The American dollar's taking a beating and sub-prime mortgage woes have investors nervous, but the cruise market isn't showing any signs of springing a leak. (Comstock)

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The American dollar's taking a beating and sub-prime mortgage woes have investors nervous, but the cruise market isn't showing any signs of springing a leak.

Twelve million passengers took cruise vacations worldwide in 2006, according to a study by the U.S.-based Cruise Lines International Association. Direct spending related to the cruise industry did drop slightly, but still managed a 9% increase compared with 10% in 2005.

The study showed that seven ships were added last year, and about 30 more are slated to be built by the end of 2011 as cruise lines anticipate there will be enough demand to fill some 80,000 new berths.

New York and Hawaii were among the fastest-growing embarkation points in the United States.

While the Caribbean and Mexico are still popular, I hear favourable reports from cruisers who have been to the Mediterranean and the Baltic. There, truly world-class attractions in such cities as Florence and St. Petersburg can quickly dispel memories of blocks of T-shirt shops and leech-like vendors in some of the over-visited islands.

LUXURIOUS

European river cruises are also enjoying success. Older boats are being renovated and new, more luxurious ones are being flaunted.

Austria's Scenic Tours, for example, will launch two boats next June and a third in 2009. More than 80% of the staterooms will have private balconies.

Fourteen-night itineraries will take passengers between Amsterdam and Budapest, and cruise-tour options will include stopovers in London, Paris and Prague. All day trips are included in the price and there'll be a no-tipping policy. Phone 1-866-689-8611 for details. A website for Canadian travellers is promised later this month.

The cruise industry still lags woefully behind in dealing with smoking, but there are encouraging signs. In January, Royal Caribbean International is designating all staterooms and one lounge on each ship in its fleet as non-smoking areas. The new policy will affect 18 of the line's 21 ships initially, with Legend of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas following suit next summer.

More leisure travel news

- Emirates Airline begins flying non-stop, three times a week, between Toronto and Dubai Oct. 29. It will take just over 13 hours, the return journey 14 hours and 20 minutes.

- Great Masters of Cuban Art 1800 to 1958, a powerful exhibit of pre-revolution paintings, will be on display from Dec. 7 to April 27, 2008, at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach.

- Rocky Mountaineer Vacations estimates that by next spring, one million people will have taken their two-day train trip. To celebrate, guests who book a minimum five-night vacation package by Jan. 15 will receive up to $800 per couple in added value. The bonus can be applied toward trip enhancements such as air fare, limousine sightseeing tours, meals or extra hotel nights. Call 1-800-665-7245 or see rockymountaineer.com.

- Citing problems in the U.S. auto industry, British Airways is ending its daily service between Detroit Metropolitan Airport and London Heathrow Airport on March 30 after 50 years of flying the route.

- Of particular interest to scuba divers is news that Delta Air Lines will launch a non-stop flight every Saturday from Atlanta to the Caribbean island of Bonaire on Feb. 9. Delta's flight will leave Atlanta at 10 a.m. and arrive in Bonaire at 3:10 p.m. It will depart Bonaire at 4:15 p.m., arriving in Atlanta at 7:55 p.m.