CARIBBEAN MARKET SET TO TOP TEN MILLION VISITORS IN 2017

The number of passengers taking a Caribbean cruise is expected to hit a stratospheric height of ten million people during the 2017-18 winter season. The area, which includes the islands of the Bahamas and the islands stretching down to the coasts of central and south America, is the biggest single winter cruise market in the world.

A number of reasons have fuelled this growth. American travellers, currently averse to travelling to politically unstable European hot spots, are staying much closer to home, instead taking ships on a variety of Caribbean itineraries. Plus, the addition of 'new' Caribbean destinations such as Amber Cove, Falmouth and Harvest Caye, has given some of the more jaded former passengers reason to return to the region. And, for Americans still feeling the after effects of the recession, the cheaper air fares compared to flying to Europe must be reckoned upon.

Big steps have also been taken to open up the Caribbean as a year round cruising destination, especially in the once almost non existent summer months. There is also no doubt that interest in the region has been revived by the placing of cruising's newest hardware- ships such as Norwegian Escape, Carnival Vista, and the awe inspiring Harmony of the Seas- straight into regular Caribbean cruise service.

There's also a greater choice of cruise lengths than ever before, with three, four, five and seven day options forming the bulk of choices. But lines such as Holland America also offer some ten and twelve day cruises, and most of the major lines allow guests to combine two seven night back to back cruises to provide a complete, comprehensive fourteen day sweep of all the main hot spots of the region.

The concentration of so many ships and people in the Caribbean, especially over the winter, means a potential bonanza in fares for cruise passengers, as companies fight to fill their ever larger ships each week. On the other hand, those same ports are invariably busier, more crowded, and far less relaxing as an overall destination experience.

How long will it last? Indefinitely, as far as I can see. Another 'worlds largest ship' will take up station out of Miami next year, with the Florida landfall of RCCL's latest behemoth, the staggering Symphony of the Seas. As long as caution and convenience remain the twin watchwords of cruising's biggest demographic- the native North American- I think the Caribbean will just continue to soak up the millions, both in terms of people and money.