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Travel back on cruise control as industry rebounds from BԪַfloating petri dishBԪַ rep

Cruises proving to be popular again for CanadiansBԪַ March break travel
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Cruises are surging back to popularity among Canadians this spring break, as more travellers look to try a mode of tourism they may have avoided since the COVID-19 pandemic. People use umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain as the Princess Cruises cruise ship Majestic Princess is seen docked at port, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Cruises are surging back to popularity among Canadians this March break, as more travellers look to try a buoyant mode of tourism they may have avoided since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts say Caribbean cruises are drawing greater numbers of northerners to Miami, Tampa Bay and other ports of call thanks to their sun-soaked itineraries and affordable fares in the face of soaring hotel prices.

BԪַThe big change for this March compared to March 2023 is really the recovery of the cruise industry,BԪַ said Richard Vanderlubbe, who heads Hamilton-based travel agency Tripcentral.ca.

His company has seen more than double the tally of cruise bookings for this month versus a year earlier.

Cruise ships can appeal to all age groups and offer vast playgrounds for travellers ranging from tots and teenagers to retirees, he said.

BԪַWhere I find itBԪַs a real sweet spot for people is for families, for children, particularly teens,BԪַ he said, pointing to the wide array of activities and spaces to explore, with the biggest ships boasting a capacity of more than 7,000 passengers.

BԪַIt can have a little bit of sticker shock,BԪַ Vanderlubbe added. BԪַBut it includes meals and includes entertainment BԪַ ItBԪַs a good value.BԪַ

Air travel to the south in general is also on the rise this month, with the number of flights to Florida from Canada up by a quarter BԪַ largely due to Porter Airlines and Flair Airlines BԪַ according to aviation data firm Cirium.

TorontoBԪַs Pearson airport expects 140,000 passengers per day over March break, which kicks off this weekend in Ontario, or 10 per cent more than a year earlier. The top destinations abroad by passenger load are Cancun in Mexico, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and, in Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Miami.

Marty Firestone, president of insurance firm Travel Secure Inc., said health-related wariness of cruise travel has largely faded, with the urge to escape even a mild Canadian winter overtaking that of saving money by staying home.

BԪַEveryoneBԪַs gone back to cruising. There appear to be short memories with respect to BԪַfloating petri dishes,BԪַBԪַ he said.

BԪַTheyBԪַre packed. Your best bargain BԪַ now is cruising.BԪַ

Even as concerns about the rising cost of living catch up with Canadians, many continue to book trips.

Flight searches for March getaways to Mexico, the Caribbean, California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida shot up between 12 per cent and 37 per cent compared to the previous year, according to travel search site Kayak. A year-over-year drop in fares of 11 per cent to 15 per cent BԪַ except for Las Vegas, which stayed fairly flat BԪַ may have helped stir up interest.

BԪַThey may go for a shorter time, they may go to a cheaper destination, they may look for bargains. But the pattern has been that they still go,BԪַ said Jill Wykes, editor of Snowbird Advisor, an online resource for migratory Canadians.

BԪַThe one advantage if youBԪַve got grandparents who have a place down south is that all youBԪַve got to book is your flights and maybe a car rental.BԪַ

The rush to travel by plane domestically has levelled off, however, even with the relatively low price of busy routes such as Toronto-Vancouver.

Large airlines scheduled virtually the same number of domestic flights this month as in March 2023, according to Cirium. Carriers have mainly aimed their network expansions beyond CanadaBԪַs borders over the past year, after the initial post-pandemic push within the country in 2022.

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