Car Rental Switzerland - Cruise Trips: Just How Popular is Cruising?

10.5 million cruise passengers got on board cruise ships last year. The number of people looking for travel deals has reached record levels for cruise trips. The results are in for 2004.

The Association expects that number to increase in 2005 to over 11 million. According to the 19 cruise line members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) this was a new record for cruise vacations.

Even this does not assure that you will be able to get your preferred cruise destination and itinerary aboard your preferred cruise ship in your preferred stateroom category. Cruise vacations have become so popular that cruise lines are recommending that potential cruisers book their cruise packages at least 6 months in advance. Many of these vacationers are looking for travel deals for cruises only. Totaling about 8.8 million, most of the cruisers included in these numbers are from North America.

Consumer demand on cruise ship trips continues to rise and cruisers are looking to farther destinations like Europe and the Asia. The president and CEO of the association says that cruise vacation bookings are coming in "fast and furious". CLIA is the cruise industry's chief marketing organization and the largest travel industry association based on agency membership in North America.

A total of 68 new cruise ships will have debuted between 2000 and the end of 2005! The cruise lines' ships are operating at capacity, even though there are more cruise vacation departures and more cruise ships and itineraries than ever before.

North American cruisers have more choices to start their cruise vacation trips from, with 30 home ports. There is about three times the number of home ports in North America, since 1975 when CLIA was formed.

Then book your cruise on-line and get excited! Compare the values and choose the very best cruise deal. Click on the merchants' links that you will find there. Visit our cruise discount home page at a1-discount-cruises.com, to check out the best deals on-line for cruise vacations. Visit some of our other interesting and informative articles, for more information on cruise vacation trips.