Cruise boom 2025: record numbers and new trends for explorers!

Cruise boom 2025: record numbers and new trends for explorers!

The cruise industry is set to set a new record in 2025, with a forecast number of guests of 37.7 million, up from 34.6 million last year. This is according to the latest report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), published as part of the “State of the Cruise Industry Report”. The industry continues to grow dynamically and shows little sign of slowing down.

Europe remains the second most important market for cruises, just after the USA. Germany, Great Britain and Italy in particular lead the ranking of source markets, with Europe overall recording an increase of 2.2% in source market passengers. In 2023, the cruise industry had a global economic footprint of $168.6 billion, of which €55 billion was generated in Europe, supporting 440,000 jobs.

Economic impact and sustainability

The influence of the cruise industry is enormous, particularly on the local economies of travel destinations. Around 69% of cruise guests stay in a hotel for at least one night before or after their trip, which creates additional income for hotels and tourism providers. In the last two years, a third of guests have taken a cruise for the first time, with 89% of all past guests considering traveling again.

The industry is actively committed to a low-emission future. 61% of ships are already capable of shore power, and this proportion is expected to rise to 72% by 2028. The commitment to sustainability is reinforced by the ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, leveraging technologies and sustainable practices.

Trends and travel behavior

Millennials are particularly fond of traveling and appreciate the flexibility and variety that cruises offer. In the context of current studies, it appears that 82% of cruise participants plan to cruise again. The average age of cruise travelers is 46 years, with 36% being under 40 years old. In addition, 12% of participants travel twice a year and 10% travel three to five times a year.

• Beliebteste Reiseziele: Karibik, Mittelmeer, Westküste Nordamerikas, Südamerika, Alaska.
• Wachstum von Expeditionskreuzfahrten um 71 % von 2019 bis 2023.
• 27 % der Reisenden der letzten zwei Jahre sind neu auf Kreuzfahrten.

Overall, the cruise industry has shown steady growth over the last 50 years, despite only accounting for 2% of the total travel and tourism sector. Predictions suggest capacity will increase by 10% between 2024 and 2028, with nearly 40 million passengers by 2027. Seven new cruise ships are also planned for the near future, to be launched in 2024.

The CLIA report's comprehensive data highlights the cruise industry's robust recovery and positive growth. Together with the economic impact and the increasing importance of sustainability, the signs are good for the further development of this sector. The full reports are available on the websites of Hansa Online and Cruising Journal available.