Passenger Transportation - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 119

Consolidation

The consolidation that has been taking place in the travel industry is rampant in the cruise sector as
well. Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company, recently acquired Princess Cruises, and
already owned Cunard, Costa, Holland America, Windstar, and Seabourn. Royal Caribbean Interna-
tional (RCI) is the second-largest player and recently acquired Celebrity Cruises. Competition is erce,
with these two companies adding new passenger ships. Disney now is in the cruise business and is
adding a new ship.
Although CLIA members (see box) represent over 90 percent of the North American cruise market
and over 80 percent of the ships, the world cruise fleet is supplemented by freighter cruises, river
cruises, yachts, ferries, and charters. About 80 freighters provide accommodations for a limited
number of passengers, such as 6 to 12. Freighter cruises tend to last a long time, go to unknown parts,
have schedules that can change rapidly, and are moderately priced. They appeal to the more
adventurous traveler.

River Cruises

Along with ocean cruises, river cruising has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, especially
in Europe, where the number of passengers has more than quadrupled.
In comparison with ocean cruises, river cruise ships tend to be smaller, carrying around 100 to 150
passengers, generally travel only by day, and have onshore visits to cities and sites of cultural or
historical interest built into the itinerary. In many ways they are more like a tour than a cruise. River
cruises have a de nite competitive advantage over bus trips as there is no need to unpack and repack
luggage at every stop. An advantage over ocean cruising is that there is no risk of seasickness. River
cruise passengers can sightsee from the comfort of the ship, an appealing feature to older travelers,
who are the principal market for river cruising. The rapid aging of Europe and North America
populations over the next 20 years bodes well for the future growth of river cruising.
Popular river cruise destinations are in Egypt on the Nile, in China on the Yangtze, in Brazil on the
Amazon, in Russia between St. Petersburg and Moscow, in the Ukraine on the Dnieper River, and in
Europe on the Rhine, Danube, Main, Seine, Rh ^ one, and Elbe, just to mention a few. Barge and canal

trips are also popular in many places.
Viking is the world

is largest river cruise line. Other major operators are AMA Waterways, Avalon
Waterways, Croisi Europe, Globus/Cosmo, Grand Circle, INTRAV, L

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uftner, Nicko Tours, Scylla, and

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Cruise Lines International Association

Cruise Lines International Association, Inc. is a marketing and promotional trade organization made up
of 25 of the major cruise lines serving North America, representing more than 200 ships (see box). CLIA
was formed in 1975 out of a need for the cruise industry to develop a vehicle to promote the general
concept of cruising. In 2006, it merged with the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), a sister
entity created in 1990 dedicated to participating in the regulatory and policy development process of
the cruise industry. Today, CLIA exists to promote all measures that foster a safe, secure, and healthy
cruise ship environment; educate; train its agent members; and promote and explain the value,
desirability, and affordability of the cruise vacation experience.
When, in mid-1984, the Federal Maritime Commission consolidated other industry organizations
into CLIA, it became the sole marketing organization of the cruise industry. CLIA represents 97 percent
of the cruise industry; more than 14,000 travel agents are af liated with CLIA and display the CLIA
seal, which identi es them as authorities on cruise vacations. The CLIA headquarters is located at 910
SE 17th Street, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316; telephone [phone]; fax [phone];
the Web site is www.cruising.org .