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Fly- Cruise Trends
Worldwide
by
Jerry W. Bird
 We
look forward to spring and the opportunity to visit
Florida to actively participate in one of the
world's top travel industry events. Before our
Travel Agent colleagues check the company's website
for the finer details and consider travel
arrangements, here is a brief introduction.
Naturally we will be pleased to point you in the
right direction. Travel agents and potential
exhibitors, don't miss out on this opportunity. As
many as 70 CLIA Credits and 3 Travel Institute
CEU's; Focused Educational Seminars; General
Session with Keynote Speakers; Inspections Onboard
Some of the Newest CLIA Member Cruise Line Ships;
Interaction with over one thousand Travel Agent
Peers; Commission Opportunities From More than 200
Blue Ribbon Travel Suppliers and Discounted Travel
Rates to Beautiful Fort Lauderdale.
Broward County Convention
Center,
Fort Lauderdale, FLTravel
Trade Only.
Watch for 2005 dates
 Marina
Marriott, located at 1881 SE 17 th Street, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33316 is the Host Hotel and is
offering lovely accommodations conveniently across
the street from the Broward County Convention
Center. Rates are $99.00 per night single/double
occupancy. Embassy Suites Hotel, located at
1100 SE 17 th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. An
all suites property offering a rate of $129.00
single/double occupancy, includes complimentary
cooked-to-order breakfast and complimentary
Managers Cocktail Reception.
Air Highways
will provide any further information you may need
on air connections from various hubs in the USA and
Canada. Contact Air Highways Magazine's cruise
advisers: airhwy@dowco.com
http://www.cruisetourworld.com/Home.html
 Cruises
Northwest: In the Pacific Northwest and Alaska
cruise area, Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Victoria and
Seattle are all looking ahead to their piece of the
action, as they watch the
trend
continue to look favorable. 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:
 •
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.
• An increase in the size of the cruise ships
- impeding some cruise ships from crossing the
Panama Canal and increasing the investment required
in port facilities. This trend towards larger
cruise ships will also create more competition with
resorts on land -some of these vessels will include
mini-golf, aquariums and even ice rinks.
• Consolidation of the cruise industry, which
will cause the disappearance of medium sized
independent shipping companies, therefore
strengthening the position of the larger cruise
operators.
Source: WTO
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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 theaters,
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
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Aprés
Cruise? Fly Helijet's..Super
City Triangle
We just received a
letter from a lady in Southern California, who is
taking an Alaska cruise this summer. After reading
our article on Helijet Airways in the Air Highway
Journal and this web site, she is booking
transportation for her group to Victoria following
the cruise. From Vancouver, at a landing pad right
next to the Cruiseship Centre, Helijet
Airways whisks you to
Victoria in less than half an hour, then to Seattle
and back the same day. For bookings, phone (604)
273-4688, fax (604) 273-5301
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. Port
Vancouver welcomed 947,659 revenue passengers, an
increase of 8.5% OVER 1998'S numbers.
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 cruise option of
three to four-day cruises, which should provide
further growth for the industry.
Have
you read
our
Africa
Travel
Magazine
site?
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