Crystal Cruises' Numbers are Way Up

Crystal Cruises is reporting that luxury cruises are coming back with full force after bookings for the month of January were a whopping 205 percent greater than for the same month in 2009.

The numbers show that cruisers in 2010 want to go to Europe. Crystal Cruises operates more than 30 different itineraries in Northern, Western and Eastern Europe, including cruises to the Black Sea, British Isles, Greek Isles, Dalmatian Coast, Baltic, French and Italian Rivieras, North Cape and Canary Islands.

Crystal cruises is also expecting its Hawaii itinerary to sell out soon.

Its Canada/New England sales are 30 percent ahead of last year at this time. In addition, one of the line's two Australia/New Zealand Cruises is completely full.

Why the sudden surge? Bill Smith, Crystal Cruises' senior vice president, sales & marketing attributes the increase to cabin fever. "I'd like to think it was Crystal's 20th anniversary that is bringing everyone out this year, but it's probably our guests' pent up demand to celebrate their own anniversaries, birthdays, family getaways, reunions, special interest trips and the emotional enrichment of travel that is nearer and dearer to their vacation hearts," he says.

Visit www.crystalcruises.com.