Cruising worldwide is rapidly growing. But there are still some myths to bust here!
Its not just for old/retired people with a bottomless wallet – younger travellers are also discovering cruising. Some cruise lines cater for families, others for adults only. Companies like Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have fantastic facilities onboard to keep even teenagers happy. Virgin Voyages target a younger, adult-only age group with nightlife, live music and wellness offerings.
Not every cruise is the same. Every cruise line tries hard to differentiate themselves. As such, some offer experience-led or themed cruises. Some have cookery schools on board to reflect the foodie aspect of the cruise. Others have crafting workshops, ideal if you want to try something new.
A cruise is just a cruise – wrong, it can be part of a bigger holiday. It can be combined with pre and post cruise hotel stays, tours and more. I’d always advise arriving the day before your cruise ship leaves, just in case of flight delays. Your ship won’t wait for you.
Cruises are not just relaxing – you can kayak in the Antarctic waters. Agencies who sell a lot of cruises are also finding that adventure and expedition cruising are becoming more popular. FOMO cruising – as the sea waters rise and the ice-caps reduce, a cruise to the Arctic to see polar bears in their natural habitats is something to do now. The ice-flows where they live are reducing and forcing bears onto land, instead of roaming the icy seas.
Big ships get bigger – Legend of the Seas will take to the Med for the first time this summer and can take up to 7,600 passengers! This means more facilities on board, more restaurants, the largest water park at sea etc. However it also means that it can’t access smaller ports.
The answer to this is smaller ships. For example, Star Clipper is one of the only ships allowed to dock in Venice these days, it has sails as well as an engine and is smaller, with under 200 passengers. Fewer facilities – definitely no room for a water park, but you can climb up to the Crow’s Nest for a fabulous view over the seas.
Luxury cruising is another growing trend – people who like 5-star hotels on land want the same facilities and service when they cruise. High-end restaurants, spas and the feel of a boutique hotel are what is on offer now. Conde Nast published their list of the best cruise ships at the end of 2025 – I can book you on any of these!!
Not everyone has the time (or money) for a world cruise lasting over 100 nights, many people will join something like this for a segment or 2 rather than the entire cruise. However, even more are looking at cruises less than a week in duration. Many short cruises (2 and 3 night) out of the UK become party cruises – I’ve seen many birthday celebrations and hen parties on board! 7-night cruises are the common length, TBH.
My favourite still remains river cruising and again this is booming. Ships are becoming more luxurious, with food and wellness being very important elements. The best thing about river cruises however are the itineraries – unpack once and see lots of destinations, just like ocean cruises. But river cruises visit iconic destinations like Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Lyon, Cologne and so on. These cities have seen so much more than ocean cruise destinations, great if you love history like me!
In summary, the trends are:
- Younger travellers for some cruise lines
- Themes and experiences are key
- Big ships
- Small ships, but with luxury and wellness at the forefront
- River cruising
Want to try one of these trends? Whatever kind of cruise you want to take – just call me on 01252519669 or send me a message. More to follow about Expedition Cruises. Read more about River Cruises