Cruise Lines International Association reported that the demand for cruise holidays has soared by 68% in the past ten years, with 22.04 million people around the world enjoying a cruise holiday in 2014. Global cruise travel grew by 3.4% between 2013 and 2014, and it wouldn’t be surprising that this figure will increase next year. A new research finds out cruise travel trends for 2016.
According to the findings of leading cruise retailer Cruise118.com, the number of people planning a solo holiday is set to soar in 2016.
The findings also show that the number of passengers under the age of 18 who are set to embark on a cruise holiday in 2016 will surpass the 10% mark – up from just 7% in 2015.
In 2015, only a quarter of cruisers were under the age of 50. This figure is set to rise to one-third next year.
James Cole, Managing Director at Cruise118.com, said that people’s perceptions of cruise holidays are rapidly changing.
“Traditionally, many have thought that cruise holidays are the sole preserve of the older traveller, but our new data shows that this is not the case,” he commented.
“It’s intriguing to see so many solo cruisers booking trips for 2016. While cruise holidays are still popular among families (our data also highlighted an upturn in family bookings for 2016), it’s refreshing to know that more single travellers are attracted to this kind of trip. With so many destinations included in the itinerary, people are recognising that cruise holidays are the perfect way to sample a range of different cultures in a relatively short space of time.”
Cruise118.com’s 2016 booking data also unearthed a number of other interesting travel trends. The launch of Carnival’s new ship, Carnival Vista, has prompted an 886% increase in bookings for Carnival Cruise Lines in 2016.
There’s a lot of excitement about Carnival Cruise Lines returning to Europe for the first time in three years with a brand new ship. Setting sail for the first time on May 1st, a trip on Carnival Vista is perfect for those who want to explore different destinations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean’s ‘Independence of the Seas’ will be the most popular ship of 2016, as she makes her return to the UK having been based in the Caribbean for the past two years.
James added: “Something else we’ve noticed is that people seem to be booking longer trips for next year. Previously, the majority of holidaymakers opted for a seven-day cruise, whereas next year it appears that 14-day trips are more popular.
“One overarching theme that runs through all of our data is that British holidaymakers are clearly becoming more adventurous. There’s a growing desire to explore far-flung destinations, and people are setting aside more time to soak up as many exotic locations as they can.”
To help cruisers prepare for their 2016 holidays, Cruise118.com has created a host of useful resources, which answer all of the questions that holidaymakers commonly ask us. Particularly handy for first-time cruisers, you can access this content here.
