Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 5.5 Annual Cruise Passenger Growth
Actual (000s)
Year
North America
Foreign
Worldwide
1990
3,496
278
3,774
1991
3,834
334
4,168
1992
4,023
362
4,385
1993
4,318
410
4,728
1994
4,314
486
4,800
1995
4,223
498
4,721
1996
4,477
493
4,970
1997
4,864
516
5,380
1998
5,243
625
5,868
1999
5,690
647
6,337
2000
6,546
668
7,214
2001
6,637
862
7,499
2002
7,472
1,176
8,648
2003
7,990
1,536
9,526
2004
8,870
1,590
10,460
2005
9,671
1,509
11,180
2006
10,078
1,928
12,006
2007
10,247
2,316
12,563
2008
a
10,093
2,912
13,005
2009
b
10,198
3,244
13,442
a
estimated
b
projected
Source: Cruise Lines International Association.
the modern-day cruise industry is barely 30 years old, it has established itself as an important
component of the United States travel and tourism industry. According to a study by Business
Research Economic Advisors (BREA), the North American cruise industry generated $40.2 billion in
total economic activity in 2008. An estimated 357,700 American jobs were created.
Historically, most of the cruise companies have focused their marketing efforts on North American
clientele. However, with a marked increase in recent years of European, South American, and Asian
vacationers taking American-style cruises, cruise companies have begun to pay more attention to the
international markets. Additionally, some of these cruise companies have positioned ships in Europe
and Asia for seasonal operations, thereby creating greater awareness among European and Asian
clientele.
The cruise industry
s performance and satisfaction are the pacesetter for the rest of the travel
industry. No other vacation category can touch a cruise for product satisfaction and repeat business.
Growth has affected not only passenger and ship capacity but the ports of embarkation as well.
'
Embarkation Ports
Ports within the state of Florida serve as home for the majority of the U.S.-based cruise industry. This is
primarily due to the state
s close proximity to the prime cruising waters of the Caribbean. Most of
these cruises are 3, 4, or 7 days in length, though there are some voyages of 10 or 14 days. Miami
'
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