Agents say cruise holidays are experiencing higher growth than any other travel segment, and this is especially true for the luxury cruise segment.
CLIA md Australasia Joel Katz told Travel Today that luxury cruising has evolved into ‘one of the most exciting areas of travel, where the creation of extraordinary experiences on shore is just as important as the experience on board’.
CLIA’s latest Cruise Industry Report shows that the luxury cruise sector has tripled since 2010 based on the number of ships offering luxury experiences, with 97 luxury vessels in 2024.
Passenger numbers globally are growing, too, with 1.1 million luxury cruise passengers taking a cruise in 2024, up from one million on 2023, shows the report.
In 2025 CLIA expects to see 1.2 million cruise passengers, which is tipped to rise to 1.5 million cruise passengers annually by 2028. Travel agent sentiment backs up these numbers with 34% of agents reporting growth or significant growth for ultra-luxury bookings year-on-year. This figure increases to 51% for the luxury cruise sector, shows the data
. . . . Locally
Katz says luxury cruising has been showing strong growth around the world and anecdotal evidence suggests this is becoming a trend in New Zealand too. “It is a small but high-value segment, with guests who are drawn towards extraordinary destinations and once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” he says, And while the focus is on luxury, Katz says these cruises can still offer excellent value compared to similar standards of hotels or resorts on land. “[luxury cruising] represents an excellent opportunity to target high-value travellers.”
See the report HERE.
