NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 1996 -- Only a few weeks into 1996, and already business is sailing in for the cruise industry, according to an informal survey conducted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Historically known as "wave week" in the industry, officials look at the booking activity during the first two trial weeks after the New Year holiday as a forecaster of activity for the coming year.

"1996 is off to a brisk start, and from all indications, the trend will continue," says James G. Godsman, president of CLIA, the marketing association for the North American cruise industry.

"Consumers are showing more confidence in the economy," Godsman continues, "and Mother Nature's recent visits -- in the eastern U.S. especially -- certainly didn't hurt."

Among the record-setting performances is that of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, whose reservation staff broke two company records on Jan. 15, when it handled nearly 25,000 phone calls, and from those calls, took more than 18,000 reservations. Celebrity Cruises recorded a 50 percent increase in passenger bookings during this year's wave week period, compared to last. A spokesperson credits the increase partly to the introduction of the line's newest ship, Century.

Cunard Line Ltd. also experienced heavy activity for the week of Jan. 15-22, with bookings up 30 percent over the year before. That the increase applies to all of the line's eight ships, the spokesperson said, indicates growth and resilience among luxury ships.

Another high performer is Norwegian Cruise Line, with a record 15,667 bookings on Jan. 16. That's 25 percent more than the same day last year.

Over at Carnival Cruise Lines, officials noticed a daily increase in the number of calls during the week beginning Feb. 8. By week's end, the line had received 15 percent more bookings than during the same week the year before. And for January, a 15 percent increase in activity over January 1995 is projected.

Meanwhile, another CLIA member, Holland America Line, broke a record on Tuesday, Jan. 16, when it took over 14,000 calls, the highest in its history. Bookings for the week of Jan. 15-19 were equally strong -- 40 percent higher than the same week the year before -- while phone volume was 25 percent greater, with more than 70,000 calls at the line's reservation center.

A spokesperson for Silversea Cruises reports a 45 percent increase in wave week bookings over last year, and didn't expect the bookings to crest for another two weeks.

Likewise, Princess Cruises reports a 35 percent increase in revenue for wave week and an 18 percent increase in passengers, compared to 1995.

Another CLIA-member cruise line, Costa Cruise Lines, reports that overall bookings for the first three weeks of January are very strong, and better than last year.

And, at American Hawaii Cruises, officials are optimistic that wave week bookings will account for 10 percent of the line's business for the year. The line considers the wave week period as the three weeks beginning Jan. 8, and reports a 50 percent increase in bookings over last year.

CLIA-affiliated travel agencies are feeling the effects of wave week as well. A receptionist at a travel agency in Buffalo, N.Y., when asked if "wave week" had meant more business, laughed and said, "That's exactly why you can't speak with anyone right now. Our phones are ringing off the hook, and people keep walking in. It's unbelievable."

The Manager at another travel agency, this one in Dunellen, N.J., said she was meeting with a customer, and could we "please call back." Maybe, just maybe, she'd have time to talk.