Almost three quarters (73%) of cruise passengers say that travel advisors had a meaningful influence on their decision to travel, according to Cruise Lines International Association’s recently released 2024 State of the Cruise Industry report, which also notably revealed that 2023 passenger volume reached 31.7 million – surpassing 2019 by seven percent.

In North America close to three million more people cruised in 2023 than the year before the pandemic, representing a 17% increase, though Canada matched its 2019 numbers last year at a million passengers (making Canada the sixth largest global cruise source market in both years). The US is by far the largest market at nearly 13 million passengers annually.

The CLIA report also showed continued demand for cruise holidays, noting intent to cruise at 82% with 12% of cruises doing so twice a year and 10% taking three to five trips a year.

Meanwhile, the average cruise age is 46, and 36% are under the age of 40.

Other trend highlights include:

• The number of new-to-cruise is increasing – 27% of cruisers over the past two years are new-to-cruise, an increase of 12% over the past year.
• Cruises are a top choice for multi-generational travel – with more than 30% of families travelling by cruise with at least two generations and 28%of cruise travellers traveling with three to five generations.
• 10-13% of cruisers departing North American ports travel solo
• Expedition and exploration are the fastest-growing sectors of cruise tourism, with a 71% increase in passengers traveling on expedition itineraries from 2019 to 2023. And,
• Accessible tour excursions are on the rise – with 45% of cruise passengers booking an accessible tour for their most recent cruise.

Representing all of the world’s major cruise line, CLIA says the forecast for global cruise capacity shows an increase of 10% from 2024 through 2028, with 35 ships in the order book and including the launch of eight new ships in 2024.