Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

World's largest cruise ship voted "most exciting cruise innovation"

Relax News
Monday 15 February 2010 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The launch of the world's largest cruise ship has been voted the most exciting cruise ship innovation in a new survey of cruise trends released February 11.

The annual Cruise Holidays Cruise Trends Survey voted the Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas as the best thing to hit the high seas in 2009, followed by her AquaTheatre in second place. The AquaTheatre is a pool by day and water-themed amphitheatre by night, featuring high-diving shows.

The survey also revealed some interesting trends on cruise pricing. The 135 US cruise holiday travel agents surveyed said that across the board, cruise pricing has fallen dramatically, to levels not seen for the past 20 years. Departing the US for example, cruise prices to the Mediterranean are down $28 (€20) per day, per person, for a 12-day cruise, leading to $336 (€246) in savings per person compared to 2009.

Consumers are waiting until the last possible moment to book, says Cruise Holidays, with over a third booking their cruise from one to three months ahead of departure. Only six percent booked short notice (less than a month) cruises, whilst 20 percent preferred to book in the four-to-eight month window.

The most exciting cruise innovations of the last 12 months
Data from Cruise Holidays Cruise Trends Survey

1. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas' sheer size
2. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas' AquaTheater
3. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas' Central Park
4. Celebrity Equinox's/ Solstice's Lawn Club
5. Celebrity Equinox's/ Solstice's glass blowing studio
6. Carnival Dream's Cove Balcony cabins (near the water line)
7. (tie) Carnival Dream's indoor/outdoor Ocean Plaza
7. (tie) Seabourn Odessey's spa
7. (tie) Viking Legend's new suites

Website: http://www.cruiseholidays.com/

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in