Top Cruise Trends for 2024 and Beyond from Virtuoso

Virtuoso®, the international chief in luxurious and experiential journey, has launched survey findings that provide a glimpse into the preferences of the world’s savviest cruisers. Drawing on the experience of greater than 300 skilled journey advisors who specialize in cruising, Virtuoso discovered that 58 p.c consider it’s going to emerge because the strongest tourism sector in 2024-2025, surpassing land-only experiences. To additional illustrate the purpose, Virtuoso’s 18-to-24-month forward-looking cruise bookings in extra of $50,000 have elevated greater than one hundred pc in comparison with the identical timeframe final yr. Among the many cruise classes with the best anticipated bookings, Premium Ocean takes the lead at 34 p.c, adopted by Luxurious Ocean at 27 p.c, River at 22 p.c and Expedition at 15 p.c.

A New Wave of First-Time Cruisers:

The latest growth in cruise innovation signifies there’s a ship and expertise for nearly everybody. Sixty p.c of surveyed advisors have noticed a rise in first-time cruisers. In accordance with a latest survey by Cruise Traces Worldwide Affiliation (CLIA), 27 p.c of cruisers over the previous two years are new to cruising, a rise of 12 p.c over earlier years. Moreover, 62 p.c of Virtuoso advisors have noticed that first-time cruisers typically flip to them for steerage in planning and reserving their sailings, emphasizing the worth of journey advisors’ unparalleled information to the uninitiated and their important position in crafting unforgettable journeys.

Elevated Ranges of Luxurious 

Welcoming the surge of first-time cruisers, the business is abuzz with contemporary choices tailor-made for many who favor unique onboard experiences with a contact of favor and class. Scheduled to embark in January 2026, 4 Seasons Yachts guarantees a voyage of discovery via the world’s most charming locations, complemented by the famend 4 Seasons customary of excellence. In the meantime, the eagerly awaited Ilma, the most recent luxurious superyacht from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment, is present process closing preparations for its inaugural voyage from Monte Carlo to Rome this September. With its first vessel already cruising and the second scheduled to set sail in August 2024, Explora Journeys’ floating resorts redefine luxurious at sea with unrivalled house and privateness.

Shifting Demographics

Fifty-nine p.c of advisors have observed a demographic transformation underway within the cruise business. Of this group,36 p.c attribute the shift to a rise in bookings from Millennials and Gen Z. Supporting this development, CLIA’s analysis signifies a promising future for cruising among the many youthful demographic, with 81 p.c of Millennials and 74 p.c of Gen Z who’ve just lately cruised expressing intentions to cruise once more. Twenty-seven p.c of Virtuoso advisors attribute the altering panorama to an growing choice amongst households for cruising, whereas an equal share (27 p.c) have noticed an increase in feminine solo cruisers.

Dynamic and Various:

Advisors report their shoppers’ cruise itineraries mirror a wide range of motivations, starting from journey and exploration to cultural immersion and private fulfilment. The standard waters of Alaska and the Caribbean and stay well-liked, whereas there’s rising curiosity in additional distant expedition cruises to locations like Antarctica, Iceland, the Galapagos Islands and even the North Pole. Japan and West Africa are attracting cruisers searching for immersive cultural experiences. Private passions additionally play a job in shaping journey decisions, corresponding to Australia’s Kimberley area for pictures lovers and Eire for travellers trying to reconnect with their ancestral heritage. Moreover, the introduction of recent seasonality for cruise itineraries, corresponding to winter Mediterranean sailings, is a savvy technique to discover well-liked locations with out the crowds, typically at a greater worth.

Cruising Into 2025:

• Vacation spot immersion with extra nights in port or overnights on land
• Cruising to cold-weather climates (Alaska, Antarctica, the Arctic)
• Solo cruising
• New seasonality for itineraries
• Elevated demand and luxurious choices for multigenerational cruising

“That is an thrilling and transformative time within the cruise business,” mentioned Melissa Araya, vice chairman, cruise at Virtuoso. “Cruise has a few of the most loyal, repeat passengers, after which we even have these newcomers who’re embracing cruising with such enthusiasm. With new traces and new vessels coming into the market, there are such a lot of extra choices and such all kinds of itineraries to select from. Virtuoso advisors perceive their shoppers on a deeper stage, and they’re masters at matching the consumer to the best sort of cruise. Even those that by no means thought of cruising earlier than can accomplish that with confidence, venturing into new territory with the consolation of a trusted ally by their facet.”

Virtuoso’s cruise portfolio contains ocean, river, yacht, and expedition companions providing 1000’s of itineraries to international ports of name. The Virtuoso Voyages program affords exclusives on greater than 400 choose cruises yearly throughout 13 separate cruise traces, together with a devoted onboard host and selection of an extra profit ranging in worth from $500 per couple to a number of thousand {dollars}, relying on the crusing.