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| Photo by Susan J. Young |
UBS Warburg which monitors cruise pricing via its UBS Cruise Tracker, said cruise fares showed another uptick last week. Ticket prices since the beginning of the year have been most positive for Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean International, according to the tracker.
“Our data indicates Costa could be flattish since the start of the year though pricing may not yet reflect volume changes since Concordia,” said Robin Farley, UBS Warburg’s cruise industry analyst, in a note to investors.
She added that the Carnival Cruise Line brand is down slightly this week, though Carnival’s pricing is still flattish since the start of the year. The slight upticks from some brands are encouraging, she said in a note to investors.
Pricing in Alaska and the Caribbean remains strong. “Our price survey indicates that for the 2012 cruising season, cruise prices in the Caribbean have been up moderately for last month, with another uptick last week,” Farley's note said. “Alaska is also moderately up since start of year, with an uptick last week.
The investment firm said, "Mediterranean pricing appears unchanged since November’s downward pricing adjustment.” UBS Warburg is still projecting positive cruise industry yields for 2012.