Miami Sees Increase in Caribbean Cruises

Carnival Cruise Lines announced that one of its ships that had been scheduled to be redeployed in Europe next May will remain in Miami, sailing to the Caribbean instead.

Another ship that had been scheduled to shift from Long Beach, California in April, to Miami and then later to Baltimore, will now make the move directly to Maryland four years earlier than planned, to launch Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program.

Carnival’s earnings for the third quarter of this year are showing a drop in net income, to $1.3 billion, as compared with $1.4 billion for the same quarter last year. Year-on-year revenue rose, however, with the cruise operator generating $4.8 billion during the quarter, as compared with $4.3 billion for the third quarter of last year.

With the debut next fall of Carnival’s newest and largest cruise ship, the Carnival Dream, the cruise operator is still planning to offer European itineraries in 2009.

Another major operator, Royal Caribbean Cruises, is not making itinerary or destination changes at this time, according to remarks made by the vice president for investor relations, Ian Bailey, during an interview.

He added that if the need does arise to make changes in plans, the cruise line is well enough established in both North America and Europe to make any accommodations necessary.

Royal Caribbean posted record earnings for the third quarter of 2008, with net income reaching nearly $412 million, as compared with $395 million for the same period last year.