Globe and Mail. March 16, 2005 Cruising Trends Wallace Immen Tips for Getaways on the Waves Cruise lines say unprecedented sales of world cruises are a sign of boom travel times ahead. This year’s world cruises haven’t finished yet, and already the 2006 trips are nearly sold out, even though prices will be higher than this year’s globe-girdling sailings. A lot of trends are coming together, said Mimi Weisband, a spokeswoman for Crystal Cruises, whose advance world-cruise bookings are running 60 per cent ahead of this year’s. The economic outlook is bright, the travelling public is more relaxed since the Olympics went off without a terrorist hitch and, most important, “given the hassles of travel these days, taking a world cruise is an easy way to live the dream of going around the world,” she said. Crystal has also been catering to its well-heeled clients, promising no menu will be repeated during more than 100 days at sea. People are feeling more affluent, said Mark Conroy, president of Radisson Seven Seas, which has already sold nearly 80 per cent of the space on Seven Seas Voyager for the full 2006 world cruise. “Most of these guests have high net worths and they see their wealth expanding monthly in the statements from their brokers.” That’s why sales are up though prices have risen about 10 per cent to cover increased fuel and salary costs. A top cabin on the Seven Seas Voyager runs about $68,000 a person for a full 109-day cruise. Canadians have not been as quick as Americans to commit their cash, but there has been a surge of requests for information, said Aida Vincelli, vice-president of The Cruise Professionals, the largest selling agency in Canada for the luxury lines that run world cruises. “Canadians seem to wait more, but once they really know more about the itineraries and segments, we expect to get more and more calls,” she said. Cruise deals Hebridean Island Cruises is offering up to 12 per cent off cruises in Britain and the Mediterranean on its two ships, with an additional 10-per-cent discount if payment is made at the time of booking. For more information, visit www.hebridean.co.uk. Crystal Cruises in Alaska are on special with up to 50-per-cent savings. A 12-day cruise in Alaska from Vancouver in May is priced from $2,195 and an 11-day cruise from Barcelona to London is from $2,995. For more information, visit www.cruiseprofessionals.com. A special glitterati cruise on Windstar’s Wind Surf starting May 15 includes a cruise from Rome to Nice and two nights in Cannes for the film festival and two nights in Monte Carlo for the 2005 Formula 1 Grand Prix. It’s priced from about $2,420 a person. For more information, visit windstarcruises.com. Among all-inclusive specials being offered on Silversea Cruises in the Mediterranean is a Barcelona to- Lisbon trip on the Silver Cloud in May starting at $4,775 a person, including airfare from Toronto. For more information, call the Cruise Network at 1-887-777-5756. A 16-night cruise on Holland America Lines in South America is offered at up to 71 per cent off, from $4,099 a person including airfare. For more information, visit www.cruise-connections.com.   Back         Top of Page

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