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SAILING
While cruising
has been the best-placed sector to weather
stormy conditions engulfing the global
economy, it has not escaped unscathed.
Many companies have had to tear up
performance targets and redo their sums
TROUBLED
on original forecasts blown off course by
the tough market conditions. As one cruise
line boss admitted: “The business is still out
there, we just have to work harder to get it.”
Luxury lines such as Yachts of Seabourn,
Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
WATERS
(below) and Silversea Cruises have risen
to the challenge with a stream of special
offers that have succeeded in pulling in the
business – albeit at lower rates.
Nor has the sector been without its
casualties. One of the biggest shocks was
Hebridean International Cruises and its
abrupt announcement that it had sold its
ship Hebridean Spirit. Shortly after, the
The last few months have shown that no one
company entered administration with its
is immune to the fallout of the global credit
remaining ship, Hebridean Princess,
bought by All Leisure Group, which owns
crunch – not even premium cruise lines.
Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery.
The ship will now operate as
Sara Macefield reports
Hebridean Island Cruises.
38
feature cruise
summer 09 ttgluxury.com
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