With the intent to cruise higher than it was in December 2019 and a steady increase in new vessels lined up every year
for the next five years, cruising may very well beat its pre-pandemic figures before the year is over, says a report
Cruising
Industry steers towards growth
Global cruise capacity is forecast to grow 19 per cent to more than 746,000 lower berths leading up to 2028, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said in its recent report ‘State Of The Cruise Industry 2023’.
The task of attracting four million new-to-cruise travellers now lies with the industry to meet the increase in global cruise capacity projected from 2023 to 2025. At least 14 new member ships will enter service during 2023 itself and projected to exceed 300 ocean-going vessels in 2024.
The increase in ships and itineraries is well-timed to meet strong demand for cruise travel, which is rebounding faster than international arrivals, says the report. Based on CLIA’s forecast, cruise tourism will likely reach 106 per cent of 2019 passenger volume in 2023. This compares to the UNWTO forecast that international tourist arrivals in 2023 will be 80 per cent to 95 per cent of 2019 levels.
Some 82 per cent of travellers with limited mobility across every generation say they view a cruise holiday as the only travel option that meets their needs. Similar results are showing up related to sensory and cognitive considerations – Chris Hartley
The intent to cruise is now higher than it was in December 2019, the report says. Some 85 per cent of travellers who have cruised before plan to cruise again (6 per cent higher than it was pre-pandemic).
The key trends CLIA is tracking for this year are:
Interested Millennials and Gen-X: Younger generations are the future of cruise with 88 per cent of Millennials and 86 per cent of Gen-X travellers who have cruised before say they plan to cruise again.
There is more interest than ever before among Millennials and Gen-X travellers to take their first cruise with 73 per cent of those who have never cruised indicating they will consider a cruise vacation. Millennials were most interested at 77 per cent, followed by Gen-X at 73 per cent.
Varying cruise lengths: To attract more first-time cruisers and meet the needs of repeat cruisers, cruise lines are offering both shorter and longer cruise itineraries. As a result, while the average cruise length continues to be around seven days, the range of options for cruise duration has expanded.
Increasing solo travellers: Solo cruise travel is on the rise. Cruise lines are responding by increasing the number of single cabins in new ships and retrofitting some of their existing ships to include additional cabins designed for those travelling alone. Another CLIA study reports that solo travellers book their cruises between 1 and 12 months prior to sailing.
Net-zero carbon cruising: There is an acceleration of environmental technologies and practices present on cruise ships as the industry pursues net-zero carbon cruising by 2050. This is shaping everything from how new ships and their engines are built to the fuel they use and ports with grids to provide shoreside power, and everything in between.
The commitment of cruise travellers and potential new-to-cruise travellers to the environment is on the rise with 50 per cent of current and potential cruise travellers saying they are more committed to making travel decisions based on environmental impacts than they were three years ago.
Cruise lines are increasingly offering environmental education and sustainable tour experiences for passengers. As a result, 84 per cent of cruise travellers are more aware of the responsible nature of cruise travel and the importance of the environment.
Accessibility is on the rise: The number of accessible cabins across the cruise line fleet is increasing. The increase is helping to meet the needs of cruise travellers who have limited mobility, or who are travelling with someone with limited mobility – the vast majority of whom across every generation (82 per cent) say they view a cruise holiday as the only travel option that meets their needs. Similar results are showing up related to sensory and cognitive considerations.
Travel advisors are key: Younger cruise travellers – from Gen Z to Millennials to Gen X – turn to travel advisors to book their cruises more so than any other generation (50 per cent more than Traditionalists and Baby Boomers).
Multi-generational cruisers: Cruise holidays appeal to those looking for multi-generational travel options. Today 73 percent of cruise travellers are sailing with family members that represent at least two generations.
Demand for expedition cruises: Traveller interest in booking an expedition cruise is higher than ever as travellers seek more immersive, responsible, bucket-list travel experiences. The trend is evident across all age groups as the number of passengers sailing on expedition cruises more than doubled from 2016 to 2022.
Search results for expedition cruise travel to Antarctica increased 51 per cent in 2022 compared to 2019. In addition, during 2022, 137,000 cruise travellers sailed on expedition ships. Though this number is lower than 2019 when 187,000 cruise travellers chose an expedition cruise, 2022 expedition passenger volume was nearly 70 per cent higher than it was in 2016.
Slow travel: Cruise lines are offering more immersive cruise travel opportunities to passengers. Cruise lines are scheduling longer stays, including overnight stays, in certain ports of call.
Stay longer: More cruise travellers plan to book longer cruises for their next holiday with 43 per cent saying they plan to book a longer cruise and 43 per cent saying they plan to book a similar-length cruise.
Who influences cruising decisions? Family and friends have the most influence on traveller decisions to book a cruise or not with 86 per cent of cruise travellers saying family and friends had either some influence or significant influence in their choice to cruise.
Trends notwithstanding, cruising support the travel industry before, during and after the journey ends. Every 24 cruisers worldwide supports one full-time equivalent job, says CLIA. Cruisers also benefit destinations and land-based businesses by spending an average of $750 per passenger in port cities over the course of a typical seven-day cruise. More than 6 in 10 people (63 per cent) who have taken a cruise say that they have returned to a destination that they first visited via cruise ship.
Cruise helms responsible tourism
Cruise lines are headed to decarbonisation with advancements in technology, infrastructure and operations, with multiple pilot projects and collaborative initiatives underway. New engines and propulsion technologies are actively being planned and tested for use on cruise ships, says CLIA’s latest ‘State Of The Cruise Industry 2023’.
Cruise lines are utilizing LNG now as a transitional fuel while they explore sustainable marine fuels and propulsion technologies. LNG is currently the cleanest fuel available at scale while cruise lines are exploring sustainable marine fuels, including advanced biofuels and other renewable energy solutions, such as synthetic fuels, methanol, hydrogen, fuel cells and batteries. LNG-fuelled vessels and infrastructure can use and deliver bioLNG and renewable synthetic LNG once these fuels become more broadly available.
The number of CLIA-member cruise ships with shoreside power capability will more than double by 2028, based on scheduled orders as of February 2022 order book. Every member ship being built through 2028, except expedition, is scheduled to be fitted with shoreside power capabilities, says the report.
Currently, 30 per cent of ships, representing 40 per cent of capacity, is plug-in ready; 30 per cent to be retrofitted. Around 30 cruise ports worldwide have at least one berth with onshore power with 20 additional ports funded or planned by 2025.