Best Cruises

When it comes to the health of the cruise industry, everything is shipshape and Bristol fashion.

In the past decade, cruises have undergone a radical makeover from every aspect–from the rooms, services, food and clientele. Just last year, the largest, tallest, longest and most expensive cruise ship ever built hit the market–Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which was estimated to cost $800 million to build. The mega-ship, which had its maiden voyage on January 12, features an onboard planetarium, Canyon Ranch’s first spa at sea, as well as a Todd English restaurant and a playing field.

Cunard, which is owned by Miami-based cruise giant Carnival Corporation isn’t the only cruise ship company adding luxury features and expanding its amenities. These days, cruises offer everything five-star hotels can, and often more. On a Radisson Seven Seas cruise, passengers can sign up for on-board Le Cordon Bleu cooking classes. Silversea has partnered with Relais & Chateaux on a series of cruises where gourmet food is the emphasis. The chefs will also offer escorted tours to local food markets and be on hand to answer any culinary questions guests may have. More ships are adding luxuries like humidors, private butlers and 24-hour room service. If cooking isn’t your passion, there’s a cruise for nearly every interest, from golf, wine and whisky, to scuba diving and art history.

Apart from the cosmetic makeovers to the ships, one of the most important changes has been the steady, continued increase in the cruise industry’s number of passengers. Since 1980, the cruise industry has had an annual passenger growth rate of 8.1%, according to Brian Major of the New York-based Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In 2003, 8.19 million people in North America took a cruise, up from 1.4 million in 1980. Revenues are also high. Last year, according to the Arlington, Va.-based International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), the North American cruising industry generated $25.4 billion in revenue, with passengers spending $12.9 billion.

Why have more people turned to cruising? “Cruise vacations offer great value, and often better value than what a land vacation can offer,” says Major. “With a cruise, costs are controlled because you pay for everything upfront so you know exactly what you’re getting into.” The average length of a cruise is 6.9 days according to CLIA, with passengers spending about $1,872.

While last year’s big news in the cruise industry was the debut of the QM2, travel agent and certified cruise specialist Aimee J. Ricca, owner of the Portland, Me.-based Bonne Amie Travel, says one of the biggest changes for 2005 will be that luxury cruise ships will offer shorter vacations.

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