An anaemic British cruise market appears to be unable to benefit from the country’s strong economy and to fall even further behind Germany due to lack of investment and exodus of ships.

The British market is poised to lose two high profile ships next year while there are no newbuildings on order to specially target it, while a total of eight new ships are on order to serve the German market.

As reported earlier, Royal Caribbean International will not bring back Anthem of the Seas that was completed in April next year following the ship’s initial season from Southampton. It will be replaced by the 2008 built Independence of the Seas that has served the British market earlier – initially year-round, but lately for just part of the year.

Princess Cruises will not bring back the Royal Princess that has sailed from the same port for the past two season – again, an older and smaller vessel will take its place.

Furthermore, Holland America Line will not have a ship in the UK in 2016 after Ryndam that has served from there for many years will be transferred to P&O Cruises Australia. Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Costa Crociere have all ceased to base ships in British ports earlier, although all lines continue to sell fly cruises in the country.

The only addition to the British market known at the moment involves Thomson Cruises, which  is due to receive Royal Caribbean International’s 1996 built Splendour of the Seas next year to replace the 1982 built Island Escape, which will be withdrawn from service with the company.

In 2014, the British source market contracted by 4.8% to 1.64 million passengers, while the German market expanded by 5% to 1.77 million and overtook Britain as the world’s second largest source market, according to Cruise Line’s International Association (CLIA) figures. Cruise line executives and CLIA have said the contraction of the British market was due to reduced capacity on the said market.

However, they have not elaborated on why the supply side has been reduced in Britain. Usually, the yield that ships are expected to obtain is a significant factor in allotment of capacity.

The loss of momentum of the industry in Britain becomes even more striking when one looks at the performance of the two economies. Gross domestic product (GDP) in the UK grew by 3.2% in 2014, twice the 1.6% growth rate of Germany.