<p>NEW YORK (AP) -- Cruise operators are positioned to weather the economic storm despite lagging consumer spending, said an analyst on Friday, who named Carnival Corp. as its top bet in the leisure sector.</p><p>&quot;We believe (Carnival) and (Royal Caribbean) are currently attractive even during soft economic times as each company has shown it can effectively navigate through soft economic periods,&quot; said Stifel Nicolaus &amp; Co. analyst Steven Wieczynski in a note to investors.</p><p>Like all travel-related companies, cruise operators are suffering from a sharp decline in consumer spending that has resulted in fewer advance bookings and an increase in cancellations.</p><p>Wieczynski expects consumer spending to remain lower in 2009, but predicted that consumers will continue to set aside money for vacation travel. He said cruises, which are offering low prices to lure guests, will be attractive to cash-strapped vacationers.</p><p>&quot;While economic uncertainty should persist, we believe demand should remain relatively stable as consumers search for high-value vacation alternatives,&quot; Wieczynski said.</p><p>Wieczynski said sharp year-over-year declines in fuel costs and the companies' cost cutting measures should help to offset revenue weakness.</p><p>&quot;While 2009 should present multiple challenges for the cruise operators, we believe the industry has properly positioned itself to weather this storm and emerge stronger once the overall economic environment improves,&quot; Wieczynski said.</p><p>Wieczynski named Carnival, the world's largest cruise line with 85 total ships, as his top pick within the cruise sector. The Miami-based company also operates hotels, motor coaches for sightseeing, domed rail cars, and day boats in Alaska and on the Yukon River.</p><p>The analyst expects Carnival to have enough liquidity next year to pay down debt and fund new ships. He noted that the company has also suspended its dividend in 2009, which he said &quot;adds dry powder against having to tap capital markets.&quot;</p><p>Carnival shares fell 55 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $23.58 in afternoon trading. The stock has traded between $14.85 and $45.22 during the past 52 weeks.</p><p>Royal Caribbean shares slipped 6 cents to $12.29.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>