The cruise industry has experienced a significant milestone with UK and Irish travellers.
- Over one million UK and Irish passengers embarked on cruises in early 2024.
- This represents a notable 10% increase compared to the previous year, 2023.
- The Cruise Lines International Association (Clia) highlights these growing trends.
- Demographic shifts and cruise preferences are reshaping the market.
The recent findings from the Cruise Lines International Association (Clia) reveal that more than one million travellers from the UK and Ireland took to the seas in the first six months of 2024. This marked the first time such figures have surpassed the one million mark during this period, illustrating a 10% rise from last year. In 2023, the UK saw 2.3 million passengers, indicating a 37% growth on the previous year and a 14.5% increase compared to 2019, pre-pandemic.
Speaking at the Advantage Latitude conference, Adele Fitzpatrick-Foster, Clia’s senior events and trade manager, noted a significant 21% year-on-year increase in UK cruise passengers for the first quarter of 2024. She emphasized that cruises are currently a trending topic, with passenger growth typically ranging between 3.5% to 5% annually. This growth is sustained through the introduction of new ships.
The global fleet is expanding, with 350 ships anticipated by the end of 2024. These ships are categorised into large vessels with over 3,000 passengers, mid-sized ones accommodating 1,000 to 3,000, and smaller ships holding fewer than 1,000 passengers. Additionally, 41 new ships are expected by 2028, offering 140,000 sales opportunities for travel agents.
A demographic shift is observed with a decrease in the average age of UK cruise passengers to 55. This trend is driven by cruise lines attracting younger adults and the increasing popularity of multigenerational travel, as highlighted by Fitzpatrick-Foster. Families now comprise a significant portion of cruise passengers, with 57% travelling in groups of three or more.
Furthermore, there is a growing trend for passengers to extend their journeys with pre- and post-cruise stays. Currently, 65% of passengers opt for a resort stay before their cruise, and 52% continue their travel afterwards, presenting additional opportunities for the cruise industry to cater to diverse travel preferences.
With the cruise industry’s evolving landscape, UK and Irish travellers are leading the charge in redefining maritime travel experiences.
