Cruise liners discounts trigger higher bookings

A number of US companies said heavy discounting by cruise liners has led to a surge in bookings.



Princess Cruises said its biggest booking day ever was on January 12, with volume up 17 percent over the previous day.



Expedia Cruise Ship Centers also recorded an 18 percent increase in cruise sales in 2008, and bookings made this year are already ahead of last January by 14 percent.



Travel agents have said the Caribbean, including Eastern Mexico, is expected to get the most bookings this year, followed by Alaska and the Mediterranean and Europe.