Cruise boom: 37.7 million vacationers expected in 2023!

Cruise boom: 37.7 million vacationers expected in 2023!

In 2023, the international cruise industry will record an impressive increase in passenger numbers. According to the international cruise association Clia, the number of cruise guests is estimated at 37.7 million, a record number and an increase of almost nine percent compared to last year. As early as 2022, the number of passengers rose by 9.3 percent to 34.6 million. These positive developments are directly related to shipping companies' strategy to deploy larger ships and offer new destinations to further promote the growth of the industry. Ad Hoc News reports that the majority of cruise guests come from North America, followed by Europe.

Key viewership information shows that the Caribbean remains the leading travel destination, with approximately 20.5 million guests from North America and 8.4 million from Europe. Almost 15 million cruise guests were counted there. The Mediterranean was also very popular with around 5.8 million travelers. Further estimates show that around three million passengers were counted in European waters outside the Mediterranean.

Cruise market on the rise

The global cruise industry reported record passenger volumes in 2023, carrying 31.7 million passengers, up 7% from the 2019 peak. The USA in particular was the largest cruise market with an increase of 2.7 million passengers, which corresponds to an increase of 19% compared to 2019. Clia also expects a further 50% increase in passenger numbers compared to 2022.

A notable trend is the growing expedition and exploration travel sectors, which increased by 71% from 2019 to 2023 due to high demand. These developments show an increase in interest in new and adventurous travel experiences on cruises. MarineLink highlights that 82% of cruise guests plan to board a cruise ship again in the future.

Economic importance and sustainable developments

The cruise industry generated a total economic value of $138 billion worldwide in 2022. It supports over 1.2 million jobs and generates $43 billion in wages. Additionally, the industry is on a sustainable course, with 56 new cruise ships in the order book and a total value of $38 billion. In the next five years, around 15% of new ships are expected to use sustainable technologies, such as batteries and fuel cells.

In addition, the industry is testing 32 pilot projects for the use of future fuels. Four ships already use renewable biofuel, while future newbuilds will be configured to use green methanol and hydrogen. This shows the desire of the cruise industry not only to promote its growth, but also to contribute to reducing environmental impact, which will be crucial for the future development of the industry.