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| A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life. WAVE Journey is your one stop online resource for women oriented businesses and services around the world. WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, garden, read or revel in outdoor activities this website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online resource. Cruising for Passengers ~ Desperate to fill empty cabins, the cruise line industry is slashing prices by more than a third Article by Leah K. Taylor, photo courtesy of Jeff R. Clow. |
| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
Amid one of the worst downturns in American history,
consumers are benefiting from hot deals and massive
markdowns offered by cruise lines.
Prices are being cut by as much as a third, industry
participants say.
“No one wants to sail on an empty ship,” said Kris Krenz, of
Pak and Go Cruises and Tours of Brick, NJ.
A four-night cruise on Carnival Cruise Lines to the Western
Caribbean starts at just $109 for an interior room, and
$149 for an ocean view, while a five-day trip to Baja Mexico
starts at $249. Norwegian cruise lines boasts seven-night
Bahamas cruises from $399, and trips to Alaska for $499.
Royal Caribbean is promoting a seven-night Southern
Caribbean cruise from $349; rival Celebrity Cruises is
recommending its 10-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise
from $649.
consumers are benefiting from hot deals and massive
markdowns offered by cruise lines.
Prices are being cut by as much as a third, industry
participants say.
“No one wants to sail on an empty ship,” said Kris Krenz, of
Pak and Go Cruises and Tours of Brick, NJ.
A four-night cruise on Carnival Cruise Lines to the Western
Caribbean starts at just $109 for an interior room, and
$149 for an ocean view, while a five-day trip to Baja Mexico
starts at $249. Norwegian cruise lines boasts seven-night
Bahamas cruises from $399, and trips to Alaska for $499.
Royal Caribbean is promoting a seven-night Southern
Caribbean cruise from $349; rival Celebrity Cruises is
recommending its 10-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise
from $649.
“There has been at least a 50 percent increase in the amount of deals and promotions that
cruise lines have been offering,” Krenz said. “The truth is that the ships are not filling up.
The severity of the economic conditions is really hurting the industry.”
This is turning into one of cruise lines’ most painful off-peak seasons since the September
11 terrorist attacks.
“It really kills these cruise lines to sell brand-new ships for next to nothing,” said Cruise
Holidays Kansas City general manager at Patti Edwards. “The hope is that some of the
money will be recouped in the upcoming January-February [2009] season.”
This glimmer of hope is what many cruise lines are holding on to as winter approaches, and
cruise deals hit rock bottom.
“We are constantly running promotions in an attempt to keep our ships at capacity,” said
Celebrity Cruises representative Lisa Webster. “The coming season is our hope.”
But critics are skeptical of how much of a boost the next month or two will bring to the
cruise line industry, given depth of the economic distress.
“People have really been holding back on spending anything extra,” said Krenz.
“Additionally, people who usually cruise twice a year have scaled back to one, if any at all.”
Phil Swartz, the founder and owner of Cruise Holidays of Tallahassee, has a different view.
He expects a rebound this winter.
“I am very optimistic that things will change, and cruise lines will recoup all of their money
in the coming months,” he predicted. “People may downscale from a 10-day European
cruise to a seven-day Caribbean cruise, but no matter what, I believe that they will still go.”
cruise lines have been offering,” Krenz said. “The truth is that the ships are not filling up.
The severity of the economic conditions is really hurting the industry.”
This is turning into one of cruise lines’ most painful off-peak seasons since the September
11 terrorist attacks.
“It really kills these cruise lines to sell brand-new ships for next to nothing,” said Cruise
Holidays Kansas City general manager at Patti Edwards. “The hope is that some of the
money will be recouped in the upcoming January-February [2009] season.”
This glimmer of hope is what many cruise lines are holding on to as winter approaches, and
cruise deals hit rock bottom.
“We are constantly running promotions in an attempt to keep our ships at capacity,” said
Celebrity Cruises representative Lisa Webster. “The coming season is our hope.”
But critics are skeptical of how much of a boost the next month or two will bring to the
cruise line industry, given depth of the economic distress.
“People have really been holding back on spending anything extra,” said Krenz.
“Additionally, people who usually cruise twice a year have scaled back to one, if any at all.”
Phil Swartz, the founder and owner of Cruise Holidays of Tallahassee, has a different view.
He expects a rebound this winter.
“I am very optimistic that things will change, and cruise lines will recoup all of their money
in the coming months,” he predicted. “People may downscale from a 10-day European
cruise to a seven-day Caribbean cruise, but no matter what, I believe that they will still go.”
There's plenty of room on
cruise ships these days—
much to the dismay of
cruise managers.
cruise ships these days—
much to the dismay of
cruise managers.
