Cruising: An Industry on Fire

The sheer number of ships on order is staggering.

The millions the lines are spending on destinations is astonishing.

There’s no doubt about it: cruising is an industry on fire.

“I got chills, they're multiplying” – Danny Zuko, "Grease," Harmony of the Seas

In 2018, more than 27 million passengers are expected to cruise. That’s up from 17.8 million in 2009.

You know that when Sir Richard Branson wants a piece of the action, cruising is hot. His three upcoming ships are just a drop in the ocean—the cruise lines have 40 on order through 2026. This year alone will see 27 new ships sailing the seas. And more than 35 percent will be Caribbean-bound.

At the same time, the cruise lines are putting money into developing new and better places for us to go. Royal Caribbean will be spending $200 million to renovate CocoCay, and there are new ports being proposed or already under construction in the Bahamas, Honduras and Tortuga (off Haiti).

What’s more, the lines are tripping over themselves to give us the biggest whiz-bang for our buck—from onboard technology to over-the-top shows to celebrity chef cuisine.

What’s behind all the fuss? Those of us who’ve done it once, twice or more know that cruising can't be beat in value and flexibility. You can choose a ship that’s small, medium or large. That meanders the rivers or rides the tides. Soak up the sun on a lounger, zip-line above the ocean or scuba down below. Bring your best buddy or your whole brood.

Yes, cruising’s for everyone. Spread the word. We want to fill all these new ships to be sure the lines keep ‘em coming, and giving us more ways to enjoy our precious vacations.

Sources: Cruise Lines International Association, Cruise Radio, Cruise Fever

The S.S. Sedentary?

My spouse is one of cruising’s most ardent supporters. When someone comes back from a vacation—any vacation—as soon as they begin to tell him about their trip, he says, “Have you tried cruising?” When he did this last, our neighbor’s response was, “I’m too active for cruising. I run five miles a day.”

And therein lies one of the most pervasive misconceptions about cruising. That we spend seven 

Working off those calories in the
gym of Celebrity's Equinox

days flat on our backs around the pool or eating around the clock until we bust out of our bathing suits.

Now this may be an accurate depiction of some cruisers, but many of us still manage to fit in laps around the jogging track, working out in the gym, scaling the rock-climbing walls, zip-lining, windsurfing, swimming, ice skating, hiking, dancing, walks into town…

A recent article in the Miami Herald noted that when Richard Fain had joined the board of Royal Caribbean, he had never been on a cruise. A full year later, egged on by his colleagues, he went through the motions by choosing the shortest, cheapest cruise: a three-day in the Bahamas.

Today, of course, as the cruise line’s CEO, he spends quite a bit of time extoling the virtues of the cruise vacation.

Which goes to show that some misconceptions can even be cured by three days at sea.

Musings’ Top Tip: 2.4 laps around the jogging track of the massive Allure of the Seas equals one mile. The track has a designated path for joggers and another for walkers, and can be found on Promenade Deck 5.