THE GOLDEN AGE OF CRUISING
A new generation is discovering the delights of cruising, with holidays to multiple destinations that also offer great on-board experiences for all ages...
HAVE you noticed how more and more people seem to be raving about cruise holidays recently? And, more often than not, it’s the people you’d least expect to be taking a holiday at sea that are advocating exactly that. From parents with preschoolers through to families with older children and multigenerational groups, everyone is enjoying ocean-going holidays, breaking down all those long-held stereotypes of typical cruisers.
GOLDEN AGE
‘LOOKING back five or ten years, cruises appealed to a certain sector of society, and that meant that, for everyone else, they were something that “other people” did,’ says Andy Harmer, UK and Ireland director of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade body. ‘The cruise lines were aware of that. While they wanted to continue catering for their existing client base, they invested vast amounts of money in growing their appeal to new groups of holidaymakers. They set out to create a more diverse array of itineraries taking in new destinations, with a wider range of on-board and on-shore experiences to attract people who had never considered a cruise. We can now say with confidence that there truly is a cruise for everybody: it is simply about finding the right cruise for the right person. We have entered a new golden age of cruising.’
A staggering 27 new ships* are heading off on their maiden voyages this year alone, ranging from magnificent ocean-going vessels packed with a multitude of amenities and accommodation styles through to
Our focus is shifting towards finding experiences we wouldn’t ordinarily have in our everyday lives
expedition cruisers designed to deliver adrenaline-fuelled adventure and seven-star ships created for those who want to sail in the lap of luxury.
It seems this considerable investment from the cruise lines has paid off: a projected 27.2 million passengers are expected to set sail in 2018. In 2017, an estimated 25.8 million cruised, compared with a confirmed 24.7 million passengers in 2016, an increase of 20.5 per cent over five years, from 2011-2016.
‘I believe the way we want to spend our holidays has changed over recent years,’ continues Harmer. ‘Our focus is shifting towards finding experiences we wouldn’t ordinarily have in our everyday lives. There will always be a desire to relax and read a book by a pool, so that will be an important part of many people’s holiday plans. But through social media, film, TV and a more cosmopolitan society, we are all more exposed to diverse cultures, culinary styles and other international influences. And we want to experience those first-hand for ourselves: we want to sight-do, not just sightsee. The cruise industry has picked this up and made it possible to do that, either on board the ships or ashore. You might learn to cook Vietnamese food on board a ship, then visit local markets with a chef and buy local produce, or go on a ballroom dancing-themed cruise, or take cycle rides around Europe’s amazing cities with local guides sharing the best routes.’
SOFT ADVENTURE
CHOOSE from intimate, boutique-style ships or large floating resorts offering on-board water parks, West End-style entertainment, a wealth of dining options and even zip lines for endless hours of fun. There are art-based itineraries and nature-focused trips, and expedition or ‘soft adventure’ cruises are a huge growth area for 2018 and beyond, taking in regions such as the Arctic, Antarctic, Alaska and the Galapagos, for example. Those ships are operating in harder-to-access areas and will often have experts on board who bring experiences to life with guest lectures and one-to-one conversations, offering a premium holiday that allows people to tick off a true bucket-list experience.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
KEY to the exponential growth of the cruise market is the huge variety of family-friendly options on offer, catering for children of all ages, with kids’ clubs and teen zones as well as an array of experiences for everyone from tiny tots to grandparents to enjoy together. And that’s before you’ve even stepped ashore…if you’re inspired to discover new horizons this year, read on for a wealth of inspirational ideas for your next holiday.
We want to experience first-hand and sight-do, not just sightsee