Last week Royal Caribbean told us about new features we can expect aboard the cruise line’s 220,000-ton Oasis of the Seas, first in the new Genesis class ships.   The ship will carry 6,300 passengers (maximum capacity) and boast the first ampitheater at sea, zip-lines, themed “neighborhoods (Central Park & Boardwalk, more to be announced), two deck high loft cabins and cabins facing the interior of the ship.  Oasis will home port in Ft. Lauderdale and sail on one-week itineraries commencing Dec. 12, 2009.

My colleague Gene Sloan who writes the Cruise Loginterviewed RCI’sCEO and President who said they expect passengers to pay more for a cruise aboard the next largest ship in the world with unique features.   Since it cost Royal Caribbean $1 billion to build the ship, I’m sure they’re praying cruisers will fork up more money to cruise on this behemoth.   At one time I’d agree with Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain that sure, I’ll pay more.  However, as we know, times have changed.

In fact, the skyrocketing cost of fuel means we’ll all be paying more to cruise or even stay home. 

Supposing the economy has recovered in December, 2009, there’s still a problem:  the airline industry.  Few people realize that the cruise industry is so dependent on the airlines.  Since fuel skyrocked into the stratosphere, many of the major airlines are flirting with bankruptcy.  Not only have airfares surged but, as a cost-saving measure, airlines are cutting service to many tourist destinations.  In fact, Ft. Lauderdale will loose 10% of the service. 

Can you imagine the headache of trying to figure out how you’ll fly thousands of additional people into Fort Lauderdale every Saturday? 

In 2008 traffic is down in the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska, in large part because air travel is so chaotic and expensive.  Perhaps oil will decrease in price, but many, many experts advise us to get used to higher prices.  What has increased is ”homeland cruising”, cruising from a port is close to home to avoid flying.

I’d love to take Oasis of the Seas and there was a time when getting on a plane and flying from New York to Florida to take a ship was a no-brainer.  But today, when airfares have tripled and there’s a good chance my flight will be canceled or delayed, I have to say no, I can’t afford to take Oasis of the Seas.

But the good news is there are over a dozen ships sailing from the three ports of New York (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bayonne, NJ) and three cruise lines sailing year-round from New York.  So I’ll probably be sticking close to home for a while.

Have rising fares impacted your vacation plans?  Would you pay more to cruise on a new ship?