Niche cruise company All Leisure Group has reported increased forward bookings across its range of brands.
The parent company of Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery, Hebridean Island Cruises and Discover Egypt said in a trading statement that it expected pre-tax profit for the year ending October 31 to come in at around £3.4 million after taking in the impact of the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud disruption earlier in the year.
But All Leisure warned that the weak value of sterling, 22% weaker in both dollar and euro terms compared with the time of the group’s IPO three years ago, plus rising costs such as fuel and Air Passenger Duty, are squeezing margins.
“Booking levels for both Winter 2010/11 and summer 2011 are showing year-on-year improvements with modest improvements in like-for-like selling prices,” the company said.
Overall winter 2010/11 cruising capacity is 73% sold versus 66% this time last year while summer 2011 is 37% sold versus 29% this time last year.
A new Swan Hellenic Far East winter programme was pinpointed as selling particularly well.
Voyages of Discovery’s programme for next year is 39% sold versus 31% this time last year, Swan Hellenic is 31% sold against 27% and Hebridean is 51% sold versus 28%.
A small Swan European river programme for next summer is 54% sold versus 49% this time last year.
Forward bookings for Discover Egypt, which operates Nile cruises, are 62% up in passenger numbers year on year and 50% up in revenue terms over the same period. The growth is being driven by charter-based rather than more expensive bespoke two-centre holidays, according to the company.
Of the forward bookings taken at the end of October 2010, 93% by value were for the forthcoming winter season against 92% this time last year.