INTERNATIONAL. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise-industry trade organisation, has forecast that 30 million people will go on a cruise next year, a +6% rise on 2018. For its Cruise Trends and State of the Cruise Industry Outlook for 2019, just released, CLIA has used research, travel insights and interviews with travel agents to examine the trends and factors affecting cruise travel next year.
The association argued that Instagram will be a key trend for the cruising industry in 2019, as hundreds of millions of posts are hashtagged #travel on the app every day.
CLIA CEO Cindy D’Aoust said: “Research and forecasting the year ahead allows the cruise industry … to take a big-picture look at the cruise and travel industries to evaluate and predict all of the exciting things to come. The coming year’s trends truly reflect the intersection between the experiences travellers seek and the cruise industry’s innovations.”
CLIA’s predictions for 2019 include:
- Instagrammable cruise travel: Instagram posts are driving interest in travel around the world, with close to 351 million posts per day using the hashtag #travel.
- Total restoration: Stressed-out travellers are seeking ways to rejuvenate more than ever before. Cruise lines are responding by offering wellness via spa experiences, onboard oxygen bars, healthy menu choices and fitness innovations.
- Achievement over experience: Holidaymakers are looking for immersive cultural experiences beyond sightseeing.
- Smart tech: Cruise lines have adopted “wearable technology” for cruise travellers including keychains, necklaces and bracelets to provide a personalised travel experience on- and off-ship.
- Conscious travel: Travellers want to see the world in a mindful way. The cruise industry is more conscientious than ever, claimed CLIA, working with local communities to preserve their heritage and implementing innovations that decrease the environmental footprint of cruise travel.
- Access is the new luxury: Travellers are setting their sights on destinations that were previously out of reach, some accessible only by cruise ship.
- Gen Z at sea: Generation Z is set to become the largest consumer generation in the next two years, outpacing even millennials. This age bracket prefers authentic experiences over material items, noted CLIA.
- Off-peak adventures: Cruising offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences during the colder months that include excursions to see the Northern Lights, visiting a penguin colony and touring European Christmas markets.
- Working nomads: Combining work with leisure time is on the rise. Straying from the notion of device-free travel, many modern travellers or “digital nomads” are opting for trips where they can work remotely. With WiFi, desks and work-friendly cafes, travellers can keep up with work while enjoying a cruise vacation.
- Female-centred cruising: With the number of female travellers growing, many tourism and travel companies are creating female-centred itineraries based on interests and connecting women with other women.
- Going solo: There are more Google searches for “solo travel” and “traveling alone” than ever before. Cruising allows for solo travel and connecting with other travellers, forming bonds and enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The report also shows that cruise travel continues to grow and contribute to the global economy. More than eight out of 10 CLIA-certified travel agents expect to see a rise in cruise sales in the next 12 months.
Click here to read the full report.
