Boat U.S. - January 2009 - (Page 13)

Cruise Costs Dropping The equivalent of the entire population of Chicago and Houston combined put to sea in 2007 on oceancruise ships sailing from Florida ports, according to the Cruise Line International Association. And while other business sectors may have contracted during that year, the North American cruise industry grew by seven percent, generating $38 billion in economic output. A good chunk of that money went to fuel surcharges levied by the cruise lines on individual passengers’ tickets. But as the price of oil declined at the end of last year, cruise lines began cutting back, and even dropping, the surcharges to keep people moving up the gangplanks, according to BoatU.S. Travel and Yacht Charters. “Cruise passengers are getting the benefit of a down-trend,” said Brad Sulima, manager of this service program for BoatU.S. members. “Since October last year, the world’s three largest cruise lines have eliminated the fuel surcharge for reservations made after Nov. 10, 2008, and we expect others to join the trend,” Sulima said. “The extra tariffs added about $10 per person per day to each ticket. “Worldwide there are now about 210 cruise ships in operation. More ships mean more berths to fill so a lot of cruise lines are offering deep discounts this winter.” Sulima added that this year’s average price for a seven-day Caribbean cruise had declined eight percent over last year. For more information about the cruise ship industry, or to book one of those newly surcharge-free cruises, call BoatU.S. Travel and Yacht Charters at 800-477-4427. — RL They’re Preserving Our Water Access Five community projects in the Great Lakes, North Carolina and Florida, plus a state legislator, have won 2008 BoatU.S. Recreational Boating Access Awards. Two projects added new and much-needed boatlaunching facilities in their communities — on Lake Erie in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, and Lake Superior, near Duluth, Minnesota. In Sheffield Lake, city leaders worked for more than five years to bring together land owners and the state to redevelop a disused waterfront parcel into a double-lane, free launching area with adequate parking and courtesy docks that will ultimately lead to a small-craft harbor with permanent dockage. In Minnesota, for 16 years, local boaters worked with Duluth city government and the state Department of Natural Resources to develop an access facility on Lake Superior. The launching area and harbor of refuge nine miles from Duluth Harbor accommodates 54 tow vehicles/trailers. The breakwaters built on this otherwise open shore provide three acres of sheltered water; solar panels provide electrical power. In North Carolina, the award recognized officials of Morehead City for a long-range water-access plan that’s led over the past 10 years to several new access sites for small boats, plus a 10-slip transient facility for cruising boats that opened last year. The plan will culminate with a new launching area under development. When finished, it will have eight Continued BoatU.S. Magazine January 2009 phoTo courTesy of cruiseTAlk.orG

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - January 2009

BoatU.S. - January 2009 Contents At The Helm Reader Forum BoatU.S. Reports Brokerage Boats Invasion Of The Access Snatchers Don’t Move A Mussel Tech Connection BoatsGearWheels A Defect And Its Aftermath Obama Onboard? Fast-Water Fly-Fishing How I Got That Shot A Loop Through The Heartland Why Boats Sink At The Dock Install Your Own Trim Tabs BoatU.S. Exchange At Your Service/Mbr. Benefits

Boat U.S. - January 2009

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