Caribbean cruises rule. That's according to a poll of about 1,000 franchise owners and home-based agents in a third-quarter Trend Report from CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.

More than three-quarters of respondents said their top-selling cruise destination in the third quarter was the Caribbean, and 58% said it was the most requested destination for clients planning to cruise in 2010.

Forty-six percent of respondents said bookings in the third quarter increased either slightly or significantly compared with the same period last year. Twenty-eight percent said they had decreased slightly or significantly. The remainder reported bookings were flat with last year.

Cruise rates have fallen either slightly or significantly, according to 58% of those polled; 25% said they increased and 16% said they were flat.

And, given all the buzz about new megaships coming on line soon, such as Norwegian Cruise Line's 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic, which debuts next summer, the poll asked whether the new-ship frenzy would drive increased bookings. Fifteen percent said they believed there would be a slight or significant increase in bookings for ships due out later this year or in 2010. Most agents, 67%, said booking levels have remained flat on new ships this year.

Cruise agents also were asked about profitability, particularly whether cruise line promotions have impacted their bottom lines.

Forty percent said promotions have not impacted profitability, but 35% said they have reduced profitability.

CruiseOne, with 552 independently owned cruise travel franchise locations, and Cruises Inc., with more than 500 agents nationwide, are units of World Travel Holdings. They are based in Fort Lauderdale.