What�s happened to an industry once known mostly for its Caribbean voyages? You might say the cruise industry has evolved to meet passengers� growing needs and desires. As cruise lines began catering to an increasing number of repeat passengers, they discovered the best way to keep these passengers excited about cruising was to develop new itineraries in destinations all over the world. 

The Caribbean still holds the number one slot as a cruise destination�and likely always will, especially among North American travelers�but in the last 20 years, cruise passengers have found themselves choosing from an array of increasingly exotic destinations. Itineraries visit popular destinations in Alaska, Europe, the Panama Canal, Mexico and Canada/New England, as well as more exotic destinations, among them Antarctica, Zanzibar, Morocco, the Norwegian Coast, Croatia, Costa Rica, Brazil and Madagascar. That trend will continue well into the 2000s, experts say.

Two factors fueling this destination diversity are the volume of new ships planned or in the works (50 by 2003); and the knowledge that more than half of the North Americans who cruise for the first time will become avid repeat cruisers.

Getting ready for the growth are the members of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Most CLIA-member cruise lines have announced new itineraries for 2000-2001, with ports of call in such far-off locations as the Amazon River Basin, the Chilean Fjords and Tahiti, and they already are busy planning itineraries for 2002 and beyond. Many are also developing unusual twists for the ever-popular destinations of the Caribbean and Bahamas.

�As the new millennium swings into gear,� says James G. Godsman, president of CLIA, �cruise vacationers will have before them an unprecedented array of vessel and destination choices. It will be a truly exciting time in the history of the industry.�

Keyword: Diversity

Ask analysts to describe the cruise destinations of the future and, not surprisingly, you get a wide range of answers.  Most destinations are likely to experience growth spurts in the next several years, some not until 2010 or later, and some, only if certain world events occur.
Rick Strunck, a consultant for the cruise industry and an experienced destination developer, says one thing Americans will notice in coming years is greater diversity.

During the next 10 years, he expects to see continued growth in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canadian Maritimes, Central America and Mexico, Hawaii, the Middle East, the South Pacific, Australia/New Zealand and the Greek Isles. South America, already a popular cruise destination for Europeans and South Americans, will attract more North Americans in the years to come.

During the next decade, 2010 and beyond, the industry might see growth in other areas, such as Southeast Asia (as the infrastructure catches up) and the Orient, and in 2020, perhaps the West Coast of Africa, assuming a stable political situation and an expanded infrastructure.
In addition, world events could play a pivotal role in developing cruise destinations. For example, if the U.S.  normalizes relations with Cuba, the cruise lines could develop a whole new Central Caribbean itinerary, with stops in Havana, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Another world event likely to give cruise tourism a boost sooner rather than later is the 2000 Olympics in Australia. When Americans start seeing what analyst Strunck describes as 15-second �visionettes� of Australia�s scenic wonders, the wanderlust and the appetite for �Down Under� will suddenly be stimulated.  And, says Strunck, let�s not forget the cruise ships, which are more and more becoming destinations in themselves. �Cruise lines are eliminating port calls that can�t accommodate their larger ships, and offering their passengers an extra day or two at sea, just to enjoy the ship. That�s a trend I see continuing,� he says.

Itinerary Trends

As cruise destinations diversify and more ships enter the fleet, a host of other developments can be expected, among them:

• More use of cruise ports along the southern and Gulf coasts of the U.S.  and the Mexican Gulf coast. As the fleets expand, cruise lines will have to look to alternative departure ports as The Big Three�Miami, San Juan and Port Everglades�will be at capacity. That will benefit ports in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Mobile, Atlanta and Tampa, and give Americans who live within driving distance a new incentive to try a cruise.
• Longer cruise seasons. One possibility is to add a summer season to the Canadian Maritimes, giving people who enjoy the later fall foliage cruises a chance to explore the New England and Canadian coastlines during the summer as well. The Panama Canal could also be a year-round offering.
• More overnights in popular capital cities such as Rome and Buenos Aires, where the ships offer a value-packed alternative to typically expensive hotels.
• More late night departures (after 2 or 3 a.m.), giving passengers a chance to enjoy a port�s nightlife.
• More diversity in cruise lengths, from short cruises out of New York and Boston, to longer cruises focusing on one area.