If you have been thinking of doing a Caribbean cruise this Fall or winter, this may be the best opportunity over the next several years; if you want variety and value. The reason for this opportunity is simple old fashioned supply and demand. The cruise lines have significantly increased their capacity in the number of ships and cruises they are sailing to the Caribbean. At the same time, the demand has been flat cruises to the region; at the same time the overall cruise demand globally has increased. What this means for you and I are more options at a lower price.
The reason for this imbalance in supply is a combination of the cruise line looking for more stable markets for their ships, after a disastrous drop in demand for European cruises between 2010-12; and an increase in new ships and and new cruise lines entering the Caribbean market year round. The Caribbean Princess, which would spend the summer in Europe is now based year round in Florida. In addition, the cruise lines are adding new ships, with more features and larger capacities, such as the Norwegian Getaway, the Regal Princess and Royal Princess. The Norwegian Getaway is based year round out of Miami, while the Princess ships are cruising the seasonally in the Caribbean. Throw in the popular European line, MSC, which based its new 4000 passenger ship, the Divina, which they based this year in Miami for year round Caribbean cruises. The result is a 20% increase in passenger capacity this Fall, compared to 2013. Norweigian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan described this in Travel Weekly, as " the lemming theory... at the same time, and it's like you show your hand and everybody's in the Caribbean, with the capacity being up 20%."
The demand has been flat for Caribbean cruises over the last several years. The cruise lines think a major reason for this is is a perception in the public that the cruises are on the same old ships to the same old destinations. In response, the cruise lines have increased their marketing to show the new features on their new ship; and and changing their cruises. They are adding new ports of call, varying the port schedules, and adding both longer and shorter cruise lengths; to meet the changing demands of the American travelers.
But this valuable opportunity for us; of more cruises and cruise options, will not last forever. Already the cruise line have a reduction in both the number of ships to sail year round out of Florida and the number of ship cruising seasonally in the Caribbean for 2015/16. Both MSC and Princess will discontinue year round sailing out of Miami. In addition, ships that had been scheduled to sail in the Caribbean such as the Norweigian Epic, and Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Quantum of the Sea, will be moved to other faster growing cruise regions, in this case Europe and China respectively. What this means for us will be a large reduction in options for us next year. So while the ships are all here this season, go have some fun on that cruise you want to do, try a new ship, enjoy the new cruise lengths and ports of call. The value is hard to beat.
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