There is a lot of talk about airline consolidation these days, what with United and Continental in talks for an alliance, and Delta’s takeover of Northwest, and rumors about just about every other domestic airline. But the real consolidation has been in the cruise industry, and it might be about to get much worse.
At this time of year, just about everyone devotes a column to predictions for the year ahead. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I can tell you the shape of things to come on the high seas in 2009: no fuel supplements (for now), massive tonnage, new luxury, greener ships, ship makeovers, and — would you believe? — zip-lining and a carousel.
Cruising can be an exciting and very affordable vacation option. Of course, it’s important to find the right cruise at the right price for your getaway. With more than 160 ships in the fleets of the 24 major cruise lines offering thousands of itineraries worldwide the choices and options can be daunting. Here’s a primer on what to consider when picking out a cruise vacation.
Luxury cruising is booming. With nine new ships on order, the luxury lines are looking at 32 ships and 11,790 berths by 2012 — the largest capacity in the sector’s history. Anita Dunham-Potter takes a look at the trend.