The cruise industry is on track to meet, or
possibly exceed, its target of carrying 10.5 million passengers in
2004, which would be a 33% jump over the number of people who
cruised in 2003.
The Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA), which collects passenger data for
its 19 cruise line members, said nearly 2.9 million people cruised
during the third quarter, a 9.7% increase over third-quarter
2003.
For the year to
date, CLIA said nearly 8 million people worldwide cruised on CLIA
lines, a 9.9% year-over-year increase.
CLIA said cruise
lines average 109.4% occupancy figure in the third quarter was
impressive.
A CLIA spokesman
counted several reasons for the increase in passengers, including
an increase in tonnage -- CLIA members available bed-days in the
third quarter increased 11.3% to nearly 18 million -- and the
resurgence of passengers interest in traveling farther
afield.
In the third
quarter, the category posting the biggest year-over-year increase
was cruises lasting nine to 17 days. There was a 39.4% jump in
passengers traveling on cruises of that length and a 54% increase
in passengers cruising 18 days or more.
Meanwhile, the
popularity of short cruises declined slightly; the number of people
taking voyages of five days or fewer dropped 1%.