28 December 2023 , 16:06
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Brits seem to be after once-in-a-lifetime destinations when booking their cruise holidays, new research from Iglu Cruise suggests.
The cruise experts have unveiled the holiday hotspots seeing the biggest surge in interest and bookings from sun-seekers, with North America proving particularly popular, with demand skyrocketing by 592% in 2023, compared to 2023.
Specifically, Florida, Canada and Alaska have proven a hit with those planning cruises. Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Officer said: "We’ve seen some very exciting new ships launched in 2023 such as Disney Wish, sailing from popular US ports such as Miami and Orlando. This could have been attributed to the huge increase in demand for cruises in North America."
According to a report by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), it's anticipated that there will be 36 million cruise passengers in 2024, a 14% increase on 2023.
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Other destinations seeing an increase in demand include bucket-list itineraries with ports of call across the likes of Africa or the Arctic regions.
While a trip to the Arctic Circle may sound like quite the expedition, it's an increased interest in the Northern Lights which has played a key role according to insiders.
Norway, Iceland and Greenland are some of the destinations that have seen demand increase - and with 2024 tipped to be among the best years to see the Aurora, it could be that this only continues to grow. You can find out more on iglucruise.com.
If you're planning to book a cruise next year, then you may want to check out these experts' tips on everything from choosing the right ship to easy mistakes a lot of passengers make.
The Northern Lights are drawing in crowds to the Arctic Circle (AFP)For example Rob Debenham, Show Manager at Destinations – The Holiday & Travel Show, suggests: "If you’re unsure you’ll be fan of cruising, try a cruise where you’re staying on land for some of the itinerary. There are lots of cruise trips out there where you stay half the time on the ship and the other half in well-curated hotels chosen especially for you. That way you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’ll be staying in a top quality place on land, and heading back to the boat for your next adventure before too long."
He also warns passengers to make sure they check the details of exactly what's covered before booking, so they don't end up with any nasty surprises when paying the bill at the end of their sailing. That's because although most cruise holidays are essentially all-inclusive from your food to accommodation, the package you book determines whether they will include extras such as alcohol, gratuities and Wi-Fi.
Are you booking a cruise holiday for 2024? Let us know in the comments below.