MIAMI -- Cruise demand in 2003 has been slower than anticipated,
cruise executives here said.
Top executives at five cruise lines nonetheless sought to put
the cruise industry in a positive light during the annual opening
debate at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention, even while
recounting what several cruise lines have said publicly: Wave
season has been a little slow, and pricing is down.
Executives met during the State of the Industry debate March 4
during this year's Seatrade convention, being held at the Miami
Beach Convention Center March 3 to 6.
Both Bob Dickinson of Carnival Cruise Lines and Colin Veitch of
Norwegian Cruise Line said North American-based homeports was
making the industry more accessible to potential passengers and
bringing in new business.
The events of 9/11 were a "single, sharp shock" on the business,
said Veitch; this year, meanwhile, multiple, lingering issues have
put a drag on demand. "When it's going to turn around, I'm not
sure," he said.
Howard Frank, Carnival Corp.'s vice chairman, said the company's
second quarter looks "challenging." But, he added "when demand
comes back -- and it will -- it will come back stronger."
Richard Fain, CEO of Royal Caribbean, said U.S. travelers'
concerns about a hostile Europe were "overstated" -- both he and
Crystal Cruises president Gregg Michel said they were committed to
their tonnage in the Mediterranean, save for some "dramatic"
occurrence.