Back to the future: Cruise sales recover quickly as clients say, "I deserve it," creating the potential for a good year for suppliers and agents. (Cruises).(Brief Article)

Travel Agent, February, 2002 by Dinnigan, Lizz; Young, Susan J.

The word "miracle" comes to mind when analyzing early 2002's strong demand for cruise products. Agents say that clients fearful of traveling a month or two ago now have an immense desire to travel, and they often see cruising as the way to go. Helping to fuel bookings are excellent fares, close-to-home itineraries, a perception of strong port and ship security, value-added perks and a feeling among travelers that they "deserve this cruise."

In January, approximately 61 percent of agents polled in TRAVEL AGENT'S Pulse survey said their new cruise bookings had increased. That compares favorably with other industry segments: 37 percent of agents said airline bookings were increasing, 34 percent reported higher hotel sales and fewer than 20 percent were seeing...