Luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises reports that soaring sales for its 2010 cruises continued through the end of January. Bookings for the month were 205% greater than for the same month in 2009. Additionally, to date, new-to-Crystal guests booked for 2010 are 89% of totals for all of 2009.
The update comes shortly after announcing record bookings for its week ending January 11 and its highest January sales in more than five years for same year bookings.
Where do luxury travelers want to go in 2010?
- Crystal's European cruises are generating some of the strongest sales farthest out. Understandable, since the line has more than 30 different itineraries in Northern, Western and Eastern Europe, including cruises to the Black Sea, British Isles, Greek Isles, Dalmatian Coast, Baltic, French and Italian Rivieras, North Cape and Canary Islands in its cruise collection.
- Crystal Symphony's new holiday cruise in Hawaii is expected to sell out soon.
- Crystal's fall Canada/New England season is booking at impressive 2007 and 2008 levels and approximately 30% ahead of last year at this time. Many of Crystal's huge base of Crystal Society members (repeat guests) have added one of the new seven-day fall Mexican Riviera cruises to their travel plans because they are only seven days and cruise roundtrip from Los Angeles.
- While the booking window is increasing (travelers booking farther out), there continues to be substantial close-in reservations - even for very exotic two-week cruises. Of the line's two Australia/New Zealand cruises, one is completely full, while the second is continuing to book closer in.
