Cruise boom: 37.7 million vacationers 2023 expected!

Cruise boom: 37.7 million vacationers 2023 expected!

Hamburg, Deutschland - In 2023, the international cruise industry recorded an impressive increase in passenger numbers. According to the international cross -shipping association Clia, the number of cruise guests is estimated at 37.7 million, which corresponds to a record value and an increase of almost nine percent compared to the previous 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 the strategy of the shipping companies to use larger ships and offer new travel destinations in order to further promote the growth of the industry. ad-hoc news reports that the majority of the cruise guests come from North America.

The most important information about the spectator flows show that with around 20.5 million guests from North America and 8.4 million from Europe, the Caribbean remains the leading travel area. Almost 15 million cruise guests were counted there. The Mediterranean also enjoyed great popularity with around 5.8 million travelers. Further estimates show that around three million passengers were counted in European waters outside the Mediterranean.

cruise market in the upswing

The global cruise industry reported a record passenger volume in 2023 and promoted 31.7 million passengers, which means an increase of 7 % compared to the highest level of 2019. The United States in particular presented itself as 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 increase in passenger numbers by 50 % compared to 2022.

A remarkable trend are the growing sectors of expeditions and exploration trips, which rose by 71 % from 2019 to 2023 due to the high demand. These developments show an increase in interest in new and adventurous travel experiences on cruises. Marinelink emphasizes that 82 % of the cruise guests are planning to go again on board a cruise ship in the future.

economic importance and sustainable developments

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

In addition, the industry tests 32 pilot projects for the use of future fuels. Four ships are already using renewable biofuel, while future new buildings are configured to green methanol and hydrogen. This shows the endeavor of the cruise industry not only to promote its growth, but also to contribute to reducing environmental pollution, which will be of crucial importance for the future development of the industry.