Cruise, along with luxury, is a buzzword in travel in 2024 and the sector is primed for a record-breaking year. The trend is borne out by a surge in cruise bookings at Trip.com, which says it has registered a whopping 344% year-on-year growth from January to October. The online retailer has also identified several micro trends within the larger tidal wave of global bookings.
Among them:
- A standout trend is the substantial rise in fly-cruise bookings, with bookings from international tourists up by 520% year-on-year. The combination of air travel and cruising allows international travellers to start their voyages in exotic locations, contributing to the overall growth of the industry.
- Additionally, younger travellers are at the forefront of this growth. Bookings from millennial travellers skyrocketed by 857%, while those of Gen Z travellers increased by 450%. Older age groups too, saw significant growth, with a 112% rise in bookings from those born in the 1950s and over 400% among those born in the 1980s. These figures underscore the expanding appeal of cruise vacations across a broader demographic than ever before.
- Cruise trips are also becoming longer, with the average cruise duration rising from 4.53 days in 2023 to 4.81 days in 2024, highlighting the increasing preference for extended travel experiences. In addition, booking behaviours have evolved, with the average booking window lengthening by 10 days to 37 days in 2024, indicating that travellers are planning their cruise holidays further in advance. This reflects a shift towards making cruises a key part of family vacations and long-term holiday planning.
- Cruise bookings are particularly popular across key global hubs, with Singapore ranking top in international cruise destinations, followed closely by Port Klang, Barcelona, Jakarta and Tokyo at fifth spot.
Trip.com also reports that next year’s Dec. 15 launch of the Disney Adventure – set to sail from Singapore in December – has also generated significant interest, reflecting the strong demand for family-friendly cruising options. This will be the first Disney ship to homeport in Asia, offering three- and four-night voyages with immersive Disney, Pixar, and Marvel experiences and so far, nearly 10,000 travellers have signed up on Trip.com’s exclusive waitlist for the cruise.
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