Cruise Market - Market Assessment 2008 Will Give You All the Data You Need on the Market Leaders in This Industry

Business Wire, April 24, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89778) has announced the addition of "Cruise Market - Market Assessment 2008" to their offering.

Two corporations dominate the cruise business: Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean. The third most significant line internationally, Star Cruises, includes NCL Holdings, in which the private-equity firm Apollo Management bought a 50% stake in 2007. The ten largest cruise brands represent the three dominating companies -- Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Star -- as well as the fast-growing privately owned Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Louis Public Company. The US is the largest national market for cruise holidays, followed by the UK.

The popularity of cruises does not vary widely between socio-economic groups, except for a much lower level among social grade E (who are likely to be the least affluent group). The flattish socio-economic profile indicates that lines have suitable products for most levels of income.

With regard to age, cruise-taking has a significant peak between ages 55 and 64. Over the years from 2008 to 2013, the numbers in the prime age group for cruising are not expected to expand. However, there is an opportunity for cruise operators that attract customers aged 65 and over, because the numbers aged 65 to 79 are expected to increase by 13.1% between 2008 and 2013. The holiday industry in general, and cruise operators in particular, are likely to have to make policy adjustments to benefit from the ageing population profile. The adventure and eco cruise market, popular at the younger end of the 50 to 79 spectrum, should benefit from a rising number of customers until approximately 2020, but a tailing off is likely after that.

Cruise ships are becoming huge. Cruise lines want passengers to spend their money on the liners, rather than on shore -- and on the new generations of massive ships, opportunities for shore visits will be restricted because few ports can accommodate them. Cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, that have faith in a strategy of gigantism risk commodifying the cruise experience. A 220,000-tonner with 5,400 passengers may cut the operating cost per passenger, but is too large for most ports, and arguably too sizeable to provide a personal experience, or to offer either a tranquil or an adventurous holiday.

Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. Strategic Overview
3. Demographics and the UK's Cruise Business
4. Economics, Incomes and UK Demand
5. Cruising and the Environment
6. Promotion in the UK
7. An International Perspective
8. PEST Analysis -- the UK
9. Consumer Dynamics
10. Company Profiles
Carnival Corporation
Royal Caribbean
Star Cruises
11. The Future
13. Further Sources

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89778