Cruise Fleet Activity Recovers to Pre-Covid-19 Levels

In their latest weekly insight for the shipping industry, Clarksons Research have profiled the recovering activity levels in the cruise market. Steve Gordon, Managing Director of Clarksons Research, commented:

“The cruise industry was shipping’s hardest hit sector during the Covid pandemic but is now seeing improving activity levels after a hugely challenging period for cruise operators.

Cruise fleet activity, measured by daily ports calls, have edged above pre-Covid-19 levels for the first time in recent weeks.

In 2020, over 90% of the cruise fleet was idle, with port calls activity only recovering to 40% of pre-Covid-19 levels in 2021 and to 87% in 2022.

Recovering activity has focused on North America and the Caribbean (port callings above pre-Covid-19 levels) while activity in Asia remains 40% down with a pick up in Chinese activity expected from June.

Improvements in passenger numbers have lagged due to lower occupancy rates but, following reports of robust booking volumes in recent months, we are projecting 30 million passengers across 2023, marginally exceeding 2019 volumes (passenger volumes in 2020 and 2021 averaged only 5m per year). We are projecting the potential for passenger volumes of 40% by 2028.

There are today 488 cruise vessels with a total of 674,000 berth capacity. Since the start of the pandemic, 40 cruise vessels have been sold for recycling but fleet capacity has begun to grow again and we project it will be 20% larger than the pre-Covid-19 fleet by start 2025 (729,000 berths vs 614,000 berths).

Newbuilding investment now focused on the small luxury cruise market with shipyards in China and Europe increasingly active and potential for new entrants on the operator side.

The pre-Covid-19 build program continues to deliver from European yards, but some of the longer term investment plans for large cruise vessels have been scaled back.

Decarbonisation focus continues, with 65% of newbuild orderbook capacity alternative fuel capable and over a quarter of the fleet with significant Energy Saving Technologies (ESTs).

Cruise operator bond market raises have totalled $45bn since the start of Covid-19.

Despite the activity recovery, operational and financial challenges continue for the cruise industry as it recovers from the huge stresses of the Covid-19 period.”  

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.