What are the options? In the midst of these uncertainties: “Should we?... Shouldn’t we?... Can we afford it?” Or: “To hell with costs, let’s go,” cruising is one of the brightest travel options that avoids border-crossing anxieties, strange languages and foods, and last-minute decision-making. It’s also the fastest-growing tourism modality in the world and is expected to experience a full recovery in 2025, after its disastrous Covid dry-dock days. Cruise Lines International Association – the global trade group for the world’s cruise industry – anticipates 36.4 million passengers this year, particularly in the expanding network of ports in the U.S. (13 in southeast U.S. alone – seven in Florida). The U.S.- based market is considered the heartbeat of the industry. And with stock prices for major cruise companies returning to respectability (and higher), expect a plethora of choices in all price ranges (mostly up), but not much time to procrastinate. According to Travelweek, a Canadian trade publication that covers the cruise industry: “Following years of drama (the pandemic), the cruise industry is predicted to calm down in 2025. Lines will benefit from strong forward bookings and current capacity restraints will keep cruise pricing healthy for much of the year.” Senior editor and cruising expert Andrea Zelinski reports that cruise lines will launch more than half a dozen large ships in 2025, including the World America – “one of the most anticipated new vessels,” – debuting in the Caribbean. In addition, she writes that 2025 will highlight the integration of private “destinations” with Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruises and Celebrity Cruises all building their own island-beach developments. She also reports that part of cruise strategies going forward will be developing and marketing attractions which vacationers crave on land, such as Royal Caribbean’s six-slide waterpark on Icon of the Seas. And lines will also try to keep more cruisers on board spending more and “using AI-fuelled strategies in marketing to capture more of the guests’ dollars before they step aboard.” So, watch out. Special for Canadian cruisers But one of the biggest stories of the North American cruise scene in 2025 may well be the surge of activity in Canada’s largest cruise port, Canada Place in Vancouver, which is uniquely situated “downtown” and which has been named this year’s “World’s Leading Cruise Port” by the travel industry’s annual World Travel Awards program. Vancouver, which has long been known for its Alaska cruises, has expanded its global range by hosting major lines sailing to Asia, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Mexico, the Pacific Northwest and the Panama Canal on cruises that are generally offered April through October. The Port is capable of servicing four ships a day and is expecting a strong season, with a Disney cruise now home-based at the port, and 301 calls scheduled between March and October, among them Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess, MSC and more. For a timetable of cruises out of Vancouver – price, dates, etc., go to: www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-from-vancouver-canada. html And happy sailing. Milan can be reached for comment at milankorcok@aol.com 24 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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