The Cruise Industry: A Troubling Spiral

Recent events in the cruise industry paint a grim picture of an industry seemingly spiraling out of control. Royal Caribbean, a major player in the market, reported a significant 40% drop in net income for the first quarter of this year, citing the Costa Concordia tragedy as a contributing factor. However, CEO Richard Fain downplayed the long-term impact of the incident, stating, “We did not expect the impact of the tragedy to be long term, and we are seeing evidence the effects are waning.”

Despite Fain’s reassurances, subsequent cruise disasters have continued to make headlines. The Costa Allegra experienced a disabling fire just a month after the Concordia incident, floating perilously close to waters frequented by pirates. These incidents understandably create unease among families considering cruise vacations. Even satirical pieces like Andy Borowitz’s “Citing Safety Concerns, **Somali Pirates Refuse to Board Cruise Ships – Fires, Capsizings Top Pirates’ Concerns” resonated with cruise enthusiasts, highlighting the growing skepticism surrounding cruise safety.

The Star Princess scandal added fuel to the fire when the cruise ship passed by a disabled fishing boat, resulting in the tragic deaths of two young men. Princess Cruises, owned by Carnival, faced severe backlash as the public learned of the cruise ship’s apparent indifference to the distressed boat and pleas for assistance from passengers.

The month began with disturbing reports of a Carnival security officer and housekeeping manager allegedly strip-searching a girl on the Carnival Sensation, including making her remove her tampon. These incidents raise serious concerns about the conduct within the industry.

While Fain was quick to point fingers at his competitor (Carnival) for Royal Caribbean’s sinking profits, he omitted mentioning the Azamara Quest’s serious engine fire that disabled the vessel. Despite declining bookings and increased operational costs, Fain still pocketed a substantial $5,900,000.

CBS suggested that the declining profits at Royal Caribbean were due to passengers being “spooked by the high profile cruise problems.” Adding to the industry’s woes, an engine room fire broke out on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, marking the 80th cruise fire in the last 22 years. The Miami Herald, typically supportive of the cruise industry, relayed the cruise line’s PR statement that the fire was “small and quickly extinguished,” leaving many unconvinced.

Even more alarming was a story that the Miami Herald chose not to cover: a Cunard cruise line youth counselor admitting to sexually abusing 13 boys on three Cunard Cruise ships over four years. The lack of media coverage on such a shocking revelation raises questions about the industry’s accountability and the safety of passengers, especially children.

With cruise executives earning exorbitant salaries compared to their staff and numerous incidents of accidents, indifference, and even criminal activities, the cruise industry appears to be careening out of control. The focus on profit over passenger safety and the industry’s failure to address and rectify these issues raise serious concerns about its future.

The United States hospitality industry received a major boost in 2011, as the country set a new all-time high for international visitor arrivals. According to fresh data from the U.S. Commerce Department, over 62.3 million overseas tourists visited America last year, an increase of 4.2% compared to 2010.

This influx of foreign visitors substantially benefited the U.S. economy. Total spending by international tourists rose 13% to reach $152.4 billion for the year. The lion’s share of this spending ($115.7 billion) went towards food, hotels, retail, transportation, entertainment and other tourism-related goods and services. The remaining $36.7 billion consisted of payments to U.S. airlines for international airfare.

The travel boom was fueled by growth from both traditional and emerging markets. As usual, Canada and Mexico accounted for over half of all international arrivals in America, reflecting the ease of access for our immediate neighbors. But the U.S. also enjoyed rising visitation from overseas travelers, who are especially coveted by the tourism industry. Overseas visitors tend to take longer trips and spend more per day than those from neighboring countries. In 2011, overseas arrivals increased by 5.8% to 27.9 million, representing 44.8% of all foreign visitors to America. This share has been steadily rising over the past decade.

When looking at world regions, Western Europe remained the largest source of overseas tourists by far. Nearly 12 million Western Europeans visited the U.S. in 2011, thanks to America’s historic ties with countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. There are concerns however that Europe’s ongoing economic crisis could hamper future growth from that region.

Therefore, tourism officials were encouraged by the strong performance in 2011 from several fast-growing, long-haul markets. Arrivals from South America, for example, surged 15.6%. Australia and New Zealand sent 13.5% more visitors. Eastern Europe and the Middle East also posted double-digit growth at 11% and 10.2% respectively.

