Cruise prices to surpass pre-2001 levels

Ticket prices for cruise vacations should soon reach record highs that were set before the 2001 terrorist attacks and economic recession, expanding the cruise lines’ already fat profits, industry executives said Tuesday. Despite rising prices, cruise trips are still popular because they are usually cheaper than vacations on land, the officials said. The launching of far-bigger ships with new features like luxury spas and ice skating rinks mean consumers get more bang for their buck than on voyages 20 years ago, they said.