Caribbean still top cruise destination

NEW YORK — The Caribbean remains a top destination among cruisers, and more are bringing their children along for the journey, according to a new survey by the Cruise Lines International Association.

Cruise experts also say that in response to rising fuel costs, cruise lines are increasing surcharges and changing their itineraries. Some are skipping Aruba, once a popular port, because of the extra fuel it takes to get there.

"You're seeing a lot less of the real exotic types of itineraries that require more sea time because it's so expensive," says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of CruiseCritic.com.

Consumer interest in cruising remains strong, according to the CLIA, with 55 percent of vacationers who have never taken a cruise intending to do so in the next three years.

But many cruisers are watching their spending, says Brown, cutting back on onboard spending, planning independent short excursions and choosing a cruise near a home port to avoid having to fly to meet the ship.

That means the Caribbean is rebounding and the Mediterranean is losing out, says Brown. So much that Carnival is pulling Carnival Freedom from its previously announced 2009 summer itineraries in the Mediterranean and positioning it year-round in the Caribbean, she says.

The Caribbean is traditionally cheaper than other cruises, because it is a year-round destination and people don't have to travel far to catch the ship. Other cruise regions are seasonal: Canada/New England and Alaska are only accessible via cruise ship in warm months, she says.

"With the Caribbean, one of the biggest advantages is there's simply more choice and it's a much more flexible option," she says, adding that cruisers will have the most choices in terms of a ship from the winter holidays to mid-April. "During times of the year when there's more variety, pricing will be more competitive as well."

While vacationers, including cruisers, generally travel in pairs, family travel is exploding, says Brown. In 2008, 25 percent of cruisers traveled with kids under age 18, compared to 13 percent in 2002, according to CLIA.

The increase may be responsible for bringing the median age of a cruiser down to 46 in 2008 from 49 in 2006.

There has been a rise in family vacations overall since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, says Bob Sharak, executive vice president, marketing and distribution, CLIA.