PRINCESS Cruises has increased the number of days passengers spent on board from 4.7m in 1998 to nearly 5.7m last year.
The company also maintained yields, despite an 18% rise in ship capacity.
Princess will increase capacity by 12% this year. It claims forward bookings and yields for the first half of 2000 are in line with last year’s.
Meanwhile, sister company P&O Cruises saw a drop in the number of days passengers spent on board from 1.5m in 1998 to 1.4m last year. Nevertheless, yields and occupancy were ahead of 1998’s figures.
P&O is expecting a 37% rise in ship capacity in 2000, with the launch of Aurora this May. It claims bookings and yields are similar to last year’s.
Aurora was successfully floated out of dry dock on January 8.
The 1,874-passenger ship is due to be named by the Princess Royal in Southampton on April 27 and will undertake its maiden voyage on May 1. The company plans to invite agents to the inaugural celebrations.