Introduction:
The cruise industry is a hugely important arm for tourism and has grown quite phenomenally in recent years. In fact one can say that this industry is probably the fastest growing one for tourism although bargain airlines and cheap travel also have a huge say in the matter.
However one must admit that cruise liners are not something which is relatively new as these have been the case in the past. I remember going to St Nazaire in France some years back, which was an important port for cruise liner departures to the American continent both pre war and even post war and being impressed by the large number of ships which used to ply their trade in the area. The cruise was an intrinsically exciting experience for anyone who was involved in it and it has remained so to this day.
Technology and innovations:
Cruise ships have always been large but lately the vast number of ships have increased in size and can actually only be described as behemoths. Ships such as ‘Princess of the Seas’, ‘Freedom of the seas’ and suchlike are not only enormous but include the latest technology in engines and other technical matters which enable them to travel quite fast and stay much longer out at sea. This results in an all encompassing cruise experience which can only be described as fabulous.
Types of cruises, prices etc.
Cruises come in various sizes and shapes but particular ones which come to mind are those which operate in the Mediterranean. Here cruise ships visit historic ports such as Venice, Koper in Croatia and suchlike where tourists can enjoy the sights and sounds of these great cities which are steeped in history and all sorts of experiences. Other exotic destinations include the Caribbean and the Southern hemisphere such as Australia where the experience can safely said to be quite magical and out of this world. Prices vary, for example if one books from the various travel websites which we find on the internet such as Booking.com etc, one can grab a ten day cruise for the rather cheap price of USD 1,000 per person which would include free food and a fine stateroom cabin with all normal facilities.
The experience on a cruise ship:
Although cruise ships may not be for everyone, the experience is one which can be quite intriguing and interesting for many. Apart from the food in abundance which one finds on these ships, there is also a vast amount of entertainment which one can find which passes the time away quite merrily. Games, quizzes and other forms of entertainment are part and parcel of the whole cruise experience. Added to that, one finds the shore excursions at the port of call which continue to broaden one’s mind on the destinations visited and can also prove to be an eye opener for many. Cruises are perhaps more aimed at the elderly person’s market although a young family can also enjoy the experience as has been proved time and time again.
Target markets
Cruise lines tend to stick to what they do best so target markets are quite often an important issue. For example Royal Caribbean which is the largest cruise company in the world operates from various destinations but is at its best when it operates in the area of Florida and the Caribbean where it brings its own intrinsic experience to proceedings. Obviously it is quite important to note that cruise ships are geared towards specific target markets according to destination, so it is understandable that the cruises based where there is sun and hot temperatures are specifically aimed at the elderly generation. In fact these make up a large part of the cruise liner markets and when one experiences such a cruise, these are always the largest number of persons on board the ship. Cruise companies tend to target this demographic as these are much more pliable to the industry in that sense. Tour operators and other similar companies also do their best to approach these types of potential tourists as they may be more susceptible to marketing techniques when it comes to selling the cruise experience.
Regulations on cruise ships
Safety is always an important issue in this respect and every time one goes on a cruise, this is probably the singularly most important topic which is drilled into passenger’s minds. The safety drill is probably the first thing that passengers do and there are always safety procedures emblazoned around the boat to ensure that everyone understands what is required when an emergency crops up. This can also be seen when talking to crew members who are always very much spot on when safety procedures are discussed. Ever since the sinking of the Titanic, safety has always been a major concern and each cruise line takes the number of lifeboats and other safety procedures extremely seriously.
Travelling concerns:
Cruise ships are perhaps best described as floating hotels and as such contain all the comforts and luxuries which one can expect. Passengers can avail themselves of the best facilities whilst on board but obviously not everything is all things to all men. Elderly passengers may be more preoccupied with the safety features aboard the cruise ship while the younger generation may perhaps be more preoccupied with what is going on in the bars and casinos. However cruise ships offer such a plethora of facilities that it is quite difficult to get bored even if you have nothing to do.
Cruise lines:
There are a large number of cruise lines all over the world who operate from various ports of call in different countries. The largest one is Royal Caribbean followed by PL&O and other smaller ones such as Costa Concordia, MSC Crociere, Norwegian Sun and Holland America. All of these have their own target markets which vary from the Florida wetlands to the icy edges of the Baltic. Norwegian Sun in particular have several exciting cruises in Scandinavia and the aforementioned Baltic where the experience is one which is vastly superior to what may be expected on a Mediterranean cruise. With several mergers also going on, some companies are diversifying their resources to ensure that every market is catered for and that there is no competition which could damage revenues.
Benefits to the local economy
Local economies benefit greatly when cruise ships make them ports of call. Of course one can observe the vast number of souvenir shops which crowd the ports when cruise liners dock but when tourist groups from these ships visit the city, there is obviously a lot of money for the taking. In fact when cruise ships cross off a port of call, that place can suffer huge economic falls especially if it was dependent on the cruise liner business for its own economy. Another important issue are the fees that ports change for cruise operators and these can also be seen as an important boon for the local economy.
The cruise liner market can be described as Enclave Tourism in the sense that it continually re-invents itself and explores new niches which are not always potentially exploited. However there are also negative aspects to the cruise industry which include pollution and other environmental issues as these behemoths of the sea continually expand their operations. This is something which needs to be continually assessed by the appropriate authorities as pollution is obviously an important issue.
The cruise industry in Malta
A typical part of the cruise industry is the small country of Malta in the Mediterranean which has a burgeoning cruise industry. This is further increased by the island’s strategic position in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea where it can attract several cruise lines which ply their trade in the area. The island which is populated by around half a million people receives that much amount of cruise ship visitors in a year so one can see the enormous benefit that this industry has to the local economy. Adding to that, there are a substantial number of businesses and local authorities which have employment created by the cruise industry. Although the country has seen a tapering off of business of late, it is still very strong in this area as cruise liner ships regularly visit this port of call. Local travel companies also make the most out of the situation and organize various trips to all destinations with cruise companies, trips which are very well patronized and taken up by local personnel.
Conclusion: The case for and against the cruise industry
The cruise industry is a bomming one and no one can deny that. Latest figures show that almost one billion people travelled on a cruise in the year 2010 and this figure can only increase as ever larger ships are built and more and more tourists become acquainted with the industry. There are a substantial number of pros when evaluating the cruise liner industry, these include the facility to visit a variety of destinations, over abundant food, the facility to visit places which are otherwise quite inaccessible by air and also the ability to organize your trip according to the ports of call. Cruises vary from hugely luxurious ones with all sorts of benefits to rather mundane ones where nothing much is happening and the bare basics can be obtained. There is also the benefit to the local economy which has to be considered as income for residents in ports of call is vastly increased with such cruises. Cons are the environmental issue and also the occasional misuse of foreign labour on cruise ships, more often than not these are staffed by Far eastern residents such as Filipinos and those from Indonesia. However the cruise industry is definitely a vast one and it will continue to grow as the demand for it remains high and the potential benefits for anyone who experiences it are substantial.
References:
Roughan, John (16 February 2007). "The ocean-going stretch limo". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
Queen Mary 2 Cruises Cunard Retrieved 12th December 2009
Cruise Market Watch Announces 2011 Cruise Line Market Share and Revenue Projections". Cruise Market Watch. 2010-12-11.
Best, Keilani (17 March 2010). Cruise group celebrates growth of 'floating cities. Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 6C.
The Boston Globe, Royal Caribbean orders $1.24B cruise ship, 2009-02-10.
