P&O
PRINCESS Cruises reported a drop in bookings of 25% immediately after the
September 11 attacks.
Princess’
third quarter financial results revealed that forward bookings are now back to
the level they were last year and profits increased by 5% compared to the same
period last year.
Executive
vice-president corporate development Gwyn Hughes said the increase in profit,
from £150 million in 2000 to £163 million in 2001, was from bookings made
before September 11.
He
said: “People have generally not cancelled and we are now seeing bookings
come back. We have an advantage with being able to move ships to where the
market wants them.”
He
said that in the UK there has been a drop in winter bookings, but summer
bookings are holding up.
He
said the critical period will be in January when people start booking for the winter
and 2003.
“We have no idea what to expect next year, it is
too early to estimate but we hope consumer advertising campaigns will secure
more bookings,” Hughes added.