European Cruise Market “This Decade’s El Dorado”

In 2010, the European cruise industry generated a record €35.2 billion in economic activity – 5.5 million Europeans booked cruises, 10% up on 2009, and Europe now accounts for 30% of all cruise travellers worldwide. Earlier this year, at the Cruise Shipping Miami conference, fast-growing Europe was cited by Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of the European Cruise Council and of Silversea Cruises, as “this decade’s El Dorado”.

The conference agenda for Seatrade Europe, the biennial meeting place and trade platform of the European cruise industry to be held from 27th-29th September 2011 at Hamburg Messe, has just been announced.

Europe’s cruise and river cruise industries, European rules, newbuilds, onboard hotel innovations, deployment, financing, cruise port development, and ship operations are all topics to be examined.

Three new elements this year will be a Supplier Workshop, River Cruise Day and a dedicated Newcomers’ Area on the exhibition floor.