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Wave Period Points to Another Record Year!



 
 
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Old February 2nd, 2004, 10:52 PM
Ray Goldenberg
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Default Wave Period Points to Another Record Year!

Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from the Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA) and thought it would be of interest. If you have
missed any of my news' postings, they are available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com


2004 Wave Period Points to Another Record Year For North American
Cruise Industry, Says CLIA

NEW YORK, Feb. 2
The North American cruise industry is on track for another
record-setting year, according to the Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA).
January marks the start of the Wave Period, when cruise lines
traditionally gauge the strength of the market based on bookings
during this high-volume period. The 2004 "wave" has been particularly
strong, with several CLIA-member lines reporting record-setting
numbers during this heavy booking season.

"The CLIA-member lines are telling us that 2004 will be a very strong
year for the cruise industry," says Terry L. Dale, president and chief
executive officer of CLIA, the nonprofit marketing and training
organization representing 20 leading cruise lines in the North
American market. "There has been record cold weather in many parts of
the country and the economy is showing signs of a real recovery, both
of which may lead more people to think about digging into their
wallets. With this surge in interest, it is important for travelers to
book early to ensure availability of their choice of cabin and the
best rate."

CLIA Chairman Mark Conroy says that at Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, of
which he is president and chief executive officer, "Call volume since
the first of the year is up 30 percent over the same date last year
and revenue for 2004 is up almost 30 percent."

He also says, "Close-in bookings represent a good portion of the
volume; however, we are also seeing great activity for the summer
programs in Europe, Bermuda and Alaska."

Cunard Line, which recently held inaugural festivities for its Queen
Mary 2, reports booking activities initially tripled and call volume
remains at an all-time high.

MSC Italian Cruises reports the first three U.S. sailings of its new
ship, the MSC Lirica, are completely booked. The 1,590-passenger
vessel is also fully booked for its transatlantic cruise that departs
May 15 for Genoa, Italy.

Costa Cruises also experienced strong booking activity throughout the
month of January in line with expectations for Caribbean sailings and
20 percent ahead of last year on bookings of cruises to Europe.

Cruise lines that offer longer sailings and unusual itineraries also
seem to have started off 2004 on a positive note. Norwegian Coastal
Voyage, Inc., which offers scenic cruising combined with a working
ship experience along Norway's west coast, reports booking are 14
percent ahead of the same time last year. Swan Hellenic, which focuses
on adventure-oriented cruises, is running about 60 percent ahead of
the same period last year.

Oceania Cruises also experienced a record-setting week for phone
volume during the first week of January, with call volume exceeding
the previous record by 25 percent. The line reports increased demand
for travel to Europe, particularly the Mediterranean and Greek Isles,
and noted that some itineraries are sold out.

Mimi Weisband, vice president, public relations for Crystal Cruises,
reports that the line has "seen huge growth since the first of the
year." She indicates that the results for the week ending Jan. 26 were
108 percent higher than bookings for the same week last year and the
past four weeks have been 83 percent higher than the same period of
2003.

Silversea Cruises is projecting a booking increase of 30 to 35 percent
in 2004, noting that Mediterranean, Baltic, Far East/Japan, and Alaska
voyages are "all filling up nicely." In addition, the second week of
January set an all-time record for reservation sales for Silversea
Cruises, with a net passenger gain of almost 20 percent above the
previous high set in July 2003.

For more information about cruise vacations, visit CLIA's website at
www.cruising.org or visit a CLIA-member travel agency. Find one using
the Cruise Expert Locator on CLIA's website or by looking for the
blue, white and gold CLIA seal displayed at a local travel agency.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is a nonprofit marketing
and training organization comprising 20 leading cruise lines in 2004,
which together accommodate 95 percent of the North American cruise
passengers. Approximately 16,000 travel agencies focused and engaged
in the sales of cruise vacations in the U.S. and Canada are members of
the association. The association conducts cruise industry-related
research and communication initiatives to educate and promote the
attributes of cruise vacations and CLIA member travel agencies to the
traveling public. CLIA is a recognized travel industry leader in sales
education. CLIA provides an extensive array of educational programs
for travel agents including curriculum leading to certification as
Accredited Cruise Counsellors, Master Cruise Counsellors and Elite
Cruise Counsellors -- considered the consumers' best resource for
planning a cruise vacation. For more information on CLIA, its member
cruise lines and travel agencies, visit its website at
www.cruising.org.



 




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