Among individual countries, China registered the biggest jump with arrivals soaring 36%. Brazil and Australia also recorded impressive double-digit increases. Meanwhile, arrivals from Japan declined slightly, resulting in more modest 3.2% growth for Asia overall. But momentum continues to build from China and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Within the top 10 source markets, the United Kingdom was a notable laggard. The U.K. has long been America’s largest overseas tourism market. But arrivals remain well below their peak of 4.7 million in 2000. The U.K. sent just 3.8 million visitors to the U.S. in 2011 as the country struggled with economic malaise.

In summary, international tourism hit new heights in the U.S. during 2011 across metrics like visitor volume, market share, spending, and arrivals from high-potential regions. This growing global demand presents a major opportunity for America’s travel and hospitality sectors.

‘Tis the season of bustling roads and holiday cheer, and amid the festive chaos, Gigi Barnett is navigating the rush for Christmas getaways. This year, a noticeable surge in car travel has taken center stage, while plane ticket sales experience a corresponding decline. Regardless of the chosen mode of transportation, the anticipation is palpable, with millions gearing up for holiday escapes.

As the holiday travel season kicks off nationwide on Friday, airports become hubs of activity, witnessing the comings and goings of eager travelers. For some, the convenience of road travel is evident, with its flexibility and ability to avoid the constraints of a fixed schedule. However, others opt for the swiftness and comfort of air travel, despite the challenges it may pose.

The Schoenfeld twins, in deliberating their travel plans, found a road trip less appealing, opting for the ease of air travel. “In a plane, you can just get up and go straight instead of taking all those curvy roads,” expressed one of the twins. The sentiment echoes a growing trend seen this year, where more individuals are breaking away from the tradition of spending the holidays closer to home.

In the early hours of the morning, the Walker family embarked on a multi-modal journey, starting with the Bolt bus in Manhattan and transitioning to the Amtrak in Baltimore. Their destination? The enchanting realms of Disney in Orlando. Yvette Walker, an airplane passenger, shared her excitement about departing from the usual holiday routine. “I’ve never gone away for Christmas. I’ve always stayed home. That’s why I want to do it,” she remarked, capturing the essence of this year’s holiday travel spirit.

This year, the travel landscape reveals a departure from the norm, with more individuals willing to venture beyond local boundaries after spending the last few holidays in close proximity. Notably, despite a rise in gas prices, road travel continues to be the favored mode of transportation, according to AAA. Even as plane travel sees an 11 percent decrease nationally, the allure of scenic road trips holds strong.

Some travelers, like the Schoenfeld twins, acknowledge the potential monotony of road travel, with one noting, “It was boring, and I barfed twice.” Yet, for many, the sacrifice seems worthwhile, especially when it comes to being with loved ones during the holiday season.

However, the joy of holiday travel comes with its set of challenges, with the possibility of being stranded acting as a damper on the festivities. To ensure a smooth journey, experts advise checking flight statuses for timeliness and addressing any car issues before embarking on road trips. With careful planning, these holiday adventurers are set to create lasting memories, whether soaring through the skies or cruising down scenic roads.

Do Travelers Still Avoid Flying on September 11th?

In the years immediately following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, many air travelers were extremely hesitant to fly on the anniversary date of the attacks. But over time, has this reluctance to fly on 9/11 persisted?

In 2002 and 2003, the two years after the attacks, airlines reported significantly reduced bookings and passenger loads for flights on September 11th specifically. To encourage wary travelers, some carriers dramatically slashed their flight schedules for that date and even offered free tickets to those willing to fly. On the anniversary day itself, airports across the country saw air traffic plunge by as much as 50% compared to normal levels.

However, as the years passed after 9/11, this marked hesitance to fly on the anniversary date steadily declined among American air travelers. Data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows the typical seasonal dip in air travel demand during the month of September was much more pronounced in 2002 and 2003, but had returned to normal pre-9/11 levels by 2005.

There is some evidence indicating ticket prices are slightly lower for September 11th flights, likely due to marginally reduced passenger demand on the anniversary date. The travel website Expedia reports this trend of cheaper 9/11 airfares lasted until approximately 2009 or 2010 before disappearing altogether. This year in particular, Expedia says September 11th is already slated to be the most popular and busy air travel day of the entire month.

Meanwhile, an analysis conducted by the airfare comparison website FareCompare found no tangible difference in ticket prices between flights this coming Sunday on 9/11 and those departing the weekends right before and after. So last-minute deals sparked specifically by 9/11 fears seem very unlikely at this point.

The extreme hesitance to fly on the anniversary of 9/11 in the immediate years after the attacks has widely faded over the last decade. September 11th no longer deters or disrupts air travel patterns across the country like it did in those early years. The emotional trauma of the date has diminished enough that most Americans once again feel comfortable flying on 9/11.