what about in the royal caribbean international Cruise lines slash prices to lure consumers?
By Judy Wiley | Jun 07, 2009 Travel, especially cruising, is a bright spot in a year full of dismal economic news. Some of the best deals in a decade are still out there, and 14 new ships will be launched worldwide before the year is over. Carnival is launching its biggest ship ever. And Royal Caribbean International is putting the final touches on the biggest cruise ship in the world — Oasis of the Seas, which has even longtime cruise insiders buzzing. The economic instability has meant a wild ride for the cruise industry that has resulted in some jaw-dropping prices for consumers. “The pricing wasn’t as low as post-9/11, but it was pretty close,” says Tom Baker of CruiseCenter in Houston. Here are the trends to watch. Low fares. When the economy took a turn, cruise lines started lowering fares to lure travelers back, say the experts. “You can cruise for the cheapest prices I’ve ever seen in my life in many cases,” says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of the popular cruise Web
