Strong comeback by cruise industry in 2022

Cruise Planners reports near record performance
2022-11-14
/
/ New Delhi
Strong comeback by cruise industry in 2022

American cruise franchise operator Cruise Planners says that in 2022, as travel surged back after the Covid-19 shutdowns and protocols, it just missed surpassing its 2019 performance by a mere two points

Despite the severe challenges faced by the global cruising industry during the past two years due to Covid-19, the sector has staged a smart comeback in 2022 as data by American cruise franchise Cruise Planners indicates.
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After having faced unprecedented rough seas for the past two years due to the Covid-19 outbreak that led to stranding of tens of thousands of passengers aboard several ships, the global cruise business has staged a smart recovery in the current year.

Most cruise companies have reported huge demand for sailings, not just in 2023 but also in the current year as most countries have eased or ended all restrictions related to Covid-19 that had specially hit the cruise industry. American cruise franchise operator Cruise Planners says that in 2022, as travel surged back after the Covid-19 shutdowns and protocols, it just missed surpassing its 2019 performance by a mere two points.

In a press statement, the firm says that it reached 98 pc of its 2019 performance, “which is quite impressive for a year of recovery and resurgence’’ for the travel industry. Cruise Planners says that some segments did particularly well. Luxury travel rose 28 pc in 2022 over 2019 for the best year ever for Cruise Planners, says Scott Koepf, senior vice president-strategic development. “That includes a record-setting pace on World Cruises – Cruise Planners advisors sold USD 10 million worth of the global voyages, an 89 pc increase over 2019,” Koepf adds.

Another very strong performance was delivered by river cruise sales that rose sharply in 2022, now standing 21 pc above the 2019 performance. As for overall cruise, it reached 94 pc of the business booked in 2019 due to hiccups, including a slow sales start to the year, burdensome Covid-19 protocols, and the fact that 30 pc of the United States, its principal market, was unvaccinated. “We’re very, very pleased with that. We think that’s a pretty extraordinary number,” says Koepf.

Cruise Planners says it is holding its annual convention in Miami from November 11-14, followed by a sailing onboard the new Celebrity Beyond from November 14-17. Cruise Planners Founder and CEO Michelle Fee tells media that Cruise Planners broke the record for the largest commission check ever written – no less than three times in 2022.

“I signed the largest commission check ever in the history of Cruise Planners on July 15, then we broke the record on August 1, and then we broke the record again on September 1.  We broke the record three times, which was awesome,” says Fee.

And 2023 is looking very promising as well with deposited bookings. “We are currently 26 pc ahead of where we were heading into 2020 before the pandemic,” says Fee. “Next year, 2023, is definitely going to be a record year, knock on wood,” says Chief Sales Officer Theresa Scalzitti.

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