The "Commander Schettino" effect is over (which had led to a drop in prices but in any case never to a drop in bookings), cruise prices will rise again in 2013. Following the tragedy of Giglio last January 13, but also from the previous year, costs had in fact dropped by 15-20%: but today the main companies operating in Italy, gathered in Genoa on the occasion of the Italian Cruise Day have announced the turnaround.
Costa Cruises, MSC, Royal Caribbean, all agree in supporting a return to higher prices. ”In the last two years, in order to maintain demand, companies have been forced to lower prices beyond the budgeted threshold – explained the general manager of Costa Cruises, Gianni Onorato -. I believe we all need to return to prices in line with the value of the product offered”. The price increase” is the only way to continue generating the economic conditions necessary to resume a shipbuilding plan, and rekindle the economic flywheel that this industry creates. For 2013 – added the managing director of Costa Cruises – we are very confident because in 2012, despite the crisis and well-known events, we maintained our market share, and in Italy 2 out of 3 cruise passengers still choose Costa".
The position of Domenico Pellegrino, general manager of Msc: ”the economic situation has brought prices below market values and companies like ours have managed to maintain growth volumes unchanged by sacrificing profitability. The operation is not sustainable in the medium term”. Even Gianni Rotondo, general manager of Royal Caribbean, agrees: “a little pressure on prices is acceptable in the light of the crisis. For us, the year ends very well because we are new in Italy and in a phase of development and this has rewarded us. We have huge growth margins both in terms of passengers and turnover. In 2013 we will make further investments to open a port of embarkation in Naples and bring our Italian ports to five".
