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26 brands to operate 52 ships in Asia in 2015

26 brands to operate 52 ships in Asia in 2015
The newly-formed Cruise Lines International Association bodies in Southeast and North Asia released initial findings from the new Asia Cruise Trends Project, conducted by CHART Management Consultants.

Christine Duffy, president and ceo of CLIA said, ‘The cruise industry continues to grow rapidly in Asia and many cruise lines are deploying more capacity in the region, including some of the most modern cruise ships.’

Commenting on the findings released today Ann Sherry, chair of CLIA Southeast Asia said, ‘The scale of cruising in Asia and its growth over these three short years is remarkable. Next year will see 26 cruise brands operate 52 ships in Asia, nine of which are year-round.

‘In 2013 there were 802 Asia-Asia cruises, in 2015, we will see 981,’ she continued. ‘But the growth in capacity is even more impressive, driven by increasingly large and modern ships being deployed. Last year, in 2013, there was capacity for 1.4m guests to take Asia-Asia cruises, next year there will be room for 2.05m, an annual growth of 19.5%. ‘On top of that, another 115,360 guests may transit through Asia on longer voyages, up 25% per annum from the 73,616 capacity in 2013,’ she observed.

Dr. Zinan Liu, chair of CLIA North Asia commented, ‘The project reveals that days deployed in East Asia are growing 20.5% annually and in Southeast Asia 10%. Deployment in South Asian destinations, which account for just 6% of the total, is growing at 34% per annum.

‘The work has also revealed capacity, deployment and growth by ship type and for each of the 26 brands covered by the project,’ Dr. Liu added.

‘It separates cruise activity by brand into four tiers. Three participating CLIA Member cruise lines in Tier 1, Star Cruises, Costa Crociere, and Royal Caribbean, have over 100 sailings in 2015 and about 25% each of total passenger capacity in Asia. Participating CLIA Member cruise lines in Tier 2, Princess Cruises and Celebrity, operate 25 or more cruises and voyages. The eight brands in Tier 3 operate nine or more annually, and Tier 4 offer eight sailings or less.’

Ted Blamey, CHART principal commented, ‘Asia is, of course, dominated by short duration cruises with sailing under one week accounting for 81% of all those offered in 2015. The 2- to 3-night duration is largest in total with 425 cruises next year. The 4- to 6-night duration is growing fastest, up from 263 to 367 cruises in two years.’ Blamey pointed out its not only short trips, ‘There are 162 cruises between 7 and 14 days offered in 2015, and 27 cruises longer than that. Asia has something for everyone, even though much of the activity is focused on the short-vacation local market.’

Detail on ports-of-call and destinations visited in all Asia destinations will be released shortly said Blamey.