Real estate slumps, high gasoline prices and cost of living increases have taken a chunk out of cruise line's bottom-line. The cruise industry pumps millions of dollars into the Central Florida economy, and the vacation specialists are preparing for a slowdown. Good news for the folks looking for a cruise bargain. Most of Florida's cruise tours are Caribbean bound and rely of the largest group of America's population. And now industry leaders are beginning to wonder if the 78 million boomers are getting tired of the same old destinations.
Pictured here are two of Port Canaveral's super-sized ships. The Disney's Magic stretches out for almost 1,000 feet with 877 staterooms, spread over a dozen decks. Major cruise lines offer three, four and seven day cruises. Single day cruises are also popular at Florida's port. The cruise liners also share harbor space at the port area with pleasure craft, shipping vessels, Navy submarines, oil barges and gasoline tankers.