Introducing Cruise 2009

Cruise lines roll out next year's itineraries as booking windows widen

It's like those ubiquitous car commercials that invariably intrude on your evening TV viewing. "All 2008s must go; come check out our hot new 2009 makes and models already in!" the voice shouts at you, promising unbelievable deals and special APR financing or something like that. Customarily, I then ask myself, "Jeez, the 2008s have to go that soon? It's only March!"

The cruise industry, thankfully, doesn't employ the same abrasiveness to sell cruises; they do, however, like to get their future itineraries out to market as soon as possible. This is why many 2009 itineraries have already been unveiled and made ready to book and— as referenced above—it's only March 2008.

Susan Reder, president of Woodland, CA-based Altour Classic Cruise & Travel, says the cruise lines are "definitely" getting their 2009 inventory out to market as soon as possible. "Our clients are already booking 2009," Reder notes. She cites Oceania as one cruise line whose 2009 is already looking bright. "Oceania is quite remarkable," she says of the deluxe cruise operator. "We received their 2009 European itineraries last week and blocked our group space. Clients are already going crazy trying to book so that the ship or the category they want is not sold out." 

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