Market Growth
The North American cruise capacity will grow from 10.9 million passengers at the start of 2009 to 13.3 million annually in 2012, based on new ship deliveries and known ship movements and passenger sourcing.
In addition to forecasting North American capacity growth, Cruise Industry News also tracks the European markets in this report, including the UK, Germany, Spain and France.
Mein Schiff
TUI Cruises has named its ship Mein Schiff, which was coincidentally the tag line the brand has used in is marketing and advertising. Mein Schiff, which will be christened in Hamburg on May 15 by German TV star and musician Ina Mueller, is the 1996-built, 77,000-ton Galaxy, which is being transferred from Celebrity Cruises.
Environment
Cruise Industry News has talked to David Redford, chief of the marine pollution branch of the EPA, who said that recently released Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report, is the first step in determining whether there is a need for stricter regulations.
Orderbook 2009 – 2012
There are 38 cruise ships on order and under construction (including one option) for deliveries in 2009 through 2012. With a building value of more than $20 billion, the ships will bring 85,536 new beds into the market for an estimated annual passenger capacity of about 4.2 million.
European Markets
Cruise Industry News has broken down the European markets for 2009 based on total passenger capacity and by brand. The largest market is the pan-European market served by Costa, MSC and Louis, followed by the UK, Germany, Spain and France. Italy is considered part of the pan-European market. Total passenger capacity is 4.9 million.
And there is more: Karl Holz has been named president of New Vacation Operations at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, which includes Disney Cruise Line; American Safari Cruises has a new parent company; and Imperial Majesty has told Cruise Industry News it will not be operating the Bahamas Celebration from Port Everglades, but port officials said the ship will sail from the Florida port.
