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The rising popularity of cruising
• Faster growth in European
demand than North American demand, decreasing average age of
passengers, increasing demand for short cruises and a boom
in Mediterranean cruise. Source: WTO FILM
FESTIVAL AT SEA: The Films to Sea Festival,
a seven-day Alaskan cruise, will showcase up to 14
international film premiers while sailing through
the Inside Passage and Glacial Bay National Park
starting on August 4. Holland American Lines' M.S.
Zaandam's screening room is not as big as downtown
Vancouver's Tinseltown theatres, but is elegant
nonetheless. Dusty Cohl, Toronto's film festival
czar, organized the first such cruise in 1990 as a
fun way to bring his friends together. Its success
led to more such experiences and this year,
organizers decided to host the West Coast cruise to
involve Vancouverites who had shied away from
Cohl's East Coast excursions. Fares start at $2,400
per person for double occupancy rooms or $3,200 for
single rates. source: Business in
Vancouver Aprés
Cruise? Fly Helijet's..Super
City Triangle New shorter
"Pocket Cruises" Royal Caribbean International is
offering something new for cruise enthusiasts with the
addition of a "pocket cruise," a shorter three-to four-day
cruise between Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle on its Vision
of the Seas, pictured in the 'fotomation' above. In 1999, 24
vessels representing 10 cruise lines called on Port
Vancouver, for a total of 309 sailings. Passengers per
voyage climbed 3% over last year's numbers. This year marked
the 17th consecutive year of growth for the Vancouver-Alaska
cruise. The numbers reflect healthy growth for the Vancouver-Alaska cruise industry. Everyone involved in the Vancouver-Alaska cruise experience should be proud of this exceptional performance," said David Stowe, VPA Chairman. There were 309 sailings in 1999 compared to 294 in 1998. The number of ships dedicated to this itinerary has remained steady over the last couple of seasons, with 24 vessels representing 10 cruise companies calling on Vancouver. The average number of passengers per voyage climbed 3% over last year's numbers, In 2000, a new market offering will begin with the addition of the pocket cru
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From
BC Scene's offices with its exciting views night and day, we
enjoy a window on the world of cruising and meet cruise
passengers daily during the season on the streets of
historic Gastown. Being close to the action, we pay
attention to the statistics and wathc the
trends.
The number of cruise passengers
has been growing almost twice as fast as International
Tourist arrivals in the last decade, according to a new WTO
study on the cruise industry. Since 1990, the number of
cruise passengers has increased by 7.7 per cent annually to
reach 8.7 million in 1999. Although it represents only 1.3
percent of all international arrivals, the importance of the
cruise industry has do with the amount of revenues generated
and its potential for growth.
A
direct competitor to sun and sand holidays, the cruise
industry has an enormous momentum and it is believed that
North American and European demand will surpass 12 million
passengers by the end of 2010. The North American outbound
market still offers medium term growth but analysts agree
that Europe represents the largest potential short term
growth rates. The main trends identified in the report
are: