Younger cruise travellers are turning to travel advisers to book their cruises.
A survey by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), found that Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X are 50% more likely to seek the assistance of a travel agent than Traditionalists and Baby Boomers.
The CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, and its recently published report, ‘State of the Cruise Industry 2023’, highlights current trends in the cruising sector.
The CLIA to represents about 50 international cruise lines across the globe.
According to the report, the following cruise facts, figures and trends, tracked by CLIA, will greatly influence the future of the cruising industry:
- Younger generations are the new target market: Currently 86% of Gen-X (born between mid-60s and early 80s) and 88% of Millennials (born between early 80s and mid-90s) have been on at least one cruise and are planning to cruise again.
- Gen-X and Millennials dominate first-time visitor interests: Of the Gen-X and Millennials who had never cruised, 73% indicated they would consider a cruise vacation. Millennials showed the most interest in cruising at 77% followed by Gen-X at 73%.
- Cruise lines are offering both shorter and longer cruise itineraries: In order to attract new visitors and meet the needs of repeat visitors, cruise itinerary variations are expanding. However, itineraries are at a consistent average of seven days.
- Solo cruises are sexy: Cruise lines are increasing the number of single-cabins in new cruise ships and retrofitting some of their existing ships to include additional cabins designed for those travelling alone.
- Going green is in: Cruise Lines are using Liquefied Natural gas (LNG) as a transitional fuel while cruise lines explore sustainable marine fuels and propulsion technologies. 75% of the CLIA-member cruise-line fleets can use sustainable fuels once they become more broadly available, and 60% of the ships scheduled to debut between this year and 2028 will rely on LNG fuels for their primary propulsion.
- Commitments to environmentally sustainable practices are rising: 50% of current and potential cruise travellers say they are more committed to making travel decisions based on environmental impacts than they were three years ago.
- Cruises are offering more environmental education and sustainable experiences: The survey found that 84% of cruise travellers were more aware of the responsible nature of cruise travel and the importance of the environment.
- Cabins are increasingly accommodating accessibility: The number of accessible cabins on cruise ships is increasing, meeting the needs of travellers who have limited mobility or who are travelling with someone with limited mobility. Cruises offer one of the most accommodating travel options to differently abled people, according to the report.
- Cruise holidays are multigenerational environments: 73% of cruise travellers are sailing with family members that represent at least two generations.
- Cruising tourism has rebounded faster than international tourism arrivals, with CLIA’s cruise passenger volume forecast predicting that 2023’s passengers will be 103% of pre-pandemic volumes. The report compares this to UNWTO’s forecast that international tourist arrivals in 2023 will be 80% to 90% of 2019 levels.
- Interest in expedition cruising is growing: The number of passengers sailing on expedition cruises more than doubled between 2016 and 2022. In 2022, 137 000 cruise travellers sailed on expeditions ships, a 70% increase in passenger volume from 2016. Despite slower recovery in the expedition sector, these cruises are attracting interest for supplying bucket-list experiences.
- Cruise lines are offering more immersive cruise travel opportunities: Cruise lines are scheduling longer stays, including overnight stays, in certain ports of call.
- More cruise travellers plan to book longer cruises for their next holiday: 43% say they plan to book a longer cruise and 43% say they plan to book a similar length cruise.
- Family and friends have the most influence on travellers’ decisions to book a cruise: 86% of cruise travellers say family and friends had either some influence or significant influence in their decision to cruise.
