
Did you know that by 2007, all traveling
Americans returning to the United States will be required
to have a valid U.S. Passport? It's true. And the new
rules will be phased-in as early as January 2007. Going
forward, a Passport will be required for U.S. Citizens
who travel by air and sea to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda,
Central and South America, Canada and Mexico. Subsequently,
Passports or other accepted travel documents will also
be required for U.S. land border crossings to and from
Canada or Mexico. Without a Passport, you will not be
able to travel outside of the U.S. - including cruise
travel. In addition, after the implementation date, cruise
vacationers who arrive at the Port to embark on a cruise
without a valid Passport, will not be permitted to board
the ship. Important reasons to get your Passport now:
· Avoid the rush and the possibility of not being able
to travel where and when you wish without a passport.
· Future travel to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and
South America, Canada and Mexico will require a passport
to re-enter the U.S. · A Passport can open the doors to
travel you may not have considered before, such as cruising
in Europe, Australia and Asia. And a Passport will also
be required to visit our neighbor countries of Canada
and Mexico. · Considering that a Passport is valid for
ten years, the cost is minimal ($97 for a new Passport
and $67 for a renewal). If you take two vacations per
year, the initial cost of your passport per vacation is
less than a frozen drink with an umbrella at the pool.
· Even with a confirmed booking for travel abroad, you
will be denied boarding if you do not possess a valid
Passport.
And finally, a U.S. Passport is easy
to obtain by visiting one of the 6,000 Passport acceptance
facilities across the U.S. For more information about
applying for a Passport, U.S. Citizens may visit http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
or call the National Passport Information Center toll
free at 1-877-487-2778 or TDD/TYY: 1-888-874-7793. Foreign
Nationals should contact their respective governments
to obtain details regarding current Passports requirements
and application procedures.
High-Stepping Hot Dance Trend Takes
To The Sea
Dance is making a strong resurgence
in popularity, as witnessed by the ABC-TV reality show
hit “Dancing With The Stars,” recently renewed for a second
season. Ballroom dancing’s popularity was also showcased
in the acclaimed documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom,” which
details the journey of a group of New York City fifth-graders
into competitive ballroom dancing.
Vacationers who want to continue their
high-stepping dance moves at sea are in luck. “Cruise
ships offer endless opportunities for guests to strut
their stuff,” said Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise
industry’s chief marketing organization, which counts
as its members the 19 leading North American cruise lines
and more than 16,500 travel agencies.
From pre- and post-dinner dancing in
main show lounges to late-night fun in shipboard nightclubs
and discos, guests aboard CLIA-member line ships can enjoy
many forms of expressive dance. For example, some ships
feature special evenings set aside for romantic deck-top
dancing under a blanket of stars, while others offer Big
Band and Jazz theme cruises featuring dance parties and
lessons, plus top-name performers. “Popular music and
dance have long been entertainment staples aboard cruise
ships, and today’s feature-filled vessels continue that
tradition,” said Dale. “Cruise ships feature talented
musicians skilled in virtually every musical genre, plus
a multitude of venues - from nightclubs to full-scale
ballrooms - where guests can dance the night away while
sailing the world’s waters.”
Dance aficionados from age seven to
70 will also find an array of dance lessons and classes
aboard today’s ships, including ballroom, country-western,
salsa, foxtrot, rhumba, tango, cha cha, swing and tap
styles. In addition, several CLIA-member cruise lines
feature gentlemen social hosts: single men, typically
in their late 40s through early 70s, who serve as dance
partners and friendly companions for unescorted female
travelers, or for those ladies whose partners have two
left feet.
A listing of some CLIA lines that
offer a host of dancing options for guests.
Carnival Cruise Lines
The line offers ballroom dancing classes
primarily on longer voyages and at no charge. Guests also
have the chance to take lessons in country-western, salsa
and Latin. The ships’ main show lounges are prime pre-dinner
dancing venues. For guests looking to hold back the dawn,
the ships’ discos are the place to be for late-night dancing.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises presents Latin dance
classes and has a variety of lounge venues perfect for
dance enthusiasts, while also offering dance hosts. The
line’s Rendez-Vous Lounges present live music and spacious
dance floors, while the disco/observation lounges feature
a variety of music and themed nights that get even the
most reluctant dancers out on the floor.
Crystal Cruises
Big Band music can be heard on every
cruise, and the line offers a host of theme cruises as
well. A Tommy Dorsey Orchestra theme cruise is available
on Crystal Serenity’s November transatlantic itinerary,
and a Big Band sailing on April 29 takes place aboard
Crystal Symphony. The line features dance classes and
gentleman hosts sail on all itineraries.
Cunard Line
In the Queen Mary 2’s ballroom, the
Queens Rooms, dance enthusiasts can dance the night –
and day – away with many dance class choices. Big Band
music is often played in the ballroom. Classes include
tap, cha cha, waltz, foxtrot and rhumba. Guests can book
private classes for an additional charge. Gentlemen hosts
are available on all voyages.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises has scheduled Big Band
theme cruises for the January 13 and March 20, 2006 11-night
Caribbean sailings aboard MSC Lirica. In addition
to Big Band-style entertainment, there are special dance
sessions available to guests. Dancing takes place in the
various lounges and showrooms aboard ships in the MSC
Cruises’ fleet – as well, of course, in the ships’ discos.
Norwegian Cruise Line
(NCL)
NCL ships offer show bands, quartets,
trios and deejays. Themed dance sets spotlight Big Band
or tributes to Frank Sinatra and the Beatles. Select Norwegian
Crown and Norwegian Dream cruises feature tango,
ballroom and cha cha lessons, to name a few. Dance hosts
are available on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian
Jewel during the winter, as well as repositioning
cruises.
Orient Lines
Orient Lines’ flagship Marco Polo
offers dancing nightly with a show band, trio, duo or
deejay in the Ambassador Lounge and The Charleston Club.
For guests who want a more formal approach, the line offers
instruction in the tango, rhumba, salsa and cha cha, among
other styles. Gentleman hosts are available as dancing
partners year-round.
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
Radisson boasts gentlemen hosts on
most sailings and also operates a series of “Spotlight
on Big Band” theme cruises as well as myriad dance lessons
and big band parties aboard select voyages. Seven Seas
Voyager’s November transatlantic will feature a “Spotlight
on Sinatra” theme cruise while a Seven Seas Navigator’s
Montreal-New York sailing in September will focus on jazz.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean’s Explorer Academy
gives guests a chance to learn to dance with the line’s
top performers. Fleetwide classes include swing, salsa
and hip hop. Additional classes from ballroom to bellydancing
are offered on select ships. All Royal Caribbean ships
offer adult nightclubs for dancing, and most also feature
dedicated teen nightclubs.
Seabourn Cruise Line
Guests can enjoy dancing and cocktails
before and after dinner in The Club. Occasionally, a piano
player will perform dance music in The Restaurant during
dinner. Later in the evening the quartet strikes up for
pre-show dancing in the Show Lounge. Frequently, weather
permitting, guests can dance under the stars on deck accompanied
by the ships’ quartets and singers.
Silversea Cruises
Big Band dancing and ballroom classes
– as well as occasional flamenco classes – are available
onboard. Cruises of 10 days or more include gentlemen
hosts – who also sail on shorter cruises when large numbers
of single guests are onboard. Dancing venues include The
Panorama Lounge and The Bar. Silversea offers evening
dancing on pool decks for “Fiesta Latina” nights.
For more information on CLIA member
lines, contact a CLIA-member travel agency. To locate
an agency near you, use the Travel Agent Locator on CLIA’s
website at www.cruising.org.
The Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA) is the premier nonprofit cruise industry marketing
organization comprising 19 leading cruise lines, which
collectively accommodate 95 percent of North American
cruise passengers. CLIA member travel agencies – of which
there are 16,500 – are considered the consumer’s very
best resource when planning a cruise vacation. For more
information on CLIA, cruise vacations, its member cruise
lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org.
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