Cruising into the future
Lorna Thornber takes a look at the new trends, destinations and ships that will sail the world’s waters next year.
The adage that reputations die hard certainly seems to have proved true for the cruise sector. In recent years, it’s added bells, whistles, bumper cars, bionic bartenders, and innumerable other whizz-bang features to its liners in an effort to prove that cruising isn’t just for time- and cash-rich retirees.
Ships expanding faster than the stereotypical cruiser’s waistline on a round-the-world voyage now cater to families, with the likes of kids’ clubs and waterparks; to millennials with mixology sessions and floating music festivals; to the wellness tribe with yoga and meditation sessions and nutritionist-approved menus; and to adventure-seekers with remote ports of call and high-octane excursions.
Its efforts appear to be working, albeit slowly. The average age of an ocean-cruise passenger in 2017 was 47, down from 49 in 2015, according to figures from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The average Kiwi ocean-cruiser last year was 52, and 40 per cent of ocean passengers were in their 40s or younger.
Demand for cruises increased 20.5 per cent between 2011 and 2016, with 24.7 million people taking ocean cruises globally in 2016.
More Kiwis are taking holidays on the high seas, with passenger numbers hitting a record 98,000 in 2017. But most of us aren’t going far – two-thirds of Kiwi ocean-cruisers opted for trips around New Zealand, the South Pacific and Australia, the data showed.
The Mediterranean, broader Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Asia, and Alaska are still popular, however, and cruise lines are hoping to entice more Kiwis – as reputedly avid, adventurous travellers – with evergrowing itineraries.
If you’re contemplating a cruise next year, here are some new trends, destinations and ships to look out for.
Intergenerational cruising
While we can’t promise that families who cruise together stay together, it’s all but guaranteed that you’ll have a good time on ships that have splashed out on features for all age groups.
Susan Bonner, managing director of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Australia and New Zealand, said intergenerational cruising has been one of the biggest trends this year and looks set to continue. ‘‘This is particularly popular during traditional New Zealand holiday periods such as Christmas and New Year.’’
The biggest ships tend to offer the widest variety in terms of all-ages entertainment, and many have kids’ clubs that cater for babies through to teens.
Activities on offer could include classes on everything from art and science to makeup and cooking, circus workshops, talent shows, discos, and dodgeball games.
Many also have dedicated kids’ zones, along with activities that appeal to kids and kids-at-heart. Think waterslides, rock-climbing walls, zip-lines, racing tracks, and trampoline parks.
On Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, set to return to New Zealand for the third time soon, Bonner said passengers of all ages make use of features such as the ‘‘Flowrider’’ surf simulator, ‘‘iFly’’ skydiving simulator, bumper cars, and ice-skating rink.
Adults can seek kid-free refuge in the spa and solarium, while everyone – from kids to grandparents – can enjoy the pools, lounges and Broadway-style shows.
Experiential cruising
Historically, cruising has had a reputation as a lightweight form of travel (especially among those who consider themselves serious travellers), but with liners now heading to an increasing array of ports – including lesser visited parts of popular countries in Europe, hotspots such as Iceland and Cuba, and remote destinations such as the Arctic and Antarctic – this is no longer necessarily the case.
The concept of luxury in cruising has changed over the years, Bonner said. Most now associate it not with watching the world go by from opulent state rooms and dining halls, but rather with having ‘‘fresh, unique and authentic experiences’’.
‘‘Travellers are seeking transformational experiences rather than just enjoying the luxurious amenities of a trip’’, Bonner said.
Brands such as Azamara Club Cruises, whose boutique vessel Azamara Quest will return for a tour of New Zealand in January 2019 with four new ports of call, offer late nightdepartures and overnight stays in some ports, giving guests more time to explore, on their own or as part of group tours or activities.
Adam Armstrong, managing director for Silverseas Cruises Australia and New Zealand, said the luxury cruise line is also catering for the growing demand for ‘‘deep travel’’, saying it continually reviews its itineraries ‘‘to ensure each voyage combines a blend of large, iconic stops and small ports that allow for immersive travel experiences.’’
New, off-the-beaten-cruiseitinerary destinations for Silversea include the Lofoten Islands in Norway, the Skellig Islands in Ireland, Eyemouth in the UK, and St Florent and L’Ile Rousse in Corsica.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has also responded to the demand, introducing two- and three-night land-based tours before and after select cruises from 2019.
These include a wildlife safari in South Africa and tours of Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Western Australia’s Swan Valley, Shanghai and the Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, Bali, several large Asian and Emirati cities, Lisbon, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, and Vancouver.
Closer to home, Princess Cruises has expanded its Across the Ditch programme from the summer to include more ‘‘meaningful and bespoke experiences’’ in lesservisited parts of the North Island.
These include an excursion to Dark Sky Sanctuary, Great Barrier Island for stargazing and a forest walk with award-winning Ma¯ori chef Eru Tutaki to harvest bush foods to be used in a three-course degustation meal.
Expedition cruising
For those who want to feel like proper explorers, expedition cruises with adventurous itineraries on typically smaller ships may be the way to go.
Expedition cruises, which Armstrong said are becoming increasingly popular with Antipodeans, often head to remote destinations, such as Antarctica, Alaska, the Galapagos Islands and Australia’s Kimberley coast. The smaller ships allow them to anchor in smaller ports.
The 132-passenger Silver Explorer will return to New Zealand in 2020/21 for expedition cruises around New Zealand’s little-visited subantarctic islands, which the Department of Conservation describes as ‘‘among the world’s least modified environments’’.