CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) recently announced its 2016 cruise predictions and said that almost 24 million people would take a cruise in 2016, this is an increase from 15 million just a decade ago. They also noted that 27 new ocean, river and speciality ships will launch in 2016, with more than $6.5 billion being invested in these new vessels.
Cruise Industry Trends
CLIA also noted a ‘Lucky 13 Cruise Industry Trends’, showcasing how the cruise industry has transformed to meet the ever-growing preferences of today’s modern traveller’s. They include:
1: Rise of the river cruise – river cruises are growing in popularity and CLIA’s cruise line members are expected to add 18 new vessels to the current 170-strong global fleet in 2016, an increase of more than 10%
2: More ships, more options – there are 471 cruise ships in operation this year, and an additional 27 new ocean, river and specialty vessels will debut next year
3: On the map – Asia is the fastest growing region in the cruise industry and between, 2012 and 2014, passenger volume grew by 34% per year from 775,000 to nearly 1.4 million
4: G’day for a cruise – while Asia continues to grow rapidly, Australia has also experienced record growth, with passenger number surpassing one million for the first time in 2014
5: Cruise specialists – the cruise industry continues to leverage the expertise of cruise specialist travel agents to help guide travel decisions. Today, there are more than 30,000 CLIA-member travel agents globally compared to 12,000 travel agents in 2010
6: Connectivity and cruising – most of today’s vessels offer various wifi, text messaging and data options to help guests remain connected while at sea
7: A love for luxe – as consumers’ appetite for luxury travel continues to rise, speciality cruise lines are offering yachting experiences, concierge services, exclusive tours, gourmet dining and personal butler services
8: Brands at sea – cruise lines are leveraging the cross-promotional appeal of brands to appeal to new travellers
9: Ships are the destination – cruise ships are now considered as more than just a mode of transportation and the latest vessels offer various onboard experiences and amenities
10: Stay the night – many cruise lines are offering overnight stays at designated ports of call to enable passengers to immerse themselves in destinations
11: Grand(parent) travel experiences – cruising with a multigenerational group is becoming a popular choice for family holidays
12: Cruise voluntourism – more service-oriented ‘voluntourism’ cruises will be offered in 2016, with several lines offering shore excursions to help disadvantaged communities around the world
13: Culturally customised – cruise lines are customising cruise ships based upon passenger cultures and to pay homage to ports of call.
Book Your 2016 Cruise with The Cruise Line
If our 2016 cruise predictions blog has got you thinking about your next adventure and you are still looking for your perfect 2016 voyage, then why not give us a call or browse our Cruise Deals page. We have a wide variety of options available from river cruises, large-ship luxury cruises, family cruises and even yacht cruises. Our Cruise Experts are ready and waiting to take your call on 0800 008 6677.
