XL collapse could benefit cruise lines

The reduced package holiday market after the collapse of XL Leisure Group could lead to customers turning to cruise.

Or at least, that’s what Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle believes. When XL Leisure Group folded, it took 2.3 million passengers out of the. Mr Dingle responded that, ‘There is a huge amount of capacity coming out of the market. The cruise market has some "recession resilience" as its core market is more mature people who might not be burdened by mortgage commitments or job instability. We could even be a beneficiary of a recession as people still want a good holiday at the best value they can get’. The market evidence is that holidaymakers are leaving it later to book but prices are still holding up.