Credit crunch affects UK cruises

While 14 new cruise ships will launch next year, the level of growth in the number of UK cruise passengers is forecast to be much lower than the previous two years. The Passenger Shipping Association expects a rise of between two and three per cent which is a decline in growth levels from 2007 when numbers were up by 11%. Reasons for the slowdown in the UK market include the retirement of the QE2 and Thomson cutting its fleet from five to four. The PSA director said, ‘With the present difficult economic climate, cruising is better placed than many other sectors … the inclusive nature of a cruise holiday makes it easy to budget while continuing to offer exceptional value for money.